Jim Hill Piece on Universal vs Disney in Orlando

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by space42


This is why I'm not all that excited about this Universal rumor. In my opinion, they have only "Out Disneyed" Disney one time with Spiderman! It's going to take a lot more attractions of that caliber for this Car#3 Disney fan to start visiting Universal. I've been to both IOA and US one time each and have no plans on returning.

...UMMMM....Jurassic Park River Adventure, Bilge Rat Barges, Poseidon's Fury, Terminator 2 3-d, MIB, and Jaws are all just as good or better as anything that Disney has done. The Wild West Stunt show is good, as well as the BeetleJuice Graveyard Reveiw. I also like the Makeup show. Twister is just ok but the technolgy is good.

The rumored new third attraction for Universal Studios is supposed to be on par with Spiderman. Shrek 3-d is supposed to out do Terminator as well.

 

[space42]

Originally posted by EUROPA


...UMMMM....Jurassic Park River Adventure, Bilge Rat Barges, Poseidon's Fury, Terminator 2 3-d, MIB, and Jaws are all just as good or better as anything that Disney has done. The Wild West Stunt show is good, as well as the BeetleJuice Graveyard Reveiw. I also like the Makeup show. Twister is just ok but the technolgy is good.

The rumored new third attraction for Universal Studios is supposed to be on par with Spiderman. Shrek 3-d is supposed to out do Terminator as well.

Hey, thats why I was saying the "different strokes thing". Universal has come a long way, and I really hope they do provide some real competition for Disney. This would be great for fans of both Universal and Disney!

As far as the attractions you mentioned.. well..
Jurassic Park River adventure was probably one of my biggest let downs at IOA (right behind Dudly Doright.. now, that was just down right terrible). They could have done much more. I loved the area (incredible theeming), hated the ride.

That seems to be my biggest problem with IOA. They really did a great job on some of the areas like Jurrasic Park (looks just like the movie) and Lost Continent but most of the rides leave alot to be desired. Thats why I used Spiderman in my example. It was the only attraction that stood out for me. Something like the "old Disney" would have done.

 

[jlima]

Originally posted by toefungus
Maybe Jimmy Neutron will be the next Mickey Mouse. Or maybe he will be forgotten after year. Maybe Mickey Mouse will lose his popularity. Maybe he won't. Who knows.

The Matterhorn ride at DL is based on this long-forgotten movie . . . if the attraction is good enough it will out-live whatever flick it's based on. Mr Toad is still riding his Wild Ride at DL . . .

 

[JacksBack!!]

Jacksback showed up last year on the Universal boards around the time of Halloween Horror Nights. He is very pro Universal. (Not a bad thing) So am I. I think that Universal is gaining more acceptance here and other areas away from the Universal portion of the site. Some people will never admit that Universal has a good thing going and are offering products just as good or better in some cases then Disney. That’s fine; they are the ones losing out

You say I am a Universal nut hummmm, well let me tell you what central florida company I work for its DISNEY WORLD I have worked part time for this company for two years now as I go to college at UCF. And if I told you what old time attraction I play a major role for, you wont believe that this foul mouth S.O.B. is doing to your beautiful old attraction. But every october my evil side lets loose on you people in a fit of rage as I go to work at Halloween Horror nights the best event in Orlando. Now I am not pro Universal, disney, sea world, busch gardens, six flags, your moms house! I just love the parks that are the best themed, the best show, and the best attractions. If disney has the best attractions or six flags I dont care. I have no sides. But as I said before in the last 2 years Universal is kicking Disney's butt. Universal is going for a PG-13 audience and I love it. I love watching a show like the Beetlejuice show and seeing all the sexual humor. And how like the Beetlejuice it has something for everyone, theres sex for the adults and comic monster character specticle for the kids. The whole family can watch it and laugh togther. Yeah Universal has the kid show like disney, its called the Barney show and adults and teens want to hang themselves while watching it, disney has the same thing in its Disney Afternoon show at MGM Studios (the one next to the little mermaid show). But the beetlejuice show everyone can watch. Universal is also going with the family attraction in its new Shrek in 3D show. Shrek was the highest grossing film of all of last year, and it kept audiences of all ages entertained with its loveable characters and its crude gross out comedy of toilet humor. Thats the same toilet humor that makes the beetlejuice show fun and people of all ages love it. Shrek was the anti disney movie, and the 3D show will be the same. People love fart jokes. From Somthing About Marry, to that long fart scene in Scobby Doo. So Universal is attacking all ages with its new Shrek show while Dino Rama attracts well no one. Now Disney does have great rides, Splash Mountain is my favorate water ride in the world, it does not get better then Tower of Terror (well maybe spiderman), Pirates in Disneyland is awesome (The WDW version is a piece of junk compared to the disney land one), the Safari at AK gives me the feeling that I am in Africa, and the Fantasmic show is the best night time spetacular anywhere with illuminations as a close second. These attractions hold the magic of disney in my heart. And for every new attraction disney builds I hope and dream that its on par with these attractions, but most of them are not. I you would open your eyes you would see that rockin rollercoaster was made a couple hundred times before with the Outer limits attraction at every paramount park, almost the same track layout and everything. The only thing disney did was put some speakers on board and added some cardboard cut outs. Buzz lightyear did come out before Men in Black but MIB was on the drawing board way before buzz (According to some of the employees that work there, but its not 100% fact), but MIB is lightyears ahead of buzz in an E-ticket sence of fun for all ages. And the Dueling Dragons coaster should have been in Disney's AK a long time ago, but the Grinch named Eisner held on tight to the all mighty dollar and said no, as he gobbled up his million dollar bonus like the rat he is. Then Eisner fired the great imaginears who came up with that idea and brought it to Univeral who opened there wallets and gave the public a one of kind top 10 coaster that has been featured on the Discover Channel many times already. There is so many ways disney can improver their parks and give the people what they want. People want new and exciting blockbuster attractions to get people to come back to the park. New rides are like blockbuster movies, people want to be the first to join in the hype of the opening of these things (like spiderman or star wars)

 

[Testtrack321]

Because I fell prejudice, I'll give you the Testtrack321 treatment...

I'LL PICK APART YOUR WHOLE POST ONE WORD AT A TIME!

Frankly, you say your with Disney, but when you say "you Disney nuts would open your eyes", you clearly are biased. Sure, some people have rose-collored glasses 100% of the time, but the fact remains that many of us here look at Disney with skepticism when a new attraction is announced. But the fact remains, and I have ridden rides at Universal and Disney and contest that Universal lacks the charm and whimsy of Disney and the reason why Disney does well isn't their characters but their story lines. If Universal needs to get movie licences (ie, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc) just to make a good ride, heaven help them. Space Mountain, Kilomanjaro Safari's, CTX (before the movie tie in), and others are outstanding rides that don't use one ioda of tie-ins. After this, you might think I'm pure Disney biased, but I enjoy many other parks and entertainments such as Cedair Point, the Paramount Parks, and IOA to an extent. I have ridden Hypersonic twice and have loved it. Even Flight of Fear (previously Outer Limits).

Now to your RnR and Outer Limits arrangement.

RnR is so different compared to Outer Limits, it's like saying Millennium Force and Big Thunder are the same because they are coasters. Are they in the dark, sure, but god dammit, that's where it ends. Outer Limits features a Liner Induction Motor launch out of the boarding platform into three linclined loops. Followed by a brake run, a few helixes, and then the final corkscrew. RnR pulls out of the loading station, launches around the corner using Liner SYCHRONISATION Motors, into a cobra roll, and a corkscrew in the middle of the ride. BTW, Outer Limits was made by Premiere Rides, while RnR was done my Vacoma.

Nothing the same.


As people look at the age statistics, they say that Universal has the best going by attracting the teen market. Look here. I am 16 and can contest to the fact that most of my money isn't to themeparks but to movies and video games, most not of Universal origin. Also, because of the tighter wallets, we teens and young adults will spend more on clothes and esentials rather than a trip to the amusement park, espcially Universal some 400 miles away from me. Then once we can afford it, will we go to Universal? NO! We'll go to Disney because they have kid friendly rides and they know Disney. Simple as that.

I find your bashing of Disney because Universal has guts to be amaizing and is baseless. I am even sicker by the fact that most boards memebers here havn't stoped you.

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by JacksBack!!


You say I am a Universal nut hummmm, well let me tell you what central florida company I work for its DISNEY WORLD I have worked part time for this company for two years now as I go to college at UCF. And if I told you what old time attraction I play a major role for, you wont believe that this foul mouth S.O.B. is doing to your beautiful old attraction. But every october my evil side lets loose on you people in a fit of rage as I go to work at Halloween Horror nights the best event in Orlando. Now I am not pro Universal, disney, sea world, busch gardens, six flags, your moms house!

Great, glad to hear it. I was just making an observation based on where you post what I've remembered that you have posted and that about 70% of your posts are on the Universal side of things. Then there is your name a tie in with Halloween Horror Nights.

Anybody that can see through the Disney excuses is welcomed in my book so post a little more often around here. It would be nice to have the view from someone who works for both of the places I love.

 

[EUROPA]

Testtrack...everybody is entitled to his or her opinion so I don't think that anybody will be stopping what he has to say. I think that he is dead on in many of his views of Disney and Universal. There is no reason to fault Universal for going after movies to build attractions based on them. You need to remember that Universal is trying to stay true to its purpose in this regard. Universal Studios is the place where you "ride the movies".

Like I've said before some people will just never admit to themselves or anyone else that Universal is building attractions on par with Disney but that is really not my problem. I'm going to go out on a limb here (sort of) and say that if Barry Diller does get control of the Universal side of things Disney is going to be in some serious trouble. They may just wake up one day 10 years from now and be the other place that people visit when they go to Universal for Vacation.

 

[Bob O]

Space42=Space Mountain is a very slow object barely moving in space, was great for its time.
ThunderMountain is a nice ride, but doesnt feel at all out of control, now i could name some rides that truely feel out of control.
RNRC is a standard Vekoma as other coasters have the same track design, nothing new at all execpt they put it in a building with cheap theming. Now DD is the only Dueling steel roller coaster in the world and is something new and innovative, like SM was at one time but isnt anymore. And as for outdoing disney, they took the 3d film and made it alot more with T23D and also they showed what a simulator ride can do with back to the Future as compared to the plodding in comparsion Star Tours. We can also compare disney putting out Buzz Lightyear in a cheap manner by using the same ride system and USF uping the ante with a great interactive ride like MIB in which rather than shooting at dots, you shoot at targets, you are shoot at by the aliens and other rides shoot at your car as you go on the course, a ride that nevers gets boring!
Testtrack disney themselves have used tie-ins on numerous shows and attractions like Indy Jones/Star Wars/Muppets to creat attractions and CTX was a major letdown after seeing what a great attraction Indy Jones at DL is, they used darkness to save money so they could leave portions empty. And as for Vekoma, they are a company that produces lame coasters!!! Its nice to see Disney work with Intamin at DCA and hopefully someday they will decide to work with the best coaster company in the world B & M!!!

 

[Testtrack321]

Does everyone have their opinion, yes, but claiming were big fat morons becuase were Disney fans and not Universal worshipers and how we would make that annoing ticking sound with our toungs that a CM is saying stuff like this.

Also Bob, Disney HAS done tie-ins and they have done well. But most of our favorite attractions are not movie tied-in. As for CTX, most of the ride does have themeing even in the dark, just pick up the latest issue of Disney Magazine and read the CM for a Day article.

 

[EUROPA]

Sorry Testtrack321 I'm just not getting what your trying to say..

but claiming were big fat morons because were Disney fans and not Universal worshipers and how we would make that annoing ticking sound with our toungs that a CM is saying stuff like this.

I don't see where he really said that. He claimed that attractions that Disney has produced over the last couple of years have not been up to Disney standards. I don't think you will find many arguments about that here on the boards. Ticking sound toungs ??? You should go back and reread what he said in his last post. He mentions several Disney Attractions that he likes

But most of our favorite attractions are not movie tied-in.

Are you speaking for everyone now? Again... "Universal Studios where you can ride the movies."


If you don't like Universal that is fine. Nobody is trying to force you to like it. Everyone is not going to have the same views of things I cerntaly don't agree with everything that people say here. Don’t expect everyone to have the same view as you, if you do you will have a long life of disappointments ahead of you.

 

[damo]

How many of you who go to Disney on a regular basis went as children? Do you continue to return because of nostalgia and you want to share it with your children, grandchildren, etc. And you get this good feeling when you are there because it brings back memories. Well, Universal will need time to develop that nostalgia. I never went to Disney as a child and now as an adult I don't find it entertaining. To me, it is a once every ten years trip.

Universal provides me with a more adult themed version of entertainment and it continues to attract me as the rides are much more complex than animatronics dancing in circles with the same song repeating over and over. Sure if it was bringing back good memories of my youth then perhaps I would return.

Universal needs some time to develop its base of visitors; those who want to relive memories and share them with their friends and family.

This argument is like the song that never ends...it just goes on and on my friend....

 

[DizVilnTT]

Alright everyone, listen up. It seems whenever someone brings up Universal/Disney is better than Universal/Disney, it starts a war. I don't usually write on these boards, but this is getting out of hand. When you guys let your feelings for one company or another lead you to factual mistakes, that's when I like to step in. Mind you, I'm neither (honestly) pro-Disney or pro-Universal, but rather pro-theme park. I've been to over 25 parks in North America and I can tell you what is done well and what is done poorly, be it Universal, Disney, Paramount, or whatever. Just remember: the views I will express below are totally objective, and, though I like both companies, I will not choose one company over another here. I will merely point out mistakes. Think of me as an editor. Spell Check. Proof Read. Whatever, point is, I'm not on any individual team, I play for the league. Get it? Okay, enough rambling on my part, let's start here:

From Bob O:

"They built RNRC which is a standard Vekoma coaster put in a building with bright lights and cheap cutouts. What IOA did was build something totally unique. No other park has dueling inverted coasters anywhere!!! And Hulk has a launch that is unique which no other park has, mainly due to the cost, and then a unique coaster layout that is different than other B & M coasters. IOA took the time/effort/money to give their guests unique experiences found at no other park while disney put a off the shlf coaster into a building."

1. RNRC is not a standard Vekoma. There is currently no Vekoma coaster anywhere that's close to RNRC.
2. What drugs are you on? How is the Hulk unique from any other B&M? It has only one unique element (the launch), but even that takes you into a standard barrel-roll (albeit 50 feet in the air.) You know why nobody else has that kind of launch system? Because it's laughably low-tech! It's wheels spinning! Just like on any off-the-shelf Wild Mouse uses to get you from the station to the lift hill. And of course the track differs from any other B&M, no B&M (except for Batman) are the same! And excuse me, you call RNRC theming pathetic, but can you tell me what genius steps Universal took to theme the track of Hulk? Let's think, there's a hollow tube that's supposed to be a gamma machine, and......wait a minute, that's it! RNRC has great theming compared to Hulk, by a longshot.

Walt's Frozen Head:

"I'll feel exactly the same way about the fifth Flik's Fun Fair as I did about the first..."

Amen to that.

Space42

"All of WDW's "coasters" are not coasters at all
Space Mountain is a rocket through space.
Thunder Mountain is an out of control mine train.
RNRC is a stretch limo (super stretch) ride through Hollywood (with a soundtrack no less!) What other Standered Vekoma coasters have this?
Shoot even PW is a time machine"

Technically yes, I agree RNRC is sweet, and Space Mounatain has all that great build up, but other than that, SM just seems like a Wild Mouse in the dark, BTM is just a mine ride with tons of great detail, and PW...well, let's not go into that.

Europa:

"...UMMMM....Jurassic Park River Adventure, Bilge Rat Barges, Poseidon's Fury, Terminator 2 3-d, MIB, and Jaws are all just as good or better as anything that Disney has done."

Are you serious? I agree T23D and MIB are top of the line, so I'll leave them, but COME ON. Have you ridden Grizzly River Run? Or Splash Mountain? Those two bury Popeye and Jurassic Park easily. Poseidon's Fury?! You actually 1. Like Poseidon's Fury and 2. Think it's better than anything Disney has done? And Jaws?! It's a rubber fish attacking you in a pond! You can actually see the bar that the ship and the shark guide on! Sheesh!

More to come

 

[DizVilnTT]

Ok, from our good friend JacksBack:

"Now I am not pro Universal, disney, sea world, busch gardens, six flags, your moms house! I just love the parks that are the best themed, the best show, and the best attractions. If disney has the best attractions or six flags I dont care. I have no sides. But as I said before in the last 2 years Universal is kicking Disney's butt."

Oh, yes, obviously not pro-Universal

"I love watching a show like the Beetlejuice show and seeing all the sexual humor. And how like the Beetlejuice it has something for everyone, theres sex for the adults and comic monster character specticle for the kids. The whole family can watch it and laugh togther."

UMMMM, okay. You say there's sex, and comic monsters, therefore the whole family can watch it together? Excuse me, but what kind of family do you come from where the kids can have fun watching the sexually suggestive material?

"Universal is also going with the family attraction in its new Shrek in 3D show. Shrek was the highest grossing film of all of last year, and it kept audiences of all ages entertained with its loveable characters and its crude gross out comedy of toilet humor. Thats the same toilet humor that makes the beetlejuice show fun and people of all ages love it. Shrek was the anti disney movie, and the 3D show will be the same. People love fart jokes. From Somthing About Marry, to that long fart scene in Scobby Doo."

Oh yes! Fart jokes are fun for the whole family! Sir, if you think that fart jokes and toilet humor are the key for a good family-friendly movie, I pity you and the future of movies.

"I you would open your eyes you would see that rockin rollercoaster was made a couple hundred times before with the Outer limits attraction at every paramount park, almost the same track layout and everything."

I refer you to Testtrack, who is indeed correct in his comparison of RNRC and OL. Another thing, Flight of Fear is found at PKI and PKD only, not in any other of the Paramount Parks.

"Then Eisner fired the great imaginears who came up with that idea and brought it to Univeral who opened there wallets and gave the public a one of kind top 10 coaster that has been featured on the Discover Channel many times already."

Dueling Dragons has never been featured on the Discovery Channel, nor has IOA.

Bob O:

"And as for Vekoma, they are a company that produces lame coasters!!!"

Excuse me, sir, but are you saying that Stealth, X-Flight, and Batwing are lame coasters? To thee I say nay! It is in poor taste to attack a coaster company just because they provided a coaster to Disney, your worst enemy. I'll bet you've never even ridden in one of the above coasters. How can you make such an assumption?

EUROPA:

"If you don't like Universal that is fine. Nobody is trying to force you to like it. Everyone is not going to have the same views of things I cerntaly don't agree with everything that people say here. Don’t expect everyone to have the same view as you, if you do you will have a long life of disappointments ahead of you."

It seems to me that attacking another person is not the wayto prove a point. You are indeed forcing Testtrack to accept the fact that Universal is overtaking Disney and he should be forced to like it. And I suggest that you listen to your own words here, because you get awfully hot under the coller anytime someone rebuts your argument.

Will this debate continue?

 

[DisneyFanGuy]

Debate is the spice of life. I think it's wonderful that people feel passion about theme parks. It's condeming others for their opinions that is inappropriate IMHO. I say keep it going and I will keep reading.

Orlando is one big theme park to me.

Let the "fights" continue!

And just because Splash Mountain blows the doors off Dudley Do Right, doesn't mean I can't ride em both. Screaming the whole way!

What makes me sad is when the "creators" don't even try hard anymore. I see more of that in Disney right now than Universal. I hope that changes.

Bye the way, these boards are the most fun participate in, without the nastiness, that I have found on the net. Wan't to see some griping........Go over the Laughing Place. They about chop each other's heads off over there.

 

[EUROPA]

Have you ridden Grizzly River Run? Or Splash Mountain? Those two bury Popeye and Jurassic Park easily.

I would compare Splash and Dudley and yes Splash is 1000 times better. Disney does not have a ride like Jurassic Park and yes I love it. Grizzly River Run is that in Florida? I was comparing Florida parks. Now think about Popeye and that lame excuse of a ride in Animal Kingdom. Which one do you think is better again?

Poseidon's Fury?! You actually 1. Like Poseidon's Fury and 2. Think it's better than anything Disney has done?

Just what indoor attraction do you think Disney has the compares to Poseidon's Furry??

And Jaws?! It's a rubber fish attacking you in a pond! You can actually see the bar that the ship and the shark guide on! Sheesh!

I compare Jaws to the Jungle Cruise. The Captain makes or breaks those rides.

It seems to me that attacking another person is not the wayto prove a point. You are indeed forcing Testtrack to accept the fact that Universal is overtaking Disney and he should be forced to like it. And I suggest that you listen to your own words here, because you get awfully hot under the coller anytime someone rebuts your argument.

Attack??
I think that I said if Diller gets control that Universal could become the park to go to in Orlando 10 years down the road. Merely an opinion only time will tell. How is that forcing Testtrack to accept anything? Hot under the collar?? Speaking directly to someone does not constitute an attack. If you could please show me where I've done such a thing?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

1. RNRC is not a standard Vekoma. There is currently no Vekoma coaster anywhere that's close to RNRC

ummm...then what is this?

That sir, is Superman: The Ride at SIx Flags Holland and is an exact duplicate of RnR.

 

[lrodk]

Everone, please take a deep breath for a moment and refelct on the big picture. The reason we all get along is because we, for the most part, respect one anothers opinions. And many times we even agree to disagree. In order to keep this thread on-topic and civil, and to preserve the integrity of the Boards, I urge anyone that disagrees with someone else's point of view to not over-react by taking things personally. Jack's take on the parks is unique and his own. It represents his taste and appeals to his age group. I don't think it's fair for anyone to take it upon themselves to force their views on others by comparing apples to oranges. The point of these discussions is to share information, have a little fun, and hoepfully learn a little in the process. I do not want to shut this thread down, so if anything further needs to be said of a personal nature please either refrain or confine it to the private message service. Put simpy, play nice or don't play at all.

Luis

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by DizVilnTT
1. RNRC is not a standard Vekoma. There is currently no Vekoma coaster anywhere that's close to RNRC.

You should checkout Superman The Ride at Six Flags Holland to RNRC you would be surpsised just how "close" they are.


Oh man Spaceman Spiff beat me to it!

 

[Planogirl]

Thanks lrodk. I find Jack's view interesting and I haven't even been to Universal yet. In due time...

So that is what RnR Coaster looks like? Wow! And that's Six Flags Holland? Cool. Thanks for posting those pictures Spaceman Spiff.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

2. What drugs are you on? How is the Hulk unique from any other B&M? It has only one unique element (the launch), but even that takes you into a standard barrel-roll (albeit 50 feet in the air.) You know why nobody else has that kind of launch system? Because it's laughably low-tech! It's wheels spinning! Just like on any off-the-shelf Wild Mouse uses to get you from the station to the lift hill. And of course the track differs from any other B&M, no B&M (except for Batman) are the same! And excuse me, you call RNRC theming pathetic, but can you tell me what genius steps Universal took to theme the track of Hulk? Let's think, there's a hollow tube that's supposed to be a gamma machine, and......wait a minute, that's it! RNRC has great theming compared to Hulk, by a longshot.

That's right, Incredible Huk is so low-tech because its operating system had to have its own generator because every launch out of the Gamma Ray Tube would cause a black out in the surrounding areas. Not to mention the fact that this system was specially created by Universal Creatice/B&M. Unlike RnR, The Hulk truly is a one of a kind exprience. The Hulk was not meant to be hidden inside a building filled with cardbard cutouts. B&M even made sure that the coaster was as loud as possible so that it could be heard all over the park. Next time you ever decide to grace Universal with your glowing persona check it out, the roar of the green beast it another unique effect that UC wanted for this "un-themed" juggernaut. Hulk is listed on many internet and coaster clubs and fan sites top 10 coasters in the USA, um... where is RnR again? Now unlike you I admit that I do have a preference in parks and Universal by far is my favorite. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy other parks for their ability to create incredible attractions. I think RnR is great and truly enjoy the exprience for what it is, but when you compare The Hulk to a wild mouse coaster I'm afraid I will take you to the mat time and time again. Simple is definitely something The Hulk is not.

Dueling Dragons has never been featured on the Discovery Channel, nor has IOA.

Maybe, maybe not but IOA and the Dueling Dragons along with big green have been featured quite a few times on Discovery Channels sister network, The Travel Channel. I do believe that sometime back on the Top 10 Coaster segment that one of the three coaster at IOA were freatured. The name of the program could have been titled, Trills, Chills, and Spills.

I would continue but my eyes are starting to become blurry...TBC.