Universal Studios Florida: What Do We Think About It?

[sonoma15]

I find it funny that with Supercharged in Hollywood they had the 2 sections before the 360 screen to act as "preshows" and they copied that to Orlando. So now with the two added preshows Orlando technically has 4 preshows you have to sit thru for this ride. I think that's also part of the reason it's heavily disliked. You're just sitting still for half the ride watching exposition after you already did that for 10 mins in the queue.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I have so many problems with Supercharged that I don't know where to begin!

1. The scale/scope of it does not befit the scale/scope of the franchise (which has waned somewhat now, but in the mid-2010s, when the attraction was being designed, was arguably at its peak).
2. There is no actual speed, which is a problem when FAST is a key part of the name of the franchise!
3. The screen tunnel dilutes the uniqueness of Skull Island next door, which is the superior attraction. In the same way that Transformers (and, I'd argue, Gringotts) dilutes the uniqueness of Spider-Man.
4. The park lost TWO physical attractions (Beetlejuice and Disaster/Earthquake) for this thing.
5. None of the performers in the preshow or ride film(s) seem like they wanted to be there. You can just feel the contractual obligation seeping off the screen(s).
6. The CGI is awful.

In summary, it's a waste of space and resources!

I can see all of this, but I don't entirely agree.

1. The scale of the F&F franchise at its height could have supported a land, true... but it would have been a fairly boring land. As it is, the attraction takes up too much space, one of its main issues.
2. This is the trickiest issue. It is VERY hard to do both speed, theming, and story in a theme park attraction. The only really strong examples - and the speed section is very short - is Radiator Springs. I'd have loved a F&F ride in that style, but Uni lacks the space. Other then that, everyone always wants a coaster, which seems a very generic representation of a goofy franchise. I can't see F&F lending itself to a heavily themed coaster like Big Thunder. If Velocicoaster was the ONLY JP ride, I think it would be disappointing.
3. I REALLY don't mind repeating ride types that work. I want MORE Scoop rides. I want LOTS of Fantasyland dark rides. I'd much rather have good then unique.
4. F&F is a lot more fun for me then Disaster/ Earthquake and it isn't close. I never really got to fully appreciate Beetlejuice - I wish it was still around, and honestly it probably could be if they hadn't built the extraneous first F&F warehouse.
5. The bad acting and contractual obligation attitude is part of the franchise. I love it. I love the terrible line reads.
6. I don't think the CGI is actually that bad - it's not great, but again, its stupid fun.

The only positive point I'll add is that, as mentioned, the live preshows make it very rerideable in a way many attractions aren't.

Real world events mean the ride should go as soon as possible, but I'll be sad to lose it. I really hope we don't get a mostly-bare coaster replacement. Maybe we can get that Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory Flume I've always wanted (probably not)

 

[luckoftheirish]

I can see all of this, but I don't entirely agree.

1. The scale of the F&F franchise at its height could have supported a land, true... but it would have been a fairly boring land. As it is, the attraction takes up too much space, one of its main issues.
2. This is the trickiest issue. It is VERY hard to do both speed, theming, and story in a theme park attraction. The only really strong examples - and the speed section is very short - is Radiator Springs. I'd have loved a F&F ride in that style, but Uni lacks the space. Other then that, everyone always wants a coaster, which seems a very generic representation of a goofy franchise. I can't see F&F lending itself to a heavily themed coaster like Big Thunder. If Velocicoaster was the ONLY JP ride, I think it would be disappointing.
3. I REALLY don't mind repeating ride types that work. I want MORE Scoop rides. I want LOTS of Fantasyland dark rides. I'd much rather have good then unique.
4. F&F is a lot more fun for me then Disaster/ Earthquake and it isn't close. I never really got to fully appreciate Beetlejuice - I wish it was still around, and honestly it probably could be if they hadn't built the extraneous first F&F warehouse.
5. The bad acting and contractual obligation attitude is part of the franchise. I love it. I love the terrible line reads.
6. I don't think the CGI is actually that bad - it's not great, but again, its stupid fun.

The only positive point I'll add is that, as mentioned, the live preshows make it very rerideable in a way many attractions aren't.

Real world events mean the ride should go as soon as possible, but I'll be sad to lose it. I really hope we don't get a mostly-bare coaster replacement. Maybe we can get that Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory Flume I've always wanted (probably not)

Wonka is doing fairly well. So maybe a Wonka ride isn't that crazy after all. Not sure about a flume since people might be grossed out by the brown water lol

 

[Casper Gutman]

Wonka is doing fairly well. So maybe a Wonka ride isn't that crazy after all. Not sure about a flume since people might be grossed out by the brown water lol

Eh, the water can be raspberry flavored.

 

[Brian G.]

Man, a Wonka or Candyland area would make a killing.

 

[Ken96]

I will say Minion Blast is confusing at first, but its an attraction that gets better and better the more you do it. I feel like it was made more for APs and frequent visitors (especially with the app functionality) than the once every couple years guests.

I must say I agree with this statement….
The first time I “rode” during technical rehearsal, I thought it was REALLY bad. Then once the app integration started and they got better with spacing people…holy cow it’s probably one of my favorite rides in the park now. Plus the merch for it is top notch.

Unrelated: but Fallon is the best (non scoop/Kuka) simulator in at the resort. It is the absolute best use of that “not very big” building that it’s in. Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in on that debate.

 

[Mad Dog]

Man, a Wonka or Candyland area would make a killing.

I recall @Disneyhead saying, many years ago, that it was being considered for Lost Continent redo, but they went with the Toothsome Restaurant in CityWalk instead.....and that too is printing big money without paying for IP rights, to boot.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

My biggest issue with F&F really comes down to the space it takes up. They used an absolutely MASSIVE chunk of space for a nothingburger.

The F&F show building is larger than the show buildings for Mummy, Transformers. MIB, ET, Spider Man, and Forbidden Journey. (not combined obviously, but individually)

Fallon and Villain Con could obviously been a bit more than they are, but neither of them had the scope for a major E-Ticket and completely squandered it.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I will say Minion Blast is confusing at first, but its an attraction that gets better and better the more you do it. I feel like it was made more for APs and frequent visitors (especially with the app functionality) than the once every couple years guests.

I like Villain-Con, but theme park attractions need to be understood and enjoyable the first time around as most guests have 1 or maybe 2 chances of experiencing them per day (or for years).

I love APs, I'm one of them, but attractions (especially with the Minion IP attached) shouldn't be designed specifically for them.

 

[sonoma15]

I like Villain-Con, but theme park attractions need to be understood and enjoyable the first time around as most guests have 1 or maybe 2 chances of experiencing them per day (or for years).

I love APs, I'm one of them, but attractions (especially with the Minion IP attached) shouldn't be designed specifically for them.

I kinda disagree, you don't have to be an AP to enjoy it, the target audience (kids) love it because they love shooting at things, it doesn't matter what it is. The app functionality just adds an extra layer of interactivity and a ton of repeatability for APs/Frequent visitors, but it is not required to enjoy the attraction. It's the same situation as Super Nintendo World in my mind.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I kinda disagree, you don't have to be an AP to enjoy it, the target audience (kids) love it because they love shooting at things, it doesn't matter what it is. The app functionality just adds an extra layer of interactivity and a ton of repeatability for APs/Frequent visitors, but it is not required to enjoy the attraction. It's the same situation as Super Nintendo World in my mind.

The problem with Villain-Con is that it takes 2-3 ride walk-throughs to even understand what to shoot at or what exactly is happening. I think the attraction desperately needs a preshow that puts you in a room and forces you to watch a 3-4 minute "what the "#%&$" is going on.

Yes, we have the queue videos, but they only show off the attraction right before the merge and the expo floor.

 

[Mad Dog]

The overly tekkie designers sometimes confuse intricate/complicated with entertaining/fun. Keep it simple.

 

[sonoma15]

The problem with Villain-Con is that it takes 2-3 ride walk-throughs to even understand what to shoot at or what exactly is happening. I think the attraction desperately needs a preshow that puts you in a room and forces you to watch a 3-4 minute "what the #*@#" is going on.

Yes, we have the queue videos, but they only show off the attraction right before the merge and the expo floor.

I do think a preshow could be good but it would be really annoying to have to sit thru a 4 min preshow each time for the people trying to get repeat rides (such as myself). I think what they should've done is make a longer tutorial room as the first room doesn't really do a good job of explaining what you're really suppose to do. Hopefully they fix this if it gets ported over to USJ.

 

[IzzyB]

The problem with Villain-Con is that it takes 2-3 ride walk-throughs to even understand what to shoot at or what exactly is happening. I think the attraction desperately needs a preshow that puts you in a room and forces you to watch a 3-4 minute "what the "#%&$" is going on.

Yes, we have the queue videos, but they only show off the attraction right before the merge and the expo floor.

I agree. I think everyone was a little confused. However, I will say most shooting games you do have to figure out what to shoot and what not, what scores more, what doesn't. MIB is an example. But the GP only shoots and gets a score and they are happy. How it is, I think pre-room would be hard, but maybe more videos along the way may help.

 

[HandsomePete]

I will say Minion Blast is confusing at first, but its an attraction that gets better and better the more you do it. I feel like it was made more for APs and frequent visitors (especially with the app functionality) than the once every couple years guests.

Haven’t been on Minion Blast but this is how I felt about Spider-Man at DCA… made zero sense the first time I rode it (and my arms hurt too), but after 2-3 more cycles the idea of what you’re trying to do becomes more clear through all the chaos.

I recall @Disneyhead saying, many years ago, that it was being considered for Lost Continent redo, but they went with the Toothsome Restaurant in CityWalk instead.....and that too is printing big money without paying for IP rights, to boot.

They did get sued by that one person though… not that it went anywhere.

 

[pumpkinbot343]

What’s Candyland again?

 

[TheUniC6]

What’s Candyland again?

That board game from a lot of people's mine included childhood.

 

[Jake S]

What’s Candyland again?

perhaps the worst board game of all time

 

[Mad Dog]

Young kids love it though. Our grandkids were addicted to it.

 

[Brian G.]

perhaps the worst board game of all time

Somebody spent a lot of time in Licorice Castle.