So I was somewhat surprised to discover that the Florida tour was a *walking* tour, and through empty soundstages at that. Clearly, USF had been designed as a theme park with a studio tour appended to it. Unlike Hollywood, which was the other was around -- a studio tour with a theme park added on.
As the weeks went by, Universal did add to the Studio Tour as it began having production on site. And when Nickelodeon signed on to make USF its central live production facility, Nick grew to take over the studio tour, which eventually evolved into a Nick walk-through.
Ultimately, Orlando's vision as "Hollywood East" never panned out, and the two studios, Universal's and Disney-MGM's, became more lucrative theme parks than viable high-volume film production facilities. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that more TV and movie filming is done at my daughter's school than is done at the Orlando studio theme parks.
Since Nick studios departed there is a big gap they need to fill.
OK, they have the 2 wrestling events filmed there, but its hardly bringing anything to the "Park". The majority of people attending the filming are die hard wrestling fans who wait at the side entrance until seating begins, because they don't want to have to pay for entrace to the park.
OK, they have the promoter and wrestlers here and there, trying to get Park patrons to go see, but lets face it, the majority of park guests are American or English. Wrestling in England is not a big sport, unless you have satellite TV in England you probably would have never seen it.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the Nick Studio was most recently used for a GM corporate event, but they need something desperately, and it needs to be regular filming, not a ride or show!!!
Oh, never got to see the tour, first visited O-Town in 1988.. Shame really!
I didn't visit USF much at all after that first summer. My main memories of that time are picking up free tickets and playing "Mother" in the Hitchcock show.
Explanation: USF got so much bad press for not having stuff open its first summer that it gave a free ticket for a future visit to anyone who visited. I had an annual pass, so a couple times a week, I walked over, signed at guest relations, and picked up my free one-day pass for a future visit. Universal also extended the length of my AP an extra few months, too. So I was getting free admissions two ways. (This remains the single best deal in the history of theme parks, AFAIAC.) I gave those free tickets away as wedding and birthday presents for the next 10 years.
Also, it turns out that I was the right height and build to get picked as the audience volunteer to play "Mother" in the Hitchcock show. (Provided I wore white tennis shoes to the park.) I guess they ended up picking so many Disney cast members to play "Mother" that they added the requirement that the guy also have a mustache -- which promptly eliminated me and every other Disney CM from consideration. Still, it was a blast!
Does anyone have any old park maps from the year of opening?
I've searched the net but can't seem to find any? I'd love to compare the rides, shows and exhibits from year 1, through the changes up until the current year. I first went to USF back in 98 and can't remember what was there MIB is now!!
If anyone has a web address or even scans could they email me! I'd be pretty intested.
http://www.thepsychomovies.com/psychohouse/usfmap1.jpg
Wow, such a change!
What happened in the following? Does anyone remember?
Ghostbusters
Murder She Wrote
Screen Test home video(Was that connected to the Alfred Hitchcock are where you lay on the chair and the camera moves up, making you look like you are falling?)
How to make a mega movie deal
Now that would be cool!!
Murder she wrote, The Films of Alfred Hitchcock (1995) now replace with Shrek 4D.
Studio Tour (go around the park, past matte background "New York" and Psycho House. Now empty space...what a waste!!!
Ghostbuster (1990) now replace Twister Ride it out
Hanna Barbara (1995) replace Jimmy Neutron.
Western Stunt Show (1995) replace Fear Factor Lives
Old Lagoon (1995) used to have stunt show like Miami Vice now no longer. it is totally dead ! nothing what a waste!!!!
Pyscho House (1995) use to be near Hard Rock Cafe. Now Curious George playhouse, you still can see ghost town of Hard Rock Cafe building. the Pyscho House gone but still have Bates Motel if you can climb over little a bit over, you will see the motel still there.
King Kong (1995) replace The Mummy revenge. The audio-animatronic of King Kong was transfer to Animal Kingdom "Everest" (that's rumor) to fill in as "Yeti" aka Abominable snowmonster"
Horror Show (1995) use to have "The fly" transport but now replace to wolfman (giant one)
I went there in 1995 and recently went there so I prefer 1990's version because I sure missed King Kong, The films of Alfred Hitchcock, the studio tour and Western stunt show, old lagoon stunt show. What happened to Psycho House, did they tear it down? if so what an idiot!
They are in the final stages of sticking the Spheres on the lagoon. The floating Pontoons are on they have removed a ton of boats in preperation. Didn't actually think the spheres (Think there are 4) would be that big, but they are.
I hope they do something with that building. I guess they might use it foe smething as its such a weird/cool design.. Fingers crossed!
