For the first time ever, I tackle a Universal Studios park! This may have to be split up between one or two posts as I ended up writing five pages worth for USF.
HOLLYWOOD
Let’s start off with
Production Central, which just seems to be a dumping ground for random IP attractions in the vaguely studio-esque environment. I’d ditch this land so to speak, and make it part of the
Hollywood area, instead reinforcing the idea we are entering a world of films and movie magic. Likewise, Transformers, the recently closed Universal Monsters café, and the Universal Music Stage Plaza are incorporated into the
New York area.
Right away, I was really tempted to ditch
Minion Mayhem, but decided to simply reimagine it as a dark ride rather than a motion simulator. Personally, I feel the Minions are overrated, but
Despicable Me is really popular, so it deserves to stay. Here, Gru is plotting to make his own movie, and has “hired” the Minions to act as the crew. Of course, making a big production is no easy task as the Minions find out. Guests board “Grumobiles” and go on a tour through the production set as the Minions attempt to make a movie, only to lead to the expected chaos. With the final film ruined, Gru and the Minions just decide to throw a dance party and release that as the final movie. The show building could be expanded if necessary.
Villain-Con Minion Blast remains in the old Shrek 4-D building.
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Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket is departing as well, so we use up some now unusued space with a smaller attraction that serves better as an opening attraction to the magic of the movies.
Salute to Alfred Hitchcock appears as a golden age cinema, taking guests into a theatre house which plays a 20-minute tribute to Hitchcock’s career as the Master of Suspense, and his impact and influence upon the industry. The show could also have a few surprises, like have a live actor run through the audience as Norman Bates, or create the illusion that birds are attacking. I know that a DreamWorks property would be better fitting, but I wish to honour the studio’s filmmaking legacy, even if Orlando is more of a theme park than a movie studio.
The rest of Hollywood remains the same, though
E.T. Adventure becomes a proper part of the land. The
Horror Make-Up Show is sticking around too, because I feel it is quite hilarious, though perhaps mixing up the show’s variety would be a good idea, instead of sticking to the exact same routine with every sitting. Show a few more tricks of the trade, and interact with the HUGE prop room that makes up the stage. The Jason Bourne stunt show remains as well.
NEW YORK
I noticed two things about the New York section – it is heavily themed and has tons of intricate details, and has zero attractions based on IP actually set in New York. You can get away with the Blues Brothers of sorts, as street entertainment is always a plus. Seriously, New York is the setting for many, many movie and TV shows, and Universal decides to give Jimmy Fallon a ride?
Well, for starters, as said before,
Transformers remains, and is now incorporated into the New York area. Its huge, grey, blocky building is a real eyesore, so the exterior would be altered to look more inclined to blend in with the New York architecture. For now, the ride’s content would stay the same, but it could potentially change. And, yes, those awesome M&Gs with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron would stay. Perhaps introduce other characters too, including Starscream, etc.
Next,
Revenge of the Mummy sticks around in the National History Museum. However, I’d instead rework the story as promoting a brand new Egyptian archaeological exhibit in the museum, organized by the museum’s curator who personally led the dig, ignoring tales of a foreboding mummy’s curse, and you can pretty much guess what happens next. The ride layout is the same with slight alterations to fit to the new story.
Long ago, S.W. Wilson of Ideal Buildout made his own changes for Orlando, pitching an idea of a Ghostbusters ride that blends the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror with a first person shooting ride! So, Jimmy Fallon’s ride is out, and replaced by a Ghostbusters attraction inspired by such a concept.
Ghostbusters Spook Squad is based upon the original film and sequels, the ride is set within 550 Central Park West (aka “Spook Central”), though the Ghostbusters’ firehouse is right next door, due to paranormal shenanigans. Guests venture through the Ghostbusters’ offices, meeting a cast member, who is a Ghostbusters “recruitment agent”. Ray Spangler and Winston Zeddemore show up via video feeds or as animatronics, explaining supernatural activity is occurring across New York and caused the firehouse to merge with Spook Central, and it is up to the guests to clean house.
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Guests board vehicles (“Ecto-Pods”) into Spook Central, designed by Ray and Egon, armed with onboard proton packs. As you might have guessed, the ride would be a shooter ride combining screens and interactive set pieces. Guests venture up, down, and through the building in random routes, blasting and containing friendly and not so friendly ghosts across the floors. Slimer, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, Zuul, Vinz, and Gozer also appear amongst the phantoms at play. Like other such attractions, guests can rack up scores for how many ghosts they bust.
Ray’s Occult Books serves as the exit gift shop.
The Secret Life of Pets dark ride from Universal Studios Hollywood could be duplicated within the same neighbourhood to add in more family rides.
Just north of the new Ghostbusters building and next to Revenge of the Mummy lies Soundstage 33. This could very easily become a new attraction. I decided to go with
TMNT: Turtle Power, a Crush’s Coaster-sized indoor coaster, based within an TCRI chemical plant. Guests step into a back alley, passing by the Turtle Van, and into the building before stepping into the sewer tunnels. Hints and projected shadows hint at the presence of the titular heroes in a half-shell, passing by the spot where they were first mutated by the Ooze. We then enter the turtles’ hangout, boarding turtle-shaped spinning carts that send guests on a fast-paced ride through the sewers and plant, racing after the turtles as they try to fend off an attack by the Foot Clan and other enemies.
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SAN FRANCISCO
Fast & Furious Supercharged has often been described as a bad attraction, to the point that the creative heads of Universal apologised for its cheapness. As I said before, Universal has way too many simulation rides, but that doesn’t mean that such technology can’t be utilised in a different way. Both Transformers and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey are screen-based, but they have unique ride systems and a fun experience. I suppose Supercharged suffers because it is a
simulated Fast and Furious ride instead of being like Test-Track or Radiator Spring Racers. Sadly, there isn’t enough room to change the attraction, nor do I wish to put a Fast and Furious ride elsewhere, so we’re getting rid of it.
Universal is well known for King Kong, who got his own new attraction in the Islands of Adventure. So, why not give Godzilla an attraction too? Having two attractions based on the MonsterVerse may be deemed unnecessary, but if Harry Potter can have a presence in three parks, so can giant monsters.
Paying homage to the original King Kong Encounter at Universal Studios Hollywood,
Godzilla Unleashed is pitched as a well-to-do tour around San Francisco using a new anti-earthquake, open air, magnetic monorail system. However, things take a sudden turn as agents of Monarch take over the tour – Monarch being an international anti-kaiju organization – warning guests of an impending invasion of the city by various kaiju (Titans). Soon, the monorail is off on a wild ride around the city as it is curb stomped by Titans, on the hunt for radioactive food and begin hunting the monorail; which turns out to be fuelled by nuclear energy!
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Some Titans, like the volcanic Rodan, and the hungry MUTOs pose a threat, whilst the benevolent Mothra protects guests. Godzilla himself arrives to clear up the town, but poses a threat to both us and the other Titans, since he too is after the monorail. The attraction utilises stunning special effects, a fully immersive environment, and projections that rely on some forced perspective and clever lighting. Several life-sized animatronics would be introduced, such as Godzilla standing on equal level with the monorail to observe the frightened guests as they go by.
The attraction would wrap up with the appearance of King Ghidorah, Godzilla’s three-headed arch nemesis. Ghidorah trashes a power plant, unleashing a powerful blast of electricity upon Godzilla and the surrounding environment. Mothra swoops in, transferring energy to Godzilla, letting him fire an atomic breath that blows up Ghidorah. Guests escape unharmed, returning to the docking bay, where a reincarnated Mothra cocoon hangs, hinting at the goddess’ return.
Attached to the ride is the
Monarch Resources, a gift shop themed within a Monarch outpost and archive, which sells a city’s worth of MonsterVerse and Godzilla merchandise.
Springfield would remain the same, but make the Android Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, and the Kwik-E Mart both into more legitimate shops with plenty of visual gags and call backs to
The Simpsons.
BIKINI BOTTOM
The new DreamWorks area that replaced The KidZone is cute, but could have been so much more. Behind-the-scenes, there is an enormous area of space that could be used. In this alternate scenario,
SpongeBob SquarePants gains a land.
Beneath the waves lies the blubbering, bubble-brained denizens of Bikini Bottom, home of SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends. This new land adapts the never-built land that was supposed to appear in Universal Studios Beijing.
First off, the SpongeBob store will become a new entrance of E.T. to extend the queue line. The popular
Animals Actors On Location stage show may be a little dated, but it shall remain for the time being, now a part of the Hollywood land.
Bikini Bottom is an entirely indoor land, with the exterior resembling a large collection of shimmering bubbles and jellyfish. Guests would enter the land by entering through a veil of pink jellyfish, finding themselves in Bikini Bottom. Special lighting on the walls and ceiling create the illusion of sunlight coming from the ocean’s surface, as well as a water-like effect covering the ceiling. Jellyfish dance above us without a care in the world. A lot of hills and aquatic-looking plants are used to make the land.
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In one corner of the land, guests can visit the houses of SpongeBob and Squidward, as well as Patrick’s rock, for some character meet and greets. The land would have numerous restaurants and shops, based on locations within the cartoon. Most notably would be the
Krusty Krab, a sit-in fast food restaurant, with an indoor play area, a meet-and-greet spot, and, of course, a delicious menu featuring the Krabby Patty (and if you ask for the secret formula, cast members get to laugh in your face).
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Other establishments include the
Chum Bucket, Plankton’s rival restaurant,
Kelp Shake, a milkshake and dessert chain parlour,
Goofy Goober’s Ice Cream Party Boat,
Pizza Piehole,
Wet Noodle,
Taco Sombrero, and
The Salty Spittoon. Shops in Bikini Bottom include the
Barg’N-Mart supermarket, the
Palace of Pranks,
Angry Jack’s Shell Emporium which sells sea shells by the sea shore,
Near Mint Comic Books, and the
Toy Barrel.
Goo Lagoon is a large splash zone and play area based around Bikini Bottom’s popular brine pool, with Flying Dutchman’s ghostly shipped parked nearby, which guests can explore in an atmospheric, slightly spooky walkthrough.
Next door sits
Patrick’s Coralsel, a charming merry-go-round where guests can ride on seahorses, starfish, and other fish, in a two-tier ride that appears to have been built out of coral and barnacles.
Dance of the Jellyfish is a gentle spinner ride where guests of four, across six arms, are lifted into the air under a canopy of jellyfish tentacles, rotated and twirled around the jellyfish fields.
The biggest attraction of Bikini Bottom is
Mrs. Puff’s Boating School, a boat ride based on a popular episode of the show’s first season. Entering the titular boating school, guests are meant to be going on their own exams to see if they are worthy to crew boats in town, aided by an enthusiastic SpongeBob. But, our exams of avoiding the dangers of fin-tailing and catfishing are disrupted when the boat’s motor kicks into high gear, propelling guests right off course, around Bikini Bottom, down a gentle drop, and into the dark, creepy Rock Bottom, before we are able to find our way safely back home.
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POKÉMON PARK
Another new addition is Pokémon Park, acting as a cousin to Super Nintendo World. There is plenty of room towards the back of the park behind Bikini Bottom, sacrificing the backstage area in order to celebrate one of Nintendo’s greatest video game franchises.
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Pokémon Park has two entrances through Bikini Bottom and World Expo. Entering the land from Bikini Bottom takes us through a Pokéball-shaped gateway into the wonderful world of Pokémon. A key inclusion in the land should be how to integrate the franchise’ gaming and battles. Park Lore made the perfect land for this on their own take on Islands of Adventure, especially with the inclusion of
Pokémon GO as a major, interactive part of the land’s experiences. Through similar technology like the Wizarding World wands, guests can catch, train, and battle with wild Pokémon found around the land (and possibly in other Nintendo lands), as well those they already own in video games.
The park itself is presented as a community that studies the bonds between trainers and Pokémon, set in a vaguely Mediterranean region we shall call
Iroikos. Amongst ancient ruins and inviting homes are several attractions that support the trainer’s journey.
Pokémon Lab: I Choose You! invites newcomers and veterans to select their starter Pokémon for their journey, involving a roster of established Pokémon from each region, as well as some new ones that either tie-in to newer games or some exclusive to the park. The options to battle Pokémon and others are available around the land in
Battle Hubs, which guests can use via their phones and interactive wristbands to participate in battles straight form the games. There would be a Pokédex to fill out, with many Pokémon available to catch in Iroikos, hidden from view or appearing through interactive encounters in different environments.
The ever present
Pokémon Centre and
PokéMart both serve as merchandise stores, but with focus on different goodies to match their purposes in the franchise (recovery and shopping). Pokéballs can be bought in the both, but a large variety and custom made options are available in the PokéMart.
Pokémon Gym Battles is a sit-in live experience in which a remarkable combo of actors, animatronics, special effects, stunts, etc. recreate a gym match before the audience’s eyes. Such a feat that relies on a highly advanced technology but with an uneven capacity rate and need for downtime would be unrealistic, but that’s what blue sky is on. Imagine sitting in an audience and see a real life Pokémon battle occurring before your eyes. The rosters on both teams would rotate, with a variety of different Pokémon animatronics on hand to participate in battles. Stunt performers and actors would participate as well, even serving as substitutes should the animatronics malfunction.
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There would be some more traditional attractions. These would include
Pikachu Play-a-Round, an aerial carousel where giant Pikachu bounce up and down in a woodland.
Latias and Latios Sky Dive are a pair of dual coasters that fly across the whole land as the two legendary dragons take guests on a fun ride.
Evolution Rotation is a heavily themed carousel where all the horses are replaced by the Eeveelutions and other Pokémon.
The final attraction is
Pokémon Snap: Flash Flood, a pair of duelling river rapid routes which take guests on fun and wet journeys down ancient rapids based around forgotten ruins that are home to both rare and legendary Pokémon. Along the way, guests can attempt to take photographs of Pokémon as they pass them by; which can be downloaded/printed after the ride is over. The duelling aspect gives guests two adventures to go on, with one being lighter and gentler, and the other is faster and more like to get them soaked.
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Rounding out the land are two restaurants – the
Catch ‘Em All Café, a cozy and warm forest-themed café and coffeehouse where guests can enjoy fresh baked goods, ice cream, and tea, as well as meet various Pokémon, including a dancing Pikachu troupe. The second is
Hall of Victory, adjacent to the Gym, a table service restaurant celebrating Pokémon’s history in the style of a League Hall of Fame.
FEAR FACTOR LIVE?
The final spot is the Fear Factor Live arena, which closed several years ago. I have several options for what to do with this space.
The first would be to expand the Wizarding World, which revolutionised Universal’s place on the theme park stage. As the Ministry of Magic is being built in Epic Universe, that idea is out of bounds. One idea is to create an attraction based upon the Knight Bus, using simulator technology like Star Tours to make a fast-paced and bumpy ride as the triple-decker bus races across the United Kingdom. The alternative would be to demolish Fast and Furious and transform San Francisco into another section of the Wizarding World, then put the Knight Bus ride there, and use Fear Factor’s space for something else.
A second idea was to expand the presence of
Men in Black, introducing an additional attraction or experience to World Expo, further exploring the comedic world of aliens and government agents. An idea was to create a secret alien community in Flushing Meadows, which is routinely monitored and visited by the Men in Black, creating a unique but small mini-land that could be was what Galaxy’s Edge failed to live up to. I can imagine a dark ride involving a theft by alien criminals, so we as Men in Black recruits/agents, must chase them through backstreets, sewers, and spaceships to get back the stolen goods (Orion’s Belt perhaps?).
A third idea is to sacrifice Men in Black in favour of an older property, specifically
Back to the Future. The death of one of Universal’s most beloved attractions still lingers, but both Doc Browne’s Delorean and time train remain in the park. Alien Attack would be replaced by a refreshed version of Back to the Future: The Ride, whilst Hill Valley’s square and courthouse are replicated as a façade, set in the 1950s with all the locations from the film present as shops and restaurants.
