We need to talk about theme park sightlines | Opinion
The topic of sightlines at theme parks has reared its ugly head yet again as Universal Epic Universe receives criticism for its skyline — but does it matter?
It seems that every time something new opens in a theme park, the fan community turns into experts on scenic design, especially when it comes to sightlines.
If you’ve been in the theme park-sphere for a while, you might remember the infamous discourse of a Comcast building taking up a prominent space in the sightline of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Super Nintendo World.
Photo by Seth Kubersky
Based on the negative comment online, you would have guessed nobody had ever seen an out-of-theme building imposing on the immersion within a theme park land’s sightline. This is not a new phenomenon, and frankly, it’s a little silly to get so upset over it. Sure, it can “break the immersion” of the land you’re trying to experience without outside distraction. However, if you’re already pretending to be a wizard or a Viking, your suspension of belief should be able to block out your surroundings.
Photo by Mateo Osorio
Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park, is currently at the heart of the debate on sightlines. The premise of Epic Universe has guests entering portals to travel to different worlds across the cosmos. Since this is real life, within most of these worlds you can see various elements beyond its barriers. Super Nintendo World is the exception, as it’s surrounded by a big green wall hiding the land’s contents.
Photo by Mateo Osorio
Once inside Super Nintendo World, it’s pretty much impossible to see anything else at Epic Universe thanks to the land’s incredible immersion and the green wall surrounding it.
Photo by Mateo Osorio
The other worlds of Epic Universe don’t have this luxury. Let’s look at Dark Universe, for example. It’s quite possibly one of the most amazing themed lands to open in years. Taking place in the present day in a village filled with monsters and the people who fear them, you are transported to Darkmoor once stepping foot through the Dark Universe portal. At the same time, you don’t have to even be near the portal to see Frankenstein Manor.
Photo by Mateo Osorio
One of the biggest complaints I’ve seen in the conversations of sightlines is the view of Universal Helios Grand Hotel from Dark Universe. I understand it can be jarring to see architecture that doesn’t resemble your surroundings! But let me get this straight: you can believe you’re going into the catacombs of Darkmoor chased by Dracula and you can eat burgers at Das Stakehaus with “blood” on them, but you draw the line at seeing a hotel in the background?
Photo by Mateo Osorio
It’s a completely understandable argument, as I’ve been very back and forth on my stance, as well. Being taken out of the immersion is usually the main point of contention when the sightline discourse rears its head again. I started off frustrated as I wondered, “Universal couldn’t figure out anyway to mask this?”
One of the best examples of a perfect sightline is The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Walt Disney World being painted a pink-ish color at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so it could line up and match the colors of the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot. While not confirmed to be intentional, it only makes sense, as the other iterations of Tower of Terror (at Disney California Adventure and Walt Disney Studios Park) were a beige color.
Photo by Mateo Osorio
As much as I love an immersive land, I came to the rather obvious realization that extravagant buildings are going to stick out like a sore thumb from outside, and there’s only so much “go away green” and planted trees can do to hide them. Hogwarts castle can be seen from all around Islands of Adventure, and I never see anybody complain about that.
Photo by Blake Taylor
Unfortunately, I think Epic Universe will be at the center of the sightlines conversation for some time. As the park undergoes expansions and more tall buildings are erected that will be seen from all points of the park, we’ll find ourselves in the same cycle of criticizing the negative instead of appreciating the positive. There are those who can immerse themselves in the story: theme park guests who can pretend to fly dragons or practice spells. Then there are those who will focus on how they can see a roller coaster in the background instead of focusing on the beauty in front of them.
Photo by Mateo Osorio
I love a good debate as much as anybody else, especially when it comes to the themed entertainment industry. As much as I hate to admit it, maybe the people in charge have a reason for doing the things they do. One could argue the practice is “lazy” or a project “got hit with budget cuts.” Another could argue “it’ll look better once all the greenery grows in.” Regardless of your stance, instead of looking in the background, focus on what’s in front of you. Put yourself in the shoes of the characters that live in the world you’ve stepped into.
If you can believe monsters are real, you can pretend that hotel isn’t there.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
Ready for adventure? Our trusted partner Universal Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the fun. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating epic vacations. Visit Universal Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
The theming can only do so much – the guest has to decide whether they’re going to buy in and focus on the concept, or nitpick every perceived flaw. You already have to tune out screaming toddlers and stroller traffic breaking the “immersion”. Even the best themed lands are still going to have fire sprinklers, exit signs, etc.
I personally hate this argument because it has led to NO tall roller coasters/rides in Epic. Even Stardust is not large height-wise & there are no super tall facades either. Fear this sightline argument will come at the expense of big thrill rides, this is going just a bit too far with the immersion argument.