I think this is an excellent move. It expands the community while also allowing for a lot more articles.
Are the forums going to carry over or are we going to have to start anew with usernames, topics, etc..?
IU is a great site, and hearing IU merge with them will be very interesting.
Does that mean that OUs forums will be renamed as USHForums, or will USHForums and the OU forums will merge with an entirely new name?
I'd imagine the OU Forums will turn into the "Inside Universal Forums," and would close USH Forums. Maybe @BriMan could could share! (Also, how will live Tweets from the park be separated between UO and USH?) Can't wait for this! :clap:
Do we know which forum software and main website software will be taking over for the new site? or will it be completely new?
I got to say I don't really like IU's more muted color scheme. I always thought OU's logo was very lively. Especially, since the new logo and stuff debuted a few years back.
I'd recommend including "formally Orlando United" underneath the new logo or something like that. I wouldn't want any current but less active users of the forum, facebook, twitter, Youtube, etc. to be confused and distanced by any sudden change.
I hope that the informational 1st post that @BriMan started a while ago continues with the merge. I think it is a great way for new members to inform themselves on each thread, so they do not jump into the conversation blind.
Most importantly, I hope this merger starts as a conversation before any major changes to the forum structure occur.
All in all, this is gonna be exciting/interesting. I wish IU, OU, all administrators/moderators, and especially @BriMan the best of luck in the future.
I'd hope that it becomes longer then because I'd want the episodes to have ample time to discuss both coasts. I'd also hope that you guys continuing discussing news that isn't necessarily just Universal, such as Skyplex, WDW, SWO, etc. I understand that two separate podcasts would make things complicated though, especially for international topics. I can't wait to see what the future holds.
Tbh, I'm not interested in Universal Studios Hollywood updates or any west coast themepark news. Orlando is the themepark capital of the world. I feel like there's enough themepark news here in Orlando to keep me satisfied and busy. Just my thoughts.
I would check out Universal Insider on occasion for Universal Hollywood info. They had some nice photo spreads and seemed to have good contacts for Universal Hollywood insider info. That's a big plus that should carry over. And, yes, there are a number of our OU Forum contributors, like Alexshow, that also posted over there. But I'm glad Brian is keeping our OU Forum format. Inside Universal forum discussions were very small in comparison to ours, and their forum format (which was somewhat similar to the old Orlando Informer forums) is very confusing and hard to follow.While I get your thoughts..allow me to say something that could make some sense.
While Orlando did popularize the theme park craze with WDW and UOR, the West Coast was where things truly began. You wouldn't have a Walt Disney World if it wasn't for the original Disneyland's success, and you wouldn't have Universal Studios Florida if it wasn't for USH setting down the beginning's. And even so, Knotts has a worthy spot in the history books, more than Universal and Disney in a strange way.
Will there have to be change? Yes. But in a strange way, I don't think the changes will be all too noticable. Maybe you could see a lack of other content from other Orlando theme parks on the main site, but the Forums will just as prosper as ever, with many coming from USHForums (including yours truly); it will be fascinating to see how Brian and Jon handle that one aspect. As IU has tackled outside Universal before for the West Coast, and I wouldn't be surprised that it's the same for the Orlando Team.
Tbh, I'm not interested in Universal Studios Hollywood updates or any west coast themepark news. Orlando is the themepark capital of the world. I feel like there's enough themepark news here in Orlando to keep me satisfied and busy. Just my thoughts.
Nice post. Well said :thumbsup:This is very exciting news for our community! Anything to bring more fun, intelligent discussion and information in is a good thing in my book. Growing our community and broadening the scope of subject matter covered is both a sign of progress and portends to a better future for the entirety of both websites.
I know I often lurk here but I just have to say this community has been a home to me since I joined it so many years ago and I have you guys to thank for that. Color me incredibly excited for all of us here!
This is very exciting news for our community! Anything to bring more fun, intelligent discussion and information in is a good thing in my book. Growing our community and broadening the scope of subject matter covered is both a sign of progress and portends to a better future for the entirety of both websites.
I know I often lurk here but I just have to say this community has been a home to me since I joined it so many years ago and I have you guys to thank for that. Color me incredibly excited for all of us here!