Originally Posted By Bolna <<These announcements aren't bad IMO, I'm just bummed they'll open after my trip in the Fall. I am especially disappointed that Spiderman will likely be down during my visit. I've never been to USO and it was the one attraction outside of WWoHP that I was most looking forward to experiencing.>> I am in exactly the same situation as you: first trip to Universal planned this fall. I guess if Spiderman really is already closed then, it will be just (another) reason for a second trip there... The update sounds really great, so I am quite certain that having never seen the old version won't be too much of a loss.
Originally Posted By DlandDug So sorry you haven't seen Spiderman. It is an excellent themed attraction-- among the very best, and (my opinion) the second greatest non-Disney themed attraction ever. (The first being the late, great Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas.)
Originally Posted By dshyates "So let me get this straight... Disney announces a major addition to Fantasyland, with new attractions, themed environments, restaurants, and character locations, and that's chewed over and debated by many who feel it isn't ANYTHING near the calibre of UniFlorida's half-a-themed-land WWoHP. (A fantastic addition, I hasten to add.) BUT... UniFlorida's MAJOR announcement about the replacement of a tired theater show (Jimmy Neutron) with a new (amazing, incredible, nothin' like it) theater show (Despicable Me) and upgrading of the film and delivery system of an existing attraction (Spider Man) is somehow a masterpiece of strategy. Noted." No. Actually all the Uni Fanbois I know consider today's big announcement to not really be a big announcement. That's why it is puzzleing why they announced the Mini golf thing last week, and they didn't include any of the other stuff that has already been greenlit. Most the Uni fanbois are more excited about Spiderman's new 4K HD 3D Digital projectors and the all new HD reanimation with new Easter Eggs (if you look closely in the background of the picture linked below you will see Ironman): <a href="http://media.universalorlando.com/resources/digitalassets/image_569_newspidey_high.jpg" target="_blank">http://media.universalorlando....high.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By brotherdave Yawn! Not very exciting to me. Funny how some here give UNI a pass on this but slam Disney. To be honest, Star Tours II, Little Mermaid, and the Seven Dwarf Mine Train seem a little more exciting than Despicable Me or Spider-man upgrade, but to be honest, nothing currently planned at either resort has me wanting to spend a few grand on an Orlando vacation in the future. Now, Harry Potter on the other hand does have me intrigued and wanting to go to Florida, but that's already opened. But the rest of what's been announced so far isn't really that interesting to me or my family.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "So let me get this straight... Disney announces a major addition to Fantasyland, with new attractions, themed environments, restaurants, and character locations, and that's chewed over and debated by many who feel it isn't ANYTHING near the calibre of UniFlorida's half-a-themed-land WWoHP. (A fantastic addition, I hasten to add.) BUT... UniFlorida's MAJOR announcement about the replacement of a tired theater show (Jimmy Neutron) with a new (amazing, incredible, nothin' like it) theater show (Despicable Me) and upgrading of the film and delivery system of an existing attraction (Spider Man) is somehow a masterpiece of strategy. Noted." Please note my one dissenting voice of "What the FRAK?!?!?!"
Originally Posted By dshyates The next announcements will be more exciting. WonderSea Island, Transformers, and Potter 2.0 combined with Despicable Me, and the Hollywood Drive-In Mini Golf is a pretty good stretch of resort additions.
Originally Posted By dshyates Oh, and I forgot the big "value" resort. They are planning a 4th hotel that will be their largest and least expensive on-site option.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<But I know Potter's additions are coming, including a MAJOR attraction ... I know UNI is building a water park ... I know Transformers is coming to UNI.>> Spirit, dshyates, just let the mouse fanbois have their day. That way it can be rubbed in their face later.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<nothing currently planned at either resort has me wanting to spend a few grand on an Orlando vacation in the future. Now, Harry Potter on the other hand does have me intrigued and wanting to go to Florida, but that's already opened.>> Not all of it. ;-)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well let's be fair, WWoHP was a very expensive edition. If this were the mouse it would be years until the next addition (EE seems a long while ago now). But when it comes to future attractions, the places raising eyebrows are not really in the Eastern US for me. The excitement for me is at DCA or HKDL or Efteling in the Netherlands (they are undergowing huge expansion). Or even Legoland Windsor today. I know most of you folks are only interested in the swamps of the south, but over near us a new attraction opens. MACK (of Europa Park fame, plug, plug) have created a sub ride system that is a cross between the subs at Disneyland and Peter Pan's flight, and it moves through a real sea life aquarium that has real fish, rays, sharks and loads of lego models. I am more interested in that than anything currently announced for Florida.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I did jump the gun a bit. I am very excited about Star Tours 2, very excited. But I would rather ride it in California (so I should have said I was more excited for the Disneyland Resort). Although it could all be worse. Paris is looking forward to an Earl of Sandwich, a World of Disney Store that will sell the same rubbish as all the other stores, and, and, and..... Well we are rumoured to get Jack Sparrow messing up our PotC. and this possible Rat ride, which could be cool, but I am not really a huge Ratatouille fan, and am worried it will be film based, again.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >> WonderSea Island, Transformers, and Potter 2.0 combined with Despicable Me, and the Hollywood Drive-In Mini Golf is a pretty good stretch of resort additions.<< Actually, a stretch of the imagination at the moment, as some of this hasn't been announced. >>... let the mouse fanbois have their day. That way it can be rubbed in their face later.<< No "mouse fanboi" here-- I'm just bemused (again) by the salivating over empty hype. (And I don't care where that empty hype originates!) As far as "rubbing it in my face" goes, do bear in mind I'm still patiently waiting for the shellacking I was told to expect from that awesome, awesome Mummy coaster...
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt You know what bugs me about Universal's parks? I hate the way they market themselves. For instance, in the latest press release they call the Spiderman ride "one of the greatest attractions in theme park history". The press release for Transformers states "The attraction will fuse 3D-HD media, mega special effects and stunning robotics with a ride system that will transform perceptions of theme park experiences". Obviously that cheesy bravado is working for them but I find it obnoxious and almost laughable.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>Obviously that cheesy bravado is working for them but I find it obnoxious and almost laughable.<< Couldn't agree more. But, in all fairness, this has been around since Barnum, and it's the coin of the realm in public relations today. By the way, did you get this line from the recent Uni announcement that they're building two themed miniature golf courses: >>The experience is being designed by Universal’s creative team to do for miniature golf what a blockbuster theme park attraction does for a movie: bring it alive in an entirely new way. The two state-of-the art 18-hole courses will be unlike any other mini golf experience.<< And so it goes...
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Right, because Disney NEVER does that. Geez, talk about reaching...
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>Geez, talk about reaching...<< As I said in post #52: >>(And I don't care where that empty hype originates!)<<
Originally Posted By leobloom What's your hang up with the Spiderman quote? It is one of the greatest rides in theme park history, is it not?
Originally Posted By DlandDug Well, my hangup is with the phrase "one of the greatest" in any context. Only one can be the greatest. All others are among the greater. But then, who am I to argue with the writers of ballyhoo?
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>Well, my hangup is with the phrase "one of the greatest" in any context. Only one can be the greatest.<<< That's picking the meat pretty close to the bone. There is always a classification of great. If you take a bunch of great anythings, based on one's tastes, almost everyone will have their own opinion of which one is the greatest. So if you take a grouping of all those you come up with "one of the greatest". That leaves which one is actually "the greatest" up to individual perception. Unless there is a unanimous decision it will always be that way.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>That's picking the meat pretty close to the bone.<< No, it's semantics. Or grammar. I have argument that The Adventures of Spiderman is one of the greatest themed attractions ever built. I do argue that there cannot be "one of the greatest," any more than there can be "among the earliest" or "below the lowest." It's just my inner English teacher.
