Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[JungleSkip]

Magic

Sorry, just no.

 

[s8film40]

I think 2019 is being a little generous, I'm guessing around 2020.

 

[Nick]

Capacity is totally not EPCOT's issue. Its capacity is honestly its only strength.

I also don't think Frozen is going to be nearly as popular of a ride as we thought it would be 8 months ago.

RIDE capacity isn't that strong though. At least not for rides anyone cares about.

 

[IzzyB]

I haven't been on Magic in a bit but everyone was always saying late 2018.

Yes, my expectation has always been late 2018.

This is my thing about Disney. We are starting to slowly get interesting rumors and also slowly starting to get little signs here and there that point to a change in Disney. Prior to HP Phase 1 opening and succeeding did anyone predict what would happen in the years following that opening? I mean if someone said to you in 2007 that by 2017 all of the stuff that has occurred would occur? I think the majority of you would say no way in hell, not happening, etc. No way would we see this number of hotels, rides, and a whole water park being built. Etc, etc. Can any of you honestly say you envisioned this kind of 10 year plan back in 2007 based on Unis prior track record? No, you didn't. So when people say no way in hell this stuff is happening at Disney I have to take it with a grain of salt, because none of us truly know whether Disney has turned that corner on the dark years and moving into a much better time period for Disney.

I also have to say because I was behind on stuff I have gone back and read the beginning of some of the threads of stuff actually being built today or the ground breaking happening at the beginning of next year and many people said some of this stuff would never happen. So I will sit in my optimistic world until facts show me that this stuff won't happen. Now let's say in 4 or 6 months construction hasn't begun at all in Studios, then that would be enough facts for me to say the rumors are false and people don't know what their talking about.

 

[JungleSkip]

This is my thing about Disney. We are starting to slowly get interesting rumors and also slowly starting to get little signs here and there that point to a change in Disney.

Backlot Tour has been closed for 15 months with no construction. I have seen no little signs here and there that point to a change in Disney's work rate. Spending more money? Maybe. Going faster? Nope.

 

[Talking Head]

I think 2019 is being a little generous, I'm guessing around 2020.

I heard 2020-2021 was likely.

 

[IzzyB]

Backlot Tour has been closed for 15 months with no construction. I have seen no little signs here and there that point to a change in Disney's work rate. Spending more money? Maybe. Going faster? Nope.

And a soundstage at Uni closed and had nothing in it for years until Transformers was built. And that news came out of nowhere and was done really quickly. Faster than anyone thought was possible. Just saying, companies can change and their focus and goals can change. I believe Disney has seen the light and I think it happened not this past summer, but the summer before then when attendance over the summer took a nose dive. I think it was the wake up call for them. It was a wake up call I personally back then thought would never happen.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

And a soundstage at Uni closed and had nothing in it for years until Transformers was built. And that news came out of nowhere and was done really quickly. Faster than anyone thought was possible. Just saying, companies can change and their focus and goals can change. I believe Disney has seen the light and I think it happened not this past summer, but the summer before then when attendance over the summer took a nose dive. I think it was the wake up call for them. It was a wake up call I personally back then thought would never happen.

Id counter to say the soundstage was used for HHN years, so it was never "had nothing in it."

 

[Brian G.]

And a soundstage at Uni closed and had nothing in it for years until Transformers was built. And that news came out of nowhere and was done really quickly. Faster than anyone thought was possible. Just saying, companies can change and their focus and goals can change. I believe Disney has seen the light and I think it happened not this past summer, but the summer before then when attendance over the summer took a nose dive. I think it was the wake up call for them. It was a wake up call I personally back then thought would never happen.

Just playing devil's advocate here:

Herc and Xena's closure was 2 owners ago and closed due to incompetence of those previous owners. Comcast eventually said "What else can we build?" and decided "Hey, here looks good!".

Canyon was closed for the purpose of this expansion.

 

[IzzyB]

Id counter to say the soundstage was used for HHN years, so it was never "had nothing in it."

Yes and Epcot pavilions are used for special events and I don't think anyone considers them to have something in it. HHN is a special paid event and doesn't count towards attraction numbers. I am also not getting into a battle of what Uni did wrong or right in the past. I am just saying, things have happened at Uni that no one ever expected. So I don't think we can say Disney will never do something based on past projects. Because they can change just like Uni changed. I am not saying they will for sure, but for me I am sitting in the optimistic side of things until they prove to not start construction when the rumors say they will start construction.

 

[JungleSkip]

And a soundstage at Uni closed and had nothing in it for years until Transformers was built. And that news came out of nowhere and was done really quickly. Faster than anyone thought was possible. Just saying, companies can change and their focus and goals can change. I believe Disney has seen the light and I think it happened not this past summer, but the summer before then when attendance over the summer took a nose dive. I think it was the wake up call for them. It was a wake up call I personally back then thought would never happen.

Just playing devil's advocate here:

Herc and Xena's closure was 2 owners ago and closed due to incompetence of those previous owners. Comcast eventually said "What else can we build?" and decided "Hey, here looks good!".

Canyon was closed for the purpose of this expansion.

Exactly. You're comparing apples to oranges.

 

[IzzyB]

Exactly. You're comparing apples to oranges.

No, I am saying that unexpected stuff has happened in the last 6 years at Uni and they completely changed for the dark period. So why can't Disney do the same? Not saying they will, but I am saying I am optimistic they will.

As for the closure of the backstage tour. They knew it was going to be closed for expansion and I think ops decided to close it based on cost, maintenance needing to be done, and how many people did it on a daily basis. I also think this was a case of the right hand not talking to the left and they closed it too early. I think ops thought construction would start sooner. Based on this I can also believe Ops pitched a fit when timelines were released and that is why things are being sped up.

 

[s8film40]

No, I am saying that unexpected stuff has happened in the last 6 years at Uni and they completely changed for the dark period. So why can't Disney do the same? Not saying they will, but I am saying I am optimistic they will.

As for the closure of the backstage tour. They knew it was going to be closed for expansion and I think ops decided to close it based on cost, maintenance needing to be done, and how many people did it on a daily basis. I also think this was a case of the right hand not talking to the left and they closed it too early. I think ops thought construction would start sooner. Based on this I can also believe Ops pitched a fit when timelines were released and that is why things are being sped up.

I think it's fair to say that anything can happen. Yes Disney could suddenly shift to an accelerated pace. I think it's also important to note that 2018 for SW is not a reasonable expectation based on current conditions and Disney's recent track record. We're really all just guessing, not even Disney themselves could say exactly when this will be completed at this point.

 

[WAJAS]

The absolute max year Star Wars will open is summer 2020. They can make the most money possible by marketing StarWars for 2020 and and the anniversary for 2021 with a few smaller new attractions/events.

Ok back to the topic.

 

[quinnmac000]

No, I am saying that unexpected stuff has happened in the last 6 years at Uni and they completely changed for the dark period. So why can't Disney do the same? Not saying they will, but I am saying I am optimistic they will.

As for the closure of the backstage tour. They knew it was going to be closed for expansion and I think ops decided to close it based on cost, maintenance needing to be done, and how many people did it on a daily basis. I also think this was a case of the right hand not talking to the left and they closed it too early. I think ops thought construction would start sooner. Based on this I can also believe Ops pitched a fit when timelines were released and that is why things are being sped up.

If that was the case, Avatarland would be done already along with the Frozen layover....They probably moved timelines due to the fact that they don't want Star Wars hype to burn out in case the new movie isn't liked by the public

 

[IzzyB]

I think it's fair to say that anything can happen. Yes Disney could suddenly shift to an accelerated pace. I think it's also important to note that 2018 for SW is not a reasonable expectation based on current conditions and Disney's recent track record. We're really all just guessing, not even Disney themselves could say exactly when this will be completed at this point.

I would hope by now they have some kind of basic project plan lol

BTW, yesterday I was searching for parking across the sidewalk laws and gated communities and ran across a 2009 post talking about it and someone with your username was talking about it on that post. Same person? How random if you are the same person and how odd someone else is using the same name if not the same person. And could I get more off topic?

If that was the case, Avatarland would be done already along with the Frozen layover....They probably moved timelines due to the fact that they don't want Star Wars hype to burn out in case the new movie isn't liked by the public

In all fairness Avatar was a huge mess from day one of announcement moving forward. So I wouldn't say that this would be part of Disney changing. I am more talking since their attendance nose dive of last year moving forward. Avatar is some pretty tricky engineering to fast track after construction had started.

And trust me, no one thinks that the new movie won't be liked by the public. Even I who am not a star wars person and haven't watched the movies knows that movie 1 sucked and that the other 2 were just OK. Yet every geek and nerd I know (and I know a lot from being a computer person) is very excited about the new Star Wars movies and all of them think they will be hugely successful and be way better than Episodes 1 thru 3. So no way Disney is rushing this in case the movies are not successful. If anything it is the opposite. They want to capitalize right in the middle of all their success.

 

[s8film40]

I would hope by now they have some kind of basic project plan lol

BTW, yesterday I was searching for parking across the sidewalk laws and gated communities and ran across a 2009 post talking about it and someone with your username was talking about it on that post. Same person? How random if you are the same person and how odd someone else is using the same name if not the same person. And could I get more off topic?

I'm sure they have a basic plan at this point, but I would assume there's a lot of potential for timelines to shift this early in the game.

I use the same username across many different things, otherwise I wouldn't be able to remember anything. Now I'm curious what post your referring to.

 

[IzzyB]

If that was the case, Avatarland would be done already along with the Frozen layover....They probably moved timelines due to the fact that they don't want Star Wars hype to burn out in case the new movie isn't liked by the public

I'm sure they have a basic plan at this point, but I would assume there's a lot of potential for timelines to shift this early in the game.

I use the same username across many different things, otherwise I wouldn't be able to remember anything. Now I'm curious what post your referring to.

Agreed, timelines shift even after construction happens because of delays in materials and weather.

I will Private Message you the link.

 

[Nick]

Someone mentioned that most hot IPs are gone and already have attractions now so what would Uni do for a third park. Well, one property that is most certainly still hot whether anyone wants to admit it or not (and just got another movie green-lit), is Spongebob. I assume Spongebob's presence will be going away once Nintendo opens, but that clears the way to build an entire Bikini Bottom in a third park.

People try to say it isn't a hot franchise, mostly because the show stopped being good a long time ago and most likely the vast majority of us don't watch it. But it's still a HUGE deal with kids and the nostalgia in many young adults would likely peak interest, too.

 

[NJBrandon]

Someone mentioned that most hot IPs are gone and already have attractions now so what would Uni do for a third park. Well, one property that is most certainly still hot whether anyone wants to admit it or not (and just got another movie green-lit), is Spongebob. I assume Spongebob's presence will be going away once Nintendo opens, but that clears the way to build an entire Bikini Bottom in a third park.

People try to say it isn't a hot franchise, mostly because the show stopped being good a long time ago and most likely the vast majority of us don't watch it. But it's still a HUGE deal with kids and the nostalgia in many young adults would likely peak interest, too.

Yup, (unfortunately, IMO) this idea is still being kicked around by UC.