Universal Studios Florida: What Do We Think About It?

[Clive]

It's unhealthy to collect data? I'm thankful to have a job that has downtime throughout the year where I can go ahead and collect and analyze theme park data (along with Blue Sky ideas)... not sure how this is unhealthy? Please don't think I sit around all day trying to "spite" UOR. I have my issues with them, and it's inevitable they'll be brought up in discussion.


Alone, sure. I was just bringing up this particular set in order to show that UOR has reduced park hours even with a new nighttime show.

The reduction in park hours is negligible... I do think they should keep the park open later, as a general rule, but if anything, this just shows they've generally increased park hours post-Potter coming to the resort and have been trying to find their footing post-COVID, which are pretty expected outcomes!

 

[belloq87]

But what constitutes a clear sign in this situation? HRRR getting replaced which they've confirmed?

Speaking just for myself? Strong rumors from insiders that one of the following is happening, in addition to replacing Springfield by 2030:

- New attraction to replace Fear Factor theater.
- New attraction to replace Supercharged.
- Dark ride in DreamWorks.

Ideally, one of those would have happened last year or be happening next year (giving 2025 to focus purely on Epic). Then, with the HRRR replacement probably in '27, you'd have a string of a couple major attractions leading into whatever big land is (hopefully) replacing Springfield by '30.

In the past decade alone they've:

- Replaced T2:3D with Bourne
- Replaced Kidzone with Dreamworks
- Replaced Twister with Fallon (RIP)
- Replaced Disaster with F&F (mistake)
- Replaced Shrek 4D with Minion Blast

Just sticking to the all-day attractions, the only one I think is worthy is Bourne.

And also, it should be self-evident but it's worth saying... this is all subjective. I think a lot of what USF's gotten since Diagon is, to be blunt, kind of junk, so of course that means I think there's a bigger problem with the park than those who think what's happened there has been fine. It's all a subjective taste question.

Now, I do think it's still pretty objective that the park's lineup still leans way too heavily towards projection-heavy rides/attractions, and the solution to that is pretty logical.

And so on. F&F may be a mistake, but the park hasn't been sitting untouched.

As I've repeated many times, I'm not claiming that money hasn't been spent there.

I question how it's been spent.

Ignoring the reception of some of the additions, how have they not given USF serious and sustained attention in the last 10 years?

I'm not saying it's perfect, and there's room for improvement, but... I don't think that's a fair take.

I think the attention they've given USF post-Diagon has made the park worse, and therefore it still needs even more constant work to correct the missteps.

But again... that's my subjective take. I think the park is in much worse shape than you (and others) do, so I see it requiring more urgency.

 

[Jake S]

Yeah, I think @Clive is right that the difference in operating hours is negligible. I do think it’s very disappointing that they aren’t running their new nighttime spectacular at least on weekends for the vast majority of the year, and that overall the attractions mix at the park (and general vibe) is merely okay.

I don’t have a take on whether or not the park has been properly invested in, mostly because i don’t think it’s all that interesting and hard to measure. But I do think it’s, by far, the weak link at the current resort and one of my least favorite parks in Orlando.

Replacing HRRR is a great first step, but the park “needs” to deliver some very good attractions to bring it up to snuff with IOA (and probably Epic, too). Bourne is the last great attraction they built in that park and before that … well it certainly helps that Diagon (the land) is imo the best in the world.

 

[Brian G.]

Please don't think I sit around all day trying to "spite" UOR. I have my issues with them, and it's inevitable they'll be brought up in discussion.

Why is this your go-to argument every time someone offers a rebuttal? It has nothing to do with that. Have a take, no matter how positive or negative. You're getting pushback from people because it doesn't make sense (or in this case, are going back to the well of data and charts, which has been stated by several people on here over and over that it can be flawed to fit arguments).

I think the attention they've given USF post-Diagon has made the park worse, and therefore it still needs even more constant work to correct the missteps.

But again... that's my subjective take. I think the park is in much worse shape than you (and others) do, so I see it requiring more urgency.

There's the difference! We all agree that USF needs help, but it's not due to a lack of attention. They just missed the mark and need to address it.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Why is this your go-to argument every time someone offers a rebuttal? It has nothing to do with that. Have a take, no matter how positive or negative. You're getting pushback from people because it doesn't make sense (or in this case, are going back to the well of data and charts, which has been stated by several people on here over and over that it can be flawed to fit arguments).

I've mentioned in the past that I like to be proven wrong. I'm not afraid of revealing my thoughts on this forum (as the entire Captain Cacao debate shows). I have hot takes, but I also give UOR credit where it is due (look at the food thread).

I don't bring up park hours, or collect data, for the sake of winning an argument. I want, like all of us, for Universal to run Cinesational and nighttime park hours throughout the year. I want to be proven wrong, but UOR still chooses to keep the parks closed up early.

 

[Clive]

I've mentioned in the past that I like to be proven wrong. I'm not afraid of revealing my thoughts on this forum (as the entire Captain Cacao debate shows). I have hot takes, but I also give UOR credit where it is due (look at the food thread).

I don't bring up park hours, or collect data, for the sake of winning an argument. I want, like all of us, for Universal to run Cinesational and nighttime park hours throughout the year. I want to be proven wrong, but UOR still chooses to keep the parks closed up early.

This isn't about being right or wrong in the way you're presenting it. You are making bold claims extrapolated from narrow data sets that don't say what you suggest they're saying. Others are pushing back, saying that your use of data is flawed. It doesn't mean those same people don't agree that Universal shouldn't keep the parks open a bit later.

In other words - I agree that the parks should be open later, and they should take advantage of their new top-notch nighttime entertainment! I also think they aren't regularly reducing hours in any real way like you are suggesting.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I also think they aren't regularly reducing hours in any real way like you are suggesting.

Can you expand on this point? The data literally points to a reduction in park hours. Am I reading this wrong?

This isn't about being right or wrong in the way you're presenting it. You are making bold claims extrapolated from narrow data sets that don't say what you suggest they're saying. Others are pushing back, saying that your use of data is flawed. It doesn't mean those same people don't agree that Universal shouldn't keep the parks open a bit later.

Bold claim? Not bold to claim when the data literally says USF is seeing reduced park hours throughout the year.

When it comes to more anecdotal experiences (like personal ratings of attractions), yes my data is flawed and using Google Reviews isn't the best form. But, I can't comprehend how my park hour data is flawed. Ticket prices are more expensive than in the past (true), and we're getting less time in the day. Food & Beverage pricing is more expensive, and the overall attraction package at the park is not what it should be.

 

[Jake S]

Can you expand on this point? The data literally points to a reduction in park hours. Am I reading this wrong?

the reduction in park hours since 2019 is, at least in my opinion, extremely nominal. i do not think that data suggests much of anything. if you disagree, fair enough, but that data isn’t a convincing argument imo.

 

[Clive]

Am I reading this wrong?

I don't know how else to say it. Yes, you are reading it wrong. The dip is negligible, especially when you take into account factors that aren't immediately apparent in this data, including expanded Halloween Horror Nights dates.

Whether you are getting less time in the day depends on when you are going and what point in the past (both the year and the month) you are comparing it to. If we're talking about the peak in 2016-2017, yes, you might get one less hour in the day if you visit at a certain time of year. If we're talking about 2009, you may be getting an extra hour or two in the parks!

Food and beverage prices have gone up at every park everywhere, just as the price of everything has gone up everywhere. "The overall attraction package at the park is not what it should be" is a subjective claim.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

the reduction in park hours since 2019 is, at least in my opinion, extremely nominal. i do not think that data suggests much of anything. if you disagree, fair enough, but that data isn’t a convincing argument imo.

Which is why I included data from as far back as 2009. Since 2015, the park has seen an overall reduction in park hours when we should have seen an increase instead.

 

[Clive]

Which is why I included data from as far back as 2009. Since 2015, the park has seen an overall reduction in park hours when we should have seen an increase instead.

...we kind of had a worldwide pandemic that throws a wrench in that theory. Park hours also can't increase indefinitely...

 

[Jake S]

Which is why I included data from as far back as 2009. Since 2015, the park has seen an overall reduction in park hours when we should have seen an increase instead.

Gotcha, I guess I don’t agree that park hours “should” have been increased since then. Agreed that it’s not in line with other parks it competes with, but I’d argue that the park doesn’t justify later hours — unless the show is running, of course. That I don’t think the park justifies later hours is, of course, a bigger problem haha.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer on how to interpret the data. Yeah, HHN definitely accounts for a lot but it is also bizarre that as attendance has hit newer heights (in 2021-22, at least) that hours haven’t gone up with it. I totally buy that the marginal returns aren’t there for Universal, but it does kinda suck.

For what it’s worth anecdotally, I do find the 7pm closures pretty frustrating and it even deterred me from squeezing in UOR on my last visit. But I’m also someone who is frustrated that DCA closes at 10, and that park can be slammed in those later hours.

 

[Brian G.]

I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer on how to interpret the data. Yeah, HHN definitely accounts for a lot but it is also bizarre that as attendance has hit newer heights that hours haven’t gone up with it. I totally buy that the marginal returns aren’t there for Universal, but it does kinda suck.

For what it’s worth anecdotally, I do find the 7pm closures pretty frustrating and it even deterred me from squeezing in UOR on my last visit. But I’m also someone who is frustrated that DCA closes at 10, and that park can be slammed in those later hours.

What if I told you last year, Universal had more nights open past 8 p.m. than before it?

I've mentioned in the past that I like to be proven wrong. I'm not afraid of revealing my thoughts on this forum (as the entire Captain Cacao debate shows). I have hot takes, but I also give UOR credit where it is due (look at the food thread).

Nothing to do with the topic, but this is an awful POV to have for discussion. This isn't a debate club. It's people discussing a common interest.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

...we kind of had a worldwide pandemic that throws a wrench in that theory. Park hours also can't increase indefinitely...

2022's park hours matched 2019. Since then, it's been in decline.

I'm sorry I keep bringing this back up, but a modern day Universal theme park should not be closing at 7PM... especially with a show as great as Cinesational.

For what it’s worth anecdotally, I do find the 7pm closures pretty frustrating and it even deterred me from squeezing in UOR on my last visit. But I’m also someone who is frustrated that DCA closes at 10, and that park can be slammed in those later hours.

As a local, I'm frustrated I can't hop into the UOR parks after work with their 7PM park closures. I'd love to go to Mardi Gras after work, but end up at Epcot cause it's always open to 9PM (which is early, but I digress).

If you want to compete with WDW, you need to compete at all facets. I've said in the past many times that Universal Creative can match the power of Imagineering... but operations is falling behind.

What if I told you last year, Universal had more nights open past 8 p.m. than before it?

Before what year?

 

[DarkMetroid567]

What if I told you last year, Universal had more nights open past 8 p.m. than before it?

Oh, I believe it! I just happen to be unlucky and visit on dates with 7pm closures. I guess I wish the baseline were higher/later?

 

[Brian G.]

2022's park hours matched 2019. Since then, it's been in decline.

I'm sorry I keep bringing this back up, but a modern day Universal theme park should not be closing at 7PM... especially with a show as great as Cinesational.


As a local, I'm frustrated I can't hop into the UOR parks after work with their 7PM park closures. I'd love to go to Mardi Gras after work, but end up at Epcot cause it's always open to 9PM (which is early, but I digress).

If you want to compete with WDW, you need to compete at all facets. I've said in the past many times that Universal Creative can match the power of Imagineering... but operations is falling behind.


Before what year?

I'm saying from Nov 2023 to Dec 2024, not counting HHN. Universal was open more nights past 8p

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I'm saying from Nov 2023 to Dec 2024, not counting HHN. Universal was open more nights past 8p

Total Number of Nights USF was open past 7PM:

2009 - 117
2015 - 233
2019 - 229
2021 - 181
2022 - 214
2023 - 197
2024 - 168

 

[Brian G.]

Total Number of Nights USF was open past 7PM:

2009 - 117
2015 - 233
2019 - 229
2021 - 181
2022 - 214
2023 - 197
2024 - 168

OK? and there are 365 nights. Take out the 60 or so nights for HHN, and you've got more than half the year open for 11 hours or more. What I said wasn't wrong.

 

[Tbad556]

Speaking just for myself? Strong rumors from insiders that one of the following is happening, in addition to replacing Springfield by 2030:

- New attraction to replace Fear Factor theater.
- New attraction to replace Supercharged.
- Dark ride in DreamWorks.

Ideally, one of those would have happened last year or be happening next year (giving 2025 to focus purely on Epic). Then, with the HRRR replacement probably in '27, you'd have a string of a couple major attractions leading into whatever big land is (hopefully) replacing Springfield by '30.


Just sticking to the all-day attractions, the only one I think is worthy is Bourne.

And also, it should be self-evident but it's worth saying... this is all subjective. I think a lot of what USF's gotten since Diagon is, to be blunt, kind of junk, so of course that means I think there's a bigger problem with the park than those who think what's happened there has been fine. It's all a subjective taste question.

Now, I do think it's still pretty objective that the park's lineup still leans way too heavily towards projection-heavy rides/attractions, and the solution to that is pretty logical.


As I've repeated many times, I'm not claiming that money hasn't been spent there.

I question how it's been spent.


I think the attention they've given USF post-Diagon has made the park worse, and therefore it still needs even more constant work to correct the missteps.

But again... that's my subjective take. I think the park is in much worse shape than you (and others) do, so I see it requiring more urgency.

Thanks for your clear answers and I respect your opinions on the matter