Kong Skull Island rendering

[IAmFloridaBorn]

I'm not talking about the functional issues and downtime. That's a separate issue entirely.

I'm talking about Tweets and posts before the ride opened that sold it as the "most amazing ride ever." Maybe it is for some people, but it would appear that's not what the majority of riders are saying. It's "one of the best dark rides," no question. But it's not a clear-cut improvement on FJ, Spidey, or even Transformers. And that's how it was being sold by some of the Universal talking heads.

About the best you can say for the ride itself is the 3D is incredibly pristine. The design of the ride is more polarizing.

Also, the ride worked perfectly when I was on it. Sounds like they've had issues with the fog effect -- without the fog effect, the climax must look even more half-baked.

Point taken.

I think Gringotts just compliments other great dark rides within a resort. Such as the WDW resort and it's dark rides at its theme parks. Great resume Universal is building whether it's the best or not. Stack the dark rides up and bank on the fact people have something to do when it rains. Something WDW is great at and Universal is getting better at.

At least that's how I look at this addition after riding it!

 

[HTF]

Nah, just saying you oversold the ride portion of Gringotts just a tad. And it sounds like most people (myself included) agree -- it's an impressive ride but not without its flaws.

Your info is obviously good. Hope Kong lives up to the hype, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Its all a matter of opinion really, I mean I've had nothing but flawless rides and I personally think its the best ride out there right now. So therefore I stand by my statement of it being a revolutionary ride that becomes the new benchmark of how things are compared or graded. If you or others don't feel that way it doest bother me the slightest cause its your opinion.

What I don't understand is if all of this is based on opinions so whats it matter? If someone says they think the ride is going to be the best ride out there a year before opening and then they feel like it is once open then good by them. If another person disagrees with that opinion does it make that person incorrect or that they oversold it?

I also feel like if those folks really knew how complicated this ride system was they'd change their tune but not a worry to me as again its all a matter of opinion. I mean I've seen people say the Fantasyland Restrooms were a better overall themed experience than Hogsmeade and how Mission Space is a superior attraction to FJ.

Finally I know its not personal as your just voicing your opinion so again no worries but allow me to voice mine. Personally what irks me is those that seem to always want to call others out a year or two after someone goes out on a limb to mention or state something. Say for example someone on a car forum says the 2020 Chevy Camaro will have a composite body, 22in wheels, a 500HP in line 4 cylinder motor, and 7 speed transmission in the year 2017. Then when its unveiled 18 months later and instead of composite its aluminum why would people harp and call out that guy a full year and a half afterwards? So what? I mean when I call people out I do it the day of or soon after, not down the road as I wait for others to voice their opinions before voicing their own.

 

[TalkingHead]

What I don't understand is if all of this is based on opinions so whats it matter? If someone says they think the ride is going to be the best ride out there a year before opening and then they feel like it is once open then good by them. If another person disagrees with that opinion does it make that person incorrect or that they oversold it?

It's not as bad as the Disney hype machine, which works overtime to promote bathrooms, upcharge events, and meet and greets. But hype machines -- whether they're Disney, Universal, or SeaWorld -- tend to inflate expectations beyond realistic bounds.

As a whole, Diagon Alley certainly lives up to -- and surpasses -- the expectations set by Hogsmeade, but Gringotts didn't wow me like Forbidden Journey (or Spidey) did. It's a fun ride, but it doesn't feel like the game-changer that Forbidden Journey was.

I also feel like if those folks really knew how complicated this ride system was they'd change their tune

I guess there are different levels of enjoyment. To me, the technology can be impressive, even fascinating, but it doesn't overshadow the ride experience. I still think FJ's tech is astonishing, but I like the ride for the experience, not because it uses Kuka arms.

With Gringotts, the ride system is cool, but the pacing of the experience feels off to me. And what I'm ultimately interested in is the experience, not the stuff beneath the ride vehicle.

 

[cheezbat]

Having ridden Gringott's a few times now I can definitely say the ride is one of the best in America. Do I like it better than every other ride in Uni Orlando resort? No. Mummy and Jurassic Park still hold as some of my faves, but Gringotts is right up there with Forbidden Journey, MIB, Transformers, Popeye and Spider-Man as my next tier of faves.

 

[JT3000]

I have several gripes with Gringotts based on a "what if" perspective, but in terms of what it actually is and comparing it to what else actually exists, it's easily one of the best rides in Orlando. It's a good idea to ignore any "this'll be the best EVAR!!11" hype in general. I go into everything with my own expectations, but having a new favorite ride is never one of them. If it happens, it happens.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Gringott's is old news. Disney has had a spinning coaster for years. Universal totally ripped off Primeval Whirl.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

Totally off topic but FJ is overrated. Great ride but people wouldn't say the same if it wasnt branded Harry Potter. One reason I dislike Potter but as the days go by it doesn't bother me as much. Universal does a terrible job with marketing and advertising anyway because all they do i advertise Potter 80% of the time. When people get there they are always off thrown by the other attractions , or dont think they are of worth not being Harry Potter related.

To keep this post ties into the thread, I hope Universal brands this attraction if it is Kong heavily. Sure it might not get the potter crowd in the gates but it will at least be on the map unlike the not so famous attractions of today.