Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[tommyhawkins]

"IF" this were to happen, to me at least, it would be to connect the transportation centers, maybe some hotels, and make a dedicated electric bus loop. That would improve capacity of the loop, take buses off the roads, and reduce travel times between the parks.

That being said, I'd assume the cost would be completely impractical to make this more than blue sky.

There's a lot better (cheaper and considerably higher throughput) options out there - I have a personal preference of what system I would like to see in place that is true point to point transfers. Apart from the practical implications, Boring company are horrendous for trampling over quite reasonable environmental regulars - like not dumping untreated toxic waste and sediment into drains whilst construction takes place for example - i cant see that flying in Florida at best SWFWMD would slow the process down considerably until risk is minimal, as they should

What sort of size are you thinking for those rides?

Thank you for all your work!

I currently have a 30,000 SF show box and a 90, 000 SFR show box but with a 25,000 SF shared atrium space for queues .

Restaurant Space is ~14,000 SF ( about same as meade hall)

It's a unique space thats trickier to build out than is first obvious

 

[devinp267]

If people haven't watched Wicked, rather than comforting them with the familiar faces from their competitor (WB), they'll probably just want to encourage those guests to go watch Wicked. They'll see this as synergy.

"Now I'll have to go watch Wicked!" is the response they'll be hoping for.

That’s precisely what made me watch Harry Potter, the parks

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

That’s precisely what made me watch Harry Potter, the parks

100% same here.

 

[devinp267]

100% same here.

And that was 10 years ago this method of marketing is proven in my eyes. Diagon was so ridiculous at the time I had to understand why the hell they just built that

 

[simon]

I'm really looking forward for the theater expansion next to the Atlantic restaurant.

If I'm being honest, Buck Show and Paris Show capacity was quite limited than expected, and some of people weren't made to inside of theater even though they waited in line due to one-floor seating capacity instead of a multi-floor seating option that Beijing's majestic theater has. But once they build a scale of a 3 floor MAIN theater as California Adventure's Hyperion or Universal's Beijing Majestic Theater, it will definitely improve the park's capacity and lack of current offerings issue. Currently, Epic desperately needs indoor attractions due to the weather as well.

Also, I believe that theme parks just can't be all about rides. To be a modern world-class theme park, there needs to be a diverse and balanced offering as unique food experiences, interactions, kinetic factors, shows, unexpected entertainment options. And that's one of the factors that Epic Universe is typically doing better than other theme parks already.

Imagine this. You paid 160 dollars for just to be at the theme park to prioritize riding the attraction. But experiencing 160 bucks worth of Broadway-level scale show unexpectedly in a theme park would make quite of impression and improve guest satisfaction drastically. Making guests feel like it's worth of buck to visit with this main show alone, giving audiences different E ticket options than waiting in excessively long lines for E ticket attractions (One of the biggest complaints Epic has these days)

If they complete their main show theater(more than a 1500 seats) on the expansion pad and put new shows like USJ's Wicked, CA's Aladdin, Or utilize Universal's original IP on a big scale. It will be a huge factor of revisitability for Epic and put Celestial Park on another level for a main hub offering.

I mean, look at those theaters. It would be awesome to have this scale of show offering in Epic!
And I would be pretty disappointed if they build a typical event soundstage instead of this.
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By the way, almost a year ago, I made an opinion, speculated and argued on this expansion forum that the expansion pad next to Atlantic might get a the main theater type of expansion. (Since the untrainable and the circus's show building is identically bit small and the capacity sometimes cuts waiting crowds due to a large demand)

And today, I just heard from some source that there will be an elevator inside and it's taller than at least two stories high (maybe high as mk showbuiding) so this confirms that it's not just temporary event space.

Permit tells that this expansion pad will be complete construction prob by next year and after a year of gathering all the rumors and speculation, do you think this would be happening or what will come to this expansion pad?

 

[Alicia]

By the way, almost a year ago, I made an opinion, speculated and argued on this expansion forum that the expansion pad next to Atlantic might get a the main theater type of expansion. (Since the untrainable and the circus's show building is identically bit small and the capacity sometimes cuts waiting crowds due to a large demand)

And today, I just heard from some source that there will be an elevator inside and it's taller than at least two stories high (maybe high as mk showbuiding) so this confirms that it's not just temporary event space.

Permit tells that this expansion pad will be complete construction prob by next year and after a year of gathering all the rumors and speculation, do you think this would be happening or what will come to this expansion pad?

The project seems to include Team Member break areas on the second floor. Many believe they are (much needed) permanent Entertainment break areas.

Permit info describes a kitchen for the area. With multi purpose space on the lower floor.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

The project seems to include Team Member break areas on the second floor. Many believe they are (much needed) permanent Entertainment break areas.

Permit info describes a kitchen for the area. With multi purpose space on the lower floor.

Hopefully we see the reworked and delayed Celestial Park entertainment debuting when this is ready.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

For Wicked, after rewatching Part 1 of Defying Gravity, and the opening parts of Part 2, I can’t help but feel a Defying Gravity attraction would basically be Universals version of Rise of the Resistance. I know we don’t love 1:1 comparisons, but the gigantic rooms, the Wizard AA, the score, the chase scenes, going up and down, it FEELS Rise to me. I can’t escape thinking it. I know they don’t do trackless anymore but frankly, give Wicked a Scoop ride Vehicle and build JW Adventure from Beijing to Wicked. Absolutely no one would complain about another well done Scoop ride and they’d have more room to work with here.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

For Wicked, after rewatching Part 1 of Defying Gravity, and the opening parts of Part 2, I can’t help but feel a Defying Gravity attraction would basically be Universals version of Rise of the Resistance. I know we don’t love 1:1 comparisons, but the gigantic rooms, the Wizard AA, the score, the chase scenes, going up and down, it FEELS Rise to me. I can’t escape thinking it. I know they don’t do trackless anymore but frankly, give Wicked a Scoop ride Vehicle and build JW Adventure from Beijing to Wicked. Absolutely no one would complain about another well done Scoop ride and they’d have more room to work with here.

We're meeting the Wizard after the Wiz-o-rama show the same day Glinda and Elphaba get into town. We're just minutes after them walk through spaces and seeing things like the giant Oz model. In the queue we hear and see the girls escaping and explaing to us the evil of the Wizard. Preshow hits and we're seeing Marbel right after Elphaba turns them down and she creates her propaganda plan. We're among her first trial at it as she promises the Wizard will get us to safety. Then all chaos unleashes, we see the monkeys in the hallway, avoiding guards, and of course as we help them escape we end up with the guards in the tower so we can do the iconic fall to be rescued Universal scene during Defying Gravity.

Hire me UC.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

We're meeting the Wizard after the Wiz-o-rama show the same day Glinda and Elphaba get into town. We're just minutes after them walk through spaces and seeing things like the giant Oz model. In the queue we hear and see the girls escaping and explaing to us the evil of the Wizard. Preshow hits and we're seeing Marbel right after Elphaba turns them down and she creates her propaganda plan. We're among her first trial at it as she promises the Wizard will get us to safety. Then all chaos unleashes, we see the monkeys in the hallway, avoiding guards, and of course as we help them escape we end up with the guards in the tower so we can do the iconic fall to be rescued Universal scene during Defying Gravity.

Hire me UC.

INJECT this into my veins.

 

[kingcooger]

We're meeting the Wizard after the Wiz-o-rama show the same day Glinda and Elphaba get into town. We're just minutes after them walk through spaces and seeing things like the giant Oz model. In the queue we hear and see the girls escaping and explaing to us the evil of the Wizard. Preshow hits and we're seeing Marbel right after Elphaba turns them down and she creates her propaganda plan. We're among her first trial at it as she promises the Wizard will get us to safety. Then all chaos unleashes, we see the monkeys in the hallway, avoiding guards, and of course as we help them escape we end up with the guards in the tower so we can do the iconic fall to be rescued Universal scene during Defying Gravity.

Hire me UC.

Blue sky:

A Wicked themed walkthrough that has us acting as palace guards in training as Elphaba first meets The Wizard.

We get to see The Wizard’s throne room and directed to go catch the witch (could retheme D&D puppet), be in the hallway during the flying monkey attack, break into the wizard’s old supply room (where we see Elphaba fly above us), and end up on the terrace as Elphaba flies away.

I had the same idea for a Wicked walkthrough for Hollywood’s Fan Fest.

Admittedly, I want us playing the guards/new recruits.

I am sure I will have more thoughts after I see the sequel, but what would the supporting attraction be?

 

[rageofthegods]

I had the same idea for a Wicked walkthrough for Hollywood’s Fan Fest.

Admittedly, I want us playing the guards/new recruits.

I am sure I will have more thoughts after I see the sequel, but what would the supporting attraction be?

In universe "One Short Day" D-Ticket rollercoaster. Let's Hogsmeade this thing up.

Then have a mini street shows at different areas where Glinda sings either "Popular" or "No One Mourns the Wicked" (with pyrotechnics).

 

[quinnmac000]

They just need a ride featuring all the crash out moments from Wicked for Good. The attack of the flying monkeys, the post transformation crashout, the storm, the raggedy cardigan scene, the house drop, the catfight, the beating of a certain other character, the 14-year-old girl murdering a beloved character.... call it Wicked: Crash Out all while No Good Deeds plays in the background.

 

[Mike S]

They just need a ride featuring all the crash out moments from Wicked for Good. The attack of the flying monkeys, the post transformation crashout, the storm, the raggedy cardigan scene, the house drop, the catfight, the beating of a certain other character, the 14-year-old girl murdering a beloved character.... call it Wicked: Crash Out all while No Good Deeds plays in the background.

Unless Wicked completely changes the way she did it I believe it’s manslaughter when it’s accidental.

 

[FBarnhill]

Then Universal will have two franchises that starred Ethan Slater where he played a dweeb.

 

[Wicked Salad]

I predict the land is set in early Act Two/Wicked For Good, Emerald City dark ride with Wizard's throne room as a preshow, Madame Morrible's propaganda room preshow, and Glinda's apartment. Either Elphaba saving animals or the Wizard takes us on a scenic tour of Oz where things go wrong. Wizomania with extended moments for Glinda & Elphaba propaganda could be a street show like the movie, or expand it into a sit down theater. Throw in a hot air balloon flat ride and carnival games. If they do Munchkinland, then a tea cup ride, if they do Shiz, then you could do a boat ride. I do think Kiamo Ko will only make an appearance on a ride. Also I'd have an interactive area for Elphaba's treehouse hideout, which would allow them to have a dedicated area to meet Elphaba.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I predict the land is set in early Act Two/Wicked For Good, Emerald City dark ride with Wizard's throne room as a preshow, Madame Morrible's propaganda room preshow, and Glinda's apartment. Either Elphaba saving animals or the Wizard takes us on a scenic tour of Oz where things go wrong. Wizomania with extended moments for Glinda & Elphaba propaganda could be a street show like the movie, or expand it into a sit down theater. Throw in a hot air balloon flat ride and carnival games. If they do Munchkinland, then a tea cup ride, if they do Shiz, then you could do a boat ride. I do think Kiamo Ko will only make an appearance on a ride. Also I'd have an interactive area for Elphaba's treehouse hideout, which would allow them to have a dedicated area to meet Elphaba.

Sold.

 

[tommyhawkins]

By the way, almost a year ago, I made an opinion, speculated and argued on this expansion forum that the expansion pad next to Atlantic might get a the main theater type of expansion. (Since the untrainable and the circus's show building is identically bit small and the capacity sometimes cuts waiting crowds due to a large demand)

And today, I just heard from some source that there will be an elevator inside and it's taller than at least two stories high (maybe high as mk showbuiding) so this confirms that it's not just temporary event space.

Permit tells that this expansion pad will be complete construction prob by next year and after a year of gathering all the rumors and speculation, do you think this would be happening or what will come to this expansion pad?

I briefly mentioned this in my last article. Without going into details (because I've forgotten the precise numbers and don't want to misquote myself) the permit information allowed me to calculate how much of the building is two stories and how much is not

The part I've drawn at the back is the two floors for the break area, if I recall it's around 5000 SF x2 floors etc.
The rest is likely single story. I have probably drawn it too tall. Sound Stage 33 would probably be the best place to compare for everything imo.

 

[RFRees]

View attachment 28429

I briefly mentioned this in my last article. Without going into details (because I've forgotten the precise numbers and don't want to misquote myself) the permit information allowed me to calculate how much of the building is two stories and how much is not

The part I've drawn at the back is the two floors for the break area, if I recall it's around 5000 SF x2 floors etc.
The rest is likely single story. I have probably drawn it too tall. Sound Stage 33 would probably be the best place to compare for everything imo.

View attachment 28430

I feel like they could use this building for a temporary indoor show (similar to Grinch). It would be a great way to A) add capacity and B) add more indoor/shaded area.

 

[DrStarlander]

View attachment 28429

I briefly mentioned this in my last article. Without going into details (because I've forgotten the precise numbers and don't want to misquote myself) the permit information allowed me to calculate how much of the building is two stories and how much is not

The part I've drawn at the back is the two floors for the break area, if I recall it's around 5000 SF x2 floors etc.
The rest is likely single story. I have probably drawn it too tall. Sound Stage 33 would probably be the best place to compare for everything imo.

View attachment 28430

Perhaps, as you said, you drew the building too tall. But conversely, what I don't understand is, when land is so scarce, why do they build such short buildings? Why not put a four or five story building there with a high-ceiling event space on the ground floor and four or five stories of break rooms, offices, whatever above? Put all the things they need there so other land doesn't need to be dedicated to backstage functions.

I would think such a taller building could still avoid sightline issues from within SNW, and if the facade facing Celestial Park was cool, the building could contribute to, rather than detract from, the theme and skyline.