Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[Milo Davis]

Is Yellow Brick Road fair game?

Yep. It’s featured heavily in the new movie.

 

[Collin]

Tbh, I don’t think the Wicked themeing will make much of a difference for visitors - You still get the yellow brick road, you still get emerald city, you still get munchkin land, you still get the Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Dorothy, Oz, a Good Witch, a wicked witch, flying monkeys and extremely popular songs (pun intended). The loss of ruby shoes and the movies songs is negligible in the big scheme of things. You can call the land Oz and people would still get to experience everything they’d expect to find.

Also wicked has done a good job of hiding bits of the wizard of oz music in the score.

 

[GAcoaster]

We'll see-- when you see Dorothy in Part 2 it's obvious who she is, and her blue gingham dress is part of the 1939 version and not the original books IIRC. They may have come to an understanding with Warner on this since it really just promotes their 1939 film and sells more of their merchandise...

 

[Clive]

We'll see-- when you see Dorothy in Part 2 it's obvious who she is, and her blue gingham dress is part of the 1939 version and not the original books IIRC. They may have come to an understanding with Warner on this since it really just promotes their 1939 film and sells more of their merchandise...

They're allowed to be close - just not identical. Plenty of Oz media out there that emulates the MGM original without breaking the copyright.

 

[jarmor]

If I were to speculate what a new portal to the "Wicked of OZ" land/portal would be, I would create an area broken down into 3 sub areas; Emerald City, Shiz University and and area known as "the west".

You'd enter the portal and be transported to Shiz University. This is where you will find attractions like the Glinda and Elphaba meet and greet that starts off as a dorm tour/walk through. It will also feature an Intamin dynamic motion stage themed to the Oz Dust Ballroom/Dancing Through Life.

A quick service dining location and shopping experiences.

The Emerald City will feature more shopping and a table service with quirky and unique food choices. I'd love to have a wave swinger or hot air balloon flat ride located here as well.

Here is where I will take a bold move, located inside the wizard's castle will NOT be a stage version of Wicked but instead a dark ride "book report" in the likes of frozen ever after/the voyage of the little mermaid. Id say trackless but universal hasn't had much experience in that field yet. I would probably have a little boutique for little girls to get all glinda-fied or go green like elphaba.

The West would be indoors. I would want this area to be similar to Knocturn alley. This would be a hideaway for the animals that did not confirm and were they have set up settlement. Inside, I would have and indoor version of F.L.Y at Phantasialand themed to the flying monkeys.

It will traverse above and below you in the indoor area. We aren't talking about a huge flyer, something that's about 40ft difference in elevation, 2 launches. A few shops and snack locations around the perimeter of the inside area to leave the middle for the coaster and themed forest area. Maybe a couple small family flat rides.

This is what I speculate an OZ/Wicked land should be if Universal decides to pull the trigger!

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

If I were to speculate what a new portal to the "Wicked of OZ" land/portal would be, I would create an area broken down into 3 sub areas; Emerald City, Shiz University and and area known as "the west".

You'd enter the portal and be transported to Shiz University. This is where you will find attractions like the Glinda and Elphaba meet and greet that starts off as a dorm tour/walk through. It will also feature an Intamin dynamic motion stage themed to the Oz Dust Ballroom/Dancing Through Life.

A quick service dining location and shopping experiences.

The Emerald City will feature more shopping and a table service with quirky and unique food choices. I'd love to have a wave swinger or hot air balloon flat ride located here as well.

Here is where I will take a bold move, located inside the wizard's castle will NOT be a stage version of Wicked but instead a dark ride "book report" in the likes of frozen ever after/the voyage of the little mermaid. Id say trackless but universal hasn't had much experience in that field yet. I would probably have a little boutique for little girls to get all glinda-fied or go green like elphaba.

The West would be indoors. I would want this area to be similar to Knocturn alley. This would be a hideaway for the animals that did not confirm and were they have set up settlement. Inside, I would have and indoor version of F.L.Y at Phantasialand themed to the flying monkeys.

It will traverse above and below you in the indoor area. We aren't talking about a huge flyer, something that's about 40ft difference in elevation, 2 launches. A few shops and snack locations around the perimeter of the inside area to leave the middle for the coaster and themed forest area. Maybe a couple small family flat rides.

This is what I speculate an OZ/Wicked land should be if Universal decides to pull the trigger!

Well damn do I love this!

 

[saint.piss]

This is why Oz needs to come to Epic. The portal would be gorgeous

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

“All things truly Wicked start from innocence”
Could easily fit the portal message too.

 

[illumination]

Tbh, I don’t think the Wicked themeing will make much of a difference for visitors - You still get the yellow brick road, you still get emerald city, you still get munchkin land, you still get the Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Dorothy, Oz, a Good Witch, a wicked witch, flying monkeys and extremely popular songs (pun intended). The loss of ruby shoes and the movies songs is negligible in the big scheme of things. You can call the land Oz and people would still get to experience everything they’d expect to find.

Plus, this could go into Studios and lean into the Wicked version. They could have recreation of the sets for a behind the scenes type thing, plus a couple rides.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I dislike Wicked and am fairly ambivalent about Wizard of Oz, but I can't deny it would make a strong land. It would seem to fit better in IOA then EU, however, even though I still think the logical fate for Lost Continent is to be split between Potter and Seuss expansions.

I'd MUCH rather have LOTR in EU, but I can't deny Oz would seem to make more business sense for Uni. The only caveat there is that I think Uni will still want the Ring rights for the England park, and at that point it wouldn't make much sense not to find a large space for the IP stateside. I also wonder which franchise would bring more merch sales - I feel like LOTR has merchandising options second only to Potter (and Star Trek).

 

[jarmor]

“All things truly Wicked start from innocence”
Could easily fit the portal message too.

Or perhaps "Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them. . ."

 

[Mike S]

I also wonder which franchise would bring more merch sales - I feel like LOTR has merchandising options second only to Potter (and Star Trek).

The answer is actually none of the above.

It’s Pokémon.

 

[quinnmac000]

That plot is over 20 acres right? So why not both?

 

[Collin]

That plot is over 20 acres right? So why not both?

It would break the portal concept they have going. Also both LOTR and Wicked need the 20 acres. Splitting it would hurt them both.

Wicked needs space for the Emerald City, Shiz University, Munchkinland, Kiamo Ko. It's important to show all those so that not just Wicked fans recognize the space. If you put Wicked anywhere else you'll have to cut locations or significantly cut the scale.

You can see each location below.

 

[DrStarlander]

That plot is over 20 acres right? So why not both?

Maybe it is Wicked using the full 20 acres but includes an Oz in-park hotel

 

[Collin]

Maybe it is Wicked using the full 20 acres but includes an Oz in-park hotel

Shiz Hotel would slap.

 

[jwbitterman]

Who is passionate about the Wizard of Oz? There’s no way Oz has more enthusiasm than things like Lord of the Rings.

This idea of an Oz land has me as excited as Pandora - Zzz. I’m sure it will look great - just like Pandora - but I’d completely ignore it if it came to pass (just like Pandora).

A South Park land is wayyyy more interesting to me but probably even less of a draw than Oz.

 

[Jake S]

This idea of an Oz land has me as excited as Pandora - Zzz

I'm not a fan of Wicked at all, but ... if it ended up with a Pandora-level land, you'd never hear me complaining.

 

[Collin]

Who is passionate about the Wizard of Oz? There’s no way Oz has more enthusiasm than things like Lord of the Rings. This idea of an Oz land has me as excited as Pandora - Zzz.

Not everything is meant for you. I have always loved The Wizard of Oz, it's my favorite movie. Wicked has been running on Broadway for 20+ years, nearly selling out every night. The Wizard of Oz plays a huge part in American culture; it's one of the most influential films of all time. The original book is THE American fairytale.

Lord of the Rings comes with complications, a protective estate, warner bros owns the rights. I've never seen the films but I'm not gonna crap on it, I think could make a cool theme park land too.

 

[jarmor]

Yeah, I've never seen one lord of the rings film but that wouldn't stop me from enjoying a theme park iteration of it if it includes a great environment and attractions.