The Troubled History of Universal Studios Europe: Port Aventura | Expedition Theme Park

[@ChristianCorom]

After spending my childhood growing in Port Aventura and then working at Universal Mediterránea and PortAventura for 8 years, I’m so glad that you made this video to explain the journey of one the most unique theme parks in the world. By the way: If you want to know a little secret, if you ride the water rides of PortAventura (made by Intamin) and you check the little manufacturer stickers on it, you will see that still nowadays says TIBI GARDENS.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Oh amazing!

[@oleguergrauvilalta229]

que haces aqui christian!!

[@rushiscool]

Christian how was that experience

[@ChristianCorom]

@@rushiscool It was amazing all the way.

[@NickIggler1969]

​@@ExpeditionThemeParkwow so gay lol

[@fifthrider]

I'm grateful you did this piece. Even back when EuroDisney was announced I always thought Spain would have been a better idea. Nothing against France but there's a history of rejecting things outside of their parameters. Spain just seemed more open and inviting as a tourist Destination. This does seem to have proven that, even if Disney has spent a lot of time and money ( post initial construction ) to make their square peg fit into a round hole.

[@AmusementLabs]

"Pearson" *Studentn shudders & flashbacks*

[@DT-hg7te]

@@itstheendoftheworldaswekno3343 They also owned Alton Towers. Some of the biggest attractions in the now merlin parks were Pearson projects.

[@TheMADmk]

We went to port aventura as part of a school trip lol. I wonder if Pearson gave discounts.

[@deud.]

PortAventura is such a great resort it's really underrated imo

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Agreed

[@PSmovieProductions]

I loved the park during my stay, however, the operations are horrible as some rides don't run full capacity, some rides even open 2 to even 3 hours after park opening, slow dispatch times, oversold express passes and many, many many queue jumpers.

[@deud.]

@@PSmovieProductions yeah that's what really brings the park down imo, it's just understaffed in general and makes it lack the magic other theme parks have

[@tomwilsonn]

ProSap Games I was expecting the worst when I went because there are a lot of stories like this but I saw nothing like it in June 2019. Only a couple of queue jumpers but nothing crazy.

[@Croz89]

My god that ad was cringy. Yes, the secret Spanish beaches that millions of European tourists flocked to every summer for decades before this place was even conceived...

[@mikeevans3040]

Lol... It was only made a few weeks ago and is talking about the coronavirus... think it helps putting it in context 😉

[@nashwagemakers]

yes like costa brava? never heard off...

[@newguy90]

I was expecting a pair of three fingered gloves to apply suntan lotion to the sunbather's shoulders - considering it's an ad for a theme park, and all.

[@queenmedesa]

We have more interesting things in Spain

[@Hect0rin0]

A park concieved by the owners of Busch Gardens, Alton Towers and Tibidabo that later on fall into Universal hands. This has to be one of the most interesting theme parks stories ever.

[@CyberChamp]

I never clicked on a video so fast. I was meant to go back this year after 12 years of not going as I used to go nearly every year as a kid. It has my favourite attraction of all time "Sea Oddessy"

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

2020 boo

[@martamedranomauri9910]

Sea Odyssey was lovely

[@jes_salvad]

Sea Odyssey this year was removed. In the last years they were changing the film with really bad movies and thus year it wouldn't open

[@CyberChamp]

@@jes_salvad I am aware. The original attraction was changed a few years ago to an Ice Age ride. I will miss Sammy the Dolphin so much.

[@jes_salvad]

@@CyberChamp Since 2010 already change to a 4d cinema of cheap movies like Turtle Vision, Aquaride, Submarine Odyssey, Portal, Alien Safari. From 2015 to 2017 the Ice Age, and from then until now Dino Safari. We miss Sammy 😢

[@ttvframez3030]

So your telling me the company that makes my stupid math books owned port aventura

[@DT-hg7te]

And Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington etc.

[@Ali-om6up]

I WAS JUST AS SHOOK

[@ChloeClements34]

In the early years the park really felt like a supersized Spanish Alton Towers with the theming of Busch Gardens. There were design choices and procedures in place that really meant from a guest perspective it really did feel like that. I remember being sad when Universal started to make changes but in the end the years they did invest the shows and attractions brought in by them were world class. Still it is now a great park with poor operations, budget cuts and no longer has world class entertainment.

[@SaveMeMoon]

Finally a park I've been to! PortAventura is amazing, and I'm so happy Disney decided on France or we wouldn't have gotten this park (which I had no idea about until today!) I haven't been to many parks outside of Europe but out of the ones I've been to PortAventura is my favourite in terms of overall experience. Not only are the rides great but the different areas and the theming are all top class! I had fun just walking around the park, finding all the little theming secrets and taking pictures. I've also heard that the shows are some of the best, but the lines were so long that day that we barely had time for anything else unless we wanted to miss out on some of the big rides. Thanks for the video! I hope to see more non British European parks on the channel in the future!

[@carlieXlouise]

What's weird then is that universal backed out in 2004 and yet on my first ever trip in 2008, it was still completely advertised as universals portaventura on all signs and merch and in the park were all universal characters like Betty boop, popeye and Olive oyl, shrek and fiona etc.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Still is

[@Ragan31687]

Porta Adventura sounds like an interesting park. I’d like to see more about it

[@randomlybernice]

I was able to visit Porta Aventura in 2018!! My favorite ride is Shambhala!!! I totally recommend Shambhala for those who are adrenaline junkies like myself!

[@sofa_king_ay]

It's a fantastic park you NEED to go makes Alton Towers and Thorpe Park look like what used to be Camalot

[@AlphaStunting]

its an amazing park! with the addition of ferarri land right next to it, its a absolute bucket list park! loved every second i spend there

[@quesomaso5504]

Ragan31687+ Yeah it looks really fun I might want to go there some day

[@Ragan31687]

Corwin1503 I’d love to one day. I’m from the States and have never been to Spain but it is now on my Bucket List

[@katelon678]

I remember going to this park as part of a school trip in around 2000/2001 when touring with a school orchestra. Dragon Khan was such a great coaster to ride and I remember having a great day. I had no idea it was a universal park at the time! Thanks for covering this park and indeed all your videos. I hope that I get the chance to return one day.

[@martamedranomauri9910]

More Port Aventura any day please. Its my childhood Park and its thoroughly impossible to endure in summer, but I can't help my love for it. It would be nice to know more about the Halloween 2003 event :)

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Great idea!

[@dizzyduck44]

Dragon Khan. Without doubt one of the best roller coasters I’ve been on. So smooth.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Love it!

[@Tephlosion]

I can see Disney Euro being localized in Spain would have been better for everyone. I’m happy that Disney Paris works now but Eisner definitely picked the wrong country back 30 years ago.

[@TheGuvzilla]

Totally agree, Euro Disney would have been much better in spain.

[@Kippenhok2019]

That's probs just because your closer to Spain, as a Dutchy it 's much farther to go to Spain then France

[@mstrmren]

No. Most people in Europe live near Paris, with Big city’s like Brussels, London, Cologne, Stuttgart, Amsterdam and Paris ofcourse, and There Are More Tourists in Paris. Definitely the better location.

[@egel7736]

I don't see how that would be better, considering Paris is more in the center of Europe than Spain and way easier to get to for many Northern, Western and Eastern Europeans.

[@rtmclean484]

@@egel7736 That's not really important though, Spain id all of Europes holiday destination pretty much, Spains tourism dwarfs Frances. France and especially Paris is a very expensive place to holiday in the summer. Salou and even Barcelona by comparison is very affordable and nearly everyone can afford a holiday there.

[@simtanic8]

I got to stay at Port Aventura for a week while it was under Universals control and have to say the park was fantastic. The staff, the rides, and the atmosphere were all great. I remember riding Dragon Kahn 7 times in a row, seriously one of B&Ms underrated coasters.

[@joanaguayoplanell4912]

Hard to call it underrated when it was the universally agreed to be best roller coaster in Europe for years. And honestly it's still the best of the park, yes Shambhala and Red Force are much taller and Furius Baco is faster, but none of them is anywhere as intense as good old Dragon Khan.

[@AquaBlock68]

I actually would've like to see a Decapitated Woody Woodpecker. It kinda makes me think of the other bizarre stuff Universal can do with their cartoon characters during their Halloween Event. Like, imagine a conjoined Rocky and Bullwinkle or Zombie Minions.

[@annieskywalker9290]

Or having the ghost of lord farquaad there

[@Thedanyeager623]

IDK who the voice over guy was for the park, but goddamn did I feel some things when he was talking. Fear, happiness, thrill of victory

[@SPRidley]

As a spaniard I was really waiting for this. No international youtubers talk about the history of portaventura. Its a pity that investindutrial has basically destroyed what the park standed for. If universal would have stayed here, we could have had such an amazing theme park right now, not only that but probably a studios park and i wouldnt have to go thousands of km to experience Harry Potter or Super Nintendo World. Also huge thanks for using the old main theme of the park (and that old logo is also amazing!). That theme was epic and everytime it was used in the commercials it make me want to go and experience it again. Now I only go there for Shambhala, and thats really it. Such a pity. Though i have to add, theres more information than the surface of eurodisneyland going to Spain. Salou, while considered was not the last battle till France got it, Salou was discarded before the last Spanish site was discared, and that was Gandia (near Valencia, Spain), until the last moment the politicans there were trying to get the park, visitng th Disney studios various times, inviting the disney representatives to big paella lunches when they came here and up to the point that they built the Orlando Disney Castle as a monument for the Valencia Falla's festival in the city hall's plaza in 1985, because they really thought they were near to get . Sadly, there were conflict of the central spanish governement not wanting the park there and wanting near Seville instead, which Disney refused, as the local Valencian governement couldnt do much againts the central spanish one, that was one of the big conflicts of Spain finally being the home of mouse in europe. It would be cool if an amazing theme park hstory youtuber like you talked about it in the future.

[@darebear69]

last time i was in portaventura was for my 30th birthday, 13 years ago when they were building Furios Baco.. i can still remember dragon khan to this day. just WOW. Id also love to see videos on Terra Mitica aswell. another great park in spain

[@spochysrandomnetwork]

as a castillian person im so glad i live near portaventura, its a great theme park

[@EuroDC1990]

I visited back in 2005 when it was Universal Meditteranea, stayed in the Hotel El Paso which was one of her resort hotels and it was absolutely incredible! Went back a couple of years later but not staying on site and again loved it. Would still love to go back again. The theming was incredible, especially the China area.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

So cool!

[@jacksmith427]

I absolutely loved PortAventura when we visited a few years ago, it is most definitely underrated as i never seem to hear anything about it! Please keep up the fantastic work with your videos and make some more on PortAventura !!

[@coastercrazy3]

Been coming back to Spain for the last 15 years to revisit this park and it still blows me away every time! I was surprised when John Wardley said in a meet & greet that he had designed Dragon Khan as at that point i’d had no idea, and said that the American and Spanish companies had fallen out at the time the park was being developed. I really enjoy these videos, so much effort is put into them. Even noticed the templo del fuego music in the background!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you

[@samwilliams9919]

Went here twice in my early teens with family and love this park. Incredible theming and atmosphere, would love to see some more videos on this place.

[@SciSarhan]

I'm so glad to see some love for this park!! I've been visiting it since I was a wee kiddo - it was our family's favourite holiday destination. We're from the UK and it's insane to think how Tussauds had a hand in this park - Thorpe Park is in tatters compared to how pristine and beautiful PortAventura is maintained. Definitely blows Euro Disney out of the water too - I've been to parks all around the world, but if I had one day left on Earth and could spend it anywhere in the world it would be PortAventura.

[@chrishaswingz]

Can't wait for more expeditions on PortAventura, having revisited it last year after 10 years away, it still holds up as a fantastic thrill and family park

[@mistys.1160]

I got instant feels at 6:29 when I immediately recognized Loch Ness, my 1st coaster. Please do more on this great park and it’s rides.

[@jjessiiexe]

My cousin and her family went to Port Aventura around 2005, but I always had no clue what the park was about etc, so this video cleared a lot up for me!

[@demongorr]

I feel that seeing Woody Woodpecker dance to Gangum Style has taken away part of my joy for life

[@pjw1993]

When I was a kid/young teen, all the kids channels used to get bombarded with ads for Universal Mediteranea, so I almost forget sometimes that it was such a brief period they had it for. Plus I’ve still never had a chance to go, but hopefully that’ll change at some point :)

[@Elixo191]

PortAventura is such a beautiful and fun park. I love it! One of my favorite Theme Park!

[@mattharrison6909]

Absolutely loved this! Been hoping you’d cover PortAventura for a long time 👌🏼 can’t wait to see some more on the park 💃🏼

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@anthonyreynolds6268]

Would definitely love to learn more about portaventura and Ferrari land. Visited both parks last year and they were amazing. Such a well designed and looked after park in my opinion.

[@dustinwashere]

Imagine how busy it would be now if Universal still owned it and added Hogsmede with Hogwarts.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

True

[@annieskywalker9290]

And Super Nintendo World

[@leonardo_decapitated4644]

Back in the day, my sister visited this park with family in Spain while my family visited the Orlando park, and i remember she brought me a park map and i was like "we both went to universal lol".

[@JusteUnePetiteChose]

Thank you for the background music choices! I always get goosebumps hearing the original anthem, I grew up with this park so it means the world to hear it. Bonus points for the Templo del Fuego soundtrack too ♥

[@4952b]

I always thought it was a well-known fact that PortAventura was a Universal park (albeit for less than a decade), but based on the comments, apparently it's not a well-known fact? My bad. 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@kyliethelittlespider-mangirl94]

I would love to see Expectation Theme Park talk about Parc Asterix or its rides. Seriously that park is underrated and I would gladly go there over Disneyland Paris!

[@JainkoAteoa_]

Amazing video! Being that PA is my local park( I live like 40km from it), i did know that it used to be a Universal park but i didn't know the full story. Would love to see more of it! Great Work , hope to see more videos about PA rides and shows!!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@jauipop]

I’ve been to this park a few years ago for a work trip (didn’t go on any rides... just did a walk through with the owners). There was a planned Ferrari land (which is open now) and a huuuge casino project that I was working on getting investors. Also did a tour of the golf course and the club over there. Beautiful area and I wish I would have actually gone there for a holiday instead of having to have been in a suit. Haha.

[@micycles1200]

Probably the most interesting thing I learned in this video is that Pearson - the people who I know most for making textbooks, one of the most boring things in the world - were the owners of at least 2 theme parks. WTF?!?!?! How much more opposite can you possibly get?

[@babyalexander]

I like the way tussauds/Merlin held the record for 3 coasters with most inversions

[@Londonso]

I absolutely love PortAventura! Yes, they have poor operations (the worst actually), but the park is amazing! It’s gorgeous, the attractions are great and I just love it!

[@themisfitowl2595]

I am pleasantly surprised! A park that had negotiations with Disney, Bush Gardens, Seaworld and Universal, and had all of them withdraw, yet it managed to stay a rousing success without the need of these big corporations helping it along. I love it! I hope I get to go there someday!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I hope.you do too!

[@StartRecording]

I've only been to PortAventura one time as like an 11 year old and the only 3 things I can vaguely remember are refreshing myself at the Fountain at the entrance with a lot of water, being on the Rapids ride and walking through a part of the China area, I definitely wasn't a thrill seeker then so I didn't go on any big rollercoasters or anything but now I'd love to return there now that I'm a thrill seeker for sure because it looks so fun and so well themed.

[@TheLifeofBez]

My favourite European park was there last may. Incredible park and sunshine every day. Can't wait to go back for the 25th later this year. Cover more about the park please as much as possible.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Okay!

[@hode_jzm]

Wow thank you for this video really enjoyed watching it. Ive been visiting since I was 9 when I first rode the Dragon (now it really needs a retrack). Well, now PortAventura is for sale and its time for Universal to come back. Let this halloween be the last shabby one!

[@Demon-POT]

Wha!?!!?!?? Portaventura was a universal park!!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It wasss

[@alphazeroproductions4811]

@@ExpeditionThemePark ever since I found the PortAventura Explaines by Coaster BOT

[@Vexmus_]

my reaction too!

[@spiker_rider10]

Well yeah woody wood pecker

[@stutheironman]

Went to Port Aventura when I was 10. Fun park to visit

[@mgsol75]

Love it! At last there is a video explaining Portaventura's full story! Thank you

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@maronhopequeno3033]

Awesome park, best coasters in southern europe, and no point comparing to other parks in Spain like Warner or Terra Mitica. This one is simply better.

[@rjc0234]

When I was a kid If you couldn't make it to Disney World Orlando, the next best place to go was Port Aventura. Euro Disney was was always too cold and wet.

[@trvlnthru]

Fascinating episode about a park I didn't know existed. Had no idea Universal ever had a theme park in Europe. Thanks for another fun video!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@Jaxymann]

In hindsight, I’m glad neither Disney nor Universal set up shop in Spain: PortAventura has its own distinct feel to it that can’t be matched by the others

[@ig1357]

Universal tiene interés en volver a PortAventura.

[@JonnyCisero]

I am a great fan of PortAventura, So looking forward to going again after Corona. Definitely worth a visit.

[@Couch_potato123-w5g]

I’ve been to portaventura 3 times since 2017 and it’s my favourite theme park in Europe

[@DanArnets1492]

FUN FACTS · My dad worked there. The family business back then did ALL the wood work (except for wooden rides, handrails and barrers) of the park. At one point, every grandstand, restaurant and piece of decoration was made by them. · Due to that, I visited PortAventura like 2-3 weeks before it opened. Entrance and food was 100% free for the people that worked there. · I was probably the first child to be lost in PortAventura, my parents pretty much forgot about me (I was looking at some ride) and needed 20-30 minutes to find me. · Height limits were not so strict during that workers-only day, we went to the park 1 year later (paying) and I wasn't allowed to ride some of the places even though I was a few inches higher! · For the longest time, the Mediterranean was supposed to be the "boring entrance" to the park as it had no thrill rides in any way. · Depending on your manhood, you're bound to have a bad time riding the Serpiente Emplumada (Feathered Serpent). It's a fairly long ride and I've basically lost sense of my balls for a couple of hours afterwards on some occasions. · The theme park flows in a counter-clockwise manner. Everyone enters through the Mediterranean, then you're supposed to continue to Polynesia with China & Mexico being the most typical places to eat, hit the Wild West during the afternoon or even sunset and end back in the Mediterranean to enjoy the parades, final show and fireworks.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

That's awesome!

[@DanArnets1492]

@@ExpeditionThemePark - Most people in the area just go during weekends (even during holidays) so I don't know how they expected more visitors. On good days it's 100% common to see the infamous "3 hours" or "2h30' " pop pup in the predicted waiting times signs all over the park.

[@lilpthebasedpoque]

i'd definitely like to see more about FerrariLand and PortAventura!

[@ScrewyLoops]

Loved it! Insane to see so many big names collaborating to make this park what it is now. Got a soft spot for PortAventura ❤️

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Such a great park!

[@wrc5557]

Really great to see the construction footage of Portaventura - been looking for that for years. Would be great to see more episodes on Portaventura, its such a well themed and under rated park. Incredible to hear how much less they spent on it originally than Disney Paris - Portaventura was the park that really sparked my interest in themeparks after my first visit all those years ago!

[@JonnyWanders]

Thanks for a very well produced and interesting video about one of my favourite theme parks! I think Disney should have chosen Spain if only for the weather! I always thought it was well worth flying to Florida or Spain - blue skies and sunshine help the magical experience right? Would love to see another video about PA and also how about Warner Bros. in Madrid? - amazing Batman coaster with VR goggles. Cheers Sam - loving your work! ❤

[@lewis9s]

The last time I went there was still a Universal thing by the toilets in the water park. (2019)

[@fruitdownloader8170]

12:30 wow I had forgoten about this ride it was one of my favorites as a kid....this video brings back childhood memories of my family's trip to spain when I was 7....I'd love to see you cover more of Port Aventura's history....maybe looking at the development of each area (Polynesia, Mediterrània, Mexico etc.) over time?

[@harpy5677]

Now there is Seseme Street or sesame adventura

[@OrangeStar222]

We were supposed to visit PortAventura this summer, but due to obvious reason, our visit has been postponed until after the thing that is affecting us all right now. At least the Efteling is open again to satisfy my theme park needs! Great video! I can't wait for coverage on more European theme parks!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@McNabbot]

Hey ETP, ever heard of Tripsdrill? It's a theme park in Germany with a fairy tale theme with some rather bizarre attractions, even a dark ride about the history of bathing featuring plenty of nude mannequins. As expected of the German people.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I have! Maybe something to cover in the future

[@benmichael2571]

I've been to this park so many times and never realised it was gonna be a universal park

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It was a Universal Park!

[@tallicay2k]

Ah Port Aventura, it's ran horrendously with major queues, rubbish throughputs and notorious queue jumping.

[@isobelrobertson9225]

My son just showed me this video, 1st went to Port ventura the year after it opened with my boyfriend now hubby we loved it. It was the 1st theme park we took our kids to my eldest also gave us a fright when he was 3 and had to visit the onside hospital they had staff were amazing. My daughter was only 9 months when we last went in 2008 so doesn't remember it. We planned to return in Easter 2020 but cancelled due to Covid. My kids have been lucky enough to visit Florida 3 times 4th visit for summer 21 was cancelled due to covid, we changed florida for alton towers but again covid had other ideas. Hopefully be back to the theme parks soon.

[@ethanlamb20059]

I've been going to portaventura every year on holiday as a kid and I've known of its history a little and wanted to know more and this video has done just that thanks

[@diarmaidmoloney5611]

Some amazing Rides in the Park. shambhala, red force, dragon khan, furius baco. It's definitely a park worth going to. Hopefully I'll get back there sometime.

[@EgAtelevision]

great video, i enjoy so much traveling to port aventura from time to time and i hope u will continue making this videos about it. Great job!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@THEFLAPJACKMASTER]

I've been hoping you'd cover this for a while, thank you! I went a couple of times as a kid while it was still Universal with Woody Woodpecker everywhere, during their Halloween celebrations and I remember it being scary af, even in my hotel with scare mazes and actors walking about. I still even got the merch from the place

[@pinkunonotdead6301]

I really liked port aventura. was there 3 times and i even won an elmo at a carnival. :) Oh and also the wild west was my favourite place to take a walk. And i cant wait to comeback.

[@Topitopi14]

I couldn't be happier when I saw you have made a video of Universals Mediterranea, I have been waiting for it for a long time. Actually, before knowing you even had the idea to make it I wanted to ask you to do so and send you some interesting information about the history of the park. The point is that a couole of months ago I read an interview of one of the Spanish representatives of the park during the negociation with Disney where he explains how the proyect was going forwards Spain when Michael Eisner made presion in the company in order to build it in France instead of Spain (the final score was 3 points to France and 2 to Spain). I remember he says how the studies (location, WEATHER, culture, local regulations...) said the Barcelona location was more positive. Something very interesting is that he also mentions how after this situation Michael had internal problems with his partners and they regreat to have chosen Paris (we all know the problems the park had). I completely believe this version as the interview really gives lot of information and doesn't surprises me Eisner's behavior. Would have been amazing to have a Spanish version of Disneyland, but thanks to all this we now have PortAventura and some unique rides at Disneyland Paris (such a Soace Mountain). Thanks again for this great video!

[@DarMar106]

I’d love to see a video on Sea Odyssey. Idk if it’s still the case but I remember it being advertised as a must do and a very Disney quality attraction. Same with Temple of Fire

[@adamhainsfurther8644]

I'm an American who doesn't know much about the European theme park scene (outside of what I've learned watching Expedition Theme Park videos natch.) I loved this video and am def. excited to learn more about PortAventura in future videos.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@stephensworldofadventure]

What a great video. Really interesting. Didn't even realise this park existed 😎

[@nathan0mcbride]

Portaventura is hands down the best theme park in Europe by a mile

[@nathanjones5623]

Having been to Port Aventura a few years ago, I had no idea it has a history with Universal. Keep up the amazing work with the videos; such a great channel.

[@amyjones8504]

I would love more portaventura videos! It’s one of my all time favourite places to visit apart from WDW! This was a great vid :)

[@piercethebee8612]

ive been going to port aventura since i was really young and i always loved it!!

[@gmanley1]

At least the Universal era didn’t entirely go away...

[@Orange_Laowai]

I am glad that someone has finally done a video on this!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Tha ka for watching

[@ImmelmanFooters]

wow man what a work! 👏👏 You made me nostalgic. I remember when I was a kid and Universal was in the park. Actors, animations, shows in every place, absolute immersion. 😣 Stampida needs RMC

[@KackUp94]

PortAventura is officially added to the bucket list. Great video! id still be very interested in an expedition phantasialand. such an interesting park. thank you and keep up the good work!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I will

[@jdl51]

Love this park so much! Their Haloween nights are brilliant

[@RStapleton100]

Ohhh I went there a couple of time as a kid! I absolutely loved it!!

[@TheDarkVictini]

I went to Port Aventura with my Spanish friends when I was spending christmas with my spanish family.

[@cadendicky1855]

Geez, why has almost no one on KZbin known about this until now. Its was Universal.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It was!

[@Clay3613]

@bigevilworldwide1 Strongly disagree, Universal Florida was better than MGM Studios till 2002. They actually had real TV shows and movies being filmed.

[@lewis2524]

Now that was in my top 3 of your videos.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@safari3608]

I haven't been to that park since May of 2010 I completely forgot about that park brought back memories I still have some videos of my time there! And now it's 2021 where does the time go!! Please make more videos 📹🙏!!!

[@PaddletailPhilly]

Brand-new expedition, let's hecking gooooooooooooooooooo

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

yessssssss

[@chocolatetop5861]

Another informative and entertaining offering. 👍🏿👏🏿

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Much appreciated

[@Boom12]

In the time of lockdown..... I'm early here.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Woo

[@Kukamonga2]

Nice video, brought lots of memories, since it's my home park and I visited it since it opened. It's still an amazing park, however, there's many things that went worse after Universal sold it and transferred the management. La Caixa has a ton of money, but when it comes to managing stuff they aren't the best... Food is one of the worst things in there, expensive and bad (with the exception of some restaurants). The amount and quality of spectacles between when it started and now downgraded quite a lot, with even some seasons not doing some shows. In Polynesia there's a semi-theater which was completely abandoned during some years (not sure if they're using it now or if it remains closed), near Tutuki Splash. Sea Odyssey was great when introduced, and had a lot of nice effects like water coming from the celling while riding and some vents blowing air towards the visitors, last time I was able to ride it it had nothing to do with it, and now several movies have passed through it, simple ones, nothing to do with the immersive experience Sea Odyssey gave. Even the theming remains the same in the queue despite not having anything to do with what they play there. Something else the park has downgraded a bit is on cleanliness and theming. Most of the original theming remains and many parts of the park are starting to look a bit old, the park is also now way dirtier than it used to be on the early days. Many rides would require some re-theming or at least some freshness. Furious Baco is one of the greatest rides of the park, but it's asking for a retrack... it's one of the roughest rides I've ever been into (it didn't used to be) and some parts won't work as they did (the pre-launch show is way worse now with the doors opened (loosing inmersion) and the lack of maintenance of the show room). They fixed a bit Stampida with the retrack but it's still pretty shaky... and Dragon Khan has been repainted several times but you can tell the track has 25 years as the head-banging increased over time a lot. With all this being said, it's the best park in Spain, and maybe one of the bests in Europe (haven't been into many). I would recommend going, but also I'd love to see it a little bit fresher as it used to be. And I'm also looking forward to the day Ferrari Land mixes with the mainland making it one entrance, all attractions (and my bets is that won't be too long until we see it)

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you

[@_Capybara_]

Universal was planning a park in Germany called Universal Hollywoodland/Universal Studios Krefield according to the Goddard Group. There was also a clip of an old news segment on KZbin that talked about Universal building a park in Essex, but I think it's been taken down. Would love to see more expeditions on cancelled/former Universal Parks.

[@samanthamaynard4447]

That Betty Boop head is going to feature in my nightmares forever.

[@ranmeeks]

Had never heard of this place before this video and now I want to go! Would love to see more videos on European theme parks. Europa park comes to mind. Keep up the good work!