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Transformers at USF

Universal Orlando: Could it be?

From Karly Tenney
Posted June 18, 2012 at 7:34 PM
Do you think USF will actually get transformers?


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Dominick D
Posted June 18, 2012 at 8:09 PM
I'm pretty sure at this point yes.

From Karly Tenney
Posted June 18, 2012 at 8:28 PM
Yeah me too I just wanted to ask everyone else's opinion

From Richard Faraci
Posted June 18, 2012 at 10:22 PM
Short answer - Yes
Long answer - Yes

From N B
Posted June 18, 2012 at 11:34 PM
It's almost a guarantee. Spidey just got re-vamped, it is not going anywhere for ten years IMO. Universal needs some "gate crashers" as you guys call them.

Gringott's and Transformers with a possible park to park linked ride? Universal will finally step out from the shadow of IOA.

I hope it forces Disney to step up their game and get some more competition going. Any time two resorts try to out do each other, its' win-win for the guests. Of course ticket prices will go up...

Wait a second.... Dom and I agreed on something....

From Dominick D
Posted June 19, 2012 at 7:10 AM
You're right NB! I do think that a Central Florida theme park war is in the air :D

From Tim Odom
Posted June 19, 2012 at 7:38 AM
I think Transformers makes the most sense. USO needs something, I think that is something we can all agree with. Yes, they have some really, really good rides, but even then I can bust that park out in no time.

To diverge for a moment, I think the thing we are losing track of in the 'Disney is awash with Avengers money, and thus wants to buy the Marvel rights back' is that Universal is awash in Potter money (their attendance numbers have jumped significantly in recent years, and they have been upping ticket prices.) If they are smart, they would use said Potter money to improve the parks, to get more people in, to improve their profits. I am not suggesting Universal has the same Scrooge McDuck-like coffers Disney has, but I think we can agree they have more money to spend post-Potter than they did pre-Potter. It is in their best interest to bring an E Ticket ride, like Transformers, to USO so they can bring in more visitors.

tl;dr - Yes, Transformers should come to USO at some point.

From Tyler Bell
Posted June 19, 2012 at 8:26 AM
I think so, but I hope its a different type of ride system. Which I know its not, but its the idea of the same ride on the same property.

From Tony Duda
Posted June 19, 2012 at 8:56 AM
I get confused by the 'same ride at the same property' argument. If this is true, there needs to be only one wooden roller coaster per park, one steel roller coaster per park, etc. No one would ever say that is true, so why only one moving simulator ride per resort area, not even per park? As long as they are differently themed and differently configured, more the merrier, I say.

From Tim Odom
Posted June 19, 2012 at 10:51 AM
I share the confusion. A good ride is a good ride, independent of the ride system they employ. If there are 2 similar rides at a park, they don't take from each other. If that were the case, parks like Cedar Point would be absolutely screwed, I mean they have something like 17 roller coasters or whatever the count it.

From Mark Fairleigh
Posted June 19, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Was reading on another site about the demolition and related permit. The site points out that all past permits issued simply for "house keeping" or HHN-related activities were permitted through Universal Studios. The intersting thing about the Bldg 44 demolition permit is that it's been issued to Universal Creative. Creative handles new rides, so Robert is definitely on the right track. Also the contractor handling the work is Hensel Phillips, a huge multi-billion dollar contractor. Given the site's limited footprint (30,000 sf compared to Cat-In-The-Hats 32,000) and the vertical, space-saving layout of Transformers...sounds like it's happening.

From Anon Mouse
Posted June 19, 2012 at 3:19 PM
I would prefer they use same technology and do something entirely different. There's a risk that the same technology rides will make everything the same. Although I have slammed Disney for not trying something along the lines of Spiderman, it would be a mistake for Universal to keep cloning the same attraction.

From Dominick D
Posted June 19, 2012 at 3:29 PM
Pepole are saying it isn't Transformers, but we will wait and see.

From Eric Malone
Posted June 19, 2012 at 3:43 PM
I don't really mind what it is, so long as it's awesome.

From robert morris
Posted June 19, 2012 at 4:19 PM
My guess is still theater for Wicked with entrance towards New York and themed for Broadway.

As if the ride needed to be fast tracked it would be easier to fill gap between MIB and Simpson and not have to spend the time on demo especially for a property in the middle of theme park.

As a theater could have the turnaround time for next year and keep Universal's mojo going.

While Wicked may not have Transformers thrills, it would obviously fill a gap in the Studios park that Beetlejuice and Blues Brothers do not fill. While DHS has Beauty and the Beast and to a lesser extent Little Mermaid

Wicked also could appeal to a different demo that Universal doesnt reach as of yet

From N B
Posted June 19, 2012 at 5:38 PM
I think Dom and I finally had a "Kumbaya" moment......

12 hours and my crazy family will invade Orlando.

From Andrew Dougherty
Posted June 19, 2012 at 6:19 PM
What if they decide to build a ride like transformers but to a different theme? What theme though?

From Rob Pastor
Posted June 19, 2012 at 6:42 PM
NB: Enjoy your Universal Experience.

From Rob Pastor
Posted June 19, 2012 at 7:56 PM
NB: The best viewing area for Universal's new night spectacular is to stand next to the railing in front of the Central Park boulders. The middle screen is real close there, at a perfect angle, plus you can see all of the water fountain shows on the lagoon.

From Robert Niles
Posted June 19, 2012 at 11:18 PM
I would love, love, love to see Wicked and Transformers both join Gringotts in USF. That would be an awesome theme park line-up with USFs existing attractions.

From Tim Odom
Posted June 20, 2012 at 5:57 AM
If Wicked joins USO, I think I might have to move to Florida. My fiance LOVES that show, and needs to go see Potter. If they get both, I think she might move there. Like, moving into USO.

From Sean Huckel
Posted June 20, 2012 at 7:14 AM
Been told Sound Stage 44 will become a year round haunted house by people I trust on the matter. So that's what I'm going with.

From Dominick D
Posted June 20, 2012 at 7:19 AM
Wicked, Transformers, and Gringotts definetly would make up for the closing of Jaws.

From Sean Huckel
Posted June 20, 2012 at 7:20 AM
Gringotts alone will make up for the closing of Jaws.

Not to mention the Hogwarts Express experience.

From Chon Nguyen
Posted June 20, 2012 at 8:07 AM
I saw on the blog that there was some relevant information in the comments and that Robert wasn't able to report on that because of confidentiality promises.

IMO if the site is to continue to report insider information you should probably avoid these confidentiality agreements. We are in fact reading this site for the information you are protecting.

From Kevin C
Posted July 6, 2012 at 3:40 PM
Screamscape is reporting that all of the other rumors have quieted down and all they're hearing now is Transformers:

"013/2014 - New Attraction - Rumor - (7/4/12) While I’m still just not 100% on this bit of news, as it almost sounds too good to be true, the only rumors I’m hearing anymore to take over the Building 44 spot is Transformers, Transformers and Transformers. Of course this could just be a big distraction to hide the real story, but even I’ve got to admit that Universal Orlando could only benefit from adding Transformers to USF just ahead of the Potter expansion. It would also take a little of the heat off the rumored Gringot’s Bank Coaster which will be served up as the only new thrill ride for the London side of the Potterverse. Having a people eater like Transformers open on the opposite side of the park would be the best way to prevent having the line for Gringot’s stretching from the back of the park all the way up to Despicable Me."

My thought is they might do a big announcement that Despicable Me and Transformers have been such huge successes in their original parks that they're being brought to the other coast to meet high demand.

Announcing both at the same time will get more press, given that neither ride will be a new experience.

From Andrew Dougherty
Posted July 6, 2012 at 8:34 PM
Sounds legit and an amazingly perfect idea. Wait , almost way to perfect but that is the only rumor I've heard in a while too.

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