The Current State and Future of Universal Studios Florida

[belloq87]

Ride to ride, I think Race Through New York is a little better, myself.

Would I rather watch an episode of THE SIMPSONS or Fallon? SIMPSONS.

 

[TheUniC6]

I feel like USF at the moment lacks a defining vision.

Is it supposed to be a park focused on food, concerts, and seasonal festivals like EPCOT?
Or is it supposed to be a park focused on classic IPs, parades, and hard ticket events like Magic Kingdom?
Is it supposed to be about exploring immersive lands such as Diagon Alley?
Or is it supposed to be about going backstage at a movie studio?

Meanwhile, almost all of the attractions fall in a moderate thrill category, with most also being some combination of screen-heavy, dated looking, or just not good.

Ultimately, it just feels like a decent, catch-all compliment to Islands of Adventure. That's not a terrible place to be in the sense of requiring immediate action, but I also don't see it as a great long term plan for future attendance growth.

I'm not going to get too worked up about one or two rides that they may add in the near term, but looking at the whole attraction lineup I just don't see much that still needs to be around in 15 to 20 years, and so I view USF as somewhat of a blank canvas post-EU. I just hope they approach that canvas with a more specific vision than the park has had in the last ~15 years.

Disney California Adventure is also becoming more of a seasonal food and festival park. The VP of the park did an interview where he mentioned that. Also they converted the old Tough To Be A Bug line/ queue space into a special event flex space. Back to USF though. I wonder if what will replace Shrek will be a hint to the future direction to the park. I would prefer if they would port over the DreamWorks theatre over to the space rather than the rumored Villiancon attraction for the spot but I digress. Also curious to see what will replace the Simpsons once they depart the Universal parks once the Universal-Fox contract expires.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I mean the rumors for Epic Universe, which granted aren’t proof yet, are really limited screen attractions if not outright any screen attractions. I don’t want USF to be a screen heavy park but, if 1/3 of your parks leans more simulator heavy, is that the worst thing?

When Epic Universe comes I think we’ll feel more balanced as a whole.

 

[belloq87]

Also curious to see what will replace the Simpsons once they depart the Universal parks once the Universal-Fox contract expires.

I'm interested to see what they eventually do there, as well.

When Epic Universe comes I think we’ll feel more balanced as a whole.

We shall see!

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

Much respect to a guy who sees the value in the cartoonish theming most theme park influencers would decry as outdated. Gonna try and throw a coin in that fish's mouth on my next visit.

Don't agree much with his stance on the hotels and food though. Islands of Adventure has some real unpalatable stuff at Circus McGirkus and Comic Strip, but most stuff is solid and special events are continuously improving their offerings. I also don't know how he found Fallon better than Simpsons. One ride plays classic Simpsons moments during the queue. The other plays Jimmy Fallon clips. You're comparing heaven and hell here...

His most questionable take is that he thinks Rise of the Resistance isn't a good dark ride (haven't been on it but judging from the POVs it fully deserves the hype).

 

[UniversalRBLX]

More scenic, less action-based attractions are what Universal is missing. Universal has cemented itself as the general public's "thrill capital" in Orlando with Velocicoaster. (Busch/SeaWorld are obviously more thrilling.)

The fact that SLOP isn't under construction here yet is odd. I understand the IP isn't relevant, but a dark ride with pets will be popular enough.

I'm hoping the EU hotel is popular so that it will convince them to redo USF's entrance with a hotel included.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

More scenic, less action-based attractions are what Universal is missing. Universal has cemented itself as the general public's "thrill capital" in Orlando with Velocicoaster. (Busch/SeaWorld are obviously more thrilling.)

The fact that SLOP isn't under construction here yet is odd. I understand the IP isn't relevant, but a dark ride with pets will be popular enough.

I'm hoping the EU hotel is popular so that it will convince them to redo USF's entrance with a hotel included.

I've always liked that Universal is a mix of Disney and Busch/Seaworld. They lost a bit of that balance when they axed Dragons but got it back with Veloci.

 

[belloq87]

More scenic, less action-based attractions are what Universal is missing.

100%.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

I know it's a C-ticket but technically speaking Yoshi's will be a more scenic attraction.

 

[belloq87]

I know it's a C-ticket but technically speaking Yoshi's will be a more scenic attraction.

Yes.

It will also not be in Universal Studios Florida!

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I really feel we’re getting all our “wants” for USF basically in Epic Universe. Then when EU is the company standard, like when Potter opened, standards will change so USF and IOA will be forced to compete to keep guests at those parks.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Much respect to a guy who sees the value in the cartoonish theming most theme park influencers would decry as outdated. Gonna try and throw a coin in that fish's mouth on my next visit.

Don't agree much with his stance on the hotels and food though. Islands of Adventure has some real unpalatable stuff at Circus McGirkus and Comic Strip, but most stuff is solid and special events are continuously improving their offerings. I also don't know how he found Fallon better than Simpsons. One ride plays classic Simpsons moments during the queue. The other plays Jimmy Fallon clips. You're comparing heaven and hell here...

@JungleSkip pointed out how for weeks Comic Strip Cafe had a new menu with a legit ramen option and NO ONE was talking about it. I firmly believe Uni's food is good to great with only a few spots of poor where as i feel Disney is less consistent but reachers higher highs which always get reported.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

@JungleSkip pointed out how for weeks Comic Strip Cafe had a new menu with a legit ramen option and NO ONE was talking about it. I firmly believe Uni's food is good to great with only a few spots of poor where as i feel Disney is less consistent but reachers higher highs which always get reported.

No offense @Alicia, but there isn’t a Pizzarizo at UOR, at least not that I’m familiar with. I think they just need to market their food better. Agreed on the consistency front, never had a bad meal except a burnt piece of chicken once in LC, happens.


All I pray for is the crepes never leave so I can try one.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

No offense @Alicia, but there isn’t a Pizzarizo at UOR, at least not that I’m familiar with. I think they just need to market their food better. Agreed on the consistency front, never had a bad meal except a burnt piece of chicken once in LC, happens.


All I pray for is the crepes never leave so I can try one.

Louie's pizza is good and so is Red Oven/Vivo.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Louie's pizza is good and so is Red Oven/Vivo.

Oh no you thought I agree with their take on Pizzarizo being good......


Vivo is lowkey one of my favorite restaurants, like ever. I say that having lived in Portland ME before, it just works for me so well!

 

[belloq87]

On my most recent trip, I generally found that I thought the food options (in-park) at Universal were improving.

Certainly much better snack options than I'd seen before.

Vivo is lowkey one of my favorite restaurants, like ever. I say that having lived in Portland ME before, it just works for me so well!

Not to derail the thread, but I've had three meals at Vivo, and they've all been excellent. Big hit with my traveling parties, too.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

On my most recent trip, I generally found that I thought the food options (in-park) at Universal were improving.

Certainly much better snack options than I'd seen before.

They really have but there are still some spots of "oh ok" there. I think we saw a real pivot after VB opened with all their food options and that was brought to the parks with Today Cafe, new menus at Mythos and Confisco, etc.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

On my most recent trip, I generally found that I thought the food options (in-park) at Universal were improving.

Certainly much better snack options than I'd seen before.



Not to derail the thread, but I've had three meals at Vivo, and they've all been excellent. Big hit with my traveling parties, too.

Not trying to derail, can we get a full Italian sit down in the park? Louie’s has limited pasta options but I feel that is missing. I think the park needs one more proper sit down, but I know they love the counter service/table service hybrid they’ve been doing.

Vivo is stellar.

Or I wonder if SNW in the US leans heavily Italian.

 

[belloq87]

Today Cafe

I didn't partake, but a couple in my group were raving about whatever breakfast sandwich they had gotten there (I was, instead, buying Universal Monsters posters down in the Bourne/Horror Makeup shop!).

Today Cafe seems to be a nice morning option, especially if grabbing something for a leisurely stroll down that side of the park.

Not trying to derail, can we get a full Italian sit down in the park? Louie’s has limited pasta options but I feel that is missing. I think the park needs one more proper sit down, but I know they love the counter service/table service hybrid they’ve been doing.

Vivo is stellar.

Or I wonder if SNW in the US leans heavily Italian.

I think the Italian bases are covered, but I would definitely like to see a very highly-themed table service restaurant added to USF's dining lineup.

 

[TheUniC6]

How long do you think it will be until they announce the replacement for Shrek? Will they do it shortly before or after it closes or will they wait until the replacement is ready to go and then announce like they did with the Jurassic World coaster and the Bourne stunt show? Either way I don't expect the Shrek replacement to open until 2023.