Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[martymcflyy85]

The reason we drive 10 hours to go to Florida is because Universal and Disney transport us to a DIFFERENT WORLD. A magical make-believe world. Not to go fast and high. I can do that at Carowinds.

 

[Mad Dog]

The reason we drive 10 hours to go to Florida is because Universal and Disney transport us to a DIFFERENT WORLD. A magical make-believe world. Not to go fast and high. I can do that at Carowinds.

Exactly.

 

[richjagr]

Quick question to those in the know, is this land "convenient" to any of the planned high speed rail options, or Airport rail line. I.E. was there going to be a station near the convention center?

Also relating back to the monorail discussion, Jacksonville is looking to refurbish/replace the Skyway and PRT is one of the options (not that I think the capacity is there for Universal).

 

[maxairmike]

I expect we'll not see much action on this land until Universal has locked up all that they can, and that includes that 161 acre lot with the Kirkman extension ROW planned. I also expect the best bet at finding out if they have that lot will likely be something to do with that Kirkman extension changing, like ROW being finalized or FDOT projects getting updated, as I believe that would be a crucial traffic control piece for large scale development of that area.

 

[MagicMagicMagic]

Quick question to those in the know, is this land "convenient" to any of the planned high speed rail options, or Airport rail line. I.E. was there going to be a station near the convention center?

It's pretty convenient to the proposed Airport to I-Drive MagLev. The following slides are from the October 2015 OCCC/I-Drive Visioning meeting. You can see the line ends right across from the Convention center, which in turn is right across from all that land.

 

[chewbacca1995]

If Universal gets a third park, I imagine it would just be IOA 2.0. More areas themed off IPs, except probably with a different packaging device then "islands" and/or "adventure". For example, if the main areas end up being based off Fantastic Beasts, Zelda/Pokemon, Universal Monsters, Back to the Future/Jaws, and Lord of the Rings, then it could be time travel themed or something, as all of those (except arguable Pokemon) take place in the past.

Also, out of the blue timeline prediction:
2016 - Universal officially gets the land, land breaking begins.
2017 - Construction fully begins, and ffficial announcement, with only a small amount of information such as IPs, location, etc.
2018-19 - Nothing, besides rampant construction.
2020 - CityWalk District 2 opens, WNW plot's TTC equivalent opens, a few of the new hotels open.
2021 - Park opens.

That'd be a great lineup for the 3rd gate. And time travel (past, present and future) would be an interesting link. Not to mention plenty of IPs they can go after

Zelda
Pokemon
Warcraft
Universal Monsters
BTTF
Jaws
Psycho
LOTR
Star Trek
Doctor Who
Wicked/Oz
Sherlock (BBC)
Willy Wonka
Laika (Coraline, ParaNorman, Boxtrolls, etc)
Potter 3.0 (Fantastic Beasts?)
TMNT
My Little Pony
new version of Lost Continent

It'll be interesting to see what makes the cut!

 

[fryoj]

I expect we'll not see much action on this land until Universal has locked up all that they can, and that includes that 161 acre lot with the Kirkman extension ROW planned. I also expect the best bet at finding out if they have that lot will likely be something to do with that Kirkman extension changing, like ROW being finalized or FDOT projects getting updated, as I believe that would be a crucial traffic control piece for large scale development of that area.

Yeah, I wondered about that myself. I think that this news getting leaked had to not make uni happy. There has to be other land in there they want and word getting out about this just has to drive the price up. Unless they already have options in place to buy the rest of the land they want, and just want to get the big one done before closing all the smaller deals?

 

[richjagr]

It's pretty convenient to the proposed Airport to I-Drive MagLev. The following slides are from the October 2015 OCCC/I-Drive Visioning meeting. You can see the line ends right across from the Convention center, which in turn is right across from all that land.

Thanks, that would be a nice bonus to Universal if they had some transportation from this new property (if developed) through the WnW property to the existing resort and hotels.

 

[fryoj]

Thanks, that would be a nice bonus to Universal if they had some transportation from this new property (if developed) through the WnW property to the existing resort and hotels.

Interestingly enough, the way I'm reading it, the sounthernmost plot of the Colony property we are talking about is immediately next door to where the line ends. They could build a stop for the line and have a bus depot to take you to any of the properties. Since this appears to also be where Kirkman will eventually meet Destination parkway, it will be real easy access to everything.

 

[maxairmike]

Yeah, I wondered about that myself. I think that this news getting leaked had to not make uni happy. There has to be other land in there they want and word getting out about this just has to drive the price up. Unless they already have options in place to buy the rest of the land they want, and just want to get the big one done before closing all the smaller deals?

I believe that Thomas/FQP/UCPM III still has possession of that and the other lots that are still listed as FQP/UCPM III that weren't part of the Colony Capital lots...for now. The only lots that are basically out of consideration are those listed under Orlando Equity Partners, which is mostly around the Destination Blvd. area of that cluster of lots.

 

[blue180]

I mean, this ties perfectly with what Steve Burke said in 2013.

"We've done a study that says we could have 10,000 or 15,000 hotel rooms and still have occupancy that makes those rooms profitable," NBCUniversal President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Burke told investment analysts...."So I think, strategically, we need to get those hotel rooms open and build out the resort."

Link

So I mean, I think its brewing. And I wouldnt be surprised if Universal already has ideas/concept arts/a vision for this 3rd park. Probably just waiting to pull the trigger and get it done

 

[Viator]

When we come to think about it, it makes a hell of a lot of sense now why the confidential Survey was given to some of us a few months ago..

 

[Teebin]

What in hell is that new construction next to the 20 acres dead center? It can be seen under construction in this goog maps zoom: Google Maps

 

[maxairmike]

I'm guessing you mean the apartment complex across from the condo complex on the south side of Universal Blvd.? That would be The Courtney at Universal, a luxury apartment complex that was being built last year.

 

[Teebin]

I'm guessing you mean the apartment complex across from the condo complex on the south side of Universal Blvd.? That would be The Courtney at Universal, a luxury apartment complex that was being built last year.

Thanks. Geeez, this getting even more frustrating. Why is Universal bothering with this near-landlocked 340 acres? I suppose they could just move all operations and fireworks there and call it a day. Otherwise, I cannot imagine them building anything compelling on this hidden spit.

 

[maxairmike]

Probably because it's the only available land that's a clean slate that doesn't involve serious demolition and reconfiguring of utilities and such.

EDIT: And there were likely already some kind of plans for that land since they owned it at one point, so they have a base to start from if they desire.

 

[JungleSkip]

Why is Universal bothering with this near-landlocked 340 acres?

You're kidding, right?:saywhat:

 

[Mad Dog]

When we come to think about it, it makes a hell of a lot of sense now why the confidential Survey was given to some of us a few months ago..

Good point. After taking that survey, this all seems inter connected.

 

[Teebin]

You're kidding, right?:saywhat:

No, just kvetching and revealing my thwarted dreamy dreams.

 

[Mad Dog]

You're kidding, right?:saywhat:

I think Teebin's just playing with us. he's known about this for a long time.