Bruce Vaughn @ D23 on Universal Creative, Original rides, etc.

[MerlinTheGoat]

Hence my comment about buying cars today.. based on what you saw in the 90s. To put it bluntly... is a conclusion made 20 years ago on the technology you saw then, still the right conclusion for technology of today?

I mean... we all might still be riding horses to work if we insisting on holding onto ideas based on values decades old instead of evaluating what today offers.

I embrace new things I think it's a legitimate improvement over what came before it. There have been times when this has been the case, and times when it has actually not been the case.

Cell phones i've been quick to embrace for example. I grew up with landlines, but I really enjoy having an Android smartphone in this day. Same is true of TV's, pretty clear improvement in tech. Computers are undeniably a big improvement in their capabilities over what came before, though the build quality and tech support from my experience has gotten worse (experience with many different brands, my absolute most reliable computer ever from a build quality and stability perspective was a ~1994 Packard Bell, had bad luck with many other computers in my experience). And without getting into whether we think cars are better now or then, the ongoing trend of making cars more fuel efficient and eco friendly is very welcome by me.

When I experienced CGI in an animated movie, I didn't feel it brought anything to the table that really improved animated movies. And to my eyes it looked worse. And while some improvements to the tech have been made, it still doesn't look as beautiful as traditional hand drawn animation. If they can get that tech to replicate the hand drawn style, i'd be open to accepting CGI more.

I've already explained my stance enough about AA's, I said I prefer them to projections, but won't bore anyone with the why's once again as I explained it already in the best way I could.

A Reflections of China makeover would be perfect. Similar or same music, just swap out the most dated shots and keep the others. Something like 40% of Wonders of China is still played today.

China is sadly one of the movies I don't think I ever experienced in its original form, so I can't say from experience whether it's an improvement over its original form. I'll trust you on that one though.

I will say at least that the kind of recent digital upgrade to France's movie is a huge improvement over how the film quality had looked prior to the update. There are a few shots that look really weird and ugly (the flyover towards the hilltop church has some nasty looking artifacts), but most of it turned out great. Still wouldn't mind seeing a decent upgrade.

There are however far more serious issues that need dealing with in EPCOT right now. The France movie, old though it is, is still good IMO. That's more than I can say for much of Future World.

 

[vinnya1726]

In this great debate...I think we all must accept that both Parks have their pluses and minuses...but they also target different audiences....Disney is never..not matter how many times people scream for more thrill rides is never going to just gut every dark ride and have roller coasters all over...b/c their are many visitors who go to WDW who are not roller coaster or thrill ride fans, especially kids. Disney World was created as a family place where the family could have fun together. I just returned from Orlando and can make a list of things that Disney needs to do better as well as Universal, but my Kids had no desire to do anything at universal, as they found it all too much for them. If the argument is that Disney needs to step up it's game, then yes it does, but Disney does not need to be Universal. They can both survive and thrive.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

In this great debate...I think we all must accept that both Parks have their pluses and minuses...but they also target different audiences....Disney is never..not matter how many times people scream for more thrill rides is never going to just gut every dark ride and have roller coasters all over...b/c their are many visitors who go to WDW who are not roller coaster or thrill ride fans, especially kids. Disney World was created as a family place where the family could have fun together. I just returned from Orlando and can make a list of things that Disney needs to do better as well as Universal, but my Kids had no desire to do anything at universal, as they found it all too much for them. If the argument is that Disney needs to step up it's game, then yes it does, but Disney does not need to be Universal. They can both survive and thrive.

Despite what I've said about Universal, i'm incredibly hyped about their upcoming attractions. I hope they both survive and thrive. Though I do hope there is some competition between the two and causes Disney to step up their game. From what Martin told me the other day, it sounds like Universal is actually going to be building rides in the future geared towards non-thrill seekers (and even towards people like me who enjoy physical ride elements).

I will say though that at one point Disney did apparently want to gut Spaceship Earth and put a roller coaster in. New and amazing tech or not, I will never cease being eternally happy that they didn't end up going through with that (the structure supposedly wasn't capable of handling such a thing or something, good)...

 

[montyz81]

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid cost more than Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey...

Doesn't the dollar amount include both rides the one in FL and the one in CA?

 

[Fairybuzz]

You can't claim a lack of variety when you have to stretch and twist to get similarities.

So its absurd to say that a simulator ride that moves from screen to screen is a similar idea to another simulator ride that moves from screen to screen? *falls into a paradoxical vortex of ticking clocks*

In this great debate...I think we all must accept that both Parks have their pluses and minuses...but they also target different audiences....Disney is never..not matter how many times people scream for more thrill rides is never going to just gut every dark ride and have roller coasters all over...b/c their are many visitors who go to WDW who are not roller coaster or thrill ride fans, especially kids. Disney World was created as a family place where the family could have fun together. I just returned from Orlando and can make a list of things that Disney needs to do better as well as Universal, but my Kids had no desire to do anything at universal, as they found it all too much for them. If the argument is that Disney needs to step up it's game, then yes it does, but Disney does not need to be Universal. They can both survive and thrive.

Agreed. Disney's newest endeavors seem to be trying to be universal. It shouldn't. Despite everything Universal has done a lot to move itself away from the six flags trap of painting rides a certain color and claiming its theming. (Look a black and yellow coaster! See batman!!! look batman!! everyone!! Its batman's adventure of swinging over topiaries and bushes! take that evil fence! pow!! Got ya evil johnny rockets sign! ) Mummy was a huge step in the right direction. A well themed ride makes you have to strain to see the "ride" part. Although I love it, R and RC has that issue. Goofy's sky school is actually less themed than six flags's wild mouse coasters which is frightening (batman the dark knight coaster even with its damaged theming still trumps it with a preshow, a fully immersive loading area with gotham maps and news stands and a machine that puts a clown mask on your face in the vid screen, heck even Gotham Gauntlet @ SFNE is better themed!).

All I'm saying is ok universal you did the hybrid simulators, now lets move on to something new!

But you can at least agree that nemo's use of screens is lackluster?

 

[Fairybuzz]

Despite what I've said about Universal, i'm incredibly hyped about their upcoming attractions. I hope they both survive and thrive. Though I do hope there is some competition between the two and causes Disney to step up their game. From what Martin told me the other day, it sounds like Universal is actually going to be building rides in the future geared towards non-thrill seekers (and even towards people like me who enjoy physical ride elements).

I will say though that at one point Disney did apparently want to gut Spaceship Earth and put a roller coaster in. New and amazing tech or not, I will never cease being eternally happy that they didn't end up going through with that (the structure supposedly wasn't capable of handling such a thing or something, good)...

I remember that and its actually a bit of fridge horror when I think about what epcot would look like today if they actually did that. It would be a sub par thrill park no where near the level of thrills of uni or six flags but no where near the theming levels it once had! Plus I cannot see how a sse coaster would not just be totally a space mountain rip off. They also were approached by I think fujifilm (??) to remake imagination (before its ugly transformation) into a coaster ride (which makes no sense when you think about it I mean come on what wonders of imagination can be shown by doing loops?) So then you'd have two coasters one spinny pukey ride one fast car ride whatever people would think of UofE at that point is beyond me, talking fish, hang gliders and the Wonders of Empty Space Occasionally Used As a Tent. That's about as futuristic as a toothpick. And there would be like nothing for families to do together.

 

[GLaDOS]

So its absurd to say that a simulator ride that moves from screen to screen is a similar idea to another simulator ride that moves from screen to screen? *falls into a paradoxical vortex of ticking clocks*

Just as absurd to say, then, that an omnimover that moves from scene to scene is not a similar idea to another omnimover that movies from scene to scene.

They're both exactly the same.Saying Spider-man, Transformers, and Forbidden Journey are too similar, is like saying Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World, and Jungle Cruise are all too similar.

 

[danjen2331]

Just as absurd to say, then, that an omnimover that moves from scene to scene is not a similar idea to another omnimover that movies from scene to scene.

They're both exactly the same.Saying Spider-man, Transformers, and Forbidden Journey are too similar, is like saying Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World, and Jungle Cruise are all too similar.

Spider-Man and Transformers are too similar. Both have a squirt of water, feeling of hear near the end, and end with falling from a building. Plus you watch nearly the same material: things fighting. FJ is VERY different but calling Trans and Spider too similar is justified as the similarities go beyond the ride system and use of screens.

 

[GLaDOS]

Spider-Man and Transformers are too similar. Both have a squirt of water, feeling of hear near the end, and end with falling from a building. Plus you watch nearly the same material: things fighting. FJ is VERY different but calling Trans and Spider too similar is justified as the similarities go beyond the ride system and use of screens.

Sorry, but I don't agree. Spider-man and Transformers feel incredibly different. Both have incredibly different pacing, Spider-man has some awesome physical effects, and Transformers is way more intense.

 

[danjen2331]

Sorry, but I don't agree. Spider-man and Transformers feel incredibly different. Both have incredibly different pacing, Spider-man has some awesome physical effects, and Transformers is way more intense.

If pacing is the main difference between two rides then those rides are very very similar.

I'm not against Uni adding a Transformers ride on Soundstage 44, I'm not against them using the same ride system as a same ride at the same resort, or even the same 3D screens and physical sets mix. I just wish they made Transformers more different and unique compared to Spider-Man! It seems that they are doing that with Gringotts compared to Mummy... just wish they did that for Transformers.

 

[Fairybuzz]

If pacing is the main difference between two rides then those rides are very very similar.

I'm not against Uni adding a Transformers ride on Soundstage 44, I'm not against them using the same ride system as a same ride at the same resort, or even the same 3D screens and physical sets mix. I just wish they made Transformers more different and unique compared to Spider-Man! It seems that they are doing that with Gringotts compared to Mummy... just wish they did that for Transformers.

I agree with that. FJ is different from the other two. but to me tf doesn't bring anything new to the table. just more bouncing and exploding around a city scene. (Now If I made the ride It'd be based on the real tf imo the 80s ones! and have you go to cybertron but the movie is what rakes in the bux these days so cant fault that) But If I did it myself, I'd have gone with at least a different environment, maybe the Sherman Dam or the locations from dark of the moon etc. Or create a new one. Of course if I had no budget constraints I'd have your vehicle transform itself! but I cant have everything.

I don't hate the ride though. Nor do I want them to tear it down or remodel it like I do about the seas (lol sorry that thing drives me bonkers!!!). I'm just saying for the future they should think up some new things like a ride no one has seen the likes of before. Hey every park can have the first of a hugely copied ride style! Six flags had the Log Flume and Runaway Train first. Disney had AAs first. but they all continued to have different things afterwards.

If you think of the simulators equating them to, for example, rollercoasters you may have many different types of rollercoaster creating different expiriences but you wouldn't say have two runaway trains in the same park just with different theming.

Same with omnimovers. haunted mansion with its peppers ghosts has different effects and a totally different atmosphere than spaceship earth with its use of space smells interaction and education, which is different itself from buzz, which adds the benifit of shooting, or mania's use of carnival games (albeit on those screens again grr!!) Which is different than Horizons with its overhead system and choose your ending, which is different from peter pan which although uses overhead systems uses sight illusions and a feeling of flying overhead rather than infront of you, which is different the others etc etc etc

 

[BryceM]

I find Spider-Man's heavier use of practical effects and real sets help to make it the stronger attraction.

 

[Fairybuzz]

I find Spider-Man's heavier use of practical effects and real sets help to make it the stronger attraction.

wait wait wait how did this thread become spider man vs. Dinosaur? The two aren't even the same kind of ride!

 

[Captain Chaos]

Wow, I wonder how much WDW fans were flipping out about Star Tours and Body Wars being in WDW at the same time, since, well, they are the SAME EXACT (or were since Body Wars is gone) ride vehicle/simulator....

 

[BryceM]

wait wait wait how did this thread become spider man vs. Dinosaur? The two aren't even the same kind of ride!

That was random... It's Spider-Man vs. DINOSAUR? Since when?

I was comparing it Transformers...

 

[flynnibus]

Wow, I wonder how much WDW fans were flipping out about Star Tours and Body Wars being in WDW at the same time, since, well, they are the SAME EXACT (or were since Body Wars is gone) ride vehicle/simulator....

I always thought Body Wars was the worst of the three motion bases in O-Town

 

[Captain Chaos]

I always thought Body Wars was the worst of the three motion bases in O-Town

I did too, but I wonder if anyone complained about the SAME RIDE being in 2 WDW parks at the same time, you know, like WDW fans love to bash Universal for doing with Spider-man and Transformers...

 

[vinnya1726]

So its absurd to say that a simulator ride that moves from screen to screen is a similar idea to another simulator ride that moves from screen to screen? *falls into a paradoxical vortex of ticking clocks*



Agreed. Disney's newest endeavors seem to be trying to be universal. It shouldn't. Despite everything Universal has done a lot to move itself away from the six flags trap of painting rides a certain color and claiming its theming. (Look a black and yellow coaster! See batman!!! look batman!! everyone!! Its batman's adventure of swinging over topiaries and bushes! take that evil fence! pow!! Got ya evil johnny rockets sign! ) Mummy was a huge step in the right direction. A well themed ride makes you have to strain to see the "ride" part. Although I love it, R and RC has that issue. Goofy's sky school is actually less themed than six flags's wild mouse coasters which is frightening (batman the dark knight coaster even with its damaged theming still trumps it with a preshow, a fully immersive loading area with gotham maps and news stands and a machine that puts a clown mask on your face in the vid screen, heck even Gotham Gauntlet @ SFNE is better themed!).

All I'm saying is ok universal you did the hybrid simulators, now lets move on to something new!

But you can at least agree that nemo's use of screens is lackluster?

Totally with you.

 

[flynnibus]

I did too, but I wonder if anyone complained about the SAME RIDE being in 2 WDW parks at the same time, you know, like WDW fans love to bash Universal for doing with Spider-man and Transformers...

heck...how many dumbo spinners are there in wdw

 

[Fairybuzz]

heck...how many dumbo spinners are there in wdw

I hate that too!