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Triceratops and Discovery Trail being removed (rumored)

Universal Orlando: It looks like UOR may be at it again

From N B
Posted November 15, 2012 at 8:55 PM
There are rumors flying about a permit to begin removal of the Triceratops encounter and Discovery Trail from the JP area in IOA to make room for a new attraction.

I can see the logic of UOR doing all of the construction at once. I would rather have a season or two with a lot of construction than it being done in stages over 5-6 years.

There are two more rumored contsruction projects as well. Fear Factor will be next and the former Tony Hawk building will either come down all together or be re-done for a new show.

I have been reading about the "mini London Eye", but I think if a Ferris wheel goes up on the Simpsons side of the lagoon, it should be Springfield themed.

The lake under the Dragon Challenge has been drained and graded for Hogsmeade station, but they only work at night to keep the ride running, from what I have heard.

Can't wait to see UOR completely finished with the new hotel and all of the expansion completed. Gringotts is going up quick as well, but the train station on the London side has yet to be started. The pics will start coming in soon for all the faux exteriors of the remaining buildings, just like Hogwarts.

Disney (Orlando), it's your turn to shine.


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

From Dominick D
Posted November 15, 2012 at 9:12 PM
Springfield got leaked two hours ago aswell:

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?7291-USF-Project-971-(Rumored-Springfield-Expansion)/page37

First track piece at Gringott's went up too:

http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?4925-Wizarding-World-Phase-II-Discussion/page414

Really exciting time for UO. He's also revealing some Mummy updates tomorrow.

From N B
Posted November 16, 2012 at 2:38 AM
I saw the pic of the track outside Gringotts right after I posted this. Very cool. OUR has lost it's collective mind, I am starting to think.

From Bryce McGibeny
Posted November 16, 2012 at 4:06 AM
Wow, Universal never fails to impress me. That Simpsons expansion sounds amazing!

From Rob Pastor
Posted November 16, 2012 at 7:19 AM
Universal ROCKS!

From Dominick D
Posted November 16, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Chris Martin has confirmed the Springfield plans are correct!

From Mike Gallagher
Posted November 16, 2012 at 12:36 PM
What does Coldplay have to do with it?

From Dominick D
Posted November 16, 2012 at 12:39 PM
Not THAT Chris Martin, Mike.

From Andrew Dougherty
Posted November 16, 2012 at 4:03 PM
Any idea what this attraction could be. I don't think there is really a lot of room at that attraction.

From Dominick D
Posted November 16, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Most likely a coaster. It's the same amount of land as SDMT, but keep in mind this won't go underground.

From TH Creative
Posted November 16, 2012 at 5:52 PM
ORLANDO ROCKS!

From N B
Posted November 16, 2012 at 8:50 PM
Gringotts has track being staged outside of the building for installation. Hard to tell who the manufacturer is, but a few coaster buffs seem to think it is Intamin.

From Dominick D
Posted November 16, 2012 at 9:35 PM
Looks very Intamin-ish to me.

From N B
Posted November 17, 2012 at 2:26 AM
I am looking forward to seeing the new hotel and expanded waterways finished as well. You don't see a lot of progress shots from Cabana Bay as everyone is focused on Transformers and Gringotts.

My Twitter feeds tell me someone is going to post pics the King's Cross station going vertical very shortly.

From robert morris
Posted November 17, 2012 at 2:38 AM
That would still leave the expansion area behind Thunder Terrace, so a good economy of space, via using the closed Triceratops Trail.

Other reasons to expidate the construction is the minimal interest rates currently for borrowing capital.

Also the sooner the major projects are done the sooner the staging lot can be used to expand the Lowes Royal Pacific and generate even more revenue.

Hopefully they either take the triceratops and put one in the discovery center as an exhibt or put one/two in Thunder Falls to add a little more action to the dining room.

From Tasia P.
Posted November 17, 2012 at 7:51 AM
The new plans look amazing!!! I hope there still is a chance for a krusty krab. Universal will still sell billions of a krabby patty and a krusty burger. I cant see their expansion complete w/o a new kids land. The next 5 years are going to be amazing , an all out theme park war!!!

Will there still be room to put a ride next to mib that everyone says can go there or are the plans for a potter scale Springfield taking the place of it?

Where exactly is transformers going? Next to what ride in what land?

From Dominick D
Posted November 17, 2012 at 8:22 AM
Well, you've been living under a rock Tasia! Transformers is going where Soundstage 44 (Murder She Wrote) was and will be in the New York or Production Central area. Yes, there will still be room for a ride, but if it's sucessful enough it could become a new Simpsons ride.

From robert morris
Posted November 17, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Universal might have a little more leeway for this footprint than Disney with their Mine Coaster.

Looking on google maps it seems a little bigger at IOA width wise, but also depending on how they lay it out, it could loop past the discovery center and over the lagoon also to increase its length as there is a portion not blocked out by the boathouses for popeye and bluto.

So when's the ETA on Loraz dark ride for seuss landing?

From Tasia P.
Posted November 17, 2012 at 1:29 PM
@Dom I know its going in soundstage 44 but I have no idea where its at lol. Production central is shrek/ despicable me is it behind shrek?

From Tasia P.
Posted November 17, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Ok. The leak said they were adding a single dumbo like spinners but in the shape of the Simpsons cars creative and cool. I think if they update the simulator and add that with all the planned restaurants is enough. I hope they add a franchise similar to mib or an original idea and create a mini land so mib won't seem more out of place now then it already is. Any suggestions?

From Dominick D
Posted November 17, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Tasia, the entrance will be in New York, and the spinner was never confirmed to be a Dumbo style ride.

From Tasia P.
Posted November 17, 2012 at 3:29 PM
Ok dom I hopes its mater style anyway I read it was dumbo style on another site.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted November 17, 2012 at 5:14 PM
As long as it's not Gangnam style.

From Dominick D
Posted November 17, 2012 at 7:07 PM
Speaking of which Mike,

Kodos and Kang will indeed be a Gangnam style spinner.

From robert morris
Posted November 18, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Short of theming MIB and Fear Factor as part of "Springfield's failed Worlds Fair"

Or converting MIB into the Ministry of Magic in London and have wizard training carts going thru a re-themed streets of london casting enchantment spells on mystical creatures for a hogwarts entrance exam

yes both those arent going to happen

but even though not a big fan of it but kong 360 put on the site of a demolished fear factor, at least would have 2 new york themed attractions next to each other

From Andrew Dougherty
Posted November 18, 2012 at 2:07 PM
^ No. Just no.

From Tyler Bell
Posted November 18, 2012 at 9:25 PM
Worlds Expo has to have something else built. It doesn't make sense to have Springfield and London with MIB sitting all alone. Unless MIB Gets a retheme to HP or Simpsons

From Tasia P.
Posted November 19, 2012 at 5:39 AM
Exactly Tyler! It would just defeat the purpose of making it a more well themed park to just have a major attraction sitting there alone.
Any suggestions for franchises other than kong, family guy, or lord of the rings?

From Tony Duda
Posted November 19, 2012 at 2:10 PM
I never saw the triceratops in operation. That attraction was always closed when I walked past. It would be a shame to not put it somewhere at UOR where everyone can see it working all the time, but I can't think of anyplace away from Jurassic Park where it would fit. Strangely, I can think of several places at Walt Disney World where it would fit.

Any suggestions on where at UOR it could be relocated?

From Dominick D
Posted November 19, 2012 at 2:13 PM
The Discovery Center?

From Andrew Dougherty
Posted November 19, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Or Camp Jurassic

From Tyler Bell
Posted November 19, 2012 at 5:12 PM
All this construction has me so jealous, I was working at universal two months ago and I decided to work for the mouse. But hey, I still have my preferred pass.

From Carrie Hood
Posted November 19, 2012 at 9:01 PM
Triceratops really was a good attraction and since they did small groups you really got the "interaction" feeling they where aiming for with it. The downside it the wait times where more nightmarish then P.Flyers and the technology then was so far advanced it wasn't entirely reliable. Although I'm sorry to see if go since that (at least to me) was the key element of Jurassic Park, the one that really gave you the illusion of being on that island.

As for MIB, It really should stay but get more themeing around it's small area. It's still popular and the only type of flat/shooter ride USO has. Maybe adding in something else to the left side before it meets the new project even if it's just facade work.

From N B
Posted November 20, 2012 at 12:23 PM
All good points, Carrie.

From Notmy Realname
Posted December 1, 2012 at 8:29 PM
I can confirm that they have begun to take Triceratops Discovery Trail apart. I walk by the most depressing dumpster all the time.

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