Meanwhile at USH this weekend...

[Disneyhead'71]

Pretty much. They reshuffled Olivanders and added a second show room.

Of course Orlando's is superior as the sight lines are better and Dueling Dragons is also a portion of the land. The whole entry portal thanks to the Hogwarts express is superior and of course the coniferous trees in the queue are much more mature (they are a bit ratty at USH).

Phase 1 was impressive in 2010. Phase 2 makes for a complete experience (you could spend a day just doing Potter stuff if you took your time).

Problematically both Universal and Disney (Carsland) have outdone Potter 1.0 already.

My really big complaint was the sheer lack of originality is the Flying unicorn clone. Why on earth did they needed to include a clone of a 15 year old ride that was merely overlaid, other than some creative laziness?

They cloned Hippogriff because it is popular with the fans and the only ride in Hogsmeade that smaller children can ride. It is where the smaller ones hang out while their older siblings are on Forbidden Journey.

 

[NobodyElse]

Regarding ceilings / lighting: One of the reasons that Haunted Mansion is so effective is because it utilizes the (clamshell-type) Omnimover. Due to the vehicle design, the guest is intentionally pointed in the proper scene direction, with peripheral (and up and back) views obscured. This allows show designers to utilize theatrical lighting without the fixtures being obviously visible.

 

[BrianLo]

They cloned Hippogriff because it is popular with the fans and the only ride in Hogsmeade that smaller children can ride. It is where the smaller ones hang out while their older siblings are on Forbidden Journey.

Ya I totally get it from a menu planning perspective.

I just wish they took the opportunity to change or improve the attraction. It's a pre-Comcast era decision that could have been modified now that they have the funds to do so.

I'm also a little sore the Great hall dining experience never materialized.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Ya I totally get it from a menu planning perspective.

I just wish they took the opportunity to change or improve the attraction. It's a pre-Comcast era decision that could have been modified now that they have the funds to do so.

I'm also a little sore the Great hall dining experience never materialized.

It is actually a completely different ride system than the Orlando version.

 

[BrianLo]

It is actually a completely different ride system than the Orlando version.

Yes, the manufacturer changed. I'm not sure why you are trying to obscure the point.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Yes, the manufacturer changed. I'm not sure why you are trying to obscure the point.

Not trying to obscure the point. You asked why they would do it. And I was just pointing out that it is not actually a clone. Just very similar.

And considering the #2 complaint about Hogsmeade is about the fact little kids can't ride FJ, I can't imagine the complaints if they had cut it.

 

[Rich T]

Not trying to obscure the point. You asked why they would do it. And I was just pointing out that it is not actually a clone. Just very similar.

And considering the #2 complaint about Hogsmeade is about the fact little kids can't ride FJ, I can't imagine the complaints if they had cut it.

Couldn't they have replaced it with a more appropriate Hagrid/hippogriff attraction? I don't think anyone would have complained if it had been, say, a Hagrid's Creature Collection walk-through or something like that instead of a short, generic kiddie coaster. There's a logical reason it's in Orlando; there was zero reason (aside from sheer cheapness) NOT to switch it out with something better-themed for Hollywood.

 

[dweezil78]

Couldn't they have replaced it with a more appropriate Hagrid/hippogriff attraction? I don't think anyone would have complained if it had been, say, a Hagrid's Creature Collection walk-through or something like that instead of a short, generic kiddie coaster. There's a logical reason it's in Orlando; there was zero reason (aside from sheer cheapness) NOT to switch it out with something better-themed for Hollywood.

Yeah, I was definitely disappointed to see them bring an updated version of a ride that was just a re-skinned Lost Continent kiddie coaster to begin with. Seems like a big missed opportunity to do something new with such a significant expansion.

 

[shortstop]

Pretty much. They reshuffled Olivanders and added a second show room.

Of course Orlando's is superior as the sight lines are better and Dueling Dragons is also a portion of the land. The whole entry portal thanks to the Hogwarts express is superior and of course the coniferous trees in the queue are much more mature (they are a bit ratty at USH).

Phase 1 was impressive in 2010. Phase 2 makes for a complete experience (you could spend a day just doing Potter stuff if you took your time).

Problematically both Universal and Disney (Carsland) have outdone Potter 1.0 already.

My really big complaint was the sheer lack of originality is the Flying unicorn clone. Why on earth did they needed to include a clone of a 15 year old ride that was merely overlaid, other than some creative laziness?

Yeah, that's impression I got. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was awesome. But at the same time, I couldn't help but feel they cut some corners, when in reality they should have tried to improve upon Orlando's phase 1.

 

[BrianLo]

Yeah, that's impression I got. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was awesome. But at the same time, I couldn't help but feel they cut some corners, when in reality they should have tried to improve upon Orlando's phase 1.

Yup - it's still one of the best lands ever built worldwide, even if they didn't change a thing!

 

[shortstop]

Yup - it's still one of the best lands ever built worldwide, even if they didn't change a thing!

Without a doubt. It seemed to create a sense of excitement in the park which was great to see.

 

[Curious Constance]

I'll never understand why anyone who wants to build something that's already existing would ever choose to make it less than the original. That's what it'll forever be known as. The lesser version. Seems like the money difference isn't worth the public perception hit you're going to always have lingering around.

 

[JT3000]

I'll never understand why anyone who wants to build something that's already existing would ever choose to make it less than the original. That's what it'll forever be known as. The lesser version. Seems like the money difference isn't worth the public perception hit you're going to always have lingering around.

USH and USJ have inferior Hogsmeades due to circumstance, not money. Those aspects of IOA's that are missing simply wouldn't fit, either figuratively or literally. There's no reason for a Hogwarts Express if it has nowhere to go, and Dragon Challenge is just too large (and no longer operates as it was designed to anyway.)

The bad sight lines at USH are mostly a location problem, but they're trying to fix the parts of it that were oversights.

Creating a lesser version of something that already exists is extremely common in the theme park industry, but it isn't always because they were being cheap.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

The Hipogriff ride is kind of awful. Everything else is uber themed and then they have these steel roller coasters that make no sense. I mean, you can see the roller coaster track and it's not like there's any kind of logic to it as with, say, Thunder Mountain or something. You're not even riding on Buckbeak. It's like a basket? The dragon one is worse, although I didn't mind it when it was Dueling Dragons, weirdly.

 

[TP2000]

I actually have seven AA "boyfriends" I've had made over the years. When I get annoyed with my husband, I rotate through them and go out on "dates" with the AA's. The conversation can get a bit repetitive and my body gets a bit sore having to carry them around from place to place, but I've had some really nice times out on the town with them.

You know, you've always been one of my favorites.

 

[TP2000]

RSR is my favorite ride, and the ceiling doesn't bother me (I don't look up on that rides.

No kidding. I love that ride, and have ridden it endless times via Single Rider or via Fastpass with a gaggle of young relatives and not once have I ever thought to look up at the ceiling. I couldn't even tell you what the ceiling looks like inside the dark ride portion of that amazing ride.

If you are riding Radiator Springs Racers and you are looking at the ceiling, you are doing it wrong.

 

[Curious Constance]

You know, you've always been one of my favorites.

Ditto, TP

 

[dweezil78]

No kidding. I love that ride, and have ridden it endless times via Single Rider or via Fastpass with a gaggle of young relatives and not once have I ever thought to look up at the ceiling. I couldn't even tell you what the ceiling looks like inside the dark ride portion of that amazing ride.

If you are riding Radiator Springs Racers and you are looking at the ceiling, you are doing it wrong.

I'm weird I guess! I just find the show building for that one to be such a big open warehouse-like space that you can't help but notice the big stage lighting mounted to the ceiling, even when not directly looking up. It's a great ride, I love it, but I wish they did more to conceal that aspect of it.

 

[Phroobar]

You know, you've always been one of my favorites.

Ditto, TP

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I'm weird I guess! I just find the show building for that one to be such a big open warehouse-like space that you can't help but notice the big stage lighting mounted to the ceiling, even when not directly looking up. It's a great ride, I love it, but I wish they did more to conceal that aspect of it.

I notice it too for some reason.