Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[Dragontrainer2]

You think we’re getting Two new theme parks?? That’s two more than I think we’re getting.

I meant 4th theme park but it would be the 5th gate since universal considers volcano bay as the 3rd. Sorry for the confusion

 

[fryoj]

They clearly laid out the new property in a way that allows for a 5th gate. Whether or not it ever happens, they left the door open to do it.

 

[AustinT]

With the Zelda movie finally getting confirmation that it's been earmarked for a spring 2027 release, I have to think this lights a fire under Universal's butt to speed up any Zelda expansion. After 2027 no matter how the movie performs, the general public will have a much higher awareness of this IP than they do now. I'd love to see the entire plot next to SNW go to Zelda and leave the LC spot in IOA for something else.

 

[IndyRs]

If they did an expansion between SNW and Dark Universe that included Luigi's mansion, I wonder what else could go there? I know Bowser's Castle is on the other side of the section, but a Bowser specific ride would be fun.

On another note. IF they did Wicked, what all would be attractions for it? Obviously it would be best to recreate Munchkin Land, with some Emerald City too.

In terms of skyline view, it would be pretty to see the expansions include the Pointy Spires of Hyrule Castle, the tops of Luigi's Mansion on a hill where the windows light up at night and creepy trees surround it, and The shimmering green of Emerald City's towers.

 

[darkridelover]

If they did an expansion between SNW and Dark Universe that included Luigi's mansion, I wonder what else could go there? I know Bowser's Castle is on the other side of the section, but a Bowser specific ride would be fun.

On another note. IF they did Wicked, what all would be attractions for it? Obviously it would be best to recreate Munchkin Land, with some Emerald City too.

In terms of skyline view, it would be pretty to see the expansions include the Pointy Spires of Hyrule Castle, the tops of Luigi's Mansion on a hill where the windows light up at night and creepy trees surround it, and The shimmering green of Emerald City's towers.

I think they'll treat Wicked like they did Harry Potter with different lands in different parks. You have Shiz, Munchkinland, and Emerald City.

 

[Myah1220]

If they did an expansion between SNW and Dark Universe that included Luigi's mansion, I wonder what else could go there? I know Bowser's Castle is on the other side of the section, but a Bowser specific ride would be fun.

On another note. IF they did Wicked, what all would be attractions for it? Obviously it would be best to recreate Munchkin Land, with some Emerald City too.

In terms of skyline view, it would be pretty to see the expansions include the Pointy Spires of Hyrule Castle, the tops of Luigi's Mansion on a hill where the windows light up at night and creepy trees surround it, and The shimmering green of Emerald City's towers.

Re: Attractions. I feel like a Wicked coaster where you "defy" gravity is an obvious choice. However, I think it could also be cool if they utilized a system similar to Flight of Passage but where you're on a broomstick (correct me if I'm wrong, anyone, but I'm pretty sure this was also an early rumor for HP at one point.) Of course, I wouldn't complain about a traditional dark ride but with state-of-the-art animatronics and some extra "magic" touches. Stage shows, and also "impromptu" singing shows throughout the land, also seem like a clear choice too.

Edit: Actually, the more I think about it, I feel like an indoor coaster/dark ride hybrid would be best to be the E-Ticket ride for Wicked. That way they could utilize show-stopping special effects, advanced animatronics, detailed set pieces, and coaster elements, all in one.

 

[RFRees]

Feeling like we may get a 5th gate at the newer universal property in Orlando next to epic before Disney builds a 5th park. If/when universal builds another park in Orlando just curious to hear everyone’s ideas for the park. I know it would be super far out likely after GB and Beijing’s new parks but always fun to speculate lol

Definitely will depend on the success of Epic, the economic standing of the company, and the general state of the economy. But with those three factors all aligned I could see them moving forward with it in the 2030s (e.g. 2039).

All the IPs we might recommend today, should probably just go to their current parks. Properties like Zelda, Pokemon, LoTR, Wicked, would all make great additions to their current parks.

But in general, I'd imagine Universal would leverage their partnerships with Warner Brothers and Nintendo, as well as utilize their first party IPs, and use some fresh ideas (non-IP). Likely they'd go with roughly a 40%-40%-20% split, similar to Epic Universe, which has two third party lands, two first party lands, and one non-IP land. I'm most interested in the overall 'theme' of the park... They've used cities/movies at USF, islands/books (loosely) for IOA, and space/IP worlds for Epic, so it'd be interesting to see what else they come up with.

 

[IndyRs]

I think they'll treat Wicked like they did Harry Potter with different lands in different parks. You have Shiz, Munchkinland, and Emerald City.

Brilliant idea.

Preferably Whichever gets Oz would get the roller coaster, so you can zip through the green towers and have some of it indoor where you encounter the flying monkeys.

Munchkin Land could have an indoor ride similar to the mechanics of Cat In the Hat that takes you through a adaptation of the story. Or even Wizard of Oz story. With poppy fields. And Shiz University can be similar to Jurassic Innovation center, with stuff to do inside and possibly a restaurant.

 

[belloq87]

I think any WICKED land that doesn't include the Emerald City -- the most (ahem) universally recognized location via THE WIZARD OF OZ -- would be a mild risk.

Everybody knows the Emerald City. Nobody knows what Shiz is unless they saw WICKED (which was a lot of people, but not as many as have seen TWOO).

 

[Clive]

I think any WICKED land that doesn't include the Emerald City -- the most (ahem) universally recognized location via THE WIZARD OF OZ -- would be a mild risk.

Everybody knows the Emerald City. Nobody knows what Shiz is unless they saw WICKED (which was a lot of people, but not as many as have seen TWOO).

I think, at the very least, an attraction has to *go* to or *involve* the Emerald City. You could probably do a Munchkinland or Shiz University as the shopping and dining areas, but yeah, you've gotta include the most recognizable and iconic location somehow.

 

[Myah1220]

I think any WICKED land that doesn't include the Emerald City -- the most (ahem) universally recognized location via THE WIZARD OF OZ -- would be a mild risk.

Everybody knows the Emerald City. Nobody knows what Shiz is unless they saw WICKED (which was a lot of people, but not as many as have seen TWOO).

Agree. You can't have Oz without the Emerald City. Fans of Wicked know Shiz but everyone knows Emerald City. It would be a huge miss to not include it.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Wizomania street show plz

 

[fryoj]

I think they'll treat Wicked like they did Harry Potter with different lands in different parks. You have Shiz, Munchkinland, and Emerald City.

I'd put a LOT of money on Wicked never getting more than one land at any resort. It was only the 5th biggest movie worldwide and 3rd biggest domestic in 24. It is not another Potter.

 

[Jake S]

I'd put a LOT of money on Wicked never getting more than one land at any resort. It was only the 5th biggest movie worldwide and 3rd biggest domestic in 24. It is not another Potter.

We'll see what happens with the sequel. I agree that on its current performance, it's by no means a lock to get anything close to the Potter treatment.

 

[Clive]

We'll see what happens with the sequel. I agree that on its current performance, it's by no means a lock to get anything close to the Potter treatment.

I fully believe they are developing Wicked attraction and/or land proposals right now. I don't believe anything will be greenlit for actual production prep until they see how the second movie does.

 

[quinnmac000]

In a new feature in The New York Times, Univeral's theme park chief Mark Woodbury revealed that the highly successful Wicked movie is serving as the inspiration for secret "significant attractions" that may come to the company's theme parks in the future. "When I saw [the movie], my first reaction was, ‘This is a theme park waiting to happen,’” Woodbury told the Times.

Again Universal is already working on Wicked attractions.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Wizomania street show plz

Ah hell yeah, I love state sponsored propaganda, gobble gobble gobble.

 

[Jake S]

Again Universal is already working on Wicked attractions.

Yes, they're developing concepts for attractions. That excerpt does not indicate they've actually decided to build them.

 

[alexscaff2020]

I think the perfect expansion to Celestial would be a living with the land-esque dark ride where the outside/biome scenes are instead focused on the elements (fire, water, earth, air i.e. the cosmic ecosystem) as this was initially part of the celestial park theme. We float through volcanic eruptions, waves, giant rocks, glowing crystals, and floating islands and wind gusts. All indoor dark ride sections would be space focused, maybe we float around some "cosmic tree" where fire, water, earth and air feed up into this giant showpiece tree with roots, as we follow that bear mascot throughout some journey. Throw in a restaurant and boom, a ride + food + botanical garden type. I'd throw it behind stardust so that the area between that and Ministry is reserved for LoTR. Could also throw it into the expansion pad next to Nintendo and next to the park's entry, if it fit size wise.

 

[jarmor]

Since we're back on OZ/Wicked. . .

If I were to speculate what a new portal to the "Wicked of OZ" land/portal would be, I would create an area broken down into 3 sub areas; Emerald City, Shiz University and and area known as "the west".

You'd enter the portal and be transported to Shiz University. This is where you will find attractions like the Glinda and Elphaba meet and greet that starts off as a dorm tour/walk through. It will also feature an Intamin dynamic motion stage themed to the Oz Dust Ballroom/Dancing Through Life.

A quick service dining location and shopping experiences.

The Emerald City will feature more shopping and a table service with quirky and unique food choices. I'd love to have a wave swinger or hot air balloon flat ride located here as well.

Here is where I will take a bold move, located inside the wizard's castle will NOT be a stage version of Wicked but instead a dark ride "book report" in the likes of frozen ever after/the voyage of the little mermaid. Id say trackless but universal hasn't had much experience in that field yet. I would probably have a little boutique for little girls to get all glinda-fied or go green like elphaba.

The West would be indoors. I would want this area to be similar to Knocturn alley. This would be a hideaway for the animals that did not conform and were they have set up settlement. Inside, I would have and indoor version of F.L.Y at Phantasialand themed to the flying monkeys.

It will traverse above and below you in the indoor area. We aren't talking about a huge flyer, something that's about 40ft difference in elevation, 2 launches. A few shops and snack locations around the perimeter of the inside area to leave the middle for the coaster and themed forest area. Maybe a couple small family flat rides.

This is what I speculate an OZ/Wicked land should be if Universal decides to pull the trigger!