Universal's New Park/Site B Blue Sky Thread

[Frank Drackman]

villages of adventures

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

You don't need a popular or strong IP to have a great attraction. You just need a well designed/engineered attraction. The Lost Continent pre-Potter was my favorite theme park land and it had nothing to do with an IP. It was well themed and had great rides. Also, I'll reiterate the example that's always used in this argument: WaterWorld at USH. Considered a not-good movie, and a movie the majority of people have never even seen, but people love the show. So again, if they do well with a theme, they succeed. And horror is fail-proof... if they do it right.

Also, as a side note, a permanent theme-park land and a temporary HHN house are two hugely different beasts where IPs are handled very differently.

I never said that I wouldn't love a UCM area in ANY park. By all means, it would be fantastic. I'm just saying it isn't profitable, and Uni would never do it, as they don't have as much of a draw anymore.

 

[Felipe]

I never said that I wouldn't love a UCM area in ANY park. By all means, it would be fantastic. I'm just saying it isn't profitable, and Uni would never do it, as they don't have as much of a draw anymore.

I disagree. Horror is a huge market, with every type of media you can think of from movies to videogames and everything in between, as well as theater, events and multiple yearly conventions... and it sells a lot of merch. Horror has massive attraction and appeal. HHN alone is proof that the audience is there. And it is HUGE. And growing.

 

[Alicia]

I would love to see a Haunted Mansion type attraction set in Dracula’s castle and starring the classic universal monsters. I’ve been talking about it for years for the new park. Doubt they’d do it, but if done right it could be a new classic attraction.

 

[JungleSkip]

I also think waaaaaaaay too many people focus way too much on the bottom line "profitability" of everything that's brought up. There are only a handful of properties like Potter, SW, Mario, LOTR, etc. When they're designing this new park, they're only gonna have maybe 2 hugely profitable franchises to build off of. Most of the park will be made up of other, "lesser" franchises that will be aimed at specific groups. Not every land is going to be for every person.

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

I disagree. Horror is a huge market, with every type of media you can think of from movies to videogames and everything in between, as well as theater, events and multiple yearly conventions... and it sells a lot of merch. Horror has massive attraction and appeal. HHN alone is proof that the audience is there. And it is HUGE. And growing.

Yes, horror. Resident Evil. Insidious. Five Nights at Freddy's.

No one, apart from us huge fans of classic horror, is clamoring over Frankenstein or Dracula anymore.

I also think waaaaaaaay too many people focus way too much on the bottom line "profitability" of everything that's brought up. There are only a handful of properties like Potter, SW, Mario, LOTR, etc. When they're designing this new park, they're only gonna have maybe 2 hugely profitable franchises to build off of. Most of the park will be made up of other, "lesser" franchises that will be aimed at specific groups. Not every land is going to be for every person.

I agree, I just think the "classic horror" market is wayyy too small for major theme parks, especially with tourists.

 

[Viator]

Yes, horror. Resident Evil. Insidious. Five Nights at Freddy's.

You are out of your damn mind if you think that RE, Insidious, and FNaF has any form of potential for year-round attractions.

 

[JungleSkip]

I agree, I just think the "classic horror" market is wayyy too small for major theme parks, especially with tourists.

Not if it's done right.

No one outside of Disney nerds gives 2 craps about TRON, but once they ride that ride they're gonna spend money on merch.

 

[Magic-Man]

You are out of your damn mind if you think that RE, Insidious, and FNaF has any form of potential for year-round attractions.

I'm a big fan of FNAF, but I agree with everything in this post. It doesn't belong in Uni.

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

You are out of your damn mind if you think that RE, Insidious, and FNaF has any form of potential for year-round attractions.

I actually just face-palmed IRL. I wasn't saying they have potential for year-round attractions, I'm saying THAT's the huge horror market that is around today, not Universal's classic monsters.

Not if it's done right.

No one outside of Disney nerds gives 2 craps about TRON, but once they ride that ride they're gonna spend money on merch.

True, but Disney can pretty much do whatever the flying frozone they want and people will go insane. They have an AEROSMITH attraction that's famous across the country. Disney has Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney World's worldwide fame. With Universal (especially with this 4th gate) they are not on top of the market. They're growing, but they're still nowhere as huge as the mouse. They need all the IPs that are even somewhat profitable, and I don't see the UCMs being profitable enough for any major presence in the 4th gate.

 

[JungleSkip]

True, but Disney can pretty much do whatever the flying frozone they want and people will go insane. They have an AEROSMITH attraction that's famous across the country. Disney has Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney World's worldwide fame. With Universal (especially with this 4th gate) they are not on top of the market. They're growing, but they're still nowhere as huge as the mouse. They need all the IPs that are even somewhat profitable, and I don't see the UCMs being profitable enough for any major presence in the 4th gate.

Nah, I think you're seriously underestimating Universal here.

I think you're going to be surprised.

 

[Viator]

To say this, you can do a Classic Monster attraction, regardless of what people know of it. I would argue having a fun attraction, with re-ride ability on the Classic Monsters can work rather nicely, but that's IMO, and that you don't have to make it as a headlining aspect of G3.

 

[Magic-Man]

I never said that I wouldn't love a UCM area in ANY park. By all means, it would be fantastic. I'm just saying it isn't profitable, and Uni would never do it, as they don't have as much of a draw anymore.

False. I would go to any new park that attempted to make a Dracula or Frankenstein attraction. They're both icons.

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

False. I would go to any new park that attempted to make a Dracula or Frankenstein attraction. They're both icons.

To say this, you can do a Classic Monster attraction, regardless of what people know of it. I would argue having a fun attraction, with re-ride ability on the Classic Monsters can work rather nicely, but that's IMO, and that you don't have to make it as a headlining aspect of G3.

That's great for US, sounds like great attractions, however Universal isn't just building a theme park for us, they're actually trying to get people through the turnstiles. Very little people are gonna say "OMG UNIVERSAL IS BUILDING CASTLE DRACULA I'M SO EXCITED" in 2018.

Nah, I think you're seriously underestimating Universal here.

I think you're going to be surprised.

I would be very surprised.

 

[Viator]

That's great for US, sounds like great attractions, however Universal isn't just building a theme park for us, they're actually trying to get people through the turnstiles. Very little people are gonna say "OMG UNIVERSAL IS BUILDING CASTLE DRACULA I'M SO EXCITED" in 2018.

And I agree, but that you also have to think that not everything for Gate 4 will be bomb dropping, or as massive as Nintendo or Lord of The Rings.

Classic Monsters, DWA, Sanrio, and more would be smaller but needed, to get people away from Super Nintendo World or Middle Earth.

 

[Felipe]

No one, apart from us huge fans of classic horror, is clamoring over Frankenstein or Dracula anymore.

Give or take 95% of people going to the parks aren't clamoring for anything at all. We are but an itty bitty bubble in the sea of park guests. What we love or hate with a passion, the average parkgoer usually has a completely different experience.

UCM fits the horror mold (my main point being anything horror would work if done right), and UCM is a Uni IP (ain't gotta pay no royalties), and it's an IP they're proud of for its pioneering and legacy, so it would work all around. IMO.

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

And I agree, but that you also have to think that not everything for Gate 4 will be bomb dropping, or as massive as Nintendo or Lord of The Rings.

Classic Monsters, DWA, Sanrio, and more would be smaller but needed, to get people away from Super Nintendo World or Middle Earth.

True, not everything with be HP, SNW, or LotR. I just think UCM is a bit too small, with enough presence at other parks. Also what? Sanrio is huge.

Give or take 95% of people going to the parks aren't clamoring for anything at all. We are but an itty bitty bubble in the sea of park guests. What we love or hate with a passion, the average parkgoer usually has a completely different experience.

UCM fits the horror mold (my main point being anything horror would work if done right), and UCM is a Uni IP (ain't gotta pay no royalties), and it's an IP they're proud of for its pioneering and legacy, so it would work all around. IMO.

Really? So 95% of people don't care about ANY IPs? :bs:

I'd also say classic horror and modern horror are two very different things, and modern horror is the bigger market. However, I agree with your last two points about royalties and UCMs legacy (Monsters Cafe is great imo, though).

 

[Felipe]

And I agree, but that you also have to think that not everything for Gate 4 will be bomb dropping, or as massive as Nintendo or Lord of The Rings.

Classic Monsters, DWA, Sanrio, and more would be smaller but needed, to get people away from Super Nintendo World or Middle Earth.

Agreed. Not to mention, UCM is classic and everyone of all ages around the world recognizes the characters, so it has as much power as the latest fad IP because of how recognizable they are. Not to mention it stands out visually/thematically from the other strongly rumored IPs of Nintendo and LotR and even Potter.

 

[happy bunny rabbit]

Agreed. Not to mention, UCM is classic and everyone of all ages around the world recognizes the characters, so it has as much power as the latest fad IP because of how recognizable they are. Not to mention it stands out visually/thematically from the other strongly rumored IPs of Nintendo and LotR and even Potter.

Now THIS I agree with. Still doubt it'll happen though, apart from Jungle's hinting.

 

[Felipe]

Really? So 95% of people don't care about ANY IPs? :bs:

The point was about the "clamoring," not about caring. The majority will experience a ride or attraction and their enjoyment will be determined by many other factors than just IP. Also, as it's been mentioned before, there's only a few IPs with Potter's or Star Wars' draw, and they won't have a park with all huge IPs. UCM would be a great in-between land solely being horror and a Uni IP. People love to get scared and all that jazz (and regardless of old or modern, popular or obscure) I believe anything horror would do the trick.