Universal's Epic Universe Wish List & Speculation

[shiekra38]

In 1999, Universal opened 5 total coasters. After Men in Black until 2010, the only “new attractions” Universal opened were:

Storm Force (2000) - oft’ forgotten flat
Flying Unicorn (2000) - coaster
Shrek (2004) - simulator
RotM (2004) - indoor coaster
Simpsons (2008) - simulator that features a coaster
Rip Ride Rockit (2009) - coaster

“Universal only does coasters,” was a very common refrain in the aughts. After 2010, it immediately became, “they only do simulators.”

04-09 makes me sad in hindsight...I'm surprised as hell that I kept my pass through that time

Thank gawd for Horror Nights and Harry Potter

Anywho, the coaster debate is dumb. Universal builds highly themed, but exposed coasters, people like them, they're getting way better



And I'm pretty sure Velocicoaster runs on Disney fanboi tears

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Transformers wasn't to replace Spiderman but to port that kind of experience outside of Orlando without the Spiderman IP. The similarities are on purpose but that did not matter originally as they weren't going to be anywhere near each other. It is exciting to see what else they could do with the ride type when they aren't trying to replicate Spiderman.

This makes sense, was actively trying to be Spider-Man, I wonder why the decision was made for Tranformers in Orlando, I’d assume to increase capacity before Diagon?

For EU though, it’s just gotta be very unique for it to work imo. Such a great ride system but I don’t need a trilogy of that ride vehicle, it’s unique enough that overusing it takes that unique feelings away.

 

[tielo]

To me this is such a silly discussion. It's like going to a stage play of musical and discussing that the one thing is probably exactly the same than the last one as they are in a theater.
What Universal is doing very well is telling a (sometimes ridiculous) story in ride and theming resulting in very surprising attractions.
When I look at most coasters they start out on a high (mostly literally) and then fizzle out to the end. Looking at both Hagrid and Velocicoaster they are both very different but both have excitement throughout the ride both in ride and theming. The same goes for Mummy and Gringotts, both have a coaster track and both have dark-ride elements but where Gringotts is a dark ride with coaster elements to transit from one story element to the other, Mummy has dark ride parts followed by coaster parts when the story needs you to try to escape. All the same ride ideas but total different experiences, just like a play or a musical.

 

[OLSinFLA]

The reason Transformers and Spider-Man are very similar is not just because they both use scoop. It's primarily because Transformers was likely going to replace Spider-Man in Orlando, but didn't go through. If Transformers had been designed from the ground up, but ended up using scoop vehicles, my guess is they'd be two very different rides.

My guess/hope is that Beijing's JW scoop ride will be different to Spider-Man and Transformers. This is largely because Transformers is literally in the same park (and not next door like USH/IOA). It's also largely because the ride was rumored to be designed with a different vehicle in mind, but changed down the line to scoop... So the rest of the ride could look and feel very different.

No, TF was never intended to replace Spider-Man. It was specifically designed to fit into the smaller area in Hollywood and Singapore. Orlando was never supposed to get TF. However, an influx of money meant spend it or tax it, and a last minute decision (LITERALLY last minute as an HHN house had to be pulled out of the building for demolition) to put it in USF. That's never been a secret

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

To me this is such a silly discussion. It's like going to a stage play of musical and discussing that the one thing is probably exactly the same than the last one as they are in a theater.
What Universal is doing very well is telling a (sometimes ridiculous) story in ride and theming resulting in very surprising attractions.
When I look at most coasters they start out on a high (mostly literally) and then fizzle out to the end. Looking at both Hagrid and Velocicoaster they are both very different but both have excitement throughout the ride both in ride and theming. The same goes for Mummy and Gringotts, both have a coaster track and both have dark-ride elements but where Gringotts is a dark ride with coaster elements to transit from one story element to the other, Mummy has dark ride parts followed by coaster parts when the story needs you to try to escape. All the same ride ideas but total different experiences, just like a play or a musical.

I think comparing stage shows to Theme Park attractions isn’t a fair argument. There is only so much that can be done on a single stage, where theme parks have coasters, indoor coasters, Omnimover, shooting rides, simulators, while sure all under the same umbrella of themed storytelling, they are vastly different experiences in terms of what is physically happening to you, a stage show will always be on the stage and you will not move. I hear your argument but to compare it to the stage I think boxes it into something it isn’t.

 

[tommyhawkins]

IMO the ideal coaster for HTTYD would be the new launched single rail Intamin model. Those single rail coaster trains make it feel like you’re riding on the back of something

I'm kinda hoping it is an intamin family launched( the starting model for Hagrid's), but it doesnt really matter who makes it, the layout is solid either way, when i built the duelling coaster for Alicia I had a stab at the Dragon one too. its gonna be a really fun ride that's a lovely stepping stone ride for younger people.

 

[RFRees]

No, TF was never intended to replace Spider-Man. It was specifically designed to fit into the smaller area in Hollywood and Singapore. Orlando was never supposed to get TF. However, an influx of money meant spend it or tax it, and a last minute decision (LITERALLY last minute as an HHN house had to be pulled out of the building for demolition) to put it in USF. That's never been a secret

It's possible TF wasn't intended on replacing Spider-Man in Orlando, I agree.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I'm kinda hoping it is an intamin family launched( the starting model for Hagrid's), but it doesnt really matter who makes it, the layout is solid either way, when i built the duelling coaster for Alicia I had a stab at the Dragon one too. its gonna be a really fun ride that's a lovely stepping stone ride for younger people.

View attachment 14824

Just have to say, awesome work on these!!! Gives us a great idea of what to look forward to.

 

[Alicia]

The Transformers talk is baffling. While it hits some of the same story and effects beats, the building layout is vastly different. Transformers utilizes elevators and a two story layout, while Spider-Man is all on the same level.

Transformers was designed for markets where they no longer had the Spider-Man license, like Hollywood. They realized they wanted a speedbump ahead of Diagon Alley opening and greenlit it for USF last minute since it was already designed.

It was never, ever, not even once ever planned to replace Spider-Man. Why would it? They have the rights to Marvel in perpetuity. I just. I just don’t understand what’s happening in this thread.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

The Transformers talk is baffling. While it hits some of the same story and effects beats, the building layout is vastly different. Transformers utilizes elevators and a two story layout, while Spider-Man is all on the same level.

Transformers was designed for markets where they no longer had the Spider-Man license, like Hollywood. They realized they wanted a speedbump ahead of Diagon Alley opening and greenlit it for USF last minute since it was already designed.

It was never, ever, not even once ever planned to replace Spider-Man. Why would it? They have the rights to Marvel in perpetuity. I just. I just don’t understand what’s happening in this thread.

People are making poop up.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

The Transformers talk is baffling. While it hits some of the same story and effects beats, the building layout is vastly different. Transformers utilizes elevators and a two story layout, while Spider-Man is all on the same level.

Transformers was designed for markets where they no longer had the Spider-Man license, like Hollywood. They realized they wanted a speedbump ahead of Diagon Alley opening and greenlit it for USF last minute since it was already designed.

It was never, ever, not even once ever planned to replace Spider-Man. Why would it? They have the rights to Marvel in perpetuity. I just. I just don’t understand what’s happening in this thread.

I mention I don’t want a SCOOP at EU and now the merits of the origin of the Transformers ride are being discussed..... you can’t control people!

 

[Magic-Man]

Popeyes was meant to replace Splash Mountain before Universal stole the rights

 

[JungleSkip]

I'm kinda hoping it is an intamin family launched( the starting model for Hagrid's), but it doesnt really matter who makes it, the layout is solid either way, when i built the duelling coaster for Alicia I had a stab at the Dragon one too. its gonna be a really fun ride that's a lovely stepping stone ride for younger people.

View attachment 14824

Oh I think it’s gonna be a very fun family coaster. I’d imagine it’ll be Intamin or Mack, considering Mack seems to be the ones building the racer

 

[RFRees]

In hindsight I shouldn't have said Orlando specifically regarding TF/Spider-Man, as they could have had MSHI planned for other parks (e.g. Russia, Dubai, Beijing, USH, Singapore) and retooled the idea.

I'm sorry for distracting away from the topic. Getting back on topic, my point is that had they designed TF from the ground up instead of using the entire Spider-Man ride as a blueprint, they'd be vastly different attractions, even if they both used the same ride vehicle. So people shouldn't poo-poo the idea of having 'another scoop ride' or 'another Kuka ride' / etc at Epic Universe, since as long as it's built from the ground up it should be fine.

 

[UPSguy]

Just to add my two cents about "Universal just keeps building roller coasters" talk, obviously while its not true, I certainly wouldn't be complaining if they did lol, after Hagrids and VC.... Universal is unmatched in the theme park market for themed coasters; at least in the 21st century. And this does pain me to say this as I've been a Disney fanatic for my entire life, but I can't deny what my eyes see. Universal can just build better coasters than Disney. Tron isn't impressive and somehow took them longer to build than VC and I'll hold my judgement on Cosmic Rewind

 

[tielo]

I think comparing stage shows to Theme Park attractions isn’t a fair argument. There is only so much that can be done on a single stage....a stage show will always be on the stage and you will not move. I hear your argument but to compare it to the stage I think boxes it into something it isn’t.

You can't be more wrong, theater can be outside, stages can be around you, seating can be on stage, the seating can turn around 360 (Soldier of Orange) or move forwards and backwards. That is not the point, the experience you have in that box is wildly different each time you see a new show. The same goes for a ride vehicle, it can do a ton of things but it's context why it does it can change wildly so the ride vehicle doesn't and shouldn't matter in if it's an amazing attraction for a theme park ride. If you talk about an amusement park where it's only about movement you are right.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

You can't be more wrong, theater can be outside, stages can be around you, seating can be on stage, the seating can turn around 360 (Soldier of Orange) or move forwards and backwards. That is not the point, the experience you have in that box is wildly different each time you see a new show. The same goes for a ride vehicle, it can do a ton of things but it's context why it does it can change wildly so the ride vehicle doesn't and shouldn't matter in if it's an amazing attraction for a theme park ride. If you talk about an amusement park where it's only about movement you are right.

Okay I hear your point more. For my point however, I have not seen Universal do something with a Scoop that is drastically different than Spider-Man, doesn’t mean it can’t happen, they have yet to show that. I’m taking very specifically about a Scoop vehicle, also, as it’s an extremely unique ride system, that hasn’t seem to be expanded upon. I understand the layout is different so for the engineers and Universal it’s more complicated and different, but do most guests even know about that? I only do from here.

So idk if that makes sense but I actually agree with you overall, I hear what you’re saying about stages. I don’t know many live shows outside of theme parks where the stage itself moves however, but I hear you.

 

[Legacy]

Okay I hear your point more. For my point however, I have not seen Universal do something with a Scoop that is drastically different than Spider-Man, doesn’t mean it can’t happen, they have yet to show that. I’m taking very specifically about a Scoop vehicle, also, as it’s an extremely unique ride system, that hasn’t seem to be expanded upon. I understand the layout is different so for the engineers and Universal it’s more complicated and different, but do most guests even know about that? I only do from here.

They’ve only done two. Soon to be three. And adding an elevator was an expansion of the idea (in fact, elevators in dark rides are a relatively new innovation in general).

And guests should never “know” how complicated a ride system is. All of those complications should be disguised. The reason why people grasp how complicated Rise of the Resistance and Hagrid’s are is because they keep breaking down.

 

[shiekra38]

Just to add my two cents about "Universal just keeps building roller coasters" talk, obviously while its not true, I certainly wouldn't be complaining if they did lol, after Hagrids and VC.... Universal is unmatched in the theme park market for themed coasters; at least in the 21st century. And this does pain me to say this as I've been a Disney fanatic for my entire life, but I can't deny what my eyes see. Universal can just build better coasters than Disney. Tron isn't impressive and somehow took them longer to build than VC and I'll hold my judgement on Cosmic Rewind

Yes it would be interesting if IOA got one more coaster and USF got a replacement for HRRR and one more coaster towards the back-ish of the property

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

They’ve only done two. Soon to be three. And adding an elevator was an expansion of the idea (in fact, elevators in dark rides are a relatively new innovation in general).

And guests should never “know” how complicated a ride system is. All of those complications should be disguised. The reason why people grasp how complicated Rise of the Resistance and Hagrid’s are is because they keep breaking down.

True, but if the argument is it’s so different is because of the elevator, that doesn’t change the guest reaction if we are completely unaware it’s happening, so they feel essentially like the same ride. As I said before though I’m excited to see JW Adventure to see how they can expand on the ride system.