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Universal Orlando Resort (USO, IOA) Discussion Thread

p. 624 - New Epic Universe details, including Isle of Berk!

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I've always thought that a year round haunt,if done properly, could be a great hight capacity attraction for ANY park yet very few exist. Hopefully if Universal decides to use this space for just that they will set the new standard for in park year round haunts and maybe more will pop up around the world.

 

I'm rooting for this idea too!

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I've always thought that a year round haunt,if done properly, could be a great hight capacity attraction...

 

I don't know how familiar you are with Mazes and Haunts, but they are generally pretty low capacity. Continuously moving dark ride vehicles move a lot faster than terrified teenage girl legs.

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I've always thought that a year round haunt,if done properly, could be a great hight capacity attraction...

 

I don't know how familiar you are with Mazes and Haunts, but they are generally pretty low capacity. Continuously moving dark ride vehicles move a lot faster than terrified teenage girl legs.

 

There's no reason a haunted house can't get 1,800-2,000pph if it is designed right.

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I don't know how familiar you are with Mazes and Haunts, but they are generally pretty low capacity. Continuously moving dark ride vehicles move a lot faster than terrified teenage girl legs.

 

There's no reason a haunted house can't get 1,800-2,000pph if it is designed right.

 

This. Go to HHN and see what kind of capacity those things have, they can easily easily do 1,500-2,000 pph. Some of your smaller regional haunted houses probably don't get that kind of capacity because they don't send people through in a constant "conga line" like at HHN, but they probably don't need a capacity of 2,000 people an hour through either.

 

I've always though that for a reasonable price any park could build and empty building, build a haunt inside the building for regular operation during the year, plus the house with more actors and more atmosphere for the Halloween event, then every couple of years completely re-theme it and create an all new house. It would be an easy way to have a "new" attraction for a regional park every couple of years. Universal could probably easily do the same kind of thing, and make it work really well. However I doubt that his will be anything other than a major new attraction instead of a permanent haunt.

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^I'd like to see this, too. Liseberg and Grona Lund have done very well with theirs--why not Universal? It should be noted that the haunts at the two Swedish parks are up charges, though, which probably helps with capacity concerns.

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It's not like they don't have the very thing at their sister park in Hollywood. Universal wouldn't put one in if they thought it would be a capacity nightmare. What a silly thing to post.

 

But regardless, it is going to be a Super Moe's and yes there will be a line.

Edited by ernierocker
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^I know about the walk through in Hollywood, but does it have actors in it? I walked through it once on my only visit to the park and don't remember any live actors in it, but do remember it being pretty cool.

 

^^Yeah, and I heard good things about Morey's Ghost Ship haunt, but I'm not sure if it's an upcharge or not.

 

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a 3 story combo Moe's/Panda Express/Burger King with a salsa fountain and a ketchup slide in the play area.

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^I know about the walk through in Hollywood, but does it have actors in it? I walked through it once on my only visit to the park and don't remember any live actors in it, but do remember it being pretty cool.

 

 

My post was directed at the poster that brought of the capacity issue. And your concept sounds amazing but you need to add a nacho cheese fountain (with seven different types of cheese) to go next to the salsa fountain.

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[

My post was directed at the poster that brought of the capacity issue. And your concept sounds amazing but you need to add a nacho cheese fountain (with seven different types of cheese) to go next to the salsa fountain.

 

And a Styx cover band .

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Yeah, and I heard good things about Morey's Ghost Ship haunt, but I'm not sure if it's an upcharge or not.

 

At Morey Piers there is no entrance fee so you can either buy an all-ride wristband pay as you go. Ghost Ship the most expensive ride at Morey Pier, but is included on the all-ride wristband. However, you are only allowed to use your wristband twice to enter Ghost Ship.

Edited by larrygator
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It has actors, just not as many as a typical Haunt maze. It's been awhile since I've been in there, but I want to say there's a Mummy, Chucky, and Frankenstein at least. But my memory sucks.

It all depends on the crowd levels. There's supposed to be the Phantom of the Opera, Nosferatu, the Mummy, Chucky, Mother from Psycho, the Wolfman, Igor, Frankenstein, and the butcher. Sounds like you went in there when several monsters were on their breaks. I go to USH quite often, and rarely have I seen the full cast. There has always been at least one or two actors missing.

 

As amazing it would be for Orlando to put in a year-round haunt, I'm leaning more towards Transformers replacing the SS.

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I want to say there's been one time where we walked through and only saw the Mummy. But yeah, I've never seen it fully staffed with all the characters you mentioned.

I kinda wish they'd tear that building down and do something new there, but I'll save that for the USH discussion thread.

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So this week I had the opportunity to take part in a media preview leading up to today's Grand Opening of Despicable Me Minion Mayhem at Universal Studios Florida. Both events gave me a great chance to see the care and detail that has gone into creating this new attraction, taking it beyond the experiences in attractions previously occupying this studio.

 

Despicable Me is the perfect family attraction for Universal Studios, plain and simple. There's something about this attraction for everyone. If you loved the Despicable Me movie, or even chuckled during the trailers for the film(s), then I have no doubt that in the least, the minions will give you reason to enjoy the attraction. Unlike its predecessors, the ride and its connective experiences (queue, pre-shows, post show and exit gift shop) all share a certain heart that can't be found in any of the other attractions in the resort. The tone of the film is perfectly extended to this attraction and it really amplifies the enjoyment you'll have for the franchise as a whole.

 

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem stands alone as a unique story in the realm of the films. While it retains the characters from the first movie (and the upcoming second feature), it is not anchored by any story elements from either work, rather playing off of the story to give guests a unique adventure they can only experience by visiting the attraction. On the anniversary of the day in which Gru adopted Margo, Edith, Agnes, you as guests are to be transformed into minions and trained in an elaborate obstacle course of mayhem. When the girls decide to get involved in the training process, you accidentally fall into a restricted zone within Gru's evil lab, in a wildly amusing sequence of visual and motion acrobats that end on a high note. As the ride experience ends, the minions greet you at the exit with a Boogie Fever dance party that dumps into the Super Silly Stuff store, home to an insanely large and elaborate collection of infectiously irresistible merchandise. The franchise's cute factor definitely has something to do with it.

 

As I mentioned before, the genius behind this attraction is the obvious care that went into the development of this new story, and the addition of the smallest details to give the story greater depth. The outside queue is lined with real banana trees, a not so subtle nod to the minions' love for the yellow fruit. Animators of the second pre-show sequence went as far as to animate the reflection of Gru's symbolic logo as it is seen on the opposite wall, so as to appear as it is reflecting off of the lab's glass from behind which Gru addresses you. In every scene that minions appear (which is every single one), each minion has its own personality, and if you were to ride a hundred times, looking at a different minion each time, you'd find a different expression or visual gag in play each time. Guests even appear on the ride's main screen as they are transformed into minions (think rebel spy from Star Tours) in a seamless integration with the main film.

 

Today's grand opening ceremonies capped off a huge buildup for this attraction since the original announcement earlier this year. Universal Orlando has clearly shown its pride for the attraction, and they have much to be proud of. We've been told that guest satisfaction with the experience has been through the roof and the ride is drawing consistent wait times upwards of one hour.

 

Special thanks to the Universal Orlando Resort for hosting us twice this week. I can truly say how much I enjoy this new experience. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem has so many layers of detail, such a heartfelt story and a ton of wacky antics that all rope me in, and I can only imagine that I'm not alone. Come by and check out Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and see for yourself why I can't help but rave. This is a fantastic addition to a resort that continues to get better and better with each new experience added!

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Despicable_Me_Minion_Mayhem_Interviews_Web_g8wb[/coastertube]

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=DM_MM_Grand_Opening_Web_kozx[/coastertube]

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Minion_Mayhem_Preshows_o62e[/coastertube]

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Mike West, Executive Producer for Universal Creative Studio gave us a tour of the attraction and answered our questions earlier this week.

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Flash forward to today, we were at Despicable Me Minion Mayhem along the "yellow carpet" to witness the attraction's grand opening!

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Mike West was out and about talking to media while waiting for the festivities to begin.

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Chris Bailey, Director of Despicable Me Minion Mayhem was entrusted with leading the development of the attraction after the original film's director had to shift his focus to production of the second film. He too was out meeting guests during the pre-opening ceremonies!

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Gru is almost ready to welcome you to his home!

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Dana Gaier and Elsie Fisher, the voices of Edith and Agnes in the films and ride walked the yellow carpet stopping for brief interviews along the way!

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Wait?!?! I get to walk the yellow carpet too???

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Miranda Cosgrove, the voice of Margo in the films and ride, also known for her Nickelodeon show iCarly was also here for the grand opening.

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Following the grand opening ceremonies, Gru, the girls and the minions all held a little dance party in front of the attraction's entrance.

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A future press photo in the making!

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The Despicable Me float from the Universal Superstar Parade also played a role in the grand opening ceremony.

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Now that the attraction was really open, it was time for us to ride (again)!

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Mike West told us that this was one of his favorite gags from the attraction's story development.

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If you saw Despicable Me, then you'll definitely recognize this...

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The queue is filled with little details that are presented with a humorous twist.

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Propaganda!

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This button as it is is better than the movie Watchmen in every way.

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The Gru family tree.

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Elevation changes included, you really are transported into Gru's home as it was seen in the film.

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Can you see the Minions in the pottery art?

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The attraction has two pre-show rooms, each with a very funny set of gags.

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The explanation given for your use of the "minion goggles" is fantastic!

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Again. If you love the minions, you will love this attraction!

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For such an evil villain, Gru does seem to have a soft spot for Margo, Edith and Agnes.

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The second pre-show continues the story in a humorous way.

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If you're a Halloween Horror Nights, you might recognize the guest on the right from a few of the last few years' event commercials.

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Minion transformation isn't always a uniformly successful process...

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Gru really loves this guy! He sure knows how to party!

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Time to scan for contaminants...

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Gru picks out some individuals who haven't showered in a week.

 

I'm not making this up, I promise.

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Fart gun? How about a banana smellitzer!

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"You are so doomed."

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Despicable Me Minion Mayhem sports new 4K digital projectors (the same ones used on the recently updated Spiderman attraction at Islands of Adventure). The screen was also replaced by a larger, curved screen.

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These may be most familiar aspect of the attraction when compared to its predecessors, but just about everything else is different now!

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The whole fleet of Minion transformation pods.

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The attraction continues into the post show with a Minion dance party set to "Boogie Fever." Infectious and awesome!

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Without ruining the attraction's full story, the Super Silly Stuff store continues the story as seen in the attraction film. And it works really, really well!

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"IT'S SOOO FLUFFY!!!"

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TPDave???

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Another awesome shirt!

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I think this is a pretty accurate representation of myself as a minion.

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WOAH.

 

WANT.

 

ALL.

 

MUST.

 

BUY!

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They have a Build A Minion toy!

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The attraction has so many awesome details, like these banana trees lining the queue.

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Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a fantastic addition to Universal Studios Florida and to the Universal Orlando Resort! Come check it out! You definitely won't regret it!

Edited by jedimaster1227
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