Interesting read on the fight to build Universal Orlando

[phamton]

At JimHillMedia.com there are two articles talking about the fight between Disney and Universal Studios (MCA) when Universal announced their new theme park in Florida. It is a very interesting read and includes accusations of blackmail. Part 1 and Part 2 are already up and Part 3 should be up tomorrow.

 

[RAPstar]

At JimHillMedia.com there are two articles talking about the fight between Disney and Universal Studios (MCA) when Universal announced their new theme park in Florida. It is a very interesting read and includes accusations of blackmail. Part 1 and Part 2 are already up and Part 3 should be up tomorrow.

I was reading that too, Bev! I'd heard parts of the Disney Backlot story before, but not with all this detail. It's very interesting. Of course we know how it kinda plays out, considering that you work for Universal Orlando. lol I read Jim Hill every day. It's very informative.

 

[ChrisFL]

IIRC There was a full page ad that Disney put out when Universal opened about how welcome they are, etc....I was 11 years old at the time thinking to myself "yeah, right, they probably hate the whole thing"

What really bothers me is comparing what MGM had when it first opened to what Universal had...it was no comparison...Universal had a ton of things to do compared to MGM...and that is what started the bad trend of Disney opening an (even less than) 1/2 day park and charging full price for it...

Here is a page about when MGM first opened:

http://www.yesterland.com/mgm-beginning.html

 

[phamton]

Here is a page about when MGM first opened:

http://www.yesterland.com/mgm-beginning.html

I had no idea that MGM opened with only one ride: "The Great Movie Ride."

 

[ChrisFL]

I had no idea that MGM opened with only one ride: "The Great Movie Ride."

well, erm 2 if you count the studio tour as a ride, with Catastrophe Canyon (gee, wonder where they got the idea from)

Edit: It's also interesting to note that the Great Movie Ride was already in development....for EPCOT Center before Eisner decided to add a whole park around it

 

[Metro West]

Interesting read indeed...can't wait for part 4 tomorrow.

 

[phamton]

Part 3 is up: Part 3

 

[inkkognito]

I came the first year they both opened and we went to MGM. Didn't bother with Universal because word on the street was that it was bad, bad, bad. Not a bad park, but rushed to open and nothing was working right. They were actually giving people tickets to come back because it was such a fiasco.

Happily, USF has matured into a wonderful park.

 

[phamton]

I can't imagine that it could be any worse than a park with one ride (MGM).

 

[inkkognito]

Actually in those days I thought MGM was pretty cool because it was a "real" studio. For me, it wasn't about the rides. I love the loooong backlot tour (remember when the walking tour and tram were combined?) and the working animation studio, and God I miss Superstar Television.

But MGM...pardon me...Hollywood Studio...is not just a shadow of its former cool self, while USF has really come into its own.

 

[ChrisFL]

I came the first year they both opened and we went to MGM. Didn't bother with Universal because word on the street was that it was bad, bad, bad. Not a bad park, but rushed to open and nothing was working right. They were actually giving people tickets to come back because it was such a fiasco.

Happily, USF has matured into a wonderful park.

It's true that there were some rides which weren't operating correctly (much like Disneyland did when it opened) but I went there not long after that since my mother worked there at Lombard's Landing restaurant....most rides were working. I remember going on Hanna Barbera, Alfred Hitchcock, E.T., Kongfrontation, Ghostbusters, etc.

 

[inkkognito]

Hitchcock...I remember that one. Suckered hubby into the perfect position to be chosen as Mom. It was in retaliation for his lack of support after I was traumatized by being chosen for the Xena show.

And Ghostbusters...sigh...another golden oldie.

At least Universal tends to replace riders with something as good or better (no tears shed on my part for Kong with Mummy in its place). I mean, come on, replacing a live show with "Sounds Dangerous"? And Superstar Television with the short-lived Doug Live show? We probably visit USF vs. DHS 5-1 (the Premier passes have a bit to do with that too). If they'd just move ToT to USF, my life would be complete.

 

[horseshowmom]

well, erm 2 if you count the studio tour as a ride, with Catastrophe Canyon (gee, wonder where they got the idea from)

DH and I went within the first month it opened. It has definitely improved, but we enjoyed it that day too.

I came the first year they both opened and we went to MGM. Didn't bother with Universal because word on the street was that it was bad, bad, bad. Not a bad park, but rushed to open and nothing was working right. They were actually giving people tickets to come back because it was such a fiasco.

Happily, USF has matured into a wonderful park.

I remember that too. People being stuck on rides that broke down (I remember hearing about E.T. in particular) and the free return tickets. We waited until the next year to go and have been going ever since. My DD prefers UO due to its smaller size and the roller coasters. I like Universal and Disney both, but I love UO's FOTL access for hotel guests!

 

[donaldduck352]

Very interesting.

 

[ChrisFL]

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/todd_...disney-mgm-studio-backlot-project-part-4.aspx

Part 4

 

[donaldduck352]

Good story.Now we have the US we know and love because of

 

[Planogirl]

I remember that I was at WDW right after Universal opened and we decided to check it out. They had a board out front with breakdowns on it and Jaws, Kongfrontation and one other major ride were all down so we changed our minds and went to Typhoon Lagoon.

Universal is so different now! We've been fortunate because nothing has been broken down when we've gone. I agree that MGM is dreary nowadays though. I just go for the Muppets, RocknRoller Coaster and Sid's.

Hitchcock...I remember that one. Suckered hubby into the perfect position to be chosen as Mom. It was in retaliation for his lack of support after I was traumatized by being chosen for the Xena show.

I have to ask. What exactly happened when a person was chosen for the Xena show?

 

[inkkognito]

I have to ask. What exactly happened when a person was chosen for the Xena show?

I was actually trying to get hubby picked and they took me instead; I figured it would be some simple blue screen fun. There was me, a guy and a kid who would be playing centaurs, with the horse part digitalized in. I had to wear a breastplate, with emphasis on the word Breast...hubby would have loved it if that were really my chest size. We were supposed to be filmed doing a little dance, but something kept going "wrong" so we had to so it multiple times. So there I am in thise giant hooter costume things...at the end, it turned out they filmed it just fine the first time, and the rest was just a put on (there was a theme, a villian, etc...too complicated to explain). Hubby constantly kidding me about that giant phony chest, so the only way I could get back at him was suckering him into being Mother in drag.

 

[Planogirl]

I was actually trying to get hubby picked and they took me instead; I figured it would be some simple blue screen fun. There was me, a guy and a kid who would be playing centaurs, with the horse part digitalized in. I had to wear a breastplate, with emphasis on the word Breast...hubby would have loved it if that were really my chest size. We were supposed to be filmed doing a little dance, but something kept going "wrong" so we had to so it multiple times. So there I am in thise giant hooter costume things...at the end, it turned out they filmed it just fine the first time, and the rest was just a put on (there was a theme, a villian, etc...too complicated to explain). Hubby constantly kidding me about that giant phony chest, so the only way I could get back at him was suckering him into being Mother in drag.

I'm sorry but that's just wrong...and funny!

Naughty Universal.