All things Universal Studios Hollywood

[PiratesMansion]

To me, the big problem is that the parks aren't getting nearly equivalent builds IMO. Hollywood continually gets reduced scale or underwhelming offerings compared to Orlando and there's no effort to build something even fully equivalent in quality in California, let alone unique.

For all of the things Disney could do better, they're worlds ahead of Universal here.

 

[Touchdown]

USH has been and will continue to be a movie studio that pretends to be a theme park, USF is the opposite it’s a theme park that pretends to be a movie studio. It’s not surprising that each place does better at doing what it truely is, and doesn’t do so good at the thing it pretends to be. USH will never be Universal Orlando, it’s too small, its layout too cut up by the terrain, it’s always going to be second fiddle to Orlando, especially if they continue to want to run it as a movie studio. It’s quirky, unique, and other then history is never going to win against one of the top 5 theme park resorts in the word (DLR, WDW, DLJ, USO, DLP in no particular order.) That’s just not a fair comparison. I wish the companies would stop cloning but they won’t, and unlike Disney the CA park is not Universal’s darling.

 

[mickEblu]

According to Dev, USO is getting SLOP too. Would be nice if USH got clones of Monsters Unchained and Hagrid tho.

Add Monsters Unchained (or something on the same level) + Hagrids and that would completely change my perception of the park. Well… and maybe one indoor family boat ride.

 

[Rich T]

To me, the big problem is that the parks aren't getting nearly equivalent builds IMO. Hollywood continually gets reduced scale or underwhelming offerings compared to Orlando and there's no effort to build something even fully equivalent in quality in California, let alone unique.

For all of the things Disney could do better, they're worlds ahead of Universal here.

There are so many differences between the two situations though—both in size, the relationship to the competition on each coast, Universal’s opportunity to win more day visits from guests spending a week vacation in Orlando, the fact that UO has become a multi-day complete resort… etc.

USH deserves love, of course! But UO has four parks, eleven hotels and a massive infrastructure competing with WDW for shares of the biggest theme park tourism money pie in the U.S. And right now… the iron is hot, as they say.

 

[PiratesMansion]

There are so many differences between the two situations though—both in size, the relationship to the competition on each coast, Universal’s opportunity to win more day visits from guests spending a week vacation in Orlando, the fact that UO has become a multi-day complete resort… etc.

USH deserves love, of course! But UO has four parks, eleven hotels and a massive infrastructure competing with WDW for shares of the biggest theme park tourism money pie in the U.S. And right now… the iron is hot, as they say.

Yet nonetheless it is clear that there's a desire to make USH have more parity and grow, is there not? I understand that there's a difference in scope and national audience and in the needs and design of each property, as someone experienced in visiting both, but here's what I see:

People from Florida coming to different places to ask about Disneyland almost invariably ask about Universal too. They have the expectation from Florida that Universal has something to offer them, only to find that oh, there are only 10ish rides, a lot of which are clones or scaled down versions of what I've already done in Florida.

Obviously, not everyone is in that situation and many people might well rule out Disneyland or Universal based on the fact that they're not super close to each other and they have to make a choice of what to cut. But quite a few people who are coming over here to visit Disneyland are cutting Universal based on what they hear.

It may not be THE market USH serves, but it is nonetheless A market and they are comparatively squandering it, one that ostensibly they are aiming for as they attempt to build to build things like Nintendo World.

And let's be real, people don't talk about how WDW has six parks, they have, for most people's purposes, four, so you'll forgive me if I therefore insist on pointing out that Orlando has three parks, not four.

To be honest, I think people are using the strengths of Universal Orlando to overinflate the strengths of Universal as a whole. The reputation in Orlando is very much earned. Whereas with Hollywood, it's clear they're trying on some level but clearly don't know how to-or don't care to-reach the heights of what they're building elsewhere. Yes, the circumstances are different, but that shouldn't mean that it's totally fine that Hollywood just isn't delivering on the level of Orlando.

 

[Rich T]

Yet nonetheless it is clear that there's a desire to make USH have more parity and grow, is there not? I understand that there's a difference in scope and national audience and in the needs and design of each property, as someone experienced in visiting both, but here's what I see:

People from Florida coming to different places to ask about Disneyland almost invariably ask about Universal too. They have the expectation from Florida that Universal has something to offer them, only to find that oh, there are only 10ish rides, a lot of which are clones or scaled down versions of what I've already done in Florida.

Obviously, not everyone is in that situation and many people might well rule out Disneyland or Universal based on the fact that they're not super close to each other and they have to make a choice of what to cut. But quite a few people who are coming over here to visit Disneyland are cutting Universal based on what they hear.

It may not be THE market USH serves, but it is nonetheless A market and they are comparatively squandering it, one that ostensibly they are aiming for as they attempt to build to build things like Nintendo World.

And let's be real, people don't talk about how WDW has six parks, they have, for most people's purposes, four, so you'll forgive me if I therefore insist on pointing out that Orlando has three parks, not four.

To be honest, I think people are using the strengths of Universal Orlando to overinflate the strengths of Universal as a whole. The reputation in Orlando is very much earned. Whereas with Hollywood, it's clear they're trying on some level but clearly don't know how to-or don't care to-reach the heights of what they're building elsewhere. Yes, the circumstances are different, but that shouldn't mean that it's totally fine that Hollywood just isn't delivering on the level of Orlando.

Well, I certainly agree with just about all of this. I included Volcano Bay mainly just as a part of the overall resort UO has to maintain and develop and not because I’d call it a theme park (After all, the UO toll booth team members themselves have often greeted guests with “Going to the Theme parks or Volcano Bay?” )

USH has one huge selling point neither UO nor Disney have: Genuine, real-deal historic Hollywood Golden Age on-site movie-making history. When tourists go to Southern CA and want to see “Hollywood,” USH is one of the last touchstones they can easily experience. Whatever expansion plans are in store for the park, I hope Universal always keeps that in focus.

(Just a quick, nutty thought: What if USH offered as an affordable upcharge attraction, an hour themed bus tour to view the actual Hollywood Sign, departing from and returning to the park? For out-of-towners that would be checking off a bonus Hollywood bucket list must-do in a most convenient way.)

I agree that USH deserves more than it’s currently getting, and I hope great things are in store. There are a lot of Where, What and How’s involved, but I’m ready to be amazed.

But re: the different situation in Orlando, I think Universal is “reading the room” and choosing this next several years as a golden cultural opportunity they’ve never had before, and are taking full advantage of it.

DL is possibly the absolute best theme park on Earth. Personally, I would not say the same about any of the WDW parks individually.

I was at UO today. It was mobbed. And—just from paying attention to comments going on all around me today—there were a LOT of first-time visitors there who had decided to give Universal a try. As in, enough to make me think (just my observation, nothing more) that UO’s efforts are already starting to pay off.

 

[Nirya]

Universal here in Hollywood is absolutely coasting on the name and having the studio tour, and it's very frustrating to look at a park that isn't allowed to be unique. I was thinking about this, and if you take away the studio tour, would Universal even be considered the best non-Disney park in SoCal? Magic Mountain has it beat when it comes to thrills, and Knotts has it beat when it comes to charm and theming. Universal has Disney-level ride tech, but there's not enough of it, and at the price they're charging compared to the other options it's hard to say you're getting appropriate value (Universal is $100 a day for a SoCal resident compared to $55 for MM and $60 for Knotts).

 

[mickEblu]

Universal here in Hollywood is absolutely coasting on the name and having the studio tour, and it's very frustrating to look at a park that isn't allowed to be unique. I was thinking about this, and if you take away the studio tour, would Universal even be considered the best non-Disney park in SoCal? Magic Mountain has it beat when it comes to thrills, and Knotts has it beat when it comes to charm and theming. Universal has Disney-level ride tech, but there's not enough of it, and at the price they're charging compared to the other options it's hard to say you're getting appropriate value (Universal is $100 a day for a SoCal resident compared to $55 for MM and $60 for Knotts).

I see where you re coming from but I have it as the best non Disney park in the state. I imagine most people do. Some people have it above DCA which I think is kind of crazy.

 

[Nirya]

I see where you re coming from but I have it as the best non Disney park in the state. I imagine most people do. Some people have it above DCA which I think is kind of crazy.

I have it there too but I think it's much closer to Magic Mountain and Knotts than Universal would be comfortable with.

 

[mickEblu]

I have it there too but I think it's much closer to Magic Mountain and Knotts than Universal would be comfortable with.

I’d agree it’s a little too close to Knotts but not Magic Mountain if we’re talking THEME parks. The thing about USH is there aren’t any vibes. Aside for a brief moment on Paris street, back path to Potter Land or some of those views on your way down to the lower lot its lacking in that department. And of course just not enough to do especially for the whole fam.

 

[Nirya]

I’d agree it’s a little too close to Knotts but not Magic Mountain if we’re talking THEME parks. The thing about USH is there aren’t any vibes. Aside for a brief moment on Paris street, back path to Potter Land or some of those views on your way down to the lower lot its lacking in that department. And of course just not enough to do especially for the whole fam.

Throw out the Theme part, just as an amusement park meant to provide value, it's extremely lacking for what it's charging. Magic Mountain has more roller coasters than Universal has rides, and that's not including all the other things Magic Mountain has (there are a surprising amount of flat rides here as well). Knotts is similar in that it is providing a more well-rounded day than Universal is.

 

[J4546]

I think when USH opens FnF coaster that will elevate it alot but its still lacking in terms of major rides esp on the upper lot. imo. They got the HP ride which is great even though I cant ride cause I get sick I still respect it and thats it. I dont know if people consider the simpsons or madasgascar or PETS major rides but not to me. With the coaster they will have 2 big rides up top, and 3 in the bottom. and with the Tram tour that makes 6 major rides imo maybe Im missing something. And Waterworld. Waterworld is the greatest live show ever

 

[Phroobar]

USH guests are not theme park fans but tourists from China and Germany. They love this park because they are seeing a "real" working studio. It's part of their tour of Hollywood that includes the Walk of Fame and special studio tours. I wish Warner Bros and Disney would expand their studio tours. It's a working studio first. Universal spent money on new production facilities and will start on a new in-park hotel for the foreign tourists.

 

[PiratesMansion]

USH guests are not theme park fans but tourists from China and Germany. They love this park because they are seeing a "real" working studio. It's part of their tour of Hollywood that includes the Walk of Fame and special studio tours. I wish Warner Bros and Disney would expand their studio tours. It's a working studio first. Universal spent money on new production facilities and will start on a new in-park hotel for the foreign tourists.

Except it's very clearly not just foreign tourists visiting USH. There are a number of people on here who profess to visit regularly or semi-regularly, and it sees quite a bit of domestic tourist traffic as well. Although I'm sure there's a decent number of people that indeed just want to see a working studio, I imagine there's a fair share of others who check it out primarily because of what they've heard about the Florida resort, since we all know that tourists are bad at research and understanding the nuances of what each resort actually offers.

At any rate, while it's no theme park, Warner Bros. has dumped a TON of money into their tours over the years. There was a dramatic difference and upscaling between my first tour in 2015 and my most recent tour in 2022. They added a parking garage, new permanent exhibits and gift shops, a new tour focused on their older films, a larger and nicer waiting area, gone all in on Friends, a big Harry Potter section, etc. They are far from just sitting on their hands.