Universal UK

[CoasterFan27]

I agree that there isn’t a centrepiece icon but that’s a common theme for Universal Studios the icons are the gates and globe at the park entrance and the park is generally a series of competing icons around a lake, like world showcase as a standalone without spaceship earth

I guess that's true, while the HP castle does serve that function it's not like they made a centerpiece at epic universe (I wouldn't count the hotel).

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Ultimately they wouldn't be making the park if they thought they were making a weak version that wouldn't make their money back, and their projected visitor numbers are ambitious so they must believe at some level that what they're planning will fulfill that.

There's currently nothing in the concept to make people hyperventilate over visiting like Dark Universe, HP or Nintendo causes to they're respective fans, even if many would enjoy JP and BTTF, if this is it and they're hoping it being a universal park will be so they need then they might be facing a Euro Disney situation. So I hope they do have something up their sleeve, I feel too hit those visitor numbers they need to make even Orlando regulars have a reason to fly across the pond.

 

[Robbiem]

I guess that's true, while the HP castle does serve that function it's not like they made a centerpiece at epic universe (I wouldn't count the hotel).

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Ultimately they wouldn't be making the park if they thought they were making a weak version that wouldn't make their money back, and their projected visitor numbers are ambitious so they must believe at some level that what they're planning will fulfill that.

There's currently nothing in the concept to make people hyperventilate over visiting like Dark Universe, HP or Nintendo causes to they're respective fans, even if many would enjoy JP and BTTF, if this is it and they're hoping it being a universal park will be so they need then they might be facing a Euro Disney situation. So I hope they do have something up their sleeve, I feel too hit those visitor numbers they need to make even Orlando regulars have a reason to fly across the pond.

I didn’t mean the lack of an in park icon to be bad, I just think Universal have a different design philosophy with their studios parks to Disney which have a big icon structure in each park. I always thought it was intended to be more of a backlot approach.

I agree that the park really needs a unique signature area, especially as a lot of locals would have been to Florida. Lord of the rings would be great, maybe a 1960s area with classic James Bond style spy stuff or something like Wallace and Gromit land would help make the park stand out.

 

[nickys]

Universal UK: Century-long plans made for Bedford theme park

President of new ventures, Page Thompson, says the theme park is just the start of local investment.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[osian]

Yes, I saw that. Disney has 5-year plans, Universal has century long plans. Take THAT Disney lol!

 

[Robbiem]

Universal UK: Century-long plans made for Bedford theme park

President of new ventures, Page Thompson, says the theme park is just the start of local investment.

www.bbc.co.uk

Interesting article- the key points I took from it were:

• Universal aren’t planning any further resorts in Europe, they looked at other locations on the mainland before picking Bedford
• They have a lot more land after phase one for development
• They don’t commit to what further development would be - I guess could be something like film production facilities or even housing/retail if the park underperforms rather than a rigid agreement that Disney had in Paris
• They believe the UK is under served by world class theme parks (something I would agree with)
• They are expecting around 30% of initial visitors to be from overseas. I’m guessing that they are expecting people to visit for the day from London or maybe add a day or two to their schedule to visit the resort
• Here will be restaurants accessible from outside the park but no mention of a wider retail area, at least in phase one

 

[DonniePeverley]

Park looks a little too small for me.

How far on the train from central london is this ?

 

[LieutLaww]

I believe it's about an hr or so via Train from London

 

[osian]

Park looks a little too small for me.

How far on the train from central london is this ?

I've read it's 2 hours drive or 1.5 hours on public transport (I assume train). It's about 60 miles.