Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[AlexanderMBush]

Starcraft/Warcraft are huge not so much in the states but China/Japan/Korea. (Korea especially as nearly everyone plays). Warcraft is the highest grossing video game of all time and over 5.6 million pay to play it every month. World of Warcraft is currently the world's most-subscribed MMORPG and holds the Guiness World Record for the most popular MMORPG by subscribers. I'm pretty sure its proven...the only reason its not proven is because of the nerd reputation it has.

Also Comcast has all non theatrical rights to all Revolution Studios films including theme park (Hellboy, Saving Private Ryan, Peter Pan)

I'll diverge and say this...For the case of Blizzard; Universal wouldn't want to do the games i'd atleast think and go for the movies, if the people love it. They need to make sure Warcraft does right before they do anything with it. And with your saying that its the most subscribed MMORPG. Yes; it is, but heres the thing; the fanbase is not huge, as it declines every time before a expansion, which even then doesn't do much.

And..your saying that Revolution Studios..oh boy I can go on for days. Hellboy isn't with them anymore; its with Legendary, then Saving Private Ryan will never get a attraction due..due to its just too dark; and depressing. Hell; both of those are dark and depressing if you think about. The only one I do "somewhat" agree with is Pan but...but.. its "somewhat" due to the Peter Pan story is public domain.

In the end I rather have 2 excellent parks then 4 where the good rides are sprinkled around those 4 and the rest is mediocre at best.
And Comcast is really at it plussing Simpsons, Spiderman and now Hulk. Replacing old and expensive to repair rides with new ones like Potter in Mythical and Jaws. Adding rides where never (or a long time) was noting like Hogwarts Castle, Simpsons Spinner, Transformer, the Hogwarts Express and the Raptor meet and greet.
Kong filling up an empty plot and F&F replacing a old show and ride to add popular ip's into the park. Avangers could be added behind the shot towers and I'm sure they are thinking about expanding Suess and replacing Mythical and Newspaper cartoon land.
What we have heard from Jimmy Fallon will at least add some more theming to the New York area and Nintendo will add enormous foot traffic to the almost dead Kidszone area. Hello Kitty will generate more traffic then Lucy and the list goes on.

You made really good points. They're replacing whats not exactly going to do well, and making it all great or ok.

 

[Teebin]

Someone say something! It's as if this was a Saturday night and most of you are younger people having a fun time out at a special event or bar hopping!

 

[DragonSlayer]

Someone say something! It's as if this was a Saturday night and most of you are younger people having a fun time out at a special event or bar hopping!

Well it's technically Sunday here so I'll chime in and say something

Would be a shame to lose that uniquely Universal single-site all-inclusive resort feel, but Lockheed land is better than no land right? I would be more in favour of a monorail / maglev solution to the transport problem than a ground-based one because it feels more resort-ey... Anyone seen that Airbus concept from a year or so ago for the plane with no apparent solid fuselage, with a projected virtual exterior view over the entire thing? That might be a cool idea.

Edit - realised I'm a couple of pages behind. Eh. I liked your Verne / Wells idea, Teebin!

 

[Teebin]

Didn't really mean to mince words. While I agree the average is around 100 acres I was just trying to point out that a park could be built in much less or more space than expected. I'm sure Universal could come up with some very creative concepts to fill anything from 40-400 acres.

Ok... well I was mostly refreshing my mind on what could possibly be done with 400 acres.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Ok... well I was mostly refreshing my mind on what could possibly be done with 400 acres.

I know it might be a cocky thing to say, but i'd think Comcast would want to make the park over 200 acres if they do it. Might be too much; but it'd allow a lot of space, a lot of IPS and a lot of good things to happen.

 

[fryoj]

If Universal were to get that property, the first priority would have to be hotels and a new citiwalk. Its at the back door to the convention center, and the convention entertainment/restaurant business is huge. I-drive has taken a lot of the business from citiwalk, but it they can steal that back with a closer option, they should do it. The hotels could double as both rooms for convention goers and park goers. Once that's all up and running, they can decide if they want a third park at that location.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

The first priority in my eyes with that space would actually be a transport hub/Entertainment outlet. Not hotels..not yet exactly.

One thing I could see (which..we'll see with Beijing) is a Hotel located next to the entrance of the park or within the entrance much like Disneyland Paris.

 

[MrRoamer]

I could see them using this property for a 3rd gate, more hotels, a new CityWalk, and a larger transportation center (hopefully monorail to USR). This location has the ability to bring people in from the conferences and serve as a transportation hub for people from the airport. Those 2 items I think would be the bigger draw. Personally this would make me really happy because it means I wouldn't have to take I-4 to the parks anymore.

 

[Disneyhead]

3rd gate, 2nd water park, 3 hotels, shopping/dining.

 

[Nick]

3rd gate, 2nd water park, 3 hotels, shopping/dining.

If that actually became a reality, Disney would have a lot to worry about. Especially considering that land is right near the convention center.

They think it's all just fun and games still, but if Universal can re-acquire this land, Disney should be crapping their pants because the resort that was "out of room" will have suddenly just gained 400 acres of open spaces (or so).

 

[AlexanderMBush]

3rd gate, 2nd water park, 3 hotels, shopping/dining.

You hit the nail of what UC is most likely thinking.

If that actually became a reality, Disney would have a lot to worry about. Especially considering that land is right near the convention center.

They think it's all just fun and games still, but if Universal can re-acquire this land, Disney should be crapping their pants because the resort that was "out of room" will have suddenly just gained 400 acres of open spaces (or so).

Exactly. I have a good feeling they WILL be able to re-acquire the land and once all the insiders get word, its only a matter of time before the whole state knows it. Its going to be big if they get it and its something that i'm having excitement over this plot of land.

 

[fryoj]

How many acres is the current area they have now with the 2 parks, backstage areas and parking garages?

 

[AlexanderMBush]

How many acres is the current area they have now with the 2 parks, backstage areas and parking garages?

Excluding the Wet N' Wild plot..682 acres. That counts VB, all the hotels, the parks, parking and backstage. Now, if you include that with their parking lot you have about 35 extra acres. So if you take to the possibility of them getting 450 more acres; that's about a thousand acres if not, more. you have a thousand and one hundred sixty seven. That is a large batch of property if you do that.

Hell; I wouldn' be suprised if they get that land, it causes those rumored Wet' N Wild Hotels to be moved for that project.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

Don't see a third gate happening. When was the last new park built in America? Hard Rock...failure. California Adventure...failure. IOA...kind of a failure to be honest. Overseas is where the money is for new parks, but I think the US is pretty saturated. Its not like I dont have faith in Universal to put out a stellar product, I just don't think ANY company can pull off a big new park nowadays.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Don't see a third gate happening. When was the last new park built in America? Hard Rock...failure. California Adventure...failure. IOA...kind of a failure to be honest. Overseas is where the money is for new parks, but I think the US is pretty saturated. Its not like I dont have faith in Universal to put out a stellar product, I just don't think ANY company can pull off a big new park nowadays.

You'd have to remember those were during a time of which that wasn't exactly good for the theme-park business. I'd think that we're at that time where it wouldn't be bad to try again.

 

[korytowski8]

If you have the right ips going into it it can go over huge, look at the increase of attendance that hp had at both parks. If it has nothing that interest people then for sure it will fail but if it sparks the people's interest it will be a hit with what they are doing with their quality they are putting out there. Also just curious has anodyne thought of using wet and wild as a transportation center of they acquire this land? Move the parking garages there and have buses/monorail if possible running to both areas.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

As I mentioned, if this re-acquiring of the 450 Acres comes to fruition; I can totally see the hotels that are rumored to be replacing Wet N' Wild be moved to that area as WnW becomes a big transport area.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

If that actually became a reality, Disney would have a lot to worry about.

Disney is worrying enough about what the current situation is. Why else?

 

[Teebin]

I am surprised this hasn't been resolved yet. When was the auction supposed to happen?

 

[AlexanderMBush]

I am surprised this hasn't been resolved yet. When was the auction supposed to happen?

I believe November was said but I could be wrong.