Universal to build a new On-Site Hotel

[maxairmike]

Not that I'm bashing the Coco Key in particular -- I've never stayed there and don't know anything about it beyond a peek at its website (it does have a waterpark, so it certainly seems to offer more than just a standard hotel).

Slight tangent, but I got to enjoy the hotel during their media evening (oh man was the food delicious, not to mention free!) and it seemed like a very nice place. The rooms were very comfortable and tastefully decorated. The common areas were very nice and overall I was very impressed with what they did with a 40 year old building.

 

[marni1971]

Who owns the land Wet and Wild is on? If it Universal? I know they run Wet and Wild, but I didn't know if they only rented the land or actually own it... Once the new water park is built, Went n Wild is expendable...

Guess who...

 

[WDW1974]

Perhaps they're looking to buy some of the land back they had sold off in 2003 that had been previously owned by lockheed. I've been lurking for awhile and I know martin hinted at uni buying the land back, unless I misinterpreted his post. In the NYT thread right here, he says "what's to stop Uni buying more land / taking back into ownership? Aside from the spare land they already have?" Now we have spirit also saying they're looking to acquire more land, so I figured I'd put the two together.

Maybe it was just an innocent question, though I interpreted it as a hint that Universal is heading in that direction or at least thinking about it. Hopefully Martin or Spirit can elaborate and tell us if that is indeed the land they're talking about, though I have the feeling they would rather keep us guessing . Either way, I'm excited to see what UNI has planned for the future. It's good to see Comcast is willing to inject so much money into the parks.

I need to be careful how I phrase this so ... please understand. I would expect BIG things from UNI in the future, both on land that currently is either owned by them or may well be soon. UNI's footprint is going to get MUCH larger ... like Yet... I mean Kong sized in the next few years.

So while Disney fans think there's a theme park war going on, the fundamental problem (for Mouse lovers like us) is only one side is getting ready for battle.

Does that help? I need to head to bed ... feeling older tonight!

 

[WDW1974]

To me, a hotel is a place you stay at to visit another place, and a resort is a destination in itself.

Resort to me is something that a classy hotel would not call itself. Unless at a beach, or for wintersports.

Yeah ... which always es me off with Disney ... I'm sorry but while I may enjoy a room at the or ASMu or POP (and I like them all to some degree, believe it or not), they are NOT resorts. That's laughable. They are very basic motel rooms with nice food courts (some better than others) and pools and larger than life decorations on/around each building.

 

[WDW1974]

Oh, and Dr. Phillips HS is quite safe. That isn't where UNI is looking and they'd never get the community to go along with that either.

 

[ChrisFL]

I need to be careful how I phrase this so ... please understand. I would expect BIG things from UNI in the future, both on land that currently is either owned by them or may well be soon. UNI's footprint is going to get MUCH larger ... like Yet... I mean Kong sized in the next few years.

 

[HenryMystic]

I need to be careful how I phrase this so ... please understand. I would expect BIG things from UNI in the future, both on land that currently is either owned by them or may well be soon. UNI's footprint is going to get MUCH larger ... like Yet... I mean Kong sized in the next few years.

So while Disney fans think there's a theme park war going on, the fundamental problem (for Mouse lovers like us) is only one side is getting ready for battle.

Does that help? I need to head to bed ... feeling older tonight!

I shall have sweet dreams tonight

 

[chocotaco]

UNI's footprint is going to get MUCH larger

Awesome, I'm loving the sound of this!

... like Yet... I mean Kong sized in the next few years.

I sense you chose your words wisely here

Does that help? I need to head to bed ... feeling older tonight!

Yes, that helps in many ways. Thank You!

 

[Mike C]

That leaves east of Universal/Major and the parts of land they still own near Lockheed (which includes shingle creek from the turnpike down to the beeline, including the area on the northwest side of John Young Pkwy, and Sand Lake Rd.)

Major is about half empty at this point. And a bunch of businesses were bulldozed along the back side near I-4 a year and a half ago. Although using the property appraiser website It looks like its currently owned by a group that normally does car dealerships.

If they got the Major Blvd area from Orlando-Vineland Rd. south to I-4, it would be large enough for a 3rd park. The only trick would be building ways to get there from the garages (bridges over Kirkman) Interesting to speculate on all this, for sure.

 

[djlaosc]

I know that it's a bit further away, but isn't Festival Bay Mall nearly empty now? It seems to be a large bit of land.

There would be a few issues though - Premium Outlets are in the way from Major Blvd (although if they are expanding the Vineland Avenue site, maybe they would be willing to get bought out to help fund that?). Another issue would be that there would be multiple roads that you'd have to cross to get to the current parking garages.

If they really wanted to go big (Kong sized?), International Drive seems to get less busy after Universal Boulevard/Wet 'n' Wild. But, could Universal really take over the top of International Drive?

If they could get most of the land with...

• "Vineland Road" to the North
• "Florida's Turnpike"/"Ronald Reagan Turnpike" to the East
• "International Drive" to the South
• "Universal Boulevard"/"South Kirkman Road" to the West

...surely that would allow them endless possibilities?

Even bigger...

• Vineland Road" to the North
• "Florida's Turnpike"/"Ronald Reagan Turnpike" to the East
• "Universal Boulevard" to the South
• "Universal Boulevard"/"South Kirkman Road" to the West

Obviously, I donb't know how realistic that would be,but there seems to be a lot of empty green space south of "West Sand Lake Road"/north of "Universal Boulevard" (of course, it could be football pitches for all I know...)

 

[marni1971]

Now you guys are starting to get what the last line in my signature means. It's only been like that for the last 6 months or so...

 

[disneyny]

Very interesting thread. As someone who in the past had no real desire to visit Universal I keep getting more excited about their parks. We did visit once back in the 90's when they first opened and I was in middle or high school. I am thinking next trip to Orlando we will be taking a day or two to visit. I love all the anticipation and insider hints that comes before something exciting- even though I wish it was something at Disney!

 

[djlaosc]

Now you guys are starting to get what the last line in my signature means. It's only been like that for the last 6 months or so...

I never saw that line...

I know that my guess is completely ridiculous (although if we're going "Kong-sized" then are we talking a "Florida Project" like buy-up of land? (obviously not in size - even the area that I'm thinking about is probably only about 1/3 of WDW (although I don't know where the WDW boundaries are))) but is that what we're thinking here? If so, that would be amazing for the future!


By the way, actually how ridiculous is my guess?

 

[Jim Handy]

I have no information on what areas Universal is looking at. Like I said earlier, and now Spirit has said, the High School is not a possibility. I don't know the state of occupancy in the surrounding residential areas, but I'd count those as tough, but not impossible.

I believe the best opportunities are the large area with hotels on the opposite side of South Kirkman bordered by Major Blvd. There's also more land, including vacant land between Major and I4. So the entire area from South Kirkman east to I4 seems in play to me, and is a very large area. I'm not sure what the status of the land directly south of the Cabana bay plot is, but I'd call that viable. Depending on how far from the existing resort they'd want to go, there is a large and partially undeveloped plot between 435 and International Drive.

 

[djlaosc]

I have no information on what areas Universal is looking at. Like I said earlier, and now Spirit has said, the High School is not a possibility. I don't know the state of occupancy in the surrounding residential areas, but I'd count those as tough, but not impossible.

I believe the best opportunities are the large area with hotels on the opposite side of South Kirkman bordered by Major Blvd. There's also more land, including vacant land between Major and I4. So the entire area from South Kirkman east to I4 seems in play to me, and is a very large area. I'm not sure what the status of the land directly south of the Cabana bay plot is, but I'd call that viable. Depending on how far from the existing resort they'd want to go, there is a large and partially undeveloped plot between 435 and International Drive.

I think that last part is possibly the area that I was thinking about above - as I said, I think that Festival Bay at the moment is supposed to be a ghost town - there's hardly any shops open there (Universal closed down their Outlet) and I don't know what the "International Drive Value Center is".

I would guess that if they started to move away from the existing resort, then they could build their own version of the TTC at Disney, and some more parking garages.

Would Universal be willing to build a monorail around their land if they expanded as far as this?

 

[cheezbat]

Best guess would be that Universal buys out the land on the other side of Kirkman, adds a few more hotels and a theme park to that side of the property. There's enough land over there if they kick out existing tenants. That property has been on the decline in the last decade.

I'm really loving the momentum Universal seems to be building right now. Disney better watch out...there is some very fierce competition ahead!

 

[Captain Chaos]

Guess who...

Well, if Universal is renting the land, obviously they don't own it... I wouldn't think Disney owns it but then again, i could be wrong with that too.. LOL

 

[Jimmy Thick]

ROTFL!!!

I wish I could stand in front of all the doom and gloomers and sing this response in my deep baritone right to their faces, but please imagine it instead.

* Jimmy clears throat *

First off, people are getting excited over a resort, a value/moderate resort Universal won't even own? Ooooooooooooooookkkkkk.

It has a 50's/60's vibe that Disney has done already with Pop Century. Originality if a lost art apparently...

Universal is taking away the ONLY thing worth wild about actually staying at one of the Universal resorts for this new resort, the front of the line access. That is HUGE but people are not bright enough to see this. Just imagine if Disney made Fastpass available only to people staying at the deluxe resorts, this board would cry until tears started coming out of their fingertips if Disney did this, Universal just did and it accepted? Are you people serious? Do you people actually read what you type BEFORE you click on the post reply button? Universal took away front of the line access for the cheap hotel. Let me segregate this little gem so it can hopefully sink it, I'll even take the time to add color.

Universal took away the front of the line access for guests staying at the new resort!!!

The best things about the Universal resorts is this feature, you can easily do both parks in one day because of it, without it, you're still better off staying off site, its still going to be cheaper.

Sorry to burst the "Universal is great" bubble...Actually no, Iam not sorry, I rather enjoy it, but there is a reason Disney, who just got done building a fabulous new value resort with family suites that now apparently Universal wants to try to do itself, don't consider Universal real competition, because they are not. It goes back to my old analogy, if Universal was brewing NextGen, this board would be calling them innovators and pushing the envelope, Disney is doing it and its a waste?

Nah, the more the world turns, the more its apparent Universal is trying to catch up to the real innovators.



Jimmy Thick- Disney World will always be the king!!!

 

[lazyboy97o]

It has a 50's/60's vibe that Disney has done already with Pop Century. Originality if a lost art apparently...

Your thickness shows itself once again. Pop Century has some 50s and 60s themed decorations. That is not the same as what Universal has announced, a themed experience. I know you probably won't get the different, but there is one and it is significant because they are ultimately two very different things.

 

[GLaDOS]

Long post from Jimmy. He must be worried his self made reality is crumbling in front of him.

Universal will own 25% of the hotel, just as they do with the others. Nothing to see here from this rambling post.

People will pay to stay on property because...it's ON PROPERTY! Having everything within walking distance or a short boat ride away is a huge perk. Not to mention getting early access at the parks and discounted items using your room key. Just because you live in your own pocket universe where Uni can do nothing right doesn't mean it's true.

Crawl back into your hole, troll. I'll be enjoying Transformers, Gringotts Coaster, Hogwarts Express, the new resort, and a new water park while you're getting your jollies from getting a picture taken with Ariel.