Full Review: (Part 2)
UNIVERSAL'S WORLDS OF WONDER
Shoutouts for the Valley of Stories
@Disney Dad 3000 and @D Hulk - the dynamic duo from past SA seasons together again, creating one of the most elaborate and elegantly themed intros to a theme park we have ever had coupled with @Architectural Guinea Pig @NateD1226 with the nighttime show and very strong newcomer @Mr. Sullivan to create this masterpiece.
VALLEY OF FANTASY
@Outbound @Imagineer Brandon
Welcome to Middle Earth... love the illustrations that open up this book, it feels like you're opening up a Tolkien novel for the first time. While I'm a big fan of maps, I can appreciate the timing and scale of this project, so a simple comparison to the scale of the land with focusing on the Super Nintendo World of Epic Universe is plenty to paint the picture of the scaling of this land. Which has a lot in it!
- The Shire/There and Back Again
A relaxing river ride through Middle Earth - I couldn't think of an attraction that I would want to ride more in a Hobbit/LotR land than this - a cross between Storybook Canals among other boat rides, this is the perfect intro to the land in my opinion. I like how it feels like this ride meanders through the Shire and out to Bag end and throughout the areas of the land that you will explore in the novel, such as the Wood Elves and the Lonely Mountain.
The Old Forest
- Tom Bombadil & Goldberry's Magic Show - love this small children's magic show in the middle of the forest, again a shaded area almost like a D zone in the land to entertain children. Even though this isn't technically in The Hobbit, I think continuity wise this gets a pass seeing as this is inspired by Middle Earth.
Rivendell (Middle Earth - West)
Nearby the Misty Mountains, Lord Elrond's Table reminds me of Beast's Castle at the Magic Kingdom in a way, which will be a great dining experience for all. I also like how it has recurring 20 minute shows sung in native languages - amazing!
Riddles in the Dark
Gollum Meet & Greet, I can see this being a popular stop, and you can use your journal from the inkwell to perhaps get a signature from Gollum, just as long as you're not wearing any jewelry for him to steal!
Beorn's Hall
I like the menu for this eatery as well - the Honey Cake sounds amazing!
Mirkwood Forest
Love the description that leads up to this area of the land - 'massive crystalline lanterns' is such a great descriptive piece for the Wood Elves home.
Smaug's Fury
The main E-ticket of the land - while I wouldn't expect anyone to know this who designed the land (maybe only @Voxel or @MonorailRed who played in SA Season 2) for project 4 of that season the winning concept was a Lord of the Rings land done by Team Air and @englanddg in Islands of Adventure (which is still there in the SAU till this day) and in that land is also a Smaug coaster, but not as descriptive as this one here! At 200ft the Lonely Mountain will definitively be an icon of the park (as it should be) and this indoor steel coaster I'm sure will be a hit with all sorts of fans from coaster enthusiasts to novel enthusiasts.
While the Lord of the Rings website from Season 2 is lost, you can find the original review of it from the SYWTBAI Youtube channel here (starts at 28:38)
Laketown - a nice little quaint area at the foothills of the Lonely Mountain, I feel like this will be a great place for photos!
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ENDICOTT HARBOR
@JokersWild @OSUPhantom @Lord Fozzinator
The backstory to this land is a project in and of itself. Such great writing to lead up to what this land is about and how it came to be. It almost feels like this park is a pseudo World's Fair of Literature, where each sub-land is its own community with its own backstory - it's truly incredible to read and see.
I also like how the backstory essentially describes the layout of the harbor while staying in the novel-esque diction. The first person perspective of the narration also provides the reader a sense of exploration themselves through the land.
The Horror Beneath Endicott
In part III, I think that is my favorite use of the term 'ululations' I have read in a book before. I'm not sure why, but I love strong diction. This Lovecraft walk-through I think will be a hit for both Halloween Horror nights fanatics but also those who want to experience a nuanced walk-through full of practical effects. I think writing this in the first person as well to continue through the backstory and land description was the best way to get the mood of this attraction across. Great job overall with this area.
Joyland
This rotting traveling carnival area is a creepy but incredible way of portraying King's works without having it feel too disconnected. Not only are circuses at times creepy, but it's a way to evoke things like IT seamlessly, along with a myriad of other options from King's collection.
The Carousel, and other carnival like attractions are an easy way to bump of the land's overall attractions, while also provided an ominous overtone to the area. While on paper these are kids attractions, I feel like adults will ride them much more than kids which will create a unique dynamic that only this land could embody.
Say Cheese and Barbecue
Overall a nice way of including Goosebumps into the area. While perhaps a bit disconnected from the remainder of the land, I think it offers a more light horror element to coincide with the darker tones and backstory of Endicott.
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THE OLD WORLD
@JokersWild @MickeyWaffleCo.
If Endicott was a pseudo permanent Autumn feel, the transition to a permanent winter land with A Christmas Carol among other European works would be a great touch. While this land is for future expansion I will say that I do like the inclusion of A Christmas Carol as a dark ride - feels sort of like a mix of Mr Toad and the Haunted Mansion. Very creative!
UNIVERSAL'S WORLDS OF WONDER
Shoutouts for the Valley of Stories
@Disney Dad 3000 and @D Hulk - the dynamic duo from past SA seasons together again, creating one of the most elaborate and elegantly themed intros to a theme park we have ever had coupled with @Architectural Guinea Pig @NateD1226 with the nighttime show and very strong newcomer @Mr. Sullivan to create this masterpiece.
VALLEY OF FANTASY
@Outbound @Imagineer Brandon
Welcome to Middle Earth... love the illustrations that open up this book, it feels like you're opening up a Tolkien novel for the first time. While I'm a big fan of maps, I can appreciate the timing and scale of this project, so a simple comparison to the scale of the land with focusing on the Super Nintendo World of Epic Universe is plenty to paint the picture of the scaling of this land. Which has a lot in it!
- The Shire/There and Back Again
A relaxing river ride through Middle Earth - I couldn't think of an attraction that I would want to ride more in a Hobbit/LotR land than this - a cross between Storybook Canals among other boat rides, this is the perfect intro to the land in my opinion. I like how it feels like this ride meanders through the Shire and out to Bag end and throughout the areas of the land that you will explore in the novel, such as the Wood Elves and the Lonely Mountain.
The Old Forest
- Tom Bombadil & Goldberry's Magic Show - love this small children's magic show in the middle of the forest, again a shaded area almost like a D zone in the land to entertain children. Even though this isn't technically in The Hobbit, I think continuity wise this gets a pass seeing as this is inspired by Middle Earth.
Rivendell (Middle Earth - West)
Nearby the Misty Mountains, Lord Elrond's Table reminds me of Beast's Castle at the Magic Kingdom in a way, which will be a great dining experience for all. I also like how it has recurring 20 minute shows sung in native languages - amazing!
Riddles in the Dark
Gollum Meet & Greet, I can see this being a popular stop, and you can use your journal from the inkwell to perhaps get a signature from Gollum, just as long as you're not wearing any jewelry for him to steal!
Beorn's Hall
I like the menu for this eatery as well - the Honey Cake sounds amazing!
Mirkwood Forest
Love the description that leads up to this area of the land - 'massive crystalline lanterns' is such a great descriptive piece for the Wood Elves home.
Smaug's Fury
The main E-ticket of the land - while I wouldn't expect anyone to know this who designed the land (maybe only @Voxel or @MonorailRed who played in SA Season 2) for project 4 of that season the winning concept was a Lord of the Rings land done by Team Air and @englanddg in Islands of Adventure (which is still there in the SAU till this day) and in that land is also a Smaug coaster, but not as descriptive as this one here! At 200ft the Lonely Mountain will definitively be an icon of the park (as it should be) and this indoor steel coaster I'm sure will be a hit with all sorts of fans from coaster enthusiasts to novel enthusiasts.
While the Lord of the Rings website from Season 2 is lost, you can find the original review of it from the SYWTBAI Youtube channel here (starts at 28:38)
Laketown - a nice little quaint area at the foothills of the Lonely Mountain, I feel like this will be a great place for photos!
---------------------------------------------------
ENDICOTT HARBOR
@JokersWild @OSUPhantom @Lord Fozzinator
The backstory to this land is a project in and of itself. Such great writing to lead up to what this land is about and how it came to be. It almost feels like this park is a pseudo World's Fair of Literature, where each sub-land is its own community with its own backstory - it's truly incredible to read and see.
I also like how the backstory essentially describes the layout of the harbor while staying in the novel-esque diction. The first person perspective of the narration also provides the reader a sense of exploration themselves through the land.
The Horror Beneath Endicott
In part III, I think that is my favorite use of the term 'ululations' I have read in a book before. I'm not sure why, but I love strong diction. This Lovecraft walk-through I think will be a hit for both Halloween Horror nights fanatics but also those who want to experience a nuanced walk-through full of practical effects. I think writing this in the first person as well to continue through the backstory and land description was the best way to get the mood of this attraction across. Great job overall with this area.
Joyland
This rotting traveling carnival area is a creepy but incredible way of portraying King's works without having it feel too disconnected. Not only are circuses at times creepy, but it's a way to evoke things like IT seamlessly, along with a myriad of other options from King's collection.
The Carousel, and other carnival like attractions are an easy way to bump of the land's overall attractions, while also provided an ominous overtone to the area. While on paper these are kids attractions, I feel like adults will ride them much more than kids which will create a unique dynamic that only this land could embody.
Say Cheese and Barbecue
Overall a nice way of including Goosebumps into the area. While perhaps a bit disconnected from the remainder of the land, I think it offers a more light horror element to coincide with the darker tones and backstory of Endicott.
-------------------------------------
THE OLD WORLD
@JokersWild @MickeyWaffleCo.
If Endicott was a pseudo permanent Autumn feel, the transition to a permanent winter land with A Christmas Carol among other European works would be a great touch. While this land is for future expansion I will say that I do like the inclusion of A Christmas Carol as a dark ride - feels sort of like a mix of Mr Toad and the Haunted Mansion. Very creative!
