3. Hidden gems
Image: Disney
HOW DISNEY DOES IT: At most Disney Parks, you could fill an entire day with “hidden gems” – attractions (not necessarily “rides”) off the beaten path. At California Adventure alone, you can mill around the Animation Building with the Sorcerer’s Workshop, Turtle Talk, and the amazing Zoetrope, visit Redwood Creek Challenge Trail’s Spirit Cave, ride the Red Car Trolley from a 1920’s Los Angeles down Hollywood Blvd. (to a sci-fi superhero space prison warehouse power plant), visit the Boudin Factory Tour and snag a sample…
And then there are the family dark rides, like Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Mike & Sulley to the Rescue, etc… everything from fun, simple asides, hidden walkthroughs, to B- and C-ticket rides are what round out a day at the parks, and most any Disney park can list “attractions” in the dozens thanks to all these charming hidden gems and mid-level family rides.
WHERE UNIVERSAL DOES IT ALREADY: Universal quickly learned what a difference "hidden gems" can make, which is why Universal's Islands of Adventure – already their best attempt at a park designed by Disney principles – has its fair share. Seuss Landing’s “If I Ran the Zoo” is a really wonderful family play area and the island’s dark rides (if they were given a complete refresh) would be Disney-quality...
Image: Universal
...the Mystic Fountain is a simple aside that elevates the park; Camp Jurassic and the Jurassic Park Discovery Center are charming if outdated; the meandering paths along Toon Lagoon’s shore exist only to be a fun hidden gem for those who know to find it.
Ironically, one of the most celebrated “hidden gems” at any U.S. theme park was also one of the shortest lived: the Triceratops Encounter in Jurassic Park. It’s quasi-replacement, the Raptor Encounter, is similarly off-the-beaten-path, but a little more brawn than brains – a theatrical meet-and-greet more than an attraction. (Which, if you're counting, leaves the massive, immersive, spectacular Jurassic Park island with exactly one attraction... a shame.)
Image: Universal
But largely, Universal Parks are made of headlining E-Ticket after E-Ticket after E-Ticket with woefully few understated gems. We suspect that they realize this odd lack of "small" things to do given Springfield’s simple Kang and Kodos spinner. Even better, Diagon Alley’s Gringotts Banking Exchange (an off-the-beaten-path Animatronic encounter that exists just to build-out the world… and encourage Muggles to trade their worthless American money for an in-universe-stylized Universal gift card) and Knockturn Alley (a mini-walkthrough attraction in and of itself) are exactly the kind of "hidden gems" we're talking about.
But was the lesson learned? Probably not, given that the Resort’s two latest attractions – Reign of Kong and Race Through New York – are basically mid-level C-Ticket family rides that, for some reason, Universal marketed as E-Ticket headliners. Both would’ve probably been better appreciated if they were simply added smartly, but by trumpeting them as anchor attractions, they fell flat.
OUR IDEAS: This might come back to the same call for family dark rides we proposed in entry number one, but it’s more than that.
Image: Universal
It's tough. Few bother to celebrate a park for adding something like the Mystic Fountain or Triceratops Encounter. They're the supporting cast in a star-studded park lineup, not headliners themselves. Yet that's what makes their presence all the most important and special. There are corners of Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure beginning to be explored, and it's too bad there isn't more to see for those who venture forth and do so.
Comments
Brian, always adore your content on this site! I love the history of theme parks, and thoroughly enjoy your conjectures on the best method forward for both Disney and Universal. As a Columbus native, also really love anytime you bring up Cosi or the Ohio parks. Keep up the great work!