All things Universal Studios Hollywood

[Phroobar]

I thought they used the Special Effects stage for Transformers? It’s still there?

It's actually Stage 16. Trams used to park between 15 & 16. I believe Stage 15 is where Frankenstein was filmed. I think there is enough room for a miniland there.

 

[J4546]

they are doing a lot at USH with the hillside, I wonder what will come of that? Also I could see them getting rid of Mummy to access even more space if anything and really grow the lower lot

 

[mickEblu]

All this talk about more Potter but what about more Jurassic Park? Talk about evergreen. And check out this segue… even though the park is surrounded by greenery it sure could use some more of it inside the park. More JP would bring that. I guess the issue I see is that the River Ride checks so many boxes I’m not even sure what a second attraction down there would offer. The Beijing ride looks great but would be redundant at USH.

 

[J4546]

I think USH is gonna stick to the studio lots aesthetic because it is actually a working studio. Id love more trees and greenery cause a lot of the park is pretty baren. If they got rid of Mummy and opened the lower lot up they could add a ton more.

 

[mickEblu]

I think USH is gonna stick to the studio lots aesthetic because it is actually a working studio. Id love more trees and greenery cause a lot of the park is pretty baren. If they got rid of Mummy and opened the lower lot up they could add a ton more.

Maybe if they scrap the Mummy (and transformers too) they could expand the JP jungle theming and transition to DK’s jungle theming next to Super Nintendo land. That Transformers building is an eyesore. But now you re at net gain of 0 attractions at best and eliminating two of the most popular attractions in the park.

 

[J4546]

I hope they redo the Simpsons area next, that area is dated and the ride is meh

 

[mickEblu]

Monsters is such a great ride AND a people-eating crowd pleaser that I’d say absolutely. Also, the motion-sickness factor of FJ is practically a complete non-issue on Monsters, making it do-able and re-rideable for more guests.

Just as DL uses the same ride systems on multiple attractions, I think USH guests wouldn’t object to 2 arm-based dark rides because of how different the two experiences are, despite Studios having fewer attractions, making the similar hardware more apparent. I think the main reaction of USH guests to Monsters be “That was fantastic, and I didn’t get motion sick!”

And correct me if I’m wrong but Monsters land over at Epic isn’t really an attraction in and of itself the way the Potter land is right? So while maybe a little aesthetically similar Monsters land I feel like is just an entrance to the big E ticket as opposed to some full blown impressive land

 

[Rich T]

And correct me if I’m wrong but Monsters land over at Epic isn’t really an attraction in and of itself the way the Potter land is right? So while maybe a little aesthetically similar Monsters land I feel like is just an entrance to the big E ticket as opposed to some full blown impressive land

It’s in-between. The Village of Darkmoor is a very detailed small land that extends past Frankenstein Manor, getting more woodsy as it loops around and through the Werewolf coaster back toward the portal area. It’s got a big (but concealed) restaurant, a small awesome tavern, two shops, the monster makeup boutique, and a couple of smaller themed gift and snack stands. with roving character actors and amazing ambient audio all over the place. The lighting and sound get wilder after dark.

But it is the smallest of Epic’s lands and IMO feels like it’s *almost* complete and just needs a bit more. In scope, if Isle of Berk is Epic’s Galaxy’s Edge/Fantasyland, Dark Universe is Epic’s Critter Country. It definitely could use another ride and a bit more to explore. And a solution to Werewolf’s ugly safety netting situation.

 

[J4546]

I think the next major IP to go to USH is Monsters or something dreamworks.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I'm totally fine with anything coming to USH from Epic.

I welcome anything of high quality that doesn't come at the expense of something currently there that is high quality.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm totally fine with anything coming to USH from Epic.

I welcome anything of high quality that doesn't come at the expense of something currently there that is high quality.

Do you consider Transformers high quality? The only untouchables on the lower lot for me are Jurassic World and for obvious reasons Super Nintendo Land. I do enjoy the Mummy but I'd willing to let it go for the right plan that would make the lower lot more cohesive and/or well themed. Or maybe even give it a proper facade, blend it in with the new stuff/ Jurassic Park and turn it into some sort of Adventureland. On the upper lot, as far as attractions, it could all go except for Potter for all I care. Obviously SLOP isn't going anywhere but they can do whatever they want with Minions or Simpsons.

 

[mickEblu]

Yeah if I had my way I'd give the Mummy a proper facade and retheme that whole lower lot (minus Super Nintendo Land) to be Universal's version of Adventureland. Not sure the Mummy is expendable as the parks only indoor coaster and more family friendly coaster. Or at least friendlier than the new Fast/Furious coaster they're building. Not to mention it's not a screen ride. Id knock down Transformers and put DK there which would be a nice weenie towards the back of the land. I'd like to see them give the DK mine ride the full E ticket treatment though. One of these Nintendo rides needs to live up to the expectations. It's starting to feel like Disney's Marvel attractions (excluding minus Cosmic Rewind). If not DK there than another fully flushed out land. If Transformers was in some corner of the park I'd say it's worth keeping around but it sits on prime real estate especially with the rumored expansion being back there.

 

[Phroobar]

I'd upgrade Transformers to make the robots look more like the '85 Transformers the Movie and less like Michael Bay. The opening scene from Rise of the Beasts is a better look.

Besides, didn't they just upgrade Transformers a few months ago with new sets and a new print?

 

[mickEblu]

I'd upgrade Transformers to make the robots look more like the '85 Transformers the Movie and less like Michael Bay. The opening scene from Rise of the Beasts is a better look.

Besides, didn't they just upgrade Transformers a few months ago with new sets and a new print?

They did? I don't feel like anybody is talking about it. I know it was closed for a few months. Shoot, so they re investing in it? Thats too bad.

 

[Phroobar]

They did? I don't feel like anybody is talking about it. I know it was closed for a few months. Shoot, so they re investing in it? Thats too bad.

It's been talked about over at Inside Universal. Reopened from its multi-month refurbishment last June. Many changes included upgrading the nearly 15-year-old projectors as well as refurbishing many of the original scenes and ride vehicles to their former selves.

 

[Rich T]

Yeah if I had my way I'd give the Mummy a proper facade and retheme that whole lower lot (minus Super Nintendo Land) to be Universal's version of Adventureland. Not sure the Mummy is expendable as the parks only indoor coaster and more family friendly coaster. Or at least friendlier than the new Fast/Furious coaster they're building. Not to mention it's not a screen ride. Id knock down Transformers and put DK there which would be a nice weenie towards the back of the land. I'd like to see them give the DK mine ride the full E ticket treatment though. One of these Nintendo rides needs to live up to the expectations. It's starting to feel like Disney's Marvel attractions (excluding minus Cosmic Rewind). If not DK there than another fully flushed out land. If Transformers was in some corner of the park I'd say it's worth keeping around but it sits on prime real estate especially with the rumored expansion being back there.

I have to speak up for Mariokart. I didn’t ride it until Epic opened for previews, but I’d been following the reviews, so I went in knowing what to expect… And I absolutely love this thing—More-so with each reride. It took me a couple of rides to fully understand what the rules are and what needs to get done to win the race, but once that became clear—- It’s actually a really fun, functioning game! The last moments of Rainbow Road, with everyone throwing everything they’ve got at Bowser, and then Mario squeaking past at the last second (but only if your car has scored enough points) is one of my favorite ride moments.

DK is great as a secondary attraction. I agree it should be plussed up to qualify as a headliner if it ever becomes a major addition at USH.

 

[mickEblu]

I have to speak up for Mariokart. I didn’t ride it until Epic opened for previews, but I’d been following the reviews, so I went in knowing what to expect… And I absolutely love this thing—More-so with each reride. It took me a couple of rides to fully understand what the rules are and what needs to get done to win the race, but once that became clear—- It’s actually a really fun, functioning game! The last moments of Rainbow Road, with everyone throwing everything they’ve got at Bowser, and then Mario squeaking past at the last second (but only if your car has scored enough points) is one of my favorite ride moments.

DK is great as a secondary attraction. I agree it should be plussed up to qualify as a headliner if it ever becomes a major addition at USH.

I’m glad you enjoy it but it’s a Mario Kart racing ride and I can crawl faster than those ride vehicles go. It’s neat and ambitious but the ride experience is lacking. Not the most fun video game ride out there IMO and then you can’t even really appreciate the cool sets with those AR googles on. Definitely not worth the 80+ minutes waits it commands at USH. Another puzzling decision - why does this attraction have a 40 inch height requirement?

 

[Rich T]

.. why does this attraction have a 40 inch height requirement?

I’m not sure, but maybe that’s the minimum height required for the AR to match up with the sets.

I agree about wait time vs. payoff. I went through the full queue once to see it all, but now I do Single Rider every time; at Epic, Mariokart’s standby wait is often over two hours, sometimes over three, and that’s just nuts.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Do you consider Transformers high quality?

I personally do not, but I get the sense that USH values it a lot more than I do.

The only untouchables on the lower lot for me are Jurassic World and for obvious reasons Super Nintendo Land. I do enjoy the Mummy but I'd willing to let it go for the right plan that would make the lower lot more cohesive and/or well themed. Or maybe even give it a proper facade, blend it in with the new stuff/ Jurassic Park and turn it into some sort of Adventureland. On the upper lot, as far as attractions, it could all go except for Potter for all I care. Obviously SLOP isn't going anywhere but they can do whatever they want with Minions or Simpsons.

Honestly, I'd say the lower lot is pretty untouchable attraction-wise. I'd personally add the Studio Tour and Waterworld (probably only for myself, I'm sure plenty of others would happily demo it and objectively, those people have a point) from the upper lot. I'm not honestly that attached to anything else at USH, certainly not enough to stand in the way of new additions or most anything from Epic. I probably care more about the escalators than at least five attractions within the park TBH.

 

[mickEblu]

I personally do not, but I get the sense that USH values it a lot more than I do.

Honestly, I'd say the lower lot is pretty untouchable attraction-wise. I'd personally add the Studio Tour and Waterworld (probably only for myself, I'm sure plenty of others would happily demo it and objectively, those people have a point) from the upper lot. I'm not honestly that attached to anything else at USH, certainly not enough to stand in the way of new additions or most anything from Epic. I probably care more about the escalators than at least five attractions within the park TBH.

Oh ya of course. I felt the Studio Tour went without saying. I also consider it to be kind of in its own section and not part of the upper or lower lot. Water World I appreciate but I personally wouldnt be sad to see it go. Im more attached to the concept of their continuing to be a live action stunt show at Universal Studios Hollywood than the actual show itself. That said, I'm not sure what would replace it or if that would be any better. Perhaps more relevant.

lol tbh those escalators are one of the most nostalgic things at the park for me. For the simple fact that aside from some of the attractions on the Studio Tour like Jaws, Earthquake and Flash Flood, they are one of the most notable old things in the park and bring me back to some of my earliest memories of the park when E.T first opened and the Conan the Barbarian and Miami Vice shows were still packing em in on the upper lot. They are a pain in the @$$ but the set up is very unique.