SplashJacket
Well-Known Member
As far as amusement parks go, UK has some great ones, but they don’t compare with the true theme parks across Europe.
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Universal UK?
- Thread starter Robbiem
- Start date
That makes them amusement parks
Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
The UK currently has both theme parks and amusement parks. Generally the ones previously Tussauds owned and now Merlin Entertainments are theme parks, they are not just off the shelf rides plonked down, they use landscaping and themed structures to improve the experience. Alton Towers has a lot more theming than most Six Flags parks.
Parks like Blackpool Peasure Beach, Adventure Island etc are amusement parks with little or no themed structures.
Parks like Blackpool Peasure Beach, Adventure Island etc are amusement parks with little or no themed structures.
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
With a population of ~28M southern England produces ~2.35M visits to Alton Towers, seems some enjoy it and find it a value. The MerlinPass or whatever it's called helps a bunch
I do not dispute that Alton Towers does well in the field that it does. Take something like Gullivers Amusement/Theme Parks and it blows it out of the water in every respect. The money it charges for its entrance fee demonstrates the maintenance and planning that goes in. The same can be said of LegoLand and the fact that they to a degree have a large amount of theming.
The point I was making however is that I fear that Universal UK would see what the UK public were used to and get lazy and reduce their effort in the UK Parks. Making something that the Alton Tower crowd would lap up without putting out the same effort they do for their US parks.
The point I was making however is that I fear that Universal UK would see what the UK public were used to and get lazy and reduce their effort in the UK Parks. Making something that the Alton Tower crowd would lap up without putting out the same effort they do for their US parks.
I don’t. It’d likely be done by the same people that made Wizarding World and who are now making Epic Universe. No need to let those decades of experience go to waste.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
Middle Earth will be jaw dropping.
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
Going to sell a lot of plane tickets
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
Living in the UK and loving visiting Florida I just don't think I'll get anywhere near the same feel of 'escapism' visiting a version here in England. Not a criticism of Universal and I'd feel the same if a Disney park opened here, it's hard to explain but I just don't feel excited about it.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
Yeah, no palm trees and impressive heat. Haha. But based on the last 2 ground up "Resorts" Universal has built (Universal Beijing Resort and UOR South Campus (Epic+Hotels), I think there is a lot to be positive about.
I have heard their plan is not only to not cannibalize Orlando's attendance, but sell packages to U.S. Universal fans.
This may be Universal's best park yet.
DonniePeverley
Well-Known Member
Damp miserable weather doesn't help.
But Paris is also pretty miserarble in winter and autumn, yet you do still feel the magic in moments.
cjkeating
Well-Known Member
There are lots of parks in Europe with similiar climates to the UK which operate succesfully and offer a great guest experience in winter weather. Europa Park, Efteling, Phantasialand etc.
DonniePeverley
Well-Known Member
Nonsense. Alot of parks in Europe close in the winter as there is just not the custom available to be operating during harsh winters.
Alton Towers itself is closed from November to March.
Universal *IF* they ever build this park, will surely have to have some major indoor portions.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
The hype train is headed for a cliff. The next parks aren’t going to be anything like the scope and scale of the last two.
DonniePeverley
Well-Known Member
As we approach the first year ... jus as we thought, this will be mired in the slow planning process that is rife in the UK.
Let's face i have my doubts we are going to get anywhere with this.
Asia, Middle east build monster projects in a year .... the UK delays planning if they find a birds nest.
Let's face i have my doubts we are going to get anywhere with this.
Asia, Middle east build monster projects in a year .... the UK delays planning if they find a birds nest.
DonniePeverley
Well-Known Member
I think it's safe to quietly close this topic. Nothing is getting built here in my opinion.
Have they even made a planning application? Even at that stage you are looking at centuries for the UK planning laws to start (they have bat crazy laws like if they find bats, or any sort of wildlife you are committed to protecting them and must build around them etc). And it appears they haven't even made any sort of application.
Nothing get's built in the UK anymore. It's a struggle to remember even the last major build project.
Have they even made a planning application? Even at that stage you are looking at centuries for the UK planning laws to start (they have bat crazy laws like if they find bats, or any sort of wildlife you are committed to protecting them and must build around them etc). And it appears they haven't even made any sort of application.
Nothing get's built in the UK anymore. It's a struggle to remember even the last major build project.
Gusey
Well-Known Member
The government met with Universal only in July and this project has been running smoothly from what we've heard. Things just take time.
We do know though that the East West Rail project connecting Oxford to Bedford is moving ahead for a 2030 opening date, which is the speculated opening for Universal UK
DonniePeverley
Well-Known Member
Who on earth takes 6 years for an infrustructure project?
This 2030 you have just mustered up is complete nonsense.
You just have to look at HS2 being built in the UK. They had to spend 100 million because they found bats nest so had to build a tunnel to protect them. This is the insanity we are talking about.
It takes years and years for any infrustructure project to get the go ahead (unless government intervene).
Gusey
Well-Known Member
No mustering up or complete nonsense, it was in the budget last month: https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/east-west-rail-update-after-30269806