I think people are starting to think I'm making this into a "Universal is better than Disney" thread. I'm not saying this at all. Disney's always been #1 in my mind.
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Most Comparable to Wizarding World?
- Thread starter Prototype82
- Start date
This is why I have huge expectations for Be Our Guest Restaurant. A couple of my friends have told me the castle has always been a let down for them as well. It's totally not fair considering Disneyland has a walk-trough.
Main Street USA for me exceeds Potter in terms of a land - obviously not considering actual rides. The details, scale and size of Main Street for me are superior. Take into account the working train, the sheer size of it, amount of entertainment offerings, restaurants, shopping, and the fact that you can actually move around in it.
Potter is a great achievement, no doubt. But sometimes I think its newness causes it be over-rated.
The queue for Maelstrom is extremely disappointing...World Showcase has so much potential attraction-wise...
I'm talking about the detail of the environment, not the experiences on the inside. Of course Hogwarts is going to be more expansive because it houses a ride. But the mosaics and architecture of Cinderella Castle are still impressive after all these years.
Wrong. The Victorian design is very ornamental (even moreso than DL's) and features many playful design flourishes. Main Street also has many details that go unnoticed to the average guest, but their absolute necessity to the making of the historical environment would be evident if you took them away: for instance the street performers, the real barber shop, the vehicles. The interiors are on the same level of detail, although WWOHP has the advantage of being able to restrict the type of merchandise they sell. Plus, the buildings on Main Street are all different. The buildings in Hogsmeade are uniform on the tops - not a bad thing; in fact, the design is fanciful and appealing on its own. It's just a difference between the two, and it's does nothing to indicate that one is more detailed than the other.
One could say the same about the visual clash of the Dragon Challenge coaster with the rest of the land and its own amazingly detailed queue (at least since I last saw it pre-Potter).
SleepingMonk
Well-Known Member
The Dragon Challenge took place outside in the film not in a show building. It wasn't necessary for them to start from scratch with that ride.
Plus the ride still has a fitting theme with the banners, challenge cup and tent area complete with sound and shadow effects before loading.
Plus the ride still has a fitting theme with the banners, challenge cup and tent area complete with sound and shadow effects before loading.
Jimmy Thick
Well-Known Member
The detail to the Potter area is fantastic, its special of which there is no doubt, but its extremely small. One of the illusions of it being so busy is the fact if you sneeze you walk right past it.
As for comparing Forbidden Journey, you really can't compare it to anything on Disney property, just like you cannot compare Spider-Man to anything on Disney property.
Jimmy Thick-were half awake...in our fake empire...
As for comparing Forbidden Journey, you really can't compare it to anything on Disney property, just like you cannot compare Spider-Man to anything on Disney property.
Jimmy Thick-were half awake...in our fake empire...
jakeman
Well-Known Member
Pools like thoughts are better if they are deeper.
Magenta Panther
Well-Known Member
I think the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is the best runner-up to Potter. It's smart, technically brilliant, has an exceptionally-executed storyline and the ambience can't be beat. I don't think Disney has built anything since that comes close to it. Unfortunately.
wizards8507
Active Member
Proverbs, like paragraphs, are better if they feature proper punctuation.
:animwink:
Couldn't resist.
jakeman
Well-Known Member
:lol:
I know the retheme fell short of being perfect. But you're missing my point.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey = central ride of Wizarding World
Maelstrom = central ride of Norway Pavilion
Maelstrom also has the weight of representing an entire nation on it's shoulders. Its film is also incredibly outdated.
Couldn't agree with you more.
Interesting to see the opinions. I for one wasn't that impressed with WWoHP. Yup the theming of the place was beautiful, i.e. the buildings from the outside.
That said, there was really very little to do there, unless you consider standing in lines for Olivander's an experience. Yeah they have one killer themed ride, no one should try to take anything away from Forbidden Journey, truly it's impressive from cue to finish. I didn't care for the ride portion that much, but that has more to do with being slightly larger and barely fitting into the "bench" restraint. (and btw I'm not that big of a guy 5'11" 240lbs and the restraint was so tight on my chest i could barely breathe).
Their just isn't much more to the place. Yeah it was cool to spend a couple of hours there, but hell's bells it doesn't compare to Disney really. When the dust settles, unless they expand on WWoHP, this place will not be talked about in the same way. It just doesn't have enough substance to it. Pretty buildings, check, one great ride, check, an intersting experience in Olivander's, yup, but come on, tha'ts a couple hours entertainment at best. The negatives of the place are long, long lines for the good attractions, terribly small stores, and really quite a small area overall. I loved being inside the "books" but there wasn't enough to keep me there.
I think the theming of New Orleans in DL, or Frontierland in MK, Africa in AK, are all as good, and if you compare all of the theming and wonder of MK, DL, AK, Epcot to Islands of Adventure as a whole, the Disney parks IMHO crush IoA for shear volume of theming, amount of experiences/rides and pure entertainment value.
That said, there was really very little to do there, unless you consider standing in lines for Olivander's an experience. Yeah they have one killer themed ride, no one should try to take anything away from Forbidden Journey, truly it's impressive from cue to finish. I didn't care for the ride portion that much, but that has more to do with being slightly larger and barely fitting into the "bench" restraint. (and btw I'm not that big of a guy 5'11" 240lbs and the restraint was so tight on my chest i could barely breathe).
Their just isn't much more to the place. Yeah it was cool to spend a couple of hours there, but hell's bells it doesn't compare to Disney really. When the dust settles, unless they expand on WWoHP, this place will not be talked about in the same way. It just doesn't have enough substance to it. Pretty buildings, check, one great ride, check, an intersting experience in Olivander's, yup, but come on, tha'ts a couple hours entertainment at best. The negatives of the place are long, long lines for the good attractions, terribly small stores, and really quite a small area overall. I loved being inside the "books" but there wasn't enough to keep me there.
I think the theming of New Orleans in DL, or Frontierland in MK, Africa in AK, are all as good, and if you compare all of the theming and wonder of MK, DL, AK, Epcot to Islands of Adventure as a whole, the Disney parks IMHO crush IoA for shear volume of theming, amount of experiences/rides and pure entertainment value.
Great googly moogly, who among us is pitting our hopes on Maelstrom comparing with Forbidden Journey. Talk about picking on the runt of the litter. LOL Central ride or not, World Showcase isn't about rides, Maelstrom is a little detente, nothing more, it isn't a flagship anything, not like FJ.
If you want to compare FJ to anything, pick on something it's own size, like ToT, Everest, the Mountains in MK, take your pick, but come on... Maelstrom??? not even worth debate.
wizards8507
Active Member
This.
Compare WWoHP to Frontierland and I think Frontierland comes out on top. It's an original concept, not a well-executed copy of a literary franchise. I really don't think that WWoHP is an automatic "trump card" over anything Disney, especially once all the films have been out for a few years and Pottermania (as a whole) dies out. WWoHP is riding the wave and doing a great job of it, but I'm not sure it will be self-sustaining in the long run.
It has its flaws as described elsewhere, but overall IMHO nothing TDO or TDA have built in the last decade (or 2) as a single project comes close to TWWOHP. TDS I`m told is similar, on a far bigger scale, and for me Disneyland Parc at DLP matches the themeing and all-in-one-build wow factor.
There are just too many details in Potterland to take in all at once. And then you have the signature ride. Why oh why were WDI not allowed to progress the EMV? Or AGV? Or LPS? But that's another discussion.
There are just too many details in Potterland to take in all at once. And then you have the signature ride. Why oh why were WDI not allowed to progress the EMV? Or AGV? Or LPS? But that's another discussion.