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Expansion ideas for Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando: Just shootin' around some ideas for Universal Orlando Resort's expansion which includes new rides,and re-themed zones.

From Wade Laxton
Posted July 10, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Ok...so we have the expansion of the Harry Potter-verse coming to Universal Studios Florida and a more coming to Islands of Adventure. And possibly Transformers coming to Universal Studios as well. But what about other expansion ideas?

I personally think two things are possible with the remainder of "The Lost Continent" island, it will either:

1.) Become completely absorbed by "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" adding new attractions and expanding Hogsmead or other lands,

OR

2.) Universal will keep what's left of "Continent" and make way for a new attraction/property. Now this is where things could get interesting...I am a huge fan of the old, beloved Kongfrontation attraction formerly at Universal and I've missed the King ever since. With the fairly new movie and the setting and similar architecture to "The Lost Continent" AND being that it's called Skull "Island", I think it would be a great and logical change-over for "The Lost Continent" to become "Skull Island". Just paint everything dark blue or black and Mythos wouldn't have to change that much either, just a new color scheme and Poseidon's Fury seems to be huge enough to house a King Kong 360-like attraction. Kong would only need a ride but the environment would be a huge boost AND it complements the Islands theme of the whole park AND it's a Universal film!

What do you think? And please add more suggestions for possible future attractions!


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

From Dominick D
Posted July 10, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Skull Island would be a geat replacement for TLC!

From Rob Pastor
Posted July 10, 2012 at 2:23 PM
I like that idea. Why didn't Universal think of that?..... Or have they?

From Wade Laxton
Posted July 10, 2012 at 10:32 PM
We can only hope. It's fun to think about though. Let's just hope that there are enough people out there who would be in awe to see this become true and let's see if Universal gets enough letters demanding this to happen.

From Jason McLaughlin
Posted July 13, 2012 at 1:29 AM
Get rid of Twister.....that is all! ;o)

From Andrew Dougherty
Posted July 13, 2012 at 9:50 AM
Not a bad idea

From Javi Badillo
Posted July 13, 2012 at 11:24 AM
the woody woodpecker kid zone needs to be rethemed and updated.

From Tony Duda
Posted July 13, 2012 at 5:19 PM
A Skull Island dark ride themed like the rescue mission for Ann Darrow would be great. Chased by dinosaurs, escaping over the log over the ravine (almost), ending with Kong fighting a T-Rex and you just escaping. Oh baby!

From Wade Laxton
Posted July 13, 2012 at 8:33 PM
@Jason Agree 110%. I hate that ride. I miss Ghostbusters more. It's only a matter of time before that ride is replaced and I am amazed that it's survived this long.

From Wade Laxton
Posted July 13, 2012 at 8:34 PM
@Javi Ehh I think the Pecker zone should stay. I mean it's the only animated character Universal has or will ever have to compete with Disney's plethora of characters BUT please for the love of Christ get rid of Animal Actors and freakin' Barney! Put Madagascar or How to Train your Dragon in there or something!

From Wade Laxton
Posted July 13, 2012 at 8:34 PM
@Tony Thank you man. I'm hoping that if we ultimately get enough people behind this idea we can give Universal the push needed to get this idea going and make Kong return to Universal Orlando Resort! It's not at the studios but I don't think that matters much at this point just make it happen!

From Wade Laxton
Posted July 13, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Perhaps though, while we're on the topic of Kong and building anticipation for a possible ride, maybe they could put a life-size Kong replica in the New York backdrop section of USF. It can be a famous photospot and get guests pumped up for what's in store in the (possible) future. Man I swear sometimes I really wish I worked as a creative consultant at Universal Creative!

From Giovanny Cruz
Posted July 14, 2012 at 4:54 AM
The kids land from usf changeit 2 a dreamworks studios
Put a how to train your dragon coaster
Shrek dark ride
madagascar flume ride
And some sort of school of kunfu feautiring po

From robert morris
Posted July 14, 2012 at 4:01 PM
Increase Capacity:
Toon Lagoon: Scooby Do Haunted House where the the under used ampitheater sets and expand Me Ship the Olive over the rapids and to a Sea Hag's Island for a greater play area

Jurassic Park convert Triceratops Trail into an expansion for Camp Jurrasic and add to loops for the flyers that way and add a kiddie river adventure with more caves and ropes

Relocated Triceratops and interactive Dino's on walking trail that used to go to the boat dock

Lost Continent: for Kong is great idea

Seuss: Needs a seasonal show in the soundstages all year not just for Grinchmas, and add The Lorax dark ride and another Dark ride or 3D Seuss movie wrapping around One Fish Two Fish

USF: Dreamworks Land with entrance between Simpsons and MIB How to Train your Dragon and Madgascar Rides and Kung Fu Panda training show and leave room for another ride

Wicked replace T2, Bourne Stunt Show replace Fear Factor

For Resort after value resort is done, finish Royal Pacfic around its Lagoon

Build Water Park on land across Kirkman that was the old Delta Resort and upgrade landscaping over entire area and tier those hotels in that district above there current "partner status" and make a "version of the downtown disney hotels with them"

From James Trexen
Posted July 14, 2012 at 4:45 PM
Despite my love of the (old) Scooby Doo cartoon, I can't see a haunted ride at Toon Lagoon. Six Flags and other Warner Brothers parks have many of them and Universal won't just copy a ride from other businesses.

From Javi Badillo
Posted July 14, 2012 at 6:30 PM
if they were to build a dreamworks studios they should probably get rid of shrek 4d and instead build a replica of the far far away castle like in universal Singapore and in it add a new shrek attraction. Wouldnt make much sense to a dreamworks themed ride outside of the dreamworks themed area. Maybe they could bring in a king kong type of ride where shrek 4d once stood. Other things they could do are of course replace twister with anything at this point and demolish the fear factor theater.

From Wade Laxton
Posted July 15, 2012 at 10:08 AM
@robert: I like those ideas already, especially the Bourne Stunt Show which I think would be very cool and I've heard about the Wicked idea being thrown around and it should happen but it should replace that god-awful Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue. And it seems a lot of people think A Dreamworks Land is a possibility and I agree and I also agree that the land between The Simpsons and MiB should be used for something (I was originally hoping that Transformers would go there as it would fit in with the World Expo theme and the original rumor of a Orlando version of House of Horrors would go where SS44 was originally).

While I'm at it I'll just throw around a few more ideas (some are already floating around out there) I have that Universal COULD do with UOR:

- Wicked: LIVE! to replace Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue.

- Universal's House of Horrors (I actually wanted this to happen, maybe it still will in some way).

- King Kong to replace Poseidon's Fury (Skull Island).

- Bourne Stunt Show to replace Fear Factor

- Anything to replace A Day in the Park with Barney

- Anything to replace Twister, preferably a NY themed attraction or Universal's House of Horrors (I mean Twister is NOT based in NY, neither is Mummy but at least that ride is good).

- Anything to replace Disaster BUT I have been thinking of a Universal Legacy attraction, something they could use to enshrine their 100th Anniversary memorabilia and such once their 100th Anniversary is finished and includes Back to the Future and JAWS in some way...pretty much our short, short version of the Studio Tour @ Hollywood.

- On-Site Water Park wold be great as well, maybe a JAWS ride will return, but probably not.

From Tasia P.
Posted August 2, 2012 at 4:09 PM
I like your ideas!
Mine starting with a new Kids land.
Theme Nickelodeon/Dreamworks

1. Move ET to another section of the park. Update it as well and move it to Shrek 4d.

2. Bring the Shrek Castle from Singapore here.
Put a new film in the castle. Instead of the dragon roller coaster out doors make it a dark ride inside the castle make the cars in the shape of dragon. Tear down Terminator/Et gift shop. and horror make up show and some of the buildings in Hollywood. Far Far Away was a spoof of Beverly Hills so it could fit in Hollywood. The makeup show could be move to another location in the park.

3. Retheme Woody Wood Pecker into How to train your dragon.

4. Retheme the water Curious George area to Penguins of Madagacar.

5. Turn ET into a Spongebob dark ride.
6. Turn the Woody Woodpecker restaurant into the Krusty Krab.
7. Tear down Barney and by looking at the map there is some land behind Barney for a Dora kitty ride similar to one of the rides in Seuss Land.

8. Retheme Animals on Location to a Kung Fu Panda show.

9. Bring the Madagascar ride from Singapore but add the original ideas like the drop to this one.
They should build it in NY but it would probably be be in the Kid Zone. Is it possible for it to be in NY but then it leads to the Kid Zone?

From Tasia P.
Posted August 2, 2012 at 4:19 PM

1. Build Transformers in the space between Simpsons and Men in Black.

2.Retheme San Francisco and the rest of Amity that isn't used in the Harry Potter train to DC Universe

3. Turn Twister into a King Kong attraction.

4. Find an empty space in the park and make a horror theme land.

From Tasia P.
Posted August 2, 2012 at 4:21 PM
Oh yeah and a new film and motions in Shrek.

From Michael T
Posted August 2, 2012 at 11:28 PM
I think that terminator needs to either get upgraded to hd or rethemed completely.It had its run,and not even the 3D effects work properly. Throwing some ideas for a retheme maybe futurama or heck, just throwing it out there, Batman. Which franchise do you guys think would be a good replacement for T2 3D?

From Dominick D
Posted August 3, 2012 at 5:12 AM
The Bourne Series.

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