Transformers at Universal Orlando-Bad Idea?
Universal Orlando: Am I the only on that thinks this?
Even though it does look like a good ride, I don't think this is a smart investment for Universal because
1. They already spent a good amount of money to redo Spider-Man which is almost the same ride. Everyone says they are going to shut down Spider-Man after Transformers opens due to the Disney/Marvel deal.
2. After reading the latest Orlando Sentinel headlines, I heard they are just building this to drive attendance back up until the Harry Potter expansion.
Anyone with/against me about this?
In short...I don't agree at all.
The ride is insanely popular, and is a merchandising giant. It's catapulted USH to one of it's best summers ever, if not the best, and has generated a ton of capital.
It won't affect Spider-man at all. Both are in the top 5 rides in the country, and having both to market will be a great boon for the resort.
It's also a big addition they can market before WWoHP 2 opens, and once the expansion does open, it will help spread guests over the park, rather than all of them headed for one area.
Also...it's an E-ticket that will be open in less than a year replacing a building that has been empty for more than a decade. As a consumer, there's nothing better than getting a present fast tracked to you.
From Rob Pastor
Posted August 14, 2012 at 12:31 PM
Its a great idea. It will certainly increase the Studio's attendance, combat any attendance loss due to the New Fantasyland opening, and bridge the gap between now and the opening of Harry Potter 2. That the ride is duplicated at Hollywood Studios is meaningless. Most customers of the two parks do not overlap. It's a proven excellent ride, and like many of Disney's star attractions, duplication does not lessen it's appeal. Just because it's ride system is somewhat similar to Spider Man is a minor situation. Many of the major theme park attractions use ride systems that are repetitive.
From Tasia P.
Posted August 14, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Transformers is one of the hottest franchises, it is doing very well in Hollywood and the Studios are getting so boring needs new rides badly and it's suppose to open up around the time of Disney's ride that is suppose to appeal to the 8-14 boy crowd. I just asked my 11 year old brother would he rather ride a 7 dwarfs roller coaster or a transformers attraction guess what his response was.
I also hate the argument about the same ride system in same resort the majority of theme park visitors probably wouldn't even notice. The only people who would even notice it are people like us who are way into theme parks. I wouldn't complain if Spidey and Transformers are in the same resort, Indy and Dinosaur, Dumbo and the carpets, and etc. as long as there are rides instead of shows I'm fine.
From James Rao
Posted August 14, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Transformers is a great addition to ANY park, but adding it to Universal Orlando hurts Universal Hollywood, imho. Think about it: other than the Tram Tour itself, there is nothing compelling at Universal Hollywood for a Universal Orlando veteran. Had Transformers remained an exclusive property (in the US) of Hollywood, I would have been forced to take a day off my planned Disneyland Resort trip to go to Universal just to ride Transformers. Now that the same attraction will be added to the Orlando park, I can just visit the next time I get back to Florida and have a LOT more stuff to do.
From the perspective of an long time Orlando fan, Universal Hollywood is pretty much the fifth best park in southern California (Disneyland, DCA, Knotts, Magic Mt, Universal) - especially if you take away the exclusivity of Transformers. Fifth place is a pretty sad state of affairs for Universal. They really should try to make the park more unique - adding a budget version of Potter is not going to be enough, imho. It might make the SoCal fans happy, but outside of that audience, Orlando is the better destination.
From Dominick D
Posted August 14, 2012 at 11:33 AM
This will hurt USH attendance like James said.
James, I honestly don't think USH is pushing all that hard for the vacationers. I think they want to be a local park that poaches a day here and there from Disney.
From Rob Pastor
Posted August 14, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Sean; Agreed. A Transformers in Orlando would take very very few customers away from Universal Hollywood. As another poster commented, only the hardcore fans will make a special visit out west. And I believe that includes all the southern Cal parks. LA is just too inconvenient, too unappealing, and basic air fare usually too expensive for people east of the Miss. LA no longer has that resort quality to it like it did 50 years ago.
From Tasia P.
Posted August 14, 2012 at 1:02 PM
@James totally agree with you! Universal really needs to stop cloning rides.. I would have rather had the London side in Hollywood then the Studios even though I really want the Studios to get more rides. How cool and creative would that have been? My parents said they would take me anywhere in the u.s. for my graduation present and I had chosen California for the Transformers ride and Carsland but I'm not so sure now that when Transformers would be in Orlando in a year and we go to Orlando every year.
Where exactly are they not so secretly building Transformers? What land?
I've been on the ride and its absolutely fantastic. It is ridicoulous to even think that adding Transformers to USF would be a bad idea. USF is my favorite park in Orlando and with Transformers and HP expansion 2 coming, I don't see another Orlando park competing with it.
As for hurting USH's attendance, I don't think thats much of an issue. Like it was said before USH aims to get a day from Disneyland visitors (mostly from West of the Rocky Mountains, Mexico, Asia, Australia) but most importantly to locals, who don't visit Orlando or do so very rarely.
Tasia, Sound Stage 44 is here, in the yellow box with the X
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXkUaTOi6Ek/T-JqNVOpQjI/AAAAAAAAR5M/vUmrnRfz7wo/s1600/UniFloridaConst.jpg
And that is where Transformers is going
If I make it to SoCal next August AND Transformers is coming to USF, I don't see a need to go to USH, except maybe for the studio tour and Waterworld. It would save me a day on vacation or have another DL day (August 9-11 D23 Expo is going on).
From Jay R.
Posted August 14, 2012 at 1:53 PM
I was originally opposed to Transformers opening in FL because I felt that USH, although the original, falls severely behind USO in terms of attractions & just in general popularity.
It seemed that the hollywood park NEEDED Transformers compared to USO (that's already seen as a world class resort).
While it may not make a huge difference, for some (see Dom's response) they'll skip the park & wait for the Fl version.
I kind of see your points, but is comparing Spider-Man to Transformers the same as comparing apples to oranges? In addition, does anyone think that this ride will cause Spider-Man to close due to the Disney deal?
No, it won't cause Spider-Man to close.
From Tim Odom
Posted August 15, 2012 at 8:11 AM
Spider-Man is not going anywhere until Universal and Disney work out a deal that sends a ton of money to Universal. And, seeing as how Universal recently upgraded Spidey, I have a feeling they do not expect that to happen in the near future.
NO WAY! I can't wait for Transformers!! Most of the people coming to Universal Orlando don't go to Universal Hollywood and vice versa. Can't get open fast enough for me!
Well if Universal is smart they badger six flags while negotiating with Disney and get the rights to DC. Because they can sell Marvel for a ridiculous amount of money, buy DC and than build Batman in Spider-Man's show building, replace Hulk with Green Lantern, Flash, or Aquaman, replace storm force with another new attraction or re-theme it to Blue Beetle or Animal Man and finally replace Dr.Doom with Joker, or Swamp Thing.
I'm with Doug on this, I can't wait & I really don't think this one ride will affect attendance at USH.
From Jay R.
Posted August 16, 2012 at 1:38 PM
I don't think the attendance at USH will change dramatically if there is a Transformer attraction in Orlando.
I just think it will keep USH in that same position of not having a unique E ticket ride that it's more popular sister park doesn't have.
In the Universal family, it seems the Hollywood park will always be in the shadow of Orlando, and Transformers at least gave it a temporary (if it open in Florida) mark over USO.
I have to agree with Sean's first posting! I think this is a great move for Universal Orlando, fans want this ride here on the east coast and are happy with Universal's plans to get the project done! I go to Universal every year and can't wait to ride the Transformers ride! Universal is staying aggresive and it is impacting Disney because they are trying to figure out how to stay competitive. Transformersis a hot property right now and will more than likely continue to be for many years to come! I also agree that Transformers is a marketing/money making franchise that will make Universal lots of money! I only wish they would expand on the Mummy ride as it is my fav at Universal, and maybe lower on-site hotel rates (ridiculously priced)!
From Kevin C
Posted August 19, 2012 at 4:59 AM
Transformers is a big enough addition to warrant a billboard on I4 in Orlando. USF is long overdue for an attraction at the same level as HP and Spiderman.
I would bet that most of the people that go to the Florida park will never go to the California park. So let them enjoy Transformers.
Zack,
That's true, most people can't afford to even go to Orlando for vacation, let alone driving or flying cross country to Cali to ride transformers, so I think it's great that both parks will have the attraction!
From Jay R.
Posted August 20, 2012 at 2:18 PM
Zack,
That's a good point re: Transformers, but technically, that could almost apply to any attraction.
One could argue that every new attraction that opens in Orlando should also open in SoCal, so visitors there can enjoy it.
I understand the reasoning behind it, every theme park fan wants to experience every attraction, & it would great if that were possible.....however, you then have identical theme parks with no unique attractions.
From Jay R.
Posted August 20, 2012 at 2:24 PM
I just rode this ride at Universal Hollywood, and it's a great ride. I don't see the problem of having Spiderman next door. Transformers will bring more visitors to the studios.
USH needed Transformers to remain relevant. It's a very small park compared to USO which is in my opinion, a perfectly sized resort.
All of Orlando's theme parks and resorts are within 20 minutes of one another so there is extremely fierce competition amongst them. It's a smart move to fast-track a ride that already exists and has proven itself to be popular. They'll spend a lot less money in R&D and virtually eliminate the risk factor.
And like has been said previously, very few people are going to go to both Hollywood and Orlando. Universal Hollywood is something you do if you live in L.A (but more for CityWalk) or if you're spending a week+ in town and have already done the other parks.
There's simply not enough space at Universal Hollywood to become much more than what it is without taking out the backlot tour, which is what makes it unique, in my opinion. I don't believe there's any way to add much to it, let alone a dedicated resort hotel like what Universal Orlando has.
With that said, the next time I visit L.A, I will go to Universal Studios, if only to remind myself why Orlando's park is superior.
From Jay R.
Posted August 22, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Well Universal Hollywood will be expanding, albeit it's going to be a long term project.
There are plans for new hotels, attractions, etc. There's a lot of land that the studio has (that was originally going to be a residential master plan style project) So instead of going
But back to Transformers, as it was said before, USH needed Transformers.
Even with the "Fix It" discussion about DHS, it was mentioned that USH has even less rides than that park.
In all reality, I'd be happy if Transformers opened in FL, but I'd just like if Universal Hollywood could have some unique E ticket attraction all it's own.
This discussion has been archived, and is not accepting additional responses.
