Universal's New Park/Site B Blue Sky Thread

[brianlo]

I mean...how much longer can we say DHS feels all that different from MK? Or Epcot? All the parks are becoming homogenized IP holding places.

I think this park will (hopefully) be at a WWOHP level throughout, making it universal’s highest quality part which could set it apart.

Totally fair, homogenization is taking the industry. TDS is technically the biggest copy cat park of the lot, it's just a next generation magic kingdom if you really peel everything away. Not helped by New New Fantasyland's arrival forthcoming.

It's just slightly more apparent when they dip into the same IP franchise buckets to create very similar lands amongst each park. I guess I'm ultimately agreeing that a second Jurassic Park/World land is probably a little overkill.

 

[JungleSkip]

Totally fair, homogenization is taking the industry. TDS is technically the biggest copy cat park of the lot, it's just a next generation magic kingdom if you really peel everything away. Not helped by New New Fantasyland's arrival forthcoming.

It's just slightly more apparent when they dip into the same IP franchise buckets to create very similar lands amongst each park. I guess I'm ultimately agreeing that a second Jurassic Park/World land is probably a little overkill.

Oh I’m totally with you when it comes to Jurassic World. I think making another Jurassic land is folley and I’m not sold it’s something that will actually happen.

 

[belloq87]

While I don't think I'd be thrilled with JP and JW existing at two different theme parks, if it brings us a new mega-attraction for the JURASSIC property, while keeping River Adventure, I'll live with it.

 

[Nick]

...because that's what the customer base wants.

This is something that is often said, but is really a misnomer

The customer base wants to have a good time. They more or less don't know what they want. If a land like LC had a Top-5 ride in Orlando in it, guests would spend more time, and moeny there. It would allow Universal to profit off of their original IP in the same way Disney does.

Both Disney and Universal have lost the script though, imo. Instead of letting the creatives run wild with original ideas that you can monetize in whatever way you want (Pirates has sure made a lot of money for Disney and not just in the Theme Park sector), both WDI and UC are now being given strict directives to put in hot IPs to every park.

Take Pandora for example. I like the land, but did it really need AVATAR behind it to work? Absolutely not! They could've built exactly what is there as an original property and guests still would've loved it. Merchandising also wouldn't have taken that much of a hit either, because the main seller is the shoulder banshee... that's not from the movie at all. Disney easily could've built Flight of Passage as an original ride and still sold a ton of those things and made a bunch of money. Oh, and the food in the land ALSO has nothing to do with the movie.

The entire land is pretty much proof that an original land can work in today's day and age (just like TSL is proof that IP doesn't always matter). The land just happened to have the AVATAR IP slapped on it bc Bob Iger was desperate.

 

[Magic-Man]

There is starting to be a real risk of this park lacking an actual unique identity. I by all means want to see more Potter... but Jurassic World, Potter, depending on how Nintendo is sprinkled around... what actually makes this unique from IOA?

I guess a hub and spoke layout?

I'd rather another IOA than another Studio's. However it's starting to sound like IOA, the sequel, featuring the sequel (or prequel) lands.

This park really doesn’t need a unique identity, other than extremely immersive lands. Great rides, great lands, that’s all we need, imho.

While I don't think I'd be thrilled with JP and JW existing at two different theme parks, if it brings us a new mega-attraction for the JURASSIC property, while keeping River Adventure, I'll live with it.

This.

 

[Magic-Man]

Let’s be honest here: If we really do end up getting Jurassic World in the new park instead of IOA, will anyone in the GP actually care? No. They will see a couple of new attractions they want to experience and dinos.

It’s not like it’ll really replace anything, either. We’re not getting any original lands. Classic Monsters might still come anyways. FB, DreamWorks, and Nintendo will definitely be there. LOTR and Star Trek are out. So, what is there to lose?

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Having a mix of IPs and original ideas is enough to build a park. Look at HHN, having a few major IPs will bring in the crowd while the originals help balance the rest of the park. Nintendo is already a large enough IP that building the rest of the park to be IP would not be the worse decision. Nintendo + another 2 IPs and then everything else original is what I hope becomes reality.

 

[quinnmac000]

I really am hoping for high capacity long duration rides. High Capacity in the way that doesn't jab 72 people in a single ride vehicle.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I really am hoping for high capacity long duration rides. High Capacity in the way that doesn't jab 72 people in a single ride vehicle.

Yes sir. I am hoping that most rides have 1800+ so that overall wait times are low.

 

[Nick]

I really am hoping for high capacity long duration rides. High Capacity in the way that doesn't jab 72 people in a single ride vehicle.

Yeah, would be nice to have a more intimate ride experience that’s still high capacity.

 

[Magic-Man]

I really am hoping for high capacity long duration rides. High Capacity in the way that doesn't jab 72 people in a single ride vehicle.

Yes sir. I am hoping that most rides have 1800+ so that overall wait times are low.

I’m hoping that most, if not all, the rides (minus the flats) have close to 2000+PPH capacity numbers. I’d rather not wait in five-hour long lines on opening day.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I’m hoping that most, if not all, the rides (minus the flats) have close to 2000+PPH capacity numbers. I’d rather not wait in five-hour long lines on opening day.

Opening day will probably not open at full capacity. Theme parks tend to increase capacity over time, just so that bad reviews about lines for every ride in the park occur. Especially after VB.

 

[belloq87]

Question to take things in a slightly different direction:

Let's say, for discussion purposes, that the Classic Monsters are going to be in the park. In what form do we think we will (or would we like to) see them? This question was prompted by seeing how Universal is using the characters for HHN out in Hollywood: updating their looks and setting everything to a hard rock soundtrack... which I think is totally fine for that event, but is not really the sort of implementation I'd want to see in a dedicated land or attraction in a new theme park.

 

[Magic-Man]

Question to take things in a slightly different direction:

Let's say, for discussion purposes, that the Classic Monsters are going to be in the park. In what form do we think we will (or would we like to) see them? This question was prompted by seeing how Universal is using the characters for HHN out in Hollywood: updating their looks and setting everything to a hard rock soundtrack... which I think is totally fine for that event, but is not really the sort of implementation I'd want to see in a dedicated land or attraction in a new theme park.

I’d want a foreboding, yet family friendly, area. Sort of like Haunted Mansion at MK, but with castles and mountains, lots of trees. That sorta thing.

If JW doesn’t come, a flying coaster, RMC T-Rex, or an indoor thrill coaster could work extremely well here.

A water-ride also fits extremely well. Something like Chiapas at Phantasialand could be amazing, it could be both look beautiful and be thrilling.

Maybe a family-friendly dark-ride starring Frankenstein?

 

[quinnmac000]

Question to take things in a slightly different direction:

Let's say, for discussion purposes, that the Classic Monsters are going to be in the park. In what form do we think we will (or would we like to) see them? This question was prompted by seeing how Universal is using the characters for HHN out in Hollywood: updating their looks and setting everything to a hard rock soundtrack... which I think is totally fine for that event, but is not really the sort of implementation I'd want to see in a dedicated land or attraction in a new theme park.

I don't think the current classic Monsters alone have the strength to carry a whole land unless due to the length of time from the peak of their popularity and now but I think they definitely could support a subdivision of Halloween/Horror land. If they add in some new monsters than I think they could. The biggest thing to remember is a lot of the Classic Monsters are gothic horror which is very different than today. These monsters aren't scary anymore and are essentially treated as jokes. I would want this land to be as scary as possible without going overboard. Children and adults alike on edge consistently while within the area.

What I would like to see is a hybrid indoor/outdoor area. The front outside area is the Black Forest known from the Grimm Fairy Tales filled with the childhood monsters/villians from those tales, this leads to a dark inside area that is perpetually night consisting of 18/19th Century western areas represented (France, Germany, United States, England, Italy etc). In England, come face to face with Jack the Ripper and the Wolfman attractions with Jack the Ripper being an original. Germany, come face to face with Frankenstein, Igor, and his monster. France, you come go to Notre Dame and see Quasimodo or come face to face with the Phantom of the Opera. Romania, Deal with Dracula and Van Helsing. America, experience Edgar Allen Poe theater and Sleepy Hollow. Back outside area leads to swamp and a tomb for the Mummy and the Creature of the Black Lagoon.

If they did classic monsters, I wouldn't want coasters. As it doesn't really make sense in any way. I want top notch classic dark/water rides with a twist and shows that terrify me.

 

[Legacy]

I don't think the current classic Monsters alone have the strength to carry a whole land unless due to the length of time from the peak of their popularity and now but I think they definitely could support a subdivision of Halloween/Horror land. If they add in some new monsters than I think they could. The biggest thing to remember is a lot of the Classic Monsters are gothic horror which is very different than today. These monsters aren't scary anymore and are essentially treated as jokes. I would want this land to be as scary as possible without going overboard. Children and adults alike on edge consistently while within the area.

Yeeeeah...

The original concept I heard was “Dark Universe” being used as a land, so it would have been the reimagined style and tone being presented. Now, with failure of that whole thing, we’re assuming things would adjust to a more “classic monster” style. The tone is unlikely to change.

I expect a coaster. I expect adrenaline but not fear.

 

[quinnmac000]

Yeeeeah...

The original concept I heard was “Dark Universe” being used as a land, so it would have been the reimagined style and tone being presented. Now, with failure of that whole thing, we’re assuming things would adjust to a more “classic monster” style. The tone is unlikely to change.

That's rather tone deaf especially with Universal's own moneymakers outside of animation/JW/F&F is Horror Films.

 

[belloq87]

I’d want a foreboding, yet family friendly, area. Sort of like Haunted Mansion at MK, but with castles and mountains, lots of trees. That sorta thing.

In terms of atmosphere, absolutely.

Yeeeeah...

The original concept I heard was “Dark Universe” being used as a land, so it would have been the reimagined style and tone being presented. Now, with failure of that whole thing, we’re assuming things would adjust to a more “classic monster” style. The tone is unlikely to change.

I expect a coaster. I expect adrenaline but not fear.

This does not inspire a ton of confidence. They should use the characters to create the moodiest, eeriest attractions and settings they've ever designed, not shove them into high-octane thrill rides like they're just any other action franchise (though I wouldn't be opposed to a highly-themed and thrilling coaster if done right).

That's rather tone deaf especially with Universal's own moneymakers outside of animation/JW/F&F is Horror Films.

It is kind of amazing to me that Universal (at least the film division) still does not seem to really understand the appeal of the Classic Monsters. They're gateway horror characters -- they can introduce kids to horror aesthetics and tones without graphic and violent content. And for the most part, they're kind of tragic characters (not action heroes).

 

[JungleSkip]

I don't think the current classic Monsters alone have the strength to carry a whole land unless due to the length of time from the peak of their popularity

Wait, so a theme park can make an original concept a household name, but it can't make things that already are household names relevant again?O:

 

[quinnmac000]

Wait, so a theme park can make an original concept a household name, but it can't make things that already are household names relevant again?O:

Original concept has no prejudice associated with it because its new. IP has prejudiced associated with it because its known. Known troubled IPs are lot harder to work with, then unknowns.