Wet and Wild to close in favor of new Volcano Bay water park

[jmancan]

*super mario bros theme plays in the distance, is getting closer*

 

[Disneyhead'71]

This is a weird game. How come Universal gets to make 5 moves for every one Disney makes? That doesn't seem fair.

 

[cheezbat]

This is a weird game. How come Universal gets to make 5 moves for every one Disney makes? That doesn't seem fair.

Disney can move all they want.

Problem is, I think they forgot they're supposed to move, which is why Universal is kicking its butt lately.

 

[Bairstow]

Disney can move all they want.

Problem is, I think they forgot they're supposed to move, which is why Universal is kicking its butt lately.

That depends which game they're playing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amusement_park_rankings#North_America

 

[GLaDOS]

I thought it was well assumed that if wet and wild died a 3rd gate would be looked into seriously.

Not there. Not enough room. It'll be a resort or two and some other, non-guest buildings if I had to wager

*super mario bros theme plays in the distance, is getting closer*

For USF, yes, it's getting closer for that park.

 

[Communicore]

Well, Disney is winning the game of "on the cheap" lol

 

[Frankie The Beer]

Good riddance to this 80's relic. It has overstayed its welcome. There was a time that they served burgers there that could very well have E. coli.

Wet and Wild was terrible, it should have been dozed long ago. High hopes Universal does the new waterpark justice.

 

[misterID]

Wet and Wild was terrible, it should have been dozed long ago. High hopes Universal does the new waterpark justice.

I Drive itself should be bulldozed and turned into something nice.

I loved Wet N Wild. I used to go there all the time as a kid. To me, I-Drive lost it's soul when they closed Mystery Funhouse. That's my childhood speaking. But it's a thug paradise now. Just level it all and build a 3rd gate there.

 

[networkpro]

As an update I read that the newer attractions from Wet and Wild will be relocated to Volcano Bay so its not going to be all new. The W&W lot isn't that large, only 53 acres which is half the size of either IoA or Studios. I'm thinking value type resorts.

 

[GLaDOS]

As an update I read that the newer attractions from Wet and Wild will be relocated to Volcano Bay so its not going to be all new.

I would not count on that happening

 

[JT3000]

I Drive itself should be bulldozed and turned into something nice.

It's happening incrementally. The north side still has a long way to go though.

 

[BrerJon]

I Drive itself should be bulldozed and turned into something nice.

I loved Wet N Wild. I used to go there all the time as a kid. To me, I-Drive lost it's soul when they closed Mystery Funhouse. That's my childhood speaking. But it's a thug paradise now. Just level it all and build a 3rd gate there.

Oh I disagree, I love I-Drive as it is now. Pretty much from the Convention Center, through Pointe Orlando and I-Drive 360 is an awesome addition. Even the bit that hasn't been redeveloped, between Sand Lake and Wet 'n' Wild has it's charms - strolling up the street you get a kinetic energy, with the gift shops, gators and go-karts, that you don't get elsewhere.

Yeah, for me it's all about I-Drive!

 

[Bairstow]

And just wait until the Polercoaster/Skyfall is built.

 

[Voice of Disney sanity]

Because universal has to. Few people go to universal and stay for a week. If universal and Disney have similar occupancy rates, Disney is still having ~6x the amount of on-site guests. That's a massive difference.

Universal is doing exactly what they need to- increase the demand to go to their 2 parks (HP/new attraction every year). Increase the need to stay an extra day (volcano bay). And increase their on-site offerings to supplement that extra day. They're doing everything they possibly can. Their next step is to get occupancy rates to where they don't need to offer their express pass for free and/or they can charge more for their onsite stays. Another thing they need is to get attendance levels to Epcot-size at their parks- resulting in the need to stay an extra day to see everything instead of being able to walk onto most attractions with little wait.
I know we don't like those last two things- but you know that's universals end game- and they're doing just what they need to do to get to that point.


Disney, on the other hand, is way ahead of the game. Particularly with the resort and attendance front (the annoying last two sentences of what universal is wanting). Outside of spreading out the crowds from MK- I don't know what Disney gains by doing anything differently- as much as I hate it. If they continued what they did (nothing) in the early 2000s- I would say it's going to bite them in the ***, but I think they are doing just enough where they'll be fine. And the night shows and parades are massively better. Not to mention people go- just to meet characters! That's crazy to me- but if that's what people want- they fill that demand.

What I get frustrated most at from Disney is their time-frames. Avatar would have been done last year or early this year if it were universal. Announcement, build, done in 2 yrs.
But again, if Disney did that, then they'd have to build twice as much- and if the goal is to maintain crowds and increase prices- they don't need to build them that quick, so they stretch out the anticipation.

Two different indeed. Universal wants to be where Disney is, and We all wish Disney would do what universal is doing. But I'll say it once- be careful what you wish for. If universal gets to Epcot-like crowds, there goes your leisurely park where you don't need ADR and can walk-on rides.

It's a facinating time for sure.

Amazing how this sounds so much like the Hare and the Tortoise story

 

[Frankie The Beer]

Does anyone have any specifics about the new water park attractions yet? Is it just going to be tubes and slides with the complementary Crush and Gusher water coaster or is there going to be fully blown themed rides with licensed attractions and animatronics?

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Does anyone have any specifics about the new water park attractions yet? Is it just going to be tubes and slides with the complementary Crush and Gusher water coaster or is there going to be fully blown themed rides with licensed attractions and animatronics?

They won't have a Crush and Gusher type water coaster. They will have one of these.

http://www.proslide.com/rides/hydromagnetic-mammoth/

And as far as dark ride elements, I believe that when the lazy river goes into the volcano, there will be a few surprises.

 

[Bairstow]

They won't have a Crush and Gusher type water coaster. They will have one of these.

http://www.proslide.com/rides/hydromagnetic-mammoth/

And as far as dark ride elements, I believe that when the lazy river goes into the volcano, there will be a few surprises.

You've got sources for this information?