Universal Studios Beijing (Now Open)

[RFRees]

I just realized something. How come all of the international resorts have hotels that are connected to the park (DL Paris, TokyoSea, Beijing, Etc.) and we only have the Grand Californian? (For now.)

It's such a cool thing to walk out of your hotel and into the park, why hasn't more american parks adopted that idea? I'd pay top dollar to sleep next to Animal Kingdom and yes i know there's AK Lodge but it's NOT ENOUGH!!!

We don't count Volcano Bay/Cabana Bay right?

 

[Mad Dog]

We don't count Volcano Bay/Cabana Bay right?

Good point. Never thought of that.

 

[Happytycho]

I just realized something. How come all of the international resorts have hotels that are connected to the park (DL Paris, TokyoSea, Beijing, Etc.) and we only have the Grand Californian? (For now.)

It's such a cool thing to walk out of your hotel and into the park, why hasn't more american parks adopted that idea? I'd pay top dollar to sleep next to Animal Kingdom and yes i know there's AK Lodge but it's NOT ENOUGH!!!

Most of the US parks came first, and were designed with different philosophies, although they still have some easy access. The MK hotels were designed around bringing the guests to the park by monorail and boat, and Epcot and UOR were both created with a few nice hotels within easy walking distance of their entrances.

 

[mainejeff]

I just realized something. How come all of the international resorts have hotels that are connected to the park (DL Paris, TokyoSea, Beijing, Etc.) and we only have the Grand Californian? (For now.)

It's such a cool thing to walk out of your hotel and into the park, why hasn't more american parks adopted that idea? I'd pay top dollar to sleep next to Animal Kingdom and yes i know there's AK Lodge but it's NOT ENOUGH!!!

With Disney's insatiable appetite for $$$....I've never understood this either. Only thing that I can think of with the Florida resort is that they have so much land that there is no need to do it because people are on property anyway. They could definitely charge top dollar though!

 

[AstroOwl52]

We don't count Volcano Bay/Cabana Bay right?

Depends on how much importance one places on Orlando's water parks. Well i really enjoy MOST of them, (looking at you, Blizzard Beach), they aren't exactly places I'd like to stay directly next to.

Most of the US parks came first, and were designed with different philosophies, although they still have some easy access. The MK hotels were designed around bringing the guests to the park by monorail and boat, and Epcot and UOR were both created with a few nice hotels within easy walking distance of their entrances.

Yeah, I'd have to agree with you on Magic Kingdom. I can't think of any possibility where a directly-connected hotel would work there. EPCOT however? I think they should go the extra mile, especially if you were to build one closer to Future World.

With Disney's insatiable appetite for $$$....I've never understood this either. Only thing that I can think of with the Florida resort is that they have so much land that there is no need to do it because people are on property anyway. They could definitely charge top dollar though!

Yeah, that makes sense. Even with Disney's recent additions to the hotel line-up, (Gran Destino, Riveria, Reflections), there has to be a breaking point where the demand for rooms goes beneath the supply.

I wonder if someday we'll see hotels on WDW property be replaced in the same fashion that attractions are. I could see resorts like Saratoga Springs and Old Key West getting axed in favor of newer, more modern resort options.

 

[Mad Dog]

They were looking at putting hotel up at Epcot's entrance a couple of years ago. But they backed off for some reason or other.

 

[AstroOwl52]

They were looking at putting hotel up at Epcot's entrance a couple of years ago. But they backed off for some reason or other.

Oh yeah! I remember seeing that concelt float around as a rumor until it dropped dead last year. Shame.

 

[tankart150]

On Wikipedia for Men in Black Alien Attack it says this is opening here in 2021. Is that true? :O

 

[AstroOwl52]

On Wikipedia for Men in Black Alien Attack it says this is opening here in 2021. Is that true? :O

Is Men In Black even a popular enough franchise in China to warrant being copied internationally? I don't follow the box office closely enough to know.

 

[Butterbeard]

I don't know if this has already been discussed, but we can clearly see that a version of the Chinese theater is coming to the western part of the Hollywood area, where F&F was supposed to be located, right ?

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Universal has officially gone public, revealing the involvement of Alibaba on bringing facial recognition technology to Universal Beijing.

News Detail

The strategic partnership aims to provide guests with an unprecedented experience

Beijing, China, October 17, 2019 –Alibaba Group [NYSE:BABA] and Universal Beijing Resort today announced a strategic partnership to pioneer a next-generation theme-park experience through applications of innovative technologies and digitization of the entire resort operation.

The collaboration between Alibaba, a world-leading technology company, and Universal Beijing, a widely anticipated theme park destination scheduled to open in 2021, will capitalize on the strengths of both organizations to create a seamless experience throughout every stage of the guests’ journey with smart technology. The resort is expected to set a new benchmark for the entertainment and theme park industry globally.

Guests in order from left to right: Duan Qiang, Party Secretary and Chairman of Beijing Tourism Group;Daniel Zhang, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group;Brian Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation

Offering Seamless and Memorable Guest Experiences

"We put significant thought into the experiences we create for our guests," said Mr. Brian Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation. "That experience is about more than our great rides and attractions. It’s about making it fun and easy for our guests to enjoy their time with family and friends. Our partnership with Alibaba will help us do exactly that. Together, we can take the theme park experience to a new level."

"Together with Universal Beijing Resort, we hope to offer a delightful experience that is unmatched anywhere to consumers in China and from around the world. This partnership will also bring to fruition a multi-dimensional data-enabled operations management solution for the industry and create a truly digitized theme park," said Daniel Zhang, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. "The future of commerce is driven by technology and big data, and digitization will be the source of brand-new growth opportunities for all businesses."

Empowering Universal Beijing Resort with Alibaba Technology

Universal Beijing will leverage the Alibaba Business Operating System—a complete suite of services and digital tools by Alibaba—to digitize the operations and management of the theme park to ensure guests a one-of-a-kind experience and unprecedented convenience even before they leave their homes.

For example, through integration with Alibaba’s online travel platform Fliggy, visitors can buy tickets and book hotels through the Universal Beijing flagship store with a few simple swipes on their phones.

Universal Beijing guests have the option of using Alipay’s facial-recognition technology across the resort, from park entry to storage lockers to express-lane access to even payment for merchandise and meals.

Alibaba’s local service application, Koubei, will provide food and beverage recommendations based on guests’ preferences, and enable online meal purchases to minimize wait time.

Tmall, Alibaba’s premier online shopping platform, will be the resort’s e-commerce sponsor, and conduct co-marketing efforts with Universal Beijing Resort.

Through cooperation with Alibaba’s digital marketing platform Alimama and Alibaba’s online video hub Youku, guests can enjoy programming about the resort as well as access their favorite Universal movies in the Universal Brand Zone.

Alibaba and Universal Beijing are exploring the options of using Alipay mini apps to optimize guests’ overall experience. It will aim to improve trip planning, parking and other pain points usually faced by theme park visitors.

The resort will leverage Alibaba’s robust technology and consumer insights to offer guests with customized services and elevated park operations. Alibaba and Universal Beijing will create a truly consumer-centric ecosystem that will offer the ultimate guest experience that seamlessly brings together the best of online and offline. Alibaba Cloud will support the digitization and technology infrastructure of the theme park.

Creating a Greener Environment

Universal Beijing and Alibaba’s partnership also extends to Ant Forest, where low-carbon lifestyles will be promoted and users can help contribute to planting real trees in Tongzhou through low-carbon actions that convert into "green energy". Ticketless entry and digital payment provide guests with convenience, while reducing carbon footprint.

"Smart Cultural Tourism"

"Universal Beijing Resort is very honored to join hands with Alibaba, to be empowered with innovative technologies and digital ecosystems to realize ‘smart cultural tourism,’ as well as to set the mark for Universal Beijing as the pioneer of the theme park industry," said Mr. Duan Qiang, Party Secretary and Chairman of Beijing Tourism Group. "We will make unremitting efforts to establish Universal Beijing as the new landmark of Beijing cultural tourism, while actively contributing to the implementation of the planning and construction of Beijing subcenter and help enhance the development of Beijing’s tourism."

 

[AstroOwl52]

Universal has officially gone public, revealing the involvement of Alibaba on bringing facial recognition technology to Universal Beijing.

News Detail

Oh yay... A facial recognition system in China's biggest city? Under Xi Jinping's rule? How splendid. I'm sure there won't be ANY privacy violations to worry about.

 

[Mad Dog]

Oh yay... A facial recognition system in China's biggest city? Under Xi Jinping's rule? How splendid. I'm sure there won't be ANY privacy violations to worry about.

Agreed. 1984 style totalitarian big brother society. China is slowly, but surely, returning to it's Maoist past, but with the benefit of much higher technology to become even more intrusive. .

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I don’t even allow facial recognition on my phone. I really hope this isn’t the future for universal theme parks or theme parks in general.

 

[tankart150]

Universal has officially gone public, revealing the involvement of Alibaba on bringing facial recognition technology to Universal Beijing.

News Detail

Bad timing, considering Blizzard & NBA are suffering boycotts of being pro-Communist Government.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Bad timing, considering Blizzard & NBA are suffering boycotts of being pro-Communist Government.

Considering this is likely something that has been developing for a few years (especially as TPU made the big post about Universal's past intrigue for having it in the domestic parks), it'd be more similar to that of say Tencent working with outer companies.

I doubt this could've been pushed back, regardless of social and political issues as of the moment. And that the collaboration does mean massive implications to see how Universal's using Beijing as a potential guinea pig. Especially if Universal decides to continue ideas used with Alibaba (even if it may not be Alibaba wherever they take the technology next).

 

[IndyRs]

I'm so jealous that this park is getting the Jurassic World treatment. I really wanted Epic Universe to get it too, but looks like it won't be..

 

[AstroOwl52]

I'm so jealous that this park is getting the Jurassic World treatment. I really wanted Epic Universe to get it too, but looks like it won't be..

Eh. If you ask me, one Jurassic Park is enough. I'm happy to see the IOA land get a major face-lift and newer, more unexpected franchises getting an appearance in the new park. Variety is the spice of life, after all.

 

[Disneyhead]

Great shot of the JW mountain at the link below.

Universal Studios Beijing construction updates

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Great shot of the JW mountain at the link below.

Universal Studios Beijing construction updates

Looks fantastic and quite large scale. Can’t wait to see the finished product.