IOA Expansion

J

johnvree

Member
Original Poster
I know it's still kind of new, but does anyone know if there is any expansion planned for this park? Another thread got me thinking about this. The park could really use a couple more mid level dark rides.

I am unfamiliar with the property. Is there room for expansion outward?

Thanks for any information.
 
CTXRover

CTXRover

Well-Known Member
The park is nearly 5 years old without any real plans for any major additions during that time or soon thereafter. There was talk of a new "E-ticket" ride based on Van Helsing being designed for IOA to counter Everest's opening, but Universal canned the idea because of increasing costs for the budgeted $45 million ride. At this point, there are no real firm plans for expansion that anyone is aware of, but it might just be really good secret.

IOA has some, very little, but some room for expansion. As an aside, to pay for increasing debt loads at Universal, Universal Orlando sold off all its prized expansion land that would/could have held two more theme parks, golf resorts, another shopping district, and several other resorts only a few months ago.
 
Legacy

Legacy

Well-Known Member
A coaster or indoor thrill-ride will be built near Jurassic Park, either behind ThunderFalls Terrace or the Pizzasaurus stand. After that, it is hasn't even been discussed in rumors. Unfortunately the park doesn't have a lot of space for 'expansion', so to speak. It has the room for (maybe) three new rides without crossing the service road that encircles the park. It's quite land-locked as theme parks go.
 
AndyMagic

AndyMagic

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by CTXRover
As an aside, to pay for increasing debt loads at Universal, Universal Orlando sold off all its prized expansion land that would/could have held two more theme parks, golf resorts, another shopping district, and several other resorts only a few months ago.
Click to expand...
This is incorrect. Universal Orlando (along with all the other theme parks and studios) were sold to NBC. The Lockhead Expansion was not part of the deal and thus Vivendi was still the rightful owner. To counter VIVDENDI'S debt, they sold the expansion land. Universal Theme Parks and Studios were actually perfectly in the green.
 
CTXRover

CTXRover

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by AndyMagic
This is incorrect. Universal Orlando (along with all the other theme parks and studios) were sold to NBC. The Lockhead Expansion was not part of the deal and thus Vivendi was still the rightful owner. To counter VIVDENDI'S debt, they sold the expansion land. Universal Theme Parks and Studios were actually perfectly in the green.
Click to expand...

I apologize for not addressing this "technicality". Universal Studios, with the exception of its music group, were sold to General Electric, the parent company for NBC. However, to my knowledge, this deal is still being finalized and is still not complete (although it is virtually 100% certain to go through). Technically, the land was sold as another means to help pay for the increasing debt loads at the company formerly known as "Vivendi Universal" before the GE acquisition was complete. In fact, the larger scale sale of the studios, theme parks, etc. to GE was another means by which Vivendi Universal was helping to pay off its debt loads. So technically, at the time the land was sold, it was sold to help pay for increasing debts at "Universal", as I stated above, but not necessarily the debt from the Universal Orlando resort. Sorry for not being this clear before....

Either way, the land is no longer available to Universal Orlando to use for expansion.
 
Chux

Chux

Member
Word on the street is that the Van Hellsing ride with the Robot-Arm will be built behind The Flying Unicorn, in the Lost Continent

From IOAHQ.com
Earlier this week Universal published its first declared acknowlegement of a Van Helsing based attraction at its Hollywood theme park this week. However this van Helsing attraction will be drastically different than they rumored Islands of Adventure version, it will be instead a terror-filled maze, set to open this May.

And while me may still be a long ways off, and maybe even longer away from an official statement from Universal regarding this attraction, many see this week's moves by Universal announcing the Hollywood Van Helsing themed attraction bodes well for its future Islands of Adventure brethren.
Click to expand...
 
Legacy

Legacy

Well-Known Member
The more recent word is saying that plans for the Van Helsing attraction has been axed due to rising budget costs.

I'm expecting to see either the JP Jeep Safari or roller coaster.
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
In five years that they have been open, the only additions have been a spin&puke and a kiddie coaster.

I have an AP to Universal, but I don't go to IOA much anymore simply because I am bored with it.

A few years ago, I was driving down Turkey Lake road and I noticed that they had some large black balloons flying in the vacant area next to JP. This is common practive before installing new rides to see how the ride will effect the views inside the park. When I drove back the other way, the balloons were gone...this was all done before 9am. Again, this was a couple of years ago, and nothing has been completed.

Anyway, I will be enjoying the other Orlando parks this summer, esp the new Mummy rc next door.
 
AndyMagic

AndyMagic

Well-Known Member
Seeing as how IOA is almost all E-tickets and opened with so many rides, it is in fine shape. Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom was supposed to open with the park in 1998 and their first new ride will be EE in 2006 so that is 8 years before a new ride. Dino-Rama would be on par with Flying Unicorn and Storm Force and don't really count. Considering the lack of rides at AK, I'd say that park is in far worse shape. IOA's new ride will most likely open in late 2006 or early 2007 which seems reasonable to me when you take into account IOA's large amount of E-tickets. Remember, Universal usually doesn't announce new rides until a year before they open. Disney loves to announce them 3 years before they open.
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
Yes, IOA did open with a great amount of E-tickets. If anything, they were Eticket heavy, and needed more mid-level rides, which they still kind of do.

A new Eticket would be nice, as it would give a lot of ppl something additional to do, but they do need a bunch of mid-level rides, if, for nothing else, shorten the lines on the existing Etickets.
 
aimster

aimster

Active Member
I'll ask my friend who works at Universal next time I talk to her if she knows anything. Man and I just saw her earlier today too, but I didn't come online until just now so....
 
speck76

speck76

Well-Known Member
I had previously asked a friend of mine that works at IOA, and he did not know anything, but he has the attention span of a goldfish, so that did not surprise me.

I like you sig aimster, that is one of my favorite Friends episodes.
 
AndyP

AndyP

Active Member
Universal should be congratulated for opening a complete park unlike AK. A new E-Ticket ride would be great, I'm sure we all agree, but you can't complain when there is more than enough things to do there already! (Many rides which people love to ride twice or more each visit!)
 
dxwwf3

dxwwf3

Well-Known Member
Yes UO did do a great thing by opening IOA as a complete park. BUT, 5 years later it doesn't seem like such a good idea to me. I'm ready for a new attraction at IOA. I think they could've gotten away with only one of the Toon Lagoon rides at opening and I wish they would've taken more time on Dr. Doom's Fearfall so they could've made it better (I'm not exactly sure how, but I know they could've thought of something :lol: ). I guess my point is when you are used to the way WDW can just open new things as they please (because of the blessing of size), it's hard to get used to the way UO, and DL for that matter, is set up.
 
Turtle

Turtle

Well-Known Member
Chux said:
Word on the street is that the Van Hellsing ride with the Robot-Arm will be built behind The Flying Unicorn, in the Lost Continent
Click to expand...
What would be cool is with that robot arm they make a ride thru the harry potter films! and it can be part of a whole land that takes over lost continent! wouldn't that be cool?
 

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