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CityWalk Orlando Updates & Changes General Thread
- Thread starter GAcoaster
- Start date
Legacy
Veteran Member
- Jul 27, 2015
- 9,539
- 46,217
Rising Star is a weird bird, as far as karaoke goes. There’s a much higher “confidence” bar to get onstage than anywhere else. On good nights, it means a steady stream of belters that slay every song they sing, interrupted by an occasional brave (or drunk) soul who is carried by an audience that is in a good mood because of the other performers. It’s more than cathartic on those nights. It’s good.
On bad nights, though. The MC and backup singers are dragging people to sing that don’t have the confidence or experience to adapt to a life band. It makes for awkward viewing.
Rising Star’s high is the best karaoke experience in the nation. But it’s lows are pretty damn low. And it has such a limited playlist, it doesn’t have the benefit of pure variety.
If it closes, I definitely think Universal would be lesser for it. But I also would completely understand why.
SeventyOne
V.I.P.
10 - 12 years ago, Rising Star felt like the "go-to" place for birthdays, bachelorette/bachelor parties, etc. I don't think I've seen it pop up on FB, Twitter or Insta in years. Part of that's me and my friend base getting older, of course, but I just have a sense it isn't what it once was.
Well, they don't need two stores across the road from each other.
Mad Dog
Premium Member
Dave @Disneyhead called it last month. :thumbsup:
Disneyhead
Legendary Member
I don't believe that Rising Star even has a kitchen facility. If I'm not mistaken, the only food they have is from Red Oven Pizza.
But Hot Dog Hall of Fame does, and it shares the same building.
Cup_Of_Coffee
Veteran Member
- Aug 7, 2018
- 6,911
- 8,535
Hot dogs, pizza, and Karaoke, SIGN ME UP!!!
Joe
aka TestTrack321
I don’t think whatever happens will involve food and drink.
Imperius
Veteran Member
- Feb 28, 2015
- 3,793
- 7,217
If they do open just a bigger Universal store it better be themed to different lands with specific merch. So they have a HTTYD with toothless statue and Berk theme. Then classic monsters and so on. If it’s just a basic store like the others it s a huge waste.
Mad Dog
Premium Member
Betting it's just a basic Universal super sized store....and it's a better location for them since everyone entering or departing the parking garage walks right past it. The present one is too small for it's prime location. It's close, but still far enough away that it's 'out of sight, out of mind'. This new one will make a killing.
Disneyhead
Legendary Member
I wonder how much of the 'shortcut' factored into their decision.
I don't think it needs it.
Mad Dog
Premium Member
Shortcut plus size, probably.....no need to let 'competition' have the better location....Things have changed since 2010. Universal doesn't need, or probably want, competing retail in their monopoly environment. Since Potter, and increased attendance, I'm sure Universal retail sales have skyrocketed.....It's for all intent and purposes, 'One Universal' now.
Cup_Of_Coffee
Veteran Member
- Aug 7, 2018
- 6,911
- 8,535
This makes the most sense to me. New store likely won't be ready until the end of the year, or early 2021. Then quickly close the current Universal store and since its small, easy to convert to a preview center assuming all those things involved in that are ready to go. They've been promoting Beijing's 2021 opening since 2019, and previewing the park in more detail. I think a 2021 Epic Universe preview center in CityWalk for that summer and thru summer of 2022 is not a bad move. Gives them time to come up with a new concept for that space as well.
I didn't understand the point of having a Preview Center with this day and age of media everywhere, but not gonna lie... that Epcot preview in The Odyssey got me pretty hype.
JungleSkip
Premium Member
People like to see things like models up close and not in pictures on the internet. Add in projection mapping like the Epcot thing, and it gets people even more excited
