The Future of Lost Continent

[belloq87]

It needs something huge.

I completely agree, but I think we have a lot of evidence at this point to suggest that Universal doesn't agree with us.

 

[RFRees]

I completely agree, but I think we have a lot of evidence at this point to suggest that Universal doesn't agree with us.

I think this is much more about finding the right IP/lands/attractions which fit at USF, rather than throwing whatever big name IP they get the rights to.

Though that was a crazy few months when we thought Pokemon was replacing KZ.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I think this is much more about finding the right IP/lands/attractions which fit at USF, rather than throwing whatever big name IP they get the rights to.

Though that was a crazy few months when we thought Pokemon was replacing KZ.

I think it really comes down to HOW they're planning to do Pokemon. If it was going to be a city/Tokyo setting, it fits for USF.

If they do what I would personally want (safari/small town/village setting), it fits WAY better in IOA.

 

[mccgavin]

While USF definitely needs some love, I can understand the resort prioritizing the replacement of the land with 2 abandoned attractions. I do think USF's time for major additions will come, but adding new experiences where Sindbad and Poseidon's Fury once resided is adding capacity in a location that isn't being properly utilized.

 

[Mike S]

While USF definitely needs some love, I can understand the resort prioritizing the replacement of the land with 2 abandoned attractions. I do think USF's time for major additions will come, but adding new experiences where Sindbad and Poseidon's Fury once resided is adding capacity in a location that isn't being properly utilized.

Zelda movie in 2027, new Zelda game probably being hyped around that time, Zelda land 2028/2029.

Pokémon should replace Simpsons.

I think it really comes down to HOW they're planning to do Pokemon. If it was going to be a city/Tokyo setting, it fits for USF.

If they do what I would personally want (safari/small town/village setting), it fits WAY better in IOA.

Even more reason to put it in USF for variety.

 

[mccgavin]

Zelda movie in 2027, new Zelda game probably being hyped around that time, Zelda land 2028/2029.

Pokémon should replace Simpsons.

I think it has to do with timing more than anything. Lost Continent is the next area they want to replace, and Pokémon is the next new IP that they want to integrate into the resort. Even though Zelda has a major film coming up, Pokémon is still the larger IP overall.

 

[bdubsCEO]

If they have to put Wicked anywhere, put it in Lost Continent. It fits the best at Islands IMO. That can go first, then they can replace Simpsons with Pokémon to give Studios a much needed shot in the arm that will probably triple attendance.

THEN, probably in the early 30’s we can get Zelda as the first major Epic expansion. I feel like it demands that kind of space and premium treatment, even more than Wicked and Pokémon which are more straightforward in terms of “well obviously this is how you’d build a theme park land for that.”

Of course, I’m not Universal and they’ll probably do this completely differently because their priorities are different.

 

[Amity6]

Studios is the last park Pokémon fits

 

[Mike S]

I think it has to do with timing more than anything. Lost Continent is the next area they want to replace, and Pokémon is the next new IP that they want to integrate into the resort. Even though Zelda has a major film coming up, Pokémon is still the larger IP overall.

Who said it’s one or the other? Do both. Both parks need something big after Epic.

 

[mccgavin]

Who said it’s one or the other? Do both. Both parks need something big after Epic.

They should, and they probably will eventually. I just don't believe the narrative that Universal is deliberately averse to investing in USF.

 

[Mike S]

They should, and they probably will eventually. I just don't believe the narrative that Universal is deliberately adverse to investing in USF.

If this goes to IoA, they are definitely averse to positively investing in USF. All the good stuff has always gone elsewhere post 2014.

Btw how’d you get your Switch icon on here as a profile picture? Is it really that easy?

 

[Clive]

If this goes to IoA, they are definitely averse to positively investing in USF. All the good stuff has always gone elsewhere post 2014.

You realize they don't intentionally put "bad" stuff in USF, right?

 

[Mike S]

You realize they don't intentionally put "bad" stuff in USF, right?

Of course I do. It’s still funny to imply though especially when there’s so much circumstantial evidence aside from Bourne.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

Studios is the last park Pokémon fits

I disagree, respectfully.

I think USF's ability to more easily convert Simpsons/AA and what's already there into a more generalized theme for Pokemon is greater than IoA's ability (or lack thereof) in forcing a theme (or abandoning a cohesive theme) for LC's plot.

The easiest point being that I think anyone imagining a replacement for Simpson's Fast Food Boulevard can already see how a Pallet Town-era series of smaller buildings and shops, complete with Pokecenter, Pokemart, and Professor's lab, would fit VERY well within its current setup. Those smaller buildings help mask the larger ones(Simpsons and Animal Actors) that stay but get pretty easily rethemed(Celadon? Silph Co.?). Have Central Park feed into a forest entrance for whatever Stadium/Dark ride AA becomes -this benefits doubly when you consider E.T. and Dreamworks-land just on the other side of the forest- and have the city 'skyline' of Simpsons' retheme blend tonally into the World's Fair building of MIB. Then we have something at least practically similar to San Fran's transition into London. It's not hard to imagine because so many people here already have.

I think it's a harder conversation to do the same thing for IoA's LC. I think the tonal whiplash from Hogsmeade to Pokemon to Seuss is harder for people to imagine. Theoretically, you could try sticking a Pokemart/Pokecenter/Pokelab in LC's market, but i don't think it would work as well as FFB in Simpsons. It would lead back into Sinbad being the Stadium/Dark ride but it wouldn't blend as nicely into the Hogsmeade/Velocicoaster split imo. Then that leads us to the Seuss side, which is tougher than just saying 'let's plant a forest and hide a show building behind it'. There are a couple ideas i have here: One. Mountain. Mt. Silver or Mt. Moon could be inspiration for a cool way to hide whatever Poseidon becomes. Two. Safari. Purposely shove 5 or 6 little biome lands into one hodgepodge section so that Mythos can stay relatively the same and so you can hide Poseidon behind a variety of themes and not just ONE thing. In the long run, it would help Seuss's colorful variety feed into Pokemon's thematic variety if you went about it this way.

This is all for me to say that i don't think you can take ONE Pokemon concept and make it work for EITHER of the parks; I think the theoretical builds would have to be more in line with what themes those parks already depict. USF = City & IoA = Environmental.
Being a Pokemon oldhead, i can't help but want to see Kanto/Johto-inspired architecture, which has me liking USF's theoretical build more.

Who said it’s one or the other? Do both. Both parks need something big after Epic.

In a perfect world, we do. We get the CITY side of Pokemon at USF and the WILDS(Safari/Biomes/Forest/Mountains) at IoA.

 

[Mike S]

In a perfect world, we do. We get the CITY side of Pokemon at USF and the WILDS(Safari/Biomes/Forest/Mountains) at IoA.

I meant “both” as in both Zelda and Pokémon being built around the same time for these parks. Then as they wind down you get ready for Epic’s expansion, possibly Wicked.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

You can argue USF got the best singular land they’ve ever built in Diagon Alley and the HE so they feel that can carry it for a long time.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

I meant “both” as in both Zelda and Pokémon being built around the same time for these parks. Then as they wind down you get ready for Epic’s expansion, possibly Wicked.

And i'm over here saying LET'S GET POKEMON IN EVERY PARK LIKE HP. lol c'mon, mike, get on the train!

 

[Mike S]

And i'm over here saying LET'S GET POKEMON IN EVERY PARK LIKE HP. lol c'mon, mike, get on the train!

Nintendo is their next Harry Potter. They’re arguably the biggest get Universal has ever had when you think of all the separate IP they control even without Pokémon. With Pokémon? Forget it. Those of us who were there for Potter in 2010 are going to have PTSD style flashbacks when Pokémon opens. It’s going to be complete insanity. Lines everywhere and empty merchandise shelves in the first few hours. Considering I haven’t played Pokémon since the DS era I’ll probably skip the opening lol

 

[mccgavin]

I think it's a harder conversation to do the same thing for IoA's LC. I think the tonal whiplash from Hogsmeade to Pokemon to Seuss is harder for people to imagine. Theoretically, you could try sticking a Pokemart/Pokecenter/Pokelab in LC's market, but i don't think it would work as well as FFB in Simpsons. It would lead back into Sinbad being the Stadium/Dark ride but it wouldn't blend as nicely into the Hogsmeade/Velocicoaster split imo. Then that leads us to the Seuss side, which is tougher than just saying 'let's plant a forest and hide a show building behind it'. There are a couple ideas i have here: One. Mountain. Mt. Silver or Mt. Moon could be inspiration for a cool way to hide whatever Poseidon becomes. Two. Safari. Purposely shove 5 or 6 little biome lands into one hodgepodge section so that Mythos can stay relatively the same and so you can hide Poseidon behind a variety of themes and not just ONE thing. In the long run, it would help Seuss's colorful variety feed into Pokemon's thematic variety if you went about it this way.

This is all for me to say that i don't think you can take ONE Pokemon concept and make it work for EITHER of the parks; I think the theoretical builds would have to be more in line with what themes those parks already depict. USF = City & IoA = Environmental.
Being a Pokemon oldhead, i can't help but want to see Kanto/Johto-inspired architecture, which has me liking USF's theoretical build more.

I can understand your perspective, but I think they might be taking a different approach for a Pokémon than what many might be imaging it to be. Obviously, the early anime stuck closely to what was established within the games, but in the years since, when Pokémon has been adapted into other mediums, it has taken a lot of creative liberties, with the one primary constant between all adaptions of the franchise being the Pokémon themselves.

More recent projects like Detective Pikachu, Pokémon Concierge, and the upcoming Aardman series stray away from established character, locations, and the concept of battling, and set out to do their own thing creatively. The same could be said about the cafes, the upcoming park in Tokyo, and the various other pop-event and installations they've had. Only the games and animated series have maintained a heavy focus on Pokémon battles and the traditional regions, where other depictions have been more calming and accessible, attributing to Pokémon's growth as a lifestyle brand.

Because of this, I wouldn't necessarily expect to see Kanto/Johto iconography or Pokémon stadiums. Whatever they go with, I imagine the priority will be creating experiences that allow guests to interact with Pokémon, probably through a combination of costumes, animatronics, augmented reality, and other means. I've thought for a while that they could frame it as being a "Pokémon preserve", which could match the aesthetic of IOA, but perhaps that would be too close thematically to Jurassic Park. If they did go down that route, it would be the best way to implement an attraction that takes some inspiration from Pokémon Snap (which they should do).

 

[Mike S]

I can understand your perspective, but I think they might be taking a different approach for a Pokémon than what many might be imaging it to be. Obviously, the early anime stuck closely to what was established within the games, but in the years since, when Pokémon has been adapted into other mediums, it has taken a lot of creative liberties, with the one primary constant between all adaptions of the franchise being the Pokémon themselves.

More recent projects like Detective Pikachu, Pokémon Concierge, and the upcoming Aardman series stray away from established character, locations, and the concept of battling, and set out to do their own thing creatively. The same could be said about the cafes, the upcoming park in Tokyo, and the various other pop-event and installations they've had. Only the games and animated series have maintained a heavy focus on Pokémon battles and the traditional regions, where other depictions have been more calming and accessible, attributing to Pokémon's growth as a lifestyle brand.

Because of this, I wouldn't necessarily expect to see Kanto/Johto iconography or Pokémon stadiums. Whatever they go with, I imagine the priority will be creating experiences that allow guests to interact with Pokémon, probably through a combination of costumes, animatronics, augmented reality, and other means. I've thought for a while that they could frame it as being a "Pokémon preserve", which could match the aesthetic of IOA, but perhaps that would be too close thematically to Jurassic Park. If they did go down that route, it would be the best way to implement an attraction that takes some inspiration from Pokémon Snap (which they should do).

Then expect the same disdain Galaxy’s Edge received. People are going to want to go into a Pokémon Center, PokéMart, etc. and hear the music associated with them. They’re going to want to see some kind of implementation of battles.