Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[Brian G.]

What a steal. How much did they sell it for originally? Does anyone know?

$70 million

 

[JungleSkip]

Here ya go:

Vivendi Universal Sells 1,800 Acres To Developer - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel

Man Vivendi was the worst.

 

[Brian G.]

Man Vivendi was the worst.

And they lost 1,400 acres too. Jerks.

 

[Mike S]

It's been made official:

I wonder how long until we get the extremely vague announcement of a third park without any other kind of detail? I mean, a second park was announced in 1993. 6 years before IoA opened.

 

[JungleSkip]

I wonder how long until we get the extremely vague announcement of a third park without any other kind of detail? I mean, a second park was announced in 1993. 6 years before IoA opened.

I think work will start long before there's an announcement. The land is devoid of infrastructure, so they'll be doing stuff like that for 3-4 years before any real construction starts, I'd imagine.

 

[Brian G.]

I think work will start long before there's an announcement. The land is devoid of infrastructure, so they'll be doing stuff like that for 3-4 years before any real construction starts, I'd imagine.

So in Universal time, 1-2 years.

But yea, unless they really want to keep focus on them during WDW's 50th and go even more all-in (which I doubt), this is 10 years down the road.

 

[JungleSkip]

So in Universal time, 1-2 years.

But yea, unless they really want to keep focus on them during WDW's 50th and go even more all-in (which I doubt), this is 10 years down the road.

I think 10 years is waaaay too long, personally. 6 or 7 at the most.

 

[Scott W.]

For anybody interested in how much Universal paid for the original land they have, skip to about 1min in.

 

[Macfr3ak]

This confirmation of acquiring that and is HUGE news 0__O

 

[Brian G.]

So the land is enough for them to build USF and IOA (with backstage areas), CityWalk, the parking garages, Hard Rock Hotel and Portofino all over again.

 

[Donald Razorduck]

Ok, I'm confused. Is this the same land they were buying that was mentioned when the Polarcoster was up for approval or in addition to?

 

[Brian G.]

Ok, I'm confused. Is this the same land they were buying that was mentioned when the Polarcoster was up for approval or in addition to?

Same land.

 

[UniversalCityFL]

This is so mind-blowing to me. When Universal originally owned the Lockheed property, there was always the promise of even more exceitement yet to come from Universal.

When Vivendi (ugh) sold the property, the sentiment internally at Universal was pretty depressing. Kind of a "Welp, we're never going to get that land back. What we have is what we will have... forever." It was sad and did a number on the morale of the team members.

I never thought I would see the day where this property was re-acquired. Ever.

Wow.

 

[Scott W.]

My big concern is that they build 2 more parks.One of the main reasons I prefer Universal over Disney is how more compact it is. It's the same reason that I thought Disneyland was far superior to WDW.

Personally, I can't see them building 2 parks, but a park and a water park with hotels, I can.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

I think we'll eventually get a 4th park but it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too early to even be discussing that. I can't see them using the non-park space all for hotels.

 

[Brian G.]

My big concern is that they build 2 more parks.One of the main reasons I prefer Universal over Disney is how more compact it is. It's the same reason that I thought Disneyland was far superior to WDW.

Personally, I can't see them building 2 parks, but a park and a water park with hotels, I can.

You're probably seeing 1 park that's a bit larger than USF/IOA, nighttime district, and 3-4 hotels.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

You're probably seeing 1 park that's a bit larger than USF/IOA, nighttime district, and 3-4 hotels.

Combined?

 

[JungleSkip]

You're probably seeing 1 park that's a bit larger than USF/IOA, nighttime district, and 3-4 hotels.

Combined?

My guess is a 150-acre(ish) theme park.

 

[Brian G.]

Combined?

No, I meant bigger than those 2 in general. IOA is about 90, USF is 120. I'm thinking 150-160.

 

[Mike S]

My guess is a 150-acre(ish) theme park.

So about half of Epcot. That would be pretty great. They just need to maximize it as much as possible. No more huge central lagoon.