Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 8 minutes ago, Thrill Shakespeare (Andy) said: DramaMama and I did finally get the season tickets for the Disney waterparks. Looking forward to trying both out! We went ahead and turned the Universal tickets into the basic annual passes too. It literally cost $1 over the 3-day rate with the AAA discount. Not sure how much we will use them this year, but it seemed silly not to upgrade -- especially since none of our trips are during the blackout dates on the cheaper passes. Awesome! The waterpark pass will let you enjoy the water parks in small doses. They are great at the end of the day. It's crazy how much less Uni AP's are than Disney AP's. This can be the year where you are Uni people. There's certainly a lot to do there! And you can hit up a waterpark on your way back to the Fort! TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thrill Shakespeare (Andy) 58 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Just now, Tri-Circle-D said: Awesome! The waterpark pass will let you enjoy the water parks in small doses. They are great at the end of the day. It's crazy how much less Uni AP's are than Disney AP's. This can be the year where you are Uni people. There's certainly a lot to do there! And you can hit up a waterpark on your way back to the Fort! TCD As long as we stay at the Fort it alleviates some of my Disney Loyalist guilt. :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 11 minutes ago, Thrill Shakespeare (Andy) said: As long as we stay at the Fort it alleviates some of my Disney Loyalist guilt. :-) I hear you. Nothing wrong with checking out the competition, though. They have some nice things at Uni. But, in the end, it will make you appreciate Disney all the more. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 You will enjoy the water park AP's. We bought them in March and had a lot of fun that week. INC and I popped into Typhoon Lagoon last Friday as we were in the area and enjoyed ourselves without kids for a few hours. Much easier than popping into one of the theme parks....you just park your car, walk in and have fun. Then it's a quick 5 minute walk back to the car when you're done. I only wish they would add a water coaster or some sort of actual "thrill" ride to one of the water parks. They are themed great, but are lacking in the actual ride department IMO. There is not a full days exciment there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 11 minutes ago, DaveInTN said: I only wish they would add a water coaster or some sort of actual "thrill" ride to one of the water parks. Have you not ridden Crushin' Gusher at Typhone Lagone? It's a water coaster with three distinct slides. I think it's pretty good as far as waterpark attractions go. And if you want a thrill, try Summit Plummet. Yowzah. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 7 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: Have you not ridden Crushin' Gusher at Typhone Lagone? It's a water coaster with three distinct slides. I think it's pretty good as far as waterpark attractions go. And if you want a thrill, try Summit Plummet. Yowzah. TCD Yes we've ridden Crushin Gusher. It's a nice little ride but doesn't compare to the water coasters other parks have been putting in. I'd like to see Disney add something like the Mammoth or the Wildebeast at Holiday World. The Wildebeast was the world's longest water coaster, until the Mammoth was built. That thing is massive. And lots of fun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 16 minutes ago, DaveInTN said: Yes we've ridden Crushin Gusher. It's a nice little ride but doesn't compare to the water coasters other parks have been putting in. I'd like to see Disney add something like the Mammoth or the Wildebeast at Holiday World. The Wildebeast was the world's longest water coaster, until the Mammoth was built. That thing is massive. And lots of fun. I only have Florida waterparks to compare WDW's to. For me, Crushin' Gusher is fine. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 1 minute ago, Tri-Circle-D said: I only have Florida waterparks to compare WDW's to. For me, Crushin' Gusher is fine. TCD I wonder if Dolphin Bay will up the game? Competition is good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 39 minutes ago, DaveInTN said: Yes we've ridden Crushin Gusher. It's a nice little ride but doesn't compare to the water coasters other parks have been putting in. I'd like to see Disney add something like the Mammoth or the Wildebeast at Holiday World. The Wildebeast was the world's longest water coaster, until the Mammoth was built. That thing is massive. And lots of fun. You could try Aquatica Ihu's Breakaway Falls - Now Open at Aquatica, SeaWorld's Waterpark™ Brave the watery free-fall on Ihu's Breakaway Falls® - the steepest multi-drop tower of its kind in Orlando. Face your fear and each other. You never know who's going to breakaway first, all you know is it's going to be one wild ride. The slide is named after Ihu, Aquatica, SeaWorld's Waterpark™ Orlando's colorful gecko, who searches for the biggest thrills, steepest hills and the coolest spills in the waterpark. You stand on a trap door above a tube, then it snaps open and you fall straight down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 33 minutes ago, DaveInTN said: I wonder if Dolphin Bay will up the game? Competition is good. What/where is Dolphin Bay? Never heard of it. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 43 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: What/where is Dolphin Bay? Never heard of it. TCD There is one in Atlantis the Palm in Dubai. A little more local, maybe he meant Volcano Bay? Did you see that their version of Magic Bands have a screen and will vibrate when your time comes up for the ride? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 5 minutes ago, Travisma said: There is one in Atlantis the Palm in Dubai. A little more local, maybe he meant Volcano Bay? Did you see that their version of Magic Bands have a screen and will vibrate when your time comes up for the ride? He could have meant Dubai. DIT gets around. No, I didn't hear that about Volcano Bay's Tapu Tapu (let's get the lingo right) bands. But, I did see a commercial on TV that showed the Volcano rising from a lush jungle setting. It looks a lot better from that angle than it does from I-4. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Condensed from ITM When TapuTapu makes its debut this week, it will become apparent that Universal has done its homework, ensuring this wearable not only meets guests’ needs while in a water park, but also offering an experience that is unique to Volcano Bay. When designing TapuTapu, Universal’s team looked closely at the problems guests generally have that prevent them from fully enjoying the water park experience. “We started really looking at those core issues and said ‘How do we fix those?'” said Jeff Polk, Vice President of Water Parks at Universal Parks & Resorts. “Ultimately, it all came back to this wearable.” TapuTapu’s features that are similar to Disney’s MagicBand include: TapTu Pay – Universal’s clever name for the ability to link their wristband to a credit card Virtual Line – Universal’s version of Disney’s FastPass system allows Volcano Bay guests to simply “tap in” at an attraction to receive a designated return time via the screen on the wristband (those with reserved private cabanas can even do this without ever leaving their chair) TapTu Snap – Another clever name, this time for Universal’s service for interactive photo opportunities and selfie-spots throughout the water park, allowing pictures to sync to guests’ online accounts TapuTapu wristbands will also enable guests to play with a variety of interactive elements throughout Volcano Bay, including triggering streams of water spurting from whales in Tot Tiki Reef, shooting water cannons at guests on the Kopiko Wai Winding River, and illuminating images in the volcano’s hidden caves. “This band is different in that it’s loaded with a lot more technology in it,” explained Chris Crayner, Chief Digital Officer at Universal Orlando Resort. “It has a screen on it that allows you to see where you are as you virtually wait. It allows messages to help you understand where you are in terms of virtual line and whether the pay successful.” TapuTapu has “a lot of technology packed into it,” said Crayner, including “mid-range readers” and a “two-way communication device.” The key differences (and arguably, upgrades) that TapuTapu has from Disney’s Magic Bands include: A small screen that offers themed visuals providing two-way communication, enabling guests and employees to fully understand each interaction Haptic feedback will offer guests a gentle buzz on the wrist when Virtual Line ride times approach Guests that rent a locker in Volcano Bay can use TapuTapu to access it TapuTapu also ties in to the bigger picture of Universal trying to “reinvent the vacation experience overall” at a theme park. Beginning with the Virtual Line being introduced in Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and continuing next year with Fast and Furious Supercharged, Universal’s guests will see fewer and fewer lines and unpleasant experiences required to enjoy a day at the parks. But the TapuTapu wearables were designed specifically with Volcano Bay in mind, so don’t expect to see the making their way into Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure any time soon. In that way, they are not Universal’s equivalent of Disney’s Magic Band. “We’ve created a water theme park that has the story intertwined into everything you see. It in the architecture. It’s in the fabrics used for the canopies in the village huts around the park. It’s part of the interactive experiences that you can enable through the TapuTapu wearable,” added Polk. “It’s evident in everything.” Now, neither Disney nor Universal were even close to being the first to market with an interactive wristband. They’ve been in use at many water parks, theme parks, hotels, and other attractions worldwide for years. But there’s no doubt that between these two tourism powerhouses, more people are now getting their hands on such wearable devices than ever before, using them in even more fun ways. Volcano Bay will officially open at Universal Orlando this Thursday, May 25th. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 All I can say is good luck with that, Uni. Science has gone too far. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Yes I meant Volcano Bay. Not sure where the Dolphin came from. Regardless, as I said before, competition is good. I in no way mean any disrespect to the Disney waterparks, which are very enjoyable, clean, and a pretty good value. But I think they could up their game a bit with a better ride or two. Miss Adventure Falls, while fun, is a bit boring IMO. And speaking of MAF, did you see my post on another thread about the animatronic parrot being broken already? LOL. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 5 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: All I can say is good luck with that, Uni. Science has gone too far. TCD It's going to be interesting to see how waterproof those screens will be! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 11 minutes ago, DaveInTN said: Yes I meant Volcano Bay. Not sure where the Dolphin came from. Regardless, as I said before, competition is good. I in no way mean any disrespect to the Disney waterparks, which are very enjoyable, clean, and a pretty good value. But I think they could up their game a bit with a better ride or two. Miss Adventure Falls, while fun, is a bit boring IMO. And speaking of MAF, did you see my post on another thread about the animatronic parrot being broken already? LOL. Have you seen what Volcano Bay looks like from I-4? It looks like a mess to me. But I agree that competition is good. Disney probably wouldn't have built New Adventureland, Pandora or Disney Springs without it. I haven't ridden MAF yet. It does look a little boring, and I honestly can't believe that the parrot is broken already. Really, Disney? 9 minutes ago, Travisma said: It's going to be interesting to see how waterproof those screens will be! Yes. And that's a lot of new technology that they're trying to get to work in a wet environment. Like I said- good luck with that. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 17 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: I haven't ridden MAF yet. It does look a little boring, and I honestly can't believe that the parrot is broken already. Really, Disney? Don't worry....it's all cool. The CM I talked to on Friday said they are installing strobe lights and those should be operational by Memorial Day. Tri-Circle-D 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 6 minutes ago, DaveInTN said: Don't worry....it's all cool. The CM I talked to on Friday said they are installing strobe lights and those should be operational by Memorial Day. Hmmmm, water and electric lights, always a good mixture Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 1 hour ago, DaveInTN said: Don't worry....it's all cool. The CM I talked to on Friday said they are installing strobe lights and those should be operational by Memorial Day. I would say LOL, but this may not be a joke. How long have we had Disco Yeti now? TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 3 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: I would say LOL, but this may not be a joke. How long have we had Disco Yeti now? TCD And let's think about the big picture here. Old Walt was building fully functional, talking, 6 foot tall Abe Lincolns over 50 years ago. Yet today's Imagineers struggle to create a working 2 foot parrot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 43 minutes ago, DaveInTN said: And let's think about the big picture here. Old Walt was building fully functional, talking, 6 foot tall Abe Lincolns over 50 years ago. Yet today's Imagineers struggle to create a working 2 foot parrot. Yup. Pretty sad. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martindi 1 Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Condensed from ITM When TapuTapu makes its debut this week, it will become apparent that Universal has done its homework, ensuring this wearable not only meets guests’ needs while in a water park, but also offering an experience that is unique to Volcano Bay. When designing TapuTapu, Universal’s team looked closely at the problems guests generally have that prevent them from fully enjoying the water park experience. “We started really looking at those core issues and said ‘How do we fix those?'” said Jeff Polk, Vice President of Water Parks at Universal Parks & Resorts. “Ultimately, it all came back to this wearable.” TapuTapu’s features that are similar to Disney’s MagicBand include: TapTu Pay – Universal’s clever name for the ability to link their wristband to a credit card Virtual Line – Universal’s version of Disney’s FastPass system allows Volcano Bay guests to simply “tap in” at an attraction to receive a designated return time via the screen on the wristband (those with reserved private cabanas can even do this without ever leaving their chair) TapTu Snap – Another clever name, this time for Universal’s service for interactive photo opportunities and selfie-spots throughout the water park, allowing pictures to sync to guests’ online accounts TapuTapu wristbands will also enable guests to play with a variety of interactive elements throughout Volcano Bay, including triggering streams of water spurting from whales in Tot Tiki Reef, shooting water cannons at guests on the Kopiko Wai Winding River, and illuminating images in the volcano’s hidden caves. “This band is different in that it’s loaded with a lot more technology in it,” explained Chris Crayner, Chief Digital Officer at Universal Orlando Resort. “It has a screen on it that allows you to see where you are as you virtually wait. It allows messages to help you understand where you are in terms of virtual line and whether the pay successful.” TapuTapu has “a lot of technology packed into it,” said Crayner, including “mid-range readers” and a “two-way communication device.” The key differences (and arguably, upgrades) that TapuTapu has from Disney’s Magic Bands include: A small screen that offers themed visuals providing two-way communication, enabling guests and employees to fully understand each interaction Haptic feedback will offer guests a gentle buzz on the wrist when Virtual Line ride times approach Guests that rent a locker in Volcano Bay can use TapuTapu to access it TapuTapu also ties in to the bigger picture of Universal trying to “reinvent the vacation experience overall” at a theme park. Beginning with the Virtual Line being introduced in Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and continuing next year with Fast and Furious Supercharged, Universal’s guests will see fewer and fewer lines and unpleasant experiences required to enjoy a day at the parks. But the TapuTapu wearables were designed specifically with Volcano Bay in mind, so don’t expect to see the making their way into Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure any time soon. In that way, they are not Universal’s equivalent of Disney’s Magic Band. “We’ve created a water theme park that has the story intertwined into everything you see. It in the architecture. It’s in the fabrics used for the canopies in the village huts around the park. It’s part of the interactive experiences that you can enable through the TapuTapu wearable,” added Polk. “It’s evident in everything.” Now, neither Disney nor Universal were even close to being the first to market with an interactive wristband. They’ve been in use at many water parks, theme parks, hotels, and other attractions worldwide for years. But there’s no doubt that between these two tourism powerhouses, more people are now getting their hands on such wearable devices than ever before, using them in even more fun ways. Volcano Bay will officially open at Universal Orlando this Thursday, May 25th. Guess it's officially open! I just got the email. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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