DHS Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run - Ride/Queue Details and Discussion

[Tom Morrow]

this is a popular argument that makes very little sense in the shadow of star tours - a ride that perfectly encapsulates the fun and adventure of the “star wars” universe without getting bogged down by the grim hypotheticals of a fictional universe. the same goes for the “indiana jones” ride; that show could be a much more dramatic and serious affair, but the team in charge understood what made it work from the “disneyland” perspective and incorporated those elements respectively.

if we’re still talking about this from the “harry potter” perspective, disney built the equivalent of hogwarts, post-“deathly hallows” battle. it’s not really fun or mysterious, just bombed-out and depleted.

No, they built "Tattooine Except Not" so they would not be limited to elements from Tattooine but retain a similar look. I'm not sure where you're getting "bombed out" from. There's evidence of some fights, not a huge battle. It's also grossly dismissive to suggest that people don't care about the "war" element of Star Wars. Isn't that a major reason why we all wish they hadn't cut the live entertainment? Where we would have seen fighting? Also, while not a superbly executed ride, everything about MFSR is light hearted and goofy, certainly not "grim" (though IMO it would have benefited from a more serious tone).

And since we're once again (wrongly) using WWoHP as some sort of holy grail of theme park design, let's not forget that Universal made a massive misstep with Gringotts. The fun adventure that perfectly encapsulates the magical delight of the IP was right there in the material. All they had to do was make a whimsical ride through the vaults on the cart system we already knew about, yet they squandered it and made it take place during the most significant event of the bank's entire history and we spend our time shuffling from scene to scene, escaping grim death instead of just riding the rails having fun.

 

[marni1971]

let's not forget that Universal made a massive misstep with Gringotts..

Many would disagree. I personally prefer FJ.

 

[Movielover]

Many would disagree. I personally prefer FJ.

I think the biggest mishap was everyone thinking that Gringotts would be more coaster than dark ride, and Universal did nothing to prepare people for that. Its a fun dark ride with a small section of coaster elements.

 

[marni1971]

I think the biggest mishap was everyone thinking that Gringotts would be more coaster than dark ride, and Universal did nothing to prepare people for that. Its a fun dark ride with a small section of coaster elements.

Silly people.

 

[Movielover]

Silly people.

What do you mean by that? Gringotts is a great ride but I know many people who thought it was going to be a full on rollercoaster and were disappointed that it wasn't.

 

[drizgirl]

When he stops we'll stop.

I expect nothing less.

 

[marni1971]

What do you mean by that? Gringotts is a great ride but I know many people who thought it was going to be a full on rollercoaster and were disappointed that it wasn't.

The people who thought it would be a full on rollercoaster are silly. It was no secret what it was going to be.

 

[Movielover]

The people who thought it would be a full on rollercoaster are silly. It was no secret what it was going to be.

Eh, IMO they could have done a better job promoting it.

Of course we talk about Rise having misleading trailers, I love how they speed up the footage in this one.

 

[marni1971]

Eh, IMO they could have done a better job promoting it.

Of course we talk about Rise having misleading trailers, I love how they speed up the footage in this one.

My favourite is Rock n Rollercoaster with CGI scenery.

 

[Movielover]

My favourite is Rock n Rollercoaster with CGI scenery.

Marketing, making things up since the dawn of money!

 

[SplashJacket]

I think you have your East and West and South all crossed up. Either that or you're talking about the West Coast version.

My mistake, for whatever reason I was thinking HS had its entrance to the south and Galaxy's Edge to the north.

But yes, I guess it is applicable to DL's GE.

 

[TalkingHead]

I've seen this criticism a lot, and I'd love to hear you elaborate on it a bit. I agree that they shouldn't have cut the droids, drones, live actors, etc. However, what does Hogsmeade have that GE doesn't in this category? When you visit Hogsmeade after sunset, you won't see any live actors either. You'll just see what was described above: beautiful scenery.

In your opinion, what would you say GE does differently that makes it feel less alive? Is it just the music? Or is something less tangible?

I know many of the windows are animated; aren’t some of the signs as well? Like the Weasley store with the man lifting his hat.

Plus, there are the interactive spells with animated props.

 

[Tom Morrow]

The people who thought it would be a full on rollercoaster are silly. It was no secret what it was going to be.

Was it? I recall them being relatively hush hush about it. Maybe the fan community knew what it was going to be, I doubt the general public knew. Plus, how can one be told that there's going to be a Gringotts bank vault carts after seeing scenes like this:



... and not anticipate a fun roller coaster instead of being ushered from show stop to show stop? It's similar to promising a "high octane" Fast & Furious ride and then riding a slow moving bus.

 

[marni1971]

Was it?

Yes.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Yes.

Source? Did Universal release a press statement saying "Gringotts will not be a fun roller coaster and instead will be a series of show stops"? Because I don't recall anything other than typical PR buzzword stuff. "Immersive", "Unlike anything before", etc.

 

[marni1971]

Source? Did Universal release a press statement saying "Gringotts will not be a fun roller coaster and instead will be a series of show stops"? Because I don't recall anything other than typical PR buzzword stuff. "Immersive", "Unlike anything before", etc.

You’ll have to do a search. It doesn’t really bother me more than what I’ve said.

 

[Tom Morrow]

You’ll have to do a search.

Well, here's one of their official press releases, including a video filled with imagery from the films of the carts performing crazy maneuvers:

Discover Universal Blog

Welcome to the official Discover Universal Blog!

blog.universalorlando.com

Here's another:

Details Revealed About Universal Orlando's New Harry Potter Attraction

The grand opening date for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be announced at a later date.

corporate.comcast.com

None of this rules out that the ride will be limited to two very brief coaster portions. You may have known what the ride was going to be, but the general public did not and it's not at all unreasonable to expect a wild coaster ride out of their official descriptions of the ride and the source material. Remove the references to "3D" and half of what they say is interchangeable with their info and official press releases on Hagrid's.

I don't think Gringotts is bad, but I personally had avoided leaked information on it because I wanted to be surprised, and I was severely let down after my initial ride and it took a while to warm up to it. I still strongly prefer Forbidden Journey as well, despite having weak storytelling.

 

[marni1971]

Well, here's one of their official press releases, including a video filled with imagery from the films of the carts performing crazy maneuvers:

http://[URL][URL]https://blog.unive...tails-revealed-harry-potter-escape-gringotts/

[/URL][/URL]

Here's another:

http://[URL][URL]https://corporate..../harry-potter-and-the-escape-from-gringotts-4

[/URL][/URL]

None of this rules out that the ride will be limited to two very brief coaster portions. You may have known what the ride was going to be, but the general public did not and it's not at all unreasonable to expect a wild coaster ride out of their official descriptions of the ride and the source material. Remove the references to "3D" and half of what they say is interchangeable with their info and official press releases on Hagrid's.

I don't think Gringotts is bad, but I personally had avoided leaked information on it because I wanted to be surprised, and I was severely let down after my initial ride and it took a while to warm up to it. I still strongly prefer Forbidden Journey as well, despite having weak storytelling.

Okay. I feel for you. Having ridden Falcon I know what severely let down feels like.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Okay. I feel for you. Having ridden Falcon I know what severely let down feels like.

I hated Falcon after my first ride, but like Gringotts it grew on me after a few more rides.

 

[marni1971]

I hated Falcon after my first ride, but like Gringotts it grew on me after a few more rides.

Sadly I’m in no rush to ride it again. That surprised me.