Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[Arno]

LITTLE QUESTION

I did some research. I have not found any answers. we often talk about a land LOR. we were talking about Disney versus Universal. Would the Tolkien family have agreed with one of them?

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Revamped List of Potential Third Park IP's: March 2018 Edition

- Nintendo (Mushroom Kingdom, DK, Pokemon)
- Middle Earth (Needs license, includes LOTR and Hobbit)
- DreamWorks (HTTYD, Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Madagascar, Boss Baby, Trolls, Puss In Boots, Croods, Captain Underpants)
- Star Trek (Can be part of a broader Sci-Fi land)
- Jurassic World (possible, but not likely)
- Universal Monsters
- The Wizard of Oz (possible, but not likely)
- Illumination (Sing, Secret Life Of Pets)
- DC (Needs license, possible-but not likely)
- Pacific Rim
- Godzilla (Needs license)

This list does not include any original land possibilities.

Y'all, please keep speculation in the 4th Park Blue Sky thread.

Universal's 4th Park Blue Sky Thread

 

[zg44]

LITTLE QUESTION

I did some research. I have not found any answers. we often talk about a land LOR. we were talking about Disney versus Universal. Would the Tolkien family have agreed with one of them?

The only agreement the Tolkien estate signed recently was the new pre-LOTR tv show(s) with Amazon.

Christopher Tolkien (who was against further rights usage) resigned in November 2017.

Tolkien estate will probably sign a theme park rights agreement in the coming years as a result of family members that are pro-usage being in charge.

Most likely Universal would be the main bidder for the rights. Disney has already announced expansions to its parks based on its own rights and doesn't need them as much as Universal would.

 

[Magic-Man]

Would the monsters not be considered an original land?

Not really, as they already have an established universe and such.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I'll probably get heat for this: but I think a reason we haven't seen LOR is because there isn't as much merch to sell...? I don't see anyone wearing LOR shirts or hats ever. Not saying its a bad property, but when you have Nintendo coming in (which is why I see it being the headliner for the 3rd park) there's no need to license another property.

 

[Teebin]

There are tons of products that would be popular. Pipe-weed, Ale, Rabbit stew, po-ta-toes to name a few.

 

[JungleSkip]

I'll probably get heat for this: but I think a reason we haven't seen LOR is because there isn't as much merch to sell...? I don't see anyone wearing LOR shirts or hats ever. Not saying its a bad property, but when you have Nintendo coming in (which is why I see it being the headliner for the 3rd park) there's no need to license another property.

Nah, that's nuts. Kids always love buying swords. Not to mention the food opportunities would be out of this world compared to Nintendo

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

Nah, that's nuts. Kids always love buying swords. Not to mention the food opportunities would be out of this world compared to Nintendo

I agree, I think it would be a good mature balance to nintendo's more kid oriented cartoonish style in the 4th park

 

[zg44]

I'll probably get heat for this: but I think a reason we haven't seen LOR is because there isn't as much merch to sell...? I don't see anyone wearing LOR shirts or hats ever. Not saying its a bad property, but when you have Nintendo coming in (which is why I see it being the headliner for the 3rd park) there's no need to license another property.

Naw, the reason LOTR hasn't been done yet is because Christopher Tolkien refused to allow any other expansion of LOTR-usage in the media/merchandise/etc. outside of the rights that Warner/NewLine already had acquired.

He fought Warner in court for years as well over their video games and other merchandise.

But the younger Tolkien family members want to take advantage of LOTR while they control the rights; Hobbit/LOTR become public domain in the US/UK by 2050. So if the younger family members need to develop the IP through media/merchandise/theme park ventures while they can.

As far as whether it'll be successful, 2 things: 1) Amazon is paying $250 million just for the rights to produce their pre-LOTR show(s), and the industry talk is that it will be the most expensive tv show ever (probably nearing a billion dollars in production costs over a multi-season run). 2) Don't underestimate the food/drink aspect of this; for Harry Potter, food/drink has been one of the most reliable earnings sources with butterbeers/candies and the rest selling like crazy.

LOTR isn't as big with kids as Harry Potter or Nintendo, but it'll do great business.

 

[Mad Dog]

LOTR has the potential to be visually stunning. If Universal wants to do a Disney Sea type third park, as rumored, that would be a great fit.

 

[quinnmac000]

Intellectual Property Manager - Theme Park Interfacing - Careers at Universal Orlando

Seems that Universal is doubling down on outside IPs for the new park or DH statement about the a 4th dry park being outside IPs may be factual.

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

Intellectual Property Manager - Theme Park Interfacing - Careers at Universal Orlando

Seems that Universal is doubling down on outside IPs for the new park or DH statement about the a 4th dry park being outside IPs may be factual.

if the new park has one IP free land excluding the entrance, i'll be surprised

 

[Magic-Man]

if the new park has one IP free land excluding the entrance, i'll be surprised

Why? It's not that unlikely.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Uni can go the general themed area with multiple IP property rides within them. (aka New York)

 

[Magic-Man]

Uni can go the general themed area with multiple IP property rides within them. (aka New York)

A Sci-Fi land is possible, maybe even likely. We still haven't seen Star Trek or Pacific Rim in a Uni. park. Metroid and Ready Player One could also be put there.

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

Why? It's not that unlikely.

the last IP free area at UOR excluding VB was opened in 1999... and is most likely soon to leave, leaving the park completely IP dominated attraction wise excluding... um Rip Ride Rockit? which is based around pre existing songs? I just don't see it happening (Edit: sorry I meant attraction, not land haha)

 

[Magic-Man]

the last IP free area at UOR excluding VB was opened in 1999... and is most likely soon to leave, leaving the park completely IP dominated attraction wise excluding... um Rip Ride Rockit? which is based around pre existing songs? I just don't see it happening (Edit: sorry I meant attraction, not land haha)

IP's won't fill up a hundred-fifty acre park, unless you build lands for every single IP they have. There will be an original land in there somewhere.

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

IP's won't fill up a hundred-fifty acre park, unless you build lands for every single IP they have. There will be an original land in there somewhere.

yeah, sorry I meant all attractions will most likely be IPs, not lands

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

What they really need is transit from OIA to the OCCC, with a stop in downtown, and possibly all the way to Disney and maybe even Tampa. Projects like this have started and stopped countless times. If the government can’t do it, maybe do it in a private/public partnership with Brightline or some other company that had shown a history of getting things done.

In the late 90's early 2000's, there would have been light rail from North Orlando, to DIsney area with stops including downtown. Perfect world right? It was Axed by the small minded voters here at the time. (Population wasn't even a million but very close.) Orlando was very closed minded. Small buildings downtown instead of taller, no forward thinking with growth or transit in mind. That Money went to Charlotte which is why they have a light rail system.

Shoot forward a few years and High Speed Rail was supposed to go from AIrport to Downtown Tampa with stop at DIsney. Well , Disney wansn't on board really, and a lot of other local political issues.

Orlando International to Orange County Convention Center was supposed to me 'American Maglev' which had the right of way to build and was approved. But , apparently, the guy who proposed it wasn't 'Funded' enough. That plan was ditched. There are plans for a connector 'Whatever that means' from Orlando International to Convention center. Downtown Orlando is serviced by Sun Rail which could easily be connected at Sand Lake Road, which just so happens to be under expansion AND the road New Universal will be associated with ...

Brightline has eventual Plans to go from Orlando to Tampa, thats at least a decade away though.

If I remember correctly it was Disney that essentially killed this project every time because they wanted it to only go to WDW. Somebody correct me if I am wrong but that’s I what I seem to remember.

It would be nice to have another means of transportation from airport to the parks especially Universal. Maybe someday this project will get done.

I agree. Orlando/Orange County can build beutiful highway systems second to no one in America, but when it comes to working together as a full government with a great vision, they lack substantially. I hope that changes. This city has various clusters of entertainment, and live work play that can all be connected by some sort of other means than driving and it needs to be an option if growth rates stay above 70% - 80% as projected.

No, Disney hasn't killed any rail projects recently. It fought (unsuccessfully) to change the route of the HSR to avoid I-Drive and follow 417 instead to Disney, even offering to move the Magical Express onto the trail before Rick Scott killed the project. More recently the Maglev proposed from OCCC to the airport was killed by the airport as they believed it would cannibalize rental car revenues.

The insane expansion cost for Sunrail to the airport has that project DOA.

Maybe not so, there are still plans for an 'Airport Connector' very much because of Lake Nona anyway.

 

[Ultranel]

No, Disney hasn't killed any rail projects recently. It fought (unsuccessfully) to change the route of the HSR to avoid I-Drive and follow 417 instead to Disney.

Disney: Me, Me, Me, Me!

Orange county, Orlando, Universal, SeaWorld, International Dr's hotel industries, Bush Gardens and Tampa need to join forces and get this train done. Just bypass WDW completely... they are too damn perfect (in their minds) to deal with.