Disney and Universal: Two very different paths

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Back to the original title of this thread, now that I've read some rumors about the Jekyll and Hyde club (the Adventurer's Club's spirtual father) possibly coming to CityWalk, and many of the other rumors about, it seems like the type of things that Disney theme park fans have been asking for the last decade or so have a much better chance of actually happening over at Uni.

From things like this club, and monorail-like expansion actually being more likely at Uni than at Disney (based on the current leadership), many of the former Disney imagineers moving over, and general theme park theming and expansion all leaning toward that side, it really shows the concept of two different paths in a light. Actions speak louder than words, even if it takes a while for most to notice. In my opinion, for leadership it's really starting to show who really likes the parks and the one that really could care less.

That said, this could change, and I hope it does.

Could you put some links up for the CityWalk/Adventurers Club readings. That is an interesting development/rumor.
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
It's not fair to call that a trade... 20k was dead, buried, and not connected to the NFL project in anyway. It's bad enough when people called the pooh playground the 20k replacement :)

Hasn't 20K been closed like 20 years, almost as long as it was operational? Can't connect the dots to that being a trade for FLE either.
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
It's not fair to call that a trade... 20k was dead, buried, and not connected to the NFL project in anyway. It's bad enough when people called the pooh playground the 20k replacement :)
Its fair talking about using space from one attraction to another.

How about the Atlantis Coaster? Or Villain Mountain? True Es and not the D that's still not open...

Which I'm sure will be very nice and cute I should add.
 

GoofGoof

Premium Member
Hasn't 20K been closed like 20 years, almost as long as it was operational? Can't connect the dots to that being a trade for FLE either.
It has been that long. Wow time flies.

FLE is on the same physical land as 20K and since the ride was closed with no replacement it's probably fair to say it was a trade. FLE was just the "player to be named later". It just took 20 years to name.

FLE added:
BaTB area
LM
Mine Train
Storybook Circus (Double Dumbo and Splash Zone)
Tangled Toilets
Princess Hall

replaced were:
Toon Town
20K
Snow White
half the skyway
Dumbo

In my mind toon town and original Dumbo for Circus is a slight upgrade. LM, Mine Train and BatB area (plus princess hall) is a significant upgrade over Snow White and 20K. Tangled Toilets for the Skyway station doesn't factor into my opinion very much (unless I really have to go...then it's a huge upgrade;))
 

mahnamahna101

Well-Known Member
The Fantasyland expansion is just lacking because Snow White was taken for a meet and greet... if they re-work World Dr. and add a dark ride for Frozen (it's become a monster hit), along with perhaps another flat ride (mini-ToT themed to Jack and the Beanstalk... make it happen, TDO!!), Fantasyland would be a hit
 

Kman101

Well-Known Member
They should have built a new theater in New Fantasyland for the Princess meet and greet. It's too bad WDW doesn't seem to really care about the rides, just that they cost money. How DLR and WDW are run by the same company I'll never know, although I know the locals aspect of DLR plays a big part in the park's upkeep and that it's so close to 'headquarters' ... they can just ignore WDW while TDO probably lies and does what it can to manipulate the numbers and get what they want. That's never changed. Look at how they manipulated closures of past attractions. Obviously different teams, but I'm sure it's still the case. And they cut and cut and cut until NOTHING is left. Look how they kept decimating the last parade. And they left Spectro to rot. Cutting other parades (not that I'm at a loss over DHS or even AK losing theirs, TBH, as nice as AK's was). Are we even sure MSEP won't meet the same fate? I'm sure FOF can run at night so boom, there ya go.

And the expansion is lacking because you have a huge chunk of it that is taking an extra long amount of time to open, a Mermaid ride that's probably as cheap on the inside as they could get (the exterior is fantastic) and very plastic, a new parade that should have debuted when NFL did but it's not starting until what, Spring 2014? I mean, seriously? Disney and their length of doing things is astounding. It's not lacking because they removed a dark ride. I'm sure the masses who wait to meet the princesses don't even blink an eye that Snow White once had a ride there.

WDW is so behind. They have a LOT of catching up to do.
 
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Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
WDW is so behind. They have a LOT of catching up to do.
I would be more inclined to say that Uni has a lot of catching up to do. Disney on the other hand needs to act soon to stay ahead. Numbers of rides are only one part of the scenario. Four parks are the telling point. If the numbers of people that occupy the four parks at any given time were to be moved into two parks, can you just imagine the mess that would be.

So even though they seem to be lacking in rides per park, the additional parks serve a very important purpose. People still visit the other three, besides MK, if they didn't you wouldn't be able to move in MK.

That said, there is absolutely NO excuse for closed or half used attractions or visible buildings. None should ever be closed without an immediate replacement. Empty attractions make the place look like abandoned theme parks.
 
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Bairstow

Well-Known Member
...have you ever listened to the Islands of Adventure soundtrack? What?

Sure. That CD has some nice tracks here and there (the bouncy calypso take on the Jurassic Park score played around Camp Jurassic is probably the best) but none of them work quite as well in the parks.
Their loops are all much too short, too. The Potter loop in particular is pitifully short and I heard the same queues 4 or 5 times the one day I was there. I don't know whether to classify it as BGM or not, but there's an ambient dialogue track that often plays in the main street in Toon Lagoon that repeats way too often.
Things are no better at the studios, and much less creative, with a profusion of licensed movie soundtracks.

So, yeah. BGM is one area where Disney is still miles ahead of the rest of the industry.
 

JT3000

Well-Known Member
Background music.

If there's one thing Universal has never really been able to nail, it's background music.

Sure. That CD has some nice tracks here and there (the bouncy calypso take on the Jurassic Park score played around Camp Jurassic is probably the best) but none of them work quite as well in the parks.

I disagree completely. IOA has the single most evocative soundtrack of any park I've been to, and it's *because* it's so memorable, creative and works so well in the park. You can close your eyes and listen to the music, and it's almost like being there. I don't get that effect with any other park's music.


http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCC888152710161E0

In addition to the original content, the parks also benefit greatly by the inclusion of John Williams' work.
 
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englanddg

One Little Spark...
I disagree completely. IOA has the single most evocative soundtrack of any park I've been to, and it's *because* it's so memorable, creative and works so well in the park. You can close your eyes and listen to the music, and it's almost like being there. I don't get that effect with any other park's music.


http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCC888152710161E0

While I agree, some of the ambiant music (like what you listed) is fantastic...I'd counter. There is ONE park that has better...



Here's a whole playlist (if you go to youtube)!

 

FigmentJedi

Well-Known Member
The Fantasyland expansion is just lacking because Snow White was taken for a meet and greet... if they re-work World Dr. and add a dark ride for Frozen (it's become a monster hit), along with perhaps another flat ride (mini-ToT themed to Jack and the Beanstalk... make it happen, TDO!!), Fantasyland would be a hit
Hell, they could make that Beanstalk ride a tie-in to the upcoming film Giants.
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Background music.

If there's one thing Universal has never really been able to nail, it's background music.

When I was guided through Seuss and told that just one single land has mutliple BGM loops depending where you are and at what time I was suitably impressed. WDWs lack of BGM quality control is loosing them big points. SSEs variable volume. Innovations fountain blown PA. Tomorrowlands patchy coverage and volume, often decimated by the stage show audio levels. When you can here some of it its the best ever. Sadly the quality differs too much now. Though of course props to the Showcase system overhaul.
 

TubaGeek

God bless the "Ignore" button.
Background music.

If there's one thing Universal has never really been able to nail, it's background music.

As a staunch supporter of current Uni over current WDW, I agree with this statement.
Production Central has one slow and pondorous song that has no business in a theme park, nor does the slow jazz version of the Simpson's theme in Springfield.
Also, go stand by the Shrek exit and Donkey M&G sometime. You can hear Production Central, Shrek, NY, and Transformers all at once. The music bleeds together too much.
 

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