Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[IzzyB]

DH has been talking about this for awhile now and I think his info is good. I also think the monorail is going to happen and uni already knows how they will do it and what approvals they need and how to guarantee they can get them.

 

[Teebin]

DH has been talking about this for awhile now and I think his info is good. I also think the monorail is going to happen and uni already knows how they will do it and what approvals they need and how to guarantee they can get them.

Odd, I took his post as merely imagining what might happen in the future and not revealing any actual secrets. Perhaps he can clarify what he meant for all of us.

 

[Mad Dog]

Odd, I took his post as merely imagining what might happen in the future and not revealing any actual secrets. Perhaps he can clarify what he meant for all of us.

Did you read his posts on Magic yesterday? They had the sound of knowing......Disneyhead: "I would expect RPR to lose EP after Universal opens the 5 Star Resort on WNW plot"....Question: ETA?...Disneyhead: "June 2018ish"....."They aren't going to do too much until after Dec. 2016, then things kick into high gear"......He commented on a poster's remark that it stinks that a 5 Star resort will be so far away, Disneyhead, "What if it were a Monorail Resort?"..........Now, the monorail resort comment doesn't have the appearance of sureness, but the other comments sure do.

 

[Teebin]

Did you read his posts on Magic yesterday? They had the sound of knowing.

I read your post of what he said on magic, yes. I try desperately to not darken magic's door.

 

[Mad Dog]

I read your post of what he said on magic, yes. I try desperately to not darken magic's door.

Read my above post again. I just added his actual comments.

 

[Teebin]

Oh, I thought his post was regarding the new land purchase and hotels. WNW is a different beast. Note that I read a post like that very carefully and word combos like "I think" and "I expect" convey an opinion and not a fact.

That said, WNW is an odd place to put a 5-star, monorail or not. Much of i-drive is quite honky-tonk.

 

[maxairmike]

Oh, I thought his post was regarding the new land purchase and hotels. WNW is a different beast. Note that I read a post like that very carefully and word combos like "I think" and "I expect" convey an opinion and not a fact.

That said, WNW is an odd place to put a 5-star, monorail or not. Much of i-drive is quite honky-tonk.

Consider what's also going in a block or two down at the Kirkman intersection; two at least 4 star hotels. In that environment it may not be so out of place.

 

[Scott W.]

Oh, I thought his post was regarding the new land purchase and hotels. WNW is a different beast. Note that I read a post like that very carefully and word combos like "I think" and "I expect" convey an opinion and not a fact.

That said, WNW is an odd place to put a 5-star, monorail or not. Much of i-drive is quite honky-tonk.

I think a 5 star hotel with neighbours such as IHOP, KFC and whatever else it would be next to kind of devalues the luxury of the resort.

I think a hotel with a monorail in it is a smart idea but unlike the hotels on the monrail route at MK, there will be high foot traffic flowing through it which I don't think would be ideal.

 

[UNIrd]

Highly unlikely it's that quality of hotel. Let's not forget, Universal repositioned Cabana Bay from a "Value" to a "Prime Value" resort. Considering the location and surroundings of the Wet & Wild property as well as the distance from the rest of the resort, I can see that location holding their first "Value" resort instead.

Imagine Universal's version of All-Star Movies. I would die. Except the walls wouldn't be so thin you could hear people talking and toilets flushing, you can control the air conditioning, and the sheets wouldn't feel so cheap that they could set on fire any moment.

 

[WAJAS]

That said, WNW is an odd place to put a 5-star, monorail or not. Much of i-drive is quite honky-tonk.

I almost agree. The WNW plot is an unexpected choice for a luxury hotel, but not terrible. A better location would have been the convention district. Maybe it could be the first project of Universal South? It isn't terrible because out of all the "honky-rocky" areas of I-Drive that is the one where I can see the class rising in the near future.

 

[Scott W.]

It's genuinely interesting reading this from over 2 years ago:

Universal Expansion Plan??? Project LUPA??? | Orlando United Forums

 

[Mad Dog]

Oh, I thought his post was regarding the new land purchase and hotels. WNW is a different beast. Note that I read a post like that very carefully and word combos like "I think" and "I expect" convey an opinion and not a fact.

That said, WNW is an odd place to put a 5-star, monorail or not. Much of i-drive is quite honky-tonk.

Yeah, I also agree to it being an odd place for a resort. But if you re read his comments the "I expect" part was only referring to RPR retaining Express, which was the poster's original question. Disneyhead's comment was kind of out of the blue and the words relating to a5 star hotel and opening date were actually pretty precise....But, I'd like to hear his exact feelings on OU, since sometimes he plays with the pixie dusters over at Magic.

 

[martymcflyy85]

All-Star Movies.

Man, I'd love to stay in a Back to the Future hotel with a JAWS themed pool.

 

[*Q*]

Oh, I thought his post was regarding the new land purchase and hotels. WNW is a different beast. Note that I read a post like that very carefully and word combos like "I think" and "I expect" convey an opinion and not a fact.

That said, WNW is an odd place to put a 5-star, monorail or not. Much of i-drive is quite honky-tonk.

Perhaps Universal has long-term plans for the immediate area, too. Snatching up some of those neighboring businesses could be pocket change to Comcast. If nothing else I think the city is eyeing that area for improvement.

 

[Mad Dog]

Man, I'd love to stay in a Back to the Future hotel with a JAWS themed pool.

And a long water slide starting on a boat and ending where you pop out the the shark's jaws :yikesif you're lucky). eace:

 

[Disneyhead]

I have heard from more than one source that a 5 star boutique resort was planned for around the lake at WnW. So I'm pretty sure that is/was the plan. At least prior to the recent land purchase. I believe BriMan has also mentioned this resort. I have also heard that there may be a large family suites moderate included in the project. And I do know that Universal has been looking at fixed transportation from the WnW plot to the main resort. Monorail, cable train, and peoplemover are some of the options they have looked at.

 

[*Q*]

And I do know that Universal has been looking at fixed transportation from the WnW plot to the main resort. Monorail, cable train, and peoplemover are some of the options they have looked at.

I think a trebuchet could be fun.

 

[Teebin]

Thanks DH! Now that is clearer in intent!

 

[Mad Dog]

DH: Thanks for stopping by and reiterating your info. This will certainly be an interesting development and the info concerning the transportation options that Universal is looking at should continue to spur the discussion here.

 

[maxairmike]

I find a monorail/light rail or people mover system the most likely options. Are cable car systems like the Hogwarts Express capable of (multiple) turns beyond about 45° with a reasonable radius? I can only think of fairly straight line installations (yes, I know HE has the jog in its path, thus the "fairly straight line" part). Plus, what DH said seems like this was before reclaiming the south resort parcels, which I think makes a cable car system even less likely. I'd look for some kind of light rail/people mover/PRT system.