Nick Soapdish

8 minutes ago, Van Dammer said:

I'm not sure exactly why he is so keen on it staying because it is terrible, other than maybe his royalty cheques, but I am glad its still there. Part of me still wishes that Universal Studios became their Magic Kingdom park with originals staying intact and it being a bit of a retro park with slight updates and additions over the years. I suppose land-wise they dont have the luxuries that Disney have in being able to open and drastically expand newer parks to keep them modern whilst retaining the classics elsewhere. 

If Universal do ever open a new park I would pay top dollar to ride modernised versions of Jaws, BTTS, Earthquake and Kongfrontation.

I agree with your last sentence! I am not sure what it is with old Stevie S. I think he feels thay Universal Studios is a park they owe to him as things like Jaws and ET were some of it's signature rides, later you could add MiB, Back To The Future to that as well. I almost cried riding Kong: Skull Island as Kongfrontation was the first theme park ride I ever saw on TV and made me fall in love with Kong> I wanted to go on it so bad, but as my parents wouldnt fly, by the time I could go it closed. There is definetly room for a 3rd gate and they need to crack on with it sharpish as they are building my resorts and nothing is making the experience longer.  

Friday night we done 1 house and a 3 scarezones at HHN before turning in. Saturday did everything except Hogwarts (was down), ET, T2 and Rip Ride Rocket and got all the houses and both shows done at HHN with an express pass. Sunday, did Diagon Alley, train, Hogsmead, Skull Island, Jurassic Park, skipped Toon Lagoon, Spiderman, Hulk and Cat in the Hat before going back and finishing off Universal  (T2 needs to go, I was shocked at how bad it was now) and that was before 3pm! You can easily do it in a weekend

8 minutes ago, scratchdj said:

Yeah we saw the F&F building in early August and it did look huge.

Oddly, despite finding the E.T ride really poor (it soon became the joke of our first trip when we went in April), I absolutely loved it this time round and totally fell in love with the magic of it.

I can't wait for Nintendo World to open at Orlando - the plans look incredible.

ET will not close while Steven Spielberg is alive. He was so angry when they close they one in Hollywood to do the Mummy, he forbid them from doing the same to Orlando. I personally, after the initial bit, hate it. It's just a shit small world.

1 hour ago, jazzygeofferz said:

One team was flipping burgers on a George Foreman grill, the other team missed the lunchtime rush? I often wonder whether The Apprentice or Big Brother will reach the bottom of their respective barrel first.

1)Who doesn't know how to use a George Foreman?

2) who cooks a gourmet burger on one?

1 hour ago, scratchdj said:

I’m intrigued to learn what the new Harry Potter ride is like that’ll replace Dragon Challenge. It was such an awesome coaster, it’s replacement has got to be at least as good but I fear it might not be.

I saw a photo of some red track laying crumpled on the ground earlier and it seems such a waste

Yeah you could see it being dismantled when I was there the other week. Never got to go on it, was too scared last time. Though I finally managed to go on The Hulk. I think it maybe an indoor attraction 

The new Fast and Furious attraction building, replacing Beetlejuice and Earthquake is up. Looks huge and opens next year

So the Apprentice is back. Bolton girl is already annoying me

2 hours ago, Van Dammer said:

Im intrigued to see Universal this year and whether it feels like screen overkill. It seems like every new ride is just screen based now and since I was last there Gringotts, Kong and Fallon have opened that are atleast part screen based. Add to the fact that alot of rides feel a bit dated quality wise due to general advancements im kind of looking forward to Disney parks a bit more this year to get to experience more physical rides and less simulation.

I know what you mean but they are so well done. I enjoyed it a lot more then I expected and this was my first trip in 7 years

2 hours ago, Van Dammer said:

Never done it and decided against it when were there in just under a month. Its probably great and I know some people really love it, but from the videos ive seen it looks like cheap/jump scares in admittedly very impressive looking sets. I was really on the fence about whether to go and decided that the cost on top of all the other tickets increasing quite a lot this year that it wasnt worth it. Also a big factor was that it seems if you only go for one night (which is all we would be there for on a HHN night, then you pay well over the odds compared to the frequent fear pass and might not necesarily get alot of the stuff done without a FOLP.

Burger King and Coke both do reduced tickets. All you need is a code which I'm sure people of FB groups can help with. We got rush of fear as we were there the 2nd weekend. Also the Express Pass is 50% off after 10 on nights it closes at 1am or 11 if it closes at 2. We did stay and scream and got 3 houses done before the event opened to the public. 

I very rarely do this, but if you want to hear me swear and my mate scream, I have uploaded a few recordings  of the audio from the houses of this years Halloween Horror Nights. You can search for Universal After Dark episode 34 on your podcast app of choice or listen here http://universalafterdark.libsyn.com/

20 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

Don't judge me. After seeing the October 3rd meme thing again today and for the past few years and having never seen it, im going to watch Mean Girls tonight.

I've read quite a few articles and heard some decent pods on it, and hear it's better than most of the genre fare of it's ilk.

Anyone confirm it's decent before I watch it so I'm not wasting 2 hours of my life. 

Its that or the Syrian doc that Baz mentioned in the other thread, but I don't know if that's wise in my current mental state. 

Not watched it in ages, but its written by Tin Fey and I remember thinking it was a decent flick in that high school genre. But I also like Clueless and Bring It On so...

22 minutes ago, Thunderplex said:

Best 3D I saw there was the Dispicable Me ride.  Queued for ages, and didn’t fancy it, but it turned out amazing.

quite similar to Fallon, but I think Fallon edges it.

And seriously what is up with Universal and every ride spraying water in your face? I think only Hulk, Forbidden Journey, Jurassic Park and the other log flumes were the only attractions not to do it. It's like they are obsessed (even happened in a few of the Horror houses this year for HHN)

15 minutes ago, scratchdj said:

I thought the 3D was good, but as the screens are so huge and so close, the image seems a bit washed out at times. There’s also an awful lot going on, so often I found myself not knowing where to look. 

I found the 3D and image quality of Jimmy Fallon to be the best in the park.

All that said, it’s not that I didn’t enjoy Kong but it didn’t blow me away. I’d definitely do it again though.

 

Fallon was a lot better then it had any right to be. The whole experience was great with the history, live entertainment, clips, just well done. And the ride was pretty good too,

Who is actively going out to buy an Isaac Yankem figure. Mattel should follow the Funko model, make them chasers, make 500 of them of something.

2 hours ago, scratchdj said:

Kong is one of those rides I just don’t get. I know a few people that really rate it, but both me and the wife felt utterly underwhelmed by it when we rode it in April.

It wasn’t until we got home we realised how many people liked it and it left us scratching our heads a bit.

Still gutted Duelling Dragons/Dragon Challenge has gone though

It's probably the best 3D I have ever seen in a ride. The depth of the jungle is spectacular. Plus animatronics! I also really liked Gringots even though it is not as beloved as Forbidden Journey which made me go green this time but never had before

4 hours ago, scratchdj said:

Revenge of the Mummy at Orlando is awesome. By far our favourite ride, we did it 10 times when we went back a few weeks ago.

I’d be interested in knowing what criteria Universal use when decidid which attractions stay and which ones get replaced. On the up side, Revenge of the Mummy is a brilliant ride. On the downside, it’s theming is from a franchise which had reasonably limited succcess almost 20 year’s ago.

I noticed in August that the exit ramp had new images of Tom Cruise from the new Mummy movie, which made me wonder if they were hoping that might be a huge deal and reinjuvinate the franchise. Sadly, the film was shit and tanked at the box office, so that doesn’t look like it’ll happen.

I’d hate to see the ride go, but if they used the space for something newer, I wouldn’t be surprised.

On a side note, we’ll be in Florida on Christmas Day. Is Universal worth doing on Christmas Day or is it packed/dead?

From what I understand Disney is very busy on Christmas Day so I'd expect universal to be similar.

to your other point, recently on the podcast we discussed both The Mummy and Men In Black and how you would think their days must be numbered due to the films ages and lack of new ones. The news a reboot of MiB in 2019 has saved that but the Mummy flopping has not helped that attraction. At the same time, what can they fill that space with?

their biggest franchise, Fast and Furious is finally getting an attraction (even if it should of be done a few years back) so that's out. The mummy is a huge building and I don't know what they could put in? 

For what it's worth I forgot how good The Mummy is, but still rate Kong, Spider-Man and Gringots better overall

1 hour ago, Slapnut said:

Going to watch new Curb later. I've been watching it all through for the first time over the last few months and I only watched the last episode yesterday, so this is perfect timing.

Just re-watched the last episode in preparation for tonight. Such a good episode that one. Parkinsons

44 minutes ago, Kaz Hayashi said:

How many episodes in are we and is it still Friday nights at 9.00 on Comedy Central?

3 and 10pm

2 hours ago, BigJag said:

They must have changed that. As when I went during WM21 week. It was definitely a coaster type ride. No loop de loops. Very fast though. It took you forward along the track at break. Neck speed. Then did the return journey in reverse. I had my eyes closed the whole time. I think I had wobbly legs afterwards too. Totally discombobulated.

Both the Orlando and Hollywood Mummy rides are in completely different sized buildings. Orlando was Kongfrontation and in Hollywood ET (much to Spielberg's annoyance which is why the Orlando one has survived). The Orlando was is much more exciting and fun then the tamer Hollywood version. There was also this which sounds more like the attraction you saw there Curse of the Mummy's Tomb which is now replaced by a crappy F&F attraction

i was aware of the story, but no idea of this documentary. Looks great!

Has anyone done Halloween Horror Nights? Just come back from my first and really enjoyed it

I just come back from a 4 day trip to Orlando. I didn't get to eat my 2 favorite fast food places Wendy's or Popeye's as was staying at Universal, however had some ok Fried Chicken from Cleatus the slack jawed yokel's chicken shack and Steak Taco's from the Bumblebee Man food truck in Springfield (washed down with a Duff Dry from Moe's). I had a twisted tator during halloween horror nights (a spiralised deep fried potato covered in salt and vinegar seasoning that was so sharp it felt like my tongue was on fire). Infact, the only big disappointment was going to the CityWalk Whopper Bar which was just a tiny BK where they encouraged you to add toppings to a whopper. Very disappointing. I also managed buttermilk chicken in McDonalds and a Chocolate Hazelnut Pinkberry at the airport.

Oh, and while not actually food, Coronoritas are amazing. Got drunk on those in Bubba Gumps.   

In other news, KFC have announced the Double Down on the 9th October here in the UK, and despite my previous reservations, I will be having one.

1 hour ago, Tamura said:

The BBC should sue over Matt stealing Frank Spencer's expression too. WWE might have actually done the impossible and made me willingly watch another Young Bucks match, since it was their constant use of "Suck It" and "Too Sweet" that made me skip their matches in the first place. Call me old fashioned but I prefer matches where the crowd reaction is a bit more traditional than chanting "Suck It" 200 times.

Old fashioned git.

Besides, 90% of wrestling crowds now days are in it for themselves so shit chant smarks are the order of the day

10 hours ago, LaGoosh said:

Nathan For You is back and kickstarted with a Celebration episode catching back up with previous people from past seasons. It was absolutely amazing. 

Why is this still not on in the uk?

6 hours ago, Carbomb said:

Quiznos was still around by 2000 - I was in my first year at university, and there was one in that mini shopping arcade on Oxford Street, and one in the shopping mall near where I live, in Wood Green. I always like Quiznos, could never understand why they weren't more popular.

I remember that one, had one in Lakeside as well. I think that was their second attempt which lasted a good few years but believe all gone now

9 hours ago, Carbomb said:

I remember going to a Taco Bell in Baker Street years ago in the 80s, when a family friend took me and my sisters to see the London Planetarium (also now in the past). I quite liked it, so I was surprised they closed up in the UK.

Yeah I believe the last one closed around the same time Demolition Man was released where they announced it had won the franchise war. We had Taco Bell, Wendy's, Quiznos, Sbarro, all gone by 2000. Taco Bell relaunched I think in 2010 or 11

1 hour ago, PowerButchi said:

I'm just amazed there's Taco Bell in the UK. Hark at fucking Soapdish, sorry, John Spartan over there. Fuck you and your franchise wars.

Basildon was their second after their relaunch in the UK. There's loads up around Sheffield way