State of USH - What's Next?

[PerceptiveCoot]

Hopefully one F&F opens, we will get some more clarity as to what’s next for the park. I’m thinking we’ll hear more about the Supercharged replacement.

If you recall it was just a month after SNW officially opened in 2022 when rumors started to pop up about a big roller coaster coming to USH.

I hope some momentum gains for upcoming projects soon as DCA is building away.

I know most people here don't like it but I think Villain-Con would really help this park. It's (presumably) easy to build, easy to maintain, eats up a lot of people, and doesn't take up a lot of space.

 

[Jake S]

I know most people here don't like it but I think Villain-Con would really help this park. It's (presumably) easy to build, easy to maintain, eats up a lot of people, and doesn't take up a lot of space.

Is it even helping the Florida park? Seems like ridership is quite low. It only helps if it doesn’t suck and, well. Here we are.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I know most people here don't like it but I think Villain-Con would really help this park. It's (presumably) easy to build, easy to maintain, eats up a lot of people, and doesn't take up a lot of space.

Here is my idea

Redo the Minions area

Use half the Minions ride area for Villain-Con or a attraction like it. The other half you add two more flat rides and can move the Water play area

Phase 2 Turn Paris street into a Wicked area with a new restaurant, Meet and greets and a street show

If Phase 2 can't happen because of the VIP stuff, I get it but I would be down to make the Minions area into something with two more flat rides and a people eater like Villain-Con. Would help out on super busy days

 

[Clive]

Here is my idea

Redo the Minions area

Use half the Minions ride area for Villain-Con or a attraction like it. The other half you add two more flat rides and can move the Water play area

Phase 2 Turn Paris street into a Wicked area with a new restaurant, Meet and greets and a street show

If Phase 2 can't happen because of the VIP stuff, I get it but I would be down to make the Minions area into something with two more flat rides and a people eater like Villain-Con. Would help out on super busy days

The problem with this pitch is that Minions really needs both theaters. As we routinely see in Orlando, the ride has mediocre capacity when it only runs one.

I have to agree with Jake that Villain Con really isn't it. I enjoy it more than some here, but it's not something I think they should spend money to port.

What we're really missing is a B-ticket walk-through attraction on the upper lot that rarely has much of a considerable wait, making it an easy way to fill out your day.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Is it even helping the Florida park? Seems like ridership is quite low. It only helps if it doesn’t suck and, well. Here we are.

It helps USF by adding something for families to do together... but if they're actually enjoying it is a separate question.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

What we're really missing is a B-ticket walk-through attraction on the upper lot that rarely has much of a considerable wait, making it an easy way to fill out your day.

Is this...not what Villain-Con is, at least in part?

I can't speak to the ridership at USF, but I think the conditions at USH (few family attractions, low ride count and space) would make it work more successfully here than at USF.

 

[Clive]

Is this...not what Villain-Con is, at least in part?

I can't speak to the ridership at USF, but I think the conditions at USH (few family attractions, low ride count and space) would make it work more successfully here than at USF.

It is! But it isn't very good. I'm not saying it wouldn't receive poor ridership, but that doesn't mean as much when your park doesn't have enough to do.

 

[Freak]

I’m not even joking when I say I completely forgot Villain Con was even a thing up until it got brought up just now. I’m not even joking. Tells you everything about how I feel about that “ride”.

I don’t want this. Not worth getting rid of an HHN venue over it. When an empty courtyard with tables is an upgrade over what people think should go there, that’s a problem.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

It is! But it isn't very good. I'm not saying it wouldn't receive poor ridership, but that doesn't mean as much when your park doesn't have enough to do.

They (I agree with you but am moving the goalposts to make my point as quickly as possible) should be doing more with the Upper Lot though. Feels like there's a lot of dead venues and underutilized capacity up there.

I don’t want this. Not worth getting rid of an HHN venue over it. When an empty courtyard with tables is an upgrade over what people think should go there, that’s a problem.

I might be becoming the belloq of USH but I think the park should be more enjoyable outside of event season and would be fine with losing one (measly?) HHN venue to accomplish that goal. Doesn't have to be Villain-Con, I will take a competently produced show, dark ride, or walkthrough that operates year round!

 

[Jake S]

bring back house of horrors, you cowards!

 

[Clive]

They (I agree with you but am moving the goalposts to make my point as quickly as possible) should be doing more with the Upper Lot though. Feels like there's a lot of dead venues and underutilized capacity up there.


I might be becoming the belloq of USH but I think the park should be more enjoyable outside of event season and would be fine with losing one (measly?) HHN venue to accomplish that goal. Doesn't have to be Villain-Con, I will take a competently produced show, dark ride, or walkthrough that operates year round!

I more or less agree with this! I just don't think Villain-Con is the solution, even if Universal probably hoped it would be. If it had been better received, I have a suspicion that the Parisian Courtyard would have been already leveled.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I more or less agree with this! I just don't think Villain-Con is the solution, even if Universal probably hoped it would be. If it had been better received, I have a suspicion that the Parisian Courtyard would have been already leveled.

I just assumed it was something UC was happy with given they went to the trouble of porting it over to USJ, but that park has capacity problems the way a man who only eats bacon has problems with his arteries, even with all their space.

 

[Clive]

I just assumed it was something UC was happy with given they went to the trouble of porting it over to USJ, but that park has capacity problems the way a man who only eats bacon has problems with his arteries, even with all their space.

I think that was a case of it being ready to port at the right time. They're down a headliner with the transition from Spider-Man to Pokemon, and they hadn't run Backdraft since the closures in 2020. Easy way to add more Minions in a park that loves them, plus a relatively high capacity attraction.

It's looking like I'll be going to Universal Japan in May, so I'll be able to provide an on-the-ground report on how guests appear to respond to it/general foot traffic.