Fast & Furious: Supercharged (Closing August 2026)

[HalfGlass]

If they’re looking to theme it after Twisters, surely there’s some other natural disaster that they could use where you ride a tram with a bunch of people and they could install no kidding practical effects around you to simulate that disaster. Maybe they could call it Tidal Wave or Earthquake or take the generic route and just call it Disaster.

If they wanted to call it Disaster they could have just kept the ride as is.

 

[Mad Dog]

Well, they better start putting some significant attractions in the park. Disney just had a real good quarterly report, which their CEO attributed targeted discounts at WDW helped attendance a lot. And WDW has all of that terrific high level new stuff coming up in a few years. Universal can't rest on Epic opening, and blaming hot weather in Orlando. They really need to shift back into high gear, big time attractions, like they did more than a decade ago. Minor new attractions and lightly themed outdoor coasters won't be competitive to those popular IP significant D/E attractions being build up I4.

 

[Grabnar]

Well, they better start putting some significant attractions in the park. Disney just had a real good quarterly report, which their CEO attributed targeted discounts at WDW helped attendance a lot. And WDW has all of that terrific high level new stuff coming up in a few years. Universal can't rest on Epic opening, and blaming hot weather in Orlando. They really need to shift back into high gear, big time attractions, like they did more than a decade ago. Minor new attractions and lightly themed outdoor coasters won't be competitive to those popular IP significant D/E attractions being build up I4.

They're likely to have a capital freeze of some sort during the spin-off as well, it's going to be a messy time for UOR.

They need to green light the Simpson's/AA/FFL replacement sooner rather than later.

 

[Mad Dog]

They're likely to have a capital freeze of some sort during the spin-off as well, it's going to be a messy time for UOR.

They need to green light the Simpson's/AA/FFL replacement sooner rather than later.

Capital freeze problem is definitely possible. Perhaps that's the reason they are finally started moving on the long dormant Lost Continent, beginning projects at Epic Potter and Monsters. But they really can't pause, it would be a big problem. They'd lose market share to WDW if they slow down. Its an arms race right now. Best way to boost attendance short term would be to come out with a 'reasonably priced' three park AP. But Epic capacity/continuing ride breakdowns and having an unreasonable overly value view on Epic have them cornered. But long term, they better come up with some big indoor attractions.....soon.

I wouldn't want to be in Orlando Universal management shoes today. How do you explain to your bosses at Comcast how WDW, with no significant new attractions, had a better quarterly results than you had, even with your spanking new park to pad the attendance numbers. Maybe it's not as hot in Kissimmee .

 

[Grabnar]

Capital freeze problem is definitely possible. Perhaps that's the reason they are finally started moving on the long dormant Lost Continent, beginning projects at Epic Potter and Monsters.

I think it's that and wanting to lock in pricing/financing before more price increases due to the Iran War and oncoming energy crisis.

I wouldn't want to be in Orlando Universal management shoes today. How do you explain to your bosses at Comcast how WDW, with no significant new attractions, had a better quarterly results than you had, even with your spanking new park to pad the attendance numbers. Maybe it's not as hot in Kissimmee .

Soon they'll also have to explain that to their own dedicated shareholders

 

[MAC]

I wouldn't want to be in Orlando Universal management shoes today. How do you explain to your bosses at Comcast how WDW, with no significant new attractions, had a better quarterly results than you had, even with your spanking new park to pad the attendance numbers. Maybe it's not as hot in Kissimmee .

I highly doubt that conversation is happening. No one at Comcast is expecting the theme parks to do better numbers than WDW in any area.

 

[Mad Dog]

I highly doubt that conversation is happening. No one at Comcast is expecting the theme parks to do better numbers than WDW in any area.

Sure, no way they ever reach Disney numbers...... Not overall numbers, but returns related to quarterly gains and/or losses....and market share. Universal Orlando had strong quarterly comparison gains compared to WDW when they were building their strong D/E attractions during the years right before, and right after, Diagon ...Results are not in a vacuum...........As @Grabnar said, "Explain that to their own dedicated shareholders".

 

[rabbitsmoon]

If this is Twisters, I get the surprise and bemusement. But in a transmedia world, maybe the relationship between IP and parks is flipping?

When Twister: Ride it Out debuted, a hot movie-based IP added juice to a park. But now, being in a Universal park gives juice to the IP.

Why build the Dark Universe after their cinematic universe flopped? Why build Hollywood Drift when the F&F franchise is screeching to a halt? Maybe Uni doesn't want these IPs to ever die, and they feel like the parks are the best place to keep them alive during periods of cinematic stagnation.

That said-- I do share people's concerns over what the next 5-10 years looks like for Universal. They might need some IP heavy hitters instead of these ho-hum brand deposits. But I don't think either company has an IP to deploy that's bigger than Pokémon, so they've at least got that going for them at IOA.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

As much as I hate the idea of keeping the ride system the same, I do think this system can work well for Twisters.

Add in some extreme wind/water effects and the illusion will probably sell pretty well.

 

[belloq87]

As much as I hate the idea of keeping the ride system the same, I do think this system can work well for Twisters.

Add in some extreme wind/water effects and the illusion will probably sell pretty well.

I think it would end up inferior to Ride It Out, because -- whatever else you want to say about that attraction -- it at least had the ambition to try to pull off a real condensed funnel, with real fire and sparks, water, wind, and lots of large moving setpieces. There was physical, tangible stuff happening in front of us.

That said-- I do share people's concerns over what the next 5-10 years looks like for Universal.

I'd say Universal Studios Florida, specifically. Islands is already in great shape (and will -- presumably -- be getting even better). Epic seems poised to improve its lineup shortly.

It's USF that keeps getting the hand-me-down, low-ambition, budget-conscious stuff.

 

[DragonSlayer]

I think it would end up inferior to Ride It Out, because -- whatever else you want to say about that attraction -- it at least had the ambition to try to pull off a real condensed funnel, with real fire and sparks, water, wind, and lots of large moving setpieces. There was physical, tangible stuff happening in front of us.

Childhood core memory stuff for me. I hope UC can still recognise how genuinely impactful things like this are.

 

[Magic-Man]

Ultimately I think Studios is Universal's EPCOT. They view it as the event park and only give it new additions every once in a while because of it. Eventually Fan Fest Nights is going to come over and that'll just solidify things.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

I still maintain that people are underestimating what a good addition Hollywood Drift will be. I know some see it as a 1:1 replacement for H:RRR, but I do think there'll be palpable excitement for a truly world-class coaster, similar to the Velocicoaster effect.

Is it enough? Probably not, but it's still pretty cool.

 

[Magic-Man]

I still maintain that people are underestimating what a good addition Hollywood Drift will be. I know some see it as a 1:1 replacement for H:RRR, but I do think there'll be palpable excitement for a truly world-class coaster, similar to the Velocicoaster effect.

Is it enough? Probably not, but it's still pretty cool.

Hollywood Drift West is an incredible ride (I rode it a few days ago) and USF definitely needed a great new coaster, but this won't be the same thing. Universal Hollywood has an amazing lineup and only needed a thrill coaster to feel complete, meanwhile USF is half filler and there's several dead spots. USF is also part of a resort with several world class coasters already.

This goes more into USF expansion territory, but Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash should be in this park right now. I can't believe we got the short end of the stick with Villain-Con. Have it replace Fallon or something, I don't care, just clone it now.

 

[ChrisFL]

Hollywood Drift West is an incredible ride (I rode it a few days ago) and USF definitely needed a great new coaster, but this won't be the same thing. Universal Hollywood has an amazing lineup and only needed a thrill coaster to feel complete, meanwhile USF is half filler and there's several dead spots. USF is also part of a resort with several world class coasters already.

This goes more into USF expansion territory, but Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash should be in this park right now. I can't believe we got the short end of the stick with Villain-Con. Have it replace Fallon or something, I don't care, just clone it now.

A good family friendly dark ride is needed for sure. I'd like to see IOA and Epic also get some