Race through New York

[damo]

I've heard a few good things. The pre-ride experience is supposed to be top notch and the ride is supposed to be better than Minions. My complaint would be that we didn't need another 3D ride unless they are planning on getting rid of Shrek.

 

[Annchristine65]

I've heard a few good things. The pre-ride experience is supposed to be top notch and the ride is supposed to be better than Minions. My complaint would be that we didn't need another 3D ride unless they are planning on getting rid of Shrek.

Good I'm gonna go with what you heard.

 

[steviethegreat]

I mean, I like the Minions ride a lot, but it's definitely not even close to Harry Potter. Maybe if enough people start constructively criticizing they'll start adding rides that move? :/ I'm still excited to ride it, though!

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

This is one of those rides that I'm meh about because I live in Manhattan. I've even been to a Fallon taping so seen that part to. Will be interesting to hear som reviews though a little mor information on the ride vehicle may make me give it a shot.

Is it dorky that having just moved from Manhattan I'm more excited for this ride? Maybe I just miss it. I'm earnestly interested in what streets we go down.

 

[wilkeliza]

Is it dorky that having just moved from Manhattan I'm more excited for this ride? Maybe I just miss it. I'm earnestly interested in what streets we go down.

I think if I wasn't living here it would be very different.

 

[damo]

I mean, I like the Minions ride a lot, but it's definitely not even close to Harry Potter. Maybe if enough people start constructively criticizing they'll start adding rides that move? :/ I'm still excited to ride it, though!

Nintendo World is supposed to move.

 

[steviethegreat]

Nintendo World is supposed to move.

I cannot wait for Nintendo World. I am so stoked. I mean, I won't be the first in line, obviously, I liked seeing WWoHP after some of the craziness died down, but I am SO STOKED.

 

[Parker Clan]

I had read some poor reviews of Soarin before I went and we ended up loving it!! So I will give this a chance too. I'm way more excited for Volcano Bay than this though for sure

 

[nighttowll]

So anyone heard anything yet on the motion sickness level of this? Because honestly that was my first thought, "Great another simulator screen that will make me sick!" Don't get me wrong, I love Universal, but I do wish they'd add some new 2d rides. There is a definite lack of attractions that don't require prescription meds to handle. Thank goodness someone invented patches and zofran!

 

[atricks]

I went on this tonight, I think I was on the last ride of the night. Anyway, the queue is completely unconventional. (They weren't using the virtual queuing today) You walk into what looks like the 30 rock building (I've been there, the hallway, theming is SPOT on inside) You get to a faux security checkpoint where they hand you a "ticket", this allows you in to the downstairs waiting area which is a Tonight Show museum, with sections dedicated to all the tonight show hosts (From Steve Allen, Parr, Carson, Leno, Conan, and Fallon), you are free to walk around and look in the area, it's not a "line" at all. They lets groups up at a time based on the color of the ticket you have, a chime sounds and the lights/logo change color and if it matches your ticket color you get to head upstairs

Upstairs is where another waiting area is, this time all dedicated to fallon. You are free to walk around here and look also. There's seats with interactive games and a stage setup at the end where they show clips and also the "Ragtime Gals" barbeshop quartet comes out and does a few different bits, and the hashtag panda. This area is amazing, and incredibly entertaining, they were having technical issues so we wound up hanging in here an hour (and it didn't feel like an hour). The singes and panda were great. Honestly it was probably the best part of the attraction.

The lighting also changes up here to match your color, where again you go into a short line to get the glasses and then enter a small preshow room to get into the ride itself, which does look like a mini tonight show studio (down to the seats). You "race" Fallon through parts of New York with little cameos popping up through the ride, you "win" at the end, but just barely. The screen in the ride is huge, larger than minions, and they have two theaters (although they were only running one tonight). Motion seemed a little tame, but they said they were still adjusting that, and I suspect they'll work out more kinks as the grand opening approaches (April 6th). Overall it was pretty smooth. It's similar to Minions more than Soarin but really somewhere in between, although the ride vehicle is one LARGE theater ride rather than a bunch of smaller ones.

We had our two year old with us, and she loved the entertainment int he waiting area. We had to split up on the ride to go to the child swap (it's how I got on the last ride of the day) Even if your kid is too short to ride, they may still enjoy the queue and the mini shows, you don't have to split up to do child swap until right before getting on the ride.

It's a solid ride, not a headliner, but it totally captures the tonight show feel, especially the queue/museum part. Anyone who likes the show will absolutely love this thing, those who don't it's still very well done, it honestly reminded of me when I was at the Rockefeller center in new York quite well. They had pacing issues due to the newness, but that's the entire point of soft openings, they have a month to tweak it. I'm sure a few things will change before the grand opening on April 6th.

 

[DOOM1001]

Was at Universal today mostly to ride the Mardi Gras float,I had heard Fallon would open to TM's today but had no idea it would soft open to the public,I would have been there earlier if I knew I had a chance of getting on.I walked by it but it definitely was not open at that time.I have yet to ride it and the pre show/queue sounds cool and very unique but the actual ride is not getting the greatest reviews.I rode Minions today with a 10 minute wait since I rarely ride it with its usual 45-60 minute wait times.My point is that while I love Universal they just have way too many simulators.Escape from Gringotts,Terminator are great as they're more than just simulators,Gringotts is probably the greatest ride at both parks IMO.But after riding Minions today it just felt old and worn,I love the Minions but the ride technology seems dated,like Star Tours at DHS and even Soarin at Epcot if it wasn't for the new film would also start to get old.Basically I just feel its 2017 and if you're going with simulator technology you have to up the game and make it more than just a simulator.I remember going to HHN in 1992 and riding Back to the Future and thinking it was the greatest ride ever,which back then it was,today I rarely go on Simpsons,I hope Fallon doesn't get old quickly since it appears to be a simple simulator,with the size of the building I really think Fast and Furious even if it uses simulators will be more than just a simulator,at least I hope.

 

[kaetra]

I rode it tonight not realizing it was a soft open. FOUR "pre-show"/holding areas was excessive. We waited downstairs in a big room, where we were expected to mill about aimlessly for 25 minutes. This room desperately needs to be filled with benches. Most people sat on the floor around the edges. Then we're transferred to another waiting room upstairs that had full blown couches, but only enough for 10% of the people there, and then another area with a small stage and tv screens. It was very nice to have entertainment for the 30-40 minutes we waited there, but again it needs more seating. Most people sat on the floor.

Then we were transferred to a standing queue for another 20 minutes. Then transferred to ANOTHER standing queue for 20 minutes, this one with a pre-show screen show.

Finally we got into the tide room. One small room with 8-10 or so rows of seats, seat belts for all. Attendants unable to reach you to check your seat belt so they stood at the end of the rows with flashlights shining them at each persons waist and yelling at people to test their own seat belts. ?????

The ride itself was yet another SIM. Lasted about 2 minutes. Like Soarin sort of but not as good. Ride itself I give 5 out of 10. Queue system 2 out of 10. Pre-pre show entertainment in holding room #2 I give 10 out of 10.

Would not do this again, once and done.

 

[Annchristine65]

I enjoy the simulator rides but I think there are enough. I love and miss the old school types. The original Kong, Jaws, Earthquake, Twister etc. Tank goodness I still have ET. I'll be crushed if they ever close that.

 

[macraven]

i love ET so much that i don't use my ep for it but take the long way to see everything there.
yes, last time i spent 30 minutes in the line when i could have been on the ride and out within half that time if i did the ep line.

 

[Annchristine65]

i love ET so much that i don't use my ep for it but take the long way to see everything there.
yes, last time i spent 30 minutes in the line when i could have been on the ride and out within half that time if i did the ep line.

Me too Mac. And I love the smell of it. Weird I know lol. But I love it.

 

[wilkeliza]

i love ET so much that i don't use my ep for it but take the long way to see everything there.
yes, last time i spent 30 minutes in the line when i could have been on the ride and out within half that time if i did the ep line.

We will do 1 non-EP pass through ET every trip. Last trip we rode it like 4 times just in case it goes away.

Funny story my fiance for the longest when I would come home after him would say "Welcome home, you've arrived" I had no clue what it was from having only been on ET 1 time until this past September. Well on trip #3 through ET I went OMG YOU SAY THAT ALL THE TIME TO ME. So it is our cute little couple thing from ET. Our other one is from Maelstrom.

 

[thevolcanogod]

Me too Mac. And I love the smell of it. Weird I know lol. But I love it.

It may be weird but I do too. It's like the smell of POTC - water, earth and a little mildewy but somewhat distinctive.

 

[cschaaf]

I watched a YouTube video of the 'queue' and pre-show... and... it wasn't great.

The waiting area was full of people sitting on the ground in front of the display cases. I'm not a Fallon hater, nor am I a Fallon lover. I'll watch some of his clips on YouTube and some are pretty funny, some aren't. The pre-show fell entirely into the 'aren't' category.

I'll wait and see what the ride is like.

Even if we don't like the ride, as long as it eats crowds, I'll be happy with it.

 

[Annchristine65]

I've heard so many different opinions. Some love the queue and the ride not so much and some loved the ride and found the queue boring. Different strokes I guess.

 

[DOOM1001]

Has it been opening everyday since Thursday?