Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Construction Discussion

[Ultranel]

Wouldn't matter. If the Nintendo news comes down that its opening in say, 2020- then do you say "would it be smart to move my 2019 universal trip to 2020?" So much will be added between 2018-2022 that you could keep delaying every year for "bigger and better"- so I'd just stick with 2018 and whenever your next trip happens, it happens.


But it didn't. They were holding on for dear life. Potter- and the money and families that Potter brought is what saved them.

I agree that they should differentiate themselves- I also agree they'll never "out-Disney" Disney. They're going to have to find a way to differentiate themselves while going after the money- and the real money comes from families- not thrill seekers and annual passholders.

As a big Walter fan, I never really liked the famous Disney Corporate answer all cast members and Disney Corp fanatics use, " the real money comes from families- not thrill seekers and annual passholders". It's kinda of a slap in the face to the Generation X holding the money today. If you have no kids, or family, you are just not a significant priority to us..... Once again greed takes over the original dream. It not about what we made (build) anymore, it's what we make ($$$) that matters. That's how we measure success in today's society.

 

[Ultranel]

I had heard that DC had major maintainance issues that were requiring nearly daily work to keep it running. So an expensive rebuilt would have been the only alternative to what they are doing. May as well redo the area, add an attendance enhancer, & fix the sightlines, then put back together a coaster that had lost much of it's popularity, for one reason or another.

Didn't know about the maintenance... and here we got Montu going strong after... wow! how many decades?

 

[Andysol]

If you have no kids, or family, you are just not a significant priority to us.....

I mean, if I'm a resort that expects to make money from my guests- I would prefer a hotel room be filled with a family of 4 vs a single person. Or even a couple. Could the couple or single spend more than the 4 people? Of course. But studies will show- that on average, the on-site family spends the most. You can hate that, but it doesn't change facts.

Also- Universal seems to always have the "If we build it, they will come" mentality- this certainly doesn't change it. HP has needed a tame family-friendly ride- which they don't currently have- this will include more people and demographic than it excludes. Again- DC has been 5 min wait all day long- I've checked 4 times today in the middle of July when school is out. No need to take it personal- its a smart move.

 

[rhino4evr]

I had heard that DC had major maintainance issues that were requiring nearly daily work to keep it running. So an expensive rebuilt would have been the only alternative to what they are doing. May as well redo the area, add an attendance enhancer, & fix the sightlines, then put back together a coaster that had lost much of it's popularity, for one reason or another.

Well that does make sense. I think the ride was plenty popular though. It just ate people.

 

[Mad Dog]

I mean, if I'm a resort that expects to make money from my guests- I would prefer a hotel room be filled with a family of 4 vs a single person. Or even a couple. Could the couple or single spend more than the 4 people? Of course. But studies will show- that on average, the on-site family spends the most. You can hate that, but it doesn't change facts.

Also- Universal seems to always have the "If we build it, they will come" mentality- this certainly doesn't change it. HP has needed a tame family-friendly ride- which they don't currently have- this will include more people and demographic than it excludes. No need to take it personal.

I would think their first priority is anyone who stays in their on site hotels, be they single, married, family, locals or tourists. That's where the guest spending goes through the roof. Hotel, plus all day meals in restaurants, drinks, tickets, and merchandise.

 

[Andysol]

Well that does make sense. I think the ride was plenty popular though. It just ate people.

It could eat people, but it really didn't. FJ can pump through more people than the 2 trains per track DC is currently running- and pushes around the same amount as when DC (rarely) has 3 trains per track.
Yet one is 5 mins and one is 60 mins right now.

 

[Ultranel]

I mean, if I'm a resort that expects to make money from my guests- I would prefer a hotel room be filled with a family of 4 vs a single person. Or even a couple. Could the couple or single spend more than the 4 people? Of course. But studies will show- that on average, the on-site family spends the most. You can hate that, but it doesn't change facts.

Also- Universal seems to always have the "If we build it, they will come" mentality- this certainly doesn't change it. HP has needed a tame family-friendly ride- which they don't currently have- this will include more people and demographic than it excludes. Again- DC has been 5 min wait all day long- I've checked 4 times today in the middle of July when school is out. No need to take it personal- its a smart move.

I get the math, it is told to every new employee at both WDW and UO orientation. The math works fine, just the pride is lacking. Then again this is our society mentality now, so of course it sounds perfect.... but it is the same mentality Walt had to fight against to bring his creativity to life back in the 50s. So I guess we are right on track lol.

 

[Andysol]

I get the math, it is told to every new employee at both WDW and UO orientation. The math works fine, just the pride is lacking. Then again this is our society mentality now, so of course it sounds perfect.... but it is the same mentality Walt had to fight against to bring his creativity to life back in the 50s. So I guess we are right on track lol.

Ok... I guess I dont understand what you're arguing now.
Is there any question the new Harry Potter ride will be more immersive and innovative than an exposed steel roller coaster?
The pride in a huge unthemed coaster that Rowling never liked and ruins the sightlines in every area of Hogsmeade including the train station? The pride in not wanting a themed forbidden forest area that fits the narrative perfectly while simultaneously adding something neither HP area has?

And why are we mentioning Walt at Universal? He certainly didn't build an exposed steel coaster with inversions and a 54" height requirement- so if we're trying to have that "Walt mentality"- then shouldn't this play into that hand? It seems like you're doing what almost everyone who mentions Walt does- cherry pick what he says to fit their narrative. But I'm failing to understand what the narrative is at this point.
So far I understand you personally liked Dragon Challenge and don't want it to go- which I can understand- but that certainly doesn't mean the sky is falling, nor does it represent a parallel with our society as a whole (whatever that means?)

 

[Ryan]

I get the math, it is told to every new employee at both WDW and UO orientation. The math works fine, just the pride is lacking. Then again this is our society mentality now, so of course it sounds perfect.... but it is the same mentality Walt had to fight against to bring his creativity to life back in the 50s. So I guess we are right on track lol.

Wasn't Walt's supposed reason for building Disneyland was to have a place the entire family can enjoy together?

 

[Paulio]

Wasn't Walt's supposed reason for building Disneyland was to have a place the entire family can enjoy together?

Correct, it wasn't just for kids, it's for the whole families to enjoy, teenagers to adults, you name it. Other parks before Disneyland were meant for kids and Disney wants to use his properties for everyone to enjoy. After all, it is the "happiest" place on earth.

 

[Mike S]

More Rides > Less Rides

It's almost as bad (not quite) as Disney announcing Tron coaster would replace Space Mountain.

Um, no. The coaster was an eyesore on Hogsmeade. I'm glad it's going.

 

[clsteve]

See, this is exactly my issue with this decision. UOR and IOA was the opposite of Disney when it opened. Mostly thrill rides, and fewer family rides.

I know they want to do more to "compete" with Disney, but I actually think being different is what worked in their favor.

I know this comment won't go over well on "these" boards, but UOR will NEVER beat Disney at it's own game. You may enjoy the park more, but it's never going to be "THE" park in Orlando. The best they can do is try and sway guests.
Considering Disney seems to be building some new rides that are tailored for Teens (SWL, GOTG, TRON), it may not be the best time to start building "family" rides and tearing down the thrilling rides that made the park popular in the first place. Plus Nintendoland is already on the way...

I realize this opinion may upset a few of you...

Once you announce 10K plus on-site hotel rooms and doubling you convention space, you can't "be" one thing. Gotta appeal to the broad spectrum to garner that length of stay and every strategic partnership and major investment since the Potter explosion highlights this- hotel/convention expansion, VB, Fallon, Nintendo, the 450+ acres and more Potter.

The Uni beating Disney at the Disney game is so last decade. They are quite happy winning their game and winning the metrics that matter while watching Disney divest it's massive (expensive) acreage, outsource it's high employee verticals, come up with pay or high capital investment options for it's aging transportation fleet and (finally) invest billions in upgrading the experience while still using upcharge events to show increased guest spend.

I don't think Uni is trying to win first place in that race.

I mean, if I'm a resort that expects to make money from my guests- I would prefer a hotel room be filled with a family of 4 vs a single person. Or even a couple. Could the couple or single spend more than the 4 people? Of course. But studies will show- that on average, the on-site family spends the most. You can hate that, but it doesn't change facts.

Also- Universal seems to always have the "If we build it, they will come" mentality- this certainly doesn't change it. HP has needed a tame family-friendly ride- which they don't currently have- this will include more people and demographic than it excludes. Again- DC has been 5 min wait all day long- I've checked 4 times today in the middle of July when school is out. No need to take it personal- its a smart move.

Exactly.

And as amazing and popular as FJ and Gringotts have been, there's still a significant portion of the Potter fandom that have trouble riding whether that's height, motion issues, etc. And you can't have all of the families in Nintendo and nowhere else once that comes on line.

As exciting as the ride is, I'm as excited to see what else might be part of this to alleviate all of the guest flow and crowding issues in WWoHP. We try to be out of there by 10:30am and not back until an hour or so before closing and that's unfortunate.

 

[Ultranel]

Ok... I guess I dont understand what you're arguing now.
Is there any question the new Harry Potter ride will be more immersive and innovative than an exposed steel roller coaster?
The pride in a huge unthemed coaster that Rowling never liked and ruins the sightlines in every area of Hogsmeade including the train station? The pride in not wanting a themed forbidden forest area that fits the narrative perfectly while simultaneously adding something neither HP area has?

And why are we mentioning Walt at Universal? He certainly didn't build an exposed steel coaster with inversions and a 54" height requirement- so if we're trying to have that "Walt mentality"- then shouldn't this play into that hand? It seems like you're doing what almost everyone who mentions Walt does- cherry pick what he says to fit their narrative. But I'm failing to understand what the narrative is at this point.
So far I understand you personally liked Dragon Challenge and don't want it to go- which I can understand- but that certainly doesn't mean the sky is falling, nor does it represent a parallel with our society as a whole (whatever that means?)

Sorry not arguing here at all... The dragons will go down and a new attraction will go up and that's ok with me. This can open new avenues for Sea World and I hope they take advantage of it. As Universal tries to become more Disney, Sea World can try to target those 13yo+ families and adults. They already built the best record braking coaster in all CFL and looks like the new raft attraction for next year will be another record breaking. So I am ok with the whole thing, just surprised with the shuffle of direction for all parks here. Besides after watching Universal's summer commercials again and again with the slogan "Mom, Dad, I'm not a kid anymore, I'm ready for more (Universal)"... well guess what kids!? LMAO and I am just joking here btw.

 

[Ryan]

Most of Universal's attractions are considered far more thrilling than the bulk of Disney's attractions in comparison.

 

[Imperius]

Thrill rides don't have to be steel coasters. Spider-man, transformers, Mummy, Kong, FJ, Gringotts, Doom are all what I would call thrill rides. An indoor family coaster with show scenes can be a thrill ride if it goes above 30 mph. This isn't trying to compete with slow omnimovers and boat rides that Disney likes.

 

[UAN17]

For a family Coaster, I'd love to have seen Seuss Landing get the much discussed Grinch Coaster. It would have rounded that area of the park off and not made it the walk through is now for those without kids. I understand why they've gone with Potter, but as I said previously I worry other areas are getting neglected at its expense.

 

[cwgator]

Didn't know about the maintenance... and here we got Montu going strong after... wow! how many decades?

You have to remember, the coasters at BGT (& SWO) have more frequent refurbs than I've ever noticed Universal doing on DD/DC, especially since Potter WWOHP opened. This is why they can keep Montu & Kumba (while a bit rough to me at the moment, but is having a refurb next month) running like almost new.

 

[SkiBum]

Most of Universal's attractions are considered far more thrilling than the bulk of Disney's attractions in comparison.

Cat In The Hat (original version) was almost more thrilling than Disney's offerings. Seriously though, I completely agree with this. That's why I like UNI's commercials where they talk about growing up to their rides with an insinuation that you outgrow Disney.

Question: How many PPH can Forbidden Journey process?

An indoor coaster at 40 mph can feel a heck of a lot faster than what it is going. Disneyland's Space Mountain is supposed to go 35 mph but it feels so much faster and out of control. Great example of an indoor "family coaster" that actually packs a whallop.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Question: How many PPH can Forbidden Journey process?

Theoretically around 2000 PPH, but always lower due to benches being out of service, stoppages, not filling every seat, etc.

 

[Mad Dog]

Theoretically around 2000 PPH, but always lower due to benches being out of service, stoppages, not filling every seat, etc.

Since the refurb, it appears their daily stand by capacity improved. Daily line stand by times decreased immediately. So the refurb probably increased benches in commission, less downtime/stoppages etc. , & other operations factors. They went a long time without any refurbs, short of overnight fixes.