Meanwhile at USH this weekend...

[Californian Elitist]

Don't worry, I know what you mean! I've got some LA in my blood and now go to school there, so I know you guys aren't ruthless savages or anything like that. In fact, I respect the care-free mindset people have. Much better than pretentiously looking down upon people from other places, that's for sure.

Really? Where do you go to school?

I know a few people from Oregon, specifically Portland. They are some of my closest and funniest friends. My brother lived in Portland for a little bit. Almost went to college in Oregon, Corban University.

 

[shortstop]

Really? Where do you go to school?

I know a few people from Oregon, specifically Portland. They are some of my closest and funniest friends. My brother lived in Portland for a little bit. Almost went to college in Oregon, Corban University.

USC!

Oregon's a great place, Portland in particular. The people here are certainly interesting but I like it

 

[Californian Elitist]

USC!

Oregon's a great place, Portland in particular. The people here are certainly interesting but I like it

USC IS MY DREAM SCHOOL! I've always lived just five minutes away from campus, and so I grew up around Trojan pride all my life. Hoping to get into their Education program for my Masters next Fall.

Do you spend a lot of time in Downtown L.A.?

Portland is definitely on my list of places to see and visit. Not only is it close, but the scenery... I'm a big scenery person.

 

[shortstop]

USC IS MY DREAM SCHOOL! I've always lived just five minutes away from campus, and so I grew up around Trojan pride all my life. Hoping to get into their Education program for my Masters next Fall.

Do you spend a lot of time in Downtown L.A.?

Portland is definitely on my list of places to see and visit. Not only is it close, but the scenery... I'm a big scenery person.

LOL I see we've hijacked this thread, so I'll PM you.

 

[TP2000]

I lived in Portland for a bit, but way back in time when it was only known as the obscure locale for Hello, Larry instead of the famous locale for the much funnier Portlandia. It has certainly changed since Hello, Larry and has become one of my favorite American cities even though the populace can be rather bizarre. Nice, but bizarre. Fabulous restaurants, great bars, good shopping, gorgeous gardens, marvelous streetcars. Bizarre populace.

On the flip side, many people I know in Orange County are some of the most provincial people I've ever met. They rarely (or sometimes never) leave SoCal, they consider going to Vegas or San Diego for the weekend "travelling", and have very little understanding about the rest of the country much less the world. And these are upper-middle class folks who could, and should, get out and see the world but they don't. They think there's nothing better than Fashion Island or Disneyland or the Irvine Spectrum for arts and culture and entertainment. It's terrifying, but it's SoCal.

Back OT, here's the wait times from the various official wait time apps late this afternoon, a very warm summer day with temps 85 to 90;

Universal Studios Hollywood
Tram Tour - No Wait (last tram at 8:45pm)
Harry Potter - 25 Minutes
Hippogriff - 15 Minutes
Transformers - 35 Minutes
Jurassic Park - 15 Minutes
Despicable Me - 15 Minutes

Disneyland Resort
Radiator Springs Racers - 75 Minutes
Soarin' Around The World - 60 Minutes
Grizzly River Run - 45 Minutes
Midway Mania - 30 Minutes
Hyperspace Mountain - 75 Minutes
Splash Mountain - 60 Minutes
Peter Pan's Flight - 45 Minutes
Thunder Mountain - 25 Minutes

Take that info how you will.

But I'll end by sending us off topic again with this little gem.

Everyone sing along "Portland is a long way from LA, a long way!"...

 

[Californian Elitist]

I FINALLY got to experience Potter in person last Sunday. To say I was impressed is an understatement.

Full thoughts and reviews on Potter and progress of the park to come later.

 

[TP2000]

Full thoughts and reviews on Potter and progress of the park to come later.

I'll look forward to that!

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I lived in Portland for a bit, but way back in time when it was only known as the obscure locale for Hello, Larry instead of the famous locale for the much funnier Portlandia. It has certainly changed since Hello, Larry and has become one of my favorite American cities even though the populace can be rather bizarre. Nice, but bizarre. Fabulous restaurants, great bars, good shopping, gorgeous gardens, marvelous streetcars. Bizarre populace.

On the flip side, many people I know in Orange County are some of the most provincial people I've ever met. They rarely (or sometimes never) leave SoCal, they consider going to Vegas or San Diego for the weekend "travelling", and have very little understanding about the rest of the country much less the world. And these are upper-middle class folks who could, and should, get out and see the world but they don't. They think there's nothing better than Fashion Island or Disneyland or the Irvine Spectrum for arts and culture and entertainment. It's terrifying, but it's SoCal.

Back OT, here's the wait times from the various official wait time apps late this afternoon, a very warm summer day with temps 85 to 90;

Universal Studios Hollywood
Tram Tour - No Wait (last tram at 8:45pm)
Harry Potter - 25 Minutes
Hippogriff - 15 Minutes
Transformers - 35 Minutes
Jurassic Park - 15 Minutes
Despicable Me - 15 Minutes

Disneyland Resort
Radiator Springs Racers - 75 Minutes
Soarin' Around The World - 60 Minutes
Grizzly River Run - 45 Minutes
Midway Mania - 30 Minutes
Hyperspace Mountain - 75 Minutes
Splash Mountain - 60 Minutes
Peter Pan's Flight - 45 Minutes
Thunder Mountain - 25 Minutes

Take that info how you will.

But I'll end by sending us off topic again with this little gem.

Everyone sing along "Portland is a long way from LA, a long way!"...

So we're one week out from Independence Day and those are the wait times at USH during the first summer of Potter? They made a big mistake with those price increases, didn't they?

 

[mickEblu]

So we're one week out from Independence Day and those are the wait times at USH during the first summer of Potter? They made a big mistake with those price increases, didn't they?

I could be wrong, but didn't Transformers at USH average longer wait times than Forbidden Journey is currently averaging when it first opened? Im guessing that has something to do with Transformers being original at the time and FJ being what , 7 years old at this point? But yea, I think they definitely overplayed their hand with their new pricing and initial AP blackouts.

Anyway, as it stands it seems like the Dole Whip line is averaging longer wait times than Forbidden Journey.

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

Well hope you like fear when The Walking Dead officially opens.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

It's also important to note that FJ's capacity is sky high compared to most attractions, so wait times should average lower than comparable E-tickets like RSR, which have a much lower throughput.

 

[Travel Junkie]

Yeah it's hard to judge the popularity purely on FJ's wait time. At IOA FJ rarely has the longest wait time even though it is by far the most popular ride in that park.

That being said I still believe DLR is a far better value than USH and the crowds seem to agree. A few years from now that may not be the case as USH continues to expand.

 

[dweezil78]

Yeah it's hard to judge the popularity purely on FJ's wait time. At IOA FJ rarely has the longest wait time even though it is by far the most popular ride in that park.

That being said I still believe DLR is a far better value than USH and the crowds seem to agree. A few years from now that may not be the case as USH continues to expand.

USH is unfortunately always going to feel like a garage sale'ish collection of random rides and less of a theme park due to its unfortunate layout. Would have been great if they were able to start from scratch and level the place and re-build it all, but that will obviously never happen. Because of that, IMO, Disneyland is always going to be the superior park no matter how great USH's individual attractions are.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I couldn't care less about which park is more popular/brings in more revenue, and this goes for the other parks in Southern California like Knott's, Magic Mountain, etc.. As long as I'm enjoying myself, I'm good, and I do enjoy myself at other parks. Actually planning to hit up Magic Mountain either this month or next month with some friends. They have the BEST funnel cakes.

 

[dweezil78]

I couldn't care less about which park is more popular/brings in more revenue, and this goes for the other parks in Southern California like Knott's, Magic Mountain, etc.. As long as I'm enjoying myself, I'm good, and I do enjoy myself at other parks. Actually planning to hit up Magic Mountain either this month or next month with some friends. They have the BEST funnel cakes.

I haven't been to MM in probably over a decade now, but recently moved closer so have the itch to get back in there and see what's new. Really interested to try the updated Revolution w/ VR as I'm a bit of VR enthusiast these days (if you haven't tried it, you gotta!). Had a period of few years in my early 20s where I was a coaster junkie, but Disney magic eventually won me back over.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Anyway, as it stands it seems like the Dole Whip line is averaging longer wait times than Forbidden Journey.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

The discussion about how the public is responding to Potter in Hollywood is an important one as it speaks volumes about who dominates the theme park market in the region. Universal's aggressive expansion strategy in Florida, which has been framed online as a sort of arms race that Universal is winning over Disney, is clearly not being received with much enthusiasm in California for some reason. It'll be interesting to see what the consensus is once there's attendance data available next year.

 

[Phroobar]

I haven't been to MM in probably over a decade now, but recently moved closer so have the itch to get back in there and see what's new. Really interested to try the updated Revolution w/ VR as I'm a bit of VR enthusiast these days (if you haven't tried it, you gotta!). Had a period of few years in my early 20s where I was a coaster junkie, but Disney magic eventually won me back over.

You might like the VR thing on the Revolution. Personally, it made me sick. I took the helmet off half way through the ride. I think the ride is better without the gimmick.

 

[mickEblu]

The discussion about how the public is responding to Potter in Hollywood is an important one as it speaks volumes about who dominates the theme park market in the region. Universal's aggressive expansion strategy in Florida, which has been framed online as a sort of arms race that Universal is winning over Disney, is clearly not being received with much enthusiasm in California for some reason. It'll be interesting to see what the consensus is once there's attendance data available next year.

This is clearly because USH does not offer enough to compete with DLR. I can't fathom how they thought it was a good idea to raise ticket prices near Disneys price range. I think this just shows that they were expecting a lot more Demand for Potter. I know everyone keeps saying that it's a high capacity ride but there is no denying that Universal must be disappointed with the turn out so far. Didn't I read they quickly restructured their AP blackouts after seeing the low turn out?

It is fair to keep in mind however that this one part of a bigger overall expansion. Still doesn't explain the miscalculation in ticket pricing though.

 

[Curious Constance]

This is clearly because USH does not offer enough to compete with DLR. I can't fathom how they thought it was a good idea to raise ticket prices near Disneys price range. I think this just shows that they were expecting a lot more Demand for Potter. I know everyone keeps saying that it's a high capacity ride but there is no denying that Universal must be disappointed with the turn out so far. Didn't I read they quickly restructured their AP blackouts after seeing the low turn out?

It is fair to keep in mind however that this one part of a bigger overall expansion. Still doesn't explain the miscalculation in ticket pricing though.

Universal pricing their one day ticket prices similarly to Disney's isn't new. They've been like that for years now. BUT they used to offer more discounted ticket prices, like buy one day get a day, etc. And of course the humongous increase in APs is probably making the biggest dent in their low visitors.