You respond to nearly every critique of Universal with “You just don’t get it and you must like [insert example of crap work by Disney].” You completely disregard the actual criticism of Universal and the possibility of any criticism of Disney.
There are plenty of legitimate debates to be had about both companies. But colored slides and resort style lazy rivers being epic theming fails isn't one of them. You want to talk about the truly impressive cluster f of Universal opening a park that was soooo not ready for prime time? Sure, lots to be said there. You could write a book. You want to talk about "water park as a theme park"? Great, have at it. You want to harp incessantly about the unfinished volcano? I'm gonna call you a dumb***. The Volcano IS finished. You want to talk about exposed show buildings? That's always a lively and legitimate debate. You want to go off on the slashing of the budget on Kong, I'm going to call you on it. That is fake news and a widely accepted talking point. Didn't happen. There was never a scene where a 35' robot was going to chase the truck through the jungle. As a matter of fact, the original Kong plan was for it to replace Disaster! utilizing the existing ride system. The budget was greatly INCREASED in it's move to IOA, but the chase scene was NEVER considered for the attraction.
In all fairness, nearly everyone does this. Cognitive bias is real, y'all. Why do you think so many people still support -----?
Well, they obviously haven't done anything on the scale of Potter. But I think Kong is on the same level of quality as Gringott's. And it has a lot of the exact same issues. Wonky pacing, less than successful screen integration, and an anticlimactic climax. I also think as a whole Fallon is a high quality D Ticket attraction. I truly don't see the popular talking point that unless an outside company holds their hand, Universal fails.
LOL... I seem to recall you being involved in many of the unnecessary UNI v. Disney debates on here. And you can't call yourself a Disney fan and then generalize all "Disney fans" by saying everyone who likes Disney finds the All-Stars to be the pinnacle of theming.
See, this is exactly what I'm talking about. A reread of what I actually wrote would maybe clear things up. Many does not equal all. And I never said anyone had to "like" the colored slides. Just that them being colored is thematically correct. And what they are demanding is not. So them screaming about theming fails while demanding one is illogical. And I never said that the All Stars are the pennacle of quality theming, just that many Disney fans like it and being there fills their hearts with warmth and they see nothing tacky about it, but they do when looking at Volcano Bay.
I like it better. But they are very much in the same vein. Go buy a cool RV. Build an impressive facade. Include a cool preshow. Hop on then stop and watch, rinse repeat all the way to the "was that it?" climax.
I see MUCH more complaining about VB's colored slides than over Slinky's exposed track. For Slinky it's a lot of "just what the park needs", "it looks fun", "it's ok, it's for kids".
Picture the park before and after wizarding world. There was a studio/spanish mission entrance gate, Waterworld, a haunted house, a special effects show and animal show, the backlot tour, Back to the Future/Simpsons, a Shrek 4d film, Terminator/Minions, Mummy, Jurassic, and Transformers. I literally just named everything in the park so it might sound like a lot, but it really isn't. Some screenz, some live shows, and 2 actual rides. The focus was on the studio backlot, never on theming. This is their first true theme park land and it happens to be one of the best architecturally. The place remains a mess. It is a gain overall, but the ride itself... I'm sorry.
I have come to the conclusion that people will only enjoy things they WANT to enjoy regardless of quality. And once they form their negative opinion, no amount of facts will change their mind.
Just try and convince a Disney fan that the colored visible slides at Volcano Bay are actually in theme. That FACT is irrelevant to them. They cover their ears and scream, "Na, na, na, na, I can't hear you. Slides are ALWAYS tan, na, na, na. Disney said so, na, na, na!" All you can do when one of them goes off on Universal for sucking at theming because of the visible colored slides is shake you head and write them off as hopeless Pixie Dusters. Once a narrative has taken hold in their head they are done thinking about it. So, many of the folks who soil themselves with glee from seeing this,
Are beside themselves with apoplexy at how cheap, tacky, and epic fail in theming this is.
