For those of you who haven't been following this closely, Universal closed its Jaws ride - and the surrounding Amity land - last January to make way for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley, which will feature a Gringotts-themed indoor roller coaster ride, as well as expanded Ollivander's Wand Shop and a Hogwarts Express train connecting the new Harry Potter land with the original over in Universal's Islands of Adventure. (BTW, I love how the Sentinel is calling this "The-Project-That-Must-Not-Be-Named.")
In addition, Universal's torn down the Soundstage 44, the empty building between Mel's and Twister that once housed the Murder, She Wrote and Xena attractions. That's going to be the home of the Orlando version of the Transformers 3D motion-base ride that recently debuted in Hollywood and Singapore.
Universal hasn't announced either of these developments, but we've seen the blueprints of the new Harry Potter land, and the public building permits for the Soundstage 44 replacement are consistent with the size and layout of the Transformers show building, and we've heard from at least two sources in Orlando who tells us that it's Transformers.
So I think we can move beyond speculation at the point and jump straight to anticipation. Let's make that our vote of the week. Which new attraction are you looking forward to most: Harry Potter, or Transformers? (And I'll throw in a couple of other options to cover readers who want another choice.)
Harry Potter. Transformers. Revenge of the Mummy. Despicable Me. The Simpsons Ride. Men in Black. That's a pretty formidable A-list of rides for a theme park, don't ya think? Tell us in the comments what you think about all the work going on at Universal Studios Florida.
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I couldn't help myself. I just had to put that bait on the line, to see if anyone bit. ;^)
Anyway, Diagon Alley probably wins out by a hair over Transformers since it's a whole land. But both will be amazing additions to UOR/USF.
And truly, this is just the beginning of the USF changes. This is going to be a brand new park in 5 years.
IMO Potter should stay over at IOA and take up the remaining areas of the Lost Continent but I can see the reasons why Universal are spreading it over two parks as it'll boost attendance in both areas.
To balance out the park "transforming" T2 into Wicked would help increase the family aspect along with the already in place Superstar Parade.
Also include the 100 years Night Show as another great addition
The greater challenge is creating depth for these parks as to limit guest frustration with .
Ideas for each park
IOA: Finish Seuss Landing, as discussed earlier movie franchises are the new catalyst for theme park expansion and Dr. Seuss properties are close to 800 million domestic (with alot of reduced kids tickets in that #)and with exception to Marvel maybe the deepest remaining catalog of material.
So Lorax & Horton dark rides and create a seasonal stage show: Grinch=Winter, Sneetches=Summer, Lorax=Spring, & Mulberry Street=Fall
Port of Entry:
Create a stage overlooking and seating along the lagoon with regular shows featuring: Sword Swallowers, Jugglers and such
Toon Lagoon: Demolish ampitheater and add a family Scooby Doo haunted house ride (shooting element option)
Build a gangplank over Popeye and Bluto into the Lagoon from My Ship the Olive and expand the Playground
Jurassic Park: Move Dino's from Triceratops Trail to the walking paths for old boat launch and add other varieties and make it a walking trail.
Triceratops Trail becomes the expansion area for Camp Jurassic and two additional tracks for The Flyers circling it therefore increasing capacity and allowing more guest to enjoy its unique expansion, also add a kiddie version water slide "junior river adventure" and of course more ropes and caves
Paint the river adventure's building with the InGen logo and "Don't Spare any Expense" they wouldn't, why should one of the most visible builings from I-4 be that vanilla
Day Time Water Show on the Lagoon: All those walkways along the lagoon, need to be used and since a parade is not realistic a daytime water show is the best option for a nice distraction
Thoughts?
If Transformers is in fact going to Soundstage 44, then Dreamworks Land with entrance between Simpsons and MIB with Curious George as a casuality.
Madgascar & How to train a Dragon rides & room for a future third and Kung Fu Panda demonstration stage
T2 = Wicked
Fear Factor = Bourne Stunt Show (pending Bourne Legacy's success)
Build Water Park on old Delta Resort property across Kirkman
Since all hotels in immediate Kirkman area(Doubletree, both Holiday Inns, Hyatt Place, Fairfield, Laquinta & Best Western are all partner hotels) re-tier them above current partners and invest in upgrading the landscape and create a "Downtown Universal" district hotels
for a minimal investment you've added 25% to your perceived scope to your guest and also added over 1500 rooms to your direct reservation system.
Also a Water Park that's visible from both the Florida Turnpike and I-4 would be its own advertising
Thoughts?
A year ago, USF felt like a dying park next to IOA. Now we have Despicable: Me, which is 300x better than Jimmy Neutron; a cool parade and an amazing night show; and Transformers and Diagon Alley on the way.
How long until it's IOA that needs to build to keep up? Will Universal even allow that to happen?
LOVE the ideas of making the Lost Continent a place to revive Kong,a Lorax ride in Seuss Landing, and a Scooby Doo ride in Toon Lagoon.
I strongly disagree that Toon Lagoon is the weakest area of the park. Dudley Do-Right and Popeye are two of the best rides in Orlando. Popeye especially puts all other raft rides to shame. But a Scooby Doo dark ride would give the area something enjoyable even on a cold/rainy day.
well stay at the new resort as I'm sure it will be cheaper i think its good that its not got fast pass as 1800 more fast passes can't be good for the concept.
My thoughts are that Marvel Island will see only Hulk ride change it makes sense for Universal to sell back the marvel rights before there contract runs out as disney may not renew and a retheme with no money(from not selling) is going to cost a fortune. HOWEVER at the present time the only films Disney has rights/costs/profits to are the current marvel studio ones XMen/spiderman/F4/Daredevil are all out there and it makes more sense for Disney to license those to Universal thus making money for no outlay.
SO what would hulk become I think a Green Goblin ride.
Possibly a Lorax ride or some thing kiddie friendly between Sues land and lost continent
2014 is clearly a big year as the new fantasyland will be finished and Universal need to combat that
If you are paying $300 a night for a room the passes are not free they are included in the room rate
So if your at the value resort: Pay $100 plus however many passes you need in the hotel lobby instead of at the park entrance and you can think they are "free" too
I have also been to Disneyworld/land but I get really angry when I get there, why should I stay in line for so lang for rides that is not as good as Universal. That is one of Disneys biggest problem, old rides and to long lines. When Harry Potter opened I was in line for 2 hours 2 weeks after the opening day, and 2 months later for about 1 hour and then the last time I was there for 20 min. Now that is how it should be. :-)
I am defiantly looking forward to Harry Potter, part 2. I fallowed the construction of IOAs Harry Potter, and it will be good to see the new construction.
I am going this september and again in April next year.
And last, has anyone considering that the "transformer" ride could be built like transformer, but with another theme?
Bringing Transformers and building Diagon Alley is a no-brainer as would give a boost to the studios.
So far, I'm sorely disappointed with how Universal is handling its animation properties. There is no coherent way they are depicting their various assets like Shrek, Madagascar, and Despicable Me. Unlike Disney with a common land or a common theme, their properties are hit or misses and mostly 3D presentations. They have a temporary feel to them unlike Disney, which is timeless.
Oh, Dreamworks is getting into the theme park business. You might want to have an article about this. Perhaps Dreamworks can be Universal Orlando's third park. Just a thought.
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