Universal Great Britain - Speculation & Rumors

[EllieB]

I know we've been over and over this ground time and again, so I'm not going to wade into the topic of how likely or otherwise Potter will be at GB Universal, but personally I'd rather see something fresh and new. I want this park to have exclusives that pull people from all over the world to see, things that no-one can see anywhere else.

Although having said that, if they wanted to build another Isle of Berk I wouldn't say no to some dragons...

Maybe they could replace the Waterworld stunt show with a Triwizard Tournament, complete with grand school entrance performances, broomstick flying, and dragon drones.

 

[rob@rar]

... I'd rather see something fresh and new. I want this park to have exclusives that pull people from all over the world to see, things that no-one can see anywhere else.

100% agree with you. As I said, given a choice of a unique Wizarding World land or a unique Middle Earth land, I'd prefer to see Middle Earth. But I also recognise that Universal Creative can undoubtedly conjure up something wonderful from the multitude of stories in the Wizarding World which don't feature in any of their theme parks currently, so if their commercial judgement was that Harry Potter was essential in their UK park I don't believe that we will end up with duplicates of their existing work. They clearly won't do that for fear of eating in to their UK attendance in Orlando, a point made as recently as a couple of days ago by Mark Woodbury the Comcast President.

 

[xtpower]

Harry Potter at UGB would be the biggest possible reason for UGB to cannibalise UOR visitors from our shores. Which is why I'm not buying it, that and surely having something like LOTR is much cheaper fee's wise and would be almost as popular (potentially more so).

So unless internally they believe that HP is a must to hit the 8.5/12.5m projections, I don't know why they would go for it. The fee's alone for HP in the UK must dwarf everything that came before, it's befuddling.

 

[Clouday]

Agree with the scepticism of the veracity of a report in The Sun, but I’d note two things:
1. It comes from the TV and Showbiz editor, which makes me think the source is from the Warner Bros Studios side.
2. It states work has begun on ‘an attraction’ - no mention of a land or multiple attractions. Maybe there’s an acknowledgement that an opening day HP attraction is a draw (and for some casuals expected - “home of Potter” etc.), but something bigger up their sleeve.

Anyhow I still thought the original report worthy of a post on this rumours and speculation thread

 

[rob@rar]

So unless internally they believe that HP is a must to hit the 8.5/12.5m projections, I don't know why they would go for it. The fee's alone for HP in the UK must dwarf everything that came before, it's befuddling.

I think having a HP land in Bedford would be a bigger draw than just about any other IP that they might get their hands on, helping reach their very ambitious attendance targets. It's still a massive IP for a huge mainstream audience, and the profile will be boosted beyond what we currently see with the books, the audiobooks, the original movies, the Studio Tour and the endless merch by the upcoming TV series which is probably going to run well beyond the opening date of USGB.

 

[Della]

The Sun reports that Universal has negotiated a deal to include Harry Potter in the park, and states that work has begun in earnest on an attraction.

I would dearly love this to be true. IF it is true, the article points out the TV series debuts 2027, and the theme park four years later. This gives time for them to see if the HP TV show is a success, and base attractions around it if it is, with the cast able to film parts for the attractions while they are still young. This will help avoid the problem of replicating attractions from Orlando as they will be different if they have the new cast and will have a lot of material from the show to use for inspiration.

 

[xtpower]

I would dearly love this to be true. IF it is true, the article points out the TV series debuts 2027, and the theme park four years later. This gives time for them to see if the HP TV show is a success, and base attractions around it if it is, with the cast able to film parts for the attractions while they are still young. This will help avoid the problem of replicating attractions from Orlando as they will be different if they have the new cast and will have a lot of material from the show to use for inspiration.

They'd have finalised design and begun procurement before season 1 even airs. Especially if they go with a brand new e-ticket, they'd have to basically gamble on whether the TV show is a hit if they go that route.

 

[rob@rar]

Agree with the scepticism of the veracity of a report in The Sun, but I’d note two things:
1. It comes from the TV and Showbiz editor, which makes me think the source is from the Warner Bros Studios side.

I think The Sun has two very obvious biases which affect whether you can believe it or not. The first bias is towards the right of the political spectrum, the second bias is very firmly towards sensationalism rather than sober reporting. This story about Universal Studios is neither political nor a big sensationalist story, so I can't see what's in it for The Sun to simply make it up and it's entirely untrue. It might well be that the source isn't accurate, discussions between US and WB are still ongoing, or the journalist simply got the wrong end of the stick. But I can easily believe there's at least a kernel of truth in that article.

 

[Della]

They'd have finalised design and begun procurement before season 1 even airs. Especially if they go with a brand new e-ticket, they'd have to basically gamble on whether the TV show is a hit if they go that route.

Tricky then. Perhaps they could do an attraction like Avatar Flight of Passage on broomsticks, where the actual video can be made nearer the time once they know how successful the TV series is, but the infrastructure and all the mechanics can be planned now. Broomstick flying theatre ride would be a safe bet for an opening attraction with a more unique e-ticket to follow.

 

[Alicia]

…they'd have to basically gamble on whether the TV show is a hit if they go that route.

Like basing a new land in Orlando on Fantastic Beasts 2 before the film hits theaters

 

[rageofthegods]

On the bright side, if the show flops, they could always say it's based on the original movies, given the fact that the show looks completely identical so far.

 

[Altonsky]

The sun are very accurate with their showbiz/entertainment news/sources so I’d be inclined to believe what they’re saying is true seeing as there’ll be some crossover

 

[Evan]

Harry Potter at UGB would be the biggest possible reason for UGB to cannibalise UOR visitors from our shores. Which is why I'm not buying it, that and surely having something like LOTR is much cheaper fee's wise and would be almost as popular (potentially more so).

So unless internally they believe that HP is a must to hit the 8.5/12.5m projections, I don't know why they would go for it. The fee's alone for HP in the UK must dwarf everything that came before, it's befuddling.

I’m sure they’ve crunched the numbers, but their could be a case for being okay with a potentially small decline in UK visitors to Orlando if it means they get large attendance from Europe in the UK.

These are fake numbers, but let’s say 500,000 UK visitors hit up Universal Orlando in a year, and then half of them decide to skip it for the UK park moving forward… but they get 8 million in attendance in a year at the UK park, they’ve grown their attendance globally, despite a small offset in Orlando.

I just can’t see Orlando getting that big a hit due to Potter inclusion in the UK, not when they have 3 major theme parks, a waterpark, and sunshine year round, with a ton of different experiences you will not get at the UK park.

 

[Fire & Ice]

I’m sure they’ve crunched the numbers, but their could be a case for being okay with a potentially small decline in UK visitors to Orlando if it means they get large attendance from Europe in the UK.

These are fake numbers, but let’s say 500,000 UK visitors hit up Universal Orlando in a year, and then half of them decide to skip it for the UK park moving forward… but they get 8 million in attendance in a year at the UK park, they’ve grown their attendance globally, despite a small offset in Orlando.

I just can’t see Orlando getting that big a hit due to Potter inclusion in the UK, not when they have 3 major theme parks, a waterpark, and sunshine year round, with a ton of different experiences you will not get at the UK park.

It could also have a different expanding effect on some guests. For example someone visits the UK park having not been to Orlando and loves the rides, if the one they really love is Potter, Universal marketing flashes 3 more lands and 4 more great rides (sorry hippogryph!). Could this be enough to persuade a first visit?

 

[Evan]

It could also have a different expanding effect on some guests. For example someone visits the UK park having not been to Orlando and loves the rides, if the one they really love is Potter, Universal marketing flashes 3 more lands and 4 more great rides (sorry hippogryph!). Could this be enough to persuade a first visit?

In the end, it just comes down to how important that number is to them in Orlando, vs the potential growth overall by building the UK park with Potter included.

 

[EllieB]

I also think it's possible if their Potter here is not a land with rides as you have at the US parks, but it has a very different application; maybe a big spectacle arena show, some meet and greets and an interactive experience? It's the same IP but handled in a very different way, and could potentially be all indoors without the need for outdoor spaces then too.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

According to Visit Orlando, about 900K visitors came from the UK. So about 10.6% of the total attendance they want to attract at the UK park (roughly 5% of current total UOR attendance - assuming all Brits that visit Orlando are going to UOR).

While I'm sure there will be cannibalization, there will likely be more UK visitors to the Orlando resort once they see how great a Universal park is.

I think Potter at the UK park is not as detrimental to the overall UOR attendance, as long as Orlando keeps some of the more unique aspects like the HE connecting two Potter lands.

 

[rob@rar]

A lot of Brits visit Orlando each year and that’s important revenue for Disney and Universal. But a much, much larger number of Brits will never be able afford to have a holiday in Orlando, or will not wish to take an entire holiday around theme parks. That’s currently an untapped market for Universal.

There’s also a major draw factor for people sampling a world class theme park in the UK and deciding they wanted more of that experience by heading to the theme park capital of the world. I suspect that will more than make up for any reduction in Orlando visitors who might feel that they’ve “done Universal” so have no need to see their parks in Orlando. I would never have visited Orlando if I hadn’t first visited Disneyland Paris. Obviously that depends on Universal creating something truly wonderful in Bedford that will encourage UK and EU visitors to make the journey to Florida. So make something wonderful and unique and you’ll grow your market, rather than spread it more thinly around different parts of your business.

 

[tielo]

I think like DLP there is a big group of Europeans who don't have the money or feel the urge to visit the US but are happy to get a part of that pie.
The same will be true for Universal GB. People who already visited Orlando will probably still go there and a small part of people who want more than what is offered will also visit the US. I think in the end it's a win win situation.

 

[rob@rar]

I also think it's possible if their Potter here is not a land with rides as you have at the US parks, but it has a very different application; maybe a big spectacle arena show, some meet and greets and an interactive experience? It's the same IP but handled in a very different way, and could potentially be all indoors without the need for outdoor spaces then too.

I think that would be a big mistake by Universal, making something which is clearly sub-par compared to what’s on offer in their other theme parks. I’m sure they could do an entire Wizarding World land which offered major rides and attractions entirely different from what’s on offer in Orlando and LA, but equally brilliant (hopefully better). The last thing that Universal should do in Bedford is create a theme park which is perceived as second class compared to the “real Universal” in Orlando.