Which park has better rides - Hollywood Studios or Universal Studios Florida?

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

How so?

By a lot. Universal Studios Florida is a very weak Universal park. It has way too many screen based attractions and it's ride lineup is very repetitive and overall not the strongest. Universal Studios Hollywood has the excellent Studio Tour, that alone with all of it's scenes and feel of old Universal rides, paired with it's informative and fun ride through so many movies and film locations make it instantly better than anything USF has to offer. Plus USH is getting rid of the Fast and Furious ride segment, addition by subtraction. USH has a solid dark ride with animatronics in The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, it has the incredible Jurassic World: The Ride, the better Harry Potter ride (Forbidden Journey > Escape from Gringotts), Super Nintendo World, and the soon to be Fast and Furious roller coaster which looks great. USF on the other hand has A LOT of mid/weak rides. Fast and Furious, Jimmy Fallon, Simpsons, Minions are all equal screen-based repetitive simulator attractions. Rip Ride Rockit is a rough, plain un-themed exposed steel coaster that is soon to be removed later this year anyway. And let's not even talk about the new Villian Con Minion Blast "ride." USF does have some strong rides with Mummy, Men in Black, ET, and Diagon Alley as a land, Gringotts to an extent is good although it could have been designed better as a coaster. I feel the park is not strong enough to hold it's weight above USH.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

Yes, Universal Studios Hollywood is absolutely better than Universal Studios Florida and Hollywood Studios. Walt Disney Studios (soon to be Disney Adventure World) right now may not be better currently, but with the new additions coming in the next year or so will definitely make it better than USF and DHS, yes.

Well with an inferior TOT, inferior toy story land, a bad RNRC overlay, poor rethemed TSM in Web slingers, the terrible cars road trip compared to the superior TOT, Rise of the resistance, MMRR, star tours, slinky, TSM, i don’t see how DAW can be better. A longer FEA with the same amount of AAs, and swinging ride and teacups isn’t gonna move the needle. Lion king might but so might the Door coaster and Muppet rnrc as well.

 

[BrianLo]

Sometimes things come together unexpectedly more than the sum of their parts.

But I'd agree that from what we know of the plans: DHS>DAW>>USF=WDSP (both of which I think are currently bad in their own ways).

 

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

How so?

Oh and I also forgot about WaterWorld. That is an AMAZING well-done show and one of the best shows in any theme park.

 

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

Well with an inferior TOT, inferior toy story land, a bad RNRC overlay, poor rethemed TSM in Web slingers, the terrible cars road trip compared to the superior TOT, Rise of the resistance, MMRR, star tours, slinky, TSM, i don’t see how DAW can be better. A longer FEA with the same amount of AAs, and swinging ride and teacups isn’t gonna move the needle. Lion king might but so might the Door coaster and Muppet rnrc as well.

Lion King looks really great and looks promising, it also has Crush’s Coaster which is really solid and hugely underrated (and far better then both DHS roller coasters, RNRC, Slinky) It is definitely closer with DAW being better than DHS, it’s a close race, I agree with you there, but USH to me is definitely better than USF.

 

[JT3000]

By a lot. Universal Studios Florida is a very weak Universal park. It has way too many screen based attractions and it's ride lineup is very repetitive and overall not the strongest. Universal Studios Hollywood has the excellent Studio Tour, that alone with all of it's scenes and feel of old Universal rides, paired with it's informative and fun ride through so many movies and film locations make it instantly better than anything USF has to offer. Plus USH is getting rid of the Fast and Furious ride segment, addition by subtraction. USH has a solid dark ride with animatronics in The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, it has the incredible Jurassic World: The Ride, the better Harry Potter ride (Forbidden Journey > Escape from Gringotts), Super Nintendo World, and the soon to be Fast and Furious roller coaster which looks great. USF on the other hand has A LOT of mid/weak rides. Fast and Furious, Jimmy Fallon, Simpsons, Minions are all equal screen-based repetitive simulator attractions. Rip Ride Rockit is a rough, plain un-themed exposed steel coaster that is soon to be removed later this year anyway. And let's not even talk about the new Villian Con Minion Blast "ride." USF does have some strong rides with Mummy, Men in Black, ET, and Diagon Alley as a land, Gringotts to an extent is good although it could have been designed better as a coaster. I feel the park is not strong enough to hold it's weight above USH.

USH has exactly the same problem with an abundance of screen-based attractions that USF has. Simpsons? Despicable Me? Transformers? Dreamworks Theatre? A portion of Forbidden Journey? Even Mario Kart in a way? Also multiple scenes on the tram tour? Speaking of which, the tram tour is a unique, albeit more niche offering, but especially with so much production moving away from their studio lot, I hardly think it's enough to beat out USF. Especially given that the park has a far inferior version of Mummy, the inferior Potter land, and just lackluster presentation in general. Could you argue that Hollywood currently has a stronger attraction lineup? Maaaaybe. But it will always be hampered by the park's bad bones, whereas USF at least has the potential to be significantly better.

 

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

USH has exactly the same problem with an abundance of screen-based attractions that USF has. Simpsons? Despicable Me? Transformers? Dreamworks Theatre? A portion of Forbidden Journey? Even Mario Kart in a way? Also multiple scenes on the tram tour? Speaking of which, the tram tour is a unique, albeit more niche offering, but especially with so much production moving away from their studio lot, I hardly think it's enough to beat out USF. Especially given that the park has a far inferior version of Mummy, the inferior Potter land, and just lackluster presentation in general. Could you argue that Hollywood currently has a stronger attraction lineup? Maaaaybe. But it will always be hampered by the park's bad bones, whereas USF at least has the potential to be significantly better.

Yes, USH has those rides too but USF still has MORE full screen rides, and even lesser quality. Fast and Furious, Jimmy Fallon, and the Villain Con Minion Blast are all weak, repetitive mid to bad rides. Mario Kart is at least a little more impressive and fun in a few ways. Their new Dreamworks land has cheap, cut-out 2D characters. Only a few portions of Forbidden Journey have screens (and is a much better than those I just mentioned). And once again, they are getting rid of the Fast and Furious portion of the Studio Tour, and the practical effects far outweigh the screen-based sections. Fast and Furious replaced two great attractions at USF. I don't see USF improving anytime soon seeing how they put in more additions in IOA and EU. Maybe in a few years though they could improve upon it. Once again too, WaterWorld is also an excellent, live-action draw that doesn't exist in USF. And again, Jurassic World: The Ride and Secret Life of Pets are both great rides, and again soon that really dope Fast and Furious coaster. I also disagree that USH has a lackluster presentation especially compared to USF. USF might be the ugliest Universal park in the world with the worst, most underwhelming entry land, fake soundstages, doesn't at all feel like an entry land to a world-class theme park. That weird "land" World Expo too with Men in Black, a now empty open theater that used to have Fear Factor sits there with nothing, as well as that random Coco-Cola ICEE shack. No theme at all there, it feels like Universal themselves don't even know what they are trying to do with that area. USH in comparison is in a beautiful setting with the Santa Monica Mountains and pretty backdrop of Hogwarts Castle with the hills behind it. I always found the vibe of USF to be very inauthentic and concrete. USH isn't an imitation of a Hollywood backlot, it IS a Hollywood backlot, that aspect of the park makes it special and more real. The sight lines being broken in some parts of the park make it feel more lived-in and gives the park more of this character to it. It really feels like your in the backlot that surrounds that. They don't need to theme their park to a studio. It is an actual studio. I guess I can understand a lot of USH's faults more easily than USF. For a true lack of land they have with USH, they pack a good park with great views and a great ride lineup.

 

[JT3000]

Yes, USH has those rides too but USF still has MORE full screen rides, and even lesser quality. Fast and Furious, Jimmy Fallon, and the Villain Con Minion Blast are all weak, repetitive mid to bad rides. Mario Kart is at least a little more impressive and fun in a few ways. Their new Dreamworks land has cheap, cut-out 2D characters. Only a few portions of Forbidden Journey have screens (and is a much better than those I just mentioned). And once again, they are getting rid of the Fast and Furious portion of the Studio Tour, and the practical effects far outweigh the screen-based sections. Fast and Furious replaced two great attractions at USF. I don't see USF improving anytime soon seeing how they put in more additions in IOA and EU. Maybe in a few years though they could improve upon it. Once again too, WaterWorld is also an excellent, live-action draw that doesn't exist in USF. And again, Jurassic World: The Ride and Secret Life of Pets are both great rides, and again soon that really dope Fast and Furious coaster. I also disagree that USH has a lackluster presentation especially compared to USF. USF might be the ugliest Universal park in the world with the worst, most underwhelming entry land, fake soundstages, doesn't at all feel like an entry land to a world-class theme park. That weird "land" World Expo too with Men in Black, a now empty open theater that used to have Fear Factor sits there with nothing, as well as that random Coco-Cola ICEE shack. No theme at all there, it feels like Universal themselves don't even know what they are trying to do with that area. USH in comparison is in a beautiful setting with the Santa Monica Mountains and pretty backdrop of Hogwarts Castle with the hills behind it. I always found the vibe of USF to be very inauthentic and concrete. USH isn't an imitation of a Hollywood backlot, it IS a Hollywood backlot, that aspect of the park makes it special and more real. The sight lines being broken in some parts of the park make it feel more lived-in and gives the park more of this character to it. It really feels like your in the backlot that surrounds that. They don't need to theme their park to a studio. It is an actual studio. I guess I can understand a lot of USH's faults more easily than USF. For a true lack of land they have with USH, they pack a good park with great views and a great ride lineup.

USH doesn't need to theme their park to a studio, the need to theme their park to its themes, which they have trouble doing. Much of the park is just jumbled together with no real sense of thematic direction or cohesion, in classic studio park fashion. That's why I say it has poor presentation. I don't want to feel like I'm on a studio lot when I'm at a theme park, even if it's also a studio lot. Yes, USF's entrance area is ugly, but large chunks of USH look just like that, whereas USF is better themed for the most part. Even with the addition of Nintendo World, which has easily the ugliest & most haphazard entrance of any version of that land, USH still doesn't have anything as immersive as Diagon Alley. Even its Hogsmeade is ruined by views of skyscrapers in the background. I can't handwave this away or even give them points for it just because it's a real studio. Bad sightlines are bad sightlines. Some of USF's soundstages are real; that doesn't make them any better looking than the fake ones.

 

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

USH doesn't need to theme their park to a studio, the need to theme their park to its themes, which they have trouble doing. Much of the park is just jumbled together with no real sense of thematic direction or cohesion, in classic studio park fashion. That's why I say it has poor presentation. I don't want to feel like I'm on a studio lot when I'm at a theme park, even if it's also a studio lot. Yes, USF's entrance area is ugly, but large chunks of USH look just like that, whereas USF is better themed for the most part. Even with the addition of Nintendo World, which has easily the ugliest & most haphazard entrance of any version of that land, USH still doesn't have anything as immersive as Diagon Alley. Even its Hogsmeade is ruined by views of skyscrapers in the background. I can't handwave this away or even give them points for it just because it's a real studio. Bad sightlines are bad sightlines. Some of USF's soundstages are real; that doesn't make them any better looking than the fake ones.

I always liked and thought the Universal Studios parks are about the magic of movies themselves and not the filmmaking of the movies, and that’s what I feel USH is strong at, how the magic of movies are made and putting you in the center of the movie action, like many of the scenes on the Studio Tour (Jaws, Earthquake, Psycho, BTTF), it feels like a true Universal ride on what the company is all about and it’s really missing that spark of a ride at USF, WaterWorld is great at this too with putting you in the action of the WaterWorld movies. You feel you are part of the movie magic, rather than watching it play out in front of you that many of the screen based rides do. USH is also still themed nicely in a lot of its areas though for what it has. The park, like already mentioned has a small footprint, so I don’t expect it to be perfect with its sightlines, Super Nintendo World is crammed in and they squeezed it in so it’s expected it won’t have the best entrance of any version of the land, they still make it work as a theme park though that happens to be on a movie studio. For a park that wasn’t even meant to be a theme park, and is a working movie studio with filming going on all around the park nearby, I expect it to not have a fully fleshed-out theme park experience, and for what it has, it does good enough. USF has Diagon Alley which is greatly themed, but outside of that, many of the lands are weak theming and/or just not scenic or visually appealing, USH also has a better and bigger Simpsons land and Minions land with the houses and even the Super Silly Fun Land is well-themed for a kids area. Oh, and there’s still no land that it’s as ugly and random as the jumbled mess that is World Expo, that area legit doesn’t even feel like a real land, with its empty soundstage and Coco Cola and ICEE shack. No theme, cohesion, or direction there. No part of USH has an area as weak as that “land.” Same with again the entry land to the park, you have random soundstages that happen to be different Minion attractions but it’s not a minion land? They are in fake movie soundstages. And then a bare-bones steel roller coaster right behind it? Minion Cafe near it too? A random concert stage? What is this area even trying to be? Very poor, bad theme that makes no sense for the entry land of the park. A hodgepodge. New York, Hollywood, And San Francisco (despite the Fast and Furious ride tho) are better lands however. And again, the Santa Monica Mountains are a beautiful backdrop for the park. Meanwhile, USF has a beautiful lake in the middle of the park.

 

[MK-fan]

I always liked and thought the Universal Studios parks are about the magic of movies themselves and not the filmmaking of the movies, and that’s what I feel USH is strong at, how the magic of movies are made and putting you in the center of the movie action, like many of the scenes on the Studio Tour (Jaws, Earthquake, Psycho, BTTF), it feels like a true Universal ride on what the company is all about and it’s really missing that spark of a ride at USF, WaterWorld is great at this too with putting you in the action of the WaterWorld movies. You feel you are part of the movie magic, rather than watching it play out in front of you that many of the screen based rides do. USH is also still themed nicely in a lot of its areas though for what it has. The park, like already mentioned has a small footprint, so I don’t expect it to be perfect with its sightlines, Super Nintendo World is crammed in and they squeezed it in so it’s expected it won’t have the best entrance of any version of the land, they still make it work as a theme park though that happens to be on a movie studio. For a park that wasn’t even meant to be a theme park, and is a working movie studio with filming going on all around the park nearby, I expect it to not have a fully fleshed-out theme park experience, and for what it has, it does good enough. USF has Diagon Alley which is greatly themed, but outside of that, many of the lands are weak theming and/or just not scenic or visually appealing, USH also has a better and bigger Simpsons land and Minions land with the houses and even the Super Silly Fun Land is well-themed for a kids area. Oh, and there’s still no land that it’s as ugly and random as the jumbled mess that is World Expo, that area legit doesn’t even feel like a real land, with its empty soundstage and Coco Cola and ICEE shack. No theme, cohesion, or direction there. No part of USH has an area as weak as that “land.” Same with again the entry land to the park, you have random soundstages that happen to be different Minion attractions but it’s not a minion land? They are in fake movie soundstages. And then a bare-bones steel roller coaster right behind it? Minion Cafe near it too? A random concert stage? What is this area even trying to be? Very poor, bad theme that makes no sense for the entry land of the park. A hodgepodge. New York, Hollywood, And San Francisco (despite the Fast and Furious ride tho) are better lands however. And again, the Santa Monica Mountains are a beautiful backdrop for the park. Meanwhile, USF has a beautiful lake in the middle of the park.

IMO, I feel USF has the better Springfield. Theyre roughly both the same size at 2.20 acres including the show buildings. Plus USF’s version is waterfront and has the Kang and Kodos flat ride. USH Springfield is primarily the only way to get to the Studio Tour and the lower lot so it gets incredibly packed with people going in and out. A divider is even needed so there’s an in and out system with the crowds.

 

[Ztonyg]

I would need to take Dramamine if I'm about to ride attractions from US Florida or at least alternate between screen ride and rollercoaster or dark ride.

I had a park hopper to USF and IOA and started with USF today (big mistake).

I spent half the day feeling like I was going to get sick so that by the time I got to IOA I simply did Hagrid's and Velocicoaster and not much else.

DHS has a much more balanced (and better) attraction lineup these days than USF.

 

[Ztonyg]

Now I understand why so many of you choose Disney over Universal or other parks. It's not just the nostalgia but that Disney has rides you can ride.

I'm in the midst of a 4 day solo trip to Disney / Universal.

My first 2 days at Disney were fun and I felt great. Today was Universal day and it was a challenge. I felt like I was going to die on Transformers and skipped Forbidden Journey and The Hulk because I KNEW I would die if I rode them. I was able to do a decent amount of attractions: Mummy, Fallon, Rip Ride Rockit, Transformers, Minions, Rip Ride Rockit, The Simpsons, ET, Gringott's, Hogwarts Express, Hagrid's, King Kong, Jurassic Park River Adventure, and Velocicoaster. On half of the rides I was miserable.

In 2012 (last time I was at Universal) I did the Hulk and Forbidden Journey (and didn't feel good afterwards).

Disney only has a few rides that really make me not feel great (but they're well done and I enjoy them). I'm looking at you Flight of Passage, Star Tours and Smuggler's Run.

I DO enjoy Disney more because it has many more rides I can ride.

 

[JT3000]

I'm in the midst of a 4 day solo trip to Disney / Universal.

My first 2 days at Disney were fun and I felt great. Today was Universal day and it was a challenge. I felt like I was going to die on Transformers and skipped Forbidden Journey and The Hulk because I KNEW I would die if I rode them. I was able to do a decent amount of attractions: Mummy, Fallon, Rip Ride Rockit, Transformers, Minions, Rip Ride Rockit, The Simpsons, ET, Gringott's, Hogwarts Express, Hagrid's, King Kong, Jurassic Park River Adventure, and Velocicoaster. On half of the rides I was miserable.

In 2012 (last time I was at Universal) I did the Hulk and Forbidden Journey (and didn't feel good afterwards).

Disney only has a few rides that really make me not feel great (but they're well done and I enjoy them). I'm looking at you Flight of Passage, Star Tours and Smuggler's Run.

I DO enjoy Disney more because it has many more rides I can ride.

You felt like you were going to die on Transformers but you rode Velocicoaster?

 

[Ztonyg]

You felt like you were going to die on Transformers but you rode Velocicoaster?

Roller coasters usually don't affect me as badly as motion simulators.

Plus, I HAD to ride Velocicoaster. It's the rated as #1 rollar coaster in the country according to a lot of sources (most that don't rate it #1 rate Iron Gwazi #1).

Velocicoaster lived up to its billing and was a great and fun ride.