Universal's Future

[Lynx04]

With the sale of Universal to NBC/GE, many speculate that GE will sale the parks. I find it a little difficult for GE to sell the Hollywood park because it is pretty much part of the actually studio, but I guess it could be done.

Do you think that GE will actually sale the Orlando property and if so, do you think it will benefit Universal Orlando or hurt it?

At first I thought that it could would hurt UO, but after I think about it, it seems that haveing a different company own the park and just license the Universal brands could actually help the park. Of course if owned by the right people.

First, insiders already said that GE doesn't have that much enthusiasm (SP) about running theme parks and actually doesn't fit in with their strick economic structure. It seems that GE will be reluctent to use spill any of their addition money resources into the parks because it doesn't turn a quick buck. So it seems that the park will be forced to bankrole itself anyways. Wouldn't it be better to have a company or that will give the attention and resources the park needs to keep guest returning and expand, to actually keep the park running at the level it should?

 

[NemoRocks78]

I do very well believe that GE will keep the parks. Attendance is up, hotel bookings are up (all three of the hotels were sold out for EVERY day in October from what I've heard) we've got new attractions running (and rumors of more), and over the past few months you've really been able to tell that they're keeping the park up with rehabs on buildings and such.

Do I think they'll sell off the American parks? No. USJ? Possibly, but I've read that USJ is doing well this year also. UM was sold earlier this year because it wasn't a money-maker, so if USJ becomes the same then it could suffer a similar fate.

 

[TowerOfTerror]

this question is a bit off topic but isn't there another owner on universal orlando ? Something along the lines of the blackberry group ? Please help :dazzle:

 

[Legacy]

The two foreign parks (Japan and Port Adventura) will most likely be sold. The American parks, it depends on how well they can fit into the broad scope of GE's plans. I would be inclined to say they would keep the parks, simply because Orlando tourism is a extremely lucractive investment. However, because Vivendi sold the Lockheed sites right before the merger, Universal's expansion possibilities have been hindered emmensly. A third park WAS planned in 2002, that I know of. And I know of it's location as well. However, I don't know if that property was sold off. It's all a time thing now. GE seems content with what the parks can offer (a study source of income and "free" advertising, both important for the NBC outlet), but we won't be able to know for sure until GE's plan for Universal is finally unveiled. It's still way too early to tell.

 

[ogryn]

Parks and resorts
# NBC Universal owns Universal Studios Hollywood and has a major stake in Universal Orlando, which features Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure
# Universal Studios Japan in Osaka
# Universal Mediterranea near Barcelona, Spain

I can't find who the other stakeholders are at the moment.

 

[Legacy]

There aren't any other owners, at least to my knowledge. Unless the Blackberry group is a subsidary of GE, but that would be understandible. The park's ownership went from Seagrams, to Vivendi, now to GE. I don't know of any partners, especially in Orlando.

 

[Testtrack321]

I don't think, in my opinion of course, that the US parks will be sold at all. Right now it's not looking good for the parks, with no new attractions lined up for quite some time. Their competition is reving up at Disney with many new rides, so you would think they would have something announced by now!

 

[Legacy]

I don't think, in my opinion of course, that the US parks will be sold at all. Right now it's not looking good for the parks, with no new attractions lined up for quite some time. Their competition is reving up at Disney with many new rides, so you would think they would have something announced by now!

2006, IOA... in Jurrasic Park... watch...

 

[NemoRocks78]

2006, IOA... in Jurrasic Park... watch...

JEEPers.....

 

[Legacy]

JEEPers.....

:lol:

If I didn't know better, I would dismiss this rumor. However, I have heard about this attraction since 2001, (planned for 2006 then too), and have seen concept art for it in numerous places (including backstage as part of the original plan for JP). Unless something serious happens, I would expect either this or the raptor coaster (not as solid as the jeeps, but I think it would be more safe).

 

[Indy95]

Yeah, the Jeep rumors in Jurassic Park have been one of the worst-kept secrets among rumor boards for some time, and has really been in limbo since before the park even opened. I believe that the Jeep ride was planned to be in IOA's opening day lineup for awhile, and has been a "Coming Soon!" attraction ever since. God knows IOA needs SOMETHING new, they haven't had a major addition to their attraction lineup since the park opened four and a half years ago.

In terms of GE/NBC, the sale of Universal Port Aventura would be likely, but I think they would rather sell off USH than USJ simply because USJ is doing so much better. The only ACTUAL attendance jumps that USH had within the past decade was after the openings of the Jurassic Park and Mummy rides, but then attendance drifted right back down, even past DCA attendance levels (Yowza!) In 2001 DCA recieved 5.0 million visitors even without officially opening until February, while USH received 4.7 visitors. Now, if you're park was doing WORSE than DCA, wouldn't you want to get rid of it as fast as you possibly can? I just don't see them giving away USE, it's obviously been very popular.

However, though TestTrack321 (Joe, I think, right?) alludes to the fact that Disney has actually gotten its head out of the gutter somewhat and actually started to greenlight QUALITY rides (damn Pressler), none of them really blow the doors off of the theme park industry by showcasing any new technologies. But Disney IS building rides, which is always bad news to Universal.

P.S. Does anyone know whether the Jeep ride will be indoors or outdoors? It just seems like a waste of time to me because a) if it's outdoors, it's going to be REALLY hard to put any scares into it in the daylight, and b) if it's indoors, it's just going to seem like a CTX ripoff. Can anybody help me on this one (or explain how this ride will avoid cliche?)

 

[Legacy]

However, though TestTrack321 (Joe, I think, right?) alludes to the fact that Disney has actually gotten its head out of the gutter somewhat and actually started to greenlight QUALITY rides (damn Pressler), none of them really blow the doors off of the theme park industry by showcasing any new technologies. But Disney IS building rides, which is always bad news to Universal.

P.S. Does anyone know whether the Jeep ride will be indoors or outdoors? It just seems like a waste of time to me because a) if it's outdoors, it's going to be REALLY hard to put any scares into it in the daylight, and b) if it's indoors, it's just going to seem like a CTX ripoff. Can anybody help me on this one (or explain how this ride will avoid cliche?)

Disney building rides is actually good for Uni. It provides a reason for upper management to open the coffers for Universal Creative.

As far as the Jeep ride, everything I have seen is that it actually takes place outside. However, they would have to do some major rearranging to get it to fit, as well as probably move the service road that surrounds IOA. Personally, I would much rather see the Aviary coaster that is suppose to go behind the river adventure building. I think that would be a much more popular attraction (especially if it's a B&M Flyer...)

 

[Testtrack321]

Yeah, the Jeep rumors in Jurassic Park have been one of the worst-kept secrets among rumor boards for some time, and has really been in limbo since before the park even opened. I believe that the Jeep ride was planned to be in IOA's opening day lineup for awhile, and has been a "Coming Soon!" attraction ever since. God knows IOA needs SOMETHING new, they haven't had a major addition to their attraction lineup since the park opened four and a half years ago.

In terms of GE/NBC, the sale of Universal Port Aventura would be likely, but I think they would rather sell off USH than USJ simply because USJ is doing so much better. The only ACTUAL attendance jumps that USH had within the past decade was after the openings of the Jurassic Park and Mummy rides, but then attendance drifted right back down, even past DCA attendance levels (Yowza!) In 2001 DCA recieved 5.0 million visitors even without officially opening until February, while USH received 4.7 visitors. Now, if you're park was doing WORSE than DCA, wouldn't you want to get rid of it as fast as you possibly can? I just don't see them giving away USE, it's obviously been very popular.

However, though TestTrack321 (Joe, I think, right?) alludes to the fact that Disney has actually gotten its head out of the gutter somewhat and actually started to greenlight QUALITY rides (damn Pressler), none of them really blow the doors off of the theme park industry by showcasing any new technologies. But Disney IS building rides, which is always bad news to Universal.

P.S. Does anyone know whether the Jeep ride will be indoors or outdoors? It just seems like a waste of time to me because a) if it's outdoors, it's going to be REALLY hard to put any scares into it in the daylight, and b) if it's indoors, it's just going to seem like a CTX ripoff. Can anybody help me on this one (or explain how this ride will avoid cliche?)

Creepy, you know my name! :lol:

I don't know right now, I know Eisner opens up the purse when Universal builds new stuff, I don't know if it's the same for Universal when Disney builds new rides.

[edit] quick check finds out it's a good friend of mine who has traveled, WITH ME, to Disney many times. Never knew he was on this site!

 

[Lynx04]

Screamscape posted this site as having concept photos of the Jeep ride (http://www.scottshermandesign.com). But now when I try to look for on that site. the pages are down ironicly. Could someone from Universal ask him to remove the concept paper. Universal was very protective about the Mummy info on fan websites before its openning and even threatening litigation from what I have read.

Let me know if any of you guys or gals can view the concept drawings.

 

[Indy95]

Yeah, I guess Legacy makes sense about that. Both companies just seem to be in a reactive mood right now in terms of new attractions, so we'll see who will take the next big risk.

About the Jeep ride, it just doesn't feel right somehow. I mean, they've been planning this thing since before the park opened, yet Legacy alludes to the fact that Univ. would have to do some major "rearranging" to do backstage. It just doesn't fit somehow. Anyway, I agree that some "B&M Aviary Coaster" would make more sense than the Jeep ride. I just don't see how they would get that one to work, is all. (And based on the multitudes of confused faces coming out of ROTM, it would make sense for Univ. to aim lower and hit more sure-fire homeruns like DD and Hulk.)

 

[speck76]

There aren't any other owners, at least to my knowledge. Unless the Blackberry group is a subsidary of GE, but that would be understandible. The park's ownership went from Seagrams, to Vivendi, now to GE. I don't know of any partners, especially in Orlando.

The Blackstone Group is the other major partner in the Orlando property. The Blackstone group is an investment company, they purchased a 50% stake in Universal Orlando in 2000 or 2001 from Rank Group (Hard Rock Cafe).

 

[Legacy]

About the Jeep ride, it just doesn't feel right somehow. I mean, they've been planning this thing since before the park opened, yet Legacy alludes to the fact that Univ. would have to do some major "rearranging" to do backstage. It just doesn't fit somehow. Anyway, I agree that some "B&M Aviary Coaster" would make more sense than the Jeep ride. I just don't see how they would get that one to work, is all. (And based on the multitudes of confused faces coming out of ROTM, it would make sense for Univ. to aim lower and hit more sure-fire homeruns like DD and Hulk.)

The rearranging could be done, and probably have little effect on the total cost of the attraction. It mostly involves moving some trailers and dumpsters. The biggest aspect would be wroking around the service road. There is a good size footprint where the Jeeps are suppose to go, however if it's going to be as big as what I've seen, it will probably be sitting pretty close to the service road. Now, I've seen some pretty interesting drops on the concept work, as well as drop-off sections. So it IS possible that a tunnel will be built for the service road under the attraction. I'm just curious to know how it's going to happen. But like I said before. Unless something SERIOUS happens, I would expect it to be announced pretty soon. With Everest opening in 2006, Uni is going to need something something to rival it.

Something BIG is coming... and I can't wait.

 

[Legacy]

The Blackstone Group is the other major partner in the Orlando property. The Blackstone group is an investment company, they purchased a 50% stake in Universal Orlando in 2000 or 2001 from Rank Group (Hard Rock Cafe).

Awesome Brad. Thanks for letting us (and me) know that.

 

[Sketch105]

Screamscape posted this site as having concept photos of the Jeep ride (http://www.scottshermandesign.com). But now when I try to look for on that site. the pages are down ironicly. Could someone from Universal ask him to remove the concept paper. Universal was very protective about the Mummy info on fan websites before its openning and even threatening litigation from what I have read.

Let me know if any of you guys or gals can view the concept drawings.

Yes..Universal has a whole department that surfs Universal related websites for information and unapproved photos..The concept art on Scott Sherman Design has actually been there for quite sometime, however, since it was posted on Screamscape's rumor page recently, Universal has taken action..

The same thing happened when Screamscape posted info about an artist's page that had storyboards for the "Revenge of the Mummy", and after that link was posted the artist took down the artwork..

 

[Legacy]

Universal has it out for Lance over at Screamscape. You would honestly think that Creative has Sreamscape as their homepage or something.