The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[bhg469]

So exactly where do I start.... Since @WDW1974 has asked for no spoilers and I hate the finger sniffing chimps that post spoilers... so I shall comply despite of how it would kill my writing style for a review.... We'll draw the line at "We know it takes place in the Wizarding world and in London, UK." Beyond that, I shall leave this spoiler free.

Lets start at the very very beginning. This expansion brings to fruition the premise that Walt Disney started in 1955: Making the guest part of the story. You walk around a corner and without any warning, you are instantly into the story. Sights, sounds, smells, all of it immerses you and washes over you - you truly are a muggle lost in a wizard's world. The level of detail is incomprehensible - you start peeling back layers only to find another layer and before too long, you wonder where this rabbit hole stops.

Every detail from the books is there. Avid readers of the books will find easter eggs. (Might want to avoid my photo take on the wire today as well). The entire land is a story; moreover the guest is the story and it could take weeks to explore everything. There are twists and turns through the alleyways - paraphrasing Frank Miller here, Walk down the right back alley and you can find almost anything.

The art and imagery of the area is exactly what I expected.... if my expectations were turned up to 11. Depending on where you are, the art is either a subtle suggestion or full on, visual assault that makes it look like a box of crayons melted together only to find a masterpiece at the end.

I ran all over this land today, in a vain attempt to make it in every shop, restaurant, show and attraction - still didnt see it all and NO, i did not ride the marquee attraction. While the streets mimic a narrow London, the most of the shops are a bit bigger. Yet everything is still cozy. Crowds will be an issue. Parkhopping should not.

The 2 1/2 hours I was allowed to roam after the press conferences ended - Universal kept most of the press bottled up and under "supervision" until 12-1230 or so - was nowhere near enough time to look, see or explore everything. I explored the queue of one attraction, finding it greater than my expectations while I rode the other attraction which vastly exceeded my expectations.

A few things didnt meet my expectations: a voice actor here and there that didnt sound right, team members that didnt know the material of what they were working and team members that didnt seem to understand that working a media preview means you're going to get photographed.

In closing? Its not the Intellectual Property that they use, its HOW they're using it. Universal is making you the story.

If Disney plans on building Star Wars, the gold standard of immersing your audience in a story was just set very high.

(In full disclosure as part of my coverage of the event as well as everyone elses, they fed us lunch. That's all I accepted.)

A+ I thought you were just Jimmy Olson but you're a word smith as well. Good show!

 

[PhotoDave219]

A+ I thought you were just Jimmy Olson but you're a word smith as well. Good show!

I had a good lede but I had to kill it, lest we risk a spoiler.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Well, as you said, if Disney does proceed with building Star Wars, the new gold standard of ride systems seems custom made for Endor or even Pandora!


BEIJING, CHINA (Marketwired - June 18, 2014) - An innovative ride that can drop vertically, see-saw up and down and slide sideways is being unveiled today by Dynamic Attractions at the Asian Attractions Expo in Beijing, China. The SFX Coaster™ features 4 engineering advances that have never been together on a ride. But the attraction's biggest innovation is that these elements are perfectly synchronized with highly advanced media.

"Thrill-seekers want more than just a train on a track," states Peter Schnabel, Dynamic Attractions President, referring to traditional roller coasters. "We've combined spectacular storytelling and eye-popping special effects with the most technically advanced ride. This has the amusement industry's top draws, dark rides and roller coasters, in one unbelievable experience. It is the first of its kind in an entirely new category of rides."

You're interested in Ride Systems, while I'm interested in straight up story and immersion.

 

[Smiddimizer]

Anyone remember that video from awhile back (was it at D23?) with the Imagineer bragging that "no one (i.e. Universal) can touch us."

Sorta funny is all.

By that guy do you mean Bruce Vaughn, chief creative at WDI? Funny all right.

EDIT: been there done that it looks like...this thread is hard to keep up with!

 

[Goofyernmost]

No, you didn't. Yours only worked at the resorts... in my opinion, defeating the entire purpose of a refillable mug program. Disney's resort mugs should be refillable at all quick service locations in the parks.

That would be YOUR definition of the purpose of a refillable mug. When they started they were a perk to stay at the resorts. If you stayed at a resort you got a one charge unlimited beverage with connected mugs that identified the particular resort you were in. The purpose was not to cut themselves out of revenue while in the parks, never was, never will be. The only reason why the changed it to cover other resorts was because many people stayed in more then one on any given visit. Then, of course, the bring it back every year for life idea caught on with some people that loosely interpreted the intent. It is possible that in the beginning they did offer "lifetime" usage of the mugs, but even that was limited to the specific resort that you bought it from and not anyplace you happen to be that had fountains.

 

[bhg469]

You're interested in Ride Systems, while I'm interested in straight up story and immersion.

Amen! haunted mansion is nothing special and it's still my favorite attraction of all time.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Sorry. The issue isn't Disney doing this or you reporting it. ... The issue is when fans inevitably start making a big deal about it. A parking lot is just a parking lot. And I don't find them MAGICal at any theme park I have ever visited (no, they aren't special at TDR either!)

Why are those larger parking lots needed in 2014 when Pandora doesn't open until 2017?

Let's see, Iger talked about record crowds at the theme parks and yet, over the last few years, WDW onsite hotel occupancy has declined from 90% to 79%.

There are more people at the parks yet over 2 million empty hotel rooms last year. What gives?

This summer, the Grand Floridian's cheapest 'Standard View' room starts at $567/night on a weekday night.

I wonder if that has anything to do with the need for larger parking lots?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Amen! haunted mansion is nothing special and it's still my favorite attraction of all time.

What Universal did was to take a page out of Disney Imagineering 101 and turn it into a thesis project.

Its not difficult. Disney came up with the concept. Hopefully this is a push in the right direction.

 

[BryceM]

I'm pretty sure Islands of Adventure is my 5 year old sister's favorite theme park. She still talks about how much fun we all had on "the fish ride" trying to follow the song lyrics. Granted, we had an amazing day there in November between the two parks. The weather was perfect and crowds were light.

All of our trips to Magic Kingdom as a whole family (in her years of existence) have been hot, miserable, crowded and have consisted of my step-dad screaming and us leaving the park at 2:30. I'm almost tired of even trying with that park. I'd much rather spend a day at Epcot or Animal Kingdom if I'm going Disney. Even Disneyland in the middle of spring break was way more enjoyable than a day at Magic Kingdom.

 

[bhg469]

Why are those larger parking lots needed in 2014 when Pandora doesn't open until 2017?

Let's see, Iger talked about record crowds at the theme parks and yet, over the last few years, WDW onsite hotel occupancy has declined from 90% to 79%.

Crowded theme parks yet over 2 million empty hotel rooms last year. What gives?

This summer, the Grand Floridian's cheapest 'Standard View' room starts at $567/night on a weekday night.

I wonder if that has anything to do with the need for larger parking lots?

Those off site guests have to park somewhere. Lord knows I won't be staying on site with out a CM discount ever again.

 

[seascape]

So would you agree that Disney is also ripping off their customers with all of their up charge events? Is it fair to customers who may have paid close to $100 to get in MK, that at 7:00 they have to pay another $60-$70 per person to stay in the park after 7:00 PM.

Yes it's an extra charge and I would never pay $100. 00, to go to the Magic Kingdom when it will close at 7. On the other hand buying a ticket for either MNSSHP, and or MVMCP is not a bad deal if purchased alone. The let you in early too.

 

[Violiav]

Didn't we establish earlier that you have yet to visit either WDW or Universal Orlando?

Sure. Based on what I see on the internet and other peoples (that I know irl) stories. From what I can observe, taking into account that people are rarely objective.

 

[bhg469]

Sure. Based on what I see on the internet and other peoples (that I know irl) stories. From what I can observe, taking into account that people are rarely objective.

Que?

 

[Mike S]

You're interested in Ride Systems, while I'm interested in straight up story and immersion.

 

[lebeau]

Sure. Based on what I see on the internet and other peoples (that I know irl) stories. From what I can observe, taking into account that people are rarely objective.

I mean, no offense, but you can't really form an informed opinion of two places you have never visited.

I'll be interested to hear what you think when you've visited them both. Maybe a few times.

 

[bhg469]

I agree but when immersion takes a back seat to thrills, you start to lose me.

 

[GoofGoof]

That would be YOUR definition of the purpose of a refillable mug. When they started they were a perk to stay at the resorts. If you stayed at a resort you got a one charge unlimited beverage with connected mugs that identified the particular resort you were in. The purpose was not to cut themselves out of revenue while in the parks, never was, never will be. The only reason why the changed it to cover other resorts was because many people stayed in more then one on any given visit. Then, of course, the bring it back every year for life idea caught on with some people that loosely interpreted the intent. It is possible that in the beginning they did offer "lifetime" usage of the mugs, but even that was limited to the specific resort that you bought it from and not anyplace you happen to be that had fountains.

You better hope 74 skips this page. If he finds out you are turning his thread into the 754th "lifetime mug" debate he ain't gonna be pleased

 

[GoofGoof]

Yes it's an extra charge and I would never pay $100. 00, to go to the Magic Kingdom when it will close at 7. On the other hand buying a ticket for either MNSSHP, and or MVMCP is not a bad deal if purchased alone. The let you in early too.

I've been to MK on a day when MVMCP was running that night. We got the boot at 7PM. Practically had to get perp walked out, but we eventually left. If you are in Orlando for a limited amount of time and that's the day you can go to MK then you make it work. The crowds were very low until about 4PM when the MVMCP crowd showed up and tried to go "theme park commando" (nothing to do with whether you wore underwear to the park that day) and do everything in 3 hours. We avoided the E-tickets during the last 3 hours and everything was all good.

 

[Bairstow]

Well, as you said, if Disney does proceed with building Star Wars, the new gold standard of ride systems seems custom made for Endor or even Pandora!


BEIJING, CHINA (Marketwired - June 18, 2014) - An innovative ride that can drop vertically, see-saw up and down and slide sideways is being unveiled today by Dynamic Attractions at the Asian Attractions Expo in Beijing, China. The SFX Coaster™ features 4 engineering advances that have never been together on a ride. But the attraction's biggest innovation is that these elements are perfectly synchronized with highly advanced media.

"Thrill-seekers want more than just a train on a track," states Peter Schnabel, Dynamic Attractions President, referring to traditional roller coasters. "We've combined spectacular storytelling and eye-popping special effects with the most technically advanced ride. This has the amusement industry's top draws, dark rides and roller coasters, in one unbelievable experience. It is the first of its kind in an entirely new category of rides."

Fancy!

Dynamic Structures tends to keep a low profile outside of the industry, but these guys had a hand in a lot of super-high-end stuff like Radiator Springs Racers and Forbidden Journey.

 

[AEfx]

Universal is not a better value for families. Particularly ones with young kids, or adults who don't want to be spun around or doused with water on ever ride. Or for people who don't like all their amusement park rides to be screened based.

So, families that have small children and those with adults that don't like theme park rides don't find it a better value. Fair enough.

Recognize, though, that the amount of folks with small children is finite (the little buggers have this habit of growing up) and those that just want to hang out in a pretty enviornment and don't care about theme park rides are in the minority. Most folks don't spend thousands of dollars to go on a theme park vacation just to "hang out", in spite of what the WS and AK "but the theming is so good!" lifestylers will tell you.