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House of Horrors Replacement

  • Thread starter Thread starter BigBSerrano
  • Start date Start date Jul 16, 2014
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KevyB

KevyB

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  • Apr 13, 2015
  • #301
An art deco theme can be thrown on any building, it doesn't have to affect what's inside it. If they are truly going to have "dining and entertainment" I think there are three ways they can go with this.

One: Character Dining. This park doesn't have a character meal, which is a huge money-maker for Disney. Problem is, what characters? They'd have to bring the Grinch out of mothballs because otherwise the pickings are meager: The Minions, SpongeBob and The Simpsons (a whole new land and they get TWO new characters???). They aren't going to have dinosaurs or Transformers romping through here, and I don't think families will get excited by the old-timers like Lucy or Doc Brown. And I don't think they can have the Monsters scaring the bejeezus out of kids either. Not that it wouldn't be awesome, but THINK OF THE CHILLLLLDREN!

Two: Dinner Theater. This COULD be a possibility, but what show? I think we can all agree this is going to be a sit-down restaurant, so how does this work? Shows start every hour and they clear out everyone before the next show? And, again, what show? I can't come up with anything for this one.

Three: IP Dining Experience. What this could be is anyone's guess. I know Universal went after The Hunger Games avidly, and then it all died down. Does that mean they gave up or they got it and something is waiting in the wings? I tried hard to think of what a Hunger Games theme could bring and I couldn't get past all the killing. SO MUCH KILLING! The ONLY thing I came up with was a dining experience. While the movies don't go into as much detail about the food, the books certainly do. But where would the entertainment come in? Would the dining room be in the Capitol and everyone working there would look like all the weirdos that live there? Would it be attacked every 45 minutes by Katniss and company? Maybe it's a Capitol restaurant post-war, and we District people have been invited in for a Capitol feast? Or would you be in a train car, where much of the eating is done in the books, and you would see stuff happening outside the window? I did have a thought of sitting there while television coverage of the Hunger Games played on screens, but we're right back to kids dying. Of course, there are other properties out there, but I don't see other ones Universal has chased - Star Trek, The Hobbit, Kaiju, World of Warcraft, Nintendo - becoming such narrow-focused projects. Those are all properties that scream RIDE or LAND, not DINING EXPERIENCE! Meanwhile, I can't picture a single Hunger Games attraction that doesn't involve taboo subjects of kid-killing and war. THINK OF THE CHILLLLLLDREN!!!

Of course there was the rumor of them building the Hogwarts Great Hall dining room, which would be a GREAT idea. But I don't see how it could be allowed to be all the way over here. To make it work - AND get it past JK Rowling - you'd have to actually enter Hogwarts first, and then head to the Great Hall. It's a HUGE building, so where would it go if not over here? (And I just can't picture any way to get there - even via walkway all the way from Hogwarts and over the entrance area path - that would please JK Rowling.) So it will HAVE to go near Hogwarts. Which means they're probably planning on TWO sit-down "dining experiences". (And none of us should be shocked knowing how much focus Universal puts on dining establishments now.) Hogwarts appears to hug the back of CityWalk so IF they build this - and they'd be stupid NOT to - it appears it can be built from the edge of Hogwarts along the back of the WaterWorld stage between that and Hippogriff. Or they can use the old Gibson Amphitheater path, which is about 150 feet from the old gate to the edge of the construction area, which is how long I think the Great Hall would need to be, though that doesn't allow for the kitchen or the waiting area (the Entrance Hall?). Both would allow for access to the WaterWorld stage (for the eventual Harry Potter replacement show), but it would be easier to hide here as the other location would need a lot more facade work. Plus it's going to be VERY TALL (unless they dig down a bit). So if they could build it at ground level on the old Gibson path, they can build whatever they're building across the way and bridge them with a shared kitchen. There are indications that the "dining experience" may be on the second floor over there, so this isn't completely ridiculous. And this work inside Cartooniversal is puzzling. If they are building up the support structure, it's getting a second floor. Yeah, it's at least 90% likely that they are just reworking the insides, but if this were my park and I had to deal with the space issues, I'd definitely look at places I could build UP.

Just some loooong thoughts.
 
William

William

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  • Apr 13, 2015
  • #302
Well..

Staying on topic, I would cross off the latter two ideas. They just don't seem to be in the realm of possibility, especially given that this venue is supposed to establish a sense of unity in that particular area, which is why attractions like House of Horrors and Blues Brothers have been scrapped entirely. It wouldn't make sense for a generic, classy venue to contain a dining experience themed to a particular IP.

If you just look at the name "Hollywood & Dine", it even hints at what we should expect (which is also something that's been previously speculated).
 
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ush123

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  • Apr 16, 2015
  • #303
First time posting, longtime reader of the site and forums. I work within the park and have heard from a few creditable sources in management the location will house only retail. The retail outlets would include expansion of the Universal store, the center store will feature Harry Potter merchandise and third will feature animated characters. They have all said there is no plans for food or entertainment options being placed in the location, despite the information that was once released. The building will be going vertical around Halloween Horror Nights and will open early Spring. There will be three levels to the building. Basement and third floor will be storage for retail products. When I asked about the Hollywood and Dine, I was informed this is for a change we will be seeing in the lower lot, while not confirmed they felt it could be a possible in park restaurant that would take the place of Panda and Universal Experience. There was mention in the meeting the park is moving away from branded food options in favor of food they can produce at a lower price.
 
Last edited by a moderator: Apr 16, 2015
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techmaniac16

techmaniac16

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  • Apr 16, 2015
  • #304
Nice to see a new face on the forums!

ush123, why are they starting on stores on Halloween Horror Nights? Are they focusing all their manpower on Simpsons and Potter first? 

I'm quite eager to see what takes Panda's place. Could you possibly tell us what we could expect from Hollywood & Dine?  
 
Red Carpet

Red Carpet

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  • Apr 16, 2015
  • #305
If they make another store about animated characters, how would that affect the nearby Cartooniversal?
 
U

ush123

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  • Apr 16, 2015
  • #306
techmaniac16 said:
Nice to see a new face on the forums!

ush123, why are they starting on stores on Halloween Horror Nights? Are they focusing all their manpower on Simpsons and Potter first? 

I'm quite eager to see what takes Panda's place. Could you possibly tell us what we could expect from Hollywood & Dine?  

Thanks for the welcome. As we all can see construction is already underway, from what I was told we wouldn't see the building taking shape until around HHN. In terms of Panda and Universal Experience this was just their thoughts, not a given.

Red Carpet said:
If they make another store about animated characters, how would that affect the nearby Cartooniversal?

That was not metioned, they recently did some upgrades to the inside of the store.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
JPLA

JPLA

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  • Apr 19, 2015
  • #307
The dirt pile is gone.  Does this mean underground work is complete?

HollywoodDine_041815_1.jpg
HollywoodDine_041815_2.jpg
 
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KevyB

KevyB

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  • Apr 21, 2015
  • #308
If that area will be just retail, with a third going to animated characters, then Cartooniversal is next on the chopping block. Which only lends credence to the sit-down dining experience being the Great Hall restaurant going into Hogwarts. This isn't a big building, so there's certainly not an attraction going here, unless Shrek goes away too, opening up a big swath of real estate right next to Hogwarts. Without knowing how much space the Hippogriff coaster will take, it's difficult to make too many educated guesses.
 
William

William

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  • Apr 21, 2015
  • #309
Shrek isn't going anywhere anytime soon, especially given its recent upgrades. Also, if you look at recent sattelite images (or even images from a month or two ago), you can see they've made an outline around and fenced off the area that will contain Flight of the Hippogriff. It looks to be the same size as its predecessors.

As for Cartooniversal, why would they transform that space into a Great Hall Experience? That would require Universal to weave guests down a path from Hogsmeade into that area which is nowhere near Hogwarts Castle, where this dining room is supposed to be set. It also seems that if Cartooniversal does close, it'll simply be retrofitted to be an Art-Deco-themed store. It wouldn't make sense for them to be making the interior enhancements they are now and then demolish the building not long after.
 
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Ryan

Ryan

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  • Apr 22, 2015
  • #310
If the Great Hall were to ever happen, it wouldn't be where Shrek is.
 
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JPLA

JPLA

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  • Apr 22, 2015
  • #311
An employee told me on Sunday that the House of Horrors area would be expansion of Studio Store and include a Starbucks.  So almost all retail.  Also, by end of May the Feature Attractions shop will be converted to all Harry Potter merchandise. 

Just because an employee said this does not make it true so there's no need to debate the veracity of this report.  Perhaps if the latter pans out correctly we'll have a clue if the former is also true.  Patience is key.

But I do believe Universal will want to expand retail opportunities for all those new visitors the park upgrades will attract.  I was hoping for a nice sit down restaurant with waitstaff but perhaps CityWalk fills that niche without taking up valuable park space.  Plus, because the park hours are shorter than CityWalk hours I can see how that would be difficult for a full service restaurant.  Unlike Orlando, our CityWalk is SO CLOSE that it's nearly as convenient as being inside the park.  The biggest difference being entry turnstiles, of course.  Regardless, I feel Saddle Ranch could use a good scrubbing before I make that my sit down establishment of choice.
 
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William

William

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  • Apr 22, 2015
  • #312
I'd love having a Studio Store 2.0, not to mention a Starbucks in the Upper Lot. If that rumor proves to be true, I hope they somehow implement this museum element that we've been wanting to compensate for the eventual removal of the NBCUniversal Experience.
 
Allen The Actor

Allen The Actor

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  • Apr 22, 2015
  • #313
Eh, I wouldn't be against having a larger Studio Store, but that seems like an awfully large space for just an expanded store and Starbucks, especially since there's also a Studio Store in CityWalk as well. Would've liked to have seen a nice in-park restaurant with Universal Experience implemented.
 
A

Alexshow.

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  • Apr 22, 2015
  • #314
...It makes sense. It makes sense for one thing; Crowd flow. If this is the reason why we are not seeing a large complex with a full-on dining establishment here, its for Crowd flow. It will create more footspace for people too ontop of that so...I'm not really disappointed actually.
 
Freak

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  • Apr 23, 2015
  • #315
Full service restaurant may be better for the lower lot anyway. I think someone else brought this up earlier, but combining the UE, Panda and maybe the store into one big restaurant would be better. I would love to see all of the dining rooms themed to different Uni movies. The lower lot has little dining options down there anyway so that will diversify it.
 
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Ryan

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  • Apr 23, 2015
  • #316
Starbucks in this location makes way too much sense for it not to be true. Studio Store expansion was obvious, but I still wonder if there's a bit more to it. I know there's crowd flow issues but I don't see how that wide space is going to truly help bottlenecks... you have two different pathways and it's not like Potter is there. There just has to be more to it.
 
Miss Betty Juice

Miss Betty Juice

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  • Apr 23, 2015
  • #317
Why the hell do we need two Starbucks in the park...
 
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Alexshow.

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  • Apr 23, 2015
  • #318
A lot of people have to get they're juice somehow..And if one Starbucks is full, theres a extra just in-case.
 
Allen The Actor

Allen The Actor

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  • Apr 23, 2015
  • #319
I honestly think that's Starbucks overkill. There's a full Starbucks downstairs and Starbucks drinks in multiple locations. Idk.....even though part of this rumors makes "sense", I still think it's a waste of the great space and great footprint. But I'm gonna reserve my judgement for once we see more activity. I just was hoping for something more than expanded retail + Starbucks as a replacement for an attraction.


I hope there's more to it we don't know about...
 
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TSTLSOOM

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  • May 7, 2015
  • #320
Miss Betty Juice said:
Why the hell do we need two Starbucks in the park...
Click to expand...
do you really want to know why? Once that Starbucks opened at the bottom, guest would complain they would have to go "all the way to the lower lot" just to get coffee. they didnt want to walk to citywalk or to the lower lot.
 
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