Gringotts Wait (Over 7 hours!?)

Imagineers get to play by different rules. AFAIK, he's a top executive in WDI. Part of the other reason may be from WDI shifting to contract based operations when Iger took the reigns from Eisner.

Now that I've read some details, Diagonal Alley isn't that impressive.

Re: the Frozen girls -- the Princess Hall does have parallel meet-n-greet rooms for each side, but I'm not sure how many there are. At least two per side, though.

Rick_UK said:

Do we know who makes this ride yet?

I was wondering too.

Here's a pretty good Nightvision POV

Looks like a Premier to me. Judging from the video, I'd say it's better than Space Mountain.

But which one?

I would definitely say the Space Mountain at Disneyland..... although, I've never actually ridden any of them.....

I thought this ride was by the company that designed Spider-Man and was not a "coaster" firm per se.

Does look an awful lot like Premier track though. Or Intamin/Premier hybrid track, actually.

I like how the trains were designed, and the ride looks amazing, I just don't see myself waiting more than an hour and a half for a 3 minute ride.

I think that ride looks awesome, especially when keeping in mind it's 3D. Or, 4D. (don't the riders get splashed?) The coaster sections look thrilling, it's probably dark as hell through those, and especially in the last one where the cars seem to spin.

And anything featuring Helena Bonham Carter is scary as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks for posting that, Rick. I've been so curious, but haven't bothered to look for anything with details.

The ride looks amazing. I knew it was going to be good, but it looks ridiculously awesome with a side of hotdamnthatsawesome. If I ever get my act together, I'm there in a heartbeat.

Universal amazes me. They got two themed areas and Transformers (a pretty complex ride from what I've heard) all completed in two years. That's pretty darn impressive. I know they're open year-round, but the size and scope of these projects aren't exactly small, and some of the tech is apparently beyond complicated. This is one of those times where I'd love to see a documentary video about the whole process and building of these things, especially since logistically it had to be a nightmare. I can't imagine the challenges of such huge endeavors.

bunky666 said:

This is one of those times where I'd love to see a documentary video about the whole process and building of these things, especially since logistically it had to be a nightmare. I can't imagine the challenges of such huge endeavors.

A week before the section opened there actually was a documentary of the construction that aired on either NBC or CNN (one of the two, I forget.) It was actually very interesting, it was narrated by Meredith Vieria, and showed some neat behind the scenes look at the all the shops and the designing and evolution of the Hogwarts Express. Escape from Gringotts was also included in the documentary. I wish I had a link for you so that you could watch it.

That's a good video. I couldN'T care less about Harry Potter, but would love to go check out these new lands and rides. Along with the Simpsons area, it would almost be a brand new park to me.

The section of the ride show starting aroung the 30 second mark almost looks like it could use a similar system to the Vekoma Tilt Coasters, maybe?

I'd say so.

The great thing about PotterLand is its good for everyone. They've paid great attention to details that should be enough to satisfy discerning fans, but also include things to entertain those that don't have a clue. I know from experience it's hard to go there and not get caught up in it.

I agree with Bunky that Universal seems to crank em out in a relatively short period of time. (relative to what? Disney, I guess) And the theming in a lot of what they do is unmatchable.

I also agree with Tommy, as it seems like Studios park has new life breathed back into it. Even with the addition of Rock It I thought the park had grown rather static. This is simply a stroke of genius.

I think Diagon Alley is something that Universal has needed for a long time. Hogsmeade is grand and all, but it doesn't give the same effect that Diagon Alley does. When you're in Hogsmeade you look up in the distance and see Hogwarts, and it's awesome and everything but it's not something you can totally interact with. Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge seem so out of place. They just have the Six Flags feel to them I guess. The feel like:

-Here's the theme, here's a queue themed to the Character/Story

-Get on have fun.

Slapping a name on it, adding some new scenery, and changing the name just doesn't do it justice. With the exception of The Forbidden Journey, Hogsmeade kind of let me down. I'm not saying I hate it, It's just when I visit I still see Dueling Dragons, and I still see Flying Unicorn with a Harry Potter theme slapped on it.

But then there's Diagon Alley, which is a complete 100% fully involved experience. The second you walk into the London section of Universal, you are magically transported into the actual Wizarding World. After you walk into the actual Diagon Alley, it's as if you had just left Universal and stepped into the film. I think the creative team and engineers did literally the most impressive job I've ever seen from any Universal Park, let alone any theme park. I've seen the Potter films, but never read the books, nor do I care too. But seeing as how Universal has went above and beyond my expectation just makes me appreciate their work more than I ever thought I would. Besides the static dragon that apparently doesn't work as well as they'd hoped. Diagon Alley is something anyone can enjoy and I am so looking forward to October to be able to experience the amazing work and effort that Universal has accomplished. As a kid watching the first Harry Potter, when the scene where Hagrid takes Harry into Diagon Alley and you see it in all it's glory for the first time, it makes you want to go more than anything. I remember seeing the Weasley's shop, and Olivander's and wanting nothing more than to get an acceptance letter to Hogwarts just so I could be able to encounter the same things Harry did. Even better, I remember seeing Gringotts and just hoping one day I could visit Gringotts and have my own vault. I was about 7 or 8, but little did I know that many, many years down the road, Universal would take the Iniative to recreate such a wonderous place and enthrall millions of people who had the same dreams growing up. Universal has knocked this one out of the park, into the parking lot, and into the windshield of person's car. A total Grand Slam.

The ride is about as much a coaster as the new thing in Canada's Wonderland. I don't know why people were expecting The Mummy 2.

Yeah, I'm not the biggest fan of the layout, but it's the experience that counts.

Jeff, I think because all the two or three shots people got of the ride showed carriages similar to the Mummy carriages and coaster track being installed, people thought it was another Premier installation, hence coaster.

The question is: does it COUNT as a coaster? Hehehe...

Rick, thank you for the mention of the documentary. I'm sure there's something on YouTube or another site that will have this. Usually I'm pretty up to date with these things, but Universal was so quiet about this project until towards opening that I didn't think they'd have any type of special coverage on the construction, so I didn't even look for it. Also, although I haven't been to the new section, it does appear to be much more immersion into the Harry Potter world. I agree with you that Dragon Challenge and FotH were sort of out of place with the rest of the first HP phase...that castle ride blew my mind, but there wasn't really much else to do once I rode that thing until it made me sick. I've felt that way about Universal as a whole for many of their rides and lands, and I think they're really upping their game.

I'm by no means saying Universal or IOA are bad parks, but I've felt on more than one occasion that as great as their rides and theming are, quite a few rides feel like something is missing. The Jurassic Park boat ride felt to me like they blew their whole effects budget on the T-Rex (not that it's not impressive 'cause DAMN). Disaster is cool, but all that pre-show for a ride that seemed to be about 30 seconds? Twister same thing...even Mummy, for as amazing as it is (that ride makes me crazy I love it so much), has sections that really could be more detailed. However, they're getting (apparently) better and better with this, and I am so excited for them and the amusement industry as a whole (as Universal pushes the envelope, everyone else has to do so as well to keep up). I cannot wait to see what the future brings.

I don't consider it a coaster any more than Journey Into Imagination.

I have ridden the ride three times now. I can guarantee you that it is a roller coaster and definitely counts as a coaster. It may not be the best ride ever and it isn't the most thrilling ride, but it is still a great attraction that features a few drops and turns and a launch into a helix that causes the cars to spin at the end which leaves you wondering what is going on. (The ride has a uniqueness similar to when X debuted at Magic Mountain) Also, the ride is an Intamin and the show effects were done by Oceaneering.

Sorry, there were just a few too many dumb comments in this thread that were driving me a little insane. :P