News Round Up 2016

[Indybill]

I know people will argue, but universals doesn't have the proven content to build a their park to draw people in. Harry Potter is their biggest draw but putting in a third park is a risk that might not be worth it. Marvel may not be as great at pulling guests as most might think - you have a really hard time creating areas that immerse you Ina movie that doesn't feel like a normal city. Nintendo is unproven and many would argue not the flagpole of an entire park. Same would go with dream works. Universal has content yes, but a lot of it is complimentary content, not something that will draw in big crowds. And many have tossed around the idea of acquiring something like LOTHR but the their is a number of obstacles there including the cost to acquire it would probably hinder the ability to create the infrastructure for a new park. Remember universal is like Disney - there are stock holders and spending money where there isn't proof that it will bring in more money can be an issue with their stocks. It is a larger mountain that most will be able to see. They have the land, that isn't only a small mountain. Honestly, the biggest mistake they could make is opening a third park that just pulls people from their existing parks. They can't afford that

Comcast does obviously have to play the quarterly earnings game, but it is played differently with them as everyone on the earnings call knows that Brian Roberts (the CEO) controls 1/3 of the voting shares by himself so unless he is unhappy, nothing will be changed just because analysts aren't happy (unlike with Disney.) Also, everyone talks about the distance between the current resort location and the new 450 acre parcel. Its only a couple of minutes longer than the bus from MK to DHS. I am sure Universal will figure out a way to put screens into the windows like they do on Hogwarts Express to make the bus transportation seem like a trip to another land instead of looking out the window at endless tee shirt shops, etc.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I am looking at the bill right now - it says resort fee. There was a resort fee. This is from April 2016

Hmmmm that's really weird and I stand corrected. I just never remember paying one ever. I've booked all my stays directly through Universal's website too.

This was the first I heard of this so was curious about it and according to Universal's site (https://www.universalorlando.com/Hotels/CBBR/Hotel-Services-Information.aspx) there is no mention of a resort fee. There is the tax (total of 12.5%) and then parking. There is a fee for upgrading the premium wifi ....

... guess just curious why I don't see any other mention of this (not saying you ddin't pay it but wondering if they called it a "resort fee" but it was covering those other fees )

 

[eXo]

See that's where I could consider a third day-- but that's all. two days at the parks and one day at the water park with evenings at the two downtowns.....

It all depends on how you like to spend your time. I think Disney tends to "train" people to run run run. 4 parks, the water parks, and downtown disney (not to mention the resort amenities) is a LOT to do in one trip. So to someone who travels to Disney often, if that is the speed they are used to, then Universal will likely be seen to not offer as much.

On the flip side of that, I came from the opposite perspective. I was going to Universal for years before I stepped foot inside Disney. For me, it is fairly easy to spend an entire day just doing the Harry Potter stuff. Not a packed to the gills day, mind you, just a relaxing time checking everything out, using the wands, going on the rides, and eating at the restaurants. Mix in a little of the other things, like some of the stage shows outside of the Potterverse, and I'd say you have a pretty well balanced day - especially if you go in October and do the Halloween stuff at night. I generally found I could spend a day at USF and IOA as well, totally 3 days now. And if you get the Orlando Flex Pass ticket, then you also get admission to Sea World, Wet N Wild, etc... So there are 2 more days. Mix in City Walk and the resorts, and I don't see why it is so hard to imagine a full week there.

 

[a4matte]

Looks like Pooh at Shanghai is basically the same as WDW

Eh. Disappointed they didn't use the trackless version that's in Tokyo.

 

[Rommie]

Does anyone actually plan a week long Universal trip? What do they do after the first two days?

I did, sort of. My first trip was 1 week of Disney and 1 week of Universal. I did take 2 days off to visit Sea World and Busch Gardens Tampa though, but I still spent 5 whole days inside Universal. I believe most international visitors like to keep hitting the attractions/shows until they simply can't stand them anymore, since it's way more uncommon to visit Orlando and way more complicated/costly to plan a trip for foreigners.

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

Walls are coming down as Disney Springs prepares to open Town Center.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...head-of-this-weekends-town-center-opening.htm

 

[rteetz]

Rumor

It appears Chip and Dale might be moving from frontierland to tomorrowland.

http://www.kennythepirate.com/2016/05/10/rumor-chip-n-dale-leaving-frontierland/

 

[skier_pete]

We are going to take our first Universal trip in 15 years next February. We'll be staying in Orlando but not on property or on Disney property. Planning on doing probably 3 days at Universal total. I just don't see more than that to be worth it. DW doesn't like thrill rides and neither does DD12, so the coasters will be skipped completely and I expect some of the other rides may be as well. I just can't realistically see spending more time than that at Universal, even having not been there in 15 years. Disney we find that 10 days isn't enough for us. (Don't worry, I'm not turning to the Dark Side - we'll be in WDW in October first.)

I mention this because while we don't normally spend a lot of time at DTD, I am thinking that on this Feb trip when we're not actually going to have a Disney ticket, we might take the time to actually check out the new Disney Springs and spend the evening there one day.

OK - now that I said that I won't say any more on the subject - we need to get this thread back on track - too much of the old Uni vs Disney debate has crept in...

 

[jade1]

We are going to take our first Universal trip in 15 years next February. We'll be staying in Orlando but not on property or on Disney property. Planning on doing probably 3 days at Universal total. I just don't see more than that to be worth it. DW doesn't like thrill rides and neither does DD12, so the coasters will be skipped completely and I expect some of the other rides may be as well. I just can't realistically see spending more time than that at Universal, even having not been there in 15 years. Disney we find that 10 days isn't enough for us. (Don't worry, I'm not turning to the Dark Side - we'll be in WDW in October first.)

I mention this because while we don't normally spend a lot of time at DTD, I am thinking that on this Feb trip when we're not actually going to have a Disney ticket, we might take the time to actually check out the new Disney Springs and spend the evening there one day.

OK - now that I said that I won't say any more on the subject - we need to get this thread back on track - too much of the old Uni vs Disney debate has crept in...

We could spend 3 days if it had been 15 years actually. But yea not more than that.

But doing a day there most every year gives us a US fix, and nothing to do at night-has kept as back at WDW the rest of the time.

US/IOA is a great enhancement to our visits-you will enjoy it IMO.

 

[a4matte]

This is the most complete video of the Pirates ride at Shanghai that I've found so far. It's pieced together mostly through 1 person's Instagram clips. A few places the screen splits with 2 different recordings at once.

It looks like near the beginning Jack Sparrow appears as a skeleton and is then turned into a human animatronic. I can't wait for better clips to surface!

 

[ColoradoDreamin]

Yeah I apologize, as I contributed to this getting way off track. back to the point of this thread. Debates about uni vs Disney can go to another thread that I will never look at.

 

[rteetz]

This is the most complete video of the Pirates ride at Shanghai that I've found so far. It's pieced together mostly through 1 person's Instagram clips. A few places the screen splits with 2 different recordings at once.

It looks like near the beginning Jack Sparrow appears as a skeleton and is then turned into a human animatronic. I can't wait for better clips to surface!

Yeah the guy who has been posting it on Instagram has been doing so based on how many followers he can get.

 

[rteetz]

News

More on Morimoto Street Food

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/mori...t-food-reopens-this-weekend-with-new-menu.htm

 

[Irish_Mike]

Photo Report of HS

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/05/photo...-merchandise-star-wars-land-whoopie-pies-etc/

 

[luisov]

This is the most complete video of the Pirates ride at Shanghai that I've found so far. It's pieced together mostly through 1 person's Instagram clips. A few places the screen splits with 2 different recordings at once.

It looks like near the beginning Jack Sparrow appears as a skeleton and is then turned into a human animatronic. I can't wait for better clips to surface!

Where are the low light cameras when you need them? Best on-ride pov so far, though.

This ride looks amazing.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This is the most complete video of the Pirates ride at Shanghai that I've found so far. It's pieced together mostly through 1 person's Instagram clips. A few places the screen splits with 2 different recordings at once.

It looks like near the beginning Jack Sparrow appears as a skeleton and is then turned into a human animatronic. I can't wait for better clips to surface!

The going underwater/surfaced effects are really cool ... would be neat if they brought that to the Little Mermaid ride in the states

 

[saskdw]

Does anyone actually plan a week long Universal trip? What do they do after the first two days?

It depends what you want out of a vacation.

We are from western Canada and have been vacationing in Orlando for about 2 weeks every December since 2008.

It's usually -20 to -35 temps when we leave here. Other than the crazy cold snap of 2010 we've had outstanding weather on our trips and for us our Orlando trips are a "tropical" vacation just as much as a theme park vacation. We have done a 6 day stay at UO that was part of a split stay with 8 nights at WDW and we have done 2 stand alone trips at UO of 10 and 12 days. The rest of those trips were spent at WDW.

Last year we stayed at RPR from Dec. 1st-12th. I spent as much time by the pool as I did in the parks. We did the commando style Orlando vacations the first couple times, but now we enjoy everything at a leasurely pace. We only spent 3-4 hours a day at the parks. Lots of time by the pool, weather was excellent. Dinner at one of the excellent Citywalk places every night. We're huge sports fans and spent 3 nights at NBC Sport Grill watching hockey. We did go to Seaworld one day. With the Unlimited Express pass for staying onsite there is no planning required. A typical day for me was sleep in until 10am, eat breakfast, hit the gym around 11:30am, tan at the pool from 1pm-3pm and then over to the parks for 3-4 hours. All the rides except the 2 HP's are walk-on with the EP. We like to do our favorite rides many times over to feel like we got our monies worth. I rode Spiderman a dozen times over the trip. It is great having everything (Citywalk, and parks) within a 5 min walk. I came home with a tan, feeling great and very relaxed. We were never bored and had a great time.

With the Stay More Save More deal that runs at UO year round you get 35% off on a 7 night stay. The whole trip cost $2k less to stay at a deluxe resort than it would have to stay Mod at WDW. Thats factoring in food and park passes. For people who think an Orlando vacation is assaulting the parks open to close like a team of Navy Seals never slowing down to relax or take in the atmosphere, yes you would get bored at UO after 2-3 days.

We are hitting WDW this year and it all ready feels like there won't be enough time to enjoy everything at our pace. I'm not saying you commando style folks are doing it wrong, it just depends what you want out of your vacation.

 

[luisov]

Take a loot at this collection of small on-ride videos of Voyage to the Crystal Grotto. This is not the full ride. It's kind of a modern version of Storybook Land Canal Boats at DL and DLP, but it looks like the ending part is really cool.

 

[rteetz]

Photo

A look at the frozen float in the Shanghai parade.

https://twitter.com/daykota/status/730077620952440833

 

[rteetz]

News

ESPN continues to hurt Disney stock

http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/09/investing/disney-earnings-espn-star-wars/index.html?iid=hp-grid-dom