All things Universal Studios Hollywood

ThemeParkTraveller

Well-Known Member
That large of a footprint for one ride? All the rest of SNW is in a similar sized plot, I would have thought that ride would go in the 1.25 acre plot on the other side of SNW.

It won't use up the whole space but it will make the remaining plot too small for another land. The 1.25 acre plot is rumored to be saved for a flexspace building for special events.
 

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
Too bad that hotel and lake take up so much space. I just worry about having just these IPs. In twenty years does anyone really care about How to Train Your Dragon?
 

Rich T

Well-Known Member
Too bad that hotel and lake take up so much space. I just worry about having just these IPs. In twenty years does anyone really care about How to Train Your Dragon?
My guess: yes. The films (especially the first one) are fantastic and keep building a fan base through home viewing. And that’s with comparatively little effort put into merchandising (so far).

And, even without that: Look at Cars Land. It’s enjoyable even if one has never seen the movies. If Berk is done well and the rides are fun, the Viking theme is lively enough to be timeless.
 
Last edited:

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
Too bad that hotel and lake take up so much space. I just worry about having just these IPs. In twenty years does anyone really care about How to Train Your Dragon?

Im not sure about How to Train Your Dragon as I've never seen it but if it were me I wouldn't be designing these parks without at least 1-2 broader themed lands where you could fit multiple IP.
 

Rich T

Well-Known Member
What makes me wonder about Epic Universe is are we confined to these five ips for the future. How would they add something that isn't one of these.
4 IP lands — Celestial Park is an original theme. If Universal was asking for my advice (and they aren’t, dang it), I’d suggest that they make the 5th land (if it’s not Tolkien) into a general theme that can accommodate a variety of properties. I’d pick Sci-Fi, with Stardust Racers forming a nice backdrop.

Or… An ocean theme, featuring the return of Jaws.
 
Last edited:

Rich T

Well-Known Member
Im not sure about How to Train Your Dragon…
Trust me on this one: When you get a chance, see the first How To Train Your Dragon; it’s, IMO, one of the best animated films of all time, and one of the best fantasy films of any kind, live or animated. One of the guttsiest endings, too. Some people think the 2nd one is better (it’s much darker); I disagree. The first one’s screenplay is flawless storytelling.

(I agree about the wisdom of one or two more flexible lands).
 

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
4 IP lands — Celestial Park is an original theme. If Universal was asking for my advice (and they aren’t, dang it), I’d suggest that they make the 5th land (If it’s not Tolkien) into a general theme that can accommodate a variety of properties. I’d pick Sci-Fi, with Stadust Racers forming a nice backdrop.

Or… An ocean theme, featuring the return of Jaws.

I have a hard time picturing what a LOTR land looks like at a theme park. On paper it sounds great but is it something they could execute well? The beauty of the LOTR franchise is the grandness of it all and the majestic topography and vistas. Areas like where the elves live is beautiful but could it be executed well? The shire seems like it would translate well into a theme park land but there isn't much going on there. It could be the starting point for an adventure I suppose. Any dark forest, dark mountain caves, dark castle may seem a little redundant with Dark universe in the same park.
 

Rich T

Well-Known Member
….The shire seems like it would translate well into a theme park land…It could be the starting point for an adventure…
This. Build the Shire. Everyone wants to visit the Shire. Have Bilbo’s house lead to a There-and-Back-Again Dark ride. A bit farther back, the village of Bree could be the entry to a LotR ride.

(EDIT)
I’m just now realizing the problem with building a hobbit-sized village with Hobbit-sized doors and ceiling heights…
 
Last edited:

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
This. Build the Shire. Everyone wants to visit the Shire. Have Bilbo’s house lead to a There-and-Back-Again Dark ride. A bit farther back, the village of Bree could be the entry to a LotR ride.

(EDIT)
I’m just now realizing the problem with building a hobbit-sized village with Hobbit-sized doors and ceiling heights…

Lol hey if Gandalf can get in Bilbos house so we can we. But seriously that is a good point. Some of the charm would be lost scaling things up for us humans. Then again, we don’t be necessarily need to enter all of the homes/ buildings/ facades . Just an attraction, restaurant and shop. Most of the charm could be retained by the facades we don’t enter and just the pleasant aesthetic of the shire.
 

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
This. Build the Shire. Everyone wants to visit the Shire. Have Bilbo’s house lead to a There-and-Back-Again Dark ride. A bit farther back, the village of Bree could be the entry to a LotR ride.

(EDIT)
I’m just now realizing the problem with building a hobbit-sized village with Hobbit-sized doors and ceiling heights…

A bigger issue might be the hobbits. Can’t have a shire without some hobbits walking around. Would it be PC to hire some little people walking around playing Hobbits? Obviously they can’t be barefoot but I’m sure there is a work around with costuming.
 

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
Lol hey if Gandalf can get in Bilbos house so we can we. But seriously that is a good point. Some of the charm would be lost scaling things up for us humans. Then again, we don’t be necessarily need to enter all of the homes/ buildings/ facades . Just an attraction, restaurant and shop. Most of the charm could be retained by the facades we don’t enter and just the pleasant aesthetic of the shire.
Maybe the portal turns us into Hobbits?
 

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
Trust me on this one: When you get a chance, see the first How To Train Your Dragon; it’s, IMO, one of the best animated films of all time, and one of the best fantasy films of any kind, live or animated. One of the guttsiest endings, too. Some people think the 2nd one is better (it’s much darker); I disagree. The first one’s screenplay is flawless storytelling.

(I agree about the wisdom of one or two more flexible lands).
HTTYD is one of the best Dreamworks franchises they have. I guess it can be as popular as Carsland. They could do a Flight of Passage ride ripoff with Toothless.
 

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
That’s a possibility but I’d rather they try to stick the true scale of the shire as much as possible as opposed to writing one sentence in a blog that explains why everything is “human sized.”
The Seven Dwarfs are human size. Why can't Universal get away with it?
iu
 

Professortango1

Well-Known Member
Too bad that hotel and lake take up so much space. I just worry about having just these IPs. In twenty years does anyone really care about How to Train Your Dragon?
I know I don't care about it now as I found the movies to be a bit overrated. But, if the land is detailed and has fun attractions, it will be popular. Waterworld is a terrible film and a great stunt show. Secret Life of Pets is an annoying franchise, but the ride is cute. I'm not a huger Potter Head, yet I find Diagon Alley to be the best theme park land I've ever experienced.
 

J4546

Well-Known Member
I know I don't care about it now as I found the movies to be a bit overrated. But, if the land is detailed and has fun attractions, it will be popular. Waterworld is a terrible film and a great stunt show. Secret Life of Pets is an annoying franchise, but the ride is cute. I'm not a huger Potter Head, yet I find Diagon Alley to be the best theme park land I've ever experienced.
Waterworld is NOT a terrible film.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom