Universal's New Park/Site B Blue Sky Thread

[SkiBum]

PhantasiaLand is less than 70 acres and packs quite a punch. This video is a nice behind the scene's for theme park fans.

That park has two coasters that I would love to ride, Black Mamba and Taron, plus the Chiappas water flume ride. I have wanted some coasters that challenged for theme and quality to be built for a while. The new HP coaster will do that, finally, but this park shows that you don't need a ton of land. You just have to be efficient. With that said, I would still prefer a park to be 200-300 acres to allow room for walking as well as plenty of rides/expansion pads.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

That park has two coasters that I would love to ride, Black Mamba and Taron, plus the Chiappas water flume ride. I have wanted some coasters that challenged for theme and quality to be built for a while. The new HP coaster will do that, finally, but this park shows that you don't need a ton of land. You just have to be efficient. With that said, I would still prefer a park to be 200-300 acres to allow room for walking as well as plenty of rides/expansion pads.

200-300 acres is way too big for a theme park. DisneySea is 100 acres including the hotel and lakes/rivers. The park does a great job of "crowd control" by having various pathways and really having a compact layout. If a park is way too big, you lose the opportunity of theming every bit of land, and you end up with empty holes.

 

[JungleSkip]

200-300 acres is way too big for a theme park. DisneySea is 100 acres including the hotel and lakes/rivers. The park does a great job of "crowd control" by having various pathways and really having a compact layout. If a park is way too big, you lose the opportunity of theming every bit of land, and you end up with empty holes.

I mean, Epcot is ~250 acres. So is Animal Kingdom, granted a lot of that is taken up by Kilimanjaro.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I mean, Epcot is ~250 acres. So is Animal Kingdom, granted a lot of that is taken up by Kilimanjaro.

Epcot's 250 also includes a huge lagoon. A new theme park won't need a lagoon that big.

 

[JungleSkip]

Epcot's 250 also includes a huge lagoon. A new theme park won't need a lagoon that big.

Sure, but your point about 200-300 being "too big" is just not the case.

It's not feasible for the land Uni is building on, obviously, and I think 120 is what they should be shooting for. But it's clearly not too big

 

[Magic-Man]

That park has two coasters that I would love to ride, Black Mamba and Taron, plus the Chiappas water flume ride. I have wanted some coasters that challenged for theme and quality to be built for a while. The new HP coaster will do that, finally, but this park shows that you don't need a ton of land. You just have to be efficient. With that said, I would still prefer a park to be 200-300 acres to allow room for walking as well as plenty of rides/expansion pads.

Don't forget about F.L.Y. opening next year at Phantasialand. Looks like a must-ride. The other rides aren't too shabby, either.

 

[SkiBum]

Sure, but your point about 200-300 being "too big" is just not the case.

It's not feasible for the land Uni is building on, obviously, and I think 120 is what they should be shooting for. But it's clearly not too big

I guess that I fall into looking at Cedar Point (364 acres) and Kings Island (360 acres) as comparisons. Agree that the immersion might suffer some in parks of that size. Also, these are singular parks instead of being a resort with multiple parks. However, I look at Magic Kingdom and DHS and see parks that seemingly have little room to grow. Part of it was inefficient use of the land (DHS) and part of it is the fact that the park is fully mature (MK). So, 120 acres works with having multiple parks on the same plot as well as hotels.

 

[Nemesis Inferno]

This new park is sounding great, especially the scale, multi levels as well as suggestion of very large expansion plots (not lack of budget land holes but allowing for building the park over a longer period rather than getting everything done for 1 opening)
Still with the size of the park and the hub and spoke design what might be a thing to think about is if the park will have a transport system in it? Using the classic Disney land example a railway running the perimeter of the park. With a park design and size it might be a good suggestion for a attraction/transport system

 

[natespf]

I guess that I fall into looking at Cedar Point (364 acres) and Kings Island (360 acres) as comparisons. Agree that the immersion might suffer some in parks of that size. Also, these are singular parks instead of being a resort with multiple parks. However, I look at Magic Kingdom and DHS and see parks that seemingly have little room to grow. Part of it was inefficient use of the land (DHS) and part of it is the fact that the park is fully mature (MK). So, 120 acres works with having multiple parks on the same plot as well as hotels.

It is unfair to say since large amusement parks are lacking in theming that one could not make a large themepark. But obviously this one isn't going to be huge, inline with the existing resort.

 

[Joey]

we’re will the new universal studios Orlando 4 park be located

 

[Viator]

we’re will the new universal studios Orlando 4 park be located

South of Universal Orlando main-land (USF, IOA, VB, ESR) and close to the Orange County Convention Center (and Seaworld, if you will).

 

[shiekra38]

I guess that I fall into looking at Cedar Point (364 acres) and Kings Island (360 acres) as comparisons. Agree that the immersion might suffer some in parks of that size. Also, these are singular parks instead of being a resort with multiple parks. However, I look at Magic Kingdom and DHS and see parks that seemingly have little room to grow. Part of it was inefficient use of the land (DHS) and part of it is the fact that the park is fully mature (MK). So, 120 acres works with having multiple parks on the same plot as well as hotels.

Cedar Point is rather sprawling because of the amount of coasters that exist....If you take the Nintendo and multiply it over multiple lands, you still don't have a humongous park, but one that is tightly packed with a ton of stuff

 

[RFRees]

Not to side track the current discussion, but...

I have not yet seen anyone discuss the potential of "Stephen King" coming specifically as an addition to the "World of Monsters" section which has been rumored.

Stephen King has had huge name recognition for himself and his IPs, with decades of popularity and likely decades more. He and his stories have had a sort of resurgence of recent popularity, with It being a huge box office success (#1 R rated movie of all time, 700 million worldwide), Castle Rock being a successful show, and has more in the pipeline (Pet Semetary, IT Chapter Two, Castle Rock Season 2, Tommyknockers (made by Universal)).

The ride could center around King's "monsters" in order to align with the theme of the land. Potential IPs used for the ride could include: The Mist, Pet Semetary, IT, and The Shining. (I'm sure there's more which could work for a ride, I just haven't read or watched all of his work.)

Note that there had been a Stephen King ride planned, but according to what I've seen online, they deemed it too scary and went with MIB instead in 2000. But a lot has changed since then, with Universal not being shy to use violent and scary themes (notably The Mummy). And the Stephen King ride wouldn't need to go to the extreme... it wouldn't have to feature an elevator opening with blood pouring out. Instead, Pet Semetary and Shining if could feature spooky ghosts/ghouls similar to that of The Haunted Mansion or The Tower of Terror. Creatures from The Mist could be featured similar to Skull Island. Aside from Pennywise from IT (where it's hard to get around the fact that he's a clown, and some people are just terrified of clowns), the ride could be easily created without pushing it past a fear level set by The Mummy or The Tower of Terror.

 

[Magic-Man]

Not to side track the current discussion, but...

I have not yet seen anyone discuss the potential of "Stephen King" coming specifically as an addition to the "World of Monsters" section which has been rumored.

Stephen King has had huge name recognition for himself and his IPs, with decades of popularity and likely decades more. He and his stories have had a sort of resurgence of recent popularity, with It being a huge box office success (#1 R rated movie of all time, 700 million worldwide), Castle Rock being a successful show, and has more in the pipeline (Pet Semetary, IT Chapter Two, Castle Rock Season 2, Tommyknockers (made by Universal)).

The ride could center around King's "monsters" in order to align with the theme of the land. Potential IPs used for the ride could include: The Mist, Pet Semetary, IT, and The Shining. (I'm sure there's more which could work for a ride, I just haven't read or watched all of his work.)

Note that there had been a Stephen King ride planned, but according to what I've seen online, they deemed it too scary and went with MIB instead in 2000. But a lot has changed since then, with Universal not being shy to use violent and scary themes (notably The Mummy). And the Stephen King ride wouldn't need to go to the extreme... it wouldn't have to feature an elevator opening with blood pouring out. Instead, Pet Semetary and Shining if could feature spooky ghosts/ghouls similar to that of The Haunted Mansion or The Tower of Terror. Creatures from The Mist could be featured similar to Skull Island. Aside from Pennywise from IT (where it's hard to get around the fact that he's a clown, and some people are just terrified of clowns), the ride could be easily created without pushing it past a fear level set by The Mummy or The Tower of Terror.

I really love this idea, but I don't see it happening in a family-friendly park like Fantastic Worlds is supposed to be.

 

[shiekra38]

Not to side track the current discussion, but...

I have not yet seen anyone discuss the potential of "Stephen King" coming specifically as an addition to the "World of Monsters" section which has been rumored.

Stephen King has had huge name recognition for himself and his IPs, with decades of popularity and likely decades more. He and his stories have had a sort of resurgence of recent popularity, with It being a huge box office success (#1 R rated movie of all time, 700 million worldwide), Castle Rock being a successful show, and has more in the pipeline (Pet Semetary, IT Chapter Two, Castle Rock Season 2, Tommyknockers (made by Universal)).

The ride could center around King's "monsters" in order to align with the theme of the land. Potential IPs used for the ride could include: The Mist, Pet Semetary, IT, and The Shining. (I'm sure there's more which could work for a ride, I just haven't read or watched all of his work.)

Note that there had been a Stephen King ride planned, but according to what I've seen online, they deemed it too scary and went with MIB instead in 2000. But a lot has changed since then, with Universal not being shy to use violent and scary themes (notably The Mummy). And the Stephen King ride wouldn't need to go to the extreme... it wouldn't have to feature an elevator opening with blood pouring out. Instead, Pet Semetary and Shining if could feature spooky ghosts/ghouls similar to that of The Haunted Mansion or The Tower of Terror. Creatures from The Mist could be featured similar to Skull Island. Aside from Pennywise from IT (where it's hard to get around the fact that he's a clown, and some people are just terrified of clowns), the ride could be easily created without pushing it past a fear level set by The Mummy or The Tower of Terror.

A Stephen King ride was considered at one point...Not sure how far along it was in development, but I know John Murdy has mentioned it at one point or another

 

[ThrillRideLover3214]

Should We expect any big announcement of a fourth seem park at universal Orlando this year or no? I am thinking around when Star Wars Galaxys Edge opens not before we will hear another big announcement on what is in store for Universal Orlando’s third/fourth gate. I do expect a map layout of the park and official names of lands and attractions to be announced next year 2020 unless we get a surprise later on this year about that. Again I’ll find it hard to believe if the new gate only has 4 big lands. The new property they purchased can possibly make the new gate Universal Orlando’s biggest park to date.

 

[Magic-Man]

Should We expect any big announcement of a fourth seem park at universal Orlando this year or no? I am thinking around when Star Wars Galaxys Edge opens not before we will hear another big announcement on what is in store for Universal Orlando’s third/fourth gate. I do expect a map layout of the park and official names of lands and attractions to be announced next year 2020 unless we get a surprise later on this year about that. Again I’ll find it hard to believe if the new gate only has 4 big lands. The new property they purchased can possibly make the new gate Universal Orlando’s biggest park to date.

Probably not, but expect tons of leaks and construction progress this year.

 

[Happytycho]

Should We expect any big announcement of a fourth seem park at universal Orlando this year or no? I am thinking around when Star Wars Galaxys Edge opens not before we will hear another big announcement on what is in store for Universal Orlando’s third/fourth gate. I do expect a map layout of the park and official names of lands and attractions to be announced next year 2020 unless we get a surprise later on this year about that. Again I’ll find it hard to believe if the new gate only has 4 big lands. The new property they purchased can possibly make the new gate Universal Orlando’s biggest park to date.

I doubt they share anything anytime soon. If JW in 2021 is the last big pre-FW project, then I wouldn't be surprised if they don't start giving details on Fantastic Worlds until late 2021 or 2022. Whatever comments are made about the new park in the next couple of years will likely be from investor presentations: "We are awaiting county approval on building plans for a new gate at Universal Orlando" or "We've broken ground on a new theme park in Orlando".

If rumored timelines are at all accurate, they will need to start the permitting process at some point this year, and some of those documents should be public information. From that we will likely know the layout of the park and more specific rumors about IPs should begin to develop.

Probably not, but expect tons of leaks and construction progress this year.

I'm not expecting real construction on the new park to begin until mid 2020, but yeah, we should start to learn a lot more about what's going to be built sometime later this year.

 

[Viator]

Should We expect any big announcement of a fourth seem park at universal Orlando this year or no? I am thinking around when Star Wars Galaxys Edge opens not before we will hear another big announcement on what is in store for Universal Orlando’s third/fourth gate. I do expect a map layout of the park and official names of lands and attractions to be announced next year 2020 unless we get a surprise later on this year about that. Again I’ll find it hard to believe if the new gate only has 4 big lands. The new property they purchased can possibly make the new gate Universal Orlando’s biggest park to date.

I would imagine the closest we may get to any official PR, is by 2020. Because if this is 2022, it gives them a potential Volcano Bay window in the terms of announcing information over the course of time.

Probably not, but expect tons of leaks and construction progress this year.

I think the focus of "construction", will be more on the subject of infastructure and prep for when the park goes vertical.

..that said, I would wonder about the misc. backstage buildings that have been permitted though in the past year getting their start, before the park does.

I'm not expecting real construction on the new park to begin until mid 2020, but yeah, we should start to learn a lot more about what's going to be built sometime later this year.

Same, and it would make sense; almost to how Beijing has had quite a bit of it's information leak out prior towards vertical work began on the park.

 

[RFRees]

I really love this idea, but I don't see it happening in a family-friendly park like Fantastic Worlds is supposed to be.

Are you suggesting / have you heard that the World of Monsters area is going to be "family friendly"? That is really disappointing if true... I was hoping it would be more like The Mummy throughout.