The Many Problems Holding Back Universal Parks

[@hanonondricek411]

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.

[@blakedorn24]

lmao literally. except velocicoaster which is crazy because it’s the only jurassic park thing that has ever turned out right

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I definitely agree. A large issue with narrative for screen-based attractions is how they usually follow this formula. I think that's a major reason why I enjoy Flight of Passage so much. It's all about the atmosphere, and while there is conflict, it doesn't dominate the entire experience.

[@500ccRabbit]

This. It feels like it's trying to be meta but it comes off as lazy.

[@triggeredbeetle5370]

@@PoseidonEntertainment also flight of passage is the most groundbreaking and immersive screen ride ive ever been on. you can literally feel the banshee breathing and the smells of all of the environments. I can actually feel my stomach drop with flight of passage, no other screen ride has done that for me.

[@thefuture4527]

The only ride that has that I kinda of like with that story is jimmy neutron one

[@retromancer]

"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.

[@zenoblues7787]

Honestly while I'm not the biggest fan of Bayformers I completely agree which is why I enjoy the ride. It feels Like I'm in an overblown action sequence from one of the movies. The use of screens sorta adds to that, it's not my favorite ride but I enjoy it for what's meant to be a Michael Bay movie in ride form.

[@richardislas761]

I’m not liking your comment because it’s at 69, but I agree with you

[@Kittyhat]

Yeah and that's why it's a baller ride

[@madalyn5761]

i’ve never seen a singular transformers movie but i absolutely adore the ride it’s so crazy that it’s good

[@Trainlover1995]

If they're smart, they'll retheme Transformers from Bayformers to something inspired by Transformers One.

[@TheoVasiloudes]

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.

[@kylemckee1708]

And not to mention- the 3 pools alone to choose from puts this hotel at the top tier!

[@Spidermonkey260]

I didn't love it. It had limited food options and the room wasn't anything too amazing.

[@wt7553]

It’s only about a 12-15 minute walk which isn’t too bad at all.

[@DZstudios.]

YEs

[@leanen6424]

It doesn't lookvgreat tho tbh, I've been to several Italian cities and universals resort doesn't really carry the atmosphere. The other thing is that Portofino is characterized by the setting on the Amalfi coast, and obviously they can't recreate that at universal. I think it's still a great resort but theme wise probably my least favorite

[@bryarhlavaty3072]

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

[@GookSquadGaming]

To be fair to universal and I’m not trying to shill. But fast and furious is designed exactly how it is supposed to be. It’s a high volume attraction, the reason why that’s there instead of another mummy type ride is to get more guests out of other ride lines. Could it be better yes but they need a high Capacity ride there.

[@ladyjane8855]

They get a lot of guests complaining that they can't ride roller coasters because physics. Screen rides accommodate all shapes and sizes which opens them up to most guests. I guess you can't please all of the people all of the time.

[@effusivefugitive]

@@ladyjane8855 I doubt many would be complaining if they were making both standard rides and accessible, family-friendly screen rides. The problem is that they're making everything a screen ride, including rides like Gringott's and Kong that are certainly not suitable for all guests. That's just saving money.

[@aaronrumph3291]

The problem with fast and the furious is that they didn't replace the ride Fast and the furious was replacing but just modified the old ride to accommodate for the new attraction. making screens cost a heck of a lot less than completely retracking the attraction to make a new ride.

[@JayRy]

It’s so bad especially considering FAF is their biggest IP in recent years

[@dashkatae]

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.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I agree, and I thought about mentioning it but I doubt we'll see the ride outside of Beijing.

[@mischievouskittycrafts6598]

Why would outside of USA be talked about tbh when majority of people can't go to those places not mention those countries are way more advanced than the u.s. tech wize

[@dashkatae]

@@mischievouskittycrafts6598 Umm.. Because if they work well outside the U.S., then it's not hard to copy the same ride systems and put them into U.S. parks. I mean, Universal is opening Super Nintendo Land both in Hollywood and Epic Universe and the rides they're adding are just carbon copies of the rides from Japan. And tech level means nothing if they're going to be using the same tech and ride systems at each individual park. I mean, the animatronic they used in the Jurassic World ride in Beijing is the same animatronic they used at the Jurassic World water ride in Hollywood.

[@bjvincent8786]

@@PoseidonEntertainment Another ride that also seems to decent job of integrating the screen and physical set-pieces into the attraction is Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at the Shanghai Disneyland Park.

[@kelseighingram]

@@bjvincent8786 Having ridden Battle for the Sunken Treasure, it’s the best Pirates ride out there and I’d like to see it brought into the US Disney parks.

[@RyanJohnson87]

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

[@umbraecrystalheart9345]

True

[@maincoasters]

yup

[@umbraecrystalheart9345]

Like disney over here with genie+, magic keys, and increasing prices like thats not what we want!

[@Darth_Vader.731]

@Peter Parker plus the Spider-Man ride at Universal is 1,000,000 tines better than the one at Disney

[@BIGmike4863]

Agreed. Though it would take more than 15 or so years of Disney making zero changes and continuing to head down hill until Universal even gets close to surpassing them. Disney World is just too big and has too many lands to spend time in.

[@mellojoe9421]

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.

[@greninjaguy5264]

Somewhat sadly, yeah. It makes me feel bad since Disney has been a big part of my life, but they really don't care anymore, and are just doing away with everything that made them once good, preferring lazier alternatives. It's good to see that universal is doing amazing in their place though, what with the new attractions and even lands they've added to their parks in recent years. Until disney actually does something good for once now, I don't think I'll really go back.

[@PatThePerson]

@@greninjaguy5264 things like that are cyclical. Maybe a decade from now you’ll be saying “ Disney is awesome and universal is a let down, the new ceo only cares about how fast comcast internet is”

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

At the very least, the company seems to recognize some of the major issues and is working to rectify them. That in itself speaks volumes about where they're going, even if it's going to take a while to fix.

[@Robert-jz7hq]

@@PatThePerson I don't see how calling out the current management for their worse than poor decisions is cynical. Cynical would be, "I doubt Disney parks will ever be as good as they once were." I do think Disney can come back but they need to gut their upper management, acknowledge the poor choices made, and lay out how they plan on fixing those things. Removing Chapek will be the first nearly insurmountable challenge.

[@StuffedVulture]

@@Robert-jz7hq Michael 23 didn't write "cynical", he wrote "cyclical."

[@TCMACK]

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.

[@HollywoodandWine101]

I don’t think it would clash too much as that version of the grinch is a meet and greet and a show during grinchmas.

[@TCMACK]

@@HollywoodandWine101 That is true. I’ve never been to Universal myself, but Dr. Seuss is something that they should definitely be looking into revitalizing, considering that Illumination’s the Grinch made just over half a billion dollars at the box office. I’m not saying they should base this off of that version, but it’s proof that interest in Dr. Seuss still exists.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

Based on how hard they were pushing Grinch themed merchandise at the beginning of November it seems like a smart idea to me. I'm not convinced they would do the Carey version of Grinch as the movie is largely forgotten these days and the original cartoon is still well loved and the version of choice for all of the merch that Universal is selling.

[@RariettyC]

I'd bet they'd just go with the Illumination version of the Grinch instead. Less nostalgic but those renditions of the characters would slot in to that section of the park a lot more easily. It could be Florida's equivalent of that Secret Life of Pets ride, except it's a coaster that goes through physical sets within the mountain instead of a dark ride

[@AllieBee00]

@@ashleighelizabeth5916 now I agree with you but I also don’t because I know I can’t be the only one watching the live action grinch regularly between November and December 😭😭

[@STSGuitar16]

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!

[@CDRachelsauthorofMMroman-ee4ci]

i agree which is why i love love love walking through Toon Lagoon and adore the ET ride and teh CAt in the Hat (even if things 1 and 2 give me nightmares now)

[@STSGuitar16]

@@CDRachelsauthorofMMroman-ee4ci I’ve only been to Universal Orlando once and ET was probably my second favorite ride there by a good bit. For me it goes 1. Forbidden Journey (pretty sure Hagrid’s would be number one on my list, but we actually waited in line for Hagrid’s for a long time and the ride ended up going down and never opened back up didn’t get to ride) and 2. ET. A more accurate list for me (had i ridden Hagrid’s) would probably be 1. Hagrid’s 2. Forbidden Journey and 3. ET. Either way, that ride stands out to me, especially in such a screen-heavy park. What’s sad is that I doubt very seriously that that ride will last beyond the 2020s unless they have some big remake of et that sparks a new generation of fans or something like that. I’ve personally never even seen the movie, but everything about that ride was just awesome. The ride vehicles, the scenery, the smell (just has that sort of old building smell that I liked lol, it just makes it feel like the historic opening day attraction that it is), the length, all of it was really really cool. It is like a better, longer version of the Peter Pan ride at Disney. I always feel underwhelmed by the like 90 second Peter Pan ride, but ET was just like a more fun, longer version of that and i very much enjoyed it. It will be really sad whenever that ride gets the axe. There’s no way they’ll keep it for much longer.

[@charlesintune]

​@@STSGuitar16 it will stay because Spielberg has it in contract: "you take away ET, I take away Jurassic park and jaws". That's why it's still around, because no one wants to eff with Spielberg

[@STSGuitar16]

@@charlesintune ahhh I didn’t know that. That’s great to hear! Long live ET! Such a cool ride

[@ReynaldoAbasr]

bring back the REAL RIDES AND MAKE IT REALISTIC, MAKE IT BIGGER BADDER, AND BETTER

[@keithj1974]

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.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I still go because I appreciate the many classic attractions. I love Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Living with the Land and Spaceship Earth among many others, but I cannot deny that other experiences have really turned me off. I rarely find myself going to Hollywood Studios because of how little interests me, and the two things that do always have ridiculously long waits.

[@ashe767]

Hey, I definitely am prisoner to my nostalgia, but I've just gotten more realistic about the fact that Disney doesn't want to provide the kind of experience that I'm nostalgic for. These videos are pretty cathartic, actually.

[@MagicalBread]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I’m new to the channel, and I love your honesty. My family goes to Disneyland every winter and I am also a sucker for all the classic rides. I’ve never been to Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom so it’s interesting to hear your opinion on that. I really hope Disney will start listening to us fans and supporters instead of profit margins.

[@SoGoodContent]

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!

[@Pollo.a.la.crema.]

This! Considering Disney fans are typically optimistic (me) and he has intense pessimistic takes, I tend to disagree with a lot but keep coming back because they are rational and reasonable takes tbh and great video quality/editing

[@SoGoodContent]

@@Pollo.a.la.crema. yea if Im being honest the extremely negative takes kind of help me balance my opinion out. He's a bit much with the negative takes BUT perhaps Im a bit too optimistic and I find myself much more balanced in my opinions on the parks

[@jgatzby7798]

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.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I wouldn't hazard to say that Epic will reach Disney Sea levels of theming because that's just such an incredibly high standard to reach, but I do anticipate that it should still be pretty mind-blowing. Just Super Nintendo World itself continues to astound.

[@bryanwood8334]

Um have you been to the original Universal Studios Park recently? That shouldn't be allowed to call it self a theme park. There is more immersment in a county fair. I was there recently it was terrible. The rides are all the same. Just seemed like Universal was being cheap. Im not sure what up trend you are referring to. Disneys Pandora? Star Wars land? What has Universal done recently? Jurassic Park and Hagrid are great rides but what did they do to improve the atrocity that is the original Park? All I have to say is Fast and Furious.....thats all you need

[@wt7553]

@@bryanwood8334 did you watch the video? He covers all that. The similarity of screen based rides is the first criticism. The upward trend is from the overall success both Harry Potter lands and the new VelociCoaster. Read up on Epic Universe. It’s going to open in 2025 and be incredible.

[@jgatzby7798]

@@bryanwood8334 Outside of SW:GE, which I’ll admit looks great and Rise of the Resistance is amazing (but sadly has hardly any characters and land kinetics), Disney seems to be going head first back to the Pressler days. The Pixar Pier retheme, arguably Tower of Terror Guardians retheme (which maybe considered a draw - nice indoor retheme; terrible exterior retheme) and Avengers Campus, which one could fairly argue has a worse shooter attraction experience below even Six Flags Justice League and Legoland Ninjaro. Also, while the Fast and Furious Orlando experience is fairly a ‘Super Star Limo’-level Universal park embarrassment, it could be argued that Fast and the Furious experience is far superior to Disney’s regional mall/county fair -level embarrassment that is Ant-Man and Wasp Nano Battle at Hong Kong Disneyland. Much of the recent Disney park highlights, like Pandora, Star Wars and CarsLand were approved by Iger; in the early part of the Chapek era, what has Bob approved that Disney has coming out beyond 2023 that looks better than Universal’s Epic Universe?

[@ladyjane8855]

@@bryanwood8334 The expanded Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom was underwhelming (don't get me started on the Ariel ride) and I'll probably be dead before Tron and Guardians opens. Meanwhile, Universal has built Hagrids, Velocicoaster, etc using new technology while simultaneously building a whole new theme park - something Disney should have done 10 years ago to deal with the high crowd levels. The opinion that Universal is trying harder is perfectly justified. No doubt Disney will continue building hotels and increasing ticket pieces while cutting guest services.

[@citizenofcorona8783]

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.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

I didn't even bother when my mom told me how loud it was since I've seen several of the movies. I have enough health issues when trying to do all the theme park rides without getting a headache from a mediocre ride of an IP I have almost no interest in.

[@martysquirll5960]

Honestly the ride is pretty on brand with the crappy movies.

[@kstarr3555]

I think the ride just doesn’t excite as much as it should because it’s basically a clone of Spider-Man. If you’ve ridden Spider-Man your whole life and then rode transformers for the first time exited for the experience idk how you could leave feeling fulfilled. And even the climax of the ride centers on the same theme, dropping from a building. Never have been a fan of transformers since my first ride for this reason

[@STSGuitar16]

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!

[@everyonesfavoritesejong]

I am a Universal Shill so I love these videos giving Universal its much deserved spotlight. (I especially love Florida as that's the only one I've been to and easily beats the others)

[@ddpg9976]

Disney has switched their branding to just being a big store that people like to go to and buy, when it was once a family destination. They have out priced families and are focused in the wealthy and single non-married couples. They really need to figure it out soon.

[@CdrChaos]

Because you’re not allowed to criticize Disney without being a shill for their competition.

[@iamperish]

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.

[@Tvfromtpot131]

Makes sense for a company called “universal”

[@pharoahcaraboo9610]

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

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

The ride seems to devolved from the franchise other than the first film though. The premise is simply "protect the AllSpark" and batter everyone with as much action as possible. Granted, it does a good job of putting you right into those action scenes, but never gives you time to breath or process anything.

[@pharoahcaraboo9610]

@@PoseidonEntertainment as a person who likes the transformers franchise and the bay movies specifically way more than they deserve, i think the most common 'issue' with the movies themselves is that they are hard to follow and difficult to remember. i've watched the first 3 a lot and still have trouble completely recounting the plots. the movies basically only ever had 1 clear, engaging and memorable fight scene in the second film. so yeah, that sounds about right for a ride derived from the movies, even just the first!

[@jstnnixon]

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

[@KageReya]

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.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I agree. Disney is currently putzing around with no substantial response to this park. People often cry out that Tron and Guardians are how Disney will stay competitive... but no.

[@jamesmiller7809]

I've been having these same discussions with friends, and as a Team Member, I agree with these points. I think guests would love a revamped Lost Continent with new attractions, or something taking the place of Sinbad. The closing of Shrek is actually quite exciting to me (No offense to Shrek fans) because we get to see something new for USF. I personally LOVE the creative and financial direction the company is moving in. I think that Universal is very much aware of improvements that need to be made. It just might take some time is all.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I agree. I like Shrek as a property, but it really is better to replace it. I also agree that the company seems to be moving in a more positive direction.

[@johnshoemakerpbc]

Sad with ET. I haven’t been there in a while. I really really hope they don’t get rid of it. That ride is iconic.

[@AttractionIdeas]

All good points. The one thing I can’t agree with you on is your stance on Cat in the Hat. Absolute blasphemy! With its degradation and neglect over the years, that ride has become a black mark on the resort. If we’re talking the Cat from like 10+ years ago then I’m with ya all the way, but now no shot! But you know what, if you’re still able to enjoy it despite that then more power to ya champ

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I believe that the storytelling of the attraction is fundamentally sound, but I agree that it's lack of maintenance holds it back. Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I think it's one of the best attractions created by Universal.

[@benjacobs574]

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.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

You make good points here. It's also astounding to me what Disney continues to spend as well. All that money just for a Toy Story themed version of Paradise Pier? I can't even conceive why so much money is being wasted.

[@joellindhorst3083]

Personally, I'd love to see Universal Creative crank out a few solid dark rides. There's been a heavy focus on the Harry Potter & Jurassic World IP's lately. It'd be nice to see them dip into other franchises & create something family friendly that isn’t a thrill ride or coaster. A few examples: 1.) I’d love to see some sort of dark ride in the essentially abandoned Toon Lagoon theatre at the edge of the land. I’ve brainstormed a high budget Scooby-Doo haunted castle dark ride in that plot of land. Universal has the rights to the character & it’d be nice to see him used for something other than meet & greets. 2.) KidZone needs to go that’s for sure. There were originally plans for a SpongeBob Squarepants themed land at Universal Beijing that was cancelled in favour of Kung-Fu Panda & I think that would be a worthy replacement. The character still remains popular & I believe it has staying power. 3.) Poseidon’s Fury should probably be replaced. Imagine a high budget mythological themed dark ride. Imagine something you’d see at Efteling in that spot. Haha I got way too “imagineery” yet again. My apologies & great video as per usual!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I think these are pretty solid ideas. I agree that Universal does need some more dark rides, and I would like to see them move away from thrills for a bit actually. Something slow-paced but well-detailed would really help round their parks out.

[@mr_bohan]

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.

[@darkinetix]

Let me tell you. I remember when IOA was just a diorama in the original USO King Kong (RIP) queue. It gave me the chills every time I’d see it and I couldn’t believe it was happening. I worked my very first job in Jurassic Park at IOA. I’ll always have a special place for IOA in my heart (along with the OG Dueling Dragons). So it’s really, truly heartbreaking to see big chunks of both parks fall into a state of disrepair. But I digress… I think with advancements in robotics, Orlando parks in the future will reinvest in rides with cheaper/better animatronics - and maybe one day human actors will become more incorporated as well, as the GP seek out more tactile, analog experiences. The old T2 now Jason Bourne require human actors that are just as, if not more important than the show’s special effects. I see attractions with this dynamic making a big comeback someday. As things like VR/AR expand, and our reliance on screens at home continues to be a (sad) fact-of-life, people will crave these getaways to be truly immersed in experiences that give a real life effect. Unfortunately Disney (of course) has already morphed this approaching trend into the ridiculously expensive Galactic Starcruiser… but this type of thing will have to go widespread (and cheaper) if they want people to keep shelling out 100s if not 1000s to come to their parks. Lastly, these parks would be sooo much better if they weren’t line items on the ledgers for massive corporations, hands down. You’d think with all the money on either side it wouldn’t be an issue but that’s exactly the problem. They’re only motivated by revenue and fueling their individual ecosystems. They also don’t really have to fight smaller parks because of “must-sees” like Harry Potter or Cinderella’s Castle, plus their overall parent org finances. The parks are being treated like little more than a plaything for IP advertisements. Truly wow’ing guests is now an afterthought behind getting in the guests’ bank accounts, and then cost cutting everywhere possible. That’s a real problem between both Universal and Disney parks. Hopefully we are at the start of a great renaissance. I’m both frustrated and patiently optimistic for the future of Orlando’s key parks. Sorry so long. Awesome video and channel!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I'm optimistic about where Universal is going though. They didn't have to put in the Velocicoaster, but it seems like a genuine artistic effort, even if themed to Jurassic World. I certainly take your point that IPs are often simply dropped in because they can do so, as Fast and Furious serves as the best example. However, Universal seems to have acknowledged the poor feedback from attractions like these and appears to be in the beginning of its own revitalization.

[@darkinetix]

@@PoseidonEntertainment definitely agree with you there. I think Universal does seem to have more heart at this time, and hopefully all the feedback from F&F, RRR, and so many screen based rides has definitely turned them in the right direction. Epic Universe and next steps from here will paint a fuller picture for sure!

[@illusikari]

It’s funny because one of my old teacher told me that her husband was actually an architect in Seuss Land! I think they did a great job there, it looks really immersive.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I agree. It's strange architecture often goes overlooked but I appreciate what it's trying to do.

[@andrewcb9255]

Great video as usual! I’ve always said that Toon Lagoon is the best land in the park for the reasons you mentioned, and I can most definitely agree that it and Suess Landing need some sorts revitalization (that isn’t a retheme of the area like a lot of people seem to suggest). My biggest problem personally that I’ve found with Universal (Orlando especially) is the live character entertainment, which has seemed to lack ever since the parks opening. The park originally had a plethora of streetomsphere characters and performers roaming the park, entertaining and greeting guests of all ages. However, a surprising amount of these characters have been retired altogether, (especially over the past few years) for seemingly no reason or explanation. It’s really made for a less lively park I feel

[@FairlySadPanda]

Random tip for folks interested in Volcano Bay: me and a friend went in early December. It's Florida so it was still great weather, and the park was so quiet we could go on whatever we liked for the whole day. Absolutely bonkers rides. That water coaster is terrific. Honestly, the drop slides are the worst thing. Absolutely outstanding water park which has understandably severe issues with crowds.

[@GForce4]

Really balanced and fair analysis on Universal. As someone who only went to Universal Hollywood as such I have a much higher "simulator ride" ratio. One thing I wish people talked about is how the stories in these Universal Rides don't suit the medium. What I mean is rides like Transofrmers and Forbidden Journey are written where the characters treat the rider like a big hero (Optimus even says that our bravery helped saved the world) however the actual ride events always places us as the subject of needing rescuing. We didn't DO anything amazing outside of staying alive and most likely our presence made the events more difficult.

[@AggroCEC]

I like this video, most of the points you made here are very true and valid. I especially agree with the neglected lands like Seuss landing, toon lagoon, Kidzone, etc. The only one i disagreed with was with Rip Ride Rockit. I found it to be very thrilling and fun. I sat in the back btw, Each pop into the brake runs gave excellent ejector, the bottom of the first drop and the weird oval turn thing (I forgot it’s name) at before the final brake run gave very strong positives back there. I also liked the music selection. Aside from that, great video!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I think that's also another opinion I'm in the minority with. I would just rather Universal tear down the ride and replace it with a Gerstlauer or something.

[@NutsAndThighs]

@@PoseidonEntertainment My friend and I rode it back in September, and perhaps yes it's a minority thought, but we 100% agreed it was rough and a head rattler compared to the butter smooth Velocicoaster. Park employees even made it a point to us to mention how *smooth* the new coaster was and that it *wouldn't* make you sick from head rattling turns. I can sometimes get motion sickness from rides, and the rip-rocket was the worst offender of all the coasters, whereas Hagrid's and Velocicoaster my main feeling after the ride was exhilaration (and my soul returning to my body after Velocicoaster!)

[@AggroCEC]

@@NutsAndThighs I don’t think it’s better than velocicoaster. That punches it to death

[@AggroCEC]

@@NutsAndThighs I just think it’s a solid and underrated coaster

[@DZstudios.]

Portofino is a GREAT hotel in my opinion many buildings in Italy actually have details painted onto them

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Even the bricks? I couldn't get over how cheap it looked.

[@DZstudios.]

@@PoseidonEntertainment budget cuts are not that new

[@AlejandroRuizAlcocer]

@@PoseidonEntertainment not only generally in Italy, but Portofino houses themselves are painted like that. That's why DisneySea Miracosta has painted details too (not to say Universal and Disney used this as an excuse to save some bucks).

[@nonsensology]

@@PoseidonEntertainment It's actually authentic to the real life Portfino! All the buildings have painted on details, which are actually examples of trompe l’oeil, an optical illusion technique that is comparable to forced perspective. The Portofino recreation that's in Tokyo DisneySea also uses this.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

@@nonsensology Whelp, I feel foolish.

[@MonStarGuy]

After working at USH (An experience I'll always treasure) during the opening of the new Starbucks just before Wizarding World opened, I would say one of the biggest hurdles holding back Universal Theme Parks is that they refuse to invest meaningfully in their hourly employees, and in making sure those employees have all the staffing and tools that they need to do their jobs. Corporate was (and still is) notorious for being cheap, and nickle&diming both their guests and their employees. Thank goodness for the unions fighting for employee rights, because that's what made working at USH so enjoyable. That, and I felt the shift leads and mid-level management supported me more at that job than at any job I've ever worked in the last 20 years. Unlike at Disneyland, USH mid-management cares about their employees and takes care of their needs to the extent that their corporate overlords allow (like previously stated, what holds them back is corporate being cheap).

[@robertr8873]

I continue to watch your videos based upon an unbiased analysis of Disney and Universal. Harping on the problems Disney management has crested isn’t indicative of you being a Universal fanboy, but rather identifying why Disney has broadly declined and Universal has started to work its way towards the top. Another great video! Keep up the great work!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I wouldn't say that I'm unbiased as I throw in a lot of opinion, but I appreciate the sentiment.

[@JakeCoasters]

People just don't understand the concept that you can like something while pointing out its flaws

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It's interesting how a lot of people seem to take personal offense when I criticize Disney.

[@JakeCoasters]

@@PoseidonEntertainment IMO it just shows that you care and want to see them do better. I'm a Universal fanboi and I'm always critical of them when they do nonsense like F&F or Rockit...but then praise them when they do Veloci. Luckily, I feel guest feedback goes a longer way at Universal

[@the-inatorinator]

In my opinion, the problem with screen rides is that I can get the same thing locally. The eye knows when something isn't physical, even in 3D, so it always is a bit unfulfilling to step out of a screen attraction knowing you spent precious vacation time on an experience you could get at home. Especially with the IP-based rides like Transformers. If you want to watch Transformers, just visit a movie theater or watch the latest one at home. Buffering is a lot shorter than the lines, lol. Something like Fantasmic at Disney is at least somewhat unique, but I'm still not going to feel totally satisfied if I spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to visit the parks, just so I can watch a short film.

[@2Namii]

I'm sorry but you can't get a screen ride experience at home... not even with vr

[@the-inatorinator]

@@2Namii You're right. There's never anything exactly like it. I guess I just meant that, to me, for hundreds or thousands of dollars I'm not really impressed with a screen and a couple add-ons. To me personally, it's not worth it so I DO feel unsatisfied walking out

[@2Namii]

@@the-inatorinator i agree. i can handle a couple of screen rides, if they are very good. but yeah i know what you mean, they can be very underwhelming

[@citizenofcorona8783]

Hey, at least we still have ET, and hopefully Universal plans to keep that ride forever.

[@greninjaguy5264]

Yeah. Besides, they'd have to face the wrath of speilburg if they do.

[@amanor409]

They’ll likely have ET for Spielberg’s lifetime.

[@ellistemlak6154]

They are going to remove it after the deal with the simpsons runs out, in like 2027 I think, but ET, men in black, Simpsons and the kids area/ show area will all be demolished for a Pokémon land

[@tgustafson85]

@@ellistemlak6154 Spielberg has played hardball with Universal when they wanted to remove it in the past, threatening to never work with them again. Seems to be enough of a threat to keep them in line

[@crystalfairy912]

If only they could give it a refurbishment so all the effects work properly.

[@chrisirish3532]

Screen based rides are headache inducing experiences. Having them slightly supporting physical attractions can be great. Have it be the main aspect is just painful

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I agree. Have you ever ridden one of these when one "eye" of the films were out? I thought I was having an aneurism on Transformers.

[@uprising4c19]

I see what Nintendo did with the screens and AR, the tech supports the physical area (that and Nintendo's a game based company, they love their focus on gameplay

[@paulae4033]

The Simpsons Land in Hollywood was a welcomed addition. The food and drinks there are good and both Krusty Burger and Cleatus's Chicken have a well themed covered eating area. It might be tiny and not super immersive since Hogwrts towers over the land but it is one of the better parts of USH.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I see you're not the only person to point this out to me. I haven't been to USH but I will likely go sometime next year. I'm interested to see how it works there.

[@sarah.weaver]

@@largol33t1 fun fact, the duff beer sold at the Simpsons world is a micro brew made SPECIFICALLY for the park, and ONLY the park! Which is a big deal to me. I'm a big ipa and beer fan, and this detail is very cool for myself and my husband!

[@NoelsterSF]

Great video, your points are quite valid I feel. The Simpsons is a jarring visual blight on both Universal Studios parks and the reliance on screens is disappointing. But, as you point out, they seem to have identified the screen issue and are working to rectify that impression with each new ride. Now if they'd only pour some $$$ into repairing/replacing the more neglected areas.

[@amanor409]

No park is perfect, but Disney is on a downfall while Universal is on an upswing.

[@The_Goodplush_Theaters]

Toon lagoon is my favorite part of islands of adventure and its so sad to see it falling apart 😢 😥😓

[@gabrielPKBboy]

The cat in the hat ride is one of my favorite to go on with my friends. We call it a horror ride because how the characters look and act. The animatronics eyes are mostly white since the pupil paint has just worn off. It’s just a huge fever dream and me and my friends just scream every time the cat and the things come out.

[@IkePaz]

I like this term "New Disney" and how they refuse to listen

[@spleensthecat1704]

I’m a little confused why you never mentioned the extra space of Fear Factor Live that can be used and the possible refurbishment of MIB since its equipment has degraded for a while; however, I’m happy to see you make another great video! Keep up the good work!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Men in Black isn't the best state, but I don't think it's in desperate need of refurbishment like other attractions. Perhaps it'll get there, but appears to be in decent working order for now.

[@louiswright8282]

@@PoseidonEntertainment If you think MIB is in a not so great state, Check out Duel at alton towers, then compare it when it was the Haunted House. HUGE DOWNGRADE!!!

[@WillyToons]

I was confused why Poseidon/Dr Seuss/and Kid Zone weren't rebranded with the Nintendo deal.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It was apparently rumored that Kid Zone was about to be demolished (save E.T. and Animal Actors) to be replaced with Super Nintendo World. There were even construction walls up, but the rumor continues to posit that the decision was made last minute to move it to Epic.

[@Troopertroll]

12:54 When I went in August, the person working at the pearl shop said they were re-filling the water to do a full clean. She said that's more typical for when they want to update the ride and didn't think it was being removed.

[@PokemonMasterNick]

Hopefully the day will be saved when my plumber boy shows up. Another problem is the time it takes to build these projects. I was in 8th grade when the Mario project was announced and I’m now in my second year of college and they just finally broke ground a few weeks ago. They go PRETTY slow.

[@christianhelgeson3712]

"Citywalk offers a number of decent dining options, my favorite being Cowfish" Subscribed. You are clearly a man of taste.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I'm unsure if you're being sarcastic or not.

[@christianhelgeson3712]

@@PoseidonEntertainment No, Cowfish is great.

[@luke4502]

I find it incredibly hilarious how the monitors in the queue for Shrek 4D still advertise that the original Shrek is available on VHS in the gift shop

[@em_casually8936]

Popeye’s and Dudley’s were easily two of my favorite rides at IOA when we went in 2013. My family still talks about how wet we were after riding the barges! Definitely an underrated ride.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I like the theming, but admittedly I don't like to go on them. They're the most malicious water rides I've ever encountered.

[@NocturneFexy]

I think it's funny that Universal recognizes that E.T. is a classic ride that many love but they don't do anything about it. Hopefully after The Mummy gets its big refurbishment, E.T. comes next. Also, I think screens can be good when used properly like other people said. Where I take issue is when almost every ride in the park is a simulator of some form. I like a good variety of attractions in parks and Universal Studios is pretty terrible at it. I'd say out of all of the big Florida theme parks (Considering I haven't been to SeaWorld or Busch Gardens yet. Those places don't seem to appeal to me too much), Universal Studios Orlando is by far the weakest because of its overly repetitive ride selection. Islands is much better, but yeah it needs some serious TLC.

[@MCLegoboy]

I honestly didn't know half the stuff you were talking about in Seuss Landing and Toon Lagoon were even a thing. Growing up with an annual pass, while my family had the ability to go around the park slowly and take our time, we also were doing all the major attractions first and foremost, never really taking the time to meander. Afterall, we had the annual passes because they were cheap enough, we lived close by, and those attractions we went to were the whole point of going to the parks, not even as a kid was I all that interested in running around the park pushing buttons and whatnot, I wanted to go on the rides. Sometime around 2005 is when we could no longer afford them, and I've only been to Universal's parks twice, maybre three times, but I can't remember. Also, I don't know anything in Toon Lagoon other than Popeye, Betty Boop, and Hagar the Horrible, and even then, only one has a ride, the other two are set dressing. It hasn't been until recently that I've actually watched a number of Popeye's cartoons, Betty Boop is just kind of a staple of at least American Pop Culture with her design that it can be seen anywhere and recognized despite most not knowing much about her, and occasionally as a kid, I went through the comics section of a newspaper and saw Hagar every now and then, that's it. I've also just never been much of a fan of 60s character designs, which seem to be the most prevalent in Toon Lagoon with Dudley being the one with a ride. I'm not saying get rid of the land, the rides are great, but even as a kid going to the park in the late 90s and early 2000s, it was not of much interest since I didn't know what I was looking at most of the time because it was way before my time, and that time continues to fall further into obscurity, so it may need some updating with more relevant characters added in, maybe one with a ride. There's a certain amphitheater inbetween Marvel and Toon that I've literally never seen anything used for or even scheduled, let's take that out and add another Toon attraction. I've learned that Islands of Adventure is actually primarily themed around different books and sources of reading material, and that's a neat concept, but I am notoriously bad about reading anything, so the park lived and died off the themed lands based off visual representations that were either baked into the material like Marvel and Seuss, or were made into movies like Jurassic Park and now Harry Potter, and all four of those seem to be things that will live on for a long time still, but Toon Lagoon has always been something I've just walked through in order to get to Popeye and then Jurassic Park despite still fitting the concept of the park. In regards to your thoughts on The Lost Continent, ugh, that was one of my favorite sections of the park. While not based off anything specific, the theming was spectacular. I do regret never riding Dueling Dragons as a child and have completely missed out on ever riding it, but Poseidon and Sinbad were the best! Sinbad was designed to be cheesy and it certainly appealed to me. It was in the same vain as Clyde & Seymour out at SeaWorld. Fun physical comedy in a pulp adventure, and I was sad to hear it had closed. I hope Poseidon is truly getting a refurbishment and not going anywhere because going from room to room and going on a treasure hunt with curses and traps was always fun. And then that final section with the tunnel of water and the room on the other end collapsing and opening up into this gigantic battle between the forces of good and evil, I LIVE FOR IT! I was so disappointed to see it was closed when relatives were down here in September. I also love that talking fountain in the area, and I'm glad he's still in operation. I have no disdain for Harry Potter coming in and taking half the land, the parts I cared most for still existed, plus the rides for Harry Potter are also pretty rad, I just hope that the half of The Lost Continent that's still around can make a comeback. As for Universal proper, yeah man, too many screens, not all of them bad, but I don't get the thrills as much as I could. Personally, I find the Simpsons to be a pretty fun ride as they are taking shots at all of Orlando's Parks and noting at how silly it is that we go to these things for entertainment. Gringott's was a big disappointment because not only did it not look or act anything like the cars in the movie, but on top of that, you kept going from screen to screen while the actual coaster portions of the ride were in complete darkness. Honestly, I feel it was a mistake to try and tie it in with the preexisting story from The Deathly Hallows because the ride seems to be more focused on making that tie in happen instead of just having a fun indoor coaster like Revenge of the Mummy. I found Transformers to be fun, but since we used the express pass, I feel like I missed out on some key info as to what the point of the ride was. Conversely, Fast and Furious has the exact opposite problem because all express pass does is put you int eh exposition room earlier, and I still didn't know what was happening on the actual ride anyway. Race through New York is a fun ride, but like you said, it suffers from being in a park with so many other screen attractions. And Minions is just Jimmy Neutron which was just Hanna Barbera, and I'll never be mad about it. E.T. needs some serious love because it broke my heart we didn't get any exposition on the ride or have our names taken for E.T. to say them at the end. Even without that, the ride should have still been more fun than it was, and it's because so much has slowed down or stopped working. I've heard Spielberg demands this ride stay or he'll pull from doing anything with Universal ever again, and good, I don't think it should go, but it needs help. Ironically, E.T. needs his help, not ours. Regardless, the Universal parks will always be my preferred parks in Orlando should I ever get the chance to go. While I haven't been to Disney's parks as often and don't harbor childhood nostalgia by having had an annual pass like I did Universal, the times I have gone, I've always been a little annoyed at how things go during the day and only when I'm done do I think, "You know, I did have fun today." When I've been to Universal, it's always been fun the whole day, and ever since I was last there in September, I've been having the itch to return.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

Funny thing is comic strips are still a thing. And there are some really good ones out there. I'm 49 so I recognized a lot more of it than you probably did and in some ways I'm an old 49 who spent a lot of her youth around more adults than children. But I'd love to see IPs like Opus (or Bloom County) or Pearls Before Swine or Get Fuzzy which are all still relevant in the funny pages (as my uncle used to call them).

[@idunois]

Yes to your point on Poseidon's Fury! It is just a great adventure walkthru. The mystic fountain is one of my favorites. It's just a simple comedy show that I can not stop watching. In 2019, She-Ra had a photo spot next to Mythos. That area by the water is always empty but it has great views plus you get to be under Atlas.

[@poopwizardd]

I was looking for a comment about lost conintent, ill be heartbroken if they get rid of the area.

[@kawh8719]

In orlando, the primary Universal park, my favorite ride was 'The Mummy." The coaster was very fun and the theming was spectacular.

[@pegmama8]

YES I’m so glad someone else recognizes the genius of Suess Landing! I came to the park for HP only but left thinking Suess Landing was on the same level! Killer area

[@bryancrosswait2304]

Universal's inability to maintain their parks has been an ongoing issue for 20+ years. Its bothered me enough to not renew my annual pass over the years. As a manager of retail establishments it boggles my mind to allow one part of your 'building' to fall down while maintaining other parts at a clearly higher level. All aspects of your property represent your company's message to paying customers. If it looks old, damaged and worn down then you are telling your customer you don't care, therefor why should they? Nothing pulls me out of an event like a company telling me my enthusiasm levels are too high as they clearly don't give a shit. It's sad.

[@alphaxion]

The Simpsons ride is a very sore point for me because it replaced Back to the Future. While the ride itself did date horribly, the theming of the inside was great and matched the idea of it being an experimental facility. The movie hasn't dropped out of being relevant since it's considered an all-time classic film, so I think they should be willing to knock down the Simpsons area and build a new BTTF themed ride, maybe even expand it to an easier to refit exploration of a mixture of classic and contemporary coming of age and adventure films such as BTTF, Goonies.. a sorta Great Movie Ride that has a mixture of detailed sets with animatronics and real character actors. The ability to alter the different movie themed sound stages could give the ride a more evergreen nature to it, tapping into the way that life seems to be an adventure for kids. If they figure out a way to make the soundstages swappable, it gives the opportunity to bring back specific popular configurations to allow for visceral blasts of nostalgia decades into the future.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

The idea for a Universal version of a "Great Movie Ride" would be great for the Studios. Bringing back classics like Jaws, Kong and Earthquake would be a great inclusion in something like this. However, I think it's very much something that would work well as a trackless dark ride. I believe I saw an image of a leak a while ago for a Universal Monsters themed attraction that would have been trackless, sending riders through drive-in screens and into classic Universal monster films. That seems like an interesting idea that could recycled into an attraction exploring other Universal films, including a physical manifestation of Back to the Future this time.

[@alphaxion]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I'm still yet to be sold on trackless rides as the majority of them feel like empty rooms with flat, animated walls.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

@@alphaxion Which do you have in mind? I feel that Pooh's Hunny Hunt and Symbolica are examples of how to utilize trackless vehicles effectively.

[@queenboudicca31]

I disagree about the food ... the last time we were at Disney, any counter service was overpriced, tasted microwaved, and the wait for the food was way too long. There are some exceptions, but you pay (talking about castle dining!) ... but for the most part, you are right on. I enjoy your videos very much.

[@PatThePerson]

Clearly you ain’t been to satuli. Animal kingdom has some of the best food on property

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

That can definitely often be the case, but I'd rather pay for the overpriced cafeteria food at Cosmic Rays than the pig slop at Comic Strip Café. I also feel that Disney does offer some pretty exceptional meals, especially at their hotels and Disney Springs. California Grill, Sanaa, STK, and Homecomin' come to mind.

[@britneyphillips8548]

My husband and I are west coasters, so we don’t make it out to Florida that often. The last time we were there was five years ago and we’re still taking about the fading/peeling paint in Seuss landing. It definitely left more of an impression than some other things.

[@FanThemePark]

My wife and I just stayed on site at Cabana Bay for 4 nights and visited the two theme parks and waterpark in October. Having been to the two parks before but never having ridden Hagrids or Velocicoaster, I was blown away by how amazing they were! I've always loved various attractions throughout the parks like the Mummy, Spiderman, ET, Jurassic Park, and Forbidden Journey because they have such great theming. My wife and I didn't even bother riding Despicable Me, Race Through New York, or the Simpson's Ride because they are all simulators though. We did Fast and Furious because there was no wait and it was comical how bad it was. The new Bourne show was unlike anything we had ever seen before and is an excellent show addition. Volcano Bay is easily the best water park I've been to and the amount of theming and effort that went into it is astonishing. Overall Universal Orlando is a fantastic theme park destination and their recent investments have been showing awesome improvement. I see a bright future for them!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I still definitely think the Studios is quite weak, but I am optimistic that it will change for the better.

[@lcdexofi]

personally, i haven’t been to universal studios, but the way you described suess’ landing and toon lagoon makes me want to visit them. i absolutely LOVE when they get creative and put attention to even the smallest details that usually people wouldn’t even notice unless they look closer (some examples: the witty comic lines and the fish that squirts water at you when you throw a coin). and i agree, i truly hope they refurbish and maintain the quality of these places.

[@Keylimelife]

I think your screen-ride point was accurate but not just due to the pacing issue. Guests want to ride a ride to immerse themselves in the fantasy world from their favorite films - not to re-watch their favorite films while being shuffled around. Practical effects and animatronics are king.

[@Ozymannaz]

Heya there, sir. I have to admit I'm quite thrilled to see the channel grow! You truly deserve it. I'm hoping we can get to hear your thoughts on the Starcruiser hotel fiasco that came down this past 4 days. Looking forward to hearing more of you! Cheers!

[@chefpeanut6214]

Thank you!! for mentioning how low quality the food is at Universial, me and some buddies got into a conversation about how they need to hire a new culinary team or hire one if they dont. They only reason I want to go to Dinsey now is the food, Universal wins on every other point

[@melvinlee9263]

Universal's parks and resorts are much more enjoyable than Disney's "Death by a Thousand Cuts" approach.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Overall yes, but I still would like to see a lot more money coming to Toon Lagoon or Seuss Landing.

[@HunterSlayer2727]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I always hold the hope that someday in my lifetime maybe Six Flags would lose the rights to Looney Toons and DC Comics so Warner Bros would make a deal with Universal and bring them to the parks. I look at Toon Lagoon and worry its much too Outdated now as the Popeye animated project was cancelled, Betty Boop has a cult following and alot of Comic Strip style characters that are shown are very unknown. Now I know sometimes bringing things just because they're more modern is a bad thing as it can age a ride quicker than the older attraction. But I was thinking if like I said Six Flags didn't renew their contract or Warner bought them out, Toon Lagoon could transition into a Hannah Barbera Avenue as their iconic characters are still relevant imo. Looney Toons and Tom and Jerry having their own crazy attractions. You might think what about Scooby Doo? I have thought on it and while it'd be cool to just add into it, I feel due to its use of monsters, it'd transition well into its own smaller area honestly. I'd love to ride a Haunted Mansion style dark ride where your vehicle is a mini mystery machine with a lovely spooky ambience with fog machines and dark blue/green lighting for night time. Again its just a dream but one I've always wished would come true. From my suspicious I think Toon Lagoon might become Spongebob attraction which I think would be a waste as it'd date itself after the generation who grew up on Spongebob grew up. Scooby Doo due to its constant franchise reboots is a better choice and would give the meet and greets a permanent home finally instead of just the street.

[@snarkus63]

I've only been to Islands Of Adventure once, shortly after it opened, and I'd hate to think that Seuss' Landing and Toon Lagoon would both eventually succumb to neglect. Exploring the former area was one of the true highlights of that trip.

[@Cayla2015]

After just recently being at Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando, all the screen rides seemed stale. All the newest rides at Universal and Disney were great, it's definitely a matter of updating the oldest properties and some retheming is definitely needed

[@gladiatordragon9219]

Universal's core problems can be boiled down to the following: 1. Lack of Space - they really don't have the ability to add anything "new," unless they can just _barely_ squeeze them in like they did with Velocicoaster (even then, taking over the land used by a former attraction). Every time they build something new, something *has* to go, unless they're lucky enough to actually have that space. That Mt. Crumpet coaster you mentioned? They'd have to *really* squeeze it in, likely disrupting numerous backstage areas, as well as potentially causing problems for the seasonal Grinchmas show. The park already has a kiddie coaster (Hippogriff), and assuming it would be a Mine Train (the go-to family coaster type), my jaw would be on the floor if they managed to fit one there, if they even wanted to (since Hagrid serves that family coaster role pretty well already). 2. Overreliance on Screens - screens in and of themselves are not inherently "bad" to have in rides. The problem is when the screen *is* the ride. Spider Man, Forbidden Journey, and Bourne shift between the physical and the virtual pretty well. I'd argue Gringotts does a pretty good job of it too (could be better, but it isn't terrible), and Transformers tries to do so, but is a little too clumsy in execution. However - Fallon, Shrek, Simpsons, Fast and Furious, even Kong suffer from total reliance upon these screens. If there is no ride without the screen, what's the point when you can look at the screen from somewhere else? These elements *need* to be handled tastefully. 3. Under-dedication to certain attractions. While you did sing its praises, Cat in the Hat is in a truly miserable state, I'd argue it's in a state comparable to that of ET. They could both use a lot of work. The problem, however, is recursive. Less people ride (initially due to Universal's target audience shifting to teenagers/young adults) -> Less priority on the maintenance list -> Attraction's state gets worse -> Less people ride. It's a vicious cycle, and one that I hope Universal makes an effort to break. If the attraction's manufacturer has indeed stopped producing the parts, it might be favorable to convert the thing to a Trackless ride. The ride's chaotic story could probably *really* work wonders with such a system. I agree with you on Rockit - Maurer (particularly their X-Car model) was simply a terrible choice to go with. The crowds from a park as big as Universal are simply too much for an already rough model, and it doesn't even have any of the cool elements exclusive to the model (Check G-Force at Drayton Manor)! Rockit probably would have been better if it was handled by Gerstlauer. Side note: We need a good, large-scale Gerstlauer coaster in Florida. It would stand out pretty well among the competition. You're not alone on Simpsons - I find it a bit... much, especially since its main feature is a very unimpressive ride. It seems like it was a choice made more for marketing than really anything else. You could probably say that about a lot of the actions taken by Universal up until recently though. (but you did *not* just take a shot at Thunder Falls Terrace. I might have had a different experience than you, but I really liked it in the multiple times I've gone. Not saying it can't be improved, but it's not _that_ bad. I'd say I generally prefer it to Three Broomsticks, especially since it's typically a walk-in. Only problem I have is that I could get a superior half rack of ribs from Texas Roadhouse for almost half the price... but the location is superb.) Right now, I'd say Disney's going through the same phase Universal was. Making a lot of god-awful choices in the handling of their parks, getting overconfident in their attractions, and thinking they can do no wrong. After the thorough lashing Universal's gotten, they seem to have swung out of it, and are back to outputting quality attractions again. I'm hopeful that Epic Universe is the weapon Universal needs to definitively crack Disney's golden throne.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

1. I'm not entirely sure where the rumor came from, but I do see what looks to be a possible expansion pad right next to Cat in the Hat of about the same size. I imagine it would work if it was less like the Matterhorn and more like a thrilling version of the Sky Trolley. Not that I think something like this is the most feasible or necessary, 2. I agree with you there. I know the joke is that the queue of Supercharged is the best part of the attraction, but I went through today and it appeared that they opened up their extended queue just for pictures. This was definitely the more popular route as opposed to going right into the pre-shows and I thought it was amusing. I'm a huge fan of a Gerstlauer replacing Rock-It. The Euro-Fighter model seems like the perfect type of coaster to fill in such a narrow space and better deliver where Rock-It failed. I like the unique musically inspired "track elements" that Rock-It is going for, but it just doesn't work in execution. Admittedly, I haven't ever eaten at Thunder Falls, but it was my mistake to assume it was terrible. I've personally found Circus and Comic Strip revolting, and I had never heard anyone say anything positive about it. I suppose I'll go try it when I get the chance.

[@gladiatordragon9219]

@@PoseidonEntertainment To be fair, you don't really hear anything about Thunder Falls, period, and my taste for it could just by my affinity for barbecue in particular. I'd recommend giving it a go, but it looks like they've revised their menu since my last visit, swapping out the ribs for pernil. Given the Wikipedia entry, which says pernil is a pork dish typically served around Christmastime, and how the website still advertises ribs, this may be temporary, but I'm unsure. I'd keep my eye on it. If you don't find it to your liking, that's fine - I wasn't really all that offended. I just don't think it deserves to be lumped alongside the generic places. IMO, it's not really Mythos, but it doesn't need to be. (Also, don't bother with the milkshake. It's practically just a frostie you can get from Wendy's at a quarter of the price.) But yeah, Seuss Landing just needs a boost. Both new rides and refurbishments are in order.

[@Trainlover1995]

16:42 Actually, the palm trees in Seuss Landing were bent by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and selected specifically because they match the Seuss artstyle.

[@jaredhebert942]

Quite an intriguing look into the Universal Parks; not being a theme park buff (but learning a fair bit from watching Yesterworld and especially Defunctland), it's interesting to see the differences of how Universal and the Iger Imperium approach many of the same ideas or how little needs to change at Universal (and the other competition on some level) to really put Disney on the ropes and make these businesses competitive, both for the parks and in general. Curious to see your deeper thoughts on Six Flags (& their ongoing partnership with Warner Bros. as Six Flags in Agawam, Mass is probably the one big "chain" park I've experienced thus far). Merry Christmas & Hope 2022 treats you well!

[@mitchzurbrigg2403]

E.T. Will never be removed. When jaws closed they threw away the orca boat which was an original from the movie. When Spielberg found out and saw it chopped up in a dumpster behind the studio, he threatened Universal saying if they ever closed E.T. he would never make another movie with them and would only work with Disney from now on. So they came to an agreement and it's in a contract that if E.t. ever closes Spielberg will refuse to make another movie for them

[@chicken_nugget365]

source?

[@Shoulderpads-mcgee]

To be fair I think confusing direction is just the bay transformers lol. Also! Fun fact about the curvy palm trees of Seuss landing. They’re twisted due to hurricane Andrew’s strong winds, not grown that way. Universal purchased them from south Florida and brought them to the park, kind of a happy accident huh?

[@GwydionAE]

The Lost Continent island was easily my favorite when I first attended IoA in 1999. It pains me to see what has become of it (much as I do adore Hogsmeade). I'd hate to see it officially put to bed, but at this point that might be the best option. Also saddened by the lack of care in Seuss Landing. I was never a Seuss fan, but I adore all the theming in that area of the park so much that I can't help but have a soft spot for it as well. Really hope they can revitalize it in the near future! And I have to agree about Springfield. It's well themed, but it feels so out of place, and it doesn't help that I don't personally have an attachment to the show it's based on.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Something I always really liked about Lost Continent was how original it was. I get that it's based on actual stories, but their interpretation was so creative and interesting. It's a shame that Universal is also shackled by IP. I would like to see what they could do without it.

[@brycevo]

They really need to ditch some of these IPs for better rides and attractions. They need to learn to let go. Except for ET, that's quite literally in the contract

[@jrfree88]

The content you produce is awesome. I agree. Universal has a hell of a lead on Disney. After living in Orlando for 8 yrs and going to all parks again and again I prefer universal hands down. If you work your ass off you can hit everything. Not to mention the attention to detail in the queue lines.

[@JayRy]

I hear you discussing pacing as important to you. Does that make you rank ROTR below rides like Pets or Spider-Man Universal?

[@JudeKerman]

Universal Hollywood’s Simpson’s Land is much better. It’s better constructed and there’s more detail to see and do. I agree with your point.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I haven't been to Hollywood, so I know little about their iteration. I should find myself there sometime next year though.

[@entreprenerd1963]

I wonder how much of the ride pacing issue varies by age. Generally, younger people seem able to take in visual information more quickly than older people (perhaps in part trained by video games). I note that movie editing has sped up action sequences over the years.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I would probably be considered young and I've certainly played my share of video games. When I bring people on Transformers who haven't experienced it before, the consensus seems to be that it's overwhelming. I understand what's happening, but I've been on it an unknowable number of times.

[@bjvincent8786]

Great video as always! While I have not been to Universal Studios I feel topics like (to screen or not to screen) and/or (IP vs. Non-IP) in attractions be it Universal or Disney. They all follow the same rule as other things in life: excess is not good and I think screens can become a crutch that designers go to when actually doing it for real or with audio- animatronic would be too difficult. I think screens are a good thing when used appropriately, and I have no objection to using them to depict something that would be impractical to do with practical effects. However, screens will never give the same experience as a ride that is all practical effects for example imagine the ride "It's A Small World" without the animatronic dolls but existing on only 3D screens. For motion simulators and interactive attractions, screens make sense, but for everything else I would rather have a practical set with limited screen usage. Practical effects, make you feel like you are in the middle of the action, with screens, no matter how well they are blended into the scene, I've always felt I was watching the action from the sidelines. Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean if these rides were simply screens they would be average rides instead of being the best in the world. I guess to sum it up for me it not an argument for screens or not screens and/or IP vs. Non-IP in attractions; the argument is how ride developers must use the technology at their disposal to make for the most compelling ride experience possible. This may include practical effects or it may include screen effects, but it's the balance that makes it work. I have ridden rides that used all animatronics that bored me to death, and I have ridden rides with all screens that fell flat.

[@afluker6757]

Another well done video. I agree with you on most points, except The Simpsons. I love the theming of that entire Springfield area because I love the show. But yes, walking around and just experiencing the areas of Seuss Landing and Toon Lagoon is at times something I enjoy more than rides.

[@kriskim320]

Personally, in an Asian perspective. Disney theme parks are awesome in Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong! Universal’s new Beijing park and Osaka are gems, Singapore is quite a let down though. I think theme parks in The US being abit older aren’t as polished both in the soft and hard products compared to their Asian counterparts.

[@AlbyMarz]

Thank you for pointing out the importance and effects of pacing! This was definitely a part of what detracts from these experiences and I had not taken it into account.

[@Noclai]

28:21 you make a really good point with Springfield. I always felt like it was a big misuse of that area it would be much better in islands in the comic strip section

[@EmiliGerson05]

Honestly agree with everything except the Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket comment, its honeslty one of my favorite coasters and I find it really fun

[@BadWolf3742]

I am (as an adult) completely stoked, like a little kid, over the idea of my 2 favorite IP's (Universal Monsters & Nintendo) being set to get their own lands in a new Universal Orlando park! I can think of two people that will definitely be there opening day 👍🏻👍🏻

[@RemainSeatedPlease13]

FreshBaked just commented in a video that he think Splash Mountain may NEVER get a retheme! I laughed and immediately thought to myself that you had the jump on that ... and in your 1ST VIDEO! 🤣

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I suppose we'll see. Disney did commit to its Jungle Cruise enhancements though, so perhaps they're not as fickle as I anticipated.

[@bobbycorwin9]

Great video! Universals greatest creative strength, is also its biggest hurdle: working with and incorporating third party IPs. Even creating back of house elements that involve IP can turn into lengthy legal discussions that can lengthen a project, and even delay its construction (speaking from experience). Expect Lost Continent to get replaced in the near future with another IP land (probably Nintendo related), but probably not until Epic Universe is finished.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Ah, so I keep hearing. As much as I appreciate what Lost Continent was, it might as well be put out of its misery.

[@bobbycorwin9]

@@PoseidonEntertainment Agreed. The prevailing rumor is that its destined to be a Zelda themed land, so maybe good things are on the horizon.

[@BadWolf3742]

After having taken my 14 yr old son on our only vacation ever for 5 days at Universal Orlando. Paid for access to everything including food passes (were still available when purchased) Yes sir, the food was a total disappointment. I found myself desperately clamoring to get to three broomsticks for meals, meals that you're not allowed to take any leftovers with you from, no containers! Quality of the food left much to be wished for. The best meal I had, I had to pay separately for, which was my breakfast buffet at Royal Pacific! Also paid for 3-park park-hopper tickets, ended up going to the water park only one day. Okay lesson learned.. But when we got there the only thing we did was get in a jacuzzi for a few moments and go on a lazy river cuz the place was so packed out was pointless to wait for anything even with the tapu tapu which was complete garbage. Got a $25 adult beverage as I ordered them to put every single garnish they had in it went back to the hotel took a nap and then went back to Universal Studios to ride our favorites again. Wish I could get my money back for anything spent on water park as well as not have bought the dining passes. I bought the dining passes because way back in the late '90s took a trip to Disney World for a week and we had food passes, it was a wonderful experience. Do not think you will get anything near the same food wise at Orlando Universal. Other than three broomsticks & leaky cauldron.. Bubba gump's is the best there! Also do not waste your time on Hollywood Golf. Looks like it would be an amazing time, absolutely not! My ball got stuck in one of the attractions, the light up ball that cost $8 more and they would not just give me another one at 11:00 p.m. so that I can go back to my hotel as I didn't want to wait for them to try to fix the machinery and pull it out. If I could go back in time I would definitely keep the fast passes and stay at Royal Pacific, even though it was costly. I would've however cut my stay down by at least one day, maybe two, would have forgone volcano Bay (paid for use, daily, too crowded to use) & instead I would have used the money & time over at SeaWorld. Which I didn't realize quite how close it is to Universal Studios. / We will return for the opening of Epic universe, when we do We'll give a day for each park. Won't attempt Volcano Bay & will then move on to Seaworld. Which I've heard has the best water park in the nation! Before the beach of course, because every Florida vacation must end in a trip to the coast! If you've reached the end of this comment.. give me a like, lol. I've meant to write universal about our vacation experience, considering copying this as a template to start with. Thanks, & keep on rockn' in the free world!

[@BadWolf3742]

My bad, Universal trip was Aug 1st-5th 2021

[@DavidLopez-nr7wp]

Cat in the Hat is a thing of nightmares and I love every second of it

[@AudreyMealiff]

Thanks for another excellent video essay. I love the balance between Disney and Universal in both your criticism and praise.

[@zitaksal]

I'm impressed you mentioned Droomvlucht as an example :). You make some excellent points ^^

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It was the perfect example. Theme parks in Europe continue to impress me in ways that U.S. parks are now failing to do.

[@amandamaifeld9289]

One item I think that is also holding Universal back is its own choice to exclude customers from being able to ride the newer rides by size or weight. Same goes their water park slides however, you won’t see that same issue at Disney. There are some customers that can ride only about half of what Universal offers and hardly anything in Harry Potter or newer rides but they don’t have that same experience at Disney (can ride everything). If they wanted to gain over Disney I think one thing they would need to do is make their rides more inclusive so some people aren’t paying for a ticket to the park just to shop and walk around without being able to enjoy items that others can with the “right” body shape.

[@Ender-kk7gg]

When talking about Universal abandoning/neglecting areas of the park, you missed the great opportunity to talk about production alley. Since MGM had a section for dedicated productions Universal probably thought that they had to do it themselves. This aspect of the park didn’t get much use for park guests after the tram tour closed and Nickelodeon Studios was carrying that whole area on its back with its active productions and walking tour until production stopped in 2004 and the studio closing its doors the following year. Blueman Group took its place and Universal put millions into renovating the old nick production building, however the Blueman Group had announced that they would leave the park in early 2020. Despite all of that some movies, commercials and shows have been getting filmed their on occasion in recent years and one of the soundstages was turned into Dave School. In my opinion I think Universal should just completely rebuild that area to make something new or create a better studio facility. I know Nick Studios has its fans though I think Nick will never return to filming in Florida let alone building a new headquarters there.

[@jaye4521]

I've never been to the Universal park but wow, I'm genuinely impressed with the theming in some of those older areas like Lost Continent and Toon Lagoon (especially as a fan of those old comic strip characters). It's a shame to hear they've fallen into neglect. Will be a sad day when they eventually get replaced by "Minions Land" or whatever.

[@AdamYJ]

I did notice when I was down there recently that very few of the rides gave you time to soak in the theming and atmosphere. Even Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges that you mentioned. You’re so distracted by how utterly drenched you’re getting that you don’t pay attention to the figures or set pieces.

[@bryanwood8334]

You are exactly right. I went to the original Universal Studios a couple weeks ago. I haven't been since the late 90s. It was so bad. To many screen rides. I felt like every ride was a screen ride. Most of them needed new movies or screens. I was very disappointed in it. I felt as if I wasted my money and time. The park was so.much better with the older rides.

[@logandepino8417]

"Pivoting towards six flags experience." Idk why but that made me chuckle, poor six flags, always gets dunked on.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

Honestly it's because they are the Walmart of theme parks. I spent years living in Atlanta going to SFOG almost annually (even had the season pass a couple of years) and they are the weakest major amusement parks I have ever been in. 1. The theming is terrible. Even in the best themed parts of the park (the DC areas) it is completely blown away by Busch Gardens/Sea World parks and comparing it to Universal or Disney is like comparing HS football to the NFL. 2. Janitorial services are substandard. They don't keep the parks clean enough and it's a real problem. The Bat Cave loading que for Batman the Ride is literally covered in years and years of chewing gum. 3. The parks are often not very attractive with not enough shade and way too much asphalt. This is an area that similarly priced Busch Gardens just completely destroys them in. 4. The food is horrific and just as overpriced as any other theme park. I've tried just about every area and every type of food at SFOG and with the exception of funnel cake everything I've ever eaten there was just revolting. 5. The patrons at SFOG were just trashy with way too many roving gangs of kids bouncing basketballs all over the park or obese rural kinfolk who's family tree didn't fork enough. Now that's not to say I didn't have a good time in Six Flags or that they don't have some good coasters, but I shop at Walmart too and I think just as little of them as I do of Six Flags.

[@Noclai]

7:57 I think transformers is my favorite screen based ride because of all of the chaos that’s happening and it makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a battle scene from the movie.

[@charliemacsart]

What's the song you used at 15:00? I know it's a cover of The Sailor's Hornpipe, but I couldn't find that specific one anywhere. It's been stuck in my head haha!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It from the official IoA soundtrack: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mImzmKOHntijr6M The loop Popeye's Sweethaven is a bit longer and there are numerous recordings, but they do lack the quality of the direct soundtrack rip.

[@charliemacsart]

@@PoseidonEntertainment Thanks so much! The little Popeye area has so much charm.

[@suninmyeyesyes]

As a socal resident, USH is at the very bottom of the theme park list for these very reasons. Harry Potter world would have been an ok start of there was an actual ride. SMW is cool to look at but lacking accessibility and the thrill factor. MAYBE when the f&f coaster opens I'll give it a shot but man not only is that theme park anemic, but I the standby wait times are the worst of any park in the area.

[@alexeidarling]

My main takeaway from this video is that once Epic Universe is done (since that's understandably where the money's going right now), Universal needs to spend some serious time and money giving the rest of the resort the ol' spit and polish to match. I'm ready to see the resort be a huge game changer in Orlando!