The Many Problems Holding Back Universal Parks

The plot of so many rides is "This is a normal tour of- OH NO SOMETHING HAS GONE HORRIBLY WRONG!" I wish they'd try something new.

"Transformers is so poorly paced that it's difficult to understand what's happening the first few times around. Characters are just screaming out the names of other transformers as they appear because there's no time to process the action." Sounds like a ride that properly captures the Bayformers experience.

What annoys me most is fast and furious was the perfect opportunity for another fast paced mini coaster like the mummy. Instead of following that path they opted for yet another screen

The “cheaply painted on” detailing at Portofino is actually an authentic reproduction of the real Portofino in Italy, which uses the same trompe l’oeil style to represent brickwork and detail on their buildings. The resort is a literal scale model of the real location in Italy. The only other resort on Universal property that commits to its theme this much is Cabana Bay. Portofino is far and away the best premium hotel - amazing ambiance, commitment to detail, and multiple amazing dining options. Only downside is that it’s the farthest to walk from.

I think that the key is this: -Universal is headed in the right direction. -Disney is headed in the wrong direction.

Screens aren't the problem, it's how you integrate the screen into the attraction that makes it what it is. Transformers vs Spider-Man, Spider-Man wins due to it having some actual physical set-pieces so it makes it feel more realistic. One of the best-executed screen rides seems to be the new Jurassic World ride in Bejing since it doesn't over-rely on the screens to tell its narrative and has animatronics to help flesh out the feeling that you're really there.

Honestly, no theme park is perfect. But, I think there certainly should be a balance between how any company makes money, and pleasing it’s guests. And compared to Disney, universal has definitely been a guest pleaser... for the most part.

Universal adding a Mount Crumpet to Suess Landing sounds like an amazing idea. Not only would it help to revitalize Suess Landing and possible get Universal to spend some money fixing the rest of the land, but the Grinch is an IP that is both popular and has stood the test of time. My only concern would be if going with the Jim Carry adaptation, which I assume they would do, would clash with the rest of the land. Either way, Universal should definitely jump on this opportunity.

The thing is, I look at screens pretty much all day, every day. Screens are so ubiquitous in every single thing we do in our lives, and when I pay that high disney money (ostensibly as a vacation; a break from looking at screens all the time), I want to see something spectacular that I would never be able to see in my day-to-day life. Idc how advanced it may be, at the end of the day, screens are just screens. They are not "magical" things for us to see at this point in 2021. You know what I can't go see every day? Massive animatronics, highly detailed physical sets, places I could only dream of being able to physically experience. For the most part, screens are generally the lazy way of making an attraction. Make Disney have practical sets for dark rides again!

The problem with the Transformers Ride is exactly one of the same major problems the movies have - it's just a bunch of shit thrown at you on the screen.

I don’t always agree with your points or opinions HOWEVER, the sheer quality of your videos and dedication to giving a point plenty of time to dive into keeps me coming back!

To those of us who are not prisoners of nostalgic Disney trips from our youth, your videos are fantastic. Disney leadership is obsessed with profit margins. The used the pandemic as an excuse to take away almost all complimentary benefits of staying on property or coming to the parks. I still go to Disneyworld, but the "magic" is definitely gone.

Universal doesn't have the benefit of "Universal Adults". Compared to Disney, each property is it's own thing. Universal is more focused on selling you the individual IPs rather than the company brand.

For likely at least the next five years, if not decade, it just seems like Universal is on the up trend, while Disney is down. I think it will be more glaring once Uni’s Epic Universe opens (a serious potential contender to be DisneySea-level theming) and while Disney try’s to focus on low cost rethemes, attraction reskins, and upsell park’s experiences.

Dude, so glad to see you address this. Those "universal shill" commenters simply do not understand the points you make since you aren't sugar-coating the disney problems rn. They interpret those non-praising points as you hating disney, therefore you must be a "universal shill" in their eyes, when the opposite is true. You clearly have a passion for disney parks, and because of that, you just don't like seeing them go the way they're going now and wish disney would return to its former glory. Great stuff as always!

'the transformers ride is confusing' i think honestly thats just an issue with the source material in this case NBFJKDSHBJKSD

You make a lot of good points although I do feel Universal is trying much harder than the other parks at moving in the right direction. I expect Epic Universe to deal a major blow to Disney unless they step up their game substantially.

As someone with motion sickness, half the rides at Universal are unridable to me. The screens give me an instant headache. I’d still go back to Universal before I went back to Disney, there’s just more to do. And I can’t help but feel dirty giving money to Disney, lol.

Completely agree, most of us stare at screens all day long. Theme parks should be an escape from that.

Screens on larger rides should be there to enhance the experience, not to be the experience, done well on Forbidden journey, Spiderman, and Disney used a few screen on Dinosaur’s last update that work well. It’s also fair enough to use it when you have limited land to be able to make what must be a slower moving ride feel more exciting, only when done well of course. Then with 4d theatres, Disney definitely do them a bit better by adding something other than just the screen - bugs life animatronics, muppets animatronics, and laugh floor interactivity. Universal have been in a stage where they use extensive screens to save on costs. After however many years they realise that guests don’t rate the rides as highly and then go back go intensive physical sets. Disney are doing this a bit at the moment. I find Disney spends a lot more money than Universal for similar or lesser quality new attractions (compared to the new physical-theming-intensive Universal rides). Toy story land cost a similar amount to Hogsmeade, and is quite certainly a worse land.