Universal Orlando Getting Bigger, Better, Wetter, Wilder

[squidward]

IOA had a big jump when Potter 1 opened, Universal Studios not so much.

No offense, but duh.

Why don't you wait and see when 2014's numbers come out, and keep in mind, Diagon Alley was only open for half the year. As I said earlier, there are reports that Universal Studios attendance for 2015 will surpass both DHS and Animal Kingdom.

 

[BrerJon]

I wouldn't be surprised if Dr. Doom's is removed in the near future.

I will be gutted if Doctor Doom goes, it's one of my favourite rides in the park and probably the only thing I'm guaranteed to do every trip.

I love it because there's never a line, thanks to the secret Single Rider entrance that few seem to notice, and because there's always so much construction and new secret stuff at Universal that whichever seat you're in you get amazing views of work in progress.

There's only one view in the whole of WDW - from the top of Summit Plummit - that surpasses that from the top of Fearfall, in my opinion, so it would be a shame to lose it.

 

[WondersOfLife]

I will be gutted if Doctor Doom goes, it's one of my favourite rides in the park and probably the only thing I'm guaranteed to do every trip.

 

[Donald Razorduck]

Almost every Brazilian tour group that comes to Orlando hits all the parks. They usually stay at the Disney "values". Or off property.

Take the Brazil out of it, at least half everyone else was European, Asian, or Aussie.

 

[danlb_2000]

And we have to remember we have no "post Diagon Alley" numbers yet. The growth so far is all Hogsmeade, Transformers, other improvements. The 2014 numbers should be out soon and we know profits were excellent. But since it was only open half a year, we need to revisit the impact in 2016 when the 2015 numbers hit.

There was a bet on here a while back that a Uni park would pass a WDW park in attendance the first full year after the opening of Diagon Alley (based on the TEA number). I think this is very possible especially if they start major work on DHS this year or next which may hurt it's numbers.

 

[danlb_2000]

I'm not a huge fan of Gringott's, but the mine train is the biggest disappointment at WDW. They spent years on it, and it's not much more than a watered down BTMRR with one really cool scene. Would have been much better to create an actual dark ride.

I don't think NFL is an improvement at all. They got rid of an all time classic. They opened up a bunch of new stores, that are absolutely no different than the dozens of other shops in the park. While we enjoyed the ambiance of BoG, the hassle to get in for dinner along with the prices and sub-par food, makes it a place we won't go back to. I would eat ay Mythos any day of the week over BoG.

I would much rather see the parks do something ambitious and fall all little short like Gringotts, then play it safe with something like the Mine Ride.

 

[squidward]

I would much rather see the parks do something ambitious and fall all little short like Gringotts, then play it safe with something like the Mine Ride.

I totally agree. I think the entire idea of a roller coaster for Mine Ride was poor. The one scene with all the dwarfs is incredible and is really where Disney shines. They should have made a long dark ride with scenes like those, and it would have been spectacular.

 

[mahnamahna101]

What do you classify not a big seller? I heard that at least 25 percent of Universal theme park goers at a 1 day, 1 park pass. If you go by 2013 numbers:

Islands of Adventure was 8.1 million
Universal Studios Florida 7.1 million

IOA had a big jump when Potter 1 opened, Universal Studios not so much.

But Diagon Alley as well as the Transformers/Springfield spillover will push USF past 8 million. HE will also ensure some kind of an increase for IOA.

I could see both parks having 10 million+/year by MK's 50th. Those new additions aren't going to decrease attendance. Both could be at 8.5-9 million by 2016.

I will be gutted if Doctor Doom goes, it's one of my favourite rides in the park and probably the only thing I'm guaranteed to do every trip.

I love it because there's never a line, thanks to the secret Single Rider entrance that few seem to notice, and because there's always so much construction and new secret stuff at Universal that whichever seat you're in you get amazing views of work in progress.

There's only one view in the whole of WDW - from the top of Summit Plummit - that surpasses that from the top of Fearfall, in my opinion, so it would be a shame to lose it.

To be honest, Doom may be fun, but it pales in comparison to the theming of the rest of IOA. Something similar to ToT would be a much better addition for a world-class theme park destination than a Six Flags spaceshot.

If losing Doom and the Carnage warehouse means Spidey and Hulk remain unscathed, while we still get an Avengers/Iron Man/GotG E-ticket... so be it. It could even be a ToT-esque attraction to maintain that visual weenie aspect!

 

[twebber55]

No offense, but duh.

Why don't you wait and see when 2014's numbers come out, and keep in mind, Diagon Alley was only open for half the year. As I said earlier, there are reports that Universal Studios attendance for 2015 will surpass both DHS and Animal Kingdom.

but to be honest Universals numbers went up quite a bit (maybe 10%) the year Potter opened

 

[bhg469]

but to be honest Universals numbers went up quite a bit (maybe 10%) the year Potter opened

Well i was certainly one more turnstile click today. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit today. rode my first ever outdoor inverted coaster today too (dueling dragons) Kong looks huge and the water park seems like what they need but I think a 3rd gate will truly make them shin. Where they would put it.... that I don't know.

 

[squidward]

If Universal opens a 3rd park before Disney opens a 5th, this whole discussion shifts just that much more. And from the looks of it, it's going to happen. While Disney is busy adding on DVC units which 99% of the park goers can't afford, Universal is in the planning stages for a water park, a 6th onsite hotel (that people can afford) and a 3rd theme park. It's about priorities. If Disney had it's straight, the second they purchased Star Wars, plans should have been in the works for at least a major overhaul to DHS. And maybe they were, but if that's the case, as always, they're working at a snails pace.

 

[bhg469]

If Universal opens a 3rd park before Disney opens a 5th, this whole discussion shifts just that much more. And from the looks of it, it's going to happen. While Disney is busy adding on DVC units which 99% of the park goers can't afford, Universal is in the planning stages for a water park, a 6th onsite hotel (that people can afford) and a 3rd theme park. It's about priorities. If Disney had it's straight, the second they purchased Star Wars, plans should have been in the works for at least a major overhaul to DHS. And maybe they were, but if that's the case, as always, they're working at a snails pace.

I have no doubt in my mind that universal will have a third gate in the works before star wars is built.

 

[NJBrandon]

If Universal opens a 3rd park before Disney opens a 5th, this whole discussion shifts just that much more. And from the looks of it, it's going to happen. While Disney is busy adding on DVC units which 99% of the park goers can't afford, Universal is in the planning stages for a water park, a 6th onsite hotel (that people can afford) and a 3rd theme park. It's about priorities. If Disney had it's straight, the second they purchased Star Wars, plans should have been in the works for at least a major overhaul to DHS. And maybe they were, but if that's the case, as always, they're working at a snails pace.

Actually, to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if they shoot for an ultra-deluxe hotel for hotel #6 since they will already have Cabana as the value and Sapphire as the moderate.

 

[BrerJon]

Well i was certainly one more turnstile click today. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit today. rode my first ever outdoor inverted coaster today too (dueling dragons) Kong looks huge and the water park seems like what they need but I think a 3rd gate will truly make them shin. Where they would put it.... that I don't know.

I'm pretty sure the third gate will eventually go where it was always supposed to, on the old Lockheed Martin land, with bus transportation linking it to the main resort.

Universal sold the land off when Vivendi purchased them, but the developer who purchased it, Thomas Enterprises, seems to have suffered in the recession as despite great plans for 'The Boulevard', not a shovel of dirt has been shifted and the land is just as barren as when Universal sold it.

Here is an article on the fate of the guy who Universal sold all their expansion land to - I don't know if the situation has changed now:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...bt-tax-certificates-big-commercial-properties

Thomas Ent. seems to have plenty of financial troubles, and getting the Orlando project off the ground has been tough. If a massively generous offer came in from Universal, with all their extra cash, I can see them getting it back quite easily. My suspicion is this has already been dealt with and Universal are just waiting until they max out their current property before revealing their cards.

If they do get that area back, Universal Orlando will have enough land to hold all the ideas and plans they can possibly imagine.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I'm pretty sure the third gate will eventually go where it was always supposed to, on the old Lockheed Martin land, with bus transportation linking it to the main resort.

Universal sold the land off when Vivendi purchased them, but the developer who purchased it, Thomas Enterprises, seems to have suffered in the recession as despite great plans for 'The Boulevard', not a shovel of dirt has been shifted and the land is just as barren as when Universal sold it.

Here is an article on the fate of the guy who Universal sold all their expansion land to:
http://www.ajc.com/news/business/stan-thomas-an-atlanta-developer-with-outsized-dre/nQZ8J/

With all their extra cash, and with a fair amount of cleanup still to be done (it was a missile testing range so there was lots of toxic waste to shift - the job was incomplete when Universal sold) - no-one apart from Universal has the resources to utilise that land, so they should be able to buy it from Thomas, or the bankruptcy courts, or whoever owns it if Thomas sold it... maybe they already have, and we just don't know it yet.

If they do get that area back, Universal Orlando will have enough land to hold all the ideas and plans they can possibly imagine.

How odd would it be for I Drive and Universal Blvd. to literally divide the park into quadrants?

 

[ford91exploder]

I have no doubt in my mind that universal will have a third gate in the works before star wars is built.

At the rate UNI builds (and DIS USED to) it's possible a 3'rd gate will be open before SW land is open...

 

[ford91exploder]

How odd would it be for I Drive and Universal Blvd. to literally divide the park into quadrants?

Not that odd - but fun!

 

[Mike S]

At the rate UNI builds (and DIS USED to) it's possible a 3'rd gate will be open before SW land is open...

All depends on when Uni wants it open. From how it's been talked about i've gotten the impression that they would do it next decade, not anytime really soon. They're focused on beefing up their current parks first.

 

[ford91exploder]

All depends on when Uni wants it open. From how it's been talked about i've gotten the impression that they would do it next decade, not anytime really soon. They're focused on beefing up their current parks first.

That's what I've heard as well, But if they get a huge boost in attendance you can bet they will have something built in 1-2 years in addition to the 10-15,000 hotel rooms UNI is planning to build in the next 5 years.

 

[TheTourist]

Universal is going to get my next theme park vacation because it seems like they are figuring out what made Disney great in the past.

I went to Disney World twice last year after a 23 year hiatus. I thought AK was a wonderfully themed park with a lack of rides, while HS was a mess with some cool rides. EPCOT made me sad, and New Fantasyland was a letdown. I can't believe the same Disney that created EPCOT created New Fantasyland, but I CAN believe that the Disney that let EPCOT wither did. Sure, Be Our Guest is nicely themed and it's great to be able to have a glass of wine in the MK, but Mermaid and 7DMT had me perplexed. Mermaid is a dark ride that would have been intriguing in 1971 but was a meh experience for me. The mine train has one great scene and a smooth ride system, but there wasn't enough "there" there.

I'm going to try Universal because I think I'll get more bang for my buck. I just felt like I was being gouged for my nostalgia at Disney, and I have to believe the Potter lands blow New Fantasyland away.