Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Construction Discussion

[Mad Dog]

My primary exposure to Dueling Dragons (I refuse to use the DC name) was in 1999. Rode it in September and it was so fun and different. Head choppers, dueling, and two different rides were so much fun. I know that most say that it became more rough or didn't fit the theme. So, the replacement is really intriguing. Especially with so little information about it. Sadly, I don't go to UNI/IOA as much as my wife loves Disney more and the rides are easier on her (car ride caused some back/neck issues). Still, I don't think Disney has anything in Orlando that tops the entrance to IOA and the theming of the various islands. Maybe Pandora but I don't know. I'll find out in a month.

TPR became Disney-centric, which is fine (I expect that they get Mommy Blogger Treatments as payback). They also like coaster-driven parks which is also fine. Magic is Disney first which is understandable. Its title is WDWMagic. Websites are what they are. Outside of a few malcontents, the forums on InsideUniversal are definitely more friendly. I believe that the staff does an excellent job of moderating and addressing people who get out of line.



I don't know. Knocking Cedar Point? You're losing cool points, man. I would condemn you to 20 straight rides on Mean Streak but that punishment has been eliminated (violated cruel and unusual stipulations).

Not knocking Cedar Point. It's a beautiful park, but it's a Coaster Park, and I've moved on from that. Unthemed steel coasters, after decades of riding some of the best many many times, no longer do anything for me. The experience just got old after so many rides...I've already done my Mean Streak penance. I stood in line for one hour and forty five minutes the year it opened. It's the main reason I now have a rule of never standing in line for any attraction for more than 30-45 minutes. I probably rode it another half dozen times over the years when there were no longer lines, and only because I love wooden coasters more than steel coasters. Hershey Park has a pretty tough and uncomfortable wooden coaster also. I love the Beast at King's Island and used to like Wolf Bobs at Geauga Lake. But my favorites are the three classic wooden coasters at Kennywood. Those I still enjoy. :thumbsup:

 

[Mike S]

I spent many a day traveling across that narrow spit of land to enjoy those coasters on that beautiful island on Lake Erie. But with age came way more enjoyment of the well themed attractions at Universal and Disney. Frankly, unthemed coasters bore me now. And I rode all of those good coasters at Cedar Point, King's Island, King's Dominion, Hershey Park, Geauga Lake, Canada's Wonderland and BGW multitudes of times. The only unthemed coasters that really interest me much now are the three classic woodies at Kennywood that seem to have more substance than any of the behemoth steel monsters.

Ever ride El Toro at SFGA?

 

[brianlo]

It's kind of typical that the major theme park sites, which are primarily Disney oriented sites, and the general internet You Tube crowd that watches videos but doesn't really experience attractions physically, trashes all things Universal. Usually Universal's new attractions (Potter included), even though they're generally the best new theme park attractions, get trashed on the internet when they debut. That's why I never pay attention to posts where people say a new Universal attraction is getting bad reviews, since the truth of the matter is that the pro Disney internet crowd always trashes Universal's new offerings. Even attractions like FJ, Gringotts & HE were mostly given negative reviews. So many people just can't accept the reality that the little upstart Universal can produce as good, if not better, attractions than Disney at a lower cost. I like Disney too, but I'm not very enamored of their hard core fans that can't accept the competition's competency, or the fact that Disney is not on a island by itself anymore. ...and as UK Trigg stated so well, welcome to our Forum, which is fairer and more friendly (with a couple of exceptions) than most of the other's out there. :thumbsup:

I've seen this narrative spun a few times. I don't think Hogwarts Express or Forbidden Journey were really ever trashed by any more than a fleeting minority. The Disney community have been incredibly positive and in fact consistently jealous of those offerings. Throughout the early 2010's many were highly critical of the lackluster new fantasyland and lamented Uni was pushing boundaries with Potter and Dis phoning it in.

Hence the constant hope for a Potter Swatter. Hogsmead, Diagon, Forbidden Journey and Hogwarts Express have been very, very, very well reviewed and embraced.

Gringott's has been the one Potter thing people have been critical of. I don't think that is Disney fanboy driven, I think that is earned. Don't mistake fans being critical of one ride as cards being stacked against Universal's Potter offerings. The other things Universal has done is a different story.

 

[Disneyhead]

I've seen this narrative spun a few times. I don't think Hogwarts Express or Forbidden Journey were really ever trashed by any more than a fleeting minority. The Disney community have been incredibly positive and in fact consistently jealous of those offerings. Throughout the early 2010's many were highly critical of the lackluster new fantasyland and lamented Uni was pushing boundaries with Potter and Dis phoning it in.

Hence the constant hope for a Potter Swatter. Hogsmead, Diagon, Forbidden Journey and Hogwarts Express have been very, very, very well reviewed and embraced.

Gringott's has been the one Potter thing people have been critical of. I don't think that is Disney fanboy driven, I think that is earned. Don't mistake fans being critical of one ride as cards being stacked against Universal's Potter offerings. The other things Universal has done is a different story.

The reactions to Gringott's, Kong, and Fallon have been increasingly ridiculous and quasi-hysterical. With the most absurd talking points. Like "Universal builds all their ride with screens so when they get tired of them they just change the IP in the film to make a new attraction." Like putting a Secret Life of Pets film in Skull Island, Voilá, new SLoP attraction.

Mmmm, no.

 

[Scott W.]

The reactions to Gringott's, Kong, and Fallon have been increasingly ridiculous and quasi-hysterical. With the most absurd talking points. Like "Universal builds all their ride with screens so when they get tired of them they just change the IP in the film to make a new attraction." Like putting a Secret Life of Pets film in Skull Island, Voilá, new SLoP attraction.

Mmmm, no.

Secret life of Kong could be interesting.

 

[rhino4evr]

I've made my argument several times. Orlando has more "family friendly rides" in a square radius then any other city in the world. It doesn't have a ton of high quality coasters. UOR is tearing down one of it's first roller coasters, and one of the few on a very short list in Orlando.

This is disappointing to me.

Especially if the Potter ride turns out to be another Gringotts, which is a pretty boring ride IMO. The theming is the only part that saves it.

I have hope that if they do make a new ride it will NOT be something grandma and her knitting circle will stand in line for. Sorry if this is offensive for the folks that have decided Roller Coasters are "lesser than". That's just my opinion.

PS - also important to note DC is actually 2 rides in one ride building. Completely different tracks, that do offer a different experience.

Also Cedar Point rules...

 

[Mad Dog]

Ever ride El Toro at SFGA?

Nope. Never made it there. I've never had much desire to go to the Six Flags Park. Geauga Lake was bought by Six Flags for a couple of years, so technically that was the only Six Flags Park I've ever been in. But I do like the Cedar Fair Parks, and used to absolutely love BGW (before Blackstone). Hershey Park I can take or leave. It's overrated.

 

[Mad Dog]

Secret life of Kong could be interesting.

Hmmmm. Perhaps that's why Kate disappeared until the end of the ride. Kong had his needs too. ...

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Secret life of Kong could be interesting.

I'm surprised you didn't photoshop Duke's head onto Kong's. :tongue:

 

[DannyPowers]

I probably rode it another half dozen times over the years when there were no longer lines, and only because I love wooden coasters more than steel coasters.

I'm guessing you hadn't ridden it in the last few years before the refurbish? That would have cured you of your love for it. It became so shaky that it completely scrambled your brains by the time you were done.

 

[Mad Dog]

I'm guessing you hadn't ridden it in the last few years before the refurbish? That would have cured you of your love for it. It became so shaky that it completely scrambled your brains by the time you were done.

Oh no. I never loved it. It was bad from day one. I only rode it additional times since I like wooden coasters and there's so few of them. And that's why I rode, on multiple occasions, the newer wooden coaster at Hershey that wasn't quite as bad as Mean Streak, but pretty close. Hershey's old woodie, The Comet, is pretty good though. But Kennywood's coasters, though really old, are a real joy, thus their classic status and high regard in the coaster fan community.

 

[Mike S]

I've made my argument several times. Orlando has more "family friendly rides" in a square radius then any other city in the world. It doesn't have a ton of high quality coasters. UOR is tearing down one of it's first roller coasters, and one of the few on a very short list in Orlando.

This is disappointing to me.

Especially if the Potter ride turns out to be another Gringotts, which is a pretty boring ride IMO. The theming is the only part that saves it.

I have hope that if they do make a new ride it will NOT be something grandma and her knitting circle will stand in line for. Sorry if this is offensive for the folks that have decided Roller Coasters are "lesser than". That's just my opinion.

PS - also important to note DC is actually 2 rides in one ride building. Completely different tracks, that do offer a different experience.

Also Cedar Point rules...

Not offensive, just wrong

 

[Teebin]

Hey, whatever became of Felipe? Is anyone on here in touch with him? I would think he would be all over this new Potter attraction. I miss his sincerity and input on such things.

 

[Mad Dog]

Hey, whatever became of Felipe? Is anyone on here in touch with him? I would think he would be all over this new Potter attraction. I miss his sincerity and input on such things.

I asked that of BriMan a couple of years ago. At that time he said Felipe had gone back to school, if memory serves me correct.

 

[Quint]

Hey, whatever became of Felipe? Is anyone on here in touch with him? I would think he would be all over this new Potter attraction. I miss his sincerity and input on such things.

How strange. I was wondering the same thing today. @Felipe you out there?

 

[NJBrandon]

He's still pretty active on Twitter.

Felipe (@FelipeWWoHP) | Twitter

 

[Mike S]

I asked that of BriMan a couple of years ago. At that time he said Felipe had gone back to school, if memory serves me correct.

Skool iz 4 lozerz.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Hey, whatever became of Felipe? Is anyone on here in touch with him? I would think he would be all over this new Potter attraction. I miss his sincerity and input on such things.

I talk to him daily, he's well.

 

[Felipe]

Hola! I'm still around! I'm gonna catch up on this thread and get back in the swing of things. Twitter is convenient in ways, but there's nothing like writing a fully fledged post here. Missed you all! Back to the topic at hand... I'm hella excited for this new attraction, although losing dragons is, personally, pretty saddening.

Later!

 

[Junorhane]

I think in a few years time there's going to be a lot less discussion about Universal vs. Disney and a lot more talk about Star Wars Land vs. Harry Potter World. If I had to guess, that's how most of the general public will look at it. It was probably very smart for Universal to include big steel roller coasters in their park(s) at first, because it did differentiate them. At this point though, they don't need to differentiate themselves anymore: they're Harry Potter World.

I love roller coasters, and the two times we've been to Universal I've loved riding Dragon Challenge, but Harry Potter World doesn't need big steel roller coasters. It's such a huge plot of land, and Universal has proven to be so good at themed land creation, imagining what they could/will do with it is just exciting.