Stranger Things - The Experience @Universal.

@Brian-

There’s this guy who creates hypothetical theme park designs and one of his concepts was a stranger things land. I’d love to see something similar that combines the upside down and right side up with attractions that interact with another. If you want to read about it: http://imagineerland.blogspot.com/2023/05/stranger-things-mini-land-and.html?m=1

I’d also love to see an attraction that utilizes a ride system similar to the EMV (Indy and Dinosaur). I think the experience that system offers could make for a compelling stranger things dark ride.

Stranger Things isn’t a book tho so it wouldn’t fit the theme of IOA, but I guess what’s coming next isn’t a book either so maybe the theme has been thrown out the window

I wouldn't mind a stranger things land but that finale was disappointing. A ride that put riders in rooms that appeared upside down would be really cool but I just think that the show ended too controversially to really draw in the crowds.

Unless (fingers crossed) that conformity gate thing really means something. . .

Ugh! No thank you. That show lost me before the final season.

First, given the friction between Universal and Netflix right now (though Universal doesn't seem nearly as salty about losing out on WB as Paramount), unless Netflix was desperate for cash (perhaps to fund their WB purchase), Universal probably wouldn't be interested in paying market rates for Stranger Things right now. The series is at the peak of its popularity having just aired its finale (though spinoffs are in the works), and the cost to license the IP would never be higher than it is right now (though that didn't necessarily stop Universal before when they bought the HP rights while the series with in the middle of its successful theatrical run). While Universal has a history with the IP as an HHN attraction, I think the cost for a full-time theme park license would be prohibitively expensive.

Second, Stranger Things currently exists at the Netflix House complexes in Philly and Dallas. Also, there's the traveling Stranger Things: The Experience which is currently operating in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, so unless Universal negotiated with the touring experience to never come back to North America (or negotiated an East Coast license like they did with Marvel) and for it to be pulled from the Netflix House experiences, a theme park land could be undermined by the touring experiences and permanent attractions. I saw Stranger Things: The Experience in one of its first US cities in Seattle back in 2023, and it was quite good for something that was installed into a temporary warehouse space, so Universal would have a high bar to clear. If Netflix is getting decent revenue through these 2 avenues, and Stranger Things is one of the biggest IPs they own for their own properties, why would they license it out to Universal - if anything, they'd be more likely to license to Lego, whom they already have a relationship with extremely popular sets from both Stranger Things and One Piece.

Finally, the new IP for Lost Continent has likely already been determined, and from recent trends it will either be an internally owned IP or something the company already has under a theme park license that is underutilized (like Nintendo). If Universal had indeed struck a licensing agreement to use Stranger Things in IOA, the past month would have been the perfect time to announce it given the interest in the IP right now. That wouldn't necessarily preclude Universal from eventually using Stranger Things in their parks down the road, but I highly doubt they will be using it for the Lost Continent replacement. I also don't think the popularity is quite what is needed for a full time destination theme park land, especially since it's probably just reached its zenith.

Spielberg would never allow it, but I often think a temporary overlay over the ET Adventure could lend itself well to a Stranger Things theme. You could have the queue be a stand-in for the forest with Hopper's cabin, Castle Byers at the liftoff, government agents searching for Eleven, and instead of a trip to the Green Planet guests could go through a portal through the Upside-Down. Maybe an animatronic Vecna says your name at the end.

The only issue would be the bike RVs, which could probably be handwaved away or re-themed. Just think of the merchandising opportunity at the exit gift shop!

The conformity gate thing was not real guys. . .

Conformity gate was an Online story that folks wanted to be real..... But you know ONLINE... hahahahahaah

There is a documentary coming out on Jan 12th on Netflix about the Duffer Brothers that will show the making on this Fantastic Series....

Then our course Universal exec's read TPI and will take my idea of the New Island at IOA called Stranger Things and start to build it immediately......

I'm with Tim. I tried to like it because of the hype. Has any series in modern times ever been so overly hyped like this one? But mid-series 3 was enough for me and I haven't returned.

Russell is also correct re Universal and Netflix.

However Brian, I am in the minority and it is a plausible option but I do hope it doesn't materialise. There's not a single character which I am endeared to. In fact, it's the only series where everybody gets on my nerves.

Correction: It is second to 3rd Rock From the Sun. I just dislike everybody more in this one.

What about a complete left field idea, if based on books, Oliver Twist? Victorian London dark ride and a stage musical at the Sinbad stage area. This will cover all generations and be a true family land and gives IoA a much needed theatrical attraction.

Put it next to the Artemis fowl attraction. . .

In all seriousness, I don't think Oliver twist had been in the public consciousness long enough to be a dark ride. Even Mary poppins, the far more popular Victorian London movie, couldn't even get a teacup ride at Epcot.

I suppose Dickensian characters are more quintessentially English and may not translate that well across the pond. Besides, it may cause a surge in pickpocketing.