Looks like Universal win this round

[Jennasis]

Obviously this is a matter of opinion, but I don't think Universal's rides are comparable. They are rides, and that's it.

The "new" Transformers ride... IS the Spiderman ride. Same exact ride, with maybe a little bit added on. If you're going to copy one ride into another and give it a different name, sure I would expect it to take half the amount of time as Disney.

Disney's rides are more involved than "just a ride". It's the whole experience from the theme, the queue, transporting you to the land or movie or whatever it is.

But again, just another opinion, but in mine, Universal's rides are not comparable. They're just different. One isn't better than another IMO, just different.

Ahem... dumbo, astro orbiter Magic carpets of Aladdin, triceratops spin...

Star tours is same ride with a different movie in 3D.

PRIMEVAL whirl and even RnR are off the shelf coasters.

Test track is the same ride as it was before too except now it vaguely resembles TRON.

Oh and Dinosaur is the exact same track as Indy at Disneyland.

 

[rastuso]

Obviously this is a matter of opinion, but I don't think Universal's rides are comparable. They are rides, and that's it.

The "new" Transformers ride... IS the Spiderman ride. Same exact ride, with maybe a little bit added on. If you're going to copy one ride into another and give it a different name, sure I would expect it to take half the amount of time as Disney.

Disney's rides are more involved than "just a ride". It's the whole experience from the theme, the queue, transporting you to the land or movie or whatever it is.

But again, just another opinion, but in mine, Universal's rides are not comparable. They're just different. One isn't better than another IMO, just different.

So, you haven't been to Universal, you are saying. I mean, you can say "Universal sucks, because I hate it, and always will because they don't have Mickey there", and that is a true statement.

To say "Universal sucks because they don't theme their rides nearly as well as Disney" is a false statement. Even Transformers has a fully realized queue. Everybit as "transporting" as any non-interactive queues at Disney. In Everest you walk through rooms with expedition themed stuff. In Transformers you walk through rooms with space robot themed stuff. At Dinoland you stand in a non descript queue for two carnival coasters next to each other. If rockwork is fully immersive to you, then yes the Dwarf coaster is fully immersive. Plus you can see the tiny BAtB castle sitting on the rockwork.

And absolutely nothing Disney has done compares to the total immersion you get in Harry Potter. If you want to get picky, I could say Gasteu's Tavern loses all immersion because you can buy Coke there. It would be ridiculous to say, but the Disnoids say equally crazy things about Universal not being fully immersed.

-Jason

 

[clsteve]

And this is exactly why HP is not, and never will be, a "dying franchise". An entire generation has grown up with the Harry Potter books. And they'll pass that love on to their children and their children's children, the same way previous generations did with Peter Pan and Mary Poppins and Winnie the Pooh.

Reading is not a dying art. With popular books spinning off movies right and left, and with e-books making books cheaper and more accessible than every before, more people read for pleasure now than in any previous generation. Yes, the publishing industry is in trouble and brick-and-mortar bookstores are struggling to survive. But Amazon is a behemoth in the corporate world, and not because they sell garden supplies. E-publishing means anyone can self-publish a book, and tens of thousand of people do, every year. There are more amateur writers and bloggers out there than at any previous time in history.

Look at what I'm doing right now - reading a discussion board and taking part in a debate about a book that spun off multiple rides, shows and shops in a theme park!

Universal has landed a brilliant property in HP, which will line their pockets for decades to come. Disney had a chance at it, and blew it by not being willing to give J.K. Rowling the reins. We all know the story of Rowling walking out of talks with Disney and cabbing it over to Universal. (Granted, it's a bit apocryphal and likely didn't happen quite like that.)

I love both Disney and Universal. I spend most of my time at Disney, because they have SO successfully built that bubble, that I'm never tempted to leave Disney property, once I'm on it. But I would never argue Disney offers anything "better" or "more lasting", or that HP is just a "flash in the pan" or a "fad". Both parks offer a very similar product in terms of quality and content. Disney is simply much, much bigger.

And, just because, here's my daughter discovering that the HP books can "make the Harry Potter movie happen in my head!" (A full year before the first movie came out.)

She cried, too, when she first stepped into the Wizarding World at Universal Studios.

Excellent post, wonderful picture...!!!

Those who love both Parks, can look at things objectively. Comparing DA to NFL is almost comical and that will be very evident in 2-3 weeks.

What we will be able to compare is TDO's answer with Avatar and (hopefully) any accelerated announcements with SW Land. DA raises the bar and TDO is now way behind on technological innovation. With WWoHP and especially the new DA, TDO also can't say our themeing and attention to detail is the best.

This is where we will hopefully see the HP impact on TDO: more investment in cutting edge Imagineering, a new emphasis on upping the themeing "wow" factor, and project timelines with more realistic completion dates. Avatar is the first test.

 

[Planogirl]

But it's still the only actual data we have to go by.

If your opinion is most people prefer US/IOA to DHS/AK that's fine. I don't believe that's true so which of us is correct?

Furthermore-where would US/IOA be without those "established" parks right down the road?

Who knows? Florida had a tourism industry before Disney came along so someone else might have stepped in to take advantage of that. It's impossible to guess such things.

As for who prefers what, I really have no idea. I personally prefer US/IOA to those two parks and I doubt that I'm alone but I don't really know what the general public thinks.

 

[Lizzim]

Quick question for you all - does universal have nighttime fireworks?

We are planning a couple of days there in our June trip (is going to be horribly busy due to the DA media event but we are coming from the UK and cannot switch our plans) and haven't been for several years and I cannot remember.

Thanks

 

[dixiegirl]

The new Harry Potter ride and areas completely blow away the Mine Train and actually all of new Fantasyland.

Funny thing is it took about half the time to build and put into operation.

It's apples and oranges - completely different audiences.

 

[Hannathy]

It's apples and oranges - completely different audiences.

who cares about the audience, they are talking about theming, and quality of the rides.

So what if it is aimed at 5 yr olds it still could have been done incredibly instead of on the cheap and easy using old ride technology

 

[Jennasis]

It's apples and oranges - completely different audiences.

People keep saying that...I don't believe it. It also doesnt account for SPEED of the build. I loves me some Disney but they painfully, frustratingly SLOOOOOOW.

 

[prudence64]

The theming of the new Harry potter ride looks great, but it's a roller coaster and my family isn't interested in it.

 

[clsteve]

It's apples and oranges - completely different audiences.

Gringott's has a 42" requirement, Hogwart's Express has no height requirement. Both are designed as family-friendly, cutting edge technology, "never been done before" rides. USF, J.K. Rolling, and WB have been proactively designing DA as a full family Park.

There's a lot of red on those oranges....

 

[mesaboy2]

The theming of the new Harry potter ride looks great, but it's a roller coaster and my family isn't interested in it.

My understanding is that it is not a roller coaster, but something different.

 

[Mad Hattered]

The theming of the new Harry potter ride looks great, but it's a roller coaster and my family isn't interested in it.

It's not just a "roller coaster". It has coaster like effects but moves throughout sets. I doubt it will be much faster than the SDMT in terms of speed. The immersive environment will be much more than the SDMT offers, though.

 

[prudence64]

My understanding is that it is not a roller coaster, but something different.

Commercial I saw looked like a roller coaster. Would be more interested if it is something more interesting.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Commercial I saw looked like a roller coaster. Would be more interested if it is something more interesting.

It is.

 

[nugov2]

Gringott's has a 40" requirement, Hogwart's Express has no height requirement. Both are designed as family-friendly, cutting edge technology, "never been done before" rides. USF, J.K. Rolling, and WB have been proactively designing DA as a full family Park.

There's a lot of red on those oranges....

I think people just say oh HP not for me, my kids don't like it when they really don't know unless they go and try it. It is the same as saying we don't like Snow White so my kids will hate the new ride. I don't think it is anything spectacular, but I still think my kids will love it. I don't love LM ride, but my dd made me ride it 5 or 6 times on our last rip

 

[mesaboy2]

Commercial I saw looked like a roller coaster. Would be more interested if it is something more interesting.

I believe the commercial uses footage from HP8, not the attraction itself.

 

[AmyB2006]

Oh yes, adding another exact carnival ride (dumbo) is more involved than building an entire setting with a new ride and the whole set! (Diagon Alley) So why did it take Disney so long?


And the mine ride isn't BTMRR with a mine with dwarf's. Yeah Disney never copies a ride......

There aren't two very similar Toy Story rides.

I would hardly call the whole Harry Potter area just another ride.

I have been going to Disney for over 40 years but lately Disney has been resting on their laurels and has not been pushing the envelope or themselves on any rides or attractions. Look at all the meet and greets they keep putting in? That's not taking the cheapest easiest way out there is?

Clearly there is a demand for meet and greets or you wouldn't have a 6 hour line for A&E.

I didn't call the whole HP "area" just another ride. But the ride is, just another ride.

The only thing similar about the Toy Story rides, are that they are Toy Story themed, and they shoot.

Mine ride... haven't ridden it yet. I do compare it to Barnstormer and BTMRR though. I don't know how similar it is to BTMRR other than it's in and out of rocks.

But, Transformers IS Spiderman. It is the EXACT same track and set. The only thing changed was the video. It's transformers instead of Spiderman.

And I never compared one ride like Dumbo to the entire HP set. Not sure where you drew that conclusion.

You want to compare things? Compare all of New Fantasyland with all of the new HP set. Well the HP that's open. LOL Did it take Disney longer? Yes. That doesn't mean Universal "did it better". Just quicker.

Bottom line is, we could sit and throw out comparisons all day, but it's a matter of opinion. Who gives a crap? LOL

 

[AmyB2006]

So, you haven't been to Universal, you are saying. I mean, you can say "Universal sucks, because I hate it, and always will because they don't have Mickey there", and that is a true statement.

To say "Universal sucks because they don't theme their rides nearly as well as Disney" is a false statement. Even Transformers has a fully realized queue. Everybit as "transporting" as any non-interactive queues at Disney. In Everest you walk through rooms with expedition themed stuff. In Transformers you walk through rooms with space robot themed stuff. At Dinoland you stand in a non descript queue for two carnival coasters next to each other. If rockwork is fully immersive to you, then yes the Dwarf coaster is fully immersive. Plus you can see the tiny BAtB castle sitting on the rockwork.

And absolutely nothing Disney has done compares to the total immersion you get in Harry Potter. If you want to get picky, I could say Gasteu's Tavern loses all immersion because you can buy Coke there. It would be ridiculous to say, but the Disnoids say equally crazy things about Universal not being fully immersed.

-Jason

Where did I say Universal sucks??? Really, where? I actually love Universal and HP. I can't wait till the new one opens up. I'll be right there in line with all the other HP nutjobs.

I said it's a matter of opinion and they're just different. They are each fun in their own way.

Do I like Disney a little bit more than Universal? Yes. But I've never trashed Universal nor have I ever said Universal sucks.

Edited... Oh, and I have been to Universal. Several times. Not sure where you're drawing your conclusions either.

 

[Hannathy]

The theming of the new Harry potter ride looks great, but it's a roller coaster and my family isn't interested in it.

So then you aren't interested in the new ride at Disney either because it is a roller coaster also.

 

[mesaboy2]

Clearly there is a demand for meet and greets or you wouldn't have a 6 hour line for A&E.

I didn't call the whole HP "area" just another ride. But the ride is, just another ride.

The only thing similar about the Toy Story rides, are that they are Toy Story themed, and they shoot.

Mine ride... haven't ridden it yet. I do compare it to Barnstormer and BTMRR though. I don't know how similar it is to BTMRR other than it's in and out of rocks.

But, Transformers IS Spiderman. It is the EXACT same track and set. The only thing changed was the video. It's transformers instead of Spiderman.

And I never compared one ride like Dumbo to the entire HP set. Not sure where you drew that conclusion.

You want to compare things? Compare all of New Fantasyland with all of the new HP set. Well the HP that's open. LOL Did it take Disney longer? Yes. That doesn't mean Universal "did it better". Just quicker.

Bottom line is, we could sit and throw out comparisons all day, but it's a matter of opinion. Who gives a crap? LOL

I can't swallow this three-word phrase if you're referring to Forbidden Journey or even Escape From Gringott's (based solely on what I've read). FJ at least is a ground-breaking attraction with no peer.