Nintendo partnering with Universal to make attractions.

[celluloid]

I know this debate will just go in circles, buuut one last time:


No, I'm not saying this at all. Universal has ONLY ever once gone all in, and it's with Diagon Alley.


Again, Disney is not free of this criticism but they have far more examples of doing it completely right throughout their hishistory.

That ONLY is hyperbole.
I disagree, many rides and experiences at Uni have done things better. Just one obvious example, Disney has still not done an indoor coaster as themed as Revenge of The Mummy, but even if you don't feel feel that way...

Hagrids and DK were never going to be as thematically solid as Big Thunder as Hagrids is a big thrill and not diegetically themed as a hyper real train on track. It's goals are different. Designers know this.
DK is zany and jumps the track as a main gimmick lf it's visual thrill and is a supporting attraction.

There is a reason all of Disney's better coasters are themed to trains or in the dark or if outdoors they end up stuck with odd coasters themed to coasters.
Even their newer indoor ones don't go all in. It gets repetitive.
Disney is probably worse at this than anyone. Detailed dimensional queue for Mermaid and then loading station is a mural and warehouse ceiling with static figures.
It's goal was to be a supporting dark ride ticket.
DK will be the mermaid of the area in this regard.

In 1990. Universal Def went all in and made a movie studio park 100 percent. Better than what Disney had created with their same mission.
The goal of a movie studio theme park was far superior at Universal.
For you to say Uni never went all in tells me you never rode Kongfrontation. I don't think there has been a world of detail that great since. I am getting hints of it from the images of ministry queue though. What was not 100 percent about Amity Island?
Your hyperbole that Diagon is the only time is totally unfounded.

 

[DonniePeverley]

I think there are some valid points made here.

In regards to just assuming Epic will be a massive hit, have been slightly reserved in see what a miss the Super Nintendo attractions are.

They had so much possibilities - great IP's, on paper great looking ideas - so how did they miss an open goal?

If they being cheap, then that's a worry. If it's creativity then i'd worry even more.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I think there are some valid points made here.

In regards to just assuming Epic will be a massive hit, have been slightly reserved in see what a miss the Super Nintendo attractions are.

They had so much possibilities - great IP's, on paper great looking ideas - so how did they miss an open goal?

If they being cheap, then that's a worry. If it's creativity then i'd worry even more.

It’s certainly not cheap. I’m honestly dumbfounded by the rides. I guess we will just focus on taking pictures in the land.

 

[sonoma15]

In regards to just assuming Epic will be a massive hit, have been slightly reserved in see what a miss the Super Nintendo attractions are.

They had so much possibilities - great IP's, on paper great looking ideas - so how did they miss an open goal?

If they being cheap, then that's a worry. If it's creativity then i'd worry even more.

Epic Universe is going to be the most expensive theme park ever built. It is the complete opposite of cheap. It's a miracle this is even happening in Orlando of all places! This is something that would only get built in the Middle East or Asia in the modern day. It doesn't matter how much money they pour into this park because people like you will always focus in on the most miniscule details to complain about while completely ignoring all the amazing stuff.

 

[DonniePeverley]

When Mario Kart attraction was released and it was underwhelming, we were okay because we were being told Donkey Kong was the main attraction. Now this is flat (solely because corners have been cut with a horrifically short ride length) now who do we blame?

What a depressing cluster up.

Push the ride out by another minute, invest some more money. But no penny pinch at the vital stage.

 

[DonniePeverley]

Epic Universe is going to be the most expensive theme park ever built. It is the complete opposite of cheap. It's a miracle this is even happening in Orlando of all places! This is something that would only get built in the Middle East or Asia in the modern day. It doesn't matter how much money they pour into this park because people like you will always focus in on the most miniscule details to complain about while completely ignoring all the amazing stuff.

A touch hyperbole.

There is plenty of infrustructure projects going on in America costing more than Epic Universe's rumoured one billion spend.

Hell Comcast just spent 350 million on two Wicked movies. So let's not get carried away. Movies are always a massive risk if they flop. A good theme park with hotels is a guarenteed money spinner - providing you do it well.

They have one job too when building a theme park that will hopefully last 60 plus years. You don't penny pinch around on the final product.

You also don't jump too far ahead, anticipating huge queues so you make inadequate short attractions because you worry about queues.

 

[JackCH]

None of the rides in Nintendo look great to me. The land itself captures the Nintendo magic very well, but the rides just all seem "meh."

There are 3 rides that truly excite me at Epic, in addition to what appears to be excellent theming- Dark Universe's dark ride, Potter ride, and Starfall Racers. Everything else just seems somewhere between "meh" and "good."

 

[bwr827]

Definitely disappointing to learn that Donkey Kong is so short.

Still excited to visit Nintendo Land.

Hagrid’s is an incredibly well-themed and delightful coaster. At WDW, the only attraction I can think of that matches this level would be Flight of Passage.

If anything at Epic matches Hagrid’s quality, I’ll be very happy.

 

[MisterPenguin]

There is plenty of infrustructure projects going on in America costing more than Epic Universe's rumoured one billion spend.

6 billion

 

[ToTBellHop]

6 billion

Somehow, the Rivers of America replacement will cost $6.1 billion.

 

[DonniePeverley]

6 billion

Source?

Google AI says 1 billion.

Skift also quoting the one billion.

Only outside source i found quoting different was a few fan sites quoting 3 billion, but without sources.

 

[mickEblu]

.

It's a beautifully themed, small family coaster, with one vignette at the lift hill. But that scenic moment is at least in a full realized and themed space, and not a metal corrugated hallway. Also a fantastic fully themed queue.

Agree. Not to mention there are no expectations for a Wandering Oatken coaster other than the expectations created by the grandeur of the attraction itself. Not like Donkey Kong or Mario Kart that had very clear expectations from people who love and have played those video games for decades. Or you know, even people like my mom who watched me play as a kid knows Mario Kart was supposed to feel like a race.

 

[lazyboy97o]

6 billion

By the time all is said and done it’ll probably top $7 billion. But the $1 billion number isn’t the usual nonsense. It has been repeated over and over again, including here. Universal being the scrappy little team doing things quickly and for a pittance is a key part of the story fans tell themselves. It’s part of the Universal identity of being the cool underdogs and is still invoked regularly to defend against criticisms.

 

[DonniePeverley]

By the time all is said and done it’ll probably top $7 billion. But the $1 billion number isn’t the usual nonsense. It has been repeated over and over again, including here. Universal being the scrappy little team doing things quickly and for a pittance is a key part of the story fans tell themselves. It’s part of the Universal identity of being the cool underdogs and is still invoked regularly to defend against criticisms.

What's your source for 7 billion now?

 

[lazyboy97o]

What's your source for 7 billion now?

The spade told me.

 

[JackCH]

There is simply no way possible Epic Universe is anywhere near as low as 1 billon. The original plans for Epcot's refresh alone were like, 1.2 billion.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I hate to say it, but I would guess Epic is at over 10 billion at this point, especially if you include the external infrastructure. If it’s only $6-7 billion I would expect some cut corners.

 

[DonniePeverley]

I hate to say it, but I would guess Epic is at over 10 billion at this point, especially if you include the external infrastructure. If it’s only $6-7 billion I would expect some cut corners.

So we have media reporting 1 billion - but posters on here say 6, 7 or 10 billion, their sources being 'assumption' and 'thin air'.

Back to Donkey Kong - has there ever been an attraction that had so much possibilities, but ended up being such a horrendous damp squid ?

 

[Rich Brownn]

Best estimate are around $6 billion

 

[Tom Morrow]

Back to Donkey Kong - has there ever been an attraction that had so much possibilities, but ended up being such a horrendous damp squib ?

Gringotts comes to mind. A ride system capable of doing exactly what you see in the movies. Let’s use it to shuffle you from holding point to holding point while you watch action happen instead of experiencing action yourself.

Mario Kart - people want a crazy race. Nah, let’s make it VR MIB instead.

And yeah, whoever pointed out that everyone handwaved Mario Kart because DK was the main ticket was right. Fans always love the goalposts for Universal because, you know, “the scrappy underdogs”.