California Adventure vs Universal Studios Florida

[Brer Oswald]

I’d lean towards USF. Diagon Alley is quite possibly the best single IP land ever made. Mummy and MiB are great! ET Adventure is one of the best dark rides ever made. The Bourne show is also fantastic. The rest of the attractions are less than stellar, but I would still put most of them in the decent category.

Looking over to DCA…it has three pretty enjoyable lands in Buena Vista Street, Cars Land, and Grizzly Peak. The attraction lineup isn’t nearly as great. The only “can’t miss” attraction is Radiator Springs Racers. Mission Breakout and Incredicoaster are fun thrills, but the theming is nothing to write home about. Grizzly River Run is a solid raft ride, but I’m not always in the mood for those. Mermaid and Monsters Inc are decent dark rides, but aren’t to the quality of ET or MiB. The rest is complete filler.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I don’t think it’s particularly even close. Diagon is fantastic but basically the only point of competition with DCA for me.

 

[Professortango1]

I don’t think it’s particularly even close. Diagon is fantastic but basically the only point of competition with DCA for me.

The Mummy, Men In Black, ET Adventure...

DCA looks prettier, but the attraction line-up is pretty terrible. RSR, maaaaybeee Incredicoaster and Midway Mania. The rest; either forgettable or wish I could forget-able.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I thought ET was a waste of space, honestly. But Diagon Alley is the best single IP land to date in any park.

 

[Professortango1]

I thought ET was a waste of space, honestly. But Diagon Alley is the best single IP land to date in any park.

Its like Peter Pan revamped for me. The first half of Peter is the best part and this first half is better than that. The 2nd half for both of them isn't as great, but ET has AA's and a better finale.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I really think you had to ride ET at the right age to get it.

As someone who first rode it at 13, I've just always been baffled by the thing.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I thought the ET movie was "meh" as well,, so...

 

[MistaDee]

This is a fun matchup for sure!

USF hands down. MIB is the best shooter ride I've experienced. Diagon Alley is the best themed land I have experienced. The Mummy is also my favourite indoor coaster.

Simpsons > Soarin over the World

I'm curious in what ways? Simpsons has not aged particularly well and even tho Soarin' over California is clearly the superior version, I'd still much rather take a ride on Soarin' over anything than go down

Rip = Incredicoaster (I think Screamin' was better than Rip, but the Incredibles overlay just made the ride worse)

Rip ride rockit is also on its last legs - bone shatteringly rough rides these days. Incredicoaster is still at least smooth and fun

Gringotts > Mission BO
Transformers < Radiator Springs Racers
MIB > Midway Mania/WEB Slingers
Borne Stunt > empty Hyperion and empty Doctor Strange stage
Minion Mayhem < Monsters Inc Mike & Sully
Universal needs a water attraction for USF < GRR
Revenge of the Mummy > no comparison at DCA

totally agree with all of these.

When I go to USF, there are 3 must do's. The Mummy, Gringotts, and MIB. I could also spend hours in Diagon Alley.
When I go to DCA, there isn't one must do. I'll go on Midway, Incredicoaster, and Mission BO if the queues are under 45, but I don't need to do them. And while Radiator Springs is lovely, it's not nearly as entertaining as Diagon Alley.

Great breakdown - I think I'd give DCA a little more credit for the lands that do have nice themeing like Carsland and Grizzly Peak, but Diagon Alley is the best single land between the two parks.

 

[Professortango1]

This is a fun matchup for sure!


I'm curious in what ways? Simpsons has not aged particularly well and even tho Soarin' over California is clearly the superior version, I'd still much rather take a ride on Soarin' over anything than go down


Rip ride rockit is also on its last legs - bone shatteringly rough rides these days. Incredicoaster is still at least smooth and fun

Soaring has never felt like a finished attraction. It feels like a proof of concept. The ride system is exposed, the screen is obvious and not integrated, the queue is dreadful.

The Simpsons ride isn't perfect, and nowhere near as good as B2tF, but it has a good queue, a great interior preshow, another good pre-boarding show, and then a great transition in and out of the screen. It tries to invoke storytelling with themed elements and clever design, unlike Soarin which feels like museum IMAX movie from a porch swing..

R cubed is tougher, but also a little more thrilling. And the on-board audio is nowhere as annoying as Incredicoaster.

 

[truecoat]

I really think you had to ride ET at the right age to get it.

As someone who first rode it at 13, I've just always been baffled by the thing.

ET is an awesome ride when your family of 5 uses the names Rob, Robby, Bobby, Barbie, Barb.