Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Now Open!

[BrianLo]

Don't start on that one .... you just know they will go pick up a generic coaster, colour it gray, then stick some cardboard calling it Back To The Future.

Yes, absolutely. That’s what they seem to be doing with UK.

I’d be very surprised if this property brought about a new simulator, let alone a dark ride, let alone a competent one of either.

 

[Jon81uk]

The literally just did a whole land with 1930s-50s IP.

Assuming you are referring to Monsters, the difference is other movies and tv shows have used them for years, Netflix released a Frankenstein movie last October.

 

[Andrew C]

Devils advocate, that was 27 years ago; and it hasn’t aged well. Certainly there is some 30’s IP but also some 60/70’s comic strips. We’re further away from the debut of BTTF today than Islands was Rocky and Bullwinkle in 1999.

I do very much think back to the future is still relevant and nostalgic today to their target audience. I personally love it, but I’m a mid millennial. Which is also why a Royal ship debuted the Musical recently as that’s their larger spending demographic (millennials).

But I do think it’s fair to question if it will still be in 25 years when that consumer is no longer us. I think we’re starting the downward trajectory. We seem to be starting to rotate away from 80s nostalgia to 90s. Also since they generally don’t seem to be making brand deposits with more BTTF material to keep things evergreen with this property in the way Disney does its elder properties.

Assuming you are referring to Monsters, the difference is other movies and tv shows have used them for years, Netflix released a Frankenstein movie last October.

Ok never mind. I was wrong. BTTF and ghostbusters won’t work.

 

[BrianLo]

Ok never mind. I was wrong. BTTF and ghostbusters won’t work.

Not what I was saying. They’ll just need to go the coaster route and give themselves room to pivot in a quarter century if BTTF remains protected from revivals.

Ghostbusters is still an active IP, the Monsters are also kept evergreen. BTTF is closed.

 

[Jrb1979]

Don't start on that one .... you just know they will go pick up a generic coaster, colour it gray, then stick some cardboard calling it Back To The Future.

I would probably do more to draw attendance that some dark ride.

 

[drkarcher22]

I’m here for them just recreating Amity with the area in the back of the park. Make Jaws again using that new boat system everyone seems to think will one day be used for Creature from the Black Lagoon and have it replace the (basically) unused Fear Factor stage and Men in Black. Then they still have the Simpson’s area to do whatever else they want. Whether it’s an old IP or a “new” one like Wicked or something similar

 

[Poseidon Quest]

I’m here for them just recreating Amity with the area in the back of the park. Make Jaws again using that new boat system everyone seems to think will one day be used for Creature from the Black Lagoon and have it replace the (basically) unused Fear Factor stage and Men in Black. Then they still have the Simpson’s area to do whatever else they want. Whether it’s an old IP or a “new” one like Wicked or something similar

Why does everyone think that Men in Black needs to go? It plays an important role as a capacity monster and is never given credit for being the well designed shooter ride that it is.

 

[Mike S]

Why does everyone think that Men in Black needs to go? It plays an important role as a capacity monster and is never given credit for being the well designed shooter ride that it is.

If anything it needs work and major improvement.

 

[UNCgolf]

Why does everyone think that Men in Black needs to go? It plays an important role as a capacity monster and is never given credit for being the well designed shooter ride that it is.

Probably because people assume the IP is no longer relevant and it seems like that's a driving factor for decisions.

The last movie was a flop, although they're supposedly working on another one. With little space to expand at USF and a desire to promote new content, it makes sense that it could be on the chopping block for a replacement -- especially with the old Fear Factor building sitting empty next door. They could build a whole new land.

Note that I'm not suggesting I think MIB should be destroyed; just that I understand why it seems like something Universal would consider.

 

[Andrew C]

Why does everyone think that Men in Black needs to go? It plays an important role as a capacity monster and is never given credit for being the well designed shooter ride that it is.

Men in black is great. My favorite shooter.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

I’m here for them just recreating Amity with the area in the back of the park. Make Jaws again using that new boat system everyone seems to think will one day be used for Creature from the Black Lagoon and have it replace the (basically) unused Fear Factor stage and Men in Black. Then they still have the Simpson’s area to do whatever else they want. Whether it’s an old IP or a “new” one like Wicked or something similar

I think there is room for the older attractions and the newer IP's too. I don't see why Disney doesn't notice that people love the older IP and non IP, and just add the newer things instead of getting rid of their iconic rides/attractions.

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

So you are telling you could go to a high school and people would tell you about 'Back to the future?' ?

Doubt it.

Members of my own family, the teenagers none of them have heard of the franchise.

Yes. I'm a junior in high school. Maybe it's not on the level of HTTYD or Zootopia or Marvel but it's still incredibly popular. The delorian is still joked about in classic car conversations in relation to the movie. Primary source here, high schoolers still love BTTF

 

[lewisc]

Stardust Racers are powered by Flux Capacitors, one on the back of each vehicle

 

[Poseidon Quest]

Probably because people assume the IP is no longer relevant and it seems like that's a driving factor for decisions.

The last movie was a flop, although they're supposedly working on another one. With little space to expand at USF and a desire to promote new content, it makes sense that it could be on the chopping block for a replacement -- especially with the old Fear Factor building sitting empty next door. They could build a whole new land.

Note that I'm not suggesting I think MIB should be destroyed; just that I understand why it seems like something Universal would consider.

It's bizarre when people have criticized the park for being too screen heavy, but want one of its better attractions removed. Yeah, you're right that people see the IP as outdated, but that in itself is such a poor judgement over the value a ride brings to a park. It never stops surprising me how there is a demographic of people out there who only go to theme parks to point at franchises that they know.

 

[flynnibus]

It's bizarre when people have criticized the park for being too screen heavy, but want one of its better attractions removed.

It's woefully dated - in both staging and ride tech. It was cool in it's time, but these days the shooter ride tech is very basic.. the preshow looks like a high school production compared to it's peers.. it's basic dark ride ride path isn't that compelling to younger audiences.

Like many attractions.. it lacks enough individual charisma, that eventually it's aging earns it's decline. The ride really needs a modernization overhaul to be relevant.

 

[UNCgolf]

It's bizarre when people have criticized the park for being too screen heavy, but want one of its better attractions removed. Yeah, you're right that people see the IP as outdated, but that in itself is such a poor judgement over the value a ride brings to a park. It never stops surprising me how there is a demographic of people out there who only go to theme parks to point at franchises that they know.

Are there people actually advocating to replace it, though? Or is it just (like I mentioned) people assuming it's something Universal likely will replace?

 

[BrianLo]

Are there people actually advocating to replace it, though? Or is it just (like I mentioned) people assuming it's something Universal likely will replace?

Like @flynnibus I too seem to lack affinity for this attraction. I only nostalgically know the park from several visits before it existed and then only experienced it in 2011 when it was already a bit older.

I’d happily throw the entirety of this park on the fire, other than Diagon Alley, ET and Mummy; then maybe Bourne/transformers inside (and I don’t even like Gringotts). But to be clear it’s way way way down the list of things I think need to be dealt with. It just needs a good modernization.

 

[Pizza Moon]

Yes, absolutely. That’s what they seem to be doing with UK.

I’d be very surprised if this property brought about a new simulator, let alone a dark ride, let alone a competent one of either.

Yeah that was so disappointing to me.

Fast and Furious makes perfect sense, but BTTF feels like it could be a really cool more traditional theme park ride

 

[Pizza Moon]

Id rather see Jaws come back…

Lowkey a Jaws movie done today would actually be super popular if they did it right.

Could be an event movie.

 

[Andrew C]

Like @flynnibus I too seem to lack affinity for this attraction. I only nostalgically know the park from several visits before it existed and then only experienced it in 2011 when it was already a bit older.

I would say it’s a far superior shooter than buzz. Game play. Scale of sets. Just better.