***OFFICIAL Save the Lost Continent Thread***

[ArmandtheWise]

Getting rid of Back to the Future would be a terrible mistake. It's bad enough that they got rid of King Kong (I wish they didn't). If they wanted to put the Mummy around the new york area they should have replaced either Earthquake, or Twister with it. My money would have been on earthquake since it is greatly outdated. I bet one of the reasons why universal is losing money is because may be the mummy didn't live up to what the kong ride was.

Well anyways, Hello everyone my name is Armand and I just registered here.

 

[F-L-A]

I know you had good intentions Pete, but I think a couple of your points are a bit off. I'll agree that Earthquake was a bad choice for an attraction. In fact, I'm one of those people that had never even heard of the film. Still haven't seen it, nor do I intend to. But E.T. is one of Universal's biggest hits... ever. Citing it's age as a potential reason to get rid of it would be no different than citing the ages of any of the attractions in Fantasyland - which are more than twice as old. I also think you overlooked the fact that this film was released several decades ago, but this also means us "twenty-somethings" and many younger kids grew up with it. As a result, were likely to show it to our children. E.T. Adventure should be a mainstay of the park, and I personally think it's nothing short of ridiculous that it was removed from USH. I would like to see the ride revamped though.

I was also totally against the idea of changing Lost Continent into a Harry Potter area, and I still am to a degree. Quite frankly, I don't like this franchise. But the most recent version of the rumor I've heard is that Potter will only take up the small area between Dragons and Jurassic Park. In other words, the only attraction that would be lost is Flying Unicorn. If that's the case, so be it. I'd still prefer to see a new JP dark ride, but I'll take almost anything at this point.

 

[WebmasterPete]

Ah, but you can't really draw comparisons to things like Fantasyland with Universal. Areas like Fantasyland are tied, in many respects, to classic fairy tales - they tend to be a bit more timeless then a popular film. Gone with the Wind still rates as one of the best films ever made - but I don't think I'd want to see a theme park attraction based on it.

Universal Florida, for better or worse, has it fortunes tied to movie properties, and if you're going to do that, then you have to change things up a LOT more often. Hit movies will only be a draw for so long - in any form. While E.T. the movie is certainly a sentimental favorite , I would seriously challenge the notion that the attraction is a draw for that park. Universal prides itself on attracting an older, edgier audience. That's hard to do with attractions that are pushing 20 years old. As I said before, it's a cute attraction, and enjoyable - but that's not what Universal needs right now. It needs attractions that will pull in the numbers.

Pulling out attractions like Earthquake or Jaws presents a greater challenge, because they themed entire areas of the park around them (the San Francisco Wharf, and Amity respectively) - that's hard to replace. E.T. is a much easier property to rework as they wouldn't have to consider so many collateral changes.

And, while we're drawing comparisons to Disney - keep in mind that they won't think twice about pulling a dated attraction. 20,000 leagues, Mr. Toad and to a lesser degree Carousel of Progress (still open, but only sporadically, based on crowds). All of those changes were made under very vocal protest - these were sentimental favorites, but that doesn't draw in new visitors, and new visitors keep theme parks open.

If Universal wants big crowds AND longevity, some tough choices have to be made - E.T. would be first on my list.

Pete

 

[F-L-A]

Ah, but you can't really draw comparisons to things like Fantasyland with Universal. Areas like Fantasyland are tied, in many respects, to classic fairy tales - they tend to be a bit more timeless then a popular film. Gone with the Wind still rates as one of the best films ever made - but I don't think I'd want to see a theme park attraction based on it.

Pete

More timeless than a popular film? Huh? Those rides are all directly based on films. Fantasyland is tied to Disney's films, not the fairy tales said films originated from. Most Americans aren't even familiar with the original fairy tales themselves, only the Disney-ized representations. In fact, many people believe Walt came up with the ideas himself.

 

[Amity 3]

Ah, but you can't really draw comparisons to things like Fantasyland with Universal. Areas like Fantasyland are tied, in many respects, to classic fairy tales - they tend to be a bit more timeless then a popular film. Gone with the Wind still rates as one of the best films ever made - but I don't think I'd want to see a theme park attraction based on it.

Universal Florida, for better or worse, has it fortunes tied to movie properties, and if you're going to do that, then you have to change things up a LOT more often. Hit movies will only be a draw for so long - in any form. While E.T. the movie is certainly a sentimental favorite , I would seriously challenge the notion that the attraction is a draw for that park. Universal prides itself on attracting an older, edgier audience. That's hard to do with attractions that are pushing 20 years old. As I said before, it's a cute attraction, and enjoyable - but that's not what Universal needs right now. It needs attractions that will pull in the numbers.

Pulling out attractions like Earthquake or Jaws presents a greater challenge, because they themed entire areas of the park around them (the San Francisco Wharf, and Amity respectively) - that's hard to replace. E.T. is a much easier property to rework as they wouldn't have to consider so many collateral changes.

And, while we're drawing comparisons to Disney - keep in mind that they won't think twice about pulling a dated attraction. 20,000 leagues, Mr. Toad and to a lesser degree Carousel of Progress (still open, but only sporadically, based on crowds). All of those changes were made under very vocal protest - these were sentimental favorites, but that doesn't draw in new visitors, and new visitors keep theme parks open.

If Universal wants big crowds AND longevity, some tough choices have to be made - E.T. would be first on my list.

Pete

who's going to be the first one to tell Spielberg it's time to shut down ET?

the man shot the film for the Spiderman attraction on top of everything else he's done to become the silent Walt Disney of Universal Orlando.

 

[F-L-A]

What's Spielberg's relation to the Spider-Man ride footage? He couldn't have shot it, because there was nothing to shoot.

 

[WebmasterPete]

who's going to be the first one to tell Spielberg it's time to shut down ET?

I'll tell him - do you have his number?

 

[macraven]

Also keep in mind that numbers are down all around town right now. Disney's 'affordable' push (a $1600 lead in rate for a family of four is UNHEARD of for Disney) - and it's because they're having trouble filling their resorts. They're showing profitibility because they raised prices twice last year (not to mention increases in food and souvenier prices), and they draw a lot of visitors from offsite hotels. Universal's attendance issues have less to do with dated attractions, and more to do with Disney's new ticketing system that effectively makes an extra day in their parks about $10, versus the $100+ you pay at Universal.
[
Pete

Universal has some great deals on tickets.
different promos come up frequently.
they presently have the 7 day, 2 park pass for $85. and still the buy one adult get one child ticket free is still available.

you can get ticket discounts with MC, UO AP, AAA, Ent book, at UO.
hopefully, newbies to universal will check out the threads here to discover different ways to buy tickets cheaper.

UO can be an affordable vacation by taking advantage of discounts available to the public. 10% off in the park for merch and food when showing your AAA card, Master Card, more of a discount/15 - 20% at some places with the AP.
for 2007, there are two coupons in the Entertainment book for IOA and the studios for discounts at 6 resturants in the parks.

i know disney and universal are two different parks. the price of a disney vacation costs me more than my universal portion vacation.
My AP for UO was $179 for a 2 year pass with a renewal rate of $99 after that. also able to use the ap for various discounts at city walk and the parks and hotel stay.
my disney tickets were over $250 for one person. i can't swing their AP's.
last time i looked it was way over $350.

i spend 14 full days in orlando each year on one trip.
disney prices have increased on rooms and tickets.

i guess it is people like me that keep those prices high.
i go and do split stays for both theme parks no matter what the costs......