A Terror-rific Spirited 13th (ToT fans have lots to fear)...

[Andrew C]

There's been persistent rumors that they have a deal for Star Trek theme park rights.

Am I the only one that doesn't find this that exciting?

 

[The_Jobu]

Am I the only one that doesn't find this that exciting?

You sound like me whenever people gush about Pew-Pew Land ©®™

Though the answer to any time someone asks "am I the only one..." is "no".

 

[doctornick]

The thing that strikes me is how Disney never attempted just another Magic Kingdom.

Tokyo DisneySea is essentially "another Magic Kingdom" in terms of concept (though it obviously has a "sea" theme) and it is located right next to a castle park. And it has been pretty well received and praised. It comes down to execution more than content.

That said, I also don't think the different WDW parks are really all that similar, even with plans in motion. The conceit of "entering into the movies" for entire lands that DHS is using is different from how IPs are used at MK. Pandora looks to be using an IP to create a natural environment to explore harmonious with the rest of DAK, with a bent on conservation. Even in Epcot where the use of IPs has arguably created jumbled themes, the basic park structure hasn't really changed, it's just individual attractions seem awkward -- we'll have to see what ends up being announced/built but IPs can be used and be consistent with Epcot's history (or a modified concept) if done properly without really duplicating MK.

 

[MarkTwain]

I find this interesting. Everyone wants more Nintendo, more Jurassic, more Potter, Dreamworks. I'm curious if they're going to do something completely left field.

Do they have any more marketable franchises they could choose from? It feels like we're towards the bottom of the barrel with Fallon.

I remember awhile back there was talk of an Oz land, complete with a shortened version of Broadway's Wicked. Still seems like a viable idea to me.

EDIT: Also, don't Universal and Dreamworks share a parent company now? It seems like Uni could do a lot with that franchise beyond just the Shrek 3D movie. That alone could probably fill its own park.

 

[ChrisM]

There it is...

View attachment 186468

Of course I'm still hoping for a reboot of Jurassic in that location.

Every time someone says "Site B" I immediately think they are talking about Isla Sorna.

Every time.

 

[The_Jobu]

There's been persistent rumors that they have a deal for Star Trek theme park rights.

Ah the good ol' dream... so close... so far...

 

[truecoat]

Ah the good ol' dream... so close... so far...

I was recently surprised to find out how close that came to be in Las Vegas.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Ah the good ol' dream... so close... so far...

That is so much not what the trend is... no completely immersive environment!

Buses pulling up to a grounded starship?! No way!! You have to walk into a futuristic building and step into a transporter pad and be blinded by strobes as they secretly spin you around and you wind up in the transporter room of a starship!

 

[The_Jobu]

I was recently surprised to find out how close that came to be in Las Vegas.

Pretty much the only thing that would get me to actually visit Vegas.

(My travel interests are weird like that)

 

[Cesar R M]

Comcast/Universal beasted on Wall Street and thank it to the theme parks....interesting to note the last sentence

32%? and 48%???? holy sh....

 

[Cesar R M]

There's a handful of marketable Dreamworks properties they haven't gotten into yet. Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon...
None of them are really hot enough to justify an entire park, though, in my mind.

Dreamworks really killed How to train your dragon imho. Kung fu Panda is still ok.

 

[Bairstow]

Dreamworks really killed How to train your dragon imho.

Pity, that.
That one had a lot of potential. I really loved the trailer for the sequel.

 

[Cesar R M]

Tokyo DisneySea is essentially "another Magic Kingdom" in terms of concept (though it obviously has a "sea" theme) and it is located right next to a castle park. And it has been pretty well received and praised. It comes down to execution more than content.

That said, I also don't think the different WDW parks are really all that similar, even with plans in motion. The conceit of "entering into the movies" for entire lands that DHS is using is different from how IPs are used at MK. Pandora looks to be using an IP to create a natural environment to explore harmonious with the rest of DAK, with a bent on conservation. Even in Epcot where the use of IPs has arguably created jumbled themes, the basic park structure hasn't really changed, it's just individual attractions seem awkward -- we'll have to see what ends up being announced/built but IPs can be used and be consistent with Epcot's history (or a modified concept) if done properly without really duplicating MK.

I think the point is that DisneySea was build essentially as a fantasy style park.
Our issue is when the current parks that have a very specific theme, are being destroyed and changed to imitate Magic Kingdom (like Epcot)

 

[Cesar R M]

Ah the good ol' dream... so close... so far...

I wonder if they would do that.. but in the chap.. aka not a full sized model.
But a bunch of windows showing a 3d hyperrealistic screen of a base station. Including restaurants, shops.. ride.. etc..

That is so much not what the trend is... no completely immersive environment!

Buses pulling up to a grounded starship?! No way!! You have to walk into a futuristic building and step into a transporter pad and be blinded by strobes as they secretly spin you around and you wind up in the transporter room of a starship!

Or just imitate a turbolift with windows. (like the Galaxy Quest elevator scene.. where they display the ship)

 

[Mike S]

That is so much not what the trend is... no completely immersive environment!

Buses pulling up to a grounded starship?! No way!! You have to walk into a futuristic building and step into a transporter pad and be blinded by strobes as they secretly spin you around and you wind up in the transporter room of a starship!

I get the sarcasm but the immersive environment would be inside the ship. Obviously.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Grand standard meaning things like EPCOT Center, MGM-Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Universal's always just been about bringing your favorite entertainment to life. How creatively different could they make that idea for a third park?

Being creative would be doing more than just being more than a one trick pony. Is Universal Creative actually a creative storytelling organization or just a bunch of hacks who don't just copy the work of others, but need those other people to hold their hands?

Tokyo DisneySea is essentially "another Magic Kingdom" in terms of concept (though it obviously has a "sea" theme) and it is located right next to a castle park. And it has been pretty well received and praised. It comes down to execution more than content.

The difference, as is demonstrated by the variety even amongst the iterative Disneylands, is that open more generic lands have an inherent difference by not following a singular formula.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Comcast/Universal beasted on Wall Street and thank it to the theme parks....interesting to note the last sentence

But Iger and Co would have you believe that the theme park market has matured and investing in new attraction's is a fool's errand. I don't know what to believe.

 

[Mike S]

Being creative would be doing more than just being more than a one trick pony. Is Universal Creative actually a creative storytelling organization or just a bunch of hacks who don't just copy the work of others, but need those other people to hold their hands?

Volcano Bay alone disproves that. The "hacks" have also been outdoing the "experts" for a good number of years now.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Volcano Bay alone disproves that. The "hacks" have also been outdoing the "experts" for a good number of years now.

Water parks are still somewhat looked down upon as inferior, but the goal of just making a great theme park, not following a done multiple times formula, should be the goal of any additional theme park. And you keep trying to turn this into a Disney-Universal thing when that is not at all relevant.

 

[Mike S]

Water parks are still somewhat looked down upon as inferior, but the goal of just making a great theme park, not following a done multiple times formula, should be the goal of any additional theme park. And you keep trying to turn this into a Disney-Universal thing when that is not at all relevant.

My point is that Universal does its thing very well and Disney can still do their thing very well as proven by the recent Mystic Manor.

There are different expectations for each of them. One keeps to them, the other has drifted.