Spieling over ride audio

[Tom Morrow]

This has become a very big problem throughout Universal - the Team Members will spiel over the attraction audio and it's almost always for something that is not essential. For instance, my recent ride on Jurassic Park was interrupted three times - twice because someone had a hat on. A HAT. For the love of god - just let them lose the hat! A third time because someone was filming. There's being safety conscious, and then there's actively ruining ride experiences over nothing, which is what they're doing.

Numerous other rides have a similar thing where the TM's are constantly spieling about something that really, REALLY should just be ignored, or they could just wait a FEW SECONDS for the audio to finish. I've had half of an ET ride ruined because a TM kept spieling about someone recording. ET. Had similar things happen at Kong. Fallon. Simpsons. Storm Force, Kang & Kodos....

Just one of the many examples of how Universal doesn't understand "show". Don't come at me with "but safety!" either because there's obviously a big difference between having your phone out on a roller coaster vs. filming on ET.

 

[My95cobras]

Surprise surprise!!! Another complaint from you….

 

[Tom Morrow]

Surprise surprise!!! Another complaint from you….

Surprise, surprise!!! Another post from you with absolutely no value…

Let me explain:

1. These are parks charging premium prices, when they do not provide a premium experience they deserve to be called out on it. I should not have half of a ride ruined over a HAT.
2. Disney doing something similarly wrong does not excuse Universal from criticism of that thing as well.
3. Posting these complaints publicly can be more effective than just simply submitting complaints directly to Universal. If you submit it to them it just gets filed somewhere (maybe) and that’s it. If you post it online, more people become aware of it leading to a greater likelihood that something will get done.
4. This is a discussion forum, not a “constantly praise Universal for everything forum”.
5. The Disney sections on this forum are like 75% complaints, but I guess that’s okay as long as it’s not darling Universal?

 

[JT3000]

Surprise, surprise!!! Another post from you with absolutely no value…

Let me explain:

1. These are parks charging premium prices, when they do not provide a premium experience they deserve to be called out on it. I should not have half of a ride ruined over a HAT.
2. Disney doing something similarly wrong does not excuse Universal from criticism of that thing as well.
3. Posting these complaints publicly can be more effective than just simply submitting complaints directly to Universal. If you submit it to them it just gets filed somewhere (maybe) and that’s it. If you post it online, more people become aware of it leading to a greater likelihood that something will get done.
4. This is a discussion forum, not a “constantly praise Universal for everything forum”.
5. The Disney sections on this forum are like 75% complaints, but I guess that’s okay as long as it’s not darling Universal?

You say Universal doesn't "understand show," but you also seem to understand that Disney does the same thing (which they do.) So then who DOES, in your opinion, "understand show?" If both companies are doing it so wrong, then surely there has to be a shining example of someone who does it right, from which you derived your personal standards for show?

 

[Tom Morrow]

You say Universal doesn't "understand show," but you also seem to understand that Disney does the same thing (which they do.) So then who DOES, in your opinion, "understand show?" If both companies are doing it so wrong, then surely there has to be a shining example of someone who does it right, from which you derived your personal standards for show?

Disney used to. They no longer solidly commit to maintaining their rides’ show elements, but in practice they still understand some basic concepts like instructing their employees to not needlessly ruin attractions. Universal never fully has never understood or cared enough about presentation which is why you so often run into things like this.

I’m sorry, but I can’t understand attacking me instead of acknowledging a very obviously bad practice of ruining attraction experiences over things that are not safety issues.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I like it when companies call out rule breaking. When they don’t, people increasingly behave like animals and you have video lighting on the entire ride.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I like it when companies call out rule breaking. When they don’t, people increasingly behave like animals and you have video lighting on the entire ride.

There's a line though. Either you let it happen and some people's ride gets ruined, or you spiel and way more people's ride gets ruined. Universal does the latter. The proper way to do it would be to approach the guest at the end of the ride. Also, this is Orlando, not everyone is intentionally breaking the rules, half of them don't even speak english.

Again, half of my JP ride was ruined by some TM yelling about someone having a hat on. A HAT. Similar thing happened on ET over something equally as stupid.

 

[JoeCamel]

There's a line though. Either you let it happen and some people's ride gets ruined, or you spiel and way more people's ride gets ruined. Universal does the latter. The proper way to do it would be to approach the guest at the end of the ride. Also, this is Orlando, not everyone is intentionally breaking the rules, half of them don't even speak english.

Again, half of my JP ride was ruined by some TM yelling about someone having a hat on. A HAT. Similar thing happened on ET over something equally as stupid.

Hats are dangerous, they give rexy indigestion and you don't want a rexy with an upset tummy, it makes him mean.

 

[lazyboy97o]

There's a line though. Either you let it happen and some people's ride gets ruined, or you spiel and way more people's ride gets ruined. Universal does the latter. The proper way to do it would be to approach the guest at the end of the ride. Also, this is Orlando, not everyone is intentionally breaking the rules, half of them don't even speak english.

Again, half of my JP ride was ruined by some TM yelling about someone having a hat on. A HAT. Similar thing happened on ET over something equally as stupid.

And what happens if a hat gets into the ride mechanics?

 

[SaucyBoy]

half of them don't even speak english

Bit of a close minded assumption, eh?

 

[Lil Copter Cap]

You let one thing slide on a ride, it's all down hill from there.

Did you approach any Team Member afterward and mention that the ride was ruined due to a guest not following rules? I don't know how they handle less than stellar experiences, but some sort of offering would make sense. The product was spoiled.

Separately, I can't blame Team Members/Cast Members for doing their job—even if it IS annoying. Heaven forbid a hat falls off, angers the guest, frustrates management because the hat is found somewhere it shouldn't be (i.e. ride mechanics, track, etc.) and ends in the reprimanding of the employee.

And I say this as someone who does not like the Universal park experience.

 

[Tom Morrow]

And what happens if a hat gets into the ride mechanics?

Literally nothing, it ends up in the filter to the ride’s reservoir and eventually is fished out. This is how water rides work, why no other theme park spiels aggressively on water rides about hats, and something that is taken care of on the annual refurb water rides get.

Bit of a close minded assumption, eh?

Literally no, have you been to Orlando parks before? Half was sarcasm but it is a significant percentage of Orlando tourists.

I assume you’re attempting to paint me as making a bigoted comment, but I’m not. Others in the thread were accusing other riders of ignoring rules. I am defending the non-English speakers and saying that they simply might not understand - another reason why spieling over half of the ride for a non-safety issue is pointless.

You let one thing slide on a ride, it's all down hill from there.

You don’t punish more riders for the actions of one rider if it is not an immediate safety issue. Simple guest service 101.

Did you approach any Team Member afterward and mention that the ride was ruined due to a guest not following rules? I don't know how they handle less than stellar experiences, but some sort of offering would make sense. The product was spoiled.

No, because this is like my 100th ride on these things and I don’t need another ride which is probably what I’d get offered and the same thing wound likely happen again anyway. It’s become such a prevalent thing in my experience that I decided to try to make it publicly known. I feel bad for the people who are riding for their once and only time.

Separately, I can't blame Team Members/Cast Members for doing their job—even if it IS annoying. Heaven forbid a hat falls off, angers the guest, frustrates management because the hat is found somewhere it shouldn't be (i.e. ride mechanics, track, etc.) and ends in the reprimanding of the employee.

And I say this as someone who does not like the Universal park experience.

I’m not blaming the TM’s themselves, rather their management for not understanding that if a guest ignores the rules (that we’re already delivered to them) and loses their hat, too bad, so sad. Don’t punish other guests for one guest ignoring the rules.

 

[SaucyBoy]

Literally nothing, it ends up in the filter to the ride’s reservoir and eventually is fished out. This is how water rides work, why no other theme park spiels aggressively on water rides about hats, and something that is taken care of on the annual refurb water rides get.


Literally no, have you been to Orlando parks before? Half was sarcasm but it is a significant percentage of Orlando tourists.

I assume you’re attempting to paint me as making a bigoted comment, but I’m not. Others in the thread were accusing other riders of ignoring rules. I am defending the non-English speakers and saying that they simply might not understand - another reason why spieling over half of the ride for a non-safety issue is pointless.


You don’t punish more riders for the actions of one rider if it is not an immediate safety issue. Simple guest service 101.



No, because this is like my 100th ride on these things and I don’t need another ride which is probably what I’d get offered and the same thing wound likely happen again anyway. It’s become such a prevalent thing in my experience that I decided to try to make it publicly known. I feel bad for the people who are riding for their once and only time.




I’m not blaming the TM’s themselves, rather their management for not understanding that if a guest ignores the rules (that we’re already delivered to them) and loses their hat, too bad, so sad. Don’t punish other guests for one guest ignoring the rules.

Aww boo hoo, your ride experience was ruined. Would you like a gold coated tissue to dry your entitled tears? Get a grip!!

 

[Tom Morrow]

Aww boo hoo, your ride experience was ruined. Would you like a gold coated tissue to dry your entitled tears? Get a grip!!

Seriously? The Universal Fanboy Volunteer PR Department on this forum is absolutely hilarious and I’m fairly convinced that half of you are on their damn payroll.

Imagine if this was someone’s once in a lifetime visit and their only shot at riding a ride, only to have it ruined by an obnoxious team member spieling over half of it - literally half of it - over NOTHING. People are paying premium prices to experience these things and this is NOT an absurd complaint.

How about you get a grip of yourself instead. Imagine the uproar there would be if Disney was frequently spieling over half of Rise of the Resistance.

 

[My95cobras]

Surprise, surprise!!! Another post from you with absolutely no value…

Let me explain:

1. These are parks charging premium prices, when they do not provide a premium experience they deserve to be called out on it. I should not have half of a ride ruined over a HAT.
2. Disney doing something similarly wrong does not excuse Universal from criticism of that thing as well.
3. Posting these complaints publicly can be more effective than just simply submitting complaints directly to Universal. If you submit it to them it just gets filed somewhere (maybe) and that’s it. If you post it online, more people become aware of it leading to a greater likelihood that something will get done.
4. This is a discussion forum, not a “constantly praise Universal for everything forum”.
5. The Disney sections on this forum are like 75% complaints, but I guess that’s okay as long as it’s not darling Universal?

seems like you’re in the minority again……. Your posts come off wildly whiny and entitled. I know that may get lost or filed away, but I’m bringing it to the public forum so it can be more effective.

 

[thelookingglass]

This is a valid complaint OP. I have noticed it too, maybe not quite as much, but yes it is annoying when it happens. You failed to remember, though, that the current theme park enthusiast mantra is:

Disney: criticize literally everything they do. Disney is dumb and can't do anything right!
Universal: can do no wrong, they are the underdogs so it's not fair to criticize them no matter how mediocre or badly they do something

I've gotta hand it to Universal's marketing department as they've done a hell of a good job convincing everyone that they are the place you root for to "stick it to Disney", Disney being admittedly bad at marketing (not that they need to be good at it to be successful).

 

[thelookingglass]

I like it when companies call out rule breaking. When they don’t, people increasingly behave like animals and you have video lighting on the entire ride.

The reason Disney doesn't spiel about people having camera lights on is spieling about it spoils the ride for way more people than the offender does, especially spieling more than once about it.

If you went to see a movie and it kept being interrupted by an employee saying "hey, stop spilling popcorn on the floor! Stop spilling the popcorn!" you'd be pretty upset, I'm sure.

 

[lazyboy97o]

This idea that Cast Members don’t use the intercom in response to rider behavior just is not true.

 

[thelookingglass]

This idea that Cast Members don’t use the intercom in response to rider behavior just is not true.

It's literally part of training for WDW attractions that you don't interrupt the show if it isn't a safety issue. Maybe that has changed in recent years? I don't go that much anymore. I'm not saying it NEVER happens. I believe I've possibly encountered it once on pirates? They certainly didn't spiel over half of the ride.

 

[Gandalf The Grey]

What about making any announcements match the story of the ride? Have trained employees who can impersonate characters so if any safety interruptions need to be made, simply blend them into the ride and not distract from the theme.

"This is John Hammond speaking, spared no expense. To the gentleman in the second row of the boat, please remove your hat immediately, or else I'll be accepting YOUR apologies."