Nintendo Coming to Universal Parks

[captainmoch]

So over on Magic @Disneyhead dropped the tidbit that Luigi’s Mansion could be added to the Mushroom Kingdom and Zelda would open at IoA before Mario at Site B.

Maybe that's our post-Potter IoA e-ticket? :look:

 

[Mike S]

Maybe that's our post-Potter IoA e-ticket? :look:

I sure hope so. I also hope for Lynels, Guardians, and Hinoxes, oh my!!!!

 

[zg44]

The original plans for USF can still happen, but it always just struck me as "thinking too small"...

The main Mario SNW especially should be on the size and scale of a park anchor like the Harry Potter lands. It will absolutely become the reason that people go to the park. Pokemon should probably also be considered as somewhere near that importance (even if not in size), and Zelda as well can be an important attraction. The rest of their IPs can be fit in with those 3.

The latest set of plans makes way more sense in terms of properly utilizing the Nintendo IPs to their real value.

If properly done, Nintendo will be the 2nd most profitable IP at the park behind Harry Potter.

 

[Mad Dog]

The original plans for USF can still happen, but it always just struck me as "thinking too small"...

The main Mario SNW especially should be on the size and scale of a park anchor like the Harry Potter lands. It will absolutely become the reason that people go to the park. Pokemon should probably also be considered as somewhere near that importance (even if not in size), and Zelda as well can be an important attraction. The rest of their IPs can be fit in with those 3.

The latest set of plans makes way more sense in terms of properly utilizing the Nintendo IPs to their real value.

If properly done, Nintendo will be the 2nd most profitable IP at the park behind Harry Potter.

Yep. I've been saying the same for the past few years. Use the IP to it's fullest potential, even if we need to wait a bit longer.....6-8 acres in Kidzone did not do the IP justice. Hell, TSL got 11 acres, though mostly wasted, at DHS.

 

[quinnmac000]

The original plans for USF can still happen, but it always just struck me as "thinking too small"...

The main Mario SNW especially should be on the size and scale of a park anchor like the Harry Potter lands. It will absolutely become the reason that people go to the park. Pokemon should probably also be considered as somewhere near that importance (even if not in size), and Zelda as well can be an important attraction. The rest of their IPs can be fit in with those 3.

The latest set of plans makes way more sense in terms of properly utilizing the Nintendo IPs to their real value.

If properly done, Nintendo will be the 2nd most profitable IP at the park behind Harry Potter.

I'm gonna argue Nintendo will outsell HP. Park exclusive amiboos, collectibles, dlc, and plushes are going to push this to a level that Potter currently can't touch.

But I agree in this case they should go as big as possible.

 

[Imperius]

Honestly if they want merch sales they need to quickly build a Pokémon area. Interactive pokeballs with interactive catch areas would blow anything else out of the water.

 

[quinnmac000]

Honestly if they want merch sales they need to quickly build a Pokémon area. Interactive pokeballs with interactive catch areas would blow anything else out of the water.

A Pokedex ($59.95) that adds data as you find AA Pokemon in the park with regular pokemon being seasonal based and rotating while legendary Pokemon only occurring on certain days with a small prize for completing it would bring in way more people. Essentially people would have to keep coming to catch them all.

Do that in addition to interactive pokeballs that store some holographic image or plush doll of the Pokemon they catch, you can print money.

 

[Returning-The-Reaction]

Honestly if they want merch sales they need to quickly build a Pokémon area. Interactive pokeballs with interactive catch areas would blow anything else out of the water.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Surprised they have yet to introduce a temporary Nintendo store somewhere in the park.

 

[zg44]

Yep. I've been saying the same for the past few years. Use the IP to it's fullest potential, even if we need to wait a bit longer.....6-8 acres in Kidzone did not do the IP justice. Hell, TSL got 11 acres, though mostly wasted, at DHS.

I'm gonna argue Nintendo will outsell HP. Park exclusive amiboos, collectibles, dlc, and plushes are going to push this to a level that Potter currently can't touch.

But I agree in this case they should go as big as possible.

Yeah I don't doubt the power of Nintendo's IPs; they definitely have the collective potential to match or outsell Harry Potter if done properly.

I'm just glad that Universal's leadership has realized that before putting shovels into the ground in Orlando.

Getting it done on the proper scale is way more important than getting it done quickly in terms of operational outcomes.

 

[Mike S]

The original plans for USF can still happen, but it always just struck me as "thinking too small"...

The main Mario SNW especially should be on the size and scale of a park anchor like the Harry Potter lands. It will absolutely become the reason that people go to the park. Pokemon should probably also be considered as somewhere near that importance (even if not in size), and Zelda as well can be an important attraction. The rest of their IPs can be fit in with those 3.

The latest set of plans makes way more sense in terms of properly utilizing the Nintendo IPs to their real value.

If properly done, Nintendo will be the 2nd most profitable IP at the park behind Harry Potter.

Um, how does a next level Mario Kart ride, a Donkey Kong roller coaster, and the Yoshi ride not live up to Harry Potter? Imo it far exceeds it. Hogsmeade opened with two reskins so only Forbidden Journey counts there and Diagon Alley only has Gringotts and the Hogwarts Express. Not to mention all the other stuff that was going to be put in the KidZone plan. Sure total land size might’ve been a bit smaller but as the old saying goes it’s not the size, it’s how you use it.

Yep. I've been saying the same for the past few years. Use the IP to it's fullest potential, even if we need to wait a bit longer.....6-8 acres in Kidzone did not do the IP justice. Hell, TSL got 11 acres, though mostly wasted, at DHS.

My point exactly.

Surprised they have yet to introduce a temporary Nintendo store somewhere in the park.

Temporary? I’m surised they haven’t announced a permanent store for CityWalk like the one in New York yet. It would print money especially if they had unique Universal branded merch like limited edition Amiibo or even Switches.

 

[quinnmac000]

Temporary? I’m surised they haven’t announced a permanent store for CityWalk like the one in New York yet. It would print money especially if they had unique Universal branded merch like limited edition Amiibo or even Switches.

Maybe they are planning a themed Nintendo Store styled to certain Nintendo Properties...such as Tom Nook's Store, PokeMart, etc.

 

[Ryan]

This thread makes my head spin: we're still under the assumption that SNW is going into KidZone, right?

 

[Imperius]

This thread makes my head spin: we're still under the assumption that SNW is going into KidZone, right?

No?

 

[zg44]

This thread makes my head spin: we're still under the assumption that SNW is going into KidZone, right?

It's possible that they still put it there sure.

But likely? The insiders are saying Universal wants to make the Mario SNW the centerpiece of the 3rd dry park now and that plans are changing along those lines, so the old permits/plans and everything are outdated.

Time will tell. It makes sense to me though for them to change the plans and make the land larger in the 3rd dry park.

Let's be clear the Mario (and Pokemon) SNWs will have the drawing power of Harry Potter and the same massive crowds.

Going bigger makes sense if those are your expectations.

 

[shiekra38]

Theoretically, where would Zelda go? TL or LC?

 

[Alicia]

This thread makes my head spin: we're still under the assumption that SNW is going into KidZone, right?

I still think it is.

But what do I know about Nintendo World. Heh. :shrug:

A Brief History of the Sky Falling:

-A recent Attractions article citing a 2-month old Theme Park University article speculated that because it’s taking so long Universal must’ve changed their mind and is moving SNW to third park.

-The Animal Actors stage was repainted.

-Barney show has recast Actors.

-The work walls around outside ET queue came down in November.

-Curious George and Fievel are receiving general maintenance right now.

Bloggers are speculating that this must mean the land is moving to another park, but it could also mean delays due to permitting issues, or last minute changes after learning about changes coming to Japan’s version, or something we know nothing about, like the possibility that the Nintendo deal is predicated on Japan having Nintendo for one full year before any others open or something to that effect. We just don’t know.

I’ve seen nothing that would lead me to believe the plans are moving to another park. But I do have a lot of inside info about it going in KidsZone.

But hey, who knows, one day I may find out it is moving. But that day hasn’t come yet. So I’m sticking with what I know.

 

[shiekra38]

I still think it is.

But what do I know about Nintendo World. Heh. :shrug:

A Brief History of the Sky Falling:

-A recent Attractions article citing a 2-month old Theme Park University article speculated that because it’s taking so long Universal must’ve changed their mind and is moving SNW to third park.

-The Animal Actors stage was repainted.

-Barney show has recast Actors.

-The work walls around outside ET queue came down in November.

-Curious George and Fievel are receiving general maintenance right now.

Bloggers are speculating that this must mean the land is moving to another park, but it could also mean delays due to permitting issues, or last minute changes after learning about changes coming to Japan’s version, or something we know nothing about, like the possibility that the Nintendo deal is predicated on Japan having Nintendo for one full year before any others open or something to that effect. We just don’t know.

I’ve seen nothing that would lead me to believe the plans are moving to another park. But I do have a lot of inside info about it going there.

But hey, who knows, one day I may find out it is moving. But that day hasn’t come yet. So I’m sticking with what I know.

As long as Gatorade bottles are left somewhere on the site, I could care less where it goes

 

[Mike S]

Maybe they are planning a themed Nintendo Store styled to certain Nintendo Properties...such as Tom Nook's Store, PokeMart, etc.

Doesn’t mean a Nintendo store like New York’s can’t be in CityWalk.

 

[Frank Drackman]

I still think it is.

But what do I know about Nintendo World. Heh. :shrug:

A Brief History of the Sky Falling:

-A recent Attractions article citing a 2-month old Theme Park University article speculated that because it’s taking so long Universal must’ve changed their mind and is moving SNW to third park.

-The Animal Actors stage was repainted.

-Barney show has recast Actors.

-The work walls around outside ET queue came down in November.

-Curious George and Fievel are receiving general maintenance right now.

Bloggers are speculating that this must mean the land is moving to another park, but it could also mean delays due to permitting issues, or last minute changes after learning about changes coming to Japan’s version, or something we know nothing about, like the possibility that the Nintendo deal is predicated on Japan having Nintendo for one full year before any others open or something to that effect. We just don’t know.

I’ve seen nothing that would lead me to believe the plans are moving to another park. But I do have a lot of inside info about it going in KidsZone.

But hey, who knows, one day I may find out it is moving. But that day hasn’t come yet. So I’m sticking with what I know.

I may have sent folks in an odd direction (I am not an insider). The two points I tried to bring up were that:

1) If Japan hit a snag, it makes sense to keep the capacity of Kid's Zone for now. I feel the reasons an attraction is designed for multiple parks is that you learn from each install, so I figured one would pay attention to Japan to get an idea of when Orlando construction should start.

2) in 2018, US tax laws changed to a model that may inspire (or reward) company's that invest in the future. I think they changed the way assets are devalued over their lifespan to a more...deduct the cost of improvements in the same tax year they are built....I am no tax person, but if there is some truth to that, it would have changed Comcast's motivation to get money going into the new land they own.

If it began to make sense for the new park, maybe give Orlando something different than Hollywood and Japan, cool....if Orlando still gets the same (and in Kids Zone), that is cool too....don't they still have the MIB expansion area as well as MiB itself that could grow the Mario area if it stayed in KZ?!?

Time will tell...