Volcano Bay

[TwoMisfits]

It's universal praise. I have yet to hear a genuinely bad review. Look I've never been to universal but for the most part it is all screens. Sure they have great attractions but still.

Haunted mansion and Peter Pan are great attractions do those need thrills?

Little mermaid is also not always a walk on and NRJ certainly won't be.

What rides has DL added that are thrills? Am I missing something?

You heard wrong, rteez...yes, there are a lot of screen rides at Universal, but the number of non-screen rides is higher (I skipped all shows and any rides, like Kong and the Harry Potter train, where a vast majority of the enjoyment comes from screens - in my list below, only two have a single screen event in it)...there are 19 rides across the 2 parks with no screens...there are also numerous shows with no screens and kid/grown up play areas, but I skipped those b/c you don't reride shows or play areas...heck, Universal has more pure no screen rides in each park than Disney has total rides in some of its parks...

Rides with no screens:
ET
Rip Ride Rocket
The Incredible Hulk Coaster®
Storm Force Accelatron
Dr Doom's Freefall
Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl
MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™ (just one at the end, closing the ride)
Revenge of the Mummy™ (just one at the end, closing the ride)
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster™
Caro-Seuss-el™
Dragon Challenge™
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls®
Flight of the Hippogriff™
Jurassic Park River Adventure™
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish™
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges®
Pteranodon Flyers™
The Cat in the Hat™
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!™

 

[rteetz]

You heard wrong, rteez...yes, there are a lot of screen rides at Universal, but the number of non-screen rides is higher (I skipped all shows and any rides, like Kong and the Harry Potter train, where a vast majority of the enjoyment comes from screens - in my list below, only two have a single screen event in it)...there are 19 rides across the 2 parks with no screens...there are also numerous shows with no screens and kid/grown up play areas, but I skipped those b/c you don't reride shows or play areas...heck, Universal has more pure no screen rides in each park than Disney has total rides in some of its parks...

Rides with no screens:
ET
Rip Ride Rocket
The Incredible Hulk Coaster®
Storm Force Accelatron
Dr Doom's Freefall
Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl
MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™ (just one at the end, closing the ride)
Revenge of the Mummy™ (just one at the end, closing the ride)
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster™
Caro-Seuss-el™
Dragon Challenge™
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls®
Flight of the Hippogriff™
Jurassic Park River Adventure™
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish™
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges®
Pteranodon Flyers™
The Cat in the Hat™
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!™

Heard wrong that pandora is getting good reviews?

I have no problem with universal, I'm not opposed to go I just never have because it hasn't fit in my travel plans. They have done plenty of good things.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Heard wrong that pandora is getting good reviews?

I have no problem with universal, I'm not opposed to go I just never have because it hasn't fit in my travel plans. They have done plenty of good things.

No, that Universal is all screen rides...although I will say the rides they tend to get the most press for are screens and roller coasters...so they don't get the credit for the balance they have...

 

[Josh Hendy]

Judging from those aerial photos ... the overall design, landscaping and theming are far below the standard of Typhoon Lagoon.

I'm probably a minority though, compared to the market that Universal is aiming to capture. I.e. young families and tweens-to-20s. I spend most of my time at Typhoon Lagoon admiring the design, architectural elements, theming details and landscaping/plants.

Maybe Volcano Bay will look better when the trees fill out more.

 

[DLgal]

Except for HP (only if you are a fan), are there many attractions at US/IoA that you have an "emotional" attachment with? An honest question. I have only been to IoA (before HP) and while I enjoyed Hulk, Spiderman, and the dueling dragons (that ride was repurposed for HP, right) I have no emotional attachment to any of the IP there. You can enjoy a ride without a emotional attachment if it's a good ride. I guess time will tell if FoP and NRJ both do that. But on the other hand, emotional attachment can make a ride even better, and I feel that way about the majority of MK.

I have emotional attachment to many of the MOVIES those rides are/were based on. That's the point.

NO ONE gives a flip about the story of Avatar, any of the characters, etc. It made a bunch of money, sure, but no one (relatively speakng, not literally) really cares. It's a weak IP.

 

[rteetz]

I have emotional attachment to many of the MOVIES those rides are/were based on. That's the point.

NO ONE gives a flip about the story of Avatar, any of the characters, etc. It made a bunch of money, sure, but no one (relatively speakng, not literally) really cares. It's a weak IP.

Which again is why they didn't build the land based on the story. Nothing in the land has to do with the story.

With that said this thread is about Volcano Bay and not Avatar so we should move on from that.

 

[DLgal]

Which again is why they didn't build the land based on the story. Nothing in the land has to do with the story.

With that said this thread is about Volcano Bay and not Avatar so we should move on from that.

I agree we have gone off topic, but it's not true that the land isn't based on the story. It definitely is. The queue for the FoP ride is almost an exact replica of the lab in Avatar. And the creatures appeared in the film as well. Apparently, a large number of things in the land are "supposedly" things we will be seeing in the upcoming sequels (that will never see the light of day...)

As for VB: the rides look cool, the theme seems sparse, and I think it will be great to visit in about 3 months. (See, I kept the post sort of on topic)

 

[rteetz]

I agree we have gone off topic, but it's not true that the land isn't based on the story. It definitely is. The queue for the FoP ride is almost an exact replica of the lab in Avatar. And the creatures appeared in the film as well. Apparently, a large number of things in the land are "supposedly" things we will be seeing in the upcoming sequels (that will never see the light of day...)

My last post on this.

The land is set 20 years after the last sequel. The creatures are part of setting of the film which this land is based on. The storyline and characters are not represented within the land. You see nods to the film like the lab but the land is not based on the story.

As for VB, I agree I think it will be a fine water park once its actually finished.

 

[EveDallas]

It's universal praise. I have yet to hear a genuinely bad review. Look I've never been to universal but for the most part it is all screens. Sure they have great attractions but still.

Haunted mansion and Peter Pan are great attractions do those need thrills?

Little mermaid is also not always a walk on and NRJ certainly won't be.

What rides has DL added that are thrills? Am I missing something?

"I've never been there but..." So how would you know what it's like?

 

[rteetz]

"I've never been there but..." So how would you know what it's like?

I follow theme parks in depth.

Let's move back to the topic please.

 

[onetoescape]

I am really excited about Volcano Bay and it tipped us over the edge and we are going back so soon. Universal parks being strong is brilliant news for Disney park fans. Harry Potter and now this is forcing Disney into action and how are they responding. Now we are having to go back when Star Wars Land opens and when Universal responds we will go back then. Disney was coasting for far too long and now Universal is starting to eat into there cheese a lot more so its brilliant news for us paying customers as they are trying to outdo each other.

 

[Madonna3]

My last post on this.

The land is set 20 years after the last sequel. The creatures are part of setting of the film which this land is based on. The storyline and characters are not represented within the land. You see nods to the film like the lab but the land is not based on the story.

As for VB, I agree I think it will be a fine water park once its actually finished.

I'm confused. Avatar had a sequel?

 

[rteetz]

I'm confused. Avatar had a sequel?

Avatar has four new movies in development. A prequel and three sequels. The land that was built is set after that last sequel.

 

[Madonna3]

Avatar has four new movies in development. A prequel and three sequels. The land that was built is set after that last sequel.

Oh ok. Didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I think VB looks amazing and is going to be a new trend in water parks. We are going there later in July for 2 days and will visit the other 2 parks 2 days. I had mix feelings on the open volcano at first. I really wasn't sure if I liked the slides coming out from the back. Yes it kind of looks unfinished and takes away from the whole scene a bit. Then after looking at it for awhile it works for me. I think it was done purely on access to the rides for families and staff. There is a lot of equipment on those rides in the Volcano and it makes sense to have open access. Plus I think it will help people decide if they can or want to ride it. The worse thing is to not see a ride then wait in line and say nope not for me. I agree with the point about the tress filling out I think that will help. I really think once you get into the park it will feel just what they hoped to. I LOVE the no carrying of the tubes. I can't lift heavy things and it stinks when my DD and I are at a park ourselves and DH isn't there to carry a tube.

The one thing I am not sold on yet is Tapu Tapu. It really reminds me of Disnye's FP+ and I think that virtual ride times are going to run out fast. There could possibly be a point where you don't get on a ride. Unless there is another part to make that doesn't happen. I did buy their EP for the park while we are there.

I can understand the point about parking at City Walk and getting a bus over to the park. I am not sure if I would like that. We are staying at Cabana Bay so we will be able to walk there.

I really don't see how they will have everything ready for Thursday, but I hope they do for people who are going.

Just for the record I love BB I think it is one of the best water parks I have been too.

I am looking forward to any reviews and videos that come out for Volcano Bay to help plan my trip.

 

[andyw715]

I think it looks like one of those termite dens you see on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride.

 

[JaxDad]

I think it looks like one of those termite dens you see on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride.

Yeah, I think it looks kind of cool, but not necessarily like a real volcano. Proportionally, It's just a little too narrow in the upper section.

 

[Delano Fiedler]

Universal is testing the nighttime light effects for Volcano Bay. There's some youtube videos if someone is curious about it

 

[lpizzuro123]

NBC is televising from VB this morning. Looks like some great slides and great food. The only thing I don't think I like is a lot of the tube rides are enclosed. I am not a fan of enclosed tube rides - also unlike Disney when you are at VB you see a lot of other tall building, not like Disney where you feel like there is not much else out there.

 

[Delano Fiedler]

AND ITS OPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!