Rides at Universal

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
If Spider-Man and Transformers move along tracks, do the tracks themselves have drops? Like the one at the end on Dinosaur or the hill as you go outside on Test Track? Also, do the vehicles move more than the ones on Dinosaur or Star Tours?

No drops on either one. Both move along perfectly flat tracks the entire time.
Transformers slowly goes up and down an elevator (it was built in a 2-story building to save space), but you'd never know it unless someone told you.
Kind of a wasted opportunity for a possible thrill element if you ask me.
The vehicles move about their axis about as much as Star Tours, though with added lateral motion.

Basically picture sitting in an office chair that swivels and reclines back and forward and someone quickly pushing you around in a dark room full of movie screens.
 

JT3000

Well-Known Member
Spider-Man and Transformers both have simulated drops. Possibly scary to the uninitiated, but once you know it's simulated, not a big deal.

Transformers slowly goes up and down an elevator (it was built in a 2-story building to save space), but you'd never know it unless someone told you.
Kind of a wasted opportunity for a possible thrill element if you ask me.

Those elevators are actually pretty fast, but the fact that you can't even tell you're on one makes me think they wouldn't be all that exciting as part of the ride experience. Besides, the story doesn't call for it.
 

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
Those elevators are actually pretty fast, but the fact that you can't even tell you're on one makes me think they wouldn't be all that exciting as part of the ride experience. Besides, the story doesn't call for it.
Really? Don't you fall from great heights like 20 times over the course of that ride?
To be honest, though, my complaints about the Transformers ride could fill several books.
 

dm11

Active Member
I am not a rollercoast person, i can cope with Space Mountain at the most, its more the heights and inversions i cant do.. do you think i can do mummy and and gringotts?
I am very much like you - can't do heights, inversions and the like. Space Mountain is just a notch above my level of tolerance (I like the ride but it is just a little bit too much for me). On the other hand, the Mummy is just a notch below :). One of the best rides in all parks. Gringotts is nowhere close to either of them, intensity wise; you won't have any problems with it.
 

SoKatriotic

Member
Original Poster
Is Spider-Man basically just a combination of Star Tours and Dinosaur? I read that the ride vehicle spins, how much spinning is actually involved? Also, is Transformers more intense than Spider-Man?
 

BubbaQuest

Well-Known Member
Is Spider-Man basically just a combination of Star Tours and Dinosaur?

Yep. It's on a track like Dinosaur with set pieces, and a motion simulator like Star Tours. The difference from Star Tours is the cars have an open top and the movies are on huge external screens.

**** Possible Spoiler Alert **** With the big screen there is a scene that makes it look like you are at the top of the very tall building. It gives the illusion you are falling from the building very similar to the scene at the beginning of the original Star Tours where you fell down a shaft. If you close your eyes the illusion will stop, but the bouncing simulator will continue.

I read that the ride vehicle spins, how much spinning is actually involved? Also, is Transformers more intense than Spider-Man?

They do spin, similar to Toy Story Mania. I can't remember if it makes more than one full rotation during the ride.

I don't think either of the attractions is more intense than the other. If you are going to choose one, I'd recommend going with characters you like more. I don't know much about Transformers so I find the Spiderman story line much more enjoyable.

If you decide not to ride Transformers, I'd still recommend going to the show building to the see the performing Transformers outside the queue. I think they are amazing and are a lot of fun to watch posing with the guests.
 

Eckert

Well-Known Member
Is Spider-Man basically just a combination of Star Tours and Dinosaur? I read that the ride vehicle spins, how much spinning is actually involved? Also, is Transformers more intense than Spider-Man?

Imagine if Dinosaur was smoother and was able to rotate around on an axis to direct your attention to show scenes...that's what Transformers and Spidey are like.

I think Transformers simulates "bumpiness" more than Spider-Man, but Spider-Man will spin you around more. So I would say they are about equal level for different reasons.
 

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
Transformers is more "intense" than Spiderman in the sense that it's louder and more chaotic, but there's no additional motion.

If you're really curious about how the hardware works and don't mind spoiling things for yourself, watch this video and go to around 4 minutes in.

 

Worldlover71

Well-Known Member
Odd that you didn't think much of Spider-man. It is generally considered one of the premier dark rides on the planet.
It just paled in comparison right after riding Gringots and Forbidden Journey. Perhaps If I had ridden it first, I would have felt differently. Being animated, it lacked the reality of the two HP rides. It also felt a bit chaotic to me and I didn't know several of the characters. The technology is great though.
 

celluloid

Well-Known Member
There are no drops at all on those. Everything is simulated with gradual movements of track positioning and the fluent but every now and then jotly for an effect. Nothing as jarring as Dinosaur or even Star Tours, but you will feel like it. There is a slight spinning part in Spiderman that may bother you but it does not do any more than three rotations.
 

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
Is Despicable Me just like Star Tours?

Similar You are in a pod that hold 4 people in a theater type room with a big screen in front of you.

Makes more sense when you see it.

chairs_0.jpg


Less of a motion simulator and more of a movie theater where everyone sits in these things.


Coin-Operated-Space-Ship.jpg
 

JT3000

Well-Known Member
Makes more sense when you see it.

chairs_0.jpg


Less of a motion simulator and more of a movie theater where everyone sits in these things.


Coin-Operated-Space-Ship.jpg

Despicable Me isn't the most advanced simulator, but I'd say you're underselling it quite a bit with that comparison. It has a pretty decent amount of movement, and visually it's just like any other simulator if you sit towards the middle and can ignore the other vehicles around you. If you sit on the ends, you will fall prey to a screen that's too small and curved.

So no one has to ask, The Simpsons Ride is basically the same thing, just on a larger scale. ;)
 
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JillC LI

Well-Known Member
I loved the HP section of IoA, and I'm dying to see the new section in US. What we did on our last trip (and will do on our eventual next trip) is to go directly to Universal, stay overnight on site so we get early entry and free express passes, and get a two-park pass so we can ride the Hogwarts Express both ways. Then we spent the rest of our trip at WDW.
I will say this - many of the Hogwarts rides are not for the weak of heart. I am a bit of a chicken myself - won't go on ToT or Everest. I can handle RNRC because it is in the dark and I can't tell exactly what is happening to me. I insisted on riding Forbidden Journey because I just had to experience it, but it was really intense and made me rather nauseous. If you are afraid of the Mine Train then you won't even be able to handle Flight of the Hippogriff (alhough I think you would be fine if you like Space Mtn). Dragon Challenge looked too frightening for me to even attempt. I haven't ridden Gringotts yet so I can't comment on that. I do okay on Spiderman, and I managed on Mummy (which I found somewhat comparable to RNRC). That all said, the way that Universal brings to life the world of Harry Potter with the theming and the shops and food is really incredible and worth seeing even if you don't ride everything. But you might do fine with a single day there if you don't want to give up too many Disney days. Keep the overnight on Universal in mind though.
 

No Name

Well-Known Member
Do you have a medical condition that prohibits you from riding anything too intense? Health comes first, so if you do, I understand. Though correct me if I'm wrong but I'm thinking your problem is just a fear of these rides.

If you're just afraid, my advice is, don't be. Nobody has died on most of these rides and when people rarely do die or get injured, it's usually the guest's fault for doing something stupid, such as riding with a medical condition or not keeping their arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. Operation procedures have been put in place to make the rides more safe than ever. Again unless there is a health issue, you will be absolutely fine.

If you can do Dinosaur, honestly, I don't see anything that you can't do. Dinosaur only has a seatbelt to keep you in and bounces you around more than any other ride, in my opinion. Spiderman and Transformers, while they bounce you around a little bit, are both such great rides that you're truly missing out if you do not do them. And if you do not do Forbidden Journey, you're wasting your money, but FJ is far less rough than Dinosaur so you'd be able to handle it with no problem. Simpsons and Dispicable Me bump you around less than a bus ride.

It's all in your head. I can pretty much guarantee that nothing bad will happen. Just get on the line, enjoy the queues (FJ and Gringotts in particular) and don't think about the ride. Maybe buying an express pass would be better becuase it would give you less time in line to worry yourself. And when you get to the ride, just sit down, put the seatbelt and/or lapbar on, and don't panic. And when you get off, you'll realize that you're starting to get rid of your fear. And that feels good.

I was never allowed to refuse to ride something as a child, so I never could develop a fear of rides. But I've helped quite a few people who were afraid of rollercoasters. You've ridden Dinosaur, which is the ultimate proof that you're just scaring yourself out of everything else. The key is to try everything, or at least every type of ride, at least once. You'll wind up liking most of what you've been afraid of. Honestly, I feel terrible for you because you've been missing out so much, and the longer you go without getting rid of this fear, the more you'll wind up regretting not trying these rides earlier.

One question. Is your fear that you'll get hurt or die, or that you'll be too shaken up after riding?
 

EngineJoe

Well-Known Member
7 Dwarf Mine Train is a joke. I can't even call it a roller coaster on the scale of Big Thunder or Space Mountain (which are both tame roller coasters) themselves.

I love the Harry Potter Dragon Challenge roller coasters.
 

EngineJoe

Well-Known Member
Imagine if Dinosaur was smoother and was able to rotate around on an axis to direct your attention to show scenes...that's what Transformers and Spidey are like.

I think Transformers simulates "bumpiness" more than Spider-Man, but Spider-Man will spin you around more. So I would say they are about equal level for different reasons.

I love Spider man put didn't like Transformers. It is really bumpy and your body is hitting the sides of the car and your waist the rail too much.
 

EngineJoe

Well-Known Member
Men in Black shooting ride is really fun. I think it's a much better and longer version of Tommorowland Toy Story Buzz Blasters.

Bluto's Barge is really fun but don't wear shoes. They will get soaked.
 

englanddg

One Little Spark...
My boyfriend and I have never been to Universal but we both love Harry Potter, should we spend one day there instead of at a Disney park? I have heard something about needing a two-park pass if you want to ride the Hogwarts Express. Is doing that worth spending two days at Universal? We have an eight-day trip total and we both love Disney World, so we want to use our time wisely. Would it be a better idea to buy a one-day ticket with an Express Pass? Also, what is the best way to get from a Disney resort to Universal without renting a car?

On a completely different note, I can do Soarin', Test Track, Dinosaur, and Star Tours at Disney World. I don't do roller coasters at all (I've been too scared to try Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). What rides can I handle at Universal?
Yes. It's worth spending THREE days at Universal on an eight day stay, imho.
 

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