The Future of Lost Continent

[P_Roko21]

For me Pokemon in IOA feels off, especially when USF does HHN and knowing the possibilities of retheming the area for the "haunty" characters to take over. Give me a haunter sholder plush, various pokemon halloween shirts, etc.
Just seems like a missed opportunity to incorporate in universals largest event, especially when pokemon has been leaning heavy as of late into Halloween reskins and trick or treat decks.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Honestly….. I am not enough of a deep fan of Pokémon to contribute concept ideas here, but, it’s a large enough IP that in my mind, it can be both in IOA and USF, a la Potter. I don’t think this happens in longterm, but I genuinely think it’s still possible.

 

[Andysol]

Honestly….. I am not enough of a deep fan of Pokémon to contribute concept ideas here, but, it’s a large enough IP that in my mind, it can be both in IOA and USF, a la Potter. I don’t think this happens in longterm, but I genuinely think it’s still possible.

For me- I think the two reasons we see HP in every park are:
1) butterbeer
2) wands
(Bonus 3) park hopping with hogwarts express)

Butterbeer cannot be discounted. It’s got to be their #1 most profitable item in each park. And that’s probably not even close.

Does Pokémon have anything similar? No.

Pokémon does have the pokeball that they can incorporate and sell. But I doubt they’d need to do it in multiple locations like the wand. I think a large singular Pokémon land a la toon lagoon or Simpsons (with Tokyo waterfront- I can dream) would be ideal in terms of capitalizing on merch sales. LC is just too small and the transition with sharing the island with Hogsmeade would be jarring.

 

[Stitch_101]

I guess I'm the lone person who is happy at the idea of Pokemon not going in Studios? I personally like the idea of Studios focusing of primarily film and television based IP's, or at the very least film/TV adaptations of the IP's (Harry Potter) and I don't think anyone believes we are getting a Detective Pikachu land. And I know someone is going to say "Well Pokemon doesn't really match the literature theme of IOA" to which I would say, that's not exactly an overt theme guests recognize. To most guests, Islands is just a collection of popular and/or random highly themed lands to explore.

 

[Jake S]

With the obvious caveat that it’s Japan, you only have to look as far as Universal Osaka to get an idea of what they can do with Pokémon that isn’t a ride. Meet and greets, parades, themed food, endless merch, etc.

What’s great about Pokémon as a theme park IP is that it can fit anywhere and it’s endlessly adaptable. What’s less great is most of the environs are pretty much a blank slate. I spent many hours playing Pokémon Red as a kid and there really isn’t a locale I’d be dying to go to.

That’s okay! The characters are the point. Which is why I kind of like the idea of it taking on a more “explorer” vibe in Islands of Adventure as opposed to a “city” vibe in the Studios park.

 

[Fabrelol]

With the obvious caveat that it’s Japan, you only have to look as far as Universal Osaka to get an idea of what they can do with Pokémon that isn’t a ride. Meet and greets, parades, themed food, endless merch, etc.

What’s great about Pokémon as a theme park IP is that it can fit anywhere and it’s endlessly adaptable. What’s less great is most of the environs are pretty much a blank slate. I spent many hours playing Pokémon Red as a kid and there really isn’t a locale I’d be dying to go to.

That’s okay! The characters are the point. Which is why I kind of like the idea of it taking on a more “explorer” vibe in Islands of Adventure as opposed to a “city” vibe in the Studios park.

I think that's the joy of it, it works either way. Pokemon can incorporate all environments, what's to say the one in IOA isn't more of a small town connected to the safari zone. The Safari Snap ride is such an obvious move for a Pokemon land imo.

 

[Legacy]

I will say that, if Pokemon is what’s coming to IoA, I think it will help “balance” the parks overall layout way more than Zelda would. I never liked the idea of two “castle magic fantasy with chosen one hero running around with a fancy stick” IPs sitting next to each other. Pokemon, assuming it goes with a more urban feel, actually helps frame Islands better as the first two islands regardless of direction is whimsy island and city with cartoons.

It actually helps Potter and Jurassic Park stand out.

 

[Grits0808]

I will say that, if Pokemon is what’s coming to IoA, I think it will help “balance” the parks overall layout way more than Zelda would. I never liked the idea of two “castle magic fantasy with chosen one hero running around with a fancy stick” IPs sitting next to each other. Pokemon, assuming it goes with a more urban feel, actually helps frame Islands better as the first two islands regardless of direction is whimsy island and city with cartoons.

It actually helps Potter and Jurassic Park stand out.

I do agree there shouldn't be two Fantasy IPs with castles next to each other, I just don't know where Zelda would fit into UO. Should it replace Simpsons, or both FF and MIB?

I'm also of the opinion of having the Nintendo IPs be spread around the resort (I do not want Zelda at Epic). Leave the Nintendo Land expansion plot to Luigi's Mansion.

 

[Andysol]

I will say that, if Pokemon is what’s coming to IoA, I think it will help “balance” the parks overall layout way more than Zelda would. I never liked the idea of two “castle magic fantasy with chosen one hero running around with a fancy stick” IPs sitting next to each other. Pokemon, assuming it goes with a more urban feel, actually helps frame Islands better as the first two islands regardless of direction is whimsy island and city with cartoons.

It actually helps Potter and Jurassic Park stand out.

Agreed. But it’d be tragic going in IOA and it’s in Lost Continent and not Toon Lagoon.

Best retheme for Popeyes. And tons of room compared to LC.

I cannot stress this enough- lost continent and Hogsmeade share an island. So they need to compliment each other just like the other shared island does with skull island and JP. In no way does Pokémon compliment Hogsmeade.