Universal Studios Florida: What Do We Think About It?

[DOOMBOT]

To not further derail the Lost Continent thread, I'm bringing this here, because I think it's worth unpacking...


I think everybody would grant as a given that Universal has not intentionally created any bad attractions anywhere (the only thing close to this would be the decision to push through with Orlando's Supercharged after the fairly laughable reaction its counterpart received as part of the Studio Tour in Hollywood; they knew it wasn't good work, and regardless of how far along the plan already was for USF at the time, it should have been shelved).

But since Diagon opened, it's hard not to look at USF -- despite getting pretty consistent investment -- as being the park to receive the most lackluster (or outright bad) attractions compared to its sister next door over the same period and the bounty on offer in the now-open Epic.

When you couple that with Universal doing nothing to alter the park's composition to gain some non-screen attractions (despite having opportunities to do so with the Shrek replacement and the DreamWorks overlay), as well as the quite major projects that are seemingly next in line for IOA and Epic, it does feel like USF is the also-ran.

I think this is hard to argue. Regardless of your personal opinion on any of the following attractions, it's pretty evident just by going down the list. Villain-Con, Dreamworksland, Fallon, Supercharged. None of these scream high investment or "pushing the limits" for the company. They are side-projects. Small improvements or lateral changes to a park that's largely not changed much at all since Diagon; while they focus on more exciting prospects and IP like Potter, Mario, Jurassic, and now seemingly Pokemon elsewhere.

I do appreciate the new parade and lagoon show, as well as the improvements made to infrastructure and older attractions like E.T. and Mummy.

 

[HHN Maddux]

I might be having a mandala effect, but I wanted to ask:

Before his account went kablooey, didn't Tomfoolery mention hearing USF getting a DCA-style makeover within the next decade?

 

[TheUniC6]

I might be having a mandala effect, but I wanted to ask:

Before his account went kablooey, didn't Tomfoolery mention hearing USF getting a DCA-style makeover within the next decade?

I think the post you might be referring to was "USF will get a F&F coaster and Pokemon by 2030" The coaster is on track but it appears Pokemon moved to IOA possibly.

According to a screamscape rumor update recently it hints that Universal creative is actively exploring Wicked for the parks with the aim to give it the same treatment Potter got. A version of Wicked is probably being explored for USF likely as a Simpsons replacement.

 

[AustinT]

Not sure if this belongs here, but is there enough room for a show building around the current Minions land after the Rockit demo to add a dark ride? The two Minions attractions here are awful. Plopping the SLoP ride here but swapping put the IP for Minions, and making the RVs less restrictive for higher capacity seems like a relatively easy addition if the space is here.

SLoP seems like a dead franchise now. 2nd film did about half the box office the first one, merch has never been a big seller no matter how many times they've tried in both USF and IOA, large gap since last film, etc. A ton of little Minion AAs could be thrown into the same ride layout and work just fine I'd think.

 

[DOOMBOT]

A high-energy practical dark ride based off of the Minions is literally perfect for what USF needs right now. Just make it a tour across the evil lab done in the style of the big party scene near the end of E.T. Adventure. I hope something like that is eventually in the cards.

 

[mccgavin]

I feel that Minions has enough attractions already (even if they aren't of the highest quality). A family dark ride of that style would be perfect for DreamWorks Land if they can find the space for it.

 

[DOOMBOT]

I feel that Minions has enough attractions already (even if they aren't of the highest quality). A family dark ride of that style would be perfect for DreamWorks Land if they can find the space for it.

I think that's the idea though. It would be a massive improvement for the park to feature a dark ride in the spot that Minion Mayhem currently takes up. Minions doesn't need 3 rides, but it could absolutely use a better 2 rides than it currently has. It's ... a little rough that the first two attractions you find when entering USF are uninspiring simulators.

 

[belloq87]

Yeah, I'd replace Minion Mayhem with this hypothetical dark ride.

 

[mccgavin]

Given that Minion Mayhem continues to be cloned around the world, I honestly don't see it going anywhere. The newest version of it opened earlier this year in Singapore.

 

[TheUniC6]

I feel that Minions has enough attractions already (even if they aren't of the highest quality). A family dark ride of that style would be perfect for DreamWorks Land if they can find the space for it.

The AA spot assuming it doesn't go for whatever replaces Springfield, is begging for a Shrek dark ride. Can be a modern take on SLOP with improved restraints and more efficient loading.

Given that Minion Mayhem continues to be cloned around the world, I honestly don't see it going anywhere. The newest version of it opened earlier this year in Singapore.

Sorry for the double post, but with UGB moving away towards a "No clones from Orlando" mandate, maybe they can break the stigma and give DM a proper dark ride.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Not sure if this is the best place to discuss, but it appears that Universal is shifting operating hours for USF in January. The calendar may not be fully updated (tends to glitch when they publish the following month), but it shows a 10AM closure with a 9PM close most days. Makes sense as the park doesn't have the same level of early morning demand that IOA gets and has a nighttime show. So simply shifting the park hours makes sense.

However, there's still a few days where the park operates only to 6 or 7PM due to special events.

 

[belloq87]

I think it's also a reflection of the park not having anything that anyone would or should need to rope drop. Which ties into some of our (my) larger concerns about the park in its current state (i.e. despite investment, it's stale and needs to be re-energized).

I believe every theme park should open at 9am at the latest, though.

 

[Map Monster]

The fact that Universal has a successful IP like Minions/Despicable Me and have continued to rely on screens has always driven me crazy. That property is too perfect for an animatronic driven dark ride. I understand the use for screens in some cases, an animatronic Vin Diesel would be terrifying but Minions?

Universal needs to block off that path leading into Minions Land, divert people to go right after the arches, and have Hollywood become the "main street" of Universal. Then you combine the two current Minions rides into one massive dark ride.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

The fact that Universal has a successful IP like Minions/Despicable Me and have continued to rely on screens has always driven me crazy. That property is too perfect for an animatronic driven dark ride. I understand the use for screens in some cases, an animatronic Vin Diesel would be terrifying but Minions?

Universal needs to block off that path leading into Minions Land, divert people to go right after the arches, and have Hollywood become the "main street" of Universal. Then you combine the two current Minions rides into one massive dark ride.

I always wanted them to have Minions move to Simpsons, expand the land idea and neighborhood a la their other versions, and build a true dark ride where Simpsons is. Minions Cafe could fit in the food court there too easily. Then start over with the current places, frankly. Ah well.

 

[DOOMBOT]

I think it's also a reflection of the park not having anything that anyone would or should need to rope drop. Which ties into some of our (my) larger concerns about the park in its current state (i.e. despite investment, it's stale and needs to be re-energized).

I believe every theme park should open at 9am at the latest, though.

Very true. The new coaster could serve some of that "must-do" energy, but the park desperately needs a big hit. Whether that comes from Pokemon, Wicked, LotR, Spongebob, etc. It just needs something exclusive that makes people ravenous to go in and experience.

For all of its' own faults, the rival Studio park DHS has a great history of "rope drop crowd"-inducing attractions. Tower, Toy Story Mania, Slinky, Rise. If USF had anything equivalent to the consistent highs of DHS' current lineup, this would not be as much of a conversation among UDX fans. I believe if USF had a scary thrill ride as perfect as the DHS Tower of Terror open during HHN hours, that park would be one of the best in the country. We are currently far, far from that.

 

[Brian G.]

Not sure if this is the best place to discuss, but it appears that Universal is shifting operating hours for USF in January. The calendar may not be fully updated (tends to glitch when they publish the following month), but it shows a 10AM closure with a 9PM close most days. Makes sense as the park doesn't have the same level of early morning demand that IOA gets and has a nighttime show. So simply shifting the park hours makes sense.

However, there's still a few days where the park operates only to 6 or 7PM due to special events.

This is last year's 9a to 5p-6p cloures, but in reverse (kinda).

 

[belloq87]

Very true. The new coaster could serve some of that "must-do" energy, but the park desperately needs a big hit. Whether that comes from Pokemon, Wicked, LotR, Spongebob, etc. It just needs something exclusive that makes people ravenous to go in and experience.

For all of its' own faults, the rival Studio park DHS has a great history of "rope drop crowd"-inducing attractions. Tower, Toy Story Mania, Slinky, Rise. If USF had anything equivalent to the consistent highs of DHS' current lineup, this would not be as much of a conversation among UDX fans. I believe if USF had a scary thrill ride as perfect as the DHS Tower of Terror open during HHN hours, that park would be one of the best in the country. We are currently far, far from that.

Ultimately, I think USF needs both a new mega-attraction (on the ambition level of Rise, or the headliners at Epic) and a people-eating, lower-thrill D/E-ticket (i.e. like a Pirates, Haunted Mansion, even a higher-capacity, tweaked version of SLOP) as the first order of business.