Personally, I think IOA needs four GOOD attractions to fill out its repertoire. At least that is what is needed right now if nothing else gets removed or replaced. The way I see it, they need two more coasters, another family dark ride and a Spidey-level ride. BUT that doesn't coincide with the list of what I think the park SHOULD build, which is:
A Grinch coaster
A Lorax dark ride
A permanent Seuss Landing show
A Jurassic Park coaster
A Jurassic Park state-of-the-art attraction
A Rocky the Flying Squirrel coaster
I don't think IOA should focus too much on coasters, since Universal will probably build two more parks down the road. Four per park (plus one in USF) would give Universal a whopping 13 coasters. That would suffice. But my list gives IOA five coasters (not counting Robert's beloved Flying Unibore!) which I reconciled by saying that MY list gives each land its own coaster. I think all five coasters would be unique enough to add to each land's experience and would spread out the coaster-lovers.
This mostly outdoor park also needs another dark ride badly and nothing would work better than Dr Seuss's "The Lorax." A Mount Crumpit coaster would also be partly inside and would be more family-oriented than the other biggies, both of which make this ride a MUST-BUILD.
To make room for the Rocky coaster, the Pandemonium Circus would have to be demolished. That's sad but they can never think of anything to put in there anyhow. The park needs shows, so transferring a theater to Seuss Landing, where there is a wealth of material, would be a smart move.
This makes Seuss Landing kind of crowded, but all they would need would be a little bit of USF's land and they could do it all.
Since my list is two attractions too long, I consider dumping the Pandemonium theater as a move that makes it only one attraction long. The Triceratops Discovery Trail is the next obvious candidate to go.
Then all they would need would be little improvements like putting walls around StormForce, extending the length of the Pteranodon track and getting Sylvester McMonkey McBean running finally.
By the way, many of these rumors and proposals are over here.
What does IOA need, WITHIN REASON, to become complete?
I think the ideas of canning the Theatre and the Triceratops walk-through seem like a good idea (though the theatre destruction could provide much more ample room for an upper-budget attraction). IOA needs places for people to go when it's raining. If you live in Florida, you know it rains every afternoon during the summer. People need options. I think all there is now is Spidey, Poseidon, Sinbad, and Cat In The Hat. Anything else and you're going to get wet. It's tough to cram an entire park's attendance into four attractions (especially when one takes long breaks before each show).
While another coaster would be great, I think the next one might need to be indoors. Don't forget that rain makes outdoor roller coasters a bit less fun, but lightning totally shuts them down.
I'm not too worried. Universal has been making some great decisions lately. I've said many bad things about USF, but I know they're coming around. Both parks have a huge palette to work from. It must be a great feeling to know that Mickey is soiling his drawers knowing that Universal is right on his tail.
SEUSS LANDING
1. Mt Crumpit/Grinch Coaster
2. Lorax dark ride
3. Sylvester Monkey McBean rehab
Seuss Landing needs a feature attraction on the E-ticket level and the Grinch Coaster should do the trick. SL also needs another mid-level indoor attraction like the Cat-In-The-Hat. The story of the Lorax is as good as any. As far as SMMcB goes, Universal needs to do something. Fix it or tear it down and put something working in its place.
LOST CONTINENT
1. Rehab Poseidons Fury
The original PF show was so-so. The new show is worse. IMO a rehab should improve the attraction, so Universal needs to go back to the drawing board on this attraction.
JURRASIC PARK
1. JP Jeep Adventure
2. JP Flying Coaster
3. Pteranodon Flyers rehab
4. Replace Triceratops Encounter with a dark ride/show.
Jurrasic Park is a wasted opportunity. There's so much opportunity to put in great attractions here and Universal just hasn't done it. The River Adventure is good, but after that, there's not a lot else for the adults. First of all, put in an attraction on the level of Spiderman and theme it along the lines of the Jeep Ride in the first JP movie. Can you imagine feeling what it would be like to have a T-Rex chasing your vehicle? Awesome! The flying coaster should go in JP and not in Toon Lagoon. Theme it around the Pteranodons in JP3. Yes, I know they already have the Pteranodon Flyers, but most of us will never get to ride it due to queue time and height restrictions. Speaking of the Pteranodon Flyers - add length to the existing track and add more tracks so more people can get on the ride. Finally, replace Triceratops Encounter with a mid-level dark ride or show. Or put the flying coaster where Triceratops Encounter is now and move the Triceratops to the River Adventure queue.
TOON LAGOON
1. Replace Pandemonium Theater with a Rocky and Bullwinkle dark ride.
Toon Lagoon already has 2 major outdoor attraction that get you totally hosed. TL needs something that can be done indoors. I'm partial to a mid-level Rocky and Bullwinkle ride.
MARVEL SUPER HERO ISLAND
1. Enclose Storm Force Acceleratron.
Marvel Super Hero Island is pretty doggone good right now. The major weak point is Storm Force. That can be fixed by adding some better theming to the ride by enclosing it.
Also, I think it would be rather cool, if Universal actually turned the "Islands" into islands by placing water around the perimeter of the park. The biggest disappointment I had was finding out the islands were just your typical areas segmented by themeing and a couple of bridges with a big pond in the middle.
BTW, good ideas, Tim. Rocky and Bullwinkle were originally supposed to go into a dark ride there. I wouldn't mind that, but I still kind of like my one-coaster-per-Island idea. But your ideas do fit in with my thoughts that IOA should only build about 4 coasters. The theming is just too good there to ruin with too many tracks.
IOA also could possibly use a show at Marvel Super Hero Island(only if they desperatly
need another attraction because Super Hero Island is pretty good).
The Lost Continent could use a 3-D dragon motion simulator (you know, an Ice and Fire dragon fight). Otherwise they would nearly be perfect.
(No park can be perfect).
a) TOON LAGOON ... I love the idea of a "Rocky the Flying Squirrel" ride. However, what do we do with Bullwinkle? Since Bullwinkle couldn't fly very well (he seemed to always be trying), split the ride in two. Bullwinkle a lazy man's (or, fraidy cat's) suspended coaster which meanders, while Rocky (a true flying coaster) could loop over and under Bullwinkle. A ride the whole family can enjoy together.
b) MARVEL ISLAND ... "The Fantastic Four." Yes, FOUR interlocking coasters. Or, if that is too much of a design nightmare, a dark ride on the lines of Spidy, only you choose the character you want to 'fight' in. Guests can even fight against each other, just like in the real comic.
c) JURASSIC PARK ... Turn Pteranodon flyers into a true flying coaster. None of that namby-pamby stuff (unless, once again like my Bullwinkle and Rocky idea, have the ride designed with two different tracks; one the existing track and the new one could 'weave' about).
d) LOST CONTINENT ... Get really lost in a dark ride/maze!!! Developing technology would be on line for the creation of this 'bumper car' type of maze ride. Get yourself lost in the halls of an underground temple. Guests who find their way out alive receive a free souvenir.
e) SEUSS LANDING ... Yes! Yes! Yes! Mount Crumpet! Roller coaster! Grinch! Not much else can be said.
