Universal's New Park/Site B Blue Sky Thread

[Scott W.]

The others are irrelevant. They're going to want as much possible inventory open immediately right next door. They're going to want at least 3 resorts open with the park, to ensure a solid, on-site customer base.

So, the current resort hotels become redundant when the new park opens?

I'll assume that if they open one hotel, it will be a high end experience, they can name their price for the first 6 months or so until the other hotels open.

 

[JungleSkip]

So, the current resort hotels become redundant when the new park opens?

Redundant? No. But people are going to gravitate to the parks they're closer to. When you have on park with one hotel, and two other parks with 6 hotels, you're going to have a huge disparity that you don't want when trying to open a huge new expansion.

 

[Scott W.]

Redundant? No. But people are going to gravitate to the parks they're closer to. When you have on park with one hotel, and two other parks with 6 hotels, you're going to have a huge disparity that you don't want when trying to open a huge new expansion.

The new park won't need any help getting the guests in through the door, it's the first new theme park to open in Orlando for 20+ years. Huge projects like this get opened in phases for a reason.

 

[JungleSkip]

The new park won't need any help getting the guests in through the door

- Universal Executives when coming up with the "Universal Escape" moniker

I think there's 0 chance this thing opens with only one resort, but we'll see in a few years.

 

[Scott W.]

- Universal Executives when coming up with the "Universal Escape" moniker

I think there's 0 chance this thing opens with only one resort, but we'll see in a few years.

That’s a reason to open in phases. Imagine they open the park and it sucks and they’ve built 3 resorts? It mitigates risk and allows the construction crews to focus on getting the park opened quicker before breaking off to finish the other resorts and water park.

IOA opened eith zero resorts. Granted it opened in a different time but that’s my best point of reference for this new resort.

 

[JungleSkip]

That’s a reason to open in phases. Imagine they open the park and it sucks and they’ve built 3 resorts? It mitigates risk and allows the construction crews to focus on getting the park opened quicker before breaking off to finish the other resorts and water park.

IOA opened eith zero resorts. Granted it opened in a different time but that’s my best point of reference for this new resort.

IoA also opened at a time that the ownership wasn't obsessed with drastically upping their resort room inventory.

 

[Alicia]

Isn't the distance from Coronado Springs to Magic Kingdom pretty comparable to say, Cabana Bay to the new park? Most tourists won't consider a free bus ride between a resort owned by Universal to a park owned by Universal to be any different, just because one is 10 minutes and the other is 5. Just my thoughts on the subject.

Sure, new hotels right next door to the new park will do well, but it's not like people will not go to the new park when staying at the old hotels.

 

[JungleSkip]

Sure, new hotels right next door to the new park will do well, but it's not like people will not go to the new park when staying at the old hotels.

No, but they're also going to visit the ones they're near more. Universal's greatest strength right now is that you don't ever have to get on a bus to go to the parks ATM. People *really* like that. Changing that up will give the new park issues, and I'm willing to bet it will limit the amount of vacation days people staying at the existing resort will want to spend at the new one, and vice versa.

Robert Niles did a write up on his feelings about this as well. I'll try and track it down.

 

[Magic-Man]

Oh Jim.

I'd say there's an outside chance of fall 2022. Any time before that is just so far out of the realm of possibility

I can see summer 2022, but only because Universal wants to keep pace in the theme park wars.

 

[Alicia]

No, but they're also going to visit the ones they're near more. Universal's greatest strength right now is that you don't ever have to get on a bus to go to the parks ATM. People *really* like that. Changing that up will give the new park issues, and I'm willing to bet it will limit the amount of vacation days people staying at the existing resort will want to spend at the new one, and vice versa.

Robert Niles did a write up on his feelings about this as well. I'll try and track it down.

The recent hotels use buses though, not the boats. I think Endless Summer is a good bridge between the two resorts. The guests staying there will likely see little difference in what parks they go to, because they'll be on hopping on a bus either way.

In any case, I can see Universal only opening 1 new resort, a flagship one close to the new park, first. Then have more come online in the following decade. I do not see any reason that everything must open at once.

But I also see them continuing the trend of opening a new hotel (or expansion to an existing hotel) once a year for the foreseeable future, until they reach whatever new internal goal of total rooms they hope to reach.

 

[JungleSkip]

The recent hotels use buses though, not the boats. I think Endless Summer is a good bridge between the two resorts. The guests staying there will likely see little difference in what parks they go to, because they'll be on hopping on a bus either way.

In any case, I can see Universal only opening 1 new resort, a flagship one close to the new park, first. Then have more come online in the following decade. I do not see any reason that everything must open at once.

But I also see them continuing the trend of opening a new hotel (or expansion to an existing hotel) once a year for the foreseeable future, until they reach whatever new internal goal of total rooms they hope to reach.

Fair enough. I just think they want to come out with all guns blazing. I don't think they want to dawdle.

 

[Alicia]

Fair enough. I just think they want to come out with all guns blazing. I don't think they want to dawdle.

This I agree with. And even if they're not yet open when the new theme park opens, I bet they'll already be booking some of the hotels still under construction at the new location.

 

[Mad Dog]

No, but they're also going to visit the ones they're near more. Universal's greatest strength right now is that you don't ever have to get on a bus to go to the parks ATM. People *really* like that. Changing that up will give the new park issues, and I'm willing to bet it will limit the amount of vacation days people staying at the existing resort will want to spend at the new one, and vice versa.

Robert Niles did a write up on his feelings about this as well. I'll try and track it down.

Yes, I've mulled that over myself, since I'm one that really really enjoys the leisurely & relaxing on site Universal cocoon. And, like you, Nile's article intriqued my thoughts....This is just me....my feelings, and how I think I'll do Universal once the new park opens. I'll probably continue to stay on the main campus, since that's where the bulk of Universal will remain for a good while, since I really like the ease of movement, usually a walk or water taxi, through the complex. Even when I stay at CBBR, I usually don't take the bus (even though they're very convenient, fairly quick, and always one or two waiting), and I'll take the leisurely walk unless it's just way too hot. Generally we only spend 4 to 6 hours a day in the Universal parks. The rest of the time is resort pool, resort dining/drinking, or CitiWalk. Once the new park is built, I'm guessing I'll probably hop over there twice on a vacation, but I'll tour like I do the WDW parks, namely, I'll spend a longer day there, something like 8 to 11 hours.....Doing it that way, I'll still get to live the Universal main site cocoon life of leisure and relaxation. The new park will basically replace the one or two 'day' drives I sometimes take to WDW.....I'll probably just do WDW as a once every two or three years vacation on site at WDW and take a couple of day trips to Universal when I'm there...Bottom line is that I'll probably be spending a little more time at Universal and eliminating the WDW day trips between main WDW vacations, therefore a little less time at Disney. I really need to continue the Universal cocoon since I'm relaxed after an on site Universal vacation. Contrast that with my much less relaxing (though I love the 4 WDW parks themselves) vacations when I feel like I need another vacation to relax after returning from the hectic, have to travel/drive everywhere, plan everything to a T, no spontaneous fun, Disney vacation.

 

[JungleSkip]

Here's Niles's article FWIW

Universal Orlando and the irony of 'more'

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I think the resort will open in phases, for construction and marketing purposes. Why open everything at the same time when you can have phased openings and allow yourself to be in the news over and over again? Imagine Universal opening new hotels at the south property every 6 months or one every year.

I would like Uni to have the "Portofino" of the south property open with the park with a large Cabana Bay style hotel open a few months after.

Also, if they intend on having a 2nd water park, it should open a year or 2 after the park opens. No need to open both at the same time and have guests confuse the two.

 

[Magic-Man]

I don't think the resort will open without a water-park if it opens during spring/summer. Otherwise, they'll probably hold off on it until the following year. I also see the resort opening with two hotels, one onsite and one close by.

If something in the new resort had to open late, it'd probably be part of the new CityWalk district. It wouldn't really have as much of an impact as the other things would.

 

[Scott W.]

My timeline for what I think could happen:

August 2018: Groundbreaking on backstage warehouse
April 2019: Backstage warehouses complete
June 2019: Ground breaking of the new park with official announcement
March 2021: Backstage warehouse complete and groundbreaking on 2nd hotel
May 2021: Groundbreaking on the water park
July 2021: Parking structure complete
May 2022: New park with built in hotel (Premier) and CityWalk 2.0 opens
November 2022: 2nd hotel (Preferred) opens
May 2023: Water Park and 3rd resort (Value) opens

I could maybe see a value hotel opening along side the new park and hotel.

Wildcard prediction could be CityWalk opening a year before the park. Grab that convention crowd and have a preview centre for the new resort. Convince the people visiting to return next year when the new park fully opens.

 

[Imperius]

I don't think the resort will open without a water-park if it opens during spring/summer. Otherwise, they'll probably hold off on it until the following year. I also see the resort opening with two hotels, one onsite and one close by.

If something in the new resort had to open late, it'd probably be part of the new CityWalk district. It wouldn't really have as much of an impact as the other things would.

Ehhh. I don’t see them holding off making tons of money opening a new park just for it to have another water park. They went years without building their own.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

My timeline for what I think could happen:

August 2018: Groundbreaking on backstage warehouse
April 2019: Backstage warehouses complete
June 2019: Ground breaking of the new park with official announcement
March 2021: Backstage warehouse complete and groundbreaking on 2nd hotel
May 2021: Groundbreaking on the water park
July 2021: Parking structure complete
May 2022: New park with built in hotel (Premier) and CityWalk 2.0 opens
November 2022: 2nd hotel (Preferred) opens
May 2023: Water Park and 3rd resort (Value) opens

I could maybe see a value hotel opening along side the new park and hotel.

Wildcard prediction could be CityWalk opening a year before the park. Grab that convention crowd and have a preview centre for the new resort. Convince the people visiting to return next year when the new park fully opens.

This seems ideal and realistic.

 

[Magic-Man]

Ehhh. I don’t see them holding off making tons of money opening a new park just for it to have another water park. They went years without building their own.

Sorry, I should have phrased it better. I meant holding off on the water-park until the following year.