After looking at the convention center and south plot, I think there has to be a huge parking garage down there somewhere. The south Citiwalk, and to an extent the parks, will want to capitalize on the Convention center business. It's a virtual lock that they will have shuttles from the convention center to the Citiwalk. It's over a mile walk, so they aren't going to be able to depend on foot traffic. I think it's more logical to have excess parking there and sell conventioneers that drive to the convention center on parking at CitiWalk. As long as the price is comparable to parking at the CC itself($15 so they can probably make it work), people would probably jump on that as it would be covered parking and have direct access to food and drinks. Granted, I'm guessing that the majority of people there for conventions are flying in and won't have cars. That doesn't affect the need for parking, but does further reinforce the need for shuttles. I'm just looking at this as I just can't see the whole "all park guests park at WNW" thing ever happening.
New Transport Hub?
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- Mar 16, 2010
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I belive that once they move all of the contractors to another temp area, maybe the wetnwild parking lot, they will begin to work on the bottom floor of the garage.
- Feb 15, 2012
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It's not broken now, but with a fourth park, more resorts, and more entertainment across I-4 something needs to be done.
I'm sure that wide grassy area in the middle of Universal Blvd. will ultimately be used to connect the new park, in one form or another. It's placement is too perfect not to be utilized.
My guess is that they do what they've done here in Pittsburgh. A light rail system down the medium strip utilizing trolley cars. It's not as overly expensive as a monorail system and they move a huge amount of people from the South Hills into downtown Pittsburgh at a much longer distance than the mile or two they'll need for Orlando. It's a very dependable clean system, and avoids the auto traffic issues.
I still have issues believing this third park will exist in my lifetime. I'm only a tiny bit more optimistic Epcot will be overhauled before I die.
Comcast is in their aggressive business mode. They see blood & they're going for the juggler. No doubt in my mind that they'll continue to develop this resort to it's fullest potential. A third park will just be a part of that game plan. No inside info, just my take from watching this company since they were a small player just a short time ago. They've always had a Napoleon complex, big time.
Some reason, light rail is frowned upon in Orlando. Not sure why. But they definitely can not build your typical overhead powered light rain system. Something like the Sprinter would work potentially but don't see that heavy method of tracks coming.
- Jan 29, 2013
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- Sep 25, 2016
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My ideas/opinions on this...
Short term (aka. pre-Universal South but post-Universal Central), I think everything will continue to be connected by buses, but preparations will be made for the monorail, light rail, or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that will eventually be built (UOR Resort Line). VB will have its own minor transport hub that directly connects to Uni North hotels, the Uni Central minor transport hub, and CityWalk/Parks through the Uni North major transport hub. Uni Central (W&W property) will have a similar minor transport hub that connects in the same style, but it will have accommodations for the future UOR Resort Line.
Also, the major transport hub will have its bus area rebuilt and/or relocated. I think it will probably just be rebuilt. If you force the buses to park in the garages or backstage then tons of space opens up. It's more than enough space to make a proper bus terminal. There's even enough space to create two separate bus loops, one for UOR buses and one for everyone else. In addition, new escalators, elevators, and stairs will be built specifically for the VB tram loop. These would be built going down the north side of the garage. Signage would be added that directed all guests in the Uni North major transport hub going to VB to go through the South Garage bridge and take a left at the end of it to the special escalators, elevators, and stairs.
Long term (aka. post-Universal South), Now I have two ideas for this.
Option 1: The Hub and Spokes Model
I think we see the Uni North transport hub either rebuilt to have an above ground station above the bus terminal for monorail or light rail or slightly retrofitted to include space for a BRT line. All UOR properties will be connected by one main line that travels between them with a single stop at the main hub of each of the three properties (North, Central, South). That main line would be on of the options described above, but more than likely would be a monorail or light rail for this option because of the large amount of people being transported. The main hubs will facilitate transportation to all attractions and hotels within each's respective property. The Uni Central hotels would be the sole exception to this rule as they would have bus lines to VB.
Option 2: The Modified Disney Model
In this option, every hotel on every property would have a bus line to every VB's hub, Uni North's main hub, and Uni South's main hub. If Uni Central ends up being more than just hotels, then it would also receive a stop from every hotel. If it only has hotels though, then a hotel guest would have to get on the main line between all three properties to reach Uni Central. This main line is the same as described in Option 1 but is most likely just a bus due to the small amount of people expected to ride.
Any critiques? Did I forget something important or a different possible model?
Btw, I didn't include using the Uni Central hub as a new bus area for Uni North because it seems inefficient to me. It forces more buses to travel down a notoriously highly trafficked then would otherwise. Also, the single main hub idea also seems very inefficient. It will create an always crowded mess even worse than what we currently have. That is no matter how it is built.
Short term (aka. pre-Universal South but post-Universal Central), I think everything will continue to be connected by buses, but preparations will be made for the monorail, light rail, or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that will eventually be built (UOR Resort Line). VB will have its own minor transport hub that directly connects to Uni North hotels, the Uni Central minor transport hub, and CityWalk/Parks through the Uni North major transport hub. Uni Central (W&W property) will have a similar minor transport hub that connects in the same style, but it will have accommodations for the future UOR Resort Line.
Also, the major transport hub will have its bus area rebuilt and/or relocated. I think it will probably just be rebuilt. If you force the buses to park in the garages or backstage then tons of space opens up. It's more than enough space to make a proper bus terminal. There's even enough space to create two separate bus loops, one for UOR buses and one for everyone else. In addition, new escalators, elevators, and stairs will be built specifically for the VB tram loop. These would be built going down the north side of the garage. Signage would be added that directed all guests in the Uni North major transport hub going to VB to go through the South Garage bridge and take a left at the end of it to the special escalators, elevators, and stairs.
Long term (aka. post-Universal South), Now I have two ideas for this.
Option 1: The Hub and Spokes Model
I think we see the Uni North transport hub either rebuilt to have an above ground station above the bus terminal for monorail or light rail or slightly retrofitted to include space for a BRT line. All UOR properties will be connected by one main line that travels between them with a single stop at the main hub of each of the three properties (North, Central, South). That main line would be on of the options described above, but more than likely would be a monorail or light rail for this option because of the large amount of people being transported. The main hubs will facilitate transportation to all attractions and hotels within each's respective property. The Uni Central hotels would be the sole exception to this rule as they would have bus lines to VB.
Option 2: The Modified Disney Model
In this option, every hotel on every property would have a bus line to every VB's hub, Uni North's main hub, and Uni South's main hub. If Uni Central ends up being more than just hotels, then it would also receive a stop from every hotel. If it only has hotels though, then a hotel guest would have to get on the main line between all three properties to reach Uni Central. This main line is the same as described in Option 1 but is most likely just a bus due to the small amount of people expected to ride.
Any critiques? Did I forget something important or a different possible model?
Btw, I didn't include using the Uni Central hub as a new bus area for Uni North because it seems inefficient to me. It forces more buses to travel down a notoriously highly trafficked then would otherwise. Also, the single main hub idea also seems very inefficient. It will create an always crowded mess even worse than what we currently have. That is no matter how it is built.
- Mar 16, 2010
- 11,087
- 2,883
