Best Themed Rides??? Best themed restaurants???

[johde]

I love a lot of the theming at Universal. While IOA is overall nicer than the Studios, it's hard to beat Diagon Alley and even the older New York section is pretty decent.

The biggest thing about the overall theming of Universal Studios Orlando and Disney Hollywood Studio is that they are themed around concepts that don't exist anymore: 1/2 themepark, 1/2 working studio. That's why in some of the older attractions like Twister and Disaster the main queue takes you "back stage" to a an area surrounded by "Sound stages and Props". That was part of the "working studio" theming. Just like in DHS if you look to the right while in front of Muppet Vision you see the back side of New York Street with bare steel beams. In both cases those areas would be "outside the shot". Universal step by step is in the process of retheming the parking into a "ride the movies" theming. Where instead of stepping into a movie set you're stepping into the movie. Diagon Alley being the best example, but Springfield also following that model.

 

[DisneyDetective]

Universal Studios and Islands Of Adventure has really stepped up it's game under Comcast. The whole Harry Potter area is awesome including attractions and restaurants. Transformers and Spider-Man is great. Mythos is a great themed restaurant although can be VERY cold.