Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[zg44]

Won't he mostly be talking about Olympics? Would be a bit off-topic to talk Resorts when their biggest tv event is going on...

 

[captainmoch]

Even if Uni's following the schedule they always have, that's not cutting it. Disney has their entire lineup until 2021 announced, including Tron, Ratatouille, Guardians, Star Wars, and Mickey. Each of these have concept art, are at least beginning construction, and have a general window of when they're coming. All Universal has right now is... "we're building a Harry Potter coaster!" with absolutely no details behind a 2019 opening window. That's a definite problem, and if they don't fix it soon, I could legitimately see it hurting in the long term.

 

[JungleSkip]

So he talked about it. Kinda. Says tax reform helped with new theme park projects including "a new business" in the theme park sphere that will now be fast tracked.

Even when they announce things they don't announce it

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Even if Uni's following the schedule they always have, that's not cutting it. Disney has their entire lineup until 2021 announced, including Tron, Ratatouille, Guardians, Star Wars, and Mickey. Each of these have concept art, are at least beginning construction, and have a general window of when they're coming. All Universal has right now is... "we're building a Harry Potter coaster!" with absolutely no details behind a 2019 opening window. That's a definite problem, and if they don't fix it soon, I could legitimately see it hurting in the long term.

I'm frustrated by the lack of info too but it's not going to hurt them. You can't ride announcements. Nobody books a trip for a ride opening in 2021.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Even if Uni's following the schedule they always have, that's not cutting it. Disney has their entire lineup until 2021 announced, including Tron, Ratatouille, Guardians, Star Wars, and Mickey. Each of these have concept art, are at least beginning construction, and have a general window of when they're coming. All Universal has right now is... "we're building a Harry Potter coaster!" with absolutely no details behind a 2019 opening window. That's a definite problem, and if they don't fix it soon, I could legitimately see it hurting in the long term.

Uni never has really done that before. Diagon was not formerly announced unto they went vertical (even though we were told 'an expansion of the Wizarding World' with no other details. Transformers was announced as they were going vertical. Kong was announced when they started doing rock work.

 

[Disneyhead]

 

[zg44]

All of this is slowed by the two important lawsuits (the Stan Thomas lawsuit and the bankruptcy proceeding).

It sounds like the project that he mentioned as fast tracked is the 101 acres buildout on Sand Lake...

As far as the 2nd resort goes, it still feels like 2023-2025 is the target.

 

[Disneyhead]

All of this is slowed by the two important lawsuits (the Stan Thomas lawsuit and the bankruptcy proceeding).

It sounds like the project that he mentioned as fast tracked is the 101 acres buildout on Sand Lake...

As far as the 2nd resort goes, it still feels like 2023-2025 is the target.

The "new business" in the theme park sphere is not the 101 acres, but related too.

 

[zg44]

The "new business" in the theme park sphere is not the 101 acres, but related too.

Ah okay.

It just seems like some things are out of their hands at the moment. Once the lawsuit/bankruptcy lands issues are settled, it sounds like we'll see more movement.

 

[jtsalien]

The "new business" in the theme park sphere is not the 101 acres, but related too.

Exactly. That's the support for it. New business means new revenue which means some kind of other gate.

 

[Disneyhead]

Exactly. That's the support for it. New business means new revenue which means some kind of other gate.

The 3rd gate is almost done. It's an all VR resort. They hand you a head set and let you go in the middle of that big field. All they needed to install was WiFi.

 

[jtsalien]

The 3rd gate is almost done. It's an all VR resort. They hand you a head set and let you go in the middle of that big field. All they needed to install was WiFi.

I heard they have RFID chips in them. So if you're about to walk into an intersection, it'll zap a shock collar around your neck so you know to stop walking.

 

[zg44]

Exactly. That's the support for it. New business means new revenue which means some kind of other gate.

As far as new business goes, I always thought it'd be interesting if Universal expands its relationship with Royal Carribbean to maybe start a new cruise line with Illumination/DreamWorks to target the same demographic as Disney cruises.

 

[Scott W.]

The 3rd gate is almost done. It's an all VR resort. They hand you a head set and let you go in the middle of that big field. All they needed to install was WiFi.

Wellies cost extra.

 

[Scott W.]

As far as new business goes, I always thought it'd be interesting if Universal expands its relationship with Royal Carribbean to maybe start a new cruise line with Illumination/DreamWorks to target the same demographic as Disney cruises.

A Universal cruise headed to Isla Nublar would be the ultimate Jurassic Park attraction.

 

[anihilnation]

A Universal cruise headed to Isla Nublar would be the ultimate Jurassic Park attraction.

Until something goes wrong

 

[Andysol]

I'm frustrated by the lack of info too but it's not going to hurt them. You can't ride announcements. Nobody books a trip for a ride opening in 2021.

I disagree. You think for a second people didn’t start planning a trip for SWL?

Or that TDL and USJ didn’t announce their 2020 projects for the olympics?

People absolutely plan- maybe not “book”- but earmark it for sure.

 

[Scott W.]

I disagree. You think for a second people didn’t start planning a trip for SWL?

Or that TDL and USJ didn’t announce their 2020 projects for the olympics?

People absolutely plan- maybe not “book”- but earmark it for sure.

I agree. I think a lot of people will skip this year and the great thing about Orlando is that if you skip a year, you’ll have even more new rides to experience.

Speaking from a Brits POV, for a lot of people, a trip to Orlando is a huge deal and can take years of planning and saving.

 

[Andysol]

I agree. I think a lot of people will skip this year and the great thing about Orlando is that if you skip a year, you’ll have even more new rides to experience.

Speaking from a Brits POV, for a lot of people, a trip to Orlando is a huge deal and can take years of planning and saving.

Right. And for clarification, I'm not talking about something like the new lagoon show, T2, F&F, Mickey Runaway, GotG, TSL, or even Avatar. But things like SWL, Potter and SNW? Certainly.

 

[Ashhanbre]

A lot of people are already planning/saving for their 2019 trip because of Star Wars. Universal needs to give those same people a reason to also stop at Universal on that trip.