A Spirited Valentine ...

[Rodan75]

Probably getting DL confused with WDW.

I did try and clarify with one guy and he said 'oh, no, it's happening here'.

I just let it go, It was too much to explain.

 

[Mike S]

Looks like USJ is gearing up for something
https://twitter.com/LCASTUDIOS_USJ/status/871970049837285376

For some reason I can't copy the pictures...

 

[wannabeBelle]

Now that some time has passed I'll give more detailed thoughts on Flight of Passage. It's a very Universal type ride except nothing really goes wrong and there's no character exposition. Lots of water though and, of course, falling/diving.

The ride is masterfully paced. Great moments of excitement paired with moments of calm. At first there was a slight disappointment in the lack of music to go along with the ride but then it starts to kick in for the finale. Absolutely beautiful. I was screaming in my head "Nooooooo!!!" as I began to leave my Avatar and come back to the real world. The last time I had this kind of strong reaction to a ride was Forbidden Journey.

I had much the same reaction, I thought it was great and really enjoyed it. I totally want a poster print of the final scene in the ride to hang in my house!!! Great job all around!!! Marie

 

[Cesar R M]

2016 TEA Annual Report is out.
http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_235_103719_170601.pdf
Interesting observation by Jason Garcia

cant read the PDF right now, but.. how much has Universal increased in attendance since they unveiled the Harry Potter's lands?

Yet Epcot held large masses of people for years. The drop of people and the lack of care began when the park when through the 90s. Every ride was gutted or replaced with an almost less than ride. What once were technological marvels and amazing rides are now just common theme park rides. What once made EPCOT Center special is gone and rather then admit that they started ruining the park in the 90s, they want to say that people just didn't like the old stuff which isn't only dumb but just a lie.

 

[yeti]

To each their own, but I think it's good you bring up the massive tonal shift between the two attractions because that played a big part in making GotG M:B it's own unique thing. In fact, massive changes to the attraction were necessary if Disney truly wanted it to be seen as something much more than just a cheap and awkward overlay. The way I saw it, they didn't let ToT dictate what GotG M:B ended up being as most of us assumed and instead let the GotG theme completely redefine how the space is used in admittedly innovative ways. Yes, comparisons are unavoidable, but I think it's unfair state that it needs to feel like ToT since that was not the intention.

I thought a lot about that, but it's one of the most originally thrilling ride systems out there and I think that lends itself to a more thoughtfully structured experience. I'll admit I really liked everything up until the ride itself, especially the preshow, and even appreciated all of the new special effects. I just think the original had so much more depth. No it doesn't need to feel like ToT, but as a replacement it should be better, and it wasn't.

 

[Cesar R M]

Misleading≠Fabricated

Since this is our annual conversation, here's how these figures can be misleading.

1. "First Click"- park attendance is based on the first park a guests visits in a day. If you visit DHS, finish up before lunch and leave for Epcot, DHS gets your click added to their tally. TDO and Burbank's concerns about DHS stem primarily from guest spending and time spent in the park. That's why capacity hasn't been the concern it should be with the expansion, which is more of a replacement project.
2. "Hard Ticket" Events- Admissions for Mickey's Halloween and Christmas parties at the MK and the new Halloween party at DL are counted as first clicks. Doesn't matter if you've been at the MK all day, a MNSHP or MVMCP is a new admission. Taking this into consideration, the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland's attendance figures are lower.

EDIT: Added mention of DL's new hard ticket event in 2016

Theres a lot of deviation of what is a real click and what is not in WDW.
The hopper and attendance switching can surely affect statistics.

 

[Donaldfan1934]

I thought a lot about that, but it's one of the most originally thrilling ride systems out there and I think that lends itself to a more thoughtfully structured experience. I'll admit I really liked everything up until the ride itself, especially the preshow, and even appreciated all of the new special effects. I just think the original had so much more depth. No it doesn't need to feel like ToT, but as a replacement it should be better, and it wasn't.

Thanks, I now see where you're coming from a bit more. Personally, I think the ride experience being entirely chaotic made the attraction more fun, but I can completely understand why someone would prefer more structural buildup within the ride portion itself in the case of this particular ride system. That being said, I in some ways agree with you that certain preshow elements can overshadow the ride to an extent. Most notably, the Rocket Racoon animatronic was among the very best Disney has ever created. the execution of that specific element made me wonder what they could've done if they started from scratch even more so than any other. As much as I enjoyed the attraction as it is, I still hope Disney does something entirely original with the GotG in Florida if they ever decide to do so.

 

[Cesar R M]

Breaking: Bob Iger resigned from Trump's economic advisory board over him pulling out of the Paris accords. Kudos to the Weatherman for showing some spine and some decency. He's still scum, but a little less so today!

I think he was following the trend, as Melon and other top techs were leaving too.

 

[Cesar R M]

Do you have cameras in my house?

always watching.. always.. creepily...

 

[Cesar R M]

Flight of Passage is frickin' amazing.

Holy crap.

finally rode it Mike? DO TELL.. GIVE US THE GOODS MAN.

 

[Cesar R M]

THIS WAS THE LARGEST OPENING OF A THEME PARK EXPANSION EVER. PERIOD!

THESE FIGURES SAID BY THE MEDIA WERE FAKE NEWs. WE HAD TREMENDOUS AND RECORD BREAKING ATTENDANCE!

 

[Cesar R M]

Spoiler: Rated PG13 for suggestive themes and language

They're gonna like it the most...

I'm confused, it this because of semi PG13 nudity with no bits visible?

He's not talking about men being uncomfortable.

Spoiler: You asked...

The seats vibrate.

oh.... OH!... Oh.... unless men are into that thing..

cue "thats my fetish" meme.

Looks like USJ is gearing up for something
https://twitter.com/LCASTUDIOS_USJ/status/871970049837285376

For some reason I can't copy the pictures...

niceeee!!

 

[Goob]

Is Japan getting the Nintendo World too? I mean, they should. I think it would be extremely cool to go to a Nintendo themed world in its homeland. Japan taboot.

 

[Bob Harlem]

Is Japan getting the Nintendo World too? I mean, they should. I think it would be extremely cool to go to a Nintendo themed world in its homeland. Japan taboot.

Japan is getting it first.

It's taking over some of the parking lot and parts of the main park in Universal Studios Japan, this is likely a setup for the groundbreaking ceremony:

 

[FigmentJedi]

Is Japan getting the Nintendo World too? I mean, they should. I think it would be extremely cool to go to a Nintendo themed world in its homeland. Japan taboot.

Japan's Nintendo World is opening first.

 

[UpAllNight]

Hmmm Universal have recently made an announcement about their Hollywood park, and seems like there is more info about Japan on the way.

As someone who has experienced Volcano Bay my reaction would be "give them something to distract them" but then I'm not in charge of a multi million dollar new park that I need to push, no matter if said water park is sitting at number 393 of 425 attractions in Orlando on tripadvisor.

Interesting few years at Universal, we've heard whispers on forums about big plans, but how this all ties together in terms of timeframe...or if it actually happens at all is interesting. Avengers, Jurassic Park, Potter Phase 3, Nintendo, Secret Life of Pets all rumoured.

 

[Goob]

What are you initial thoughts on Volcano Bay? To me, it seems it will be fine a month or two. I haven't been yet, but am planning on it in July. It looks pretty impressive.

 

[UpAllNight]

I posted about it earlier in the thread somewhere... Operationally it was a disaster and shouldn't have been opened & I remain unconvinced about Tapu Tapu. It's a good concept but it's severely flawed and from what I've read the flaws haven't been addressed. The park itself is nice, and has the best collection of slides in Orlando, if you can get on them. The theming is weak in my eyes...More Aquatica 1.5 than Typhoon Lagoon. I really enjoy Aquatica, so it's not a disaster but I think if you put someone who didn't know Orlando & introduced them as new parks to Typhoon and Volcano they'd say Typhoon was a much more impressive, immersive experience, when you start digging into the details.

They've overhyped & underdelivered I feel.... a recently emerging trend down at Universal. I hope they get back to making great rides and not believing their own hype, because Disney are fighting back.

 

[nor'easter]

To each their own, but I think it's good you bring up the massive tonal shift between the two attractions because that played a big part in making GotG M:B it's own unique thing. In fact, massive changes to the attraction were necessary if Disney truly wanted it to be seen as something much more than just a cheap and awkward overlay. The way I saw it, they didn't let ToT dictate what GotG M:B ended up being as most of us assumed and instead let the GotG theme completely redefine how the space is used in admittedly innovative ways. Yes, comparisons are unavoidable, but I think it's unfair state that it needs to feel like ToT since that was not the intention.

But ... but it's bouncy and fun! And everyone's lining up for hours! I'm being sarcastic but I see on the Disneyland forum anyone who remotely doesn't like it is getting sort of jumped on and told how great it is.

I'm sure I'll like it and am looking forward to a new experience using the Tower system but people need to remember it's OK to have a difference of opinion. Not everyone will love it.

Except for the racoon audioanimatronic, I absolutely hated this attraction. It takes the tower's ride system, which made sense with the old story, and turns it into a Maliboomer with booming music. Oh, and throw in a few screens when the bouncing stops for a few seconds. If this was in a Marvel themed land (like, say, Islands of Adventure) I would still not like the ride, but at least it would fit. What they have done is place a looming ugly hulk of a ride in the middle of Hollywood with the thinnest of backstories. It may have been expensive but it is a very awkward overlay nonetheless. Thank the Maker that this travesty did not befall the TOT in Florida.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Except for the racoon audioanimatronic, I absolutely hated this attraction. It takes the tower's ride system, which made sense with the old story, and turns it into a Maliboomer with booming music. Oh, and throw in a few screens when the bouncing stops for a few seconds. If this was in a Marvel themed land (like, say, Islands of Adventure) I would still not like the ride, but at least it would fit. What they have done is place a looming ugly hulk of a ride in the middle of Hollywood with the thinnest of backstories. It may have been expensive but it is a very awkward overlay nonetheless. Thank the Maker that this travesty did not befall the TOT in Florida.

Well Hollywood Land will soon be a Marvel themed land, so that concern will be removed.