Skull Island: Reign of Kong from construction to opening

[Mike S]

Can't say, they may not make the cut.

I hope they do.

 

[Tom Morrow]

They do not understand the basics of attraction design: pacing, scripting, lighting, when and where to use what technology, transitions, directing the viewer etc. etc.

I absolutely agree with pacing. Each attraction starting with maybe Simpsons just throws you right into chaos immediately and never lets up. It was a cool approach for a few attractions, but I think Gringotts is where I said "okay, time for a different approach." Sadly, Kong is more of the same. I knew what to expect with the Kong 360 portion, but the build up to that should have had better pacing.

But what do you mean by lighting and transitions? Directing the viewer?

 

[Kate F]

Can someone please explain to me what's wrong with Gringotts? Is it just because there's too many screens and feels too similar to Spiderman/Transformers? I liked it when I rode it, yes Forbidden Journey is better, but I've seen a few recent posts talking about how terrible and disappointing it is, which I don't really get. I thought it was a lot better than say, 7DMT and Mermaid. Maybe I just need to ride it again?

 

[Tom Morrow]

Can someone please explain to me what's wrong with Gringott's? Is it just because there's too many screens and feels too similar to Spiderman/Transformers? I liked it when I rode it, yes Forbidden Journey is better, but I've seen a few recent posts talking about how terrible and disappointing it is, which I don't really get. I thought it was a lot better than say, 7DMT and Mermaid. Maybe I just need to ride it again?

I don't think it's terrible at all, it's a very good ride. However, it fell short of a lot of expectations, given the concept of riding the infamous bank vault carts. What I would have loved more than anything is a ride that did it's best to simulate the crazy cart rail system through the massive, cavernous vaults of Gringotts like we saw in the films. Instead, all of that is backseat to stopping at various points on the track to watch action unfold. It's not even the use of screens that bothers me, as they likely would have been required to aide in creating the cavernous size of the bank vaults either way. It also has somewhat poor pacing, since it ends right when you think it's about to get wild. I've said it before many times on this forum but that 2nd coaster portion either needed to be 2-3 times longer, or there needed to be a 3rd coaster segment. Instead, you just round a corner and - "we've got what we came for!"

And, just my personal preference, but it's also a ride that did not need a "something goes terribly wrong!" element. I know people wanted to see Voldemort and Bellatrix, but the bank vault premise is enough for a good thrill ride on it's own.

I'll use Rock 'n' Roller Coaster for comparison... I know this is a little silly... but racing through LA to get to the Aerosmith concert is enough story for a thrill ride. I feel like if Universal made it, you'd also find out that there's a bomb at the concert and you have to get there to defuse it to save Aerosmith!!!

 

[Kate F]

I don't think it's terrible at all, it's a very good ride. However, it fell short of a lot of expectations, given the concept of riding the infamous bank vault carts. What I would have loved more than anything is a ride that did it's best to simulate the crazy cart rail system through massive, cavernous vaults of Gringotts that we saw in the films. Instead, all of that is backseat to stopping at various points on the track to watch action unfold. It's not even the use of screens that bothers me, as they likely would have been required to aide in creating the cavernous size of the bank vaults either way. It also suffers from poor pacing and ends right when you think it's about to get wild. I've said it before many times on this forum but that 2nd coaster portion either needed to be 2-3 times as long, or there needed to be a 3rd coaster segment.

Thanks for answering. Last night I saw someone on these boards describe it as "awful" and I was a bit baffled. Now that I think about it though, it could have been a lot better, but I'm still very pleased with what we got.

 

[EngineJoe]

Can someone please explain to me what's wrong with Gringott's? Is it just because there's too many screens and feels too similar to Spiderman/Transformers? I liked it when I rode it, yes Forbidden Journey is better, but I've seen a few recent posts talking about how terrible and disappointing it is, which I don't really get. I thought it was a lot better than say, 7DMT and Mermaid. Maybe I just need to ride it again?

I thought it was fantastic.

 

[JoeCamel]

Thanks for answering. Last night I saw someone on these boards describe it as "awful" and I was a bit baffled. Now that I think about it though, it could have been a lot better, but I'm still very pleased with what we got.

I agree that it could have been better if they tossed another 50 mil at it. It does feel too short but it seems there is a camp that does not care about the queue they think all the money should be spent in the ride so maybe that is why they hate. I like what they did and anytime DA is the EPA park I hit EFG for three quick rides and then go to MiB. I think it is a fun ride but I am not hypercritical so I just enjoy it for what it is. I enjoy it, Bella gets to shaking her wand and that sells it for me.

 

[BrianLo]

But what do you mean by lighting and transitions? Directing the viewer?

By transitions and lighting I'm referring to all the dead space in between scenes. Gringott's does this a few times where it doesn't transition out of a finished scene in time. The character is just left staring at you or perhaps a fade to black. I think Kong has an issue going between its 360 tunnel with nothing really going on. There's a very subtle feeling of waiting for the scene to start and 'ok, it's finished, let's move on'. The far superior Spiderman never fell into these mistakes. We're on a mine cart, why are we constantly starting and stopping motion? The transitions are mostly botched. The kuka-door dragon and coaster bits are the one exception.

PoTC has those two massive convex scenes akin to Gringott's, but you transition in and out of them through small portals. You don't slowly romp towards a screen and park in front of it waiting for the scene to start. A door is pulled back to reveal the action or in another case you are pulled backwards into a ship out of a large scene and the new action is already going on or progressing logically. You need intimate scenes in between the really large ones in order to pull off transitions correctly... or speed, which often Gringott's often ignores that it can do. Almost nothing about Gringotts ever gets intimate. You often awkwardly move from one huge warehouse scene to the next.

PoTC constantly keeps moving, even when it slows down. It provides proper connection between scenes as well. When I say directing the viewer, in some cases it literally points you to the objects. More importantly though objects you just saw progress naturally along the ride with you. It creates the illusion that the scene you are seeing is infinite or continual. Jack moves with you, Davy Jones moves with you, a giant Squid moves with you. Nothing about Gringotts feels connected from one vignette to the next. Instead of continuing to stare at the huge convex screen in PoTC, they have me track a squid that I can see moving into the next scene. It directs my attention naturally between a new scene without being forced. Gringott's has a lot of characters stupidly staring at you while you drive away and you are left wanting to stupidly stare back.

PoTC understands when to use an AA - if you are just going to have a character talk to you, it's an AA. If you are going to otherwise have a character performing significant movement and motion, it can be done on the screen. If Jack is pontificating at you, an AA is the far superior choice, if he is in a sword fight, they use a screen. Voldemort and Belatrix largely could and should have been AA's. Instead they built an absolutely gargantuan screen for two characters to come talk to you.

Another thing PoTC cleverly understands is that when you move, your perspective changes. Objects in the foreground move in relation to objects behind them. It creates a far more interesting perception of depth than the 3D glasses do.

Can someone please explain to me what's wrong with Gringotts? Is it just because there's too many screens and feels too similar to Spiderman/Transformers? I liked it when I rode it, yes Forbidden Journey is better, but I've seen a few recent posts talking about how terrible and disappointing it is, which I don't really get. I thought it was a lot better than say, 7DMT and Mermaid. Maybe I just need to ride it again?

Gringotts has moments that it does well. The bank queue is amazing. It's still an E-ticket, it's still at times a fun ride. That doesn't mean it's not also a hot mess and generally very poorly designed. It's so grandiose that it impresses, but it's ultimately very flat, weirdly un-thrilling and often lifeless.

Just because they went bigger does not actually make it better. Because they went bigger makes it an E-ticket, but because it's an E-ticket does not imply that it's actually good. The decades old Peter Pan's flight is minuscule by comparison, and yet it arguably does a far better job connecting me to the experience of the movie than Gringott's manages to. Is Pan a better attraction than Gringott's? Well by scale no, it's still a small scale C-ticket. By execution, yes.

SDMT had the opposite problem. They did not go as big as promised, so therefore it is not an E-ticket. However, just because it doesn't have the scale of an E-ticket, doesn't mean it wasn't a well executed C/D. In some sense, SDMT is actually a better ride than Gringott's, there just isn't enough of it.

One more analogy: SDMT was supposed to be an entree, but they only gave us a good appetizer. People are disappointed because they were promised a meal and didn't get one. Gringotts is an entree, but it's not a very good entree. Universal has become an exercise in bland entrees, Disney seems incapable of delivering a meal (in WDW), but gives a good appetizer for the price of an entree. Neither are to be praised in my opinion.

 

[StageFrenzy]

By transitions and lighting I'm referring to all the dead space in between scenes. Gringott's does this a few times where it doesn't transition out of a finished scene in time. The character is just left staring at you or perhaps a fade to black. I think Kong has an issue going between its 360 tunnel with nothing really going on. There's a very subtle feeling of waiting for the scene to start and 'ok, it's finished, let's move on'. The far superior Spiderman never fell into these mistakes. We're on a mine cart, why are we constantly starting and stopping motion? The transitions are mostly botched. The kuka-door dragon and coaster bits are the one exception.

PoTC has those two massive convex scenes akin to Gringott's, but you transition in and out of them through small portals. You don't slowly romp towards a screen and park in front of it waiting for the scene to start. A door is pulled back to reveal the action or in another case you are pulled backwards into a ship out of a large scene and the new action is already going on or progressing logically. You need intimate scenes in between the really large ones in order to pull off transitions correctly... or speed, which often Gringott's often ignores that it can do. Almost nothing about Gringotts ever gets intimate. You often awkwardly move from one huge warehouse scene to the next.

PoTC constantly keeps moving, even when it slows down. It provides proper connection between scenes as well. When I say directing the viewer, in some cases it literally points you to the objects. More importantly though objects you just saw progress naturally along the ride with you. It creates the illusion that the scene you are seeing is infinite or continual. Jack moves with you, Davy Jones moves with you, a giant Squid moves with you. Nothing about Gringotts feels connected from one vignette to the next. Instead of continuing to stare at the huge convex screen in PoTC, they have me track a squid that I can see moving into the next scene. It directs my attention naturally between a new scene without being forced. Gringott's has a lot of characters stupidly staring at you while you drive away and you are left wanting to stupidly stare back.

PoTC understands when to use an AA - if you are just going to have a character talk to you, it's an AA. If you are going to otherwise have a character performing significant movement and motion, it can be done on the screen. If Jack is pontificating at you, an AA is the far superior choice, if he is in a sword fight, they use a screen. Voldemort and Belatrix largely could and should have been AA's. Instead they built an absolutely gargantuan screen for two characters to come talk to you.

Another thing PoTC cleverly understands is that when you move, your perspective changes. Objects in the foreground move in relation to objects behind them. It creates a far more interesting perception of depth than the 3D glasses do.




Gringotts has moments that it does well. The bank queue is amazing. It's still an E-ticket, it's still at times a fun ride. That doesn't mean it's not also a hot mess and generally very poorly designed. It's so grandiose that it impresses, but it's ultimately very flat, weirdly un-thrilling and often lifeless.

Just because they went bigger does not actually make it better. Because they went bigger makes it an E-ticket, but because it's an E-ticket does not imply that it's actually good. The decades old Peter Pan's flight is minuscule by comparison, and yet it arguably does a far better job connecting me to the experience of the movie than Gringott's manages to. Is Pan a better attraction than Gringott's? Well by scale no, it's still a small scale C-ticket. By execution, yes.

SDMT had the opposite problem. They did not go as big as promised, so therefore it is not an E-ticket. However, just because it doesn't have the scale of an E-ticket, doesn't mean it wasn't a well executed C/D. In some sense, SDMT is actually a better ride than Gringott's, there just isn't enough of it.

One more analogy: SDMT was supposed to be an entree, but they only gave us a good appetizer. People are disappointed because they were promised a meal and didn't get one. Gringotts is an entree, but it's not a very good entree. Universal has become an exercise in bland entrees, Disney seems incapable of delivering a meal (in WDW), but gives a good appetizer for the price of an entree. Neither are to be praised in my opinion.

Like x2

 

[Tom Morrow]

By transitions and lighting I'm referring to all the dead space in between scenes. Gringott's does this a few times where it doesn't transition out of a finished scene in time. The character is just left staring at you or perhaps a fade to black.

While I completely agree with your post, I will say I haven't ever noticed a fade to black or something to that effect on Gringotts. Maybe once when the timing was off or there was a backup on the track. The characters starting at you as you leave at least makes sense because in each scene they are the ones sending your cart to the next in some way. Though I suppose they wouldn't actually have to watch your cart leave.

I think Kong has an issue going between its 360 tunnel with nothing really going on. There's a very subtle feeling of waiting for the scene to start and 'ok, it's finished, let's move on'. The far superior Spiderman never fell into these mistakes. We're on a mine cart, why are we constantly starting and stopping motion? The transitions are mostly botched.

In this regard I would argue that even Transformers is a better executed ride than Gringotts and Kong because it feels like one continuous scene rather than a series of disconnected starts and stops.

I personally love Transformers, but I know people criticize it. I think it's an example of where Universal's tendency to make everything as chaotic as possible is warranted - you can't say it doesn't feel like you're in the middle of a battle in a Michael Bay film.

 

[JoeCamel]

Kong is running VIPs today. I would expect these to be the contest winners that were chosen to go along with media day. Glad they didn't tell them "nevermind". Might have softs later on for the GP.

 

[EngineJoe]

While I completely agree with your post, I will say I haven't ever noticed a fade to black or something to that effect on Gringotts. Maybe once when the timing was off or there was a backup on the track. The characters starting at you as you leave at least makes sense because in each scene they are the ones sending your cart to the next in some way. Though I suppose they wouldn't actually have to watch your cart leave.


In this regard I would argue that even Transformers is a better executed ride than Gringotts and Kong because it feels like one continuous scene rather than a series of disconnected starts and stops.

I personally love Transformers, but I know people criticize it. I think it's an example of where Universal's tendency to make everything as chaotic as possible is warranted - you can't say it doesn't feel like you're in the middle of a battle in a Michael Bay film.

Don't like the transformers ride at all even thought I like the movies. Prefer the Spider-Man ride as well.

 

[JoeCamel]

when is kong expected to open to the public?

Has been running softs for a couple of weeks now. I expect 7/1 which is the Friday before the 4th weekend but we will see.

 

[StageFrenzy]

While I completely agree with your post, I will say I haven't ever noticed a fade to black or something to that effect on Gringotts. Maybe once when the timing was off or there was a backup on the track. The characters starting at you as you leave at least makes sense because in each scene they are the ones sending your cart to the next in some way. Though I suppose they wouldn't actually have to watch your cart leave.


In this regard I would argue that even Transformers is a better executed ride than Gringotts and Kong because it feels like one continuous scene rather than a series of disconnected starts and stops.

I personally love Transformers, but I know people criticize it. I think it's an example of where Universal's tendency to make everything as chaotic as possible is warranted - you can't say it doesn't feel like you're in the middle of a battle in a Michael Bay film.

Maybe this is example of how the omimover or boat system has an advantage over the stop and watch ride. With every stop and start there must be a reason why you did so. And so it can seem repetitive. There has to be an impetus for every action. Versus a continuously moving ride where you are more passively involved. And the story unfolds with your movement

 

[Mike S]

The only problem I have with Gringotts is the ending is abrupt and seems to be unfinished. That's my only problem, I'm fine with the screens and everything else.

I think 7DMT is a good ride for where it is. If you go to MK with kids you will spend the most time in FL and that coaster is a step up from the Barnstormer. It's supposed to be a family coaster and I think to many people wanted a full on thrill coaster which is not right in FL. I'm not going to like Mermaid no matter what, not my thing at all. Again I'm not sure what people expected in FL. I also hate Pan but I'm force to get a fastpass every time we are MK for it.

This would've been a good start.

And no one wanted Mine Train to be a "full on thrill coaster." One or two more scenes like the mine would've been more than fine. Ironically Frozen Ever After looks way better than either of the rides we got in New Fantasyland. It's just in the wrong park.

 

[EngineJoe]

The only problem I have with Gringotts is the ending is abrupt and seems to be unfinished. That's my only problem, I'm fine with the screens and everything else.

I think 7DMT is a good ride for where it is. If you go to MK with kids you will spend the most time in FL and that coaster is a step up from the Barnstormer. It's supposed to be a family coaster and I think to many people wanted a full on thrill coaster which is not right in FL. I'm not going to like Mermaid no matter what, not my thing at all. Again I'm not sure what people expected in FL. I also hate Pan but I'm force to get a fastpass every time we are MK for it.

It's not a roller coaster.. You are looking at it wrong. It's an upgrade on the generic star tours, back to the future capsule module which I never liked because for a while every park seemed to be using that capsule using different movie scenario.

 

[EngineJoe]

This would've been a good start.

And no one wanted Mine Train to be a "full on thrill coaster." One or two more scenes like the mine would've been more than fine. Ironically Frozen Ever After looks way better than either of the rides we got in New Fantasyland. It's just in the wrong park.

Mine train was a huge disappointment.

The beaut and beast ride in Tokyo is trackless once again but the us Disney parks don't want to shell out the cash to make it. It's sad that you have to go to Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong to ride the trackless rides.

 

[Mike S]

Actually I think Frozen would have fit into FL much better then where it is.

Which is why I said "it's just in the wrong park..."

A couple of extra scenes might make 7DMT better if it didn't break up the ride too much. ????

The cuts made to SDMT.

 

[HouseHacker97]

I'm still wondering what people think are the top 5 AA's here lol like I thought it was Kong and then I saw the Elsa AA at FEA and I kind of feel like they're tied. If the Yeti were working it would still be the best. I mean have you seen the videos of them testing it in full light? blows this kong away 9999x

 

[Mike S]

I'm still wondering what people think are the top 5 AA's here lol like I thought it was Kong and then I saw the Elsa AA at FEA and I kind of feel like they're tied. If the Yeti were working it would still be the best. I mean have you seen the videos of them testing it in full light? blows this kong away 9999x

I'm a bit partial to that first Olaf. Can't wait to ride both of these rides this weekend.