How good is UO/IOA at theming their lines?

[kangareaux]

Are they as good as Disney? We leave Friday (YAY) and I know we will be there during some high line times this weekend. I figure we'll spend a LOT of time in lines and am wondering if they are interesting enough to keep the kids from being too bored. (I'll add that I'm very blessed with well behaved patient children, but they are STILL children. LOL) OK....I'm really more worried about having to entertain DH in line....he's the most impatient of us all.

anyway...back to the point....is the theming good enough to keep us occupied through the line? Give me the best and the worst!

 

[disney111]

I actually think that this is one of the few things Universal does better than Disney. Universal's lines are pretty great for the most part. Dueling Dragons is the best (although because of the Harry Potter stuff it's not as good as it once was...and I dunno how much longer they will still send you through the castle). Spider-Man is also great. At the Studios Revenge of the Mummy is the best. There are even some cute little interactive things to do. (Try to grab the 'treasure.') Men in Black is also really cool once you get inside the building.

There are a number of outdoor lines with less theming (Shrek 4-D, Jimmy Neutron, Jurrassic Park) but they at least have tvs to watch.

 

[ChrisFL]

Since Universal is a studio park, a few of the queues are themed about the same as DHS, but most of IOA's queues are very well themed.

Universal's best queues:

The Mummy- has a few great interactive things while you're in line

MIB- Looks A LOT like the movie headquarters!

Jaws- Good theming of a boat dock

The Simpsons- Lots of things to look for in this queue and a whole storyline on TV's before you go in

E.T.- Amazing queue once you get inside, looks like a redwood forest complete with one of E.T.s relatives appearing right in front of you to tell you about your mission.

IOA's best queues:

Dueling Dragons- I haven't been recently but it has been one of the very best queues ever made

Spiderman- Entering the Daily Bugle newspaper headquarters and getting the backstory of your mission

Poseidon's Fury- Pretty good queue, cool inside and various wall paintings and props around


One other thing about IOA is most of the queues are lands anyway, so you're already surrounded by the atmostphere of Jurassic Park, or Seuss Landing before you even get in line.

 

[steve_rob]

Like the two posters above, I've seen loads of other people say that Duelling Dragons is the best themed queue in the world (or words to that effect), but I'm going to be a little controversial here and people probably aren't going to like it , but I think it is very poorly designed!

My main gripe about it is if you go on a day when there's not many crowds (as I tend to), you still have to walk through the entire castle, which assuming you don't get lost takes about ten minutes - there is no way to cut out sections of it like the queues on most other rides are set up.

And that note above about not getting lost - yes you CAN! Once I was behind a couple going through the queue but not really paying any attention to where I was going apart from following them (they had no-one in front of them). Suddenly I realised we'd passed the same bit twice - in the dark, they'd taken a wrong turn and walked down what I can only presume was a chicken exit or a staff tunnel and ended up coming back out about 200 yards further up the queue and had to do it all again! Because the queue is so dark, I think quite a few people probably do this and don't notice.

The final bit I don't like about it is the bit where you choose between Fire and Ice. Having spent all that time walking through the queue, the bit where it tells you to pick with the video of the wizard is about ten yards long. And so most people I've seen don't even realise there is a choice at this point and just follow all the people in front of them onto the same side of the ride. If they are going to make you walk all that way, at least they could split the queue a little earlier and clearer so people who've never been on the ride before realise what's going on. All the other rides in the park with a choice (like Hulk's front row) are clearly marked long before you reach the point, but not DD.

That's my moan over. Just had to get that off my chest!

My choices for best queue are Spiderman (like walking through the Daily Bugle office, plus the video at the loading area is very funny) and Revenge of The Mummy (but watch out for mischevious cast members trying to scare you!)

 

[dr&momto2boys]

IMO, Dueling Dragons is the best ride queue I've ever seen. I do agree that on a non-busy day it's a little annoying to have to walk all that way, but once you've been through, you can re-enter for a second, or third, etc. ride without going through all that. The themeing is great and it's a nice cool place to wait on a hot day. It will be a shame to loose that queue if they change it for Harry Potter.

Overall, I think Universal is better at themeing the queues (and possibly the whole park) than Disney is--at least at IOA. And I am a Disney lover!

 

[inkkognito]

I like the Simpsons line, even though the outside isn't really themed (the interior waiting area is way cool). The thing that makes it for me is the TVs, as they have some of my favorite Simpsons clips. If your timing is right, you'll even see the one that shows how Doc Brown lost the Institute to Krustyland.

 

[Metro West]

I think Chris is spot on!

 

[kangareaux]

THANKS GUYS! Y'all are the best a answering all my silly questions. Knowing I won't be bored inthe lines (IN THE HEAT!) makes me feel less anxious. (Although if the weather we are having heads that way, it will be too cool for the water rides.

 

[donaldduck352]

THANKS GUYS! Y'all are the best a answering all my silly questions. Knowing I won't be bored inthe lines (IN THE HEAT!) makes me feel less anxious. (Although if the weather we are having heads that way, it will be too cool for the water rides.

When it calls for rain in Fla its still warm or humid enough to do it.
Dont miss Popeye or Dudley or JPRR..
Popeye is the best themed river rapid ride type of ride you will ever ride!!

 

[pink elephants]

Don't forget the tv show on the queue of Jaws. It was the one time I wished I hadn't had FOTL because I wanted to stop and watch "Hello Amity" without looking like an idiot.

I thought the queues overall were very well-themed and interesting.