Universal Orlando (Studios/IOA/Epic Universe) : General Discussion

[Sku]

I have a feeling that it will wipe the floor with Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon and Aquatica

I tend to agree but I think the virtual queuing system, along with the small footprint of the site, means this is going to be an expensive premium experience, a bit like Discovery Cove. Reservation required type deal. Admission will include timed reservations for all rides etc, private sun loungers and the like. The way this is going to innovate is by being a premium experience away from the busyness, queues and sun lounger reservation problems which come with the other water parks.

So yes it will be great, but start saving your dollars now.

 

[Ketz]

I tend to agree but I think the virtual queuing system, along with the small footprint of the site, means this is going to be an expensive premium experience, a bit like Discovery Cove. Reservation required type deal. Admission will include timed reservations for all rides etc, private sun loungers and the like. The way this is going to innovate is by being a premium experience away from the busyness, queues and sun lounger reservation problems which come with the other water parks.

So yes it will be great, but start saving your dollars now.

I think size wise it will be on par with the other waterpark sizes in Orlando. It is roughly 33 acres, with Typoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach being 34 and 36 acres excluding there parking lots. Those parks or no means cramped, but looking at the plans this will certainly be on an other level compared to other water parks.

 

[Sku]

I think size wise it will be on par with the other waterpark sizes in Orlando. It is roughly 33 acres, with Typoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach being 34 and 36 acres excluding there parking lots.

It is going to be considerably smaller. As you mention parking is not included, and it is thought that at least some parking will be directly adjacent to the site. This is already eating into a few acres. Also keep in mind that the site is bounded by busy roads including an interstate. You won't be drifting along a lazy river just feet away from i4, so again even more space is lost as buffer between the roads and the park itself. It certainly is going to be more compact, but with a lot squeezed in.

 

[Rob]

A couple of photos, one from October 4th and the other from October 18th, showing just how much Hulk track has come down so far:

Source

Looking very different.

 

[Rob]

Oh wow, this just looks strange:

Photo from Orlando Sentinel

 

[ThemeParkCrafter]

Sad times

 

[Tim]

So they really are pulling the whole thing down then? Interesting that the one bit I expected to go first (the launch as it's long been rummer to involve a new system) is still there.

 

[Alex23]

I suspect that will be going pretty soon, and it wouldn't surprise me if the station got pretty much demolished as well. It's also worth noting that Storm Force Accelerator has now been shut as well too due to the Hulk construction.

One thing that has been noticed is that the new hulk sign on the construction walls glows green at night. It has been long rumoured that the track might glow green at night, could that be hinting at it?

Credit to bioreconstruct for the photos.

 

[Rob]

I've seen the glowing track rumour also, would certainly look pretty cool at night if it did happen.

Anyway, yet more Universal news. Twister, in Universal Studios, will close on November 7th and and be replaced in 2017 by a new ride: Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. This news has been floating around on the net for a while now so doesn't come as much of a surpise.

I’ll never forget my first phone call from Universal Creative when I joined the company as a creative director last year. The executive producer was calling me with my first assignment. I couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say!

Which blockbuster film franchise would be featured in my very first Universal project?

“Jimmy Fallon,” he said.

“What about him?” I asked.

“He’s getting his own ride, and you guys need to figure it out,” he said.

“We’re gonna do what, now?” I asked.

In all seriousness, I was equally surprised and delighted. Jimmy had just taken the world by storm with the new incarnation of The Tonight Show. He was already sitting comfortably atop the ratings heap and fast becoming a viral sensation.

Plus, I’ve been a late night fan my entire life. I was even lucky enough to attend tapings of The Tonight Show when the previous two hosts sat behind the fabled desk. I was in my element.

But what kind of story would we tell? How could we create a compelling guest experience that emerged organically from the world of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon? That was the challenge facing the entire Universal Creative team, but considering their track record, I was pretty sure I was surrounded by the people who could crack it.

Jimmy wanted a fun and hilarious adventure that was also a valentine to his hometown of New York City—and that’s exactly what you’re going to experience when “Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon” opens at Universal Studios Florida in 2017.

So, what’s the attraction going to be like? I can’t tell you everything, but I can tell you our team found inspiration in the outrageous celebrity races that have become one of the most popular segments of Jimmy’s Tonight Show. The source material already features a wild and crazy ride almost every week! And since Universal Studios Florida has long been famous for placing guests in the middle of their favorite movies and TV shows, we thought it was a perfect fit.

Soon, you will get the full Tonight Show experience as you make your way to the fabled Studio 6B for a very special taping in which Jimmy challenges his studio audience to the ultimate race through the greatest city on earth.

You’ll rocket through the streets—and skies—of New York City, from the deepest subway tunnels to the tallest skyscrapers, encountering colorful characters, famous landmarks and anything else that comes to Jimmy’s mind—and “that is some weird, wild stuff,” to quote an iconic previous host.

Our Universal Creative team has had an amazing experience collaborating with Jimmy and his staff of veteran comedy writers to create an unforgettable adventure that will bring The Tonight Show and New York City to life for our guests like never before. And our creative adventure is just beginning.

As you can probably imagine, Jimmy’s full of surprises and even we are never quite sure what’s going to happen next – just like on The Tonight Show!

To make way for this new experience, Twister…Ride It Out will close on November 2.

From what I understand this ride will be somewhat like Soarin' at Disney. You'll enter the ride and be part of the studio audience on The Tonight Show which will soon turn into this racing through New York experience. Clearly the main ride is going to be largely screen based so it will be interesting to see exactly how Universal do it.

One thing that you can say is that Universal have a heck of a lot going on right now. Kong in 2016, Fast and Furious as well as Fallon in 2017, Volcano Bay in 2017 and then the epic Nintendo Land in either 2018 or 2019. That's without even mentioning Harry Potter phase 3 or hotel projects!

Anyway, Derren Brown, eat your heart out!

 

[ThemeParkCrafter]

Seriously help us. A ride based on a person. People complain about Derren Brown when this ride is dedicated to someone I never really heard of until today. I mean it is great that Universal is investing but ANOTHER simulated ride with screens.

Sorry about sounding angry but Universal lacks variety of rides. If you get motion sickness, Universal is now definitely not for you.

 

[Scott]

Seriously help us. A ride based on a person. People complain about Derren Brown when this ride is dedicated to someone I never really heard of until today. I mean it is great that Universal is investing but ANOTHER simulated ride with screens.

Sorry about sounding angry but Universal lacks variety of rides. If you get motion sickness, Universal is now definitely not for you.

Jimmy Fallon is one of the USA's most widely known celebrities. He hosts a hugely popular show that's on weekly.

He might not be well known in Britain but this ride is in the States after all...

 

[Rob]

I see Fallon and F&F both as 'filler' attractions between large investments with their main objectives being to help bring the park in line with it's new overall theme. It is now less of a look behind the movies and more put you in the movies.

Thing is, for filler type rides Fallon and F&F are both pretty impressive. Yes they are screen based and Universal are getting a bit one dimensional on this front. However with what else is planned down the line I think I can let them off. The sooner they announce Nintendo Land the better, the Mario Kart ride should be something pretty special!

 

[Sazzle]

Sorry about sounding angry but Universal lacks variety of rides. If you get motion sickness, Universal is now definitely not for you.

Agreed!! I have seemingly developed motion sickness on an intermittent basis over the past few years and have to pass over Hex. I found Forbidden Journey to be incredibly uncomfortable (yes yes I know it's not recommended for guests with motion sickness!), Spider-Man only just bearable and Transformers to be a little worse.

Oddly enough a cycle on The Simpsons simulator seemed to jolt me out of my sickness (whaaaaat!!) but I am concerned that the new rides are just screens. Give me E.T.!

 

[ThemeParkCrafter]

Jimmy Fallon is one of the USA's most widely known celebrities. He hosts a hugely popular show that's on weekly.

He might not be well known in Britain but this ride is in the States after all...

The thing is unlike Thorpe Park, Universal Orlando has many tourists going there. Therefore, an ip should be well known. It is all very well people in the US know him but to people living elsewhere, he is nothing than a US TV presenter.

I am more annoyed with some enthusiasts. Moaning about Derren Brown being used for the dark ride when it is confirmed an entire attraction is based on ONE TV presenter who is unknown for people living outside of the US.

I know I sound angry but the reality is the chances are most people will not understand the ride.

 

[Plastic Person]

I know I sound angry but the reality is the chances are most people will not understand the ride.

That's nonsense. Universal does have a broad, international audience, but even more so than Disney, most of it's custom is US based. Besides, Fallon is internationally recognised from Youtube alone. His 'lip-sync' battle videos featuring high profile celebrities are immensely popular. Personally, I find Fallon errs on the cheesy and sycophantic side as a host, but he is perfect for this ride, even I'm not too excited about it myself. Also, the bulk of the ride will be a virtual tour of NYC, which is about as universally appealing of a theme as you can find. Well, unless you're from New York...

Saying that, the screens stuff at Universal is getting silly. I'm well aware they're about to release a huge anamatronic ape on the world, but even the general public are beginning to clock on.

 

[Sam]

Have Universal run out of ideas?

 

[Plastic Person]

Have Universal run out of ideas?

I think we're about to enter the second, duller phase of Universal's golden era. Comcast are happy to splash the cash, but they've developed a formula, and they're clinging to it. So investment in the parks will continue to impress, but there's much less imagination and ambition on display than in the case of Potter, Kong (we presume), or even Springfield.

 

[EuroSatch]

Whatever it turns out to be, it'll be better than Twister. Though I shall miss that flying cow

 

[Craig]

I guess this is just a way for NBC to get one of their shows shoe-horned into the theme park side of things. I guess it says a lot about US TV, as an actual drama series IP would've been nice. The issue is the shows just they don't last long enough before they're cancelled for low ratings ultimately making the whole thing pointless within a year or two.

So their flagship talk show is their next best bet I suppose. An incredibly popular show, both on TV and with a massive online presence to boot which will ensure an attraction which can remain relevant for a number of years to come. I agree it's basically just a filler attraction at the end of the day, and Twister will hardly be missed as these days it's incredibly dated to the point where many haven't even seen the original film. That said, it still doesn't stop me from being unimpressed, and despite finding Transformers and the like amazing, I'd love to see some more effort made into the physical side of things these days - especially in Studios!

 

[Sam]

I think we're about to enter the second, duller phase of Universal's golden era. Comcast are happy to splash the cash, but they've developed a formula, and they're clinging to it. So investment in the parks will continue to impress, but there's much less imagination and ambition on display than in the case of Potter, Kong (we presume), or even Springfield.

Agreed. I think Gringotts marks the turning point where they had more money than ideas.