Lower Lot Redesign

[phroobar]

Now that the track is completed for the coaster, is there any word on new hotel (project 515) going in the front of the park entrance?

 

[bdubsCEO]

So now what’s up with the gigantic retaining wall and road/walkway next to Mummy? It was supposedly some kind of storage project, but it’s pretty clear at this point that it isn’t a building. Is it some kind of tram turnaround? They just dug a trench to run electricity to it… is it going to be a moving walkway?

 

[Clive]

So now what’s up with the gigantic retaining wall and road/walkway next to Mummy? It was supposedly some kind of storage project, but it’s pretty clear at this point that it isn’t a building. Is it some kind of tram turnaround? They just dug a trench to run electricity to it… is it going to be a moving walkway?

It's clearly prep for the park's next E-ticket!...

...Occam's razor says it's retaining wall that helps deal with anticipated terrain issues for the next decade+. I assume there'll be some sort of storage shed or structure attached or near the wall, hence the electrical/utility runs.

 

[Viator]

I feel like if I said what I want to say, I'd probably get a automatic "no" in regards to it.

I personally think the hillside project is a multi-year element. This year is primarily on the initial grading and in the installation of the new retaining wall; but I am more curious to see what the hill looks like when we get to April of next year.

As if this year is them focusing on the infastructure as it is now, before they get to work on the purpose of the hill (and in doing so, not affecting that of other key bits for the immediate future).

 

[Freak]

I know armchair imagineering is kinda frowned upon in these kinds of threads, but I just had a thought pop into my mind:

I know there’s been talks off and on about the Mummy leaving, but I’ve been of the mindset that the Mummy should be replaced by a proper indoor roller coaster that would be more sophisticated and higher-quality than its predecessor. The only problem is, there is no IP that would fit that criteria….at least until recently.

If Universal were smart, they would replace the Mummy with a Minecraft indoor roller coaster and a Minecraft mini land. Have a good stand that sells Steve’s tasty lava chicken. The only issue is IDK how Nintendo would feel about having a “competing” video game IP downstairs.

 

[Viator]

Merlin has the rights of Minecraft so odds are that IP is out.

I still maintain that I think it should be split into half, with the left half being a new plaza space and the right half being a show venue (something like The Untrainable Dragon or Bourne Stuntacular feels right).

 

[Jake S]

personally i think a slow moving dark ride themed to a beloved movie from the 1980s would do the trick

 

[Pacific]

I know armchair imagineering is kinda frowned upon in these kinds of threads, but I just had a thought pop into my mind:

I know there’s been talks off and on about the Mummy leaving, but I’ve been of the mindset that the Mummy should be replaced by a proper indoor roller coaster that would be more sophisticated and higher-quality than its predecessor. The only problem is, there is no IP that would fit that criteria….at least until recently.

If Universal were smart, they would replace the Mummy with a Minecraft indoor roller coaster and a Minecraft mini land. Have a good stand that sells Steve’s tasty lava chicken. The only issue is IDK how Nintendo would feel about having a “competing” video game IP downstairs.

Tomb Raider

 

[TheUniC6]

personally i think a slow moving dark ride themed to a beloved movie from the 1980s would do the trick

Any lower lot expansion would hopefully have a D ticket family dark ride and an E ticket of some sort.

Hopefully Universal considers having the family ride down there have no height requirement as well. They need more of that type in their portfolio.

 

[Jerroddragon]

personally i think a slow moving dark ride themed to a beloved movie from the 1980s would do the trick

I doubt it will happen but I would love a Monsters ride made like HM....use some stuff from Epic and replace the simpons area with a monsters town and having a slow moving ride where you go through forests, castles, swamp, etc and we can enjoy those new AA's they made even better without being thrown around but get to enjoy watching the Phantom play music and watch Frankenstein come to life

 

[Freak]

I doubt it will happen but I would love a Monsters ride made like HM....use some stuff from Epic and replace the simpons area with a monsters town and having a slow moving ride where you go through forests, castles, swamp, etc and we can enjoy those new AA's they made even better without being thrown around but get to enjoy watching the Phantom play music and watch Frankenstein come to life

Not watching the POV of Unchained because spoilers, but a HM style ride of the Universal Monsters with those AAs would go HARD at USH

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

Not watching the POV of Unchained because spoilers, but a HM style ride of the Universal Monsters with those AAs would go HARD at USH

Wouldn’t happen. Too scary for kids and probably would get boring not scary reviews from GP (monsters unchained works because of the movement)

 

[Jerroddragon]

Not watching the POV of Unchained because spoilers, but a HM style ride of the Universal Monsters with those AAs would go HARD at USH

It would

I think its a kinda of attraction USH needs as well

Like SLOP is for families but we don't have a Pirates/HM that kids can go on but are more for adults

After seeing what they had, I can just picture how cool it would be to travel around a lake and creature pop up out of the water every now and then before scarring you on your way to the forest where you see a man transform into a werewolf going though a town where the bride can be and take you into a church with bells ringing and seeing Frankenstein come to life and then into a room where you watch the phatom playing music and a finale battle between Dracula and Frankenstein in his castle

I know it wont happen but I think it would fit too perfect where simpsons is now...it works well next to Potter and would give the monster characters a permit home
I'd also live the Q to have spots for actors...I know they would not always be there but for HHN, Grinchmas and summer and maybe spring break they could have people trying to scare you in the Q as well

I think Monsters is cool but also for me....its kinda too quick to enjoy how great it is and just feels like soooooo many other USH attractions...something goes wrong yeah yeah yeah can we get more attractions that just tell a baisc story and rely on the amazing tech they have made and the amazing sets they can make? I know it can't happen on every ride but would like more rides that just rely on what USH does the best

 

[MistaDee]

personally i think a slow moving dark ride themed to a beloved movie from the 1980s would do the trick

Maybe for the fan forum demographic but I think Universal needs to balance classic IP like Jurassic Park/World with stuff that will be relevant for the next 20 years with younger folks too

 

[Jake S]

Maybe for the fan forum demographic but I think Universal needs to balance classic IP like Jurassic Park/World with stuff that will be relevant for the next 20 years with younger folks too

i was just making a lil E.T.’s Adventure joke haha.

 

[MistaDee]

i was just making a lil E.T.’s Adventure joke haha.

I mean Universal is going back to the Back to the Future well for Great Britain so honestly it seems like some of those classic IPs are still viable in their eyes.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Maybe for the fan forum demographic but I think Universal needs to balance classic IP like Jurassic Park/World with stuff that will be relevant for the next 20 years with younger folks too

I agree but also they just opened Epic with Monsters and people seem to love it. I think we can have one older IP every now and then

Recently we got SLOP, Jurassic World, Nope, Mario/Nintendo and coming soon Fast and Furious

For me its Pokemon is the best choice but if they can't then go with it. USH also has a monster fan base because not only were the movies filmed here but the monsters have been walk around characters for like ever and they get an HHN house most years and to be honest this is how I became a fan b going through the Monster houses over the year and last year was insanely cool because Creature was a walk around character

So not saying even most rides should be old IPs but Monsters to me has shown it can do more then others and even BTTF after fan fest I might be very open to an attraction. I love BTTF but I kinda thought it was just me who loved it so much but after watching a Documentary about the film its got a HUGE base of people who love it and many think its the perfect film and so if they can find a way to make Monsters and BTTF a permit part of the park I say bring it on

 

[highdefrex]

I love BTTF but I kinda thought it was just me who loved it so much

It’s constantly cited as one of the best films of all time. Its iconography continues to be pervasive in pop culture even after 40 years. It’s had sequels, theme park attractions, video games, a musical, etc. Even on this forum alone, people have constantly said how much they miss the old ride and have perpetually expressed their desire to see the IP back in the park in some way.

How could you ever think you were the only person who has loved BTTF when its popularity has been so obviously enduring?

 

[Jerroddragon]

It’s constantly cited as one of the best films of all time. Its iconography continues to be pervasive in pop culture even after 40 years. It’s had sequels, theme park attractions, video games, a musical, etc. Even on this forum alone, people have constantly said how much they miss the old ride and have perpetually expressed their desire to see the IP back in the park in some way.

How could you ever think you were the only person who has loved BTTF when its popularity has been so obviously enduring?

I mean Universal has done nothing with it for years, the documentary even goes into how the Car from the film just rotted at USH for years and fans had to push for it to be resorted

(back in time on amazon is the documentary I'm referring to)

Now with the UK park and Fan fest it seems like they are finally giving fans something but besides some merch BTTF really doesn't have much at USH

So yeah its kinda surprising because if this IP is soooo big why have we not been seeing more for it, even in the 60th....I don't know besides seeing the car up close not much to really celebrate the film if its soooo big would be cool if they could make an 80s restaurant and hopefully after Fan fest Marty and Biff become characters that pop up now and then

So for my 2 cents Universal just hasn't pushed the movie that much in parks making me think its more of cult classic and even if not at USH Florida has more then even room and they also kinda ignore it there as well besides the car and Doc character

 

[Jake S]

So yeah its kinda surprising because if this IP is soooo big why have we not been seeing more for it, even in the 60th....I don't know besides seeing the car up close not much to really celebrate the film if its soooo big

isn’t the answer to this that universal has biased itself toward newer releases/IP over the past 20 years and leaned less and less on its classic films? it seems like this resurgence in park usage is a corrective to what always felt like a so-so strategy.

that’s not to say they should only focus on tentpole films from the 70s and 80s, but that they should better leverage those in addition to capturing what’s hot right now.