The Future of The Simpsons Ride/Springfield (Orlando)

[amar831]

I may get some flak for this but I dont think Pokémon at USF is a winning combination. Pokémon is just about one of the largest franchises left that has been untapped in the world of theme parks, that there's so much money to be made if you do it right and they should put their A-game into this.

I agree USF needs a big ticket draw because it will look a bit lacking compared to EU and IOA. But the layout of that park is just too weird to fit another large cohesive land for an IP as massive as Pokémon and do it justice. Pokémon going into the narrow strip of land that is currently Springfield has always felt too small time when it should get a highly themed area as immersive and mindblowing to see in person as Super Nintendo World and the Wizarding World.

I do think they could've done this right had Pokémon taken over Kidzone and been an enclosed land, but that ship has sailed with it becoming DreamWorks.

Would it be possible to retool the space though? Can you demolish the existing ride building and use the space for the land + entrance to an e-ticket in a different ride building location (like the OG sprung location)?

 

[TheUniC6]

Would it be possible to retool the space though? Can you demolish the existing ride building and use the space for the land + entrance to an e-ticket in a different ride building location (like the OG sprung location)?

If the space it retooled it sounds like based on current rumors the E ticket will use the current plot of the Simpsons Ride building and expand into the outgoing sprung tent area. There doesn't appear to be any plans (so far at least) indicating that they will go further behind the sprung tent area for Pokemon.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

The current space in which the Simpsons Ride takes up is very small for a proper dark ride. They have lots of land available for them to play with depending on how much they want to invest. Fast Food Boulevard's size is currently too small to accommodate current crowds, let alone Pokemon-sized ones.

I'd say the current FFB area and Duff Brewery get completely demolished and turned into a proper city environment, while a new quick service location uses the current Simpsons ride area. The ride façade over at the end of the land (like the Simpsons exit/basketball game)

 

[TheUniC6]

The current space in which the Simpsons Ride takes up is very small for a proper dark ride. They have lots of land available for them to play with depending on how much they want to invest. Fast Food Boulevard's size is currently too small to accommodate current crowds, let alone Pokemon-sized ones.

I'd say the current FFB area and Duff Brewery get completely demolished and turned into a proper city environment, while a new quick service location uses the current Simpsons ride area. The ride façade over at the end of the land (like the Simpsons exit/basketball game)

If they want better capacity for dining in the Pokemon land, they can go the route of FFB in USH. Have the eateries in the same spot as they are now, but demo them and rebuild it as a two story building.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

If they want better capacity for dining in the Pokemon land, they can go the route of FFB in USH. Have the eateries in the same spot as they are now, but demo them and rebuild it as a two story building.

That too, but I'd imagine Universal wants as much retail space as possible (like Diagon) which Springfield doesn't really have at the moment.

I do hope that any project here at least keeps the Kang & Kodos ride system, it adds a lot of kinetic energy to this side of the park where all of the attractions are indoors.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I'm curious to see how this land is designed. Will they keep it open to the lagoon? Or could they shift things back and make it "enclosed" similar to Diagon or Hogsmeade?

 

[Imperius]

Keep it open and place water Pokémon in the lagoon. Let me fish for Magikarp.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I'm curious to see how this land is designed. Will they keep it open to the lagoon? Or could they shift things back and make it "enclosed" similar to Diagon or Hogsmeade?

In favor of a London like facade themed to Tokyo.

 

[TheUniC6]

That too, but I'd imagine Universal wants as much retail space as possible (like Diagon) which Springfield doesn't really have at the moment.

I do hope that any project here at least keeps the Kang & Kodos ride system, it adds a lot of kinetic energy to this side of the park where all of the attractions are indoors.

The Pokemon E ticket ride and if something else takes over AA whether that be a show or smaller D ticket, could have their own sizable gift shops.

 

[Nico]

I want a Pokémon carousel.

 

[SpatulaShack]

I want a Pokémon carousel.

Me too and I want Kang & Kodos moved to Dreamworks Land.

 

[TheUniC6]

Wasn't sure if I should share here or on the HHN 33 instruction thread, but recently Bio Reconstruct shared a picture on Twitter/X that shows some additional construction work in the area to the left of the recently constructed sprung tents. Could this be for more sprung tents in the future or possible prep work for Pokemon?

 

[Alicia]

Wasn't sure if I should share here or on the HHN 33 instruction thread, but recently Bio Reconstruct shared a picture on Twitter/X that shows some additional construction work in the area to the left of the recently constructed sprung tents. Could this be for more sprung tents in the future or possible prep work for Pokemon?

Maybe a big slab for house queues this year, and additional tents next year to replace original sprungs? Not sure.

 

[Clive]

Maybe a big slab for house queues this year, and additional tents next year to replace original sprungs? Not sure.

My understanding is it's for house queues.

 

[TheUniC6]

Here is another thought on what Pokemon could look like at USF:

The signature E ticket of the land will go in the plot of land the outgoing sprung tents are and depending on the scale of what they have planned expand further back or to the left towards where the HHN house queue will be.

A smaller D ticket can take the plot of the Simpsons show building. Perhaps the Pokemon snap concept from KZ can be dusted off or something on par with TSMM.

The outgoing FFB can be demoed and replacing with mixed use dining and shopping. In order to maximize the space this structure will be two stories like FFB in USH.

AA can become a fully enclosed live battle arena show space.

 

[Clive]

Here is another thought on what Pokemon could look like at USF:

The signature E ticket of the land will go in the plot of land the outgoing sprung tents are and depending on the scale of what they have planned expand further back or to the left towards where the HHN house queue will be.

A smaller D ticket can take the plot of the Simpsons show building. Perhaps the Pokemon snap concept from KZ can be dusted off or something on par with TSMM.

The outgoing FFB can be demoed and replacing with mixed use dining and shopping. In order to maximize the space this structure will be two stories like FFB in USH.

AA can become a fully enclosed live battle arena show space.

Once again, getting too deep into armchair imagineering. Future of Simpsons.

 

[Tobias]

My understanding is it's for house queues.

And that plot looks bigger than the queue that was setup for TLoU last year (a quick look on google maps confirms it, since it shows last years queue), so it checks out with the potential for being used for both new sprung tents.

 

[Clive]

And that plot looks bigger than the queue that was setup for TLoU last year (a quick look on google maps confirms it, since it shows last years queue), so it checks out with the potential for being used for both new sprung tents.

The downside to this setup (for the power users, at least) is you won’t be able to gauge what the actual wait is based on the number of people visibly in line until you actually walk half a mile out there. Will be easy to inflate wait estimates for these locations.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Before people get way too ahead... there is construction to the left of the Simpsons ride to add an exit to the sprung tents, not relate to the ride.

 

[Bort]

As a massive Simpsons fan, it pains me to say this, but they need to accelerate the timeline on closing the actual Simpsons ride. It's just so antiquated at this point. All the jokes and bits in the queue are still great, but the ride screen is such poor quality that it's hard to even look at.

Everything else about the land is still great. Looking forward to getting in as many more Duffs and Krusty Burgers in the remaining trips I have left!