Universal Studios Hollywood: What Needs to be Done?

[JerrodDRagon]

Cant Spideman go where the place place is? They could redo the flintstones/Play ground area as a comic book area with the Spiderman ride. I would also like to see the maze be made into a dark ride, either Men in Black or Hellboy. The Wild West show needs to reopen, since I remember it being poplar. I really wish a Hulk coaster could come to CA but i have no clue where they would put it.

[DL_CRAZE]

Originally Posted by MTdizzle94

Where was this located?

I think they could build more rides! Maybe on the lower lot build a dark ride themed to "Madagascar," which has a sequel out soon. It could replace Backdraft...

Ooh...since NBC owns Bravo, they could replace that museum thingy with a Project Runway Runway Swag museum/store and Top Chef Cafe!

And maybe even replace Fear actor-Live with the Spider Man ride from Florida

Other ideas:
A high-speed indoor roller coaster themed to NBC's "Heroes"
America's got Talent-The Show (located at Hollywood Palace Theatre)
Maybe a smaller version of that Harry Potter mini-land from IoA....Maybe build it by Terminator 2:3-D?
[/left]

The Backdraft is a very small studio, they film right behind it so it is very limited space to make an actual ride out of it.

The Lucy Museum just got replaced, it is gonna be filled with props from Universal's 90 year film history.

Terminator is not so large to fit a whole land, maybe if they got rrid of the streets ad restaurants and Wild West theater next to it, then yes.

[DL_CRAZE]

Originally Posted by JerrodDRagon

Cant Spideman go where the place place is? They could redo the flintstones/Play ground area as a comic book area with the Spiderman ride. I would also like to see the maze be made into a dark ride, either Men in Black or Hellboy. The Wild West show needs to reopen, since I remember it being poplar. I really wish a Hulk coaster could come to CA but i have no clue where they would put it.

Problem with Universal is that they really have the upper lot to make rides but is such a tight squeeze, it is hard to make more rides, they would have to take much more than just a theater show, they would have to take out some of the stuff around it to.

[TacAlert]

Originally Posted by k_peek_2000

The only plausible place I think Universal could install an outdoor coaster in Hollywood similar to what is planned for florida, would be if it was in this corner of the park, where the giant fountains are. Nobody is ever there and its the only place with enough room for a station and queue that wouldn't need to remove any other existing attraction. I could see how thrilling it could be with the coaster going over the edge, and it would add some much needed kinetic energy to that corner of the park.

Remember, this part is also on top of a parking structure so there would definitely be some structural issues

[ORANGEandBLACK]

It's funny how you can go to Universal for an entire day and not do everything. It's strange since it's not really all that big.

My opinion...

Horror Maze - Best one yet. The Mummy was alright; Van Helsing was alright; this one was much better and rooms can be changed from time to time to put whatever other horror movies in there that they want.

Tram Tour - A definite necessity when going to the park. Things within it are just things they can change whenever they have the chance.

Waterworld - This show is a ton of fun. So what if the movie didn't do well. The show is highly entertaining. Still, I wouldnt mind if it dissappeared to make room for a new attraction.

Shrek 4D - It's cool, but I think it has run it's course. With that area, plus the Curious George zone, maybe it's time to make something in that area, with all of those gone.

The Simpsons Ride - Really looking forward to it. I'm a bigger BTTF fan than The Simpsons, but I still think it'll be a fun ride and BTTF was starting to get rather old, anyways.

Fear Factor - Yeah, it's time to go. Is this show even on television, anymore?

Pets Show - Seen it and it's fun, but not really worth taking up that much room when something else can be put in it's place that's more movie oriented.

Terminator 2: 3D - It's starting to get kind of old, really. It's a fun little show, but I think it has run it's course.

Jurassic Park - Fantastic. I can see this ride being a staple for years and years to come.

The Mummy Coaster - I think it's a great ride, however, I have never waited in line for it so that may be a rather biased opinion.

Backdraft - Cool (no pun intended) but it's run it's course. I think that, along with the FX shows right next to it, something big could be put in there that could be impressive.

FX Show - See Backdraft


Personally, I think that Universal needs to take a little extra room and add one more big budget attraction. All I've ever heard from my buddies who have been on the Florida Spider Man ride is that it is absolutely phenomenal. Do I think Universal Hollywood needs this? Absolutely. I still dont agree, though, that anything else major should be taken out to add it, though. Only as a last resort should something big be removed to add Spiderman. I only think this because all of the major attractions at Universal are fantastic and you know there will be a lot of unhappy peoeple if their favorite ride got taken out for something new.

[JtnOrl]

As a park that's supposed to be based on films, how would you explain the addition of Spider-Man?

[JerrodDRagon]

^Spiderman has had 3 films (and more to come) But its the fact that the Spiderman ride is great. It was like w 3D dark ride, But I would like to see us get our own version of it, maybe based off the movies??? Have Venom, Sandman, Dok Ock, Green Goblin, New Goblin and maybe add some others from the comic's.

[JtnOrl]

Originally Posted by JerrodDRagon

^Spiderman has had 3 films

That doesn't help if the ride isn't based on them.

[sir clinksalot]

Originally Posted by JtnOrl

As a park that's supposed to be based on films, how would you explain the addition of Spider-Man?

Because it's an awesome ride. But your right, the ride at IOA isn't based on the movies.

I faced it a LONG time ago, Spiderman or MiB are NOT coming to USH, at least in their current form. There just isn't the room for it. The ONLY place at USH that would be big enough would be the Amphitheater, and they aren't going to close that.

[Coheteboy]

I've kept silent through the whole thread because well... there's SO MUCH that needs to be done. But there is no practical way around it. Not a single one. Sure you can close a bunch of shows and add dark rides but would that solve anything? Well, it might solve attendance woes for a little bit but then you'll be faced with theme issues, which is the biggest problem with "studio" park concepts.

I think the biggest problem, personally, is brand identity. It's not 'Universal' anymore. Synergy isn't firing on all cylinders. Disney makes movies that will fit right into the theme park core audience. Universal still makes movies without really giving the theme park a second thought.

And that's how you have Fox's Simpsons replacing Universal's Back to the Future. At least Mummy is Universal, but at what cost? E.T. is one of Universal's most recognizable brands.

Terminator? That's a show that airs on fox, warner bros released T3, and Universal had nothing to do with the first two.

Then you have Dreamworks crappy cg all over the place.

Where's the single vision of UNIVERSAL and all of its entities? NBC, SCI FI CHANNEL, USA NETWORK, BRAVO, OXYGEN, TRIO, etc etc.

[JerrodDRagon]

Originally Posted by JtnOrl

That doesn't help if the ride isn't based on them.

I said it would be cool it get our own verion based off the movies.

[k_peek_2000]

Originally Posted by JerrodDRagon

I said it would be cool it get our own verion based off the movies.

I'm pretty sure that's what they've been doing. Unlike Disney which clearly bases their rides directly off the story of the movie.

[Zorro825]

I've never been to Orlando so I dont know how big the Spider-Man ride is. But couldnt they maybe tear down the Animal Actors and Fear Factor theatres and use the combined land to build it there?

[ORANGEandBLACK]

Originally Posted by Zorro825

I've never been to Orlando so I dont know how big the Spider-Man ride is. But couldnt they maybe tear down the Animal Actors and Fear Factor theatres and use the combined land to build it there?

I agree. Two things that aren't major players within the park at all.

[filmfreak11]

I doubt my post will be read and get a direct response but here goes:

Change the maze back into a indoor restaurant/show (ala DL's Golden Horseshoe). Lucy tribute could be in the waiting area and various Lucy & Richardo performances on stage. Entrance on the northside to connect with the Mel's Diner area.

Maze to be relocated near Coke Soak in a new structure over that old AP processing structure. (Although Coca-cola is stubborn to move their sponsership even though no one really goes there. Same thing with DL's HISTA and Kodak ). OR located over the rarely used Chinese restaurant directly behind T2:3D.

New kiddie area built over Coke Soak. It could still have a sponsorship from Coke. And a balcony that overlooks the valley for photo ops.

Move SFX stage to a new structure over the cliff where the Studio Tram is loaded (this is where they recently placed solar panels). Then you have this corner of the park for a Tram Tour & SFX stage.

Backdraft & SFX stage give way to one new dark ride. Maybe interactive?

I don't know how long the Panda Express contract is for the Lower Lot establishment. But this is wasted space for a new dark ride as well. Plus the "Universal Museum" and restrooms & Mummy store. Put the "Universal Museum" where they have the "Hollywood Photoland" on the Upper Level.

The 2nd floor of Jurassic Park complex usually has lots of empty seats and a closed food counter. But this could perhaps be used for a "Land Before Time" show. There are stairways and elevators that lead up to the 2nd floor. (If DCA's Hyperion makes people walk up and down all those stairs, I don't see the harm in this idea).

I think it's possible to extend Mummy coaster's ride time. Mainly using a vertical lift technology.

Redo the marine themed area between the JAWS photo op and Doc's Chicken and Flintstones midway. Similar to Universal's European area on the westside & DL's New Orleans. Providing additional seating upstairs. This would have a nicely themed isolated area to have guests immersed.

The contract for Gibson Amphitheater will not last long. And I think there were plans for theme park expansion. A new Amphitheater could go up over closer to Citywalk's Air Tunnel thing. Built on a 2nd level over where they park the studio trams.

I've grown tired of Shrek4D. It would be neat for Universal to somehow buy Star Trek Adventure from Las Vegas Hilton. I would settle for a Shrek show (they previously had one for a short time but I never saw it). And even rethemeing the Flintstones midway to Shrek. Retheme the BBQ as Shrek's Swamp Shack and move Donkey's Waffle Carts around this location.

I don't think Fear Factor Live is popular at all. 1/3 of the guests usually leave when they get to the 2nd act due to the smoothie. And they currently have a new 3rd version of the show after some script changes. Plus they don't turn on the shocking seats anymore.

Blues Brothers should be a streetmosphere show like Marliyn Monroe. Rename the theater as "Starlite, Starbrite Stage" in recognition of Universal's "The Last Starfighter". And rebuilt to continue the Metroplotion theme.

Rebuild Wild West Theater & enclose it. Animal stage & Dracula Theater I suppose could hold dark rides. The Dracula Theater has been there since the 70s I think. They should keep that Western Street where they play the Zorro swordfight though. That should be there one & only Western area. Maybe have a rooftop stunt show similar to what's coming for Indiana Jones in DL's Adventureland.

I would say keep Waterworld as a stunt show. But if they really want to put a big attraction in there. Then Dracula Theater should stay as an indoor revenue. And Wild West Theater reused as an outdoor stage revenue. Maybe move animal show into the Blues Brothers stage.

EDIT: For queues like Terminator, Jurassic Park, and Mummy, they should have props, set pieces, models, sketches, costumes, and vehicles to display. That would make it more like a movie studio park.

They should also bring out the vehicles again for photo op like in the good old days. Instead of displaying, what, Volkswagons or BMW...

Replace Collapsing Bridge for "Twister: Ride It Out" but without references to the Twister movie. Just a generic weather SFX like Flash Flood & Earthquake.