where universal can't match wdw...

[protiius]

i love universal! so much so that during our annual 2 week holiday my family and i split our time equally between the wdw & universal resorts...however, apart from the size, the one problem that universal has is lack of attention to details...

when you are in wdw (from the second you drive through the main entrance) you are completely immersed in the resort, and the behind-the-scenes is so well concealed that the illusion is never spoilt...however, universal cannot boast this...take for example the duelling dragons attraction, whilst this maybe be one of the best rollercoasters in florida there are points when you are flying over generators etc. shattering the illusion...there is also very little care taken in the scenery during (not the pre-show) the rides (ie compare the mountain built for btmr v dd/the hulk)...

i think that just a couple of changes (such as concealing the generators with trees) would make a huge difference to the atmosphere of the park...would you agree? do you believe that this is something that universal should focus on?

 

[Oriolesmagic]

I totally agree and I notice that a lot. But that's when you remember that they're Universal...not Disney.

 

[Skip]

Why would you even attempt to start this type of argument? I'm not going to lie, Dueling Dragon's coaster theming isn't spectacular, and I'm sure a victim to opening budget cuts... however, I bet this area will be vastly improved in time for the Harry Potter opening... the details at Universal are numerous and the sets and areas are all extremely immersive. Have you ever taken a stroll down Sneetch Beach, the pathway near Me Ship, The Olive, taken a peek inside the New York street windows, examined the hieroglyphics in the Mummy queue, or all the store fronts in Hollywood and Amity?

 

[protiius]

Why would you even attempt to start this type of argument? I'm not going to lie, Dueling Dragon's coaster theming isn't spectacular, and I'm sure a victim to opening budget cuts... however, I bet this area will be vastly improved in time for the Harry Potter opening... the details at Universal are numerous and the sets and areas are all extremely immersive. Have you ever taken a stroll down Sneetch Beach, the pathway near Me Ship, The Olive, taken a peek inside the New York street windows, examined the hieroglyphics in the Mummy queue, or all the store fronts in Hollywood and Amity?

i do believe that the area between jurassic park & the lost continent will look incredible with the harry potter land...i have seen the plans and saw the start of the construction last year when i was there and it looks incredible!! however, this will only serve to distract from, not conceal, the areas that i mentioned...i just believe that dd in particular could do with some attention, perhaps adding some waterfalls, rock formations, dragon statues beneath the track would increase the ride experience greatly!!

i love some of the small intricate details that universal has (krustyland looks brilliant, esp. with the kwik-e-mart, ny streets etc) but there's no comparison with these and the detail shown in tot, hm, st etc...it may only be a small issue, but it's these types of small issues that disney excels at solving...

 

[JT3000]

^ Those rides have small details because they're dark rides and people will actually notice them. No one is going to notice details while being thrown around on a roller coaster. Pretty silly comparison IMO. Universal has plenty of detailed theming where it's warranted.

 

[Skip]

^ Those rides have small details because they're dark rides and people will actually notice them. No one is going to notice details while being thrown around on a roller coaster. Pretty silly comparison IMO. Universal has plenty of detailed theming where it's warranted.

A good point. Besides, it's not like Rock'n'Roller Coaster has any stellar theming going for it... and Revenge of the Mummy blows the themed portions of Space Mountain out of the water.

 

[jonnyc]

I do think they could use a bit of work on the actual ride area for DD, hopefully it will get it when it is rethemed to Harry Potter.

 

[teebin]

^ Those rides have small details because they're dark rides and people will actually notice them. No one is going to notice details while being thrown around on a roller coaster. Pretty silly comparison IMO. Universal has plenty of detailed theming where it's warranted.

I agree that the OP's argument holds very little water. Also, examples of things you can see from within disney theme parks are: Swan and Dolphin, ToT, Contemporary Resort, Maintenance area for Seas, Golf Ball from Everest, Service roadway from Everest, Hilton Hotel and I am sure many others. Think, you can see the city of Orlando from DD. Gonna theme that too?

Many of the same people designed for both parks in the 90's. Execution of the work is outsourced to the same exact contractors time and again. Infrastructure upkeep at Disney tends to be a wee bit better but that is about it.

 

[EvanAnderson]

Universal does have lack of space, and what they've done with it is really good. When you're in Jurassic Park, you're actually across the street from a high school, but you never know this. As for Dragons,, every major coaster anywhere in the world has its theme shattered, besides Disney. Even Everest looks like a building from the DAK parking lot.

 

[Pete C]

I have to say that I don't agree with the OP. I would put IOA's overall theming up against anything Disney has to offer, and certain things at Universal Studios are up to par as well. Consider these:

- Dueling Dragons castle and queue (not on-ride). This area is flat-out AMAZING. From the entrance gardens to the candle-lit halls and dark skull-filled caverns, I think it's the greatest queue of all time.
- Enchanted Oak restaurant (R.I.P...most impressive themed restaurant I have seen in any park)
- Poseidon's Fury exterior
- IOA entrance plaza
- Mummy queue and ride
- MIB ride
- E.T. queue and ride
- Suess land...all of it

Most of IOA is beautiful. It's so well executed as a whole park. Only a few queues (Hulk) and on-ride experiences here don't have incredible, over-the-top detail. WDW has amazing detail as well, of course, but all of the parks have their sore spots too. Animal Kingdom is probably the most beautiful and cohesive of any Orlando park, but head into Dinoland and the image is shattered. At Epcot, the World Showcase shimmers, but head to the front of the park and the 70s design cues stick out like sore thumbs. The Magic Kingdom is home to some deserted corridors of bland western theme.

 

[sknydave]

If you ride on the Tomorrowland Transportation Authority you can see the cars driving down World Dr.

 

[AndyP]

The outside area of Test Track isn't exactly themed! They painted the test symbol in the middle but otherwise there i really nothing except 'bad show.' To be honest on these types of rides, you're usually having too much fun/too excited/too scared/moving too fast to notice so its not really a problem. On their dark rides such as Mummy and MIB I think Universal matches Disney no problem and some of the theming in their parks, over in Universal and Lost Continent, Jurassic Park etc in IoA are excellent. I think its just noticed less at Disney because they don't have big outdoor roller coasters like Universal (Everest isn't really the same, it wouldn't be a great coaster without the theme). Disney couldn't theme that size of area that well and even if they could they wouldn't want to because it would cost money that doesn't really add any guest experience, Dueling Dragons itself is sufficient!!

 

[protiius]

i disagree with people thinking that dd is sufficiently themed because you're going to fast to notice the lack of it...we have a white knuckle inverted coaster just like it here in the uk, nemesis...they have rivers of blood pouring beneath your feet and when you're zipping along the track you come up against a sheer cliff face that you think you're going to hit until you shoot skywards at the last minute...does no-one think that things like this would add some extra drama to the ride?

 

[JROK]

i disagree with people thinking that dd is sufficiently themed because you're going to fast to notice the lack of it...we have a white knuckle inverted coaster just like it here in the uk, nemesis...they have rivers of blood pouring beneath your feet and when you're zipping along the track you come up against a sheer cliff face that you think you're going to hit until you shoot skywards at the last minute...does no-one think that things like this would add some extra drama to the ride?

Well the water below DD is in the shape of a dragon... And while on the ice dragon you make a run straight at the castle before turning up at the last minute... Sounds like the same...

 

[AndyP]

i disagree with people thinking that dd is sufficiently themed because you're going to fast to notice the lack of it...we have a white knuckle inverted coaster just like it here in the uk, nemesis...they have rivers of blood pouring beneath your feet and when you're zipping along the track you come up against a sheer cliff face that you think you're going to hit until you shoot skywards at the last minute...does no-one think that things like this would add some extra drama to the ride?

That area at Alton towers is next to where people can walk to the ride, at Universal the places where people are before the ride, such as the amazing queue for Dueling Dragons, is very well themed. When you're on DD there isn't need for much more theming, its not a dark ride, the queue adds sufficient theme and excitement/fear, there is really no need for anything else. Plus apart from dying the water to look like blood, the theming at Nemesis in other areas isn't so great either.

 

[jonnyc]

That area at Alton towers is next to where people can walk to the ride, at Universal the places where people are before the ride, such as the amazing queue for Dueling Dragons, is very well themed. When you're on DD there isn't need for much more theming, its not a dark ride, the queue adds sufficient theme and excitement/fear, there is really no need for anything else. Plus apart from dying the water to look like blood, the theming at Nemesis in other areas isn't so great either.

But taking of great rides at Alton Towers, have you been on that pirate one where you can shoot water?

Me and my mates spent hours on there!

 

[AndyP]

But taking of great rides at Alton Towers, have you been on that pirate one where you can shoot water?

Me and my mates spent hours on there!

Unfortunately wehad to skip that! It was a very cold day, would be much better suited to the Florida climate! :lol: