All things Universal Studios Hollywood

[CaptinEO]

I had hoped for Mine Cart Madness because the idea behind it is perhaps the cleverest I've ever heard for a roller coaster. Not to mention the rumor seemed to go hand in hand with the idea that they would take out additional soundstages, so size didn't concern me. However, whatever project Universal embraces after Fast & Furious, it had better not be anything to do with Harry Potter.

I'm curious about how others on the site feel about this, but Universal Hollywood will always be working against its constricted size and Potter is already represented well. It's probably tempting with the new series on the way and plenty of established attractions they could economically duplicate. For my part, I hope they choose something unique, rather than devote limited space to a property that already has one of the best themed lands anywhere.

I agree. I love Nintendo but Uni Hollywood doesn't have the space to do more than one ride per series.

Heck I'm hoping the Fast Furious coaster means they can redo that awful tram tour scene to be anything else.

 

[PiratesMansion]

How many nights a week does HHN usually run in mid-October? I want to say I remember them usually taking off Mondays or Tuesdays or something to that effect, but I don't recall for sure.

Weirdly Knott's has its hours up on their Scary Farm page at this point, which I am grateful for, but naturally there's nothing official posted for Universal yet and I can't find historical hours info.

 

[Skip]

How many nights a week does HHN usually run in mid-October? I want to say I remember them usually taking off Mondays or Tuesdays or something to that effect, but I don't recall for sure.

Weirdly Knott's has its hours up on their Scary Farm page at this point, which I am grateful for, but naturally there's nothing official posted for Universal yet and I can't find historical hours info.

Aside from opening weekend, expect a Thursday to Sunday schedule with an occasional Wednesday toward the latter half of the run. One Wednesday may be added later on.

 

[Ethan Disney]

ICYMI: last week permits were filed for an 11 story hotel for USH (P515) and below that more permits for the FF coaster (P409)

 

[Ethan Disney]

Demo for Fast and Furious Coaster commences!

 

[Phroobar]

I'm going to miss the Castle theater. I have fond memories of watching Conan and Dracula shows there.

 

[Phroobar]

The best part of the Conan show was the stunt performers would stand outside the exits and greet everyone as they exited. The show's stuntwoman was pretty amazing and you can talk to her after the show! I think they still do that after the Water World show.

 

[Rich T]

Have you seen the Super Mario movie yet? Thoughts?

Hi, mickEblu, I finally saw the Super Mario Bros. movie. I would have posted this a bit sooner, but I just got back from my first trip to Dollywood (what a wonderful park!!!!)

I LOVED the Super Mario Bros. Movie. It had me grinning and laughing from start to finish, and I was blown away that they managed to genuinely work the franchise’s gameplay mechanics into the way the story is told (I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out Shigeru Miyamoto insisted the gameplay elements be a factor). This is the first film based on a video game franchise that truly looks like the games, captures the feeling of the games, hits all the important story points that define Mario games, and still manages to function as a fun, coherent movie.

But, that said, I can also understand how a non-fan can look at this film and go, “Wha….?” . It is not the greatest animated movie of all time. Its plot is about an inch deep. It makes no attempt to explain why or how any aspect of the Mushroom Kingdom exists (and it shouldn’t). In those ways, it greatly reminds me of Yellow Submarine, another animated fantasy I love based on a huge pop culture phenomenon, and a movie that’s more interested in celebrating its source material (The Beatles) than in giving its fantasy world any explanation or depth.

And, when a film is as much fun as Super Mario Bros. or Yellow Submarine, (or Disney’s animated Alice in Wonderland) I’m totally ok with that!

Visually, the movie is stunning. The entire voice cast is great. The music is amazing—both the original themes and the adaptations of the classic game themes. The tone and humor are spot-on. The story works. The addition of Mario’s family was a fun surprise. I love lots of foreshadowing in first acts, and this movie did not disappoint; Foreman Spike foreshadowing Bowser, Francis the Dog foreshadowing Mario’s escape from Bomber Bill, the wonderful run through the construction site, etc.

Yeah, I would have liked it if they had slowed the pace a bit more here and there to have more character moments (because what DID make it into the film works well), a subplot would’ve been nice, and I was annoyed by the sudden intrusion of 80’s pop songs in those couple of spots. But Bowser’s song made up for everything, and it’s hard to argue with a director’s choices when the film makes a billion dollars in 3 weeks.

So, overall, I love it despite a couple of small gripes I’ve got, and I’m just flabbergasted they actually pulled it off and made a hugely entertaining Mario film that accurately reflects the games! I hope there’s more to come!

 

[Phroobar]

Looking at the concept art for the F&F coaster why did they have to get rid of the Animal Actors building? It seems like the whole thing could have fit in the Castle theater footprint. I wonder what will be built to the left of it. More dining? It looks like the Simpson's Italian restaurant gets changed. So half of the Simpsons street will be gone. I don't see the French Street Bistro anymore.

I guess they are eating both spots. This will be a big building.

 

[mickEblu]

Looking at the concept art for the F&F coaster why did they have to get rid of the Animal Actors building? It seems like the whole thing could have fit in the Castle theater footprint. I wonder what will be built to the left of it. More dining? It looks like the Simpson's Italian restaurant gets changed. So half of the Simpsons street will be gone. I don't see the French Street Bistro anymore.

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I guess they are eating both spots. This will be a big building.

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I know we’re excited about the coaster but I’m not excited to get a big warehouse building on the upper lot. The upper lot has managed to avoid this until now. The upper lot gets uglier with this move.

 

[Phroobar]

I know we’re excited about the coaster but I’m not excited to get a big warehouse building on the upper lot. The upper lot has managed to avoid this until now. The upper lot gets uglier with this move.

The maintenance building behind is pretty ugly. Hopefully the loading building will hide it. It's hard to tell the track layout.

 

[Skip]

All of the buildings on that side of the hill needed to go sooner or later regardless of whether this coaster was built. There are foundational problems with the hill - stuff is sinking, slowly.

 

[Phroobar]

All of the buildings on that side of the hill needed to go sooner or later regardless of whether this coaster was built. There are foundational problems with the hill - stuff is sinking, slowly.

That is a good reason for a total rebuild. They will reinforce the hillside at the same time.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Spontaneous, invasive summer refurbs apparently aren't just for Disneyland anymore!

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

Spontaneous, invasive summer refurbs apparently aren't just for Disneyland anymore!

As long as they keep the practical elements (physical props, water, fire, etc.) and don’t turn it into another Kong or F&F projection-style dome I’m good.

 

[mickEblu]

As long as they keep the practical elements (physical props, water, fire, etc.) and don’t turn it into another Kong or F&F projection-style dome I’m good.

I wouldn’t mind if it got replaced with something a little more whimsical. Earthquake along with some of the older scenes from the Tram Tour are all that remain from the USH of my youth but I’d be ok with both Earthquake and Fast/ Furious being reimagined so long as it’s not another screen fest. It’s hard to be too nostalgic about a claustrophobic nightmare. I’d miss the smell of that water though.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

I wouldn’t mind if it got replaced with something a little more whimsical. Earthquake along with some of the older scenes from the Tram Tour are all that remain from the USH of my youth but I’d be ok with both Earthquake and Fast/ Furious being reimagined so long as it’s not another screen fest. It’s hard to be too nostalgic about a claustrophobic nightmare. I’d miss the smell of that water though.

I’m good with that, too. Maybe this is early pre-planning for an eventual “plus up” for whatever it is once the finally axe the F&F section when the coaster opens. I really hope they do reconfigure tour, even if it is shaved down to 30 minutes and concluded with Jaws if it meant a real expansion pad for the park where F&F and the current load/unload is.

 

[mickEblu]

I’m good with that, too. Maybe this is early pre-planning for an eventual “plus up” for whatever it is once the finally axe the F&F section when the coaster opens. I really hope they do reconfigure tour, even if it is shaved down to 30 minutes and concluded with Jaws if it meant a real expansion pad for the park where F&F and the current load/unload is.

Something Mushroom Kingdom/ Mario would be a big draw for the kids and God knows they need more of that. Maybe something Classic Monsters related? Off the top of my head those would be my two choices to replace Fast Furious and Earthquake.

 

[mickEblu]

I’m good with that, too. Maybe this is early pre-planning for an eventual “plus up” for whatever it is once the finally axe the F&F section when the coaster opens. I really hope they do reconfigure tour, even if it is shaved down to 30 minutes and concluded with Jaws if it meant a real expansion pad for the park where F&F and the current load/unload is.

What comes after Jaws? Psycho? Wisteria Lane? Little Europe? Or are the latter two before Jaws? I think 30 is little short but id be good with 45 min depending on what show elements remain.

Mario may seem redundant to some but I don't think it is as the Mario kart ride doesn't really have any sort of suspense or adventure which is what id expect out of a Mario segment on a tram tour.

 

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

Something Mushroom Kingdom/ Mario would be a big draw for the kids and God knows they need more of that. Maybe something Classic Monsters related? Off the top of my head those would be my two choices to replace Fast Furious and Earthquake.

Well if the rumors are true in Florida IOA is getting Zelda. If this is being built off the upper lot I think it may be a good build off there. Wizarding World expansion would work too. But I also wouldn’t mind seeing Monsters or even How to Train Your Dragon porter from EU.