Why is everything closed?

[USO2003]

I went to USF & IOA today and almost everything was closed.

USF:

Here is the list as of 1.10.03

Kong (No duh)
Hanna-Barbera (Duh)
Hitchcock (like we did know)

Super Action Heroes- (Store which replaced the Kong store) Not only closed, but all signs of the store SAH have been removed.

BTTF Store is closed again. It closed like the 1st week of December, reopened 12.21 and is now closed again. Also the inside windows have been covered with black plastic wrap. Unlike when it closed in early December you could still see inside the store.

Boardwalk Snacks aka Captain Quint's Seafood & Chowder House- Closed.

MIB: Was open but was having problems with the inside track and caused it to close and open and close.

IOA:

Popeye & Bluto's Bilage Rat Barges- Closed for seasonal Maintance.

Olive Oyl's Ship- Closed for seasonal Maintance.

(A women from Canada read the sign "Sorry for the inconvience" and said to me "Yeah, don't tell anyone about it when they plan their trip, it's not like I can come back next month.")

A resturant in there was closed but I can't off hand remember which one. I think it was Blondie's" Home of the "Dagwood.

Wimpy's- Was open but with no one in that area I think it will close soon.

Thunder Falls Terrace- Closed (Work in Progress) How many days has that been open in 2000 - 2003? Seems like it's always closed.

Mythos- Closed for (Special Event)

It was like where is it I can eat.

Well if this serves no purpose, it will at least inform you on what's closed.

 

[YenSid1222]

Super Hero store at USF was only intended to be there through the holidays to use the space while it was not needed for the Mummy construction.

BTTF:The Store will be closed all year they say.

There are other store closings around, as is normal during this time of year.

As for attractions, this is always the time when stuff starts getting rehabbed. They know it sucks, but this is the only time of year they can do it. Attendance is very low in the park, and closing things is the best thing to do econimically, otherwise the labor spent is just astronomical. As you mentioned, there was noone in the park in certain areas.

Mythos and Confiscos will alternate their openings, so you will have the choice of one or the other. But for quick service you still have Cafe 4, Burger Digs, and Enchanted Oak which are all high capacity and spaced around the park.

What will be more fun is when the dragons close in a few days.

 

[chris mcfly]

The BTTF store was closed late last year as a "test" to see if it was really missed.


And please people, BTTF is not going to be replaced with a Fast and Furious Ride, so let's not ever mention this again.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by YenSid1222 What will be more fun is when the dragons close in a few days.

*Supposedly* they're only gonna close one side of dragons at a time. Meaning you can ride fire, but not ice while Ice is in rehab, Then they'll switch out so when ice is good, fire closes. That's what I heard will/may be going on.

As for a Fast and the Furious ride, they can make one. Gut the old Herc & Xena building and put in bumper cars that look like F&F cars. LOL

 

[chris mcfly]

Originally posted by USO2003
How do you know, The President of Universal Bob Gault said several times to the media outlets like "When rides like Back To The Future get older they'll need to be changed, the only other ride that could replace Back To The Future, would be a car themed ride, the only movie with a car theme that is recent is The Fast & Furious."
"We want to do something with Back to the Future in 2003." Closing the store must have been what he meant. What he says happens, something for 2003 happened now we can look foward to what else he said Fast & Furious to replace BTTF.

Be careful what you place in quotes, especially when it was never said.

BTTF is a staple there and will not be replaced anytime soon. Besides, if they were going to replace it, they would not have spent all the money to theme out a BTTF ride in USJ just a couple years ago if it is not a strong enough property with "staying power" for Universal Studios.

 

[BarryHom]

Unlike many parks that are open just from May to October, Florida parks are open year round. With the beating the rides get day in and out, the rides have to go down sometime for maintenance. I'm sorry many things seem to be closed, but the water rides would make more sense to close in January than July. January is usually a cold month in Florida. Who wants to get wet and walk around in the cold? Indeed, some of your favorite restaurants and shops are closed, but there are plenty of other places to eat. Also, January is one of the slowest months out of the year, so low attendance makes it a good time to rehab rides and shops.

 

[Notatourist]

As much as you don't want to believe it USO-

Stores Close. They also reopen.

It's an extremely slow time right now. Why keep a store open when it's not getting the business that the larger stores get?
Simple Economics.

McFly is not calling you a liar. I am not calling you a liar.

 

[BarryHom]

USO2003, cut it out. Stop making accusations people are liars and stop this hot-headed debate. If it continues, I will start deleting posts. Thank you.

 

[YenSid1222]

OK....enough arguing. The BTTF store has closed simply for business reasons, it is not doing the numbers that warrant keeping it open. Things like labor percentages come into factor. Yes, the merchandise department knows that the DVD just came out, but it is HIGHLY unlikely that DVD sales would be enough to keep it open, especially when you can buy DVDs cheaper just about anywhere else. They even tried pre-selling the DVD at a good price with a free fanny pack...and the response was lackluster.

I wouldnt read into that anything other than keeping costs down.
Stores that have been mentioned such as Cartoon Store and ET's Toy Closet do very well, mostly due to location...another store nearby, MIB Gear, also benifits from being a "dump store".

In regards to Fast and Furious merchandise there...that is just due to it making sense. You have a film that you want to sell the merchandise for...about cars...which shop should we put it at? The store in the park that has something remotely to do with cars. That is all...no conspiracy for new attractions.

And for a BTTF rehab...well, we all know that it will happen eventually. With so much being put into the three attractions being built now...I wouldnt expect to even worry until Mummy is open for business.

Now, do we all understand why things are closed during the ultra low attendance months of January, February, etc?

 

[BarryHom]

Just a thought...can you still get BTTF stuff at the Universal Store by the USF entrance?

 

[Notatourist]

Originally posted by Barry Hom
Just a thought...can you still get BTTF stuff at the Universal Store by the USF entrance?

Yes.

And USO-

May=possible.

As for the car, if you were paying attention to the car out front, it's a TOYOTA, who sponsors the ride here, at USH and USJ. Sponsor cars are at the park.

And remember, we're only a few days into 2003. You're saying it's all of 2003-the year hasn't even really begun yet. Things change.

And that is all I am going to say on that.

 

[IOATech]

With all due respect to duct tape, that aint what's on Mr. Fusion. At some point you are faced with the question of preserving, replacing or patching actual movie props. If we make a new Mr. Fusion, then it won't be the actual one from the series and that's important to some people, like me. The De Lorean is a constant work in progress so don't take that one thing as a sign. Future is not in any danger of going away at the moment.

 

[Notatourist]

Btw-

I know a number of things that you think are fact are not. I suggest more research before you comment here, USO. Reason being, that Celica was MADE FOR THE RIDE.

Thank you, this has been a recording.

 

[h20jag]

Just back last nite-
was really impressed with how much was still open (rides & stores). It's DEFINITELY a good time to enjoy low crowds!
Most pleasant surprise was Fire & Ice both running all week-end.

Not gonna touch the coffee-maker debate! (Sleepin' just fine NOT knowin')
Jim

 

[Aisling]

Isn't the BTTF store the exit point from coming off the ride, where you have to walk through in order to get out onto the street? If so, how do you exit now?

 

[IOATech]

Well the one thing you have done right is stir the pot, I'll give you that! You are, most definitely, very upset about something and I wish there was some effective outlet for your angst (maybe this is it). I also know enough to know that you don't have a clue about what you speak. Not one. You only seem to want one thing: ATTENTION. Well you got it. Congratulations.

 

[MIB999999]

Originally posted by Aisling
Isn't the BTTF store the exit point from coming off the ride, where you have to walk through in order to get out onto the street? If so, how do you exit now?

On this particular ride the exit brings you down ramps on either side of the building. the store is to the animal planet side of the BTTF ride building

the title of this thread kind of shocked me. after reading the first post it was very obvious to me that there is far more open than closed at both Studios and IOA.

you sure can not judge this book by it's title.

 

[DocBosch]

I was at USF on Jan 6. I had a BTTF shirt I wanted to return because it had shrunk too much (it was a medium, and it shrunk smaller then an already shrunken small). After seeing the BTTF Store closed (I'd heard about it on the BTTF.com MB, and assumed it was a seasonal thing), I went to the main Universal Studios Store. There they told me they could exchange my shirt, but not for the same BTTF type because they didn't have anymore. I told them that there was a whole bunch at the BTTF Store last time I was there, and if I could exchange it once the store reopened. They said that the shirt was discontinued (this was one of the newer shirts that had just come out) and that the BTTF store would not open. I asked "ever again?", and she said "Permanently".

It's a well documented fact by the BTTF fan community and Delorean Owner community that the BTTF Time Machine Deloreans at the theme parks were not actually screen used, but replicas (making the sign in front of them deceiving). BTTF fans can tell the inconsistencies between the movie ones and the theme park ones, by differences in the interior gadgets, some of the rear exterior gadgets, the year of the DMC, and, most noticeably, the Mr. Fusion. The Mr. Fusion's on the Deloreans in the parks are far too big, and are not Krups Coffee grinders.

I'm acquaintances with the owner of the world's largest BTTF prop collection, the webmaster of BTTF.com and one of the filmmakers, and have been an active BTTF fan for about 10 years, so I can assure you that the Time Machines at the theme parks were not screen used props.

As far as the number of attractions being closed at the park (the actual topic of this discussion) I wasn't really bothered by it, considering it's the off-season. This last time I went by myself, and was hoping to do some of the attractions and shows I had never done or hadn't seen in a while. I was disappointed to find Wild Wild Wild Wild West Show and Sinbad closed, but completely understood. There were still plenty of other things in the parks for me to do. Though, I am bummed about the BTTF Store closing.

-Kevin

 

[kellymonaghan]

I'm not going to get involved with this debate, but I do know two things:

1.) Things will change.

2.) When they do, you'll all need new guidebooks.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Originally posted by kellymonaghan
I'm not going to get involved with this debate, but I do know two things:

1.) Things will change.

2.) When they do, you'll all need new guidebooks.

LOL, so true kelly!