[🌎 Universal GB] General Discussion

[MellowPasta]

Sorry to veer off topic, but since I’ve never been to a Universal park, I’m curious about the food options. I'm interested in hearing about the quality and variety of food. Also, if you’ve visited the parks in Japan, Singapore, and Beijing, did you notice if the food was still mostly American-style or if there were more local options available?

 

[Dave]

Sorry to veer off topic, but since I’ve never been to a Universal park, I’m curious about the food options. I'm interested in hearing about the quality and variety of food. Also, if you’ve visited the parks in Japan, Singapore, and Beijing, did you notice if the food was still mostly American-style or if there were more local options available?

Universal food is a wide spectrum, on the one hand it has one of the best theme park restaurants in the world in Islands of adventure, on the other it has bog standard fast food. Some of the cart food (turkey legs etc) were not to my taste but it’s still miles above Aramark.

The novelty food is mostly fantastic. They do however, compete with Disney in Florida and Disney food is top notch (both are pricey).

I found city walk a bit more varied and often pedestrian.

 

[Bowser]

Also, if you’ve visited the parks in Japan, Singapore, and Beijing, did you notice if the food was still mostly American-style or if there were more local options available?

Have been to Japan and Singapore though only ate at the former.

Nintendo World food was a mix of Japanese and US albeit very simple so easy for Westerners (and heavily themed). That was the only place I sat down to eat. Had this:



Elsewhere in the park it was still very… theme park? Lots of on the go things, I wouldn’t say they were particularly Japanese, generally everything was themed. Jaws hot dogs (I think actually made of shark), Minion burgers etc. I didn’t notice much “typical” food but it was almost 40C so hydration was more important! Lots of unusual drink stalls too.

City Walk had the more traditional restaurants, they were mostly Japanese.

Pretty sure you can see any menus and eateries on the respective websites.

 

[JT01]

If I don't get a Turkey Leg and a meter long churro I will RIOT!

 

[HectorLucas]

Hey guys, how are you? it's been a while.

This is a massive joint I'm rolling here but here we go...
I get that this park will lack a Harry Potter area due to the trademark being used by Warner Bros Studio Tour already. Which is a shame as Britain is the land of Harry Potter and lacking that powerful IP in an Universal GB park would be a massive lost opportunity.

BUT I think there might be a chance for Universal and WB Studio Tour to negotiate something that benefits them both in the future... and would be WB allowing Universal to use the IP to create a land and connecting the two complexes with a real Hogwarts Express. If you check Google Earth there's already a railway that conveniently passes through VERY NEAR both Universal and HP Studio Tour and connects them both so there wouldn't even be a need to build a new railway or anything. Just a couple of stations and the train.
That would create a kind of ecosystem consisting of three attractions: WB Studio Tour, Hogwarts Express and the Universal HP area. I can already imagine very juicy packs including them...
Obviously that would be something that involves the government, British Rail, etc. probably as well so seems unlikely... But here's my giant blunt for you all to enjoy

 

[Benjsh]

Hey guys, how are you? it's been a while.

This is a massive joint I'm rolling here but here we go...
I get that this park will lack a Harry Potter area due to the trademark being used by Warner Bros Studio Tour already. Which is a shame as Britain is the land of Harry Potter and lacking that powerful IP in an Universal GB park would be a massive lost opportunity.

BUT I think there might be a chance for Universal and WB Studio Tour to negotiate something that benefits them both in the future... and would be WB allowing Universal to use the IP to create a land and connecting the two complexes with a real Hogwarts Express. If you check Google Earth there's already a railway that conveniently passes through VERY NEAR both Universal and HP Studio Tour and connects them both so there wouldn't even be a need to build a new railway or anything. Just a couple of stations and the train.
That would create a kind of ecosystem consisting of three attractions: WB Studio Tour, Hogwarts Express and the Universal HP area. I can already imagine very juicy packs including them...
Obviously that would be something that involves the government, British Rail, etc. probably as well so seems unlikely... But here's my giant blunt for you all to enjoy

A nice idea but also incredibly pie in the sky too. That would cost tens of millions to pull of something like this so just isn't going to happen in a million years.

Also there are already Studio tour buses that run from Watford town center to the Studios tour. They'd be more likely to just extend this service to the Universal Park and run several throughout the day at a fraction of the cost.

I don't think we're getting Potter at all but I do think they are holding back what it's replacement is though. Lord of the Rings or Wicked seems the best bet. I'd be amazed if they decide to replace Potterverse with just Shrek. It would make this new park the weakest in the chain right off the back which I can't see them wanting to do.

 

[flyingguitar]

This is a massive joint I'm rolling here but here we go...
I get that this park will lack a Harry Potter area due to the trademark being used by Warner Bros Studio Tour already. Which is a shame as Britain is the land of Harry Potter and lacking that powerful IP in an Universal GB park would be a massive lost opportunity.

BUT I think there might be a chance for Universal and WB Studio Tour to negotiate something that benefits them both in the future... and would be WB allowing Universal to use the IP to create a land and connecting the two complexes with a real Hogwarts Express. If you check Google Earth there's already a railway that conveniently passes through VERY NEAR both Universal and HP Studio Tour and connects them both so there wouldn't even be a need to build a new railway or anything.
That would create a kind of ecosystem consisting of three attractions: WB Studio Tour, Hogwarts Express and the Universal HP area. I can already imagine very juicy packs including them...
Obviously that would be something that involves the government, British Rail, etc. probably as well so seems unlikely... But here's my giant blunt for you all to enjoy

I have considered something similar to this (although going between kings cross and bedford) I think it would be quite possible to make a "steam train" run on 3rd rails and hide the electric part (it is very expensive to run a steam engine) add some smoke generators and you have a convincing steam train, it would be expensive but cool.

the key problem is going to be the operating of this line, a depo will be required for all of these trains to go to which can service them, universal could open an "open access opperator" where essentially they run their own train company (not affected by the renationalisation, the alternative is most train companies where the government pays them to run the train) but the problem will be that it is a very differnt an quite complex task of running a railway, and the liscencing for open access is a big pain to get, look at virgin trains they are trying to come back but under open access and it is much harder. if you are running hundreds of differnt services a day, between many places it becomes much cheaper to run cmopared to one line to and from bedford, you need quite a few staff to manage it it is a masive pain

 

[ZeldaAlton]

Sorry to veer off topic, but since I’ve never been to a Universal park, I’m curious about the food options. I'm interested in hearing about the quality and variety of food. Also, if you’ve visited the parks in Japan, Singapore, and Beijing, did you notice if the food was still mostly American-style or if there were more local options available?

I’ve been to UJ and the food is awesome. You get exactly what you see. We had lunch at Parkside Grill and we had dinner at Hogsmeade tavern at Harry Potter. The food at the tavern is a take on British pub grub

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Benjsh]

I’ve been to UJ and the food is awesome. You get exactly what you see. We had lunch at Parkside Grill and we had dinner at Hogsmeade tavern at Harry Potter

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those look incredible tbf. Much more what I'd prefer to eat than Burgers and Hotdogs.

The issue is this kind of food in parks tends to be very expensive.

 

[DiogoJ42]

Hey guys, how are you? it's been a while.

This is a massive joint I'm rolling here but here we go...
I get that this park will lack a Harry Potter area due to the trademark being used by Warner Bros Studio Tour already. Which is a shame as Britain is the land of Harry Potter and lacking that powerful IP in an Universal GB park would be a massive lost opportunity.

BUT I think there might be a chance for Universal and WB Studio Tour to negotiate something that benefits them both in the future... and would be WB allowing Universal to use the IP to create a land and connecting the two complexes with a real Hogwarts Express. If you check Google Earth there's already a railway that conveniently passes through VERY NEAR both Universal and HP Studio Tour and connects them both so there wouldn't even be a need to build a new railway or anything. Just a couple of stations and the train.
That would create a kind of ecosystem consisting of three attractions: WB Studio Tour, Hogwarts Express and the Universal HP area. I can already imagine very juicy packs including them...
Obviously that would be something that involves the government, British Rail, etc. probably as well so seems unlikely... But here's my giant blunt for you all to enjoy

Universal and Warner Brothers have been rivals for a century. There is more chance of a Coke branded vending machine giving out free Pepsi.

 

[Bert2theSpark]

Digital Dan has managed to get an interview with a government MP about Universal GB, bonus that the MP is a theme park enthusiast too!!

EDIT - There’s some new information about the park that’s exclusively been revealed:

• 40% of all profits from the park will be reinvested into new additions
• New attractions are going to be added every two years
• UK government is funding all the infrastructure around the area, Comcast are paying for the Resort themselves.

 

[Benjsh]

Is this young MP the BBC source do we reckon? He was lingering around the site a lot and also gave an interview live on BBC. Maybe he does have some inside info or maybe he's just letting his imagination run wild as he's clearly quite young and an enthusiast. We shall see.

 

[Bert2theSpark]

Is this young MP the BBC source do we reckon? He was lingering around the site a lot and also gave an interview live on BBC. Maybe he does have some inside info or maybe he's just letting his imagination run wild as he's clearly quite young and an enthusiast. We shall see.

I doubt it, he found out about the park plans when it was announced to us as the media embargo dropped. It seems that his discussions have only happened with Universal/Comcast since, so unlikely.

I love how he relates the government’s agenda to the NIMBYism around Alton Towers, but that’s a discussion for another thread!

 

[Bowser]

Those look incredible tbf. Much more what I'd prefer to eat than Burgers and Hotdogs.

The issue is this kind of food in parks tends to be very expensive.

Was about £10 a meal at USJ but might have been a beneficiary of the favourable exchange rate.

 

[Benjsh]

Was about £10 a meal at USJ but might have been a beneficiary of the favourable exchange rate.

You certainly wouldn't get food as nice as that for a tenner in an American or UK park. You'd be lucky to even get a naff burger for that amount in all reality.

 

[Bowser]

I was thinking, do live action attractions at Universal typically feature the actors?

I know the Harry Potter ride had scenes filmed for it with the original cast.

I don’t think Jurassic Park or Jaws do but fortunately they rely on the animals.

If we have a BTTF and/or Lord of the Rings attraction, I think they’re quite reliant on the cast being part of it, particularly the former where they are essential. Of course modern technology can greatly assist with achieving that despite their age and availability but it will be interesting to see what happens so i was curious on any other precedent…

 

[Maelstrom]

In Jurassic world adventure and Velicoaster Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles. the current UK plans show the same Jurassic world adventure entire building, they have just changed the roof structure slightly (small done instead of the more pyamid snapped roof structure p. Even theexit shop in the side is the same.

in the Harry a potter rides not all reprise their roles now, they use Voice actors to do the voices of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Some still return like Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge in the battle at the ministry at epic. They also have cleaverly used scenes with the actors from the films and integrated into the ride, like Harry, Ron and Hermione into escape from gringotts,

with back to the future as a coaster with only likely launch and post ride show scenes I imagine they can just use voices of the main characters. Same with a pre show.

 

[DiogoJ42]

Unfortunately we won't be getting the real* Marty, for obvious reasons. I wouldn't be surprised if they used the cast of the west end musical to film any new BTTF scenes. (They are bloody good, to be fair).

*I almost said "original" there for a second, but that's a whole other rabbit hole...

 

[Matt N]

Couldn’t they do what they’ve done with deceased actors in some films, where they animate their voice and figure based on past clips?

I can’t think of what the technique is called, but I remember they did it with Carrie Fisher in the Star Wars film Rogue One, using old footage to animate 1970s Princess Leia saying new things.

Could they do this with Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd, to make 1980s Marty McFly and Doc Brown say new material?

 

[DiogoJ42]

Couldn’t they do what they’ve done with deceased actors in some films, where they animate their voice and figure based on past clips?

I can’t think of what the technique is called, but I remember they did it with Carrie Fisher in the Star Wars film Rogue One, using old footage to animate 1970s Princess Leia saying new things.

Could they do this with Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd, to make 1980s Marty McFly and Doc Brown say new material?

That's a legal and ethical minefield mate!