All things Universal Studios Hollywood

[BuzzedPotatoHead89]

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.

I don’t recall the order but I thought Jaws and Psycho was close to the end. If you move the load/unload to lower lot like they did back in the day (perhaps behind Transformers) though the order could conceivably change.

I’m fine with more Mario/DK but as a build out of the Lower Lot too maybe in the sound stages or as a Mummy replacement.

 

[mickEblu]

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.

If what is being built off the upper lot? To be clear I was speaking of Mario and Classic Monsters additions to the tram tour. I wouldn't want the former to take any more space at the park with another land unless it's another Nintendo franchise like Donkey Kong.

 

[Phroobar]

There are reports that Universal is playing coaster noises near the upper escalators. They built a sound shield for testing.

 

[PiratesMansion]

HHN tickets went on sale today. Confirmed that there will be eight houses (one of which will be based on the video game The Last of Us, one of which will be based on Chucky) and Terror Tram.

 

[Phroobar]

Universal needs to put this in. It's a Jurassic Park jeep adventure where you get to really drive the jeep around.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Universal needs to put this in. It's a Jurassic Park jeep adventure where you get to really drive the jeep around.

When In the Loop went over to that park (Movieland Italy), they said the lines were long (low capacity) and they almost got stuck a few times because the course was very hilly.

I'm totally fine with the existing Jurassic Park/World ride and calling it a day (VelociCoaster at IOA is also fantastic and I hope that the USH coaster they're building is at least as good).

 

[Phroobar]

When In the Loop went over to that park (Movieland Italy), they said the lines were long (low capacity) and they almost got stuck a few times because the course was very hilly.

I'm totally fine with the existing Jurassic Park/World ride and calling it a day (VelociCoaster at IOA is also fantastic and I hope that the USH coaster they're building is at least as good).

The way tourists treat Autopia cars, they wouldn't get pass day one without a fender bender. This would be better for a boutique park with a couple hundred high paying guests.

 

[J4546]

yeah something like this would never last in universal or disney in the states before someone did something dumb

 

[Phroobar]

I saw this in Knott's parking lot last week. I think they are bringing back Kingdom of the Dinosaurs.

 

[D.Silentu]

Don't toy with me like that!

 

[Rich T]

Planning to head to Universal Orlando this week (weather permitting) to check out the new Minion mini land. Had never seen any of the Despicable Me/Minion films, so I forced myself to watch all 5 in order of release. Now I understand the appeal of these films for audiences who simply want to have some silly fun at the theater. I wouldn’t call them great movies, but they are very imaginative and the more of them you watch, the more their Rocky-and-Bullwinkle-ish world gels into a cohesive, likable comedy style.

My very favorite thing about the entire franchise is the wonderfully random selection of classic songs the Minions belt out with no warning. Broadway’s “Hair” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecelia” were highlights.

Despicable Me 2 is definitely is strongest of them, with Minions: Rise of Gru a close-but-sloppy 2nd. And I never thought I’d say this, but The Minions-the character concept—as a whole is a work of genius.

 

[Rich T]

A Californian-In-Florida’s Reactions to more things at Universal Orlando:

Went to check out the new Minions Land at the Studios Park (after, of course using IOA early entry to ride Hagrid’s and then catching Hogwart’s Express to the Studios).

The new Minions mini-land adds a nice splash of color and fun to that section of the park. Lots of fun details. Until the new ride opens, it’s just eateries and shops (and the old ride), but it’s all well done. It’s no Diagon Alley, but it works.

Minion’s Cafe is wonderful. Crazy fun decor with endless details, the mobile ordering from the table works like a charm, and the food is fantastic. The Meatball Mountain, Antidote Banana Soda and Pet Rock were so good I went back to the park two days later to order it all again.

Catching up on things I hadn’t experienced before:

Minion Mayhem: Really enjoyed it. I was amazed at how effective the “ride” system is; I was not expecting such a good simulator experience from an open theater setup.

Bourne Stuntacular: Mind-blowing. Had me in delighted awe from start to finish. Wow. YouTube videos do not come anywhere near doing it justice, as the incredible clarity of the screen image behind the performers is a huge part of the effect; the screen surface just seems to vanish. The timing is jaw-droppingly precise in everything from the stunt work to the live wind from the projected helicopter fanning out across the audience *just* *right*. Wonderous!

I can only think of one negative thing about the show, and I’m sure I’m not the first to say this: The show’s nature—blending the real and the projected so well it’s often hard to tell the difference—does, in my opinion, a bit of a disservice to the talented stunt performers. When everything’s an illusion, nothing seems real. Characters plummet from great heights; sometimes it’s live and sometimes it’s projected. I got the impression that the audience was loving the show, but there was no suspense over the potentially dangerous nature of live stunt work that you get with more traditional stunt shows.

Still, this is one of the best theme park shows on Earth. It deserves the description “magical.”

 

[Phroobar]

Bourne Stuntacular: Mind-blowing. Had me in delighted awe from start to finish. Wow. YouTube videos do not come anywhere near doing it justice, as the incredible clarity of the screen image behind the performers is a huge part of the effect; the screen surface just seems to vanish. The timing is jaw-droppingly precise in everything from the stunt work to the live wind from the projected helicopter fanning out across the audience *just* *right*. Wonderous!

I can only think of one negative thing about the show, and I’m sure I’m not the first to say this: The show’s nature—blending the real and the projected so well it’s often hard to tell the difference—does, in my opinion, a bit of a disservice to the talented stunt performers. When everything’s an illusion, nothing seems real. Characters plummet from great heights; sometimes it’s live and sometimes it’s projected. I got the impression that the audience was loving the show, but there was no suspense over the potentially dangerous nature of live stunt work that you get with more traditional stunt shows.

Still, this is one of the best theme park shows on Earth. It deserves the description “magical.”

That is the one that replaced T2:3D right? Same theater and idea.

 

[Rich T]

That is the one that replaced T2:3D right? Same theater and idea.

Yes, but carried out with huge technological upgrades in every way, the most immediately impactful being the projection system, with a result so incredibly sharp that 3D is no longer necessary. It begins right off the bat with a village street fight in broad daylight, with about 20 people gathered center-stage to cheer and participate, and at first my brain could not distinguish which people were projections and which ones were live actors, and throughout I was tricked and fooled in the best possible ways. And the way the real onstage buildings and vehicles rotate and slide around the stage to match the shifting camera angles of the screen footage is just… perfect. There are no movie-style camera cuts during scenes; it’s taking advantage of current CGI abilities to create long, unbroken roller-coastery chases.

And I gotta say, as someone unfamiliar with the Bourne franchise, I thought they did a great job of bringing newbies up to speed in the preshow.

Subpar gift shop exit, though.

 

[Rich Brownn]

Yes, but carried out with huge technological upgrades in every way, the most immediately impactful being the projection system, with a result so incredibly sharp that 3D is no longer necessary. It begins right off the bat with a village street fight in broad daylight, with about 20 people gathered center-stage to cheer and participate, and at first my brain could not distinguish which people were projections and which ones were live actors, and throughout I was tricked and fooled in the best possible ways. And the way the real onstage buildings and vehicles rotate and slide around the stage to match the shifting camera angles of the screen footage is just… perfect. There are no movie-style camera cuts during scenes; it’s taking advantage of current CGI abilities to create long, unbroken roller-coastery chases.

And I gotta say, as someone unfamiliar with the Bourne franchise, I thought they did a great job of bringing newbies up to speed in the preshow.

Subpar gift shop exit, though.

When it goes into a slow motion 'shot' I was amazed. That takes a lot of muscle and worked perfectly.

 

[wdrive]

Halloween Horror Nights, what are people’s thoughts on it? I’m in two minds if to go or not. Originally I was a no but I’ve seen some ticket prices and it’s way less than I expected for certain dates which has piqued my interest.

 

[Professortango1]

Halloween Horror Nights, what are people’s thoughts on it? I’m in two minds if to go or not. Originally I was a no but I’ve seen some ticket prices and it’s way less than I expected for certain dates which has piqued my interest.

HHN doesn't give me the bang for my buck. I prefer original mazes and those are usually only in Florida. Hollywood is more likely to have a lot of plain black walls as transitions. And the lines are horrible unless you pay several hundred each for the VIP.

I also find they do too many triggered pop out scares and very limited immersive creeping and performance in mazes.

So it depends on if the IPs fascinate you, if you want to get VIP, and if the quality of the sets justifies it for you.

 

[Parteecia]

Halloween Horror Nights, what are people’s thoughts on it? I’m in two minds if to go or not. Originally I was a no but I’ve seen some ticket prices and it’s way less than I expected for certain dates which has piqued my interest.

Check out some YouTubes to decide if the mazes are something you'd like. I have lots of fun but it's included with my pass so that may color my opinion. I did enjoy the Hogsmeade additions last year.

 

[Rich T]

Halloween Horror Nights, what are people’s thoughts on it? I’m in two minds if to go or not. Originally I was a no but I’ve seen some ticket prices and it’s way less than I expected for certain dates which has piqued my interest.

I’ve never gone, because I don’t enjoy gory horror, but everyone I know who’s gone has had nothing but good things to say afterward.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Halloween Horror Nights, what are people’s thoughts on it? I’m in two minds if to go or not. Originally I was a no but I’ve seen some ticket prices and it’s way less than I expected for certain dates which has piqued my interest.

It's not a perfect event, but I think it's a good time. I've only been once and I had a blast. Overall Knott's has the better event, but HHN does it's own thing better than some on here give it credit for.