They're definitely going to give it the full 'Epic Universe' treatment. This is their first bespoke European Park, they'll want to wow and amaze right from the off, and whilst they cite UK Parks as 'competition' they'll be eyeing DLP and the big theme heavy European Parks as their real competition.
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Potential New Universal UK Park
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jon81uk
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What makes this a destination resort and not Alton Towers? That has a hotel and waterpark in addition to the theme park, but far more people go just for a day visit instead of staying overnight. It will be the same at Universal, there will be lots of day visitors in addition to those staying over, or planning it as part of a bigger trip (some might do Universal, stay off-site and then go to the WB studio tour next day etc).
Benjsh
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I don't think a general election holds any weight whatsoever.
Both labour and Tories will welcome a project of this nature 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. It's being paid for by a globally well known brand which will absolutely create lots of jobs and bring a lot of money into the local area through tourism. There's literally no down side to them is there? It's an open goal.
Yes they will have to significantly improve the transport links and roads but that's going to be partly or even fully covered too by Universal is it not?
This project won't rest on the outcome of an election. It will rest on whether they get clearance for the project and whether they think it will be financially viable.
Both labour and Tories will welcome a project of this nature 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. It's being paid for by a globally well known brand which will absolutely create lots of jobs and bring a lot of money into the local area through tourism. There's literally no down side to them is there? It's an open goal.
Yes they will have to significantly improve the transport links and roads but that's going to be partly or even fully covered too by Universal is it not?
This project won't rest on the outcome of an election. It will rest on whether they get clearance for the project and whether they think it will be financially viable.
They will want a financial contribution to the project from the government in terms of paying for infrastructure upgrades. Universal will contribute but they will want the government to chip in as well.
AT86
TS Member
Announcing this in the first few weeks of a new Labour government would be seen as a great PR coup for the incoming administration.
It can be held up as an example of ‘economic growth and investment in the UK’ that the new government will want to use to their advantage.
Universal will also need to work with the new administration on planning and infrastructure over the next 5 years so it is also in their interests to align with the new ministers coming into office.
It can be held up as an example of ‘economic growth and investment in the UK’ that the new government will want to use to their advantage.
Universal will also need to work with the new administration on planning and infrastructure over the next 5 years so it is also in their interests to align with the new ministers coming into office.
GooseOnTheLoose
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I don't think anyone has suggested that the outcome of the election will affect the decision. The suggestion has always been that any announcement would be delayed until after the general election, because the government can't commit to previously unannounced spending commitments or projects during the Purdah period.
The candidates and parties up for election can talk about how they would support such a hypothetical project, if they hypothetically won the election.
Scale, that’s what will make it a destination resort.
All the current UK parks can easily be done in a day because let’s be honest there is nothing to do in the evenings apart from the hotels.
Go to Florida, go to DLP, it’s completely different scale.
Whilst there will be some day visitors the vast majority will stay over.
Yes and what a cheap shot that would be, possibly why Sky are currently sucking up to the Labour Party.
Bets on anyone?
It’ll obviously go through during a labour administration but it never started with labour.
So whilst labour will be front and centre during the lifetime of this project you’ll still have the tories banging on about it starting under their watch, which it did.
I just think the whole thing is ridiculously exciting. It’s going to change the game completely.
So whilst labour will be front and centre during the lifetime of this project you’ll still have the tories banging on about it starting under their watch, which it did.
I just think the whole thing is ridiculously exciting. It’s going to change the game completely.
Given that Universal had Velocicoaster virtually up and built before acknowledging its existence it’s possibly not that far of a stretch to think that there may not be an ‘announcement’ at this stage anyway?
It may just be the case that planning applications etc all but confirms that a decision has been made to progress rather than a formal announcement.
It may just be the case that planning applications etc all but confirms that a decision has been made to progress rather than a formal announcement.
jon81uk
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Right now we don't have any evidence of the scale, it might still be possible to do the park in a single day. Places like DLP has two parks, Universal Orlando currently is 2-3 and will be 3-4, WDW is 4-6. You need to stay over often because the logistics of moving between two parks. At most of those places it is possible to do a single park in a full day (I've done it). Right now until we know what attractions there are and what the queues are like, I think it will still be a single day park at opening for most people. Even if there is evening entertainment that doesn't mean you will need multiple days, just a longer one, like when Alton Towers has fireworks. I still think there will be plenty of day visitors, especially as the park is only a train journey from London.
BooMT
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GooseOnTheLoose
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Just incase you fancy giving Universal a heads up on what to do next, considering the breach of personal data, here's a handy link to email to them. They have 72 hours in which to report it to the ICO.Yes - an update & a recall with all subscriber emails visible... getting replies from subscribers now too
Fully agree it will cater to day visitors as well as those spending two or three days there. I think people in this country are well versed in getting up at the crack of dawn to drive 2/3 hours, then making the same trek back getting home in the dark. People will still do that as a cheaper way of getting on their favourite rides and attractions, experiencing the wizarding world, Nintendo world or whatever incredible worlds they design.
Obviously to experience it in all its glory you’d want more than a day there, I think that goes without saying even this early into things!
Obviously to experience it in all its glory you’d want more than a day there, I think that goes without saying even this early into things!
You also have to take into consideration the ease of getting to the Park from London and all the 3rd party hotels that will now pop-up. They've touted a '20 mill visitors' figure which heavily implies a second gate is already being considered down the line - which will bring with it more Hotels and make it a true multi-day resort.
Right now, we're at step 1 of a long process to build a resort, so whilst it might not seem ready to be considered a multiday resort now, Universal are planning for it to become one. After all you don't open right away with two gates and a half dozen hotels, it happens in stages.
I expect it'll be as rammed as DLP is these days, but no chance you're getting a hotel room unless you book months in advance, especially in the first 1-2 years. Once the 3rd party hotels and more Universal ones pop-up it'll get easier.
As for the Park itself feeling crowded, I'm sure it won't be that bad, they'll probs have their rides designed as capacity monsters and with a layout to accomodate 10mill visitors a year.
Matt N
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With regard to the hotel rooms, I have a strong suspicion that Universal may be wanting to avoid the mistakes of Disneyland Paris, which opened with well over 1,000 hotel rooms and ended up having to run some of its hotels in rotation due to lack of demand. It sounds counterintuitive, but in business, it’s better for profits to have too few rooms for demand than too many rooms for demand.
With regard to how busy the park will be, I don’t think it’ll initially hit the heights of DLP. I’d expect something more along the lines of Europa Park or Efteling, around the 5-6 million visitor mark, initially, or maybe a tad more depending on the size of the park. I think it’ll take a good few years of bedding in before we even contemplate 10 million guests a year.
With regard to how busy the park will be, I don’t think it’ll initially hit the heights of DLP. I’d expect something more along the lines of Europa Park or Efteling, around the 5-6 million visitor mark, initially, or maybe a tad more depending on the size of the park. I think it’ll take a good few years of bedding in before we even contemplate 10 million guests a year.
jon81uk
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That is exactly the mistake the original EuroDisney made, opened with all the hotels and it didn't need them. Much better to start small then expand, particularly where the transport links are so good to a major capital city.