What's my incentive to renew AP???

[nile455]

I've been an AP for a while now, and I just don't see any incentive to renew. What has Universal done as far as adding new things (mainly rides) in the last 5 years? Look at the Six Flags parks and the thrill parks of the midwest. While they are obviously inferior in terms of quality and cleanliness, they at least add a new major attraction every year, or close to it. Now look at USF. The Mummy was the last new thing they've gotten, and that was 3 years ago, and there are no plans for anything new. As for IOA, forget about it. What was it, SIX years ago when IOA added a new ride??

 

[ChrisFL]

IOA IS adding a new ride this year...the Seuss Sky Trolley, ok its not anything major but it IS a ride.

Universal added the Fear Factor live show...not my thing, not a major ride but it is something new.

Six Flags parks are much different, it's cheap and easy for them to add a new unthemed ride every year.

Unlike MGM and AK down the street, IOA was a complete park when it opened with more quality rides than both of those parks combined (at open)...they have added a few rides over the years, like Storm Force, the Flying Unicorn, and now the Seuss Sky Trolley in order to appeal to a broader audience which it needed to do.

I do think they should be adding attractions definitely, but that doesnt' keep me from going there.

 

[flatline]

value.

we pay close to $50.00 per month for our Busch Gardens/Sea World/Adventure Island AP's. WDW is another $700.00 per year. $300.00 per year gets us UO AP's with better discounts and perks.

plus, you're right in UO's back yard. we have an hour drive there and back. no, there hasn't been a lot of additions to either park lately, but the quality and variety of attractions that are there are superior.

that's my take on it.

 

[flatline]

I grew up stuck in between six flags great america and six flags st. louis. the last time I checked, an AP was around $50.00 per park, and parking ($15.00) not included, and no discounts of any kind in the parks. not to mention you have to live in the midwest to take advantage of those 'perks'.

consider yourself lucky and renew for $99.00 per year, or $179.00 for two years at a theme park complex that people from all over the world consider a vacation destination.

 

[F-L-A]

I've been an AP for a while now, and I just don't see any incentive to renew. What has Universal done as far as adding new things (mainly rides) in the last 5 years? Look at the Six Flags parks and the thrill parks of the midwest. While they are obviously inferior in terms of quality and cleanliness, they at least add a new major attraction every year, or close to it. Now look at USF. The Mummy was the last new thing they've gotten, and that was 3 years ago, and there are no plans for anything new. As for IOA, forget about it. What was it, SIX years ago when IOA added a new ride??

First of all, comparing Universal to a Six Flags park is complete nonsense, and you know it. How much thought and imagination does it take to plop down a new installation of unthemed twisted steel or a carnival quality flat ride?

Zero.

You want to know why they add something every year? There's your answer. Completely illogical to compare the operations of a cheap amusement park and a major theme park. And when it comes to new attractions, Universal hasn't been slouching nearly as much as you make it sound.

Men In Black - 2000
Flying Unicorn - 2000
Storm Force - 2000
Shrek 4-D - 2003
Jimmy Neutron - 2003
Mummy - 2004
Fear Factor - 2005
Suess Trolley - 2006
Universal 360 - 2006

That's 9 attractions in 6 years. And yes, there is more on the way. It's true that IOA is in need of a major attraction, but I'll personally take all of this over Six Flags garbage any day of the week. Maybe creative and well run parks with imaginative high-tech attractions aren't your thing?

 

[nile455]

First of all, comparing Universal to a Six Flags park is complete nonsense, and you know it.

Maybe you missed the part where I wrote: "While they (Six Flags) are obviously inferior in terms of quality and cleanliness..."

Obviously I am not implying Six Flags = USF. But my point is that these places at least try to give incentives to their APs by adding something every year, and no I don't consider record breaking roller coasters "garbage". I like theming as much as the next guy, but the thought of a brand new cutting edge roller coaster no matter how little theming it has, is at least SOMETHING and yes would entice me to keep coming back. Spiderman and Hulk are incredible, but I've seen them now every visit for six years. How about something new? You really think USF put a lot of time, thought, and $$ into that Fear Factor crap? That was their "big thing" for 2005? Please..

Universal hasn't been slouching nearly as much as you make it sound.

Men In Black - 2000
Flying Unicorn - 2000
Storm Force - 2000
Shrek 4-D - 2003
Jimmy Neutron - 2003
Mummy - 2004
Fear Factor - 2005
Suess Trolley - 2006
Universal 360 - 2006

Well I was one year off with Universal (I said 3 years, it's actually been slightly over 2). But how was I wrong about IOA? Last ride was 6 years ago, was it not?

Actually I can't rip on USF too much just because they added A LOT in 2004, with 3 major attractions. But IOA has not added anything since 2000, and come on the Seuss Trolley was supposed to open seven years ago. Will they ever "build" something new? Is there no more land to add attractions?

 

[F-L-A]

Yes, they will build something new. They intend to build something major at IOA in the near future. You have to be patient. Large scale attractions don't come that often. Look at the Magic Kingdom. Last major attraction? Splash Mountain in 1992. If that doesn't put it into perspective, I don't know what does.

I like theming as much as the next guy, but the thought of a brand new cutting edge roller coaster no matter how little theming it has, is at least SOMETHING

To a theme park, it isn't. That's not what theme parks are about. If they wanted to build that, they would. But like I said, theme parks and amusement parks can't be compared. Two very different philosophies.

 

[nile455]

Yes, they will build something new. They intend to build something major at IOA in the near future. You have to be patient. Large scale attractions don't come that often. Look at the Magic Kingdom. Last major attraction? Splash Mountain in 1992. If that doesn't put it into perspective, I don't know what does.

Actually since 1992 the Magic Kingdom has given us Splash Mountain, The Barnstormer, Legend of The Lion King, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Timekeeper, Mickey's Philharmagic, Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, Alien Encounter/Stitch... not to mention a complete makeover of Astro Orbiter and the entire land of Tomorrowland. Yes I realize some of these aren't "major" attractions, but you listed Fear Factor, Flying Unicorn, and Stormforce. Are those major attractions?

 

[ChrisFL]

I once posed about the issues of IOA on another message board...its much more difficult to plan any new attractions for IOA than any other theme park that I know of....why?

Well the first issue is space...there's not much...there are places in JP and between JP and Toon Lagoon...They could get really creative and take some other ways, but then there's issue #2

Issue #2 is actually IOA's greatest strength and weakness. The themed islands are so exacting that developing a new, unique attraction isn't easy because 3 islands are very specific. JP island HAS to have a JP themed ride pretty much, Marvel island HAS to have a marvel themed attraction, and the same for Seuss Landing.

Toon Lagoon and the Lost Continent are quite a bit more open in their theming.

So combining the lack of space and specific themes, you can see why it's not easy to just add a ride whenever they feel like it.

So why did IOA get built with such a lack of space? Back when IOA was being built, Universal had purchased 2,000+ acres of Lockheed Martin property in order to build up to 2 more theme parks. Unfortunately for several reasons they since have sold that land, and we're probably not going to see a 3rd gate. That leaves Universal Creative with making a new attraction for IOA, and hope whoever owns Universal this year will fund it.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

It would be lovely to have new attractions, no doubt. I have been AP for about 3 years and have made several trips during that time. However, I do think of Universal more in terms of people from out of town visiting, more then the in town visitor. Six Flaggs amusement parks cater more to a local audience. So, I think the Six Flaggs need to keep it fresh to keep people coming back, while parks like those at Universal and Disney have a much higher turnover of guests, many who have never been there, or only go every couple of years or so. So, to a majority of the visitors, everything is new.

That's my take. And speaking of space--too bad IOA has all that wasted space devoted to their man made lake! I remember my first trip to IOA we were able to take a boat from one Island to the next. I guess that proved very cumbersome and they did away with that after a short time. I guess it is the water that gives Islands of Adventure its Island feel, but there would be the place for some rides, or a whole new "Island" right in the center of the park.

 

[flatline]

Actually since 1992 the Magic Kingdom has given us Splash Mountain, The Barnstormer, Legend of The Lion King, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Timekeeper, Mickey's Philharmagic, Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, Alien Encounter/Stitch... not to mention a complete makeover of Astro Orbiter and the entire land of Tomorrowland. Yes I realize some of these aren't "major" attractions, but you listed Fear Factor, Flying Unicorn, and Stormforce. Are those major attractions?

since you regard Fear Factor as 'crap', let's look at the jewels WDI has designed in this list.

AE shuttered to make way for SGE, which is absolutely horrible. Mr. Toad shuttered to make way for Winnie the Pooh, to sell more merchandise. 20K shuttered and an anemic playground resting there now. Timekeeper's gone to build whatever Pixar related attraction is about to come. Not to mention the destruction of Tomorrowland into Stitch/Pixarland.

I love Splash Mountain, and Philharmagic, but WDI's string of attractions built within the last 10 years shows just because it's new at WDW, doesn't mean it's good.

 

[Future Guy]

I think the $99 renewal price is incentive enough for me. Think of it -- it's almost half of what a new AP would cost. WDW "generously" gives about $10-$20 off their AP renewal. The Platnium Pass at Sea World and Busch Gardens gives a $50 off renewal discount. Universal has the biggest renewal discount that I've ever seen.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We think the renewal price of $99 is excellent value for money and that's why we continue to renew our APs.

All the theme parks including WDW are in need of new attractions and IOA is certainly no exception to this.

 

[wilma-bride]

ITA with Johnny. As a UK visitor, very often when we take our 2 week vacation, we purcahse a 2 week 2 park ticket (available in UK only) for around £75 (about $140). This time we have purchased the 2 day 2 park tickets for $99.99 each, saving us $40. However, DH and I have another trip planned for February so on this occasion, we have purchased APs which, in the long run, will save us a fortune.

Although I agree that it would be great if IOA and US added more attractions, it would not deter me from visiting if they do not as, in my opinion, the attractions and theming (partiularly at IOA) are far superior to those at WDW (which, incidentally, we would probably never consider buying APs for, purely because of the price).

I tried to refrain from responding to this as it seems to be another WDW vs USF debate and I can't really be bothered with them, however, just wanted to point out that we think that USF offers great value with their APs.

 

[F-L-A]

Actually since 1992 the Magic Kingdom has given us Splash Mountain, The Barnstormer, Legend of The Lion King, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Timekeeper, Mickey's Philharmagic, Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, Alien Encounter/Stitch... not to mention a complete makeover of Astro Orbiter and the entire land of Tomorrowland. Yes I realize some of these aren't "major" attractions, but you listed Fear Factor, Flying Unicorn, and Stormforce. Are those major attractions?

No, and I never said they were. You expect major rides every year, and that simply doesn't happen at any theme park. All you did by creating that list of recent MK attractions was further prove my point. Not a single major attraction in years, and most of the new additions are just plain laughable. If Universal wants to take their time coming up with something of high quality, that's fine by me.

 

[Metro West]

We think the renewal price of $99 is excellent value for money and that's why we continue to renew our APs.

That's why I continue to renew.

 

[macraven]

I grew up stuck in between six flags great america and six flags st. louis. the last time I checked, an AP was around $50.00 per park, and parking ($15.00) not included, and no discounts of any kind in the parks. not to mention you have to live in the midwest to take advantage of those 'perks'.

consider yourself lucky and renew for $99.00 per year, or $179.00 for two years at a theme park complex that people from all over the world consider a vacation destination.

i bought my 6 flags pass today / great america , and it was just over $100.
the price increases on tuesday for those aps.........

 

[macraven]

aps for UO is cheaper than 6 flags now.
and, with the ap you get some discounts.

for flags, it is nada on benefits...........

 

[nile455]

No, and I never said they were. You expect major rides every year, and that simply doesn't happen at any theme park. All you did by creating that list of recent MK attractions was further prove my point. Not a single major attraction in years, and most of the new additions are just plain laughable. If Universal wants to take their time coming up with something of high quality, that's fine by me.

I don't think it has to be a major e-ride attraction. But fact is, IOA hasn't added a new ride of any kind since 2000. Okay we're getting Seuss Trolley, a ride that was built seven years ago and will finally open in a couple weeks.

IOA has clearly lagged, this is a fact.

 

[flatline]

I don't think it has to be a major e-ride attraction. But fact is, IOA hasn't added a new ride of any kind since 2000. Okay we're getting Seuss Trolley, a ride that was built seven years ago and will finally open in a couple weeks.

IOA has clearly lagged, this is a fact.

it sounds like you're answering your own question. if you don't think $99.00 per year is worth it, simply don't renew. there's plenty of other things in Florida to occupy your time.