A Terror-rific Spirited 13th (ToT fans have lots to fear)...

MotherOfBirds

MotherOfBirds

Well-Known Member
How exactly are they planning to block the rest of Orlando from view at VB? There are two I-4 off ramps that run freakishly close to the slides/buildings and one of the slides momentarily crosses the property line to hang over Turkey Lake rd. They're going to need some big palm trees.
 
Soarin' Over Pgh

Soarin' Over Pgh

Well-Known Member
MotherOfBirds said:
How exactly are they planning to block the rest of Orlando from view at VB? There are two I-4 off ramps that run freakishly close to the slides/buildings and one of the slides momentarily crosses the property line to hang over Turkey Lake rd. They're going to need some big palm trees.
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Walls.

This is America. We build... walls. :cautious:

I'm thinking lots of vegetation to keep with the tropical theming as well as block the unsightly stuff. Noise wise... lots of piped in music.
 
I am Timmy

I am Timmy

Well-Known Member
The_Jobu said:
Pretty much the only thing that would get me to actually visit Vegas.

(My travel interests are weird like that)
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Agreed. Years ago I took my two DS when they were wee to Vegas strictly for the Star Trek Experience. They didn't know much about it, or why I was excited to have them get pics with "klingons" or "ferengi" (actors dressed up and walked around - very impressive makeup), but they smiled for me none the less. The museum was amazing (the moving Borg were terrifying to the boys), the replica bridge aboard the Enterprise a dream, and eating at Quark's Bar and Restaurant a real treat. The boys got bears dressed as Starfleet officers. They still have them. Only when they got older did they realize exactly what they had experienced, and have since actually watched various Star Trek series and understood. Ah, memories.....
 
A

Absimilliard

Well-Known Member
lazyboy97o said:
Water parks are still somewhat looked down upon as inferior, but the goal of just making a great theme park, not following a done multiple times formula, should be the goal of any additional theme park. And you keep trying to turn this into a Disney-Universal thing when that is not at all relevant.
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On that subject, the fact Siam Park was nominated for the Applause Award in 2016 is a sign the industry is moving to accepting water parks as equal. What is the Applause Award? An award given to parks who go the extra mile in every aspects of their operation and presentation and gives an incredible experience to its guests. A select panel of industry legends secretely vote on the winner and the result is announced at IAAPA in Orlando in November.

2016 winner was Busch Gardens Tampa and beside Siam Park, the third nominee was Legoland Billund. Siam Park is an amazing water park located on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The 2014 winner was completely out of left field: Le Puy du Fou in France. What is it? It is a show park with a small zoo component where you can animals that are used in the shows in amazing habitats. The shows are beyond what is normally done at a theme park and the Cinescenie night time show use 1200 actors, hundreds of horses and tells the story of the nearby castle. That's how far the Industry has come along, but fans like us have not yet caught up. To be honest, I think I am one of the few bloggers in the world to actually cover the waterpark industry. A site in Germany does a great job and it is pretty much left to both of us on the fans side to raise awareness.

Back to the subject, I think Universal did their homework for Volcano Bay and we will see something that has not been done before at a water park. It will effectively blur the lines between theme and waterpark.
 
DDLand

DDLand

Well-Known Member
Absimilliard said:
On that subject, the fact Siam Park was nominated for the Applause Award in 2016 is a sign the industry is moving to accepting water parks as equal. What is the Applause Award? An award given to parks who go the extra mile in every aspects of their operation and presentation and gives an incredible experience to its guests. A select panel of industry legends secretely vote on the winner and the result is announced at IAAPA in Orlando in November.

2016 winner was Busch Gardens Tampa and beside Siam Park, the third nominee was Legoland Billund. Siam Park is an amazing water park located on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The 2014 winner was completely out of left field: Le Puy du Fou in France. What is it? It is a show park with a small zoo component where you can animals that are used in the shows in amazing habitats. The shows are beyond what is normally done at a theme park and the Cinescenie night time show use 1200 actors, hundreds of horses and tells the story of the nearby castle. That's how far the Industry has come along, but fans like us have not yet caught up. To be honest, I think I am one of the few bloggers in the world to actually cover the waterpark industry. A site in Germany does a great job and it is pretty much left to both of us on the fans side to raise awareness.

Back to the subject, I think Universal did their homework for Volcano Bay and we will see something that has not been done before at a water park. It will effectively blur the lines between theme and waterpark.
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I don't think think Volcano Bay is going to fumble the aesthetics. Universal Creative has shown their ability to create beautiful or captivating spaces.

The thing that makes me hesitant to call Volcano Bay a Theme Park is the big question of whether it's actually on track to effectively use visual thematic storytelling. The jury remains out on whether this is going to be pretty park with slides going through it, or a Water Park with a message. A Theme Park needs to communicate a message. Will there just be slides or are they vehicles to deliver a story?

We'll see...

Mike S said:
I just don't expect them to do something like EPCOT Center or Animal Kingdom. I don't expect Disney to build brand new parks like those either sadly enough.
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It felt like with Islands of Adventure Universal was making an active effort to differentiate their parks. The train between the two parks was the clear renouncement of individuality. Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, the Magic Kingdom. Each of those used to be individual brand identities. Each one mattered.

Now they've been gobbled up by bigger resorts that are promoting Disney® and Universal®. Differentiation that used to be a hallmark of Orlando has disappeared because the two big players just aren't cognizant enough to realize what's happening.

Universal Park 3 being IP soup isn't the cause, but merely a symptom of a much larger problem that has taken hold. It's symbolic of the pivot the two big players have taken.

It seems like the park is coming sooner rather than later, so I'm curious to see how all this goes...
 
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Mike S

Mike S

Well-Known Member
DDLand said:
I don't think think Volcano Bay is going to fumble the aesthetics. Universal Creative has shown their ability to create beautiful or captivating spaces.

The thing that makes me hesitant to call Volcano Bay a Theme Park is the big question of whether it's actually on track to effectively use visual thematic storytelling. The jury remains out on whether this is going to be pretty park with slides going through it, or a Water Park with a message. A Theme Park needs to communicate a message. Will there just be slides or are they vehicles to deliver a story?

We'll see...


It felt like with Islands of Adventure Universal was making an active effort to differentiate their parks. The train between the two parks was the clear renouncement of individuality. Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, the Magic Kingdom. Each of those used to be individual brand identities. Each one mattered.

Now they've been gobbled up by bigger resorts that are promoting Disney® and Universal®. Differentiation that used to be a hallmark of Orlando has disappeared because the two big players just aren't cognizant enough to realize what's happening.

Universal Park 3 being IP soup isn't the cause, but merely a symptom of a much larger problem that has taken hold. It's symbolic of the pivot the two big players have taken.

It seems like the park is coming sooner rather than later, so I'm curious to see how all this goes...
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It'll go very well I'd imagine. Comcast is fully dedicated to their parks. I can't wait to get our first look at it. I imagine it'll be a whole park on the level of Diagon Alley's quality theming.
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Mike S said:
It'll go very well I'd imagine. Comcast is fully dedicated to their parks. I can't wait to get our first look at it. I imagine it'll be a whole park on the level of Diagon Alley's quality theming.
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"Theming" is a rather pointless term that is not synonymous with ornament. Lots of stuff to look at does not make a theme. This is the problem Disney has run into a lot lately, lots of stuff to look at but devoid of any real intent or meaning beyond being there.
 
DDLand

DDLand

Well-Known Member
lazyboy97o said:
"Theming" is a rather pointless term that is not synonymous with ornament. Lots of stuff to look at does not make a theme. This is the problem Disney has run into a lot lately, lots of stuff to look at but devoid of any real intent or meaning beyond being there.
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I'd go as far to say this lack of intent runs up to the most high profile rides. I may get grief for this, but Radiator Springs Racers even fell into this trap. Cars the film had themes like friendship, the importance of home, finding wisdom in those that came before. None of those translated to the high profile attraction.

It ultimately boils down to drive by pretty scenery, relive moments from the film, race. If we're talking about attractions that have a soul, Hong Kong's Mystic Manor is a far more ambitious and better executed example. You'd expect a creative like John L. to want real storytelling, but strangely it was a best of hits from his film. This is yet another reason I'm hesitant to get excited about IP attractions.

It really did put you "into the world of Cars," but failed critically to put you into a story.
 
GoofGoof

GoofGoof

Premium Member
DDLand said:
I'd go as far to say this lack of intent runs up to the most high profile rides. I may get grief for this, but Radiator Springs Racers even fell into this trap. Cars the film had themes like friendship, the importance of home, finding wisdom in those that came before. None of those translated to the high profile attraction.

It ultimately boils down to drive by pretty scenery, relive moments from the film, race. If we're talking about attractions that have a soul, Hong Kong's Mystic Manor is a far more ambitious and better executed example. You'd expect a creative like John L. to want real storytelling, but strangely it was a best of hits from his film. This is yet another reason I'm hesitant to get excited about IP attractions.

It really did put you "into the world of Cars," but failed critically to put you into a story.
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I hold out some hope for Pandora as an IP based attraction. I don't expect the rides to just be a retelling of the movie. I guess we'll know soon.
 
admiral-ari-x

admiral-ari-x

Well-Known Member
Quinnmac000 said:
You do know they also have some other very iconic location based landmarks they could use aka The Paris Opera House for two of their classic monster films both titled Phantom of The Opera and produced 5 versions of Phantom of the Opera. Kinda makes it an obvious choice.
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If Uni actually decided to do that, I think I'd lose my ever-loving mind! Such a cool idea!
In terms of other park centerpieces though, I don't think Universal has ever done much of that- at least, the center landmarks aren't rides, but monuments of sorts (the globe and the lighthouse for Uni and IoA respectively).
 
JoeCamel

JoeCamel

Well-Known Member
admiral-ari-x said:
If Uni actually decided to do that, I think I'd lose my ever-loving mind! Such a cool idea!
In terms of other park centerpieces though, I don't think Universal has ever done much of that- at least, the center landmarks aren't rides, but monuments of sorts (the globe and the lighthouse for Uni and IoA respectively).
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In Orlando the centers are lakes. Fitting

(Universal did Creature from the Black Lagoon) ;)

Globy and the lighthouse are icons ala BAH
 

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