Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[Mad Dog]

They may be annoying, but they sure bring in a lot of money, which i'm sure Uni would love to have a piece of.

Yeah, I think Uni does some in the way of cheerleading but not anywhere Disneys level. My niece's EF HS cheerleading group entered the Disney competition three times when she was varsity head cheerleader. But during one year they competed in a Universal sponsored competition in March during spring break and spent three days in the parks. That was in either 2013 or 2014.

 

[tielo]

Wow, I just learned of yet another theming contractor in Florida. I thought I knew all of them. This one is Theme Works Inc. just outside of Gainsville. They created both the thatched roofs and the fossil panels on the sides of buildings in JP. They may well have created the Tricerotops fossil for the old encounter entrance. Top notch stuff!

Are you telling us a Jurrasic World ride is on it's way or is it just a loose comment?

 

[LOST]

It makes no sense for Uni to build a sport complex at the same time World of Sports is also expanding. It potentially would become null and void as Disney already has more world class facilities.

I agree .

 

[Nick]

It makes no sense for Uni to build a sport complex at the same time World of Sports is also expanding. It potentially would become null and void as Disney already has more world class facilities. If anything, I think Universal should pull the band crowd with a dedicated music hall for band competitions and such. That is a large money maker.

I wasn't suggesting buld anything the size of WWoS... an entire park could literally fit there. I was more suggesting some of the specialty buildings which can be used for multiple purposes.

But I guess the Soundstages can always be used for that purpose so it's kind of pointless.

 

[IzzyB]

If you are wearing a heavy coat or something in which they see that you may be able to hid something then internal regulations on it are to use judgement and select from what i've heard from CMs.

I was wearing a t shirt and they selected me. From what I could see they just selected the first person they saw after scanning the last person. I went thru the bag line and had my kids. They did not have my kids go thru just me. They had me park my stroller to the side and then had me go thru. It was easy and simple.

 

[fryoj]

I think a monorail makes much more sense going down Kirkman. Wider medians and a shorter length. They would probably need to Tee off for the WnW plot, but that makes for more routing options. It makes for a lot easier construction for most of the path as well and makes it so they don't have to make additional stops along the way to appease others as mainly the only other hotels on that route are by the WnW plot. I'd say definitely make a provision to extend it to the convention center or the airport monorail, but, other than that, it's a pretty easy route.

 

[s8film40]

Kirkman dead ends into Lockheed Martin. Also they would have to route from the parks/Citywalk to Kirkman which adds the length you would save back in.

 

[WAJAS]

Kirkman dead ends into Lockheed Martin. Also they would have to route from the parks/Citywalk to Kirkman which adds the length you would save back in.

There is ROW for a Kirkman extension to South Universal Boulevard going through the property that Universal bought. Orange County said that if the Universal project goes through before the planned extension then the extension would be put into the front burner to get it done before Universal's project was finished. This also includes the Via Mercado extension to the east.

 

[s8film40]

There is ROW for a Kirkman extension to South Universal Boulevard going through the property that Universal bought. Orange County said that if the Universal project goes through before the planned extension then the extension would be put into the front burner to get it done before Universal's project was finished. This also includes the Via Mercado extension to the east.

Oh I think I remember hearing something about that. I assume it would go around Lockheed to the east?

 

[WAJAS]

Oh I think I remember hearing something about that. I assume it would go around Lockheed to the east?

Yep. I don't remember where I saw it but I saw plans that showed that whole interchange being rebuilt as part of the project, but that may have been moved to be a part of the Sand Lake redo, which is a part of the I-4 Ultimate.

 

[fryoj]

Kirkman dead ends into Lockheed Martin. Also they would have to route from the parks/Citywalk to Kirkman which adds the length you would save back in.

A line between the current trans hub and the new land almost runs straight down Kirkman. There is the question of how they'd handle a monorail station at the existing land, but once they leave there, following Kirkman is the easiest route. Btw the extension goes east of Lockheed, crosses Universal, replaces Tradeshow rd, and ends at Destination parkway.

 

[Mad Dog]

This is a discussion we've had before, namely what happens with the Wet & Wild property. OU poster Disneyhead commented today, on Magic, that Universal will be building a 5 star resort hotel on that property. Construction starting sometime after December with a completion date probably sometime in 2018. Any new views or new information on that concept out there in the OU world?

 

[Teebin]

This is a discussion we've had before, namely what happens with the Wet & Wild property. OU poster Disneyhead commented today, on Magic, that Universal will be building a 5 star resort hotel on that property.

Interesting ideas. I don't have a clue what their plans are. It makes it kinda fun to wonder.

 

[Mad Dog]

Any guesses on size and theme if built?

 

[LOST]

This is a discussion we've had before, namely what happens with the Wet & Wild property. OU poster Disneyhead commented today, on Magic, that Universal will be building a 5 star resort hotel on that property. Construction starting sometime after December with a completion date probably sometime in 2018. Any new views or new information on that concept out there in the OU world?

Highly unlikely it's that quality of hotel. Let's not forget, Universal repositioned Cabana Bay from a "Value" to a "Prime Value" resort. Considering the location and surroundings of the Wet & Wild property as well as the distance from the rest of the resort, I can see that location holding their first "Value" resort instead.

 

[NJBrandon]

I would love a hotel that uses both the WNW park plot as well as the parking lot with a pedestrian bridge above the road connecting the two of them.

 

[Mad Dog]

Highly unlikely it's that quality of hotel. Let's not forget, Universal repositioned Cabana Bay from a "Value" to a "Prime Value" resort. Considering the location and surroundings of the Wet & Wild property as well as the distance from the rest of the resort, I can see that location holding their first "Value" resort instead.

You know, for the same reasons that you cited, those were my previous assumptions also. But Disneyhead gets some really good info so I would have to think there's some merit to it. Plus he insinuated being on a monorail stop will have tremendous value. He's giving an awful lot of hints there. Anyway, it gives some food for discussion.

 

[Nick]

They could easily connect the WnW plot to the existing resort with another bridge.

 

[PINK]

Other than the plot in World Expo and TL theater (that will hopefully soon be SLOP, )what are the expansion plots in both parks?

 

[s8film40]

Other than the plot in World Expo and TL theater (that will hopefully soon be SLOP, )what are the expansion plots in both parks?

They're apparently adding onto the TM garage I would think they could start to go into the parking lot and relocate the HR building that is there. Also at some point down the road if they felt they didn't need the soundstages they could use that space as well. Obviously those really aren't exactly expansion plots as there's stuff already there. I don't really see any other existing open space of substantial size.