Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[Kevin38]

I am putting this here because there are at least 2 dozen jobs for Universal Creative in Universals job site.I do not go there a lot .
Is that a lot ? Are they ramping up for a Large project ?
The one that stood out was a Parkwide Supervisor .For a new park ?

 

[s8film40]

I am putting this here because there are at least 2 dozen jobs for Universal Creative in Universals job site.I do not go there a lot .
Is that a lot ? Are they ramping up for a Large project ?
The one that stood out was a Parkwide Supervisor .For a new park ?

I would guess that that's probably Volcano Bay. As for the new resort the jobs they would be hiring for at this point would be more along the lines of creative, design, planning, etc.

 

[martymcflyy85]

Didn't really know what thread to put this in, but this is an outstanding article talking about Comcast vs. Disney and it has a lot of interesting tidbits. Mods, please feel free to move or delete this post as needed.

Comcast Takes on Disney With DreamWorks Animation Buy | Variety

 

[Viator]

Didn't really know what thread to put this in, but this is an outstanding article talking about Comcast vs. Disney and it has a lot of interesting tidbits. Mods, please feel free to move or delete this post as needed.

Comcast Takes on Disney With DreamWorks Animation Buy | Variety

If theres one time that Variety can be good with something..

 

[graspthesun]

I'm just curious why would anyone think they wouldn't build a transit system at this point? The transportation connections can already be seen in their proposed plans and as someone said they're shopping around for a transit provider. This really isn't some wishful thinking on the part of theme park fans, it's an element that will either make or break this new resort. Bus lanes aren't going to cut it. I get that we're so accustomed to hearing "monorail is expensive" from the Disney apologists but the reality is this is probably the only way to incorporate the new land as part of the same resort.

I'm not saying that they won't. I'm just saying that initially they can piggyback off what the city is building and then as they build the other systems, they'll rely less on the buses. It's also possible that they build a theoretical rail system directly between the main resort and the south resort and rely on buses for the Wet n Wild resorts to connect to either end.

 

[s8film40]

I'm not saying that they won't. I'm just saying that initially they can piggyback off what the city is building and then as they build the other systems, they'll rely less on the buses. It's also possible that they build a theoretical rail system directly between the main resort and the south resort and rely on buses for the Wet n Wild resorts to connect to either end.

I'm thinking they probably want to get this new part of the resort off to the right start. Crippling it by not having a transit system at open just doesn't seem like Comcast's style to me. When it first opens is when this will be most important. It will be a new park they will want to entice people to try it and more importantly entice people to purchase 3-4 day tickets. Can you imagine someone trying to sell an upgrade without the transit system.
TM: Sir, would you like to upgrade to a 4 day ticket to better take advantage of our new park?
Guest: Where is this new park?
TM: It's only a mile away, simply get in line for that bus over there and it will take you there.
Guest: No thanks.

 

[Mad Dog]

Didn't really know what thread to put this in, but this is an outstanding article talking about Comcast vs. Disney and it has a lot of interesting tidbits. Mods, please feel free to move or delete this post as needed.

Comcast Takes on Disney With DreamWorks Animation Buy | Variety

Yep, good article. Basically saying what I emphasize anytime someone on this site compares Comcast with Disney. Comcast is Disney's opposite. Comcast is very aggressive and will spend money to make money. You haven't seen anything yet. Universal Orlando will be bigger than anyone ever imagined. That's the Comcast way. They play to win.

 

[graspthesun]

I'm thinking they probably want to get this new part of the resort off to the right start. Crippling it by not having a transit system at open just doesn't seem like Comcast's style to me. When it first opens is when this will be most important. It will be a new park they will want to entice people to try it and more importantly entice people to purchase 3-4 day tickets. Can you imagine someone trying to sell an upgrade without the transit system.
TM: Sir, would you like to upgrade to a 4 day ticket to better take advantage of our new park?
Guest: Where is this new park?
TM: It's only a mile away, simply get in line for that bus over there and it will take you there.
Guest: No thanks.

Fair point. Ultimately it doesn't really matter to me which system they use as long as I can get there. Before the Hogwarts Express, I didn't park hop and it's likely that I'd be fine jumping on a bus to head over to the new park for a full day and wait for the bus to get back. Disney does fine with buses from most of their resort hotels to their parks and I know Universal wants to punch Disney where it hurts, but it's not the end of the world if they don't have rapid transit right off the bat.

 

[JungleSkip]

I'm thinking they probably want to get this new part of the resort off to the right start. Crippling it by not having a transit system at open just doesn't seem like Comcast's style to me. When it first opens is when this will be most important. It will be a new park they will want to entice people to try it and more importantly entice people to purchase 3-4 day tickets. Can you imagine someone trying to sell an upgrade without the transit system.
TM: Sir, would you like to upgrade to a 4 day ticket to better take advantage of our new park?
Guest: Where is this new park?
TM: It's only a mile away, simply get in line for that bus over there and it will take you there.
Guest: No thanks.

I dunno. Is "Get in line for that bus over there" all that much different from "Get in line for that monorail over there"?

 

[s8film40]

I dunno. Is "Get in line for that bus over there" all that much different from "Get in line for that monorail over there"?

Absolutely! I can tell you as someone who used to work with monorails at WDW. I always knew what the response to the answer was going to be when someone came out of MK and asked how to get to DAK or DHS. First question was, "is there a monorail?". They would then say well what about Epcot, "you take this monorail and transfer to the other at the next stop", "okay thanks, we'll do that instead".

 

[JungleSkip]

Absolutely! I can tell you as someone who used to work with monorails at WDW. I always knew what the response to the answer was going to be when someone came out of MK and asked how to get to DAK or DHS. First question was, "is there a monorail?". They would then say well what about Epcot, "you take this monorail and transfer to the other at the next stop", "okay thanks, we'll do that instead".

I dunno. Maybe. But there never was a monorail at Uni. I don't think you're going to lose all that many people w/o a monorail.

I'm ALL for something like it, but I honestly can't see the two properties being connected by something like that. Here's to hoping.

 

[Stitch_101]

I dunno. Is "Get in line for that bus over there" all that much different from "Get in line for that monorail over there"?

I completely get that, but a big part of it is appearance, guest conditioning and manipulation in a sense. Its almost like the approach companies make in pricing merchandise. We know that there is practically no difference in price between something that costs $1.99 and something that costs $2.00, but we have been conditioned to see $1.99 and think "Hey, that's a great deal!" To me, the same would come into effect transportation around the resort. People hear the word "bus", something you see in just about any town across the US, and they think "eh." They hear Monorail and they think high end, all inclusive transportation that to some is an experience in and of itself.

 

[JungleSkip]

I completely get that, but a big part of it is appearance, guest conditioning and manipulation in a sense. Its almost like the approach companies make in pricing merchandise. We know that there is practically no difference in price between something that costs $1.99 and something that costs $2.00, but we have been conditioned to see $1.99 and think "Hey, that's a great deal!" To me, the same would come into effect transportation around the resort. People hear the word "bus", something you see in just about any town across the US, and they think "eh." They hear Monorail and they think high end, all inclusive transportation that to some is an experience in and of itself.

Maybe. And I hope they can get something together for the coolness factor (whatever it is will probably go over I-4. That's one hell of an ad). Right now I'm not getting my hopes up and just assuming it'll be buses

 

[MillenniumDragons]

Maybe. And I hope they can get something together for the coolness factor (whatever it is will probably go over I-4. That's one hell of an ad). Right now I'm not getting my hopes up and just assuming it'll be buses

Yeah, but wouldn't you say Universal has exceeded expectations over the past 6 years? Definitely not a guarantee, but I find it very possible for some elevated transportation.

 

[Scott W.]

Yeah I agree, with faster switches loops are no longer necessary and a station like this would be ideal at this location. This is how the end of the line work in Vegas. Although I could see a dual beam station working for faster loading/unloading.

In my head I vision a dual beam, it's still quite a bit of distance but using your idea with the hub, since it's a circle, you could use that to loop the track around back to the other side. That way the trains are always heading in the same direction. What I meant by the loop for MK is that it loops around the lagoon.

Yes, Disneyland copied the Universal model when they built Downtown Disney & California Adventure.

I thought you were being sarcastic at first but that does make sense.

 

[Disneyhead]

I dunno. Is "Get in line for that bus over there" all that much different from "Get in line for that monorail over there"?

Is getting into your '75 Beetle all that different than getting in your new Maybach?

 

[JungleSkip]

Yeah, but wouldn't you say Universal has exceeded expectations over the past 6 years? Definitely not a guarantee, but I find it very possible for some elevated transportation.

Sure, but they're exceeding expectations on land they're only answering to themselves on. Any sort of elevated transport system is going to be fought tooth and nail over by any I-Drive business not named Universal Orlando.

 

[Ultranel]

I completely get that, but a big part of it is appearance, guest conditioning and manipulation in a sense. Its almost like the approach companies make in pricing merchandise. We know that there is practically no difference in price between something that costs $1.99 and something that costs $2.00, but we have been conditioned to see $1.99 and think "Hey, that's a great deal!" To me, the same would come into effect transportation around the resort. People hear the word "bus", something you see in just about any town across the US, and they think "eh." They hear Monorail and they think high end, all inclusive transportation that to some is an experience in and of itself.

and no dealing with traffic but it's own.

 

[Nick]

I dunno. Is "Get in line for that bus over there" all that much different from "Get in line for that monorail over there"?

I'm quoting you, but not directly replying to you. Using your post as an example.

People complain about Disney and say buses are archaic and there's no excuse for the lack of monorail expansion, yet are fine with buses for Universal. I just don't get it. Why does Universal get treated differently and why should we expect less from them?

 

[UK-Trigg]

I could be wrong here but wasn't one of the reasons for going against skyplex project traffic congestion?

If this be the case how could they possibly not go with a different form of transit system to those that go on roads?