-
ℹ️ Heads up...
This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.
Universal Orlando (Studios/IOA/Epic Universe) : General Discussion
- Thread starter Alastair
- Start date
jon81uk
TS Member
Universal weren't "allowed" to retain the rights, they have the rights to theme parks rides in parks east of the Mississippi based on most (Avengers, X-Men, Spiderman, Fantastic 4) Marvel characters, in perpetuity. Universal will never give these up and as long as they maintain the rides, Marvel/Disney can't force them to give them up.
But Disney make money from every item of merchandise sold at Universal so its win/win for them, they get free advertising for their films, merchandising sales and universal are the ones spending the capex.
PeteB
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
I can't fathom why so much track and even the trains are being scrapped when it's a B&M. They are supposed to be indestructible.
Lets just hope it reopens with new trains and track in exactly the same way as it was. I don't want them to completely balls this up by trying to make improvements to it.
Lets just hope it reopens with new trains and track in exactly the same way as it was. I don't want them to completely balls this up by trying to make improvements to it.
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Well the trains are being scrapped as they want completely new trains that are likely to feature new restraints (lap bars rumoured but I expect the new B&M vest restraints), on board auido and lighting. It is probably cheaper and easier to just get new trains than retrofit the new features onto the old trains.
Track replacements are fairly common as coasters get older, especially for coasters than run so frequently. Space Mountain at MK has had track replacements in the past. I believe the same can be said for Nemesis.
Track replacements are fairly common as coasters get older, especially for coasters than run so frequently. Space Mountain at MK has had track replacements in the past. I believe the same can be said for Nemesis.
PeteB
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Space Mountain is understandable - ancient ride with crappy track design. Thought the whole point of B&M's boxed track was durability so track didn't need replacing and I thought the only reason Nemesis had track replaced was due to subsidence.
I'd love to see vest restraints on more coasters. Remember the first time I saw them on Air and thought they were the future of coaster restraints, but seems they only use them for Flyers and Wing coasters.
I'd love to see vest restraints on more coasters. Remember the first time I saw them on Air and thought they were the future of coaster restraints, but seems they only use them for Flyers and Wing coasters.
Cheese
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Helix, Liseberg
On rough coasters with awful OTSRs that try to ruin your ears I'd welcome good vest restraints, but I can't see why B&M have taken such a shine to them when they have probably the most comfortable OTSR design out there and even their older rides are generally acceptably smooth.
Sam
TS Member
I thought that too Dave, until we went to Carowinds! Vortex, the 1992 stand-up, is the first B&M I've ever been on that's actively unpleasant. Not just boring or rattly, but painfully rough. A really unpleasant little coaster - felt like an ear-bashing Arrow or a Togo. I think it shows that B&Ms can really sour with age, and the Hulk felt like it was heading that way in August.
Really?
Tim
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Air / Blue Fire
We are British! Just because everyone else (even the amazing Europa Park) charge for parking doesn't, mean we should. It's not right!
In all seriousness I object to paying for parking because a theme park advertises itself as one price pays for all facilities. Adding parking onto it is just a sligh way to up the prices, unless you are one of the very few parks that can claim a notable number of guests don't arrive by car (no examples come to mind). It's especially bad for the likes of Disney World where most guests are paying to stay at a hotel, car rental and car parking because the site is so massive.
But as I noted above if even the likes of Europa have justified it the parking fee won't go away. I can accept it if the car park is immaculate and you can see where the money is going.
In all seriousness I object to paying for parking because a theme park advertises itself as one price pays for all facilities. Adding parking onto it is just a sligh way to up the prices, unless you are one of the very few parks that can claim a notable number of guests don't arrive by car (no examples come to mind). It's especially bad for the likes of Disney World where most guests are paying to stay at a hotel, car rental and car parking because the site is so massive.
But as I noted above if even the likes of Europa have justified it the parking fee won't go away. I can accept it if the car park is immaculate and you can see where the money is going.
Last edited:
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Europa-Park don't even offer free parking to annual pass holders, you have to purchase a separate parking annual pass. I do think this is poor!
Anyway, that is off-topic. This isn't, Screamscape have posted the following rumour about the Hulk re-furb:
Remember this is just a rumour and right now it is one that I struggle to take too seriously. I certainly hope that is not true as it would be a great pity to lose such an iconic B&M coaster. I credible poster over on Orlando United also finds this idea unlikely.
It could have legs though. There are rumours of Hulk getting lap bars and this isn't something I can see B&M providing. We also know that B&M can be rather stubborn at times (e.g. when Hulk was first built and they refused to have anything to do with the launch). Could it be that Universal went to B&M with proposed changes and B&M simply refused for whatever reason? Universal might have deemed the work essential so found another manufacturer willing to carry out the work. Premier maybe?
I still think B&M will be involved, unless of course all of the track is being taken down and replaced. This has been rumoured but was considered unlikely. If not all of the track is going then it would be strange and possibly problematic to have a coaster half built by B&M and half built by another manufacturer. It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen!
In terms of what is definitely happening, more track has now been removed including the whole of the second vertical loop in the layout:
Certainly going to be interesting to see how this unfolds. Please be doing the right thing Universal!
Anyway, that is off-topic. This isn't, Screamscape have posted the following rumour about the Hulk re-furb:
Screamscape said:
Remember this is just a rumour and right now it is one that I struggle to take too seriously. I certainly hope that is not true as it would be a great pity to lose such an iconic B&M coaster. I credible poster over on Orlando United also finds this idea unlikely.
It could have legs though. There are rumours of Hulk getting lap bars and this isn't something I can see B&M providing. We also know that B&M can be rather stubborn at times (e.g. when Hulk was first built and they refused to have anything to do with the launch). Could it be that Universal went to B&M with proposed changes and B&M simply refused for whatever reason? Universal might have deemed the work essential so found another manufacturer willing to carry out the work. Premier maybe?
I still think B&M will be involved, unless of course all of the track is being taken down and replaced. This has been rumoured but was considered unlikely. If not all of the track is going then it would be strange and possibly problematic to have a coaster half built by B&M and half built by another manufacturer. It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen!
In terms of what is definitely happening, more track has now been removed including the whole of the second vertical loop in the layout:
Certainly going to be interesting to see how this unfolds. Please be doing the right thing Universal!
jon81uk
TS Member
I know this is still Off-Topic but the only park I can think of where a good amount of guests not arriving by car would be Disneyland Paris as the train connections are very good including a direct Eurostar from London. I would still estimate a lot of people are driving, but at least the decent train service there helps.
Of course Walt Disney World also has free bus transfers from the Airport so many resort guests won't drive, but it may well be a small amount of overall guests.
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
There's so much going on at Universal that I may consider separate threads for some of the more major projects, especially when the likes of Nintendo Land get announced. Anyway for now, a bit of an update on Volcano Bay.
Here are some details from a survey that Universal sent out:
I am really looking forward to seeing how it turns out, I have a feeling that it will wipe the floor with Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon and Aquatica (and I say that having enjoyed all three of those last month)!
Here are some details from a survey that Universal sent out:
Universal Survey said:
I am really looking forward to seeing how it turns out, I have a feeling that it will wipe the floor with Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon and Aquatica (and I say that having enjoyed all three of those last month)!