First Transformers Contruction Pictures!!!

[Freakazoid112]

I just find that rumor hard to grasp. I think if they wanted to go cheap on Kong. They wouldn't have contacted Peter Jackson and Weta to do it. If the GM HATED spending money, i'm sure they wouldn't have done anything and Kong would be a mere memory. Doesn't that split the cost of R&D in half?

Not to mention they're saving a crap-load of money by not having any animatronics in Kong and relying entirely on 3-D effects. I mean, why would they being trying to tear down the roof? To make way for giant robots of course! Yet again, they did skimp out on the Mummy...

I don't think Harry Potter would count for going all-out since Orlando management is FAR different from Hollywood management. Whatever he case they better have at least ONE giant animatronic robot or this ride will be gravely disappointing.

[k_peek_2000]

Yet again, they did skimp out on the Mummy....

They didn't exactly skimp out on Mummy. Both Florida and Hollywood's ride had about the same budget of 40-45 million. The main difference between the two is the amount space that was available. Florida had a much much larger show building to work with. Hollywood's is about 3/4 the size of Orlando's. So it's not fair to say they skimped out on it.

[JerrodDRagon]

^They could have taken the Arcade out or the photo shop at the end of the the street. So they had more room to add another room with the cool animtronic Mummy but decided to be cheap.

[k_peek_2000]

^They could have taken the Arcade out or the photo shop at the end of the the street. So they had more room to add another room with the cool animtronic Mummy but decided to be cheap.

No they couldn't have. They could only build in the preliminary show building. The arcade and shops are annexed off the side of the building. They are completely different structures to begin with, they would have had to tear down half the show building in order to add that space. Plus those spaces are tiny, They couldn't add anything significant to the ride if they wanted to, do you really actually believe they could have built another show scene in there? Not possible, not with the ride system they are using, it needs to much space... It would have been a waste of time for no real change. They did everything they could in the space they had. And it had the same budget of Florida. So AGAIN. They didn't go cheap. They were restricted. I've walked through ROTM with the lights on and ridden with the lights on, every inch of that show building is being used.

[icepenguin77]

They used up all the room they could, and they still made the Hollywood version unique from Florida--with a longer backward segment, the hand room, and the finale (although that needs some help). As you can see above, it's really squeezed into that building.

[Kritter]

I would rather have projections (if they are amazing) then Universal animatronics.

The ones for Jurassic Park just look bad.

[JerrodDRagon]

No they couldn't have. They could only build in the preliminary show building. The arcade and shops are annexed off the side of the building. They are completely different structures to begin with, they would have had to tear down half the show building in order to add that space. Plus those spaces are tiny, They couldn't add anything significant to the ride if they wanted to, do you really actually believe they could have built another show scene in there? Not possible, not with the ride system they are using, it needs to much space... It would have been a waste of time for no real change. They did everything they could in the space they had. And it had the same budget of Florida. So AGAIN. They didn't go cheap. They were restricted. I've walked through ROTM with the lights on and ridden with the lights on, every inch of that show building is being used.

Bad Location then, they are a Theme Park, and they planned the ride if it was too small they should have found a way to make more space or built it somewhere else.

[Freakazoid112]

Bad Location then, they are a Theme Park, and they planned the ride if it was too small they should have found a way to make more space or built it somewhere else.

Here's a vid of the Mummy with the lights on. You'll notice right after the scarab scene there's a bit of space there that looks unused. Maybe they could've done more over there and built the coaster more into the ground?

I was obsessed enough to where I went on YouTube and timed the coaster portion of each version. Here's what I got.

(Keep in mind I timed it from the moment it launched to the moment it stopped each time.)

Hollywood- Forward: 25 seconds. Backward: 16 seconds.
Total Coaster time: 41 seconds

Florida- Forward: 31 seconds (Combining both portions). Back- 4 seconds.
Total coaster time: 34 seconds.

Hey if anything, Hollywood has two big advantages there. Our coaster portion is like seven seconds longer than theirs and a longer backwards portion; if anything that's a fair trade. Orlando gets a longer more elaborate dark ride portion, while we get a longer coaster portion AND backwards portion. Even though they could have done a tad more with the dark ride stuff in my opinion, we do have an advantage there. So guys, before we gripe about how "half-hearted" the ride may be at least it's better than NO Mummy roller coaster at all. Nothing will be perfect and be thankful we have a Mummy ride. Let's not covet the more elaborate DR portion in Florida, then we won't be able to enjoy the version we have. Like I said earlier, be thankful we have A Mummy roller coaster as apposed to not at all.

Hear that Orlando? OUR coaster portion is longer than yours! Don't believe me? Time it yourself.

But back on the Transformers discussion, I heard that Mr. Spielberg is supervising the ride himself. If anything, he would have a voice on the animatronics issue.

[F!an]

Bad Location then, they are a Theme Park, and they planned the ride if it was too small they should have found a way to make more space or built it somewhere else.

Something that always seems to be forgotten is USH is working studio first and theme park second. USH is the only theme park worldwide that has to operate around a working studio surrounded by a residential area. Land is at a premium at USH so expanding the ET show building or relocating to the back lot would not only take away valuable filming space but interfere with filming (a crane in the back lot could be seen from almost any outdoor filming location).

[dth316]

The JP dinosaur AAs look awesome for back when they were made if you ask me.
And so did the Kong AA.
And so did all the ETs.
HMPH!

[Freakazoid112]

New photo update by [Link to unauthorized site removed]:
[Link to unauthorized site removed] - Universal Studios Hollywood

(Btw, you may look at the previous pages for Kong updates.)

[JFSebastian]

be thankful we have A Mummy roller coaster as apposed to not at all.

I actually would have preferred they kept the old E.T. ride there. The Mummy pales in comparison.

The JP dinosaur AAs look awesome for back when they were made if you ask me.

Agreed. The Jurassic Park ride is one of the only reasons I visit Universal on occasion.

[PirateMickey]

Something that always seems to be forgotten is USH is working studio first and theme park second. USH is the only theme park worldwide that has to operate around a working studio surrounded by a residential area. Land is at a premium at USH so expanding the ET show building or relocating to the back lot would not only take away valuable filming space but interfere with filming (a crane in the back lot could be seen from almost any outdoor filming location).

Thanks for bringing reality back to the conversation.