DIS Blog: Keystrokes at Disney World – Hammer and Nails at Universal

Well it is a ride.

I think if Disney added a cool Star Wars transport system from DHS to Epcot futureWorld and it required a hopper, I think people would hail Disney as being brilliant. And it would be wildly popular.

Riding the Hogwarts Express will likely be a pretty awesome moment for anyone who is a fan of the books. It's not "just a screen" it's fully realized cabins along with multi-layered screens to give a sense of depth without 3d glasses, interior effects, and most likely several different programs. Story wise the train makes perfect sense, and will probably be on the must do list of anyone who likes Harry Potter or theme parks.

The theming inside and outside of the trains is top notch.

In my opinion, it's the most creative idea I've seen from a theme park in years. It's 100% a ride that ties into the existing potter story perfectly, and also serves as transport. There is a new article about it on http://themeparkinsider.com right now
 
Riding the Hogwarts Express will likely be a pretty awesome moment for anyone who is a fan of the books. It's not "just a screen" it's fully realized cabins along with multi-layered screens to give a sense of depth without 3d glasses, interior effects, and most likely several different programs. Story wise the train makes perfect sense, and will probably be on the must do list of anyone who likes Harry Potter or theme parks.

The theming inside and outside of the trains is top notch.

In my opinion, it's the most creative idea I've seen from a theme park in years. It's 100% a ride that ties into the existing potter story perfectly, and also serves as transport. There is a new article about it on http://themeparkinsider.com right now

LOL, Steve Burke, is that you?

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/morning_call/2014/01/universal-orlando-will-connect-both.html

NBCUniversal President Steve Burke, a former Walt Disney Co. theme-park executive, calls the train transportation idea “one of the most creative ideas I’ve ever seen in the theme-park business.”

As for the article you linked...

You won't see the backstage area while on board, of course. The "windows" on Universal's Hogwarts Express won't really be windows — they will be digital screens made to look like windows, upon which Universal will show images of the English countryside and Scottish Highlands, visually recreating the trip between Hogsmeade and Kings Cross. With digital technology in play on the train, Universal will be able to throw a bit of special effects excitement into the trip as well, including a Dementor attack inspired by the Dementors' appearance on the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

So yeah, they'll be screens instead of windows, showing countryside.

As for the theming inside the trains, I don't think there has been anything shown inside the trains yet.
 
Riding the Hogwarts Express will likely be a pretty awesome moment for anyone who is a fan of the books. It's not "just a screen" it's fully realized cabins along with multi-layered screens to give a sense of depth without 3d glasses, interior effects, and most likely several different programs. Story wise the train makes perfect sense, and will probably be on the must do list of anyone who likes Harry Potter or theme parks.

The theming inside and outside of the trains is top notch.

In my opinion, it's the most creative idea I've seen from a theme park in years. It's 100% a ride that ties into the existing potter story perfectly, and also serves as transport. There is a new article about it on http://themeparkinsider.com right now

All aboard! I can't wait!
 
You can ride the monorail all day long for no cost. You need to have a two park ticket just to get onto the HP train.

IMHO what Universal is doing is OK. The HP train is an actual attraction ride with events. The monorail is... the monorail. Dementors definitely do not attack the monorail. (Not saying riding the monorail isn't an enjoyable experience, but it's not an attraction ride!)

We are staying at Universal for the first time for a week in September. I think we will end up alternating our "early morning hour" between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, so we can have some uncrowded time in each of them before riding the Hogwarts train to the other side. Pretty excited, really. :yay:
 

I'm just bewildered by everyone's perception that Disney is not building while Universal is. Just in the past couple of years, Disney has completely redone California Adventure including a whole new "Cars Land" in Anaheim, and effectively added a new land in Orlando as well with the huge Fantasyland expansion. Both of these look GREAT. Now they're doing big things at AK (even though I'm no fan of how they're doing it there) and Downtown Disney - and we all know that soon Star Wars will get the big treatment somewhere.

At the end of all this, Universal will spend all this money in Orlando and they still will still be no closer to dethroning The King. ...and the turnstiles will show it.

:thumbsup2

The article uses a classic trick. The author sets up his premise: The two parks are using different methods to deal with a similar problem, crowds: Disney - technology, Universal - expansion.

There are two problems with this:

  1. It isn't true: The author even twice admits this in the article! The 6th and 13th paragraphs he admits that Disney is doing a lot of building. Therefore there is no "either-or."
  2. The article assumes they are dealing with the same problem; crowds. However, at more than double the attendance at MK, the problems are completely different and not comparable.
The article also mentions that there is such a huge difference in size between Disney and Universal that Disney construction gets lost. This is a good point.

When someone with a small 2 bedroom 800 square foot ranch adds a 12X12 addition, it is huge! If someone down the street in a 5,000 square foot, 6 bedroom house adds a 12x12 addition, it will almost go unnoticed.

With all the anger and wailing and gnashing of teeth over anything Disney does that is perceived as a money grab, why is there no outrage that Universal would divide HP in half and make you buy a two park ticket to enjoy one land? This is a rather blantant way to milk the HP fans.

I think this is a first at any theme park in the world: A ride that requires admission to 2 theme parks to ride!! No wonder Universal's management thinks it is such a groundbreaking ride!
:lmao:


Disney builds, but tends to slowy, but by the time Avatar fully opens Universal will likely have 2-3 other expansions past Diagon Alley.

What exactly is Universal planning after HP?

To those that aren't impressed with New Fantasyland - I guess you just aren't impressed with Disney World! New Fantasyland is more of what has always made WDW great - a park that parents and kids can enjoy together - just like Walt planned. ...AND done with the most impeccable attention to service and every reasonable detail.

:thumbsup2 Right on! I think New Fantasy Land is perfect for MK and I liked it very much. Can't wait for the mine train!

Well, as far as comparing New Fantasyland to Wizarding World forgetting amount of rides and looking at quality instead...

The Little Mermaid sells for $30 at Target, and the shelves were empty last I checked at our local Target.

Harry Potter is selling quadruple feature DVDs for $10 a piece.

You can buy all eight Harry Potter films for cheaper than the Little Mermaid, a 1989 cartoon. What that says to me is let's see how they stand the test of time...because from what I see every day, Disney is unrivaled at quality. Yeah, we're talking movies vs theme park, and they don't necessarily directly impact one another. But, what it all says to me is Universal has rides for great movies. Disney's franchises tend to be classics rather than just a great movie, and in ten years, I'd be willing to bet Mermaid will cost the same as it does today...as will Snow White, Cinderella, Lion King, etc. I don't think you'll ever see all three Lion Kings on a triple feature for $10. Transformers? I could see them being $5 a piece movies in a few years.

Plus, New Fantasyland is made up of several franchises...Dumbo, Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, Snow White, and Cinderella. The chances of someone not liking or finding nostalgia with one of those franchises are much lower than the chance someone doesn't like Harry Potter. So, you have to lower the bar a bit. Wizarding World may be bigger literally, but it's not all about the tall buildings.

:thumbsup2 I especially like the observations of NFL being made up of multiple franchises. Very true!

Universal has said Diagon Alley would be about the same size as the original wizarding world. It has one ride and a transit system to the other park, plus shops and restaurants.

Diagon Alley will have taken about 1/2 year less than Pandora/Avatar by the time it opens in 2017.

http://www.**************.net/2013/...-harry-potter-expansion-at-universal-orlando/

Coup says the entire Diagon Alley area will have a similar to footprint to the original Wizarding World, roughly the same overall size.

Yes, yes, yes, but those are facts! Pay them no mind. ;)
 
Next Universal is going to build a new rollercoaster with the entrance in one park and the exit in another. :rolleyes2
 
Its going to have digital screens instead of windows. There really isn't anything cutting edge about it.

:rolleyes1 HD screens with coordinated moving imagery to take you on a fantasy journey through the English countryside is going to be a heck of a lot more innovative than the grossly overdue "Mine Train" at the so-called "new" Fantasyland.

And riding it isn't an option unless you buy admission to two theme parks, so I'm not sure how much it adds to Diagon Alley itself.

A theme park strategist you certainly are not. Diagon is a whole major new element to HP and it was a brilliant move to put it is the Studios Park. It provides an incentive to purchase admission to both and will actually help spread crowd traffic efficiently and innovatively between the two, in a manner much better than the outdated cattle car bus Disney approach.

Can you imagine the howling protests if Disney made people pay to ride the monorail from MK to EPCOT?

The monorail (when it's working) isn't a themed attraction. It's just another example of the growing "deferred maintenance" Iger mindset.

hook.jpg
 
Having gone to both parks, I don't really see why there has to be a comparison. Each park has its own niche. In my opinion, Disney is geared more toward families that may have small children, while Universal is geared more toward people who like thrill rides. I think they can equally coexist for years to come.

:thumbsup2

The "transit system" is going to be more then just transportation, it's going to be a cutting edge ride experience.

I think the concept is amazing and think it will be a great ride but don't see how screens instead of windows is cutting edge, Disney has been doing this on their cruise ships for a decade.
 
Where are these pictures from?

Is that deferred maintenance or very realistic weathering.
:lmao:

It's complete lack of maintenance at an increasingly shabby Disney park:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2420655/Disneyland-Paris-petition-launched-resort-amid-claims-literally-falling-apart.html

Let the excuses from the Disney apologists start :rolleyes1

Meanwhile, while the Avatar advocates keep telling us to wait for three years (more likely five, but that's another discussion), Universal moves along consistently and smoothly with building Diagon Alley to open on schedule this summer, going into a level of themeing and immersion Disney used to do:

harry-potter-diagon-alley-1.jpg
 
Meanwhile, while the Avatar advocates keep telling us to wait for three years (more likely five, but that's another discussion), Universal moves along consistently and smoothly with building Diagon Alley to open on schedule this summer, going into a level of themeing and immersion Disney used to do:

Meanwhile, Avatar is scheduled to open in the same timeframe that it took Diagon Alley to get built.

Anything to disparage Disney though, right?

If only Disney did themeing and immersion...

Prince%20Erics%20Castle%2020131210-L.jpg


beast-castle.jpg


be-our-guest-restaurant-rose-M.jpg
 
And if you want to talk themeing and immersion, CarsLand has any other place beat. I wonder who built that?
 
If only Disney did themeing and immersion...

Certainly, they pay such rivetingly accurate attention to replicating the theming of their cinematic works:

Pizza Planet in the Toy Story Movie:

Pizza_Planet2.jpg


tumblr_lhxg3zl9CU1qg8qido1_500.jpg


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Piizza Planet at Hollywood Studios:

toy_story_pizza_planet.jpg


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Ollivanders wand shop scene from Harry Potter:

harry-potter.jpg


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Ollivanders at Harry Potter Wizarding World at Universal:

Ollivanders.JPG


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54259328.jpg
 
So you tout Universal as this totally awesome themeing and immersion place, on par with what Disney used to do, and then you compare it to Toy Story Pizza Planet, something Disney did prior to things like, oh, New Fantasyland (as pictured above) or CarsLand. Good job, good effort.

IMG_0091_2_3_fused-tc-628x418.jpg
 
Certainly, they pay such rivetingly accurate attention to replicating the theming of their cinematic works:

Piizza Planet at Hollywood Studios:

toy_story_pizza_planet.jpg

Here's the real mystery: Why do people who don't like Disney visit a Disney board? :confused3 Don't you have better things to do? :wave2:

Now, to the subject: I think the theming of "Pizza Planet" (and everything at DHS) is obvious. It's not supposed to look like it came from the "cinematic work." It's supposed to look like a Hollywood studio back lot. :teacher:

Also, you're not seriously saying that the attention to detail at Universal is greater than at WDW or DL are you? ...because that's the craziest thing I've ever read. Except for HP, Universal is closer to Six Flags than WDW. HP is good - and I'm glad - it gives me some place to go on my sixth day in Orlando. The rest of the stuff there is just common. :wave2:
 
So you tout Universal as this totally awesome themeing and immersion place

No, I'm pointing out that what Universal is doing with its new (truly new, not refurbished/"expanded" stuff like so-called "new" Fantasyland) is at a standard easily equivalent to the best Disney has to offer.

then you compare it to Toy Story Pizza Planet, something Disney did prior to things like, oh, New Fantasyland (as pictured above) or CarsLand.

We will get to my Pizza Planet/Ollivanders comparison in a moment.

But first, if so-called "new" Fantasyland is so great, why is it getting a general yawn from so many here? I'll tell you why: it's underwhelming fluff. A meet and greet (wow) a duplication of an existing platform ride and a woefully delayed mine coaster. You ballyhoo this as ground breaking, while the competition develops and opens truly new major attractions.

As for Carsland, yes, it's the one decent addition Iger has made. But it's off in California which does squat for WDW visitors.

And then you defend a pathetic bleh quick service spot at HS as being "themed" as part of a back lot? Oh, please.......if Disney was truly commited to theming they could have absolutely gone to town with Pizza Planet, which was one of the most iconic and entertaining scene locales in Toy Story. They could have created a restautrant that would have been an attraction in and of itself. But bean counters and visionless management were in charge, so noooooooo.....

But Universal didn't cut those corners when designing HP.
 
No, I'm pointing out that what Universal is doing with its new (truly new, not refurbished/"expanded" stuff like so-called "new" Fantasyland) is at a standard easily equivalent to the best Disney has to offer.



We will get to my Pizza Planet/Ollivanders comparison in a moment.

But first, if so-called "new" Fantasyland is so great, why is it getting a general yawn from so many here? I'll tell you why: it's underwhelming fluff. A meet and greet (wow) a duplication of an existing platform ride and a woefully delayed mine coaster. You ballyhoo this as ground breaking, while the competition develops and opens truly new major attractions.

As for Carsland, yes, it's the one decent addition Iger has made. But it's off in California which does squat for WDW visitors.

And then you defend a pathetic bleh quick service spot at HS as being "themed" as part of a back lot? Oh, please.......if Disney was truly commited to theming they could have absolutely gone to town with Pizza Planet, which was one of the most iconic and entertaining scene locales in Toy Story. They could have created a restautrant that would have been an attraction in and of itself. But bean counters and visionless management were in charge, so noooooooo.....

But Universal didn't cut those corners when designing HP.

Boris - just DON'T GO TO DISNEY WORLD. Please! Let me enjoy the "underwhelming fluff" that is the Magic Kingdom while you wallow with the tank tops over at Universal. :crazy2:

I'm very pleased with "new" Fantasyland. I think the whole place looks great! ...and it's something that I can do with every member of my family, as intended. Everyone keeps leaving out the best new addition to Orlando (I know you'll think I'm crazy): Storytime With Belle. It has been the highlight of my day on several occasions. But there are no flashing lights or loud noises in there, so I'm sure you're not impressed. :rolleyes:
 
But Universal didn't cut those corners when designing HP.

The bias in your posts seems to soar higher with every reply. You aren't making a real attempt here at a comparison of the two parks. You're attempting to make Disney look bad an Universal look good. Anyone can make that argument in either direction. You accuse so many here of being "Disney apologists", though you yourself are quite the Universal "apologist".

For starters, the pictures and article you posted are from Disneyland Paris, which, like I said in the other thread...is not what we are talking about. This article says "Disney World". It is comparing Disney World to Universal Orlando. It's not likely many of us have been to Disneyland Paris or Universal Singapore, so how likely are any of us to be able to give an accurate review of either? It's mostly going to be hearsay. Comparing the maintenance at Disneyland Paris, built in 1992, to Wizarding World in Orlando, built in 2010, isn't exactly apples to apples. Forget the fact that Walt Disney Company only owns a minority stake in Paris. In other words, they don't even run the park. I'm reading in several articles that the disrepair there is leading Disney to consider buying them out, but they have yet to do so.

As for the idea in your posts that big bad Disney is such a POS company while Universal can do no wrong, and cuts no corners...let's get at that. Why is Olivander's in Hogsmeade? It wasn't that way in the movies, or the books. Universal can claim it's "another franchise" all they want, but the simple fact is they forced an attraction to a place it didn't belong because they were either too lazy at the time to build Diagon ally, or weren't willing to spend the cash. My wife's biggest complaint with the place was that they make it seem like its some huge area, where in reality, most of the storefronts are just for looks and there are only a couple shops and a restaurant. My complaint, on the other hand was the place is just boring. What is so amazing about a different styled "Main Street USA", except with less shops and mostly false storefronts and a dark ride is beyond me. The castle is impressive, but so are the two new castles at WDW. They didn't take the time to build new rollercoasters, they just renamed and rethemed two existing ones.

Now, I'm not the one going to a Universal forum and trashing Universal's parks while spreading Disney propaganda. I don't care for Universal, but they aren't bad, and I certainly don't see how anyone could make the argument that they are leaps ahead of Disney. I don't see a huge difference between the two parks as far as they do things. I think Disney does it better, but then again, I like Disney, and I admit my bias. I think Coke does it better too, but I don't see some ridiculous difference with Pepsi and I'll gladly drink it if there is no Coke.

No, I'm pointing out that what Universal is doing with its new (truly new, not refurbished/"expanded" stuff like so-called "new" Fantasyland) is at a standard easily equivalent to the best Disney has to offer.
Like slapping a new name on Dueling Dragons and Flight of the Hippogriff and calling them new attractions? Like I said, New Fantasyland has more "new" things than Wizarding World will have, even after it's Diagon Ally addition. You might not like them, but that doesn't change the fact that they are new. The train station and Barnstormer are remodeled. What else are your referring to?

We will get to my Pizza Planet/Ollivanders comparison in a moment.
Another apples to oranges point. Comparing a random quick service experience (which I've never heard of or noticed before, movie or theme park, and I go a lot) to one of the headlining attractions at Universal. Comparing Gaston's or Be Our Guest would be a better comparison. Those are both restaurants, but Disney has no new headlining attraction type store, so that's the best comparison you can make.

But first, if so-called "new" Fantasyland is so great, why is it getting a general yawn from so many here? I'll tell you why: it's underwhelming fluff. A meet and greet (wow) a duplication of an existing platform ride and a woefully delayed mine coaster. You ballyhoo this as ground breaking, while the competition develops and opens truly new major attractions.

Once again, as said in the other post, the numbers disagree with your assessment.

As for Carsland, yes, it's the one decent addition Iger has made. But it's off in California which does squat for WDW visitors.

Ohhh, now you dismiss something for being in a different park. Where was this logic when you were posting pictures and articles from Disneyland Paris and commenting on resorts being built in Hawaii?
 
No, I'm pointing out that what Universal is doing with its new (truly new, not refurbished/"expanded" stuff like so-called "new" Fantasyland) is at a standard easily equivalent to the best Disney has to offer.

I wish I was there to see Beast's Castle, Prince Eric's Castle, and the Mine Train before they refurbished/expanded it to make the so-called "new" Fantasyland.
 
It's complete lack of maintenance at an increasingly shabby Disney park:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2420655/Disneyland-Paris-petition-launched-resort-amid-claims-literally-falling-apart.html

Let the excuses from the Disney apologists start :rolleyes1

Meanwhile, while the Avatar advocates keep telling us to wait for three years (more likely five, but that's another discussion), Universal moves along consistently and smoothly with building Diagon Alley to open on schedule this summer, going into a level of themeing and immersion Disney used to do:
And leaving backstage open for everyone to see too, everyone forgets that about Universal
 












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