Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[belloq87]

I still think you run a slight risk of the unfamiliar-with-WICKED crowd being confused why the Wicked Witch is now a good guy (gal).

For that reason, I'd opt for a more aesthetic-driven land than narrative-driven land (in a hypothetical WICKED land scenario).

 

[RFRees]

During the Legends panel at IAAPA, someone had mentioned Universal generally doesn't like to do 'book report' rides (e.g. rides which summarize a movie). Instead, they try tell new stories within their rides.

I'd be interested to see how this might play out with Wicked/Oz.

 

[Blue]

Shout-out to @tommyhawkins for a great addition (part 2) to his series focusing on Epic Universe ride capacity. This one focuses in on what could be done about it in the near future, including building out some of those expansion pads.

This is the first time I've seen an outline of the challenges Universal may face when looking to expand SNW. Here I was thinking it would be just a simple add-on.

Kinda odd they didn't include any expansion space in the park's smallest land.

While Luigi's Mansion would serve as a natural bridge between SNW and Monsters, it doesn't really seem like the best use of that space. I'd put a Wicked land between SNW and Monsters and put any potential SNW expansion in the flex/event space in Celestial Park, assuming it'd be able to be accessed it from SNW.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

During the Legends panel at IAAPA, someone had mentioned Universal generally doesn't like to do 'book report' rides (e.g. rides which summarize a movie). Instead, they try tell new stories within their rides.

I'd be interested to see how this might play out with Wicked/Oz.

Easy to go the Gringotts route and be along the periphery of the scenes during Defying Gravity. See all the chaos, get the big song, etc.

I still think you run a slight risk of the unfamiliar-with-WICKED crowd being confused why the Wicked Witch is now a good guy (gal).

For that reason, I'd opt for a more aesthetic-driven land than narrative-driven land (in a hypothetical WICKED land scenario).

Wicked does not present the Wicked Witch of the West as good no more than it depicts Glinda as bad. It's a more complicated theme of the movie.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I still think you run a slight risk of the unfamiliar-with-WICKED crowd being confused why the Wicked Witch is now a good guy (gal).

For that reason, I'd opt for a more aesthetic-driven land than narrative-driven land (in a hypothetical WICKED land scenario).

I mean the films respectively each are billion dollar potential properties. The audiences are very familiar and the musical has been around for 2 decades.

 

[Mike S]

“Defying Gravity” E Ticket focused entirely on Wicked, “Dorothy’s Journey” D Ticket mixing the 1939 cast with the modern Witches.

Cut, print, send me my checks.

 

[belloq87]

“Defying Gravity” E Ticket focused entirely on Wicked, “Dorothy’s Journey” D Ticket mixing the 1939 cast with the modern Witches.

Cut, print, send me my checks.

With the E-ticket using WICKED's music and the D-ticket using WIZARD OF OZ's music (licensing and/or ownership pending).

I mean the films respectively each are billion dollar potential properties. The audiences are very familiar and the musical has been around for 2 decades.

I'm not saying it's some kind of totally obscure take on the material, but I do think a lot of people, when they hear "Wicked Witch," still picture Margaret Hamilton's version of the character.

 

[Mike S]

I'm not saying it's some kind of totally obscure take on the material, but I do think a lot of people, when they hear "Wicked Witch," still picture Margaret Hamilton's version of the character.

As mush as I’d love to see the old Witch back in Orlando, that’s definitely a concession any use of the classic movie in a potential Wicked land would have to make.

 

[Fedic]

I mean the films respectively each are billion dollar potential properties. The audiences are very familiar and the musical has been around for 2 decades.

Just to offer an alternate perspective: I go to the parks. I am not familiar with the Wicked movies or the musical. I have no idea what the story is. I know the Wizard of Oz movie and that's it. I don't know how many of us there are, but we do exist.

Now, on the other hand, I have no idea who Dudley Do-Right is either, but that doesn't hamper my enjoyment of the ride.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Just to offer an alternate perspective: I go to the parks. I am not familiar with the Wicked movies or the musical. I have no idea what the story is. I know the Wizard of Oz movie and that's it. I don't know how many of us there are, but we do exist.

Now, on the other hand, I have no idea who Dudley Do-Right is either, but that doesn't hamper my enjoyment of the ride.

And I get that. I don’t think everyone who goes to Universal even knows Potter that well (my first trip to UOR I had never seen the films before, no joke), my point more is that it’s clearly popular and not niche, so I don’t want them to temper the land to appeal to people who’ve only seen the Wizard of Oz. There’s a lot more with a theme park ride story that they could gather from the Wicked films including the remarkable score.

 

[NotPennysBoat]

They have enough material to do an entire new park. If they do have a Wicked expansion, I hope they choose the some spectacular rides!

 

[RFRees]

If people haven't watched Wicked, rather than comforting them with the familiar faces from their competitor (WB), they'll probably just want to encourage those guests to go watch Wicked. They'll see this as synergy.

"Now I'll have to go watch Wicked!" is the response they'll be hoping for.

 

[tommyhawkins]

Shout-out to @tommyhawkins for a great addition (part 2) to his series focusing on Epic Universe ride capacity. This one focuses in on what could be done about it in the near future, including building out some of those expansion pads.

This is the first time I've seen an outline of the challenges Universal may face when looking to expand SNW. Here I was thinking it would be just a simple add-on.

Thank you. I can't remember if I actually said it in the article. But on the most recent Earth image you can clearly see with the paving the intention is to have a portal entrance for the land - begs the question why bother if they decided to use it as an expansion to SNW. I am currently working on a layout for the land. Can fit two rides shops and eating places.

 

[Mike S]

If people haven't watched Wicked, rather than comforting them with the familiar faces from their competitor (WB), they'll probably just want to encourage those guests to go watch Wicked. They'll see this as synergy.

"Now I'll have to go watch Wicked!" is the response they'll be hoping for.

The conversation came up because people were speculating what would Universal get concerning Oz by buying WB. I brought up that maybe they’d get the rights to the likenesses of the actors from the 1939 film. If they did own them I’d imagine they’d use them.

 

[quinnmac000]

“Defying Gravity” E Ticket focused entirely on Wicked, “Dorothy’s Journey” D Ticket mixing the 1939 cast with the modern Witches.

Cut, print, send me my checks.

More like Wicked one section, 1939 Wizard of Oz, and then The Wiz (Film version) since Universal would have rights to all 3 if they end up with WB...(They have Wicked and The Wiz).

 

[RFRees]

More like Wicked one section, 1939 Wizard of Oz, and then The Wiz (Film version) since Universal would have rights to all 3 if they end up with WB...(They have Wicked and The Wiz).

They'd just need to buy Disney so they could get Return to Oz AND Oz the Great and Powerful in there!

 

[Frogki]

Easy to go the Gringotts route and be along the periphery of the scenes during Defying Gravity. See all the chaos, get the big song, etc...

This is the way. It's literally the perfect set up, guests are touring the Emerald City/Wizard's Palace and happen upon the climax of the story. It's also what everyone wants out of an attraction, namely hearing Defying Gravity.

Plus Emerald City looks like a sister to Diagon and Place Cachée in the films. Build it close to scale and people will eat it up. Add Glinda's pink elevated train and you have a nice B-Ticket people mover.