Universal Announcement

Universal Creative are expected to make an announcement next week on January 25th via webcast, according to ThemeParkInsider and Screamscape. However, reportedly this is nothing to do with the expected Harry Potter replacement that theme park enthusiasts are anticipating.

The announcement will apparently contain details about the 4D Spiderman experience, the new Despicable Me attraction, a new parade and a new night-time 'spectacular'. 

Minion Mayhem: Coming to Universal
Spring/Summer 2012

Updates to Spiderman have been occurring since last summer and certain scenes already have the new High Definition footage whereas construction on Despicable Me also seems to be happening, with an expected opening date being reported from as early as spring to as late as mid-summer. The name 'Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem' seems to be the name for the new attraction, which will reportedly use the same ride system as Jimmy Neutron and Hanna Barbera before it. ThemeParkInsider are suggesting that the ride will transform the audience into minions and other rumours suggest some form of dancing will take place - similar to Jimmy Neutron's dancing finale?

'Universal's Superstar Parade' will incorporate Universal and Nickelodeon characters and details will hopefully be released in the announcement. However, if previous 'parades' are anything to go by, it will fall short by Disney standards. Similarly, night-time shows have fallen short in comparison and 'Universal's Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Magic' will be announced next week. Personally I have enjoyed Universal's 'Cinematic' night-time shows before. However, they could easily be improved and hopefully Universal will surprise us all with an exciting new show to rival that of Disney's. 

What's new?

Theme park fans have had a lot to talk about in the past month or so. Whilst a lot remains speculation, leaked information is beginning to find it's way onto the internet. I have searched through the endless threads and websites of information to bring you up-to-date.

Avatar: Coming to Animal Kingdom 2016?

To begin with, Disney announced it's plans to bring James Cameron's mythical world of Avatar to Disney's Animal Kingdom. Responses to the plans were surprisingly mixed considering Avatar (2009) is currently the highest grossing film of all time, receiving over $2 billion at the box office - the first film ever to do so. However, the added charge of viewing the film in 3D, which was the film's biggest selling point, would arguably have increased box office revenue and not necessarily reflect public opinion. However, this is also contrasted as reviews of the film seem to be mainly positive - so why the mixed reaction?

The general view from those who are disappointed with the Avatar project is because of the supposed 'lack of storytelling' of Cameron's visual spectacular. In contrast, Disney have always prided itself on its ability to tell a great story - this is reflected in many of its unique and franchise-based attractions. Instead, Avatar arguably relies on its visuals to charm and impress audiences - something Disney also does well. 

Regardless of its mixed reception by the theme park community, Avatar is currently in it's 'blue sky phase' meaning it is currently undergoing design. Sceptics believe that Disney's announcement of Avatar was rushed - as no plans have actually been decided. They believe the announcement was a retaliation of the success and prosperity of Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Avatar is expected to begin construction in 2013, with possible opening dates varying between 2016-2018. This would make it a direct competitor with Universal's rumoured plans.

Universal: Harry Potter is going to Hollywood!

Universal Creative announced in December that Harry Potter is coming to Hollywood - but what does this have to do with Avatar? At the time of the announcements, rumours were rife that Harry Potter was to expand at Universal Orlando. However, nothing was mentioned at the time of this announcement. Around the same time, Universal revealed it was closing its iconic and classic attraction 'Jaws' on January 2nd 2012. This was when the rumour mill really started.

Prior to the Jaws announcement, it was the general idea that any Harry Potter expansion would take place in the Lost Continent. However, the rumours then began that Harry Potter was to come to Universal Studios, replacing the Jaws and Amity section of the park. How would this benefit Universal?

Firstly, Universal would capitalise further on the phenomenon that is Harry Potter, which has boosted their merchandise sales substantially and their attendance figures by 30%. Secondly, guests who visit Universal to only visit 'Harry Potter World' would be forced to purchase a two-park ticket. Not only increasing average ticket sales but also increasing the amount of time that the consumer spends on Universal property and for many people, reducing the amount of 'Disney days' in their vacation. 

Gringrotts: New attraction to replace Jaws?

Moreover, on January 2nd Theme Park Insider posted a fantastic article about some 'leaked' Harry Potter plans. Whilst these aren't 100% guaranteed to happen, the article does suggest the expansion into Universal Studios will include the long rumoured Gringrotts ride, similar to the existing Revenge of the Mummy ride. There are also plenty more shops proposed for Potter fans to enjoy (and Universal to reap the economic awards of-course!) as well as a larger Ollivander's that would be able to accommodate more people. 

Will this happen? Only time will tell...

Is Transformers coming to Universal Orlando?

In a recent interview, legendary director and major influence on Universal creative, Steven Spielberg, recently spoke to Orlando Sentinel and possibly suggests that the Transformers franchise is coming to the east coast.

 “I always like to hear that people are still coming to the attractions we already have in the park. I know everybody’s going to Harry Potter right now. But we think Transformers is going to pretty amazing. We’ve been working on that for about three years now. It should be ready soon. I don’t have an announcement, yet, but it should be coming there soon,”

TBA: Transforming Universal
Hollywood and soon Orlando?

Earlier this year, I suggested that Universal might be anticipating a removal of Spiderman and replacing it with the Transformers ride that is going into the Hollywood and Singapore park. However, Universal are currently spending a lot of money on improving the digital projection of Spiderman, so the future of Spiderman and for the moment, Marvel Superhero Island seems to be in tact. So where would Transformers go? Personally I'd love to see it replace Twister in the Studios but by the looks of the plans for the other parks, the building doesn't seem big enough. There is however, a big space between MIB and The Simpsons Ride... 

Or is Spielberg merely getting his Universal parks mixed up? Who knows, perhaps we shall find out in the near future.

Streetainment!

The first thing that comes to a person’s mind when they think of theme parks, is certainly not street entertainment. Street entertainment comes in all shapes and sizes – whether its character greeting, impromptu shows or even a talking tree – it’s often these smaller aspects that give that feeling of ‘magic’ or awe that enthusiasts thrive on.

Lights! Camera! Action!: Hollywood Boulevard at DHS
is often the location of street entertainment.

For instance, the two theme parks in Orlando that are based on the movies – Universal Studios and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, seem to understand the importance of the smaller details. At Universal, you will frequently see old Hollywood stars like Monroe and the I Love Lucy Cast on the streets and posing for photos. Disney’s Hollywood Studios often have impromptu shows along Hollywood Boulevard which showcases a director trying to spot ‘talent’. Often these guest interactions make for life long memories at the parks.

How Devine!: Performance Artist at Animal Kingdom

Of-course there is the obvious character greeting, which some visitors make an art form! There are tonnes of websites out there that are devoted to snapping a photo with these characters. However, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a kind of ‘character greet’ that is slightly more unusual. ‘Devine’ is a performance artist who blends in to the shrubbery and trees, only to be seen when she makes a slight movement. The intricate and small details just show how much Disney values theming and guest interaction. Disney claim that Devine is used to try and encourage guests to question their opinion on nature, and make them see that ‘nature is not always what it seems’. However, personally I think Devine is a small detail of a park, that will stay engraved in people’s minds.

How Magical: A cheeky fountain at Universal
interacts and splashes guests!

Similarly, Universal has also adopted this approach with their talking fountain, known as ‘The Mystic Fountain’ which is located in now the much smaller island of the Lost Continent. Universal’s website includes a comment from a guest who describes the fountain as “Magical”*. ‘Magic’ is often a word used by Disney enthusiasts to describe the X-factor that Disney has over ‘amusement parks’ such as Universal – however, this clearly suggests Universal are more than capable of doing this too! In fact, this has been happening more frequently in the theming of the exterior of their attractions, such as The Simpsons ride where a telephone outside might give a guest a laugh or two! More recently, the toilets in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter reportedly have Moaning Myrtle sounds playing in the toilets – now that kind of thinking is Universal at its best!

I Kid You Not: A talking bin pulls in the crowd's at DisneyWorld

Finally, Disney could be claimed to be the pioneers of such intricate street entertainment. For a long time now, one of Disney’s main stars has been “Push” – The bin! This talking bin even has its own scheduled times that it will be making ‘an appearance’. What a load of rubbish…. ;)

The Showdown: Disney's Fastpass Vs. Universal Express

Once upon a time, Universal Orlando offered it's 'Universal Express'* as something accessible, for free, for all guests, which operated similar to Disney's FastPass** system. However, one day, Universal woke up and found a new way to get even more money - charge for the Express pass! The humble Disney kept its system and still to this day does not charge its adoring guests for this service.

So the FastPass seems better right? Well, the best benefit is that it is absolutely free! It is a virtual queing system and relatively fair as only one ticket can be used to get one fast pass (tip: read the fast pass! It has the time on which you may get another fast pass, which may well be before you have been on the attraction you have the FP for!) Though, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. And here's why.


The FastPass is free so it is used by EVERYONE (except for those tourists who do not even bother to read a park map!) hence the ques for the FastPass aren't always that 'fast'. The tickets for the major attractions run out very early on in the day, I can recall running to get ToyStory mania tickets 10 minutes after opening, only to find out my return time was 7pm! Twenty minutes later, there were no FastPasses left for this attraction. So the system isn't amazingly beneficial to those who wish to park hop around Disney, hitting its major attractions.

Whereas the Universal Express Plus, means only those who are willing to depart with even more cash (on top of the admission, parking, drinks, food, souvenirs, Shrek ears and butter beers...) and those staying on property (more $$$ for Universal!) get to use this service. So on the one hand, this is bad for us mere commoners, too poor or stubborn to splash even more cash at the park, but it is very beneficial to those who are willing, who will endure shorter ques due to the limited numbers on the passes available each day. 


However, Universal Express Plus gives only one ride per attraction, unlike the FastPass system where if you please, you could get FastPasses for the same attraction all day! Though, yet again, those staying onsite at Universal get UNLIMITED priority access (Wowsa!) so perhaps staying onsite might be worth considering if you want many of the perks Universal offer, including priority access.


So who wins? For those Disney lovers who refuse to admit such a thing as Universal is even a theme park, FastPass by a long shot - it is free afterall! And those Universal purists will claim Universal Express is the best thing since sliced bread and the money deters people making the system more effective.


Me? I'm willing to wait in long lines to spare a few Dollars and enjoy the themeing of the que. I also know the parks well enough to know how to minimise my wait time.


Oh I love you Single Riders....


* Universal Express is a premium service that guests pay on top of admission in order to gain access to attractions faster. Prices may vary from each visit and are highest during peak periods. Only one use per attraction. However, on-site guests have unlimited use for free (included as an on-site perk). More information can be found here
** Disney's FastPass is a free virtual queing system in which guests put their admission ticket into a booth near the attraction they wish to ride. A ticket is printed that gives the guest a return time to the attraction and they use an alternate que, skipping the long line of the stand-by que. Each ticket has a time on which the guest may get another FastPass ticket. More information can be found here


Tomorrow: Que jumpers - What should the parks do?