nighttowll
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2013
- Messages
- 1,818
When I first started researching Universal, I was having a hard time figuring out what type of an attraction something was going to be. It was even harder for me to decide if I thought my family would like to do the attraction or not. It was also hard to explain what the attraction was going to be like to the rest of the family when they asked. I didn't want to just watch all the YouTube videos ahead of time to figure it out either because that always takes away some of the fun for me.
I eventually came across a few descriptions that compared certain Universal attractions to similar Disney attractions of the same type, and everything just clicked after that. It was the biggest help for me to think of all the unfamiliar Universal attractions in a very familiar Disney format.
So for instance, instead of having to remember that Men in Black was an indoor slow moving darkish ride where you use lasers to earn points by shooting at enemy aliens, I just said Men in Black = Buzz Lightyear. Much simpler, and I was able to remember it easily. The rest of the family liked this approach as well. When we were in the parks, and the kids were deciding what to do next, or we were in line for something, they'd ask what the attraction was or was like, and I could just answer with the Disney equivalent, and it worked out really well.
I know it is not a perfect system. There aren't equivalents for everything and nothing is exactly the same. I'm not trying to say anything is identical, better, worse, exactly alike, just that thinking of the attractions that are the most similar or the same type of ride really helped me plan and decide what we might like to do.
I've seen so many posts recently from people asking about will their child like X or what is X like. For those of us familiar with Disney, knowing the Disney equivalent really helps to answer those questions without a lot of research. Especially for people who are seasoned Disney veterans but trying Universal for the first time.
So, here is the list I used for my planning. I hope it will help others with theirs as it helped me. Feel free to add in if you have suggestions. I haven't experienced every attraction at both places, so I had to put a few ? by some attractions, and I also put NA by some that I wasn't aware of a Disney equivalent, but there might be one that I've just not experienced yet.
IOA - Islands of Adventure
Seuss Landing:
Caro-Seuss-el - Prince Charming Carousel (with Seuss creatures to ride on)
The Cat in the Hat - Winnie the Pooh (plus some spinning)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish - Dumbo (if someone was shooting those fire hoses at you while you rode)
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride - People Mover (with a narrated story and more visually to look at)
If I Ran the Zoo - NA - interactive outdoor playground with splash sections
The Lost Continent:
Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Stunt Show - Indiana Jones Stunt Show
Mystic Fountain - similar to any of the "living" objects/places at Disney
Poseidon's Fury - NA - a dark tour through underground ruins that ends with a water / fire / light show
Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade:
Frog Choir - Probably closest to Harmony Barber Shop minus instruments (just a short performance on a small stage of 4 people singing)
Flights of the Hippogriff - Barnstormer (very short kiddy coaster, a little tamer)
Dragon Challenge - NA - 2 intertwined inverted outdoor coasters that go upside down
Triwizard Spirit Rally - ?
Forbidden Journey - NA - closest to Spider-Man or Transformers if you rode in a Soarn'n type vehicle
Jurassic Park:
Camp Jurassic - Boneyard at AK (kids outdoor playground / climb area)
Jurassic Park River Adventure - Cross between Jungle Cruise and Dinosaurs (with a drop / splash at the end)
Jurassic Park Discovery Center - Indoor interactive exhibits like at Epcot (indoor educational exhibits on Dinosaurs)
Pteranodon Flyers - NA - sit down zip line type ride for younger kids
Toon Lagoon:
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls - Splash Mountain
Popeyes & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges - Kali River Rapids (much longer and much much wetter, you might as well have jumped in the pool with your clothes on, we wore ponchos and still got soaked, water comes from below, above, behind, and all around you. Kali is a tame baby in comparison.)
Me Ship, The Olive - NA - play area where you can shoot people floating by with water cannons
Marvel Super Hero Island:
Doctor Doom's Fearfall - Tower of Terror - (outdoor, very tame in comparison, only drops once)
Storm Force Acceleration - Tea Cups (very mild X-men theming)
The Incredible Hulk Coaster - NA - outdoor coaster goes upside down
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - NA - similar to FJ and Transformers
Universal Studios - Florida
Production Central:
Shrek 4-D - A Bug's Life or any other 4D theater show at Disney
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem - NA - closest to any of the 3D/4D theater shows but if you were sitting in seats that moved similar to the Star Tours ride
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit - NA - outdoor upside down coaster set to your choice of soundtrack
Transformers - NA - closets to Spider-Man or FJ
New York:
Revenge of the Mummy - Cross between RnR and Dinosaur (indoor dark coaster with Mummy Storyline aspects to it)
Twister...Ride It Out - NA - indoor recreation of a tornado with real wind and rain
The Blues Brothers Show - ?
San Francisco:
Disaster - similar to parts of the Backlot Tour (to the acting / filming part at beginning and some of the special effects parts during the tram ride; however, there is no tram or ride, you are suppose to be filming a disaster movie trailer which they play for you at the end, they take volunteers for parts, just like the Backlot Tour does as well.)
Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue - ?
World Expo:
Men in Black Alien Attack - Buzz Lightyear
The Simpsons Ride - Star Tours (with fictional theme park setting, like you are riding through on the different rides)
Fear Factor - ?
Woody Woodpecker's KidZone:
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster - Barnstormer (kiddy coaster)
Fievel's Playground - Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground (outdoor play area with same giant scaling, plus splash areas, and a small water raft slide)
E.T. Adventure - Peter Pan (but you sit on flying bikes)
Animal Actors on Location - Flights of Wonder (with more animals than just birds, dogs, cats, raccoons, otters, etc., they do a variety of different tricks, some audience participation parts for kids and adults as well)
Curious George Goes to Town - NA - interactive outdoor playground with splash sections
A Day in the Park with Barney - ?
Hollywood:
Lucy: A Tribute - Walt Disney: One Man's Dream
Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show - ?
Terminator 2 - ?
I eventually came across a few descriptions that compared certain Universal attractions to similar Disney attractions of the same type, and everything just clicked after that. It was the biggest help for me to think of all the unfamiliar Universal attractions in a very familiar Disney format.
So for instance, instead of having to remember that Men in Black was an indoor slow moving darkish ride where you use lasers to earn points by shooting at enemy aliens, I just said Men in Black = Buzz Lightyear. Much simpler, and I was able to remember it easily. The rest of the family liked this approach as well. When we were in the parks, and the kids were deciding what to do next, or we were in line for something, they'd ask what the attraction was or was like, and I could just answer with the Disney equivalent, and it worked out really well.
I know it is not a perfect system. There aren't equivalents for everything and nothing is exactly the same. I'm not trying to say anything is identical, better, worse, exactly alike, just that thinking of the attractions that are the most similar or the same type of ride really helped me plan and decide what we might like to do.
I've seen so many posts recently from people asking about will their child like X or what is X like. For those of us familiar with Disney, knowing the Disney equivalent really helps to answer those questions without a lot of research. Especially for people who are seasoned Disney veterans but trying Universal for the first time.
So, here is the list I used for my planning. I hope it will help others with theirs as it helped me. Feel free to add in if you have suggestions. I haven't experienced every attraction at both places, so I had to put a few ? by some attractions, and I also put NA by some that I wasn't aware of a Disney equivalent, but there might be one that I've just not experienced yet.
IOA - Islands of Adventure
Seuss Landing:
Caro-Seuss-el - Prince Charming Carousel (with Seuss creatures to ride on)
The Cat in the Hat - Winnie the Pooh (plus some spinning)
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish - Dumbo (if someone was shooting those fire hoses at you while you rode)
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride - People Mover (with a narrated story and more visually to look at)
If I Ran the Zoo - NA - interactive outdoor playground with splash sections
The Lost Continent:
Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Stunt Show - Indiana Jones Stunt Show
Mystic Fountain - similar to any of the "living" objects/places at Disney
Poseidon's Fury - NA - a dark tour through underground ruins that ends with a water / fire / light show
Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade:
Frog Choir - Probably closest to Harmony Barber Shop minus instruments (just a short performance on a small stage of 4 people singing)
Flights of the Hippogriff - Barnstormer (very short kiddy coaster, a little tamer)
Dragon Challenge - NA - 2 intertwined inverted outdoor coasters that go upside down
Triwizard Spirit Rally - ?
Forbidden Journey - NA - closest to Spider-Man or Transformers if you rode in a Soarn'n type vehicle
Jurassic Park:
Camp Jurassic - Boneyard at AK (kids outdoor playground / climb area)
Jurassic Park River Adventure - Cross between Jungle Cruise and Dinosaurs (with a drop / splash at the end)
Jurassic Park Discovery Center - Indoor interactive exhibits like at Epcot (indoor educational exhibits on Dinosaurs)
Pteranodon Flyers - NA - sit down zip line type ride for younger kids
Toon Lagoon:
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls - Splash Mountain
Popeyes & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges - Kali River Rapids (much longer and much much wetter, you might as well have jumped in the pool with your clothes on, we wore ponchos and still got soaked, water comes from below, above, behind, and all around you. Kali is a tame baby in comparison.)
Me Ship, The Olive - NA - play area where you can shoot people floating by with water cannons
Marvel Super Hero Island:
Doctor Doom's Fearfall - Tower of Terror - (outdoor, very tame in comparison, only drops once)
Storm Force Acceleration - Tea Cups (very mild X-men theming)
The Incredible Hulk Coaster - NA - outdoor coaster goes upside down
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - NA - similar to FJ and Transformers
Universal Studios - Florida
Production Central:
Shrek 4-D - A Bug's Life or any other 4D theater show at Disney
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem - NA - closest to any of the 3D/4D theater shows but if you were sitting in seats that moved similar to the Star Tours ride
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit - NA - outdoor upside down coaster set to your choice of soundtrack
Transformers - NA - closets to Spider-Man or FJ
New York:
Revenge of the Mummy - Cross between RnR and Dinosaur (indoor dark coaster with Mummy Storyline aspects to it)
Twister...Ride It Out - NA - indoor recreation of a tornado with real wind and rain
The Blues Brothers Show - ?
San Francisco:
Disaster - similar to parts of the Backlot Tour (to the acting / filming part at beginning and some of the special effects parts during the tram ride; however, there is no tram or ride, you are suppose to be filming a disaster movie trailer which they play for you at the end, they take volunteers for parts, just like the Backlot Tour does as well.)
Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue - ?
World Expo:
Men in Black Alien Attack - Buzz Lightyear
The Simpsons Ride - Star Tours (with fictional theme park setting, like you are riding through on the different rides)
Fear Factor - ?
Woody Woodpecker's KidZone:
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster - Barnstormer (kiddy coaster)
Fievel's Playground - Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground (outdoor play area with same giant scaling, plus splash areas, and a small water raft slide)
E.T. Adventure - Peter Pan (but you sit on flying bikes)
Animal Actors on Location - Flights of Wonder (with more animals than just birds, dogs, cats, raccoons, otters, etc., they do a variety of different tricks, some audience participation parts for kids and adults as well)
Curious George Goes to Town - NA - interactive outdoor playground with splash sections
A Day in the Park with Barney - ?
Hollywood:
Lucy: A Tribute - Walt Disney: One Man's Dream
Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show - ?
Terminator 2 - ?
ops guess my glasses aren't strong enough missed it in the original list sorry about that
