Disneyland vs Islands of Adventure

[mickEblu]

Gringotts is a killer queue and pretty great ride. Mummy is probably my favourite coaster and I never tire of riding it. Transformers isn't amazing, but its a better version of the same ride concept that Disney has been trying lately (Mission BO, MMRR, Ratatouille, Zootopia.

I’ve never been a fan of Transformers but I gotta say the more I experience Disneys take on similar rides the more I appreciate Transformers. It definitely accomplishes what it sets out to do more than Runaway Railway and I’d imagine that goes for Ratatouille and Zootopia too. With that said, I prefer Runaway Railway to Transformers for the theme, the fact that it’s a ride the whole family can enjoy and because I don’t necessarily enjoy the disorientating nature of Transformers.

Ooops almost forgot about ROTR which is definitely much better than Transformers. ROTR is so grand that it almost didn’t cross my mind to compare with the other rides you mentioned.

As much as I lament the loss of TOT I still prefer Mission Breakout to Transformers for the ride system alone. Tbh I don’t even understand comparing those two rides other than the fact that MB feels like a Universal ride.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Gringotts is a killer queue and pretty great ride. Mummy is probably my favourite coaster and I never tire of riding it. Transformers isn't amazing, but its a better version of the same ride concept that Disney has been trying lately (Mission BO, MMRR, Ratatouille, Zootopia.

Gringotts has the wrong ride system IMO. There's no real reason for it to be a coaster when all that's really happening is moving from screen to screen for 90% of the ride time.

I don't dislike the Florida Mummy, but I do think it's a tad overrated for what it is. It's quite short, and parts of it you almost wonder why they bothered (i.e. the two-seconds-long backwards bit).

It took me awhile, and I'm still not quite convinced it's as good as everyone says it is, but I finally got to the point a few years ago where I can appreciate the IOA Spider-Man for what it is, and that ride is better than Transformers in every way. And frankly, being thrown around in sync to a movie with 3D glasses in tow are among the attractions that are among the least compatible with my body as I get older.

I can't speak for Zootopia, but I would take Mission Breakout and MMRR over Transformers. I will say, however, that Transformers is FAR more successful at what it sets out to do than Ratatouille, which is trying to do the same sort of thing as Transformers or IOA Spider-man, but on a ride system that's ill-equipped to deliver that result. Not enough people on this side of the boards have done Ratatouille IMO; it just sits there ignored whenever it's time to discuss flawed modern Disney experiences, while many attractions I feel are definitively superior to it are regularly torn apart.

 

[Professortango1]

As much as I lament the loss of TOT I still prefer Mission Breakout to Transformers for the ride system alone. Tbh I don’t even understand comparing those two rides other than the fact that MB feels like a Universal ride.

I compare them because they are both screen-based attractions based upon action franchises where guests sit in a terraced ride vehicle which has motion controls built into it to enhance the physical experience and compliment the projection. The difference is that Transformers has a rider range of movement, integrates the screens with the surrounding physical sets, and has some physical gags and effects where Mission BO just bounces to screens in boxes.

They are not similar ride systems, but the experience, boiled down, it pretty comparable in my eyes. I love the Guardians films and really dislike Transformers as a franchise, but I still find Transformers to be a better execution and experience for the "bounce around in front of screens" approach to action rides.

 

[mickEblu]

I compare them because they are both screen-based attractions based upon action franchises where guests sit in a terraced ride vehicle which has motion controls built into it to enhance the physical experience and compliment the projection. The difference is that Transformers has a rider range of movement, integrates the screens with the surrounding physical sets, and has some physical gags and effects where Mission BO just bounces to screens in boxes.

They are not similar ride systems, but the experience, boiled down, it pretty comparable in my eyes. I love the Guardians films and really dislike Transformers as a franchise, but I still find Transformers to be a better execution and experience for the "bounce around in front of screens" approach to action rides.

What, you don’t like FaceTiming the Guardian’s while you bounce up and down on Mission Breakout? Yeah, I see what you re saying. Transformers is more of thorough and complete experience (even if I don’t care for that experience) but MB’s ride system takes it over the top for me. I’d imagine most people feel the same but I could be wrong.

 

[Professortango1]

What, you don’t like FaceTiming the Guardian’s while you bounce up and down on Mission Breakout? Yeah, I see what you re saying. Transformers is more of thorough and complete experience (even if I don’t care for that experience) but MB’s ride system takes it over the top for me. I’d imagine most people feel the same but I could be wrong.

I'm pretty sure that most people who enjoy Mission BO just love the up and down movement and the music blasting. I don't believe anybody is too invested in how the IP ties in or the show scenes/dialogue; for the sole reason that you can barely hear the dialogue over the music/screaming.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm pretty sure that most people who enjoy Mission BO just love the up and down movement and the music blasting. I don't believe anybody is too invested in how the IP ties in or the show scenes/dialogue; for the sole reason that you can barely hear the dialogue over the music/screaming.

For sure. Not disputing that. I guess I’m saying does it matter if Transformers is the “better attraction” if most people would prefer riding MB? Most USH fans would swap out Transformers for MB if they could IMO. Not that I think that says a whole lot about MB.

 

[Professortango1]

For sure. Not disputing that. I guess I’m saying does it matter if Transformers is the “better attraction” if most people would prefer riding MB? Most USH fans would swap out Transformers for MB if they could IMO. Not that I think that says a whole lot about MB.

Would they? Mission BO, for me, is terribly one-note and kind of annoying. Transformers isn't high art, but I prefer riding Transformers, and I am a Disney stan.

 

[mickEblu]

Would they? Mission BO, for me, is terribly one-note and kind of annoying. Transformers isn't high art, but I prefer riding Transformers, and I am a Disney stan.

IMO yes but I could be wrong. I don’t seem to hear/ read a lot of positive opinions of Transformers. I think the ride system and music would be enough for most people to take MB over the top. And I don’t think it’s close.

Based off of our DCA/ USH conversation, I think you value cohesion and/ or a complete thematic experience above all else and more than the average person. I got the impression (or perhaps you stated) that you’d prefer a park full of sound stages to a park that is more beautiful/ fun as long it’s more thematically cohesive.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Would they? Mission BO, for me, is terribly one-note and kind of annoying. Transformers isn't high art, but I prefer riding Transformers, and I am a Disney stan.

The argument could be made that Transformers is more one-note than MB, which at least has the six different regular ride profiles and the Halloween overlay vs. being dragged by a transformer, in varying degrees of slow-mo, for three straight minutes.

 

[Professortango1]

The argument could be made that Transformers is more one-note than MB, which at least has the six different regular ride profiles and the Halloween overlay vs. being dragged by a transformer, in varying degrees of slow-mo, for three straight minutes.

Except all of the Mission BO drop profiles and experiences are basically the same. And Transformers gives you different sets to see and different types of action on the screens rather than the same view regardless.

 

[DavidDL]

I know this isn't a Mission Breakout vs. Transformers thread but..

Mission Breakout destroyed the course-correction DCA had going for it just to cash in on a summer movie release, has a ride system that is tonally inconsistent with the atmosphere around you, is one of the worst visual sightlines ever created in a Disney park and replaced one of the best and thematically appropriate Disney attractions on offer (yes, WDW had the superior version but still).

Transformers brought the much loved Islands of Adventure Spider-man ride system to the West Coast with a (at the time) unique to Hollywood theme, with really only Backdraft being lost in the process.

Ergo, Transformers is the superior offering. Also, Mission Breakout is awful. -and always will be.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I do think it's interesting that we can all more or less agree that DCA isn't as good as it once was, but disagree about the specific reasons *why* it's less good.

Guardians is actually the *least* offensive attraction change at that park for me by orders of magnitude, but I'd wager that's probably a minority opinion on this board.

 

[October82]

I know this isn't a Mission Breakout vs. Transformers thread but..

Mission Breakout destroyed the course-correction DCA had going for it just to cash in on a summer movie release, has a ride system that is tonally inconsistent with the atmosphere around you, is one of the worst visual sightlines ever created in a Disney park and replaced one of the best and thematically appropriate Disney attractions on offer (yes, WDW had the superior version but still).

Transformers brought the much loved Islands of Adventure Spider-man ride system to the West Coast with a (at the time) unique to Hollywood theme, with really only Backdraft being lost in the process.

Ergo, Transformers is the superior offering. Also, Mission Breakout is awful. -and always will be.

I pretty much agree with this. Neither Transformers nor Mission Breakout are thematic masterpieces, but they mean very different things to their parks. Mission Breakout substantially takes away from DCA as a theme park even if it elements of it remain fun outside that context. The problem with Transformers is mostly that it doesn't come close to meeting the ride system's potential. It's more of a missed opportunity than actively harmful to USH.

Guardians is actually the *least* offensive attraction change at that park for me by orders of magnitude, but I'd wager that's probably a minority opinion on this board.

I agree with this to the extent that everything that has come after Mission Breakout has even fewer redeeming qualities. I'd still say the thematic delta between ToT and Mission Breakout is larger than many of the other changes, but I can say more positive about Mission Breakout on its own than about Pixar Pier.