All things Universal Studios Hollywood

[MK-fan]

Universal Hollywood has announced Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift opens this summer:

Three years and a half of preparation for a coaster is a crazy long time

 

[Rich T]

Three years and a half of preparation for a coaster is a crazy long time

It took Disney—what—5 years to build Tron? And that was a ride they’d already built once before. Topography-wise, F&F has got to be one of the most challenging, original coaster builds ever. And I think the end result will be very much worth the wait, even for spectators.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Three years and a half of preparation for a coaster is a crazy long time

It took Disney—what—5 years to build Tron? And that was a ride they’d already built once before. Topography-wise, F&F has got to be one of the most challenging, original coaster builds ever. And I think the end result will be very much worth the wait, even for spectators.

When you include all of the design time, this project has been in development for more than five years.

TRON was announced before it was designed and also completely paused as a project.

 

[Rich T]

When you include all of the design time, this project has been in development for more than five years.

TRON was announced before it was designed and also completely paused as a project.

And while Tron paused, Velocicoaster went up in two years. The only thing that matters to the guest experience is the time from attraction announcement/closures and ground-breaking to the new attraction’s opening day. A ride could be in development for six months or twenty years—That part doesn’t matter to the guests. It’s all about the show.

 

[lazyboy97o]

And while Tron paused, Velocicoaster went up in two years. The only thing that matters to the guest experience is the time from attraction announcement/closures and ground-breaking to the new attraction’s opening day. A ride could be in development for six months or twenty years—That part doesn’t matter to the guests. It’s all about the show.

Disney has been announcing projects early in the design process for over fifty years, going all the way back to Walt.

Announcements are a complete nonsense metric that mean absolutely nothing. Velocicoaster was also in development for about five years. It also couldn’t easily be paused. Universal killed a whole slate of projects during the pandemic and absolutely decimated Universal Creative.

 

[Rich T]

Again, all that matters in the long run is the guest experience. How long after an attraction closes or a section of the park gets really ugly does it take to offer something new to the guest?

Both Disney and Universal have plusses and minuses in that department. But the way Universal started building F&F in Orlando WHILE RRR was being demolished was/is really fun to watch.

 

[Gusey]

Announcements are a complete nonsense metric that mean absolutely nothing. Velocicoaster was also in development for about five years. It also couldn’t easily be paused. Universal killed a whole slate of projects during the pandemic and absolutely decimated Universal Creative.

I think that whilst there isn't actual metric from announcement about how a project is progressing (like you said it can be announced at any time during the development and construction process), mentally the longer the public are made aware of a project before it opens, the longer it feels to be taking, especially for those not in the industry itself. Hollywood Drift does feel like its taken a while to open, partly due to it being announced slightly earlier compared to when Universal usually announced this (July 2023) but its just a normal construction timeline

 

[Rich T]

I think that whilst there isn't actual metric from announcement about how a project is progressing (like you said it can be announced at any time during the development and construction process), mentally the longer the public are made aware of a project before it opens, the longer it feels to be taking, especially for those not in the industry itself. Hollywood Drift does feel like its taken a while to open, partly due to it being announced slightly earlier compared to when Universal usually announced this (July 2023) but its just a normal construction timeline

I’m guessing Universal felt they had to say *something* about all the land moving and construction going on all over the place. Although it would have been fun if they’d pretended it was just some “minor landscaping.”

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think that whilst there isn't actual metric from announcement about how a project is progressing (like you said it can be announced at any time during the development and construction process), mentally the longer the public are made aware of a project before it opens, the longer it feels to be taking, especially for those not in the industry itself. Hollywood Drift does feel like its taken a while to open, partly due to it being announced slightly earlier compared to when Universal usually announced this (July 2023) but its just a normal construction timeline

Most people aren’t that aware. They’re not learning about things right away, maintaining an awareness of time elapsed or comparing announcement to other projects. Again, Disney announcing early goes back decades. The shift to treating theme parks like nuclear secrets is relatively new with Universal once announcing projects early (what became Epic Universe was first mentioned publicly in 1999). The complaining also rings hollow on a message board where people want to know not only what is next but also what is being considered for what’s next.

I’m guessing Universal felt they had to say *something* about all the land moving and construction going on all over the place. Although it would have been fun if they’d pretended it was just some “minor landscaping.”

There’s no point in denying when you have to publicly discuss a project. It’s that same reason Universal Studios United Kingdom and Universal Kids were both announced early, because Universal had to go through a public planning process.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I personally care not how long things take, or the timing of announcements and how early in the process they are. I care about the final product.

What the heck is this crap and why do the sound “walls” (tarps) looks hideous?

Cities build nicer sound walls.

 

[mickEblu]

I personally care not how long things take, or the timing of announcements and how early in the process they are. I care about the final product.

What the heck is this crap and why do the sound “walls” (tarps) looks hideous?

View attachment 906817

Cities build nicer sound walls.

View attachment 906818View attachment 906819View attachment 906820

Wait, that’s the final product? Why the tarp at all?

 

[Disney Analyst]

Wait, that’s the final product? Why the tarp at all?

It’s a sound barrier.

 

[mickEblu]

It’s a sound barrier.

I know but wouldn't even just clear panels be better? What's behind the tarp?

 

[Disney Analyst]

I know but wouldn't even just clear panels be better? What's behind the tarp?

The tarp are the panels... attached between the poles. I assume their cheap solution..

 

[Rich T]

What the heck is this crap and why do the sound “walls” (tarps) looks hideous?

View attachment 906817
Cities build nicer sound walls.

It’s backstage magic!

In all seriousness, yes, cities build nicer sound walls when they’re next to public sidewalks, etc. The tram tour is partially a trip through the grit and nuts n’ bolts of illusion-making. I should be in PR! In any rate, let’s see what it’s like when completely finished. Yes, this shot looks non-stellar, especially with the sun glare washing out the artwork.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I sure hope that isn't the final product.

Disney would be eviscerated for that, and rightly so.

I know, I know, different expectations from different audiences and all, but sometimes nakedly bad is just nakedly bad.