WDW vs UO - Who leads in ride development?

[ParentsOf4]

A popular discussion is who is leading the way in recent ride development and technology in Orlando, Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando? To explore this question, I have created lists of what I consider to be the major ride additions or refurbishments over the last 20 years.

Walt Disney World:
Tower of Terror – 1994
Test Track - 1998
Dinosaur - 1998
Kilimanjaro Safaris - 1998
Kali River Rapids - 1999
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster - 1999
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - 1999
Mission Space - 2003
Soarin' - 2005
Expedition Everest - 2006
Toy Story Midway Mania - 2008
Star Tours II - 2011

Universal Florida:
Incredible Hulk - 1999
Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - 1999
Jurassic Park River Adventure - 1999
Dueling Dragons (now Dragon Challenge) - 1999
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls - 1999
Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges - 1999
Men in Black: Alien Attack - 2000
Revenge of the Mummy - 2004
Simpsons Ride (previously Back to the Future) - 2008 (1991)
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit - 2009
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - 2010

Admittedly, my definitions of "major" vs. "minor" ride additions or refurbishments are arbitrary.

IMHO, Star Tours II and Simpsons Ride represent major refurbs because the rides are significantly different experiences than before, even though old ride technology is still used. Conversely, I've excluded the Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and Disaster refurbs since I consider these to be essentially the same experiences as before.

I've included only rides that exist today, no future or closed rides. Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, opening this year, falls through the cracks.

I've excluded what I consider to be "kiddie" rides. Sorry Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1999) and Cat In The Hat (1999), among others.

Finally I've excluded shows and transportation. In order to be considered a ride, it has to move or shake people. Shrek 4-D, opened in 2003, is a marginal call. The seats move but it's essentially a movie in a movie theater. In addition, a ride's primary purpose cannot be to simply transport people from point A to point B (e.g. Wildlife Express Train).

I recognize that people's opinions of what should and should not be included will be different. I also acknowledge that the people have different definitions of what constitutes "recent" ride development.

What's your opinion? Is WDW or UO leading the way?

Please keep your posts civil.

 

[Jakester]

I'd have to say Universal right now, FJ has a state of the art ride system that hasn't been done before, While LM is new, it uses a old ride system type ride, now Snow White will in innovative simply with the swaying cars.

Rip Ride Rockit also uses a state of the art system thats extremely complicated.

 

[sgtmgd]

Well I think Universal would be the pick...

Spider Man was annoited the best theme ride on the planet its first couple years out...and HPFJ is a fantastic ride...Disney has nothing to counter it. Im not advocating Universal as a whole is better....because IMO the overal Disney expierence far exceeds anything Universal can deliver right now. I always go to IOA when Im doing a disney trip..its a nice change of pace and much more thrill ride oriented.

 

[disney fan 13]

Universal

 

[sgtmgd]

Id caveate it with Disney is much more family friendly for kids..Universal's rides restrict alot of kids with the height requirements..I know Dr Suess land is there...but with 4 parks vs 2 for Universal..the overall package is better with Disney..IMO

 

[sgtmgd]

:ROFLOL:

The price tag might be more family friendly at universal

 

[Rowdy]

To me, and my style, Disney for sure.


Spider-man is easily one of the best theme rides ever. FJ doesn't do it for me. Mission Space, Soarin', and Everest is a line-up that's hard to beat.

 

[FRC Team 180]

Universal by far. Disney is great, but there really has been nothing new compared to Universal Orlando.

 

[jpittore1]

Disney

Our family (children's ages 12 and 15) just went to Universal for four days in March 2012. It was two days too many. We stayed at the Hard Rock and had the fast passes and we completed every ride in the park by 2 pm each day. We went back the other two days just to ride a few favorites-Spiderman, Men in Black, Rip Rocket and Harry Potter, but other than those the children were ready to go back and swim...We leave in less than one week for WDW and you would think it's Christmas...they are excited! We were glad we experienced Universal, but it wasn't "magical"...

 

[marni1971]

It's a no brainier. The last fully immersive, cutting edge ride was opened in WDW in 94. Had CTX been fully themed the date would have been 1998.

But Uni/IOA are far ahead in bringing state of the art to the park.

 

[SMS55]

If by ride developement you simply mean engineering, then you can say Universal. Is Disney lagging, perhaps, but maybe not. I think Disney does a better job of story telling, the rides are better themed and they are much more organized than Universal. Disney bills itself as a family vacation destination and delivers well. Universal tries to bill itself as a more grown up vacation, which might hurt it as it tries to get some of the families Disney brings in.

 

[marni1971]

I get what you're saying but I thought Mission Space (2003) and Soarin' (2005) were pretty good and original (OK, Soarin' stolen from the West Coast but still original for the East Coast) when they opened. I also think Expedition Everest (at least with a working Yeti) was unique for a roller coaster. Don't get me wrong, I think Spider-Man and HPFJ are more innovative (and I think Mummy combines several different ride elements nicely) but I have to give WDW credit as well.

Space is good, I enjoy Orange, but it's not sure what it wants to be. And sadly is just part of what was meant to be. Soarin shouldn't work For what it is, it's truely greater than the sum of its parts, and wasn't Back to the Futures ride system as innovative in 1991?

But Everest, oh dear. A good coaster with some nice innovative touches, but the yeti debacle and lack of interior theming (aside from light leaks and structural framing) is such a let down. The 53 year old Matterhorn far surpasses it.

 

[IanDLBZF]

I'd say BOTH Disney and Universal are good at ride development! Nuff said.

 

[disney fan 13]

Space is good, I enjoy Orange, but it's not sure what it wants to be. And sadly is just part of what was meant to be. Soarin shouldn't work For what it is, it's truely greater than the sum of its parts, and wasn't Back to the Futures ride system as innovative in 1991?

But Everest, oh dear. A good coaster with some nice innovative touches, but the yeti debacle and lack of interior theming (aside from light leaks and structural framing) is such a let down. The 53 year old Matterhorn far surpasses it.

I would say more

 

[Captain Chaos]

I'd say BOTH Disney and Universal are good at ride development!

Disney is leading the "path of innovention" right now, especialy with NextGen.

Universal's just going to have to catch-up for now.....

You need to reverse that... Universal is leading in innovation and Disney needs to catch up... If you think NextGen tops state of the art attractions, then all hope is lost on theme park goers...

 

[disney fan 13]

I would also say that Disney needs to watch it's back because of Seaworld as well. TurtleTalk, Antarctica and hopefully a upgraded Wild Arctic will put Seaworld pretty high up on the charts...

 

[IanDLBZF]

I'd say BOTH Disney and Universal are good at ride development! Nuff said.

@dxer07002 There. Happy now?

 

[IanDLBZF]

And secondly, let me CLEARLY state that while both Universal and Disney have great innoventions when it comes to ride development, I'd say both are ahead of the game. :goodnevil These are just my own opinions.

 

[captainkidd]

Universal. However, I think it's important to remember, Disney's attractions are supposed to be more charming. Though obviously Universal wins the coaster intensity war, they can't compete on a theme level with Disney's coasters. In other words, the technology is there, but Universal's attractions lack the charm of Disney's (for me anyways). I love both parks too. I'm by no means all pixie dust.

 

[JT3000]

A popular discussion is who is leading the way in recent ride development and technology in Orlando, Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando?

This is practically a rhetorical question. Must be why a lot of the responders so far are pretending different questions were asked.