The Future of The Simpsons Ride/Springfield (Orlando)

[Rhian]

You could just as easily say they should build a ride based on riding on the back of Lapras, or journeying through the Pokémon world on a bicycle.

ET but Pokémon? Yes! No matter what form it takes it should be a AA-packed ride with few screens, whether it's a boat ride, something like a SCOOP, or even an ET-style ride.

Like I think back to SNW on how they translated the games into real life. If you think about the most iconic modes of transport in a Mario game what immediately comes to mind is riding on Yoshi or in a Kart, which is exactly the two rides we got at Super Nintendo World. Same for Donkey Kong and the obvious answer being a ride in a Minecart.

For me it's less about the mode of transportation and more about what we're doing on that ride (observer vs. participant). I'm not going to delve deep into it here but for MK there's been solid arguments made about the necessity of goggles and game mechanic getting in the way of what could be a fantastic straightforward dark ride. As a fan I don't want to play PKMN on a theme park ride, I want to sit down and gawk stupidly at everything without having to push buttons or some other gimmick but at this point it sounds like the rumors are pointing to interactivity being a part of the ride.

Even if they're not replicas the ride opening in Japan will probably be a good indication of the direction they're going to go with the ride in Orlando. At least when it comes to set design and scenery MK/SNW has proven a solid case so I know no matter what it should look stunning.

 

[belloq87]

No matter what form it takes it should be a AA-packed ride with few screens

It should be, yes.

Will it be?

 

[Ken96]

It seems like a waste of R&D to not just make it a clone of Japan.

 

[mccgavin]

It seems like a waste of R&D to not just make it a clone of Japan.

Possibly, but I'm not complaining. It's good to differentiate offerings between the parks. USJ has space constraints for this ride that Orlando will not, so I'm hoping we could get something more grand in scope.

 

[TheUniC6]

Possibly, but I'm not complaining. It's good to differentiate offerings between the parks. USJ has space constraints for this ride that Orlando will not, so I'm hoping we could get something more grand in scope.

Plus if they went with what USJ is getting, it would be almost identical to MIB which is literally right next door.

 

[Legacy]

It seems like a waste of R&D to not just make it a clone of Japan.

Japan is likely a refit of Spider-man. We already have Spider-man at IoA and another Scoop in the park with Transformers.

 

[TheUniC6]

Japan is likely a refit of Spider-man. We already have Spider-man at IoA and another Scoop in the park with Transformers.

According to Tomfoolery, USJ's Pokemon ride is doing away with the SCOOP in favor of Sansei's dark ride vehicles as seen below here:

Dark Ride｜Amusement Rides｜Products｜Sansei Technologies, Inc.

Stage Equipment, Amusement Rides, Elevators, Delivering smiles and excitement throughout the world.

www.sansei-technologies.com

 

[GA-MBIT]

Regardless of how USJ is building their Pokemon attraction between fitting it into the Spidey building and working with the MiB ride vehicles, I am incredibly happy to hear that we will not have to worry about Pokemon being Frozen Ever After'd worldwide. Pokemon deserves a ride designed from the ground up and solely built for its individual needs, rather than shoving a Pikachu-shaped IP through a Spidersymbol-shaped hole.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I think key here, Pokémon is getting a ride in Japan and we are likely getting a full land. So I do hope it’s something different since they can work it into the existing land they’re developing.

 

[TheUniC6]

Wasn't sure if I should post here or the USF proper thread, but new sprung tents are now being constructed in the area behind the current ones.

 

[Brian G.]

Wasn't sure if I should post here or the USF proper thread, but new sprung tents are now being constructed in the area behind the current ones.

It's being discussed in the HHN Construction thread.

 

[GA-MBIT]

For Pokemon at USF, I'd like to see the largest AA/moving figure cast Universal has ever assembled in a single attraction.

There's an almost literally endless supply of character/creature designs to pick from.

I want to see them both existing within the land itself, inside of the nooks of trees or hiding in tall grass; as well as absolutely everywhere within the ride.

I really hope they take the lesson from Mario Kart and Mine Kart Madness, and simply deliver us Pokemon Snap. It's been the #1 fan request for decades for a reason. The Snap games are pretty much already built like theme park attractions, and we just got a new one a few years ago. You can still have the "things go wrong" Universal ride plot where Mewtwo or some set of enraged gigantic/legendary Pokemon attack your research vehicle too, or maybe a chase sequence trying to save a Pokemon from being stolen by Team Rocket like Kilimanjaro Safari. The Pokemon E-Ticket really has the opportunity to show off Universal's commitment to practical effects on a large scale. I hope they act on that opportunity.

 

[belloq87]

@Alicia reports that current rumors point to nothing replacing this (opening) before 2030ish...

Universal Orlando Update: Rip Ride Rockit Rumors, Epic Universe News, & CityWalk Construction

Epic Universe's opening time frame news, rumors that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is closing as soon as next year, new attractions at Universal Studios Florida, plus Zelda & Pokemon rumors

orlandoparkstop.com

 

[Jerroddragon]

I just don't understand the slow roll

Like Orlando maybe (zelda is coming and Epic verse) but I don't see why USH would not want to have Pokemon land out before the Olympic's

I really hope its Nintendo being the ones making it so slow because Universal if you plan on adding Pokemon to the parks you should want them in ASAP....if Pokemon isn't your best selling merch after it comes out then Id be widely surprised considering Pokemon is the biggest single IP out there.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I’m fine with this because we have Simpsons longer, and if they’re expanding behind Simpsons for Pokémon, they can do work before closing the land there.

This all seems to me like the Epic Universe expansion was going to be 2nd or 3rd priority for Nintendo attractions but has now skyrocketed to first.

 

[OrlLover]

I mean Pokemon is a franchise I’m sure they want to get right so if it’s need more development that’s fine in my book.

Simpsons is actually one of my favorite attractions in the park so I don’t mind it staying longer.

 

[ReelJustice]

Simpsons is actually one of my favorite attractions in the park so I don’t mind it staying longer.

Whut?!

 

[OrlLover]

Whut?!

Every time I’ve gone to the parks the ride is always a joy and so much fun to me.

Yes I would love for it be replaced sooner but that’s theme park development for you.

 

[belloq87]

This all seems to me like the Epic Universe expansion was going to be 2nd or 3rd priority for Nintendo attractions but has now skyrocketed to first.

I think the existing resort should have had priority for the first major new attraction(s) after Epic opens.

Universal must be really confident in USF not getting undercut by the new park... but I would not be confident in that.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I think the existing resort should have had priority for the first major new attraction(s) after Epic opens.

Universal must be really confident in USF not getting undercut by the new park... but I would not be confident in that.

In a perfect world, I’d agree.

Reality is IOA has a big investment in Zelda incoming and other than that is a relatively well filled out park.

USF, for lack of a better comparison, is their Epcot it feels. Many festivals, concerts, new nightttime show that I’d expect stays if popular, and HHN to keep it going. A better coaster replacing HRRR and Ghostbusters show are also great improvements to the park.

I’d also prefer we don’t wait till 2030, but if 2027-2029 is these additions plus a new EU ride/mini land, that’s not crazy in all honesty. Frustrating as a fan but especially since Simpsons is currently not a dead zone I can understand this decision.