All things Universal Studios Hollywood

[Professortango1]

The cars look great. I just wish the coaster itself did as well. Instead we have the outdoor portion of Tron combined with a there and back design in an exposed alleyway.

I know coasters are fun to be on, but they should also be nice to look at when exposed to guests. USH is that "perfect" blend of Disney and Six Flags.

 

[Rich T]

Those are really cool. Dammit too bad this attraction didn’t skew more family coaster. But I guess not the right IP for that. Too bad though as the last thing USH needs with its low ride count is another attraction with a 48+ inch height requirement.

On the other hand, this really is the big, flashy, attention-grabber they’ve needed: They’ve just put this park on the must-do list of every coaster fan on Earth and it’ll bring in thrillseekers for years and years.

Now that USH has checked-off that particular item box, hopefully more family attractions are next, and I really hope it starts with a great dark ride or a new-gen family thrill coaster.

 

[AJFireman]

Looks like they had a Media event as well. So should be seeing lots of pics and videos soon . Here is KTLA gives a better real life perspective VS flashy PR pictures.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

On the other hand, this really is the big, flashy, attention-grabber they’ve needed: They’ve just put this park on the must-do list of every coaster fan on Earth and it’ll bring in thrillseekers for years and years.

Now that USH has checked-off that particular item box, hopefully more family attractions are next, and I really hope it starts with a great dark ride or a new-gen family thrill coaster.

Exactly - the park didn't need a family ride right now, it needed a headliner.

 

[Phroobar]

It got it's family ride when Secret Life of Pets was opened.

Now lets derez Simpsons Land.

 

[mickEblu]

Exactly - the park didn't need a family ride right now, it needed a headliner.

If you’re an intense coaster person this ride is a headliner for you. Thing is if you re a coaster person this park only has one other (mediocre) coaster. Is this ride going to move the needle? Is it going to get people to book vacations or become annual passholders? I don’t think so. I think the park needs a more family friendly E ticket a lot more than this.

 

[denyuntilcaught]

If you’re an intense coaster person this ride is a headliner for you. Thing is if you re a coaster person this park only has one other (mediocre) coaster. Is this ride going to move the needle? Is it going to get people to book vacations or become annual passholders? I don’t think so. I think the park needs a more family friendly E ticket a lot more than this.

I will say, as someone who holds both a Disneyland AP and a SFMM membership, this roller coaster is the first thing that has given me reason to consider going to USH in over a decade.

A family friendly E ticket probably wouldn't have done that. USH just reads boring right now, this helps to fix that. Now, a fast follow with a family friendly E ticket would be fantastic - and is hopefully on the books! I'm not arguing that it's not needed. I'm just arguing prioritization.

 

[MistaDee]

If you’re an intense coaster person this ride is a headliner for you. Thing is if you re a coaster person this park only has one other (mediocre) coaster. Is this ride going to move the needle? Is it going to get people to book vacations or become annual passholders? I don’t think so. I think the park needs a more family friendly E ticket a lot more than this.

I can appreciate that for those who aren’t big thrill seekers, but I do consider it part of Uni’s brand to marry the rich themed experience with proper thrill coasters and this ride will finally provide that for Hollywood.

I also think when you look at the last big developments they have been prioritizing family attractions with Super Nintendo, Secret Life of Pets and even Minion Mayhem so it does seem like there is more attention being paid to the full family demographic compared to the days of T-2, Walking Dead, Mummy etc which even if not thrill rides, certainly skew towards a slightly older PG-13 sorta crowd

 

[Phroobar]

I was watching the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew mysteries on Peacock. They played the Mystery of the Hollywood Phantom. This is where the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew go to a detective convention at Universal Studios. They had some great footage of the park entrance, the rock slide, the spinning avalanche. Nancy almost got eaten by Jaws but was saved by Dennis Weaver. I always loved these episodes of self promotion they did back in the 70s and 80s.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I can appreciate that for those who aren’t big thrill seekers, but I do consider it part of Uni’s brand to marry the rich themed experience with proper thrill coasters and this ride will finally provide that for Hollywood.

I also think when you look at the last big developments they have been prioritizing family attractions with Super Nintendo, Secret Life of Pets and even Minion Mayhem so it does seem like there is more attention being paid to the full family demographic compared to the days of T-2, Walking Dead, Mummy etc which even if not thrill rides, certainly skew towards a slightly older PG-13 sorta crowd

It is genuinely odd in retrospect that other Universal parks (most notably IOA) have huge intense coasters that are signature attractions, hugely important parts of their brand, and have been that way for some time, while Hollywood is only just now getting around to something beyond its compromised version of the Mummy.

 

[MistaDee]

It is genuinely odd in retrospect that other Universal parks (most notably IOA) have huge intense coasters that are signature attractions, hugely important parts of their brand, and have been that way for some time, while Hollywood is only just now getting around to something beyond its compromised version of the Mummy.

Definitely a headscratcher - maybe with Magic Mountain down the road there was less of an appetite to compete with big thrills compared to a relatively more open market in Orlando? I guess the drifting element and the F&F tie in might be enough reason for Uni to believe they have something differentiated from the Six Flags offerings.

I'm not tapped in enough to know if there have been recent changes with the evolution plan or otherwise that make a coaster of this size possible where maybe noise and neighbor concerns wouldn't have been in the past. Scream shields have certainly been around for quite some time now.

 

[D.Silentu]

I think it has a lot to do with the park's proximity to a country club and the multimillion dollar neighborhood in Toluca Lake. They have often complained to Universal about Horror Nights and other events to the point that people are hired to set up decibel readers to track the noise pollution.