Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[Magic-Man]

Six over the next 5 or so years isn't too crazy. Disney has how many in the works for WDW right now?

Disney had those announced before everything became the way it is now. It's one thing to continue already announced projects (canceling them would be a PR nightmare), it's another to create new projects entirely.

I mean, I personally think it's great that there are new attractions actively in the works for all three parks simultaneously -- all three need them! There'll be staggered openings, for sure.

I'm happy that they're coming, don't get me wrong, but I worry that Pokemon and Hollywood Drift are the only projects that will actually affect attendance in a meaningful way. If some of these flop that will change the attractions that we get in the future, even if the economy is to blame and not the rides themselves.

 

[belloq87]

Where are we getting the six rides number?

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Wait they actually greenlit Dark Universe expansion? This isn't a bit?

Where are we getting the six rides number?

USF:
Fast and Furious,
Supercharged Replacement

IOA:
Presumably two Pokemon rides

EU: Dark Universe Ride, Potter Ride

 

[Magic-Man]

Where are we getting the six rides number?

Hollywood Drift and the Supercharged replacement at USF, Potter and Monsters at Epic, and likely two rides for Pokémon at IOA.

 

[Clive]

Disney had those announced before everything became the way it is now. It's one thing to continue already announced projects (canceling them would be a PR nightmare), it's another to create new projects entirely.


I'm happy that they're coming, don't get me wrong, but I worry that Pokemon and Hollywood Drift are the only projects that will actually affect attendance in a meaningful way. If some of these flop that will change the attractions that we get in the future, even if the economy is to blame and not the rides themselves.

Okay, but Disney has habitually cancelled or walked back announced projects based on macro or company-specific economic circumstances. It's a little trickier to do now than in the 90s with the crush of influencers and websites tracking every move, but most of the Epcot redo didn't happen!

I think it's really premature to assume that attractions we know little to nothing about officially don't have the potential to boost attendance. In Epic's case, it's not even really about boosting attendance, per se, it's about adding reliable capacity that allows them to increase park capacity. Demand already outstrips supply in Epic's case.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Six rides in progress for Florida
Yet no new ride announcements for Hollywood
How come Chief Willoughby?

but most of the Epcot redo didn't happen!

I don't think Bob Chapek has ever used the Internet, so his understanding of the level of people who'd care about something like that would number in the hundreds rather than the hundreds of thousands.

I know D'Amaro has, because unlike Chapek, he'll announce the closure of a beloved attraction two days later in a blog post rather than grouping it in with the initial new attraction announcement.

 

[Tobias]

Universal has been handsomly rewarded for buliding through rough times; there's stories of WDW brass making fun of UOR for going ahead with potter in 2009 and so. Guess who got the last laugh.

Not to mention I'd say UOR faired pretty well building Velocicoaster during covid to have it up and running afterwards. And it's been on record UOR regretted pausing construction of EU during covid.

I mean, I personally think it's great that there are new attractions actively in the works for all three parks simultaneously -- all three need them! There'll be staggered openings, for sure.

Same, it's nice knowing UOR is full-steam ahead and not looking back when it comes to adding more attractions across the resort. After all, I can imagine some folks out there thought they would slow down after EU opened. Thankfully they're not, since they're clearly addressing one of EU's issues where it needs more attractions to help with capacity. If they didn't, folks would be wondering what they are gonna' do about it.

And with the other two parks getting several more attractions, that'll help the resort as a whole as they'll be drawing folks to different parks over the years.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Disney had those announced before everything became the way it is now. It's one thing to continue already announced projects (canceling them would be a PR nightmare), it's another to create new projects entirely.

There are unannounced Universal projects that'll open before Villains land does. Maybe even Cars in MK. Point is, lots of attractions over many years is GOOD. There always should be several new attrations in the works at once.

 

[ReelJustice]

There always should be several new attrations in the works at once.

In each park even!

 

[tielo]

True but Orlando is a much more proven market. Maybe they scrap Chicago plans and move the funding to Orlando too. HHN is so big in Orlando, as in Halloween themes and vibes in general, it’s almost shocking Orlando has never had a year round thing like this at Disney or Universal.

Bad idea as it would cannibalize the HHN event at Universal Studios. There is a value in the fact that this is a yearly limited event compared to something down the road that you can visit always. Don't get me wrong, it would be great if HHN at Universal would be canceled and a big hall down the road would take it's place as I don't care about HHN and don't like the uglification that starts already now.

 

[HandsomePete]

I love that you're a star now, and it has been fun watching you do the work to get there.

And now, the next phase, I guess.

View attachment 29980
It'd be really funny to see you make up some bat-poop insane thing, and see who reports on it.

"Skold coaster with ankle feelers is rumored to take the place of Sindbad!"

(I still remember the day that I read that you pointed out the D)

Cheers, @Alicia

Me riding Rapterra tonight:

 

[johnathanm]

Maybe? Orlando has actually had numerous year-round haunts, including Skull Kingdom which was right across I-4 from CityWalk. None have lasted, even after HHN started taking off. And year-round haunts haven’t worked in LA either (which is a similarly proven market).

The purpose of Unleashed (and UKR) is to establish an expanded presence in other markets. They don’t need to do that in Orlando. I also don’t think it would see markedly better attendance than Vegas even in the fandom’s heart, but that’s a different conversation.

I think this is right. I’ve always sort of thought the “absence makes the heart grow fonder” adage applies even for us horror nights fans more than many admit. I suspect a year-round haunt in Orlando would get occasional visits from locals with sparse tourist attendance (who would likely be more interested in HHN than the perma-location during peak Halloween time anyway for a multitude of reasons). Cool in theory, but probably not practical. It seems even the Vegas location is looking to do more to entice repeat visitors, despite that not being the target demo over there.

 

[jseal777]

I'm surprised Universal is going all in on expansions to be honest, with the economy being as rough as it is right now. Two new rides per park is pretty impressive.

Ya can't take it with you

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Plus, for many of these attractions - there's really no timeline known. When do we actually expect the Supercharged replacement to open? We're expecting a new attraction at Epic by maybe 2028/2029, but what about the 2nd one?

A few of these could definitely be more than 5 years away!

 

[SkiBum]

Okay, but Disney has habitually cancelled or walked back announced projects based on macro or company-specific economic circumstances. It's a little trickier to do now than in the 90s with the crush of influencers and websites tracking every move, but most of the Epcot redo didn't happen!

I think it's really premature to assume that attractions we know little to nothing about officially don't have the potential to boost attendance. In Epic's case, it's not even really about boosting attendance, per se, it's about adding reliable capacity that allows them to increase park capacity. Demand already outstrips supply in Epic's case.

Completely agree. I think that the replacement of Lost Continent has been needed for a long time. That land is too valuable to have SBNO attractions for years on end. Rockit needed replaced and I'm not sure if the Supercharged replacement is greenlit or just speculation. Epic needs more rides and these rides need to be reliable people eaters as the park just doesn't have enough in it right now to justify spending the money for a one-day ticket.

 

[TheUniC6]

With permits underway for both Dark Universe and Potter expansions, my notion is Potter will be first because someone within Universal Creative openly acknowledged growth in that area, so that seems like it might be the 2028 UOR addition. Dark Universe might be for 2029 along with Pokemon for IOA.

 

[jseal777]

I keep hoping we will enter the "thanks for the gate, but we are slowing down on the HP stuff" era of Universal. I guess we are still a ways away.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

I think this is right. I’ve always sort of thought the “absence makes the heart grow fonder” adage applies even for us horror nights fans more than many admit. I suspect a year-round haunt in Orlando would get occasional visits from locals with sparse tourist attendance (who would likely be more interested in HHN than the perma-location during peak Halloween time anyway for a multitude of reasons). Cool in theory, but probably not practical. It seems even the Vegas location is looking to do more to entice repeat visitors, despite that not being the target demo over there.

I just visited Horror Unleashed. It doesn't have the type of hangout vibe that would entice locals to return. I loved the houses, but the common spaces were too small and too sparse. I think this would be even more stark to Orlando locals who are used to the fun, party atmosphere of HHN at Studios.

But maybe it's cheap enough to build and could draw enough tourists to make it worthwhile. I'm curious what the build-out costs are for one of these installations. We talk about Horror Unleashed like it's a mini theme park, but maybe it's more like the Great Movie Escape with a larger footprint and more actors.

The original tweet mentioning a rollercoaster is a particularly far-fetched flight of fancy. Totally different set of operating costs and concerns once you throw something like that in there.

 

[moth]

I keep hoping we will enter the "thanks for the gate, but we are slowing down on the HP stuff" era of Universal. I guess we are still a ways away.

As someone who REALLY hates Potter and thinks Universal heavily investing in it like this will one day bite them on the ass.

That era is never coming. People somehow are magnetically drawn to this franchise. Give up hope.

I expect the fourth Uni dry park will also have a Potter land.

 

[ReelJustice]

I keep hoping we will enter the "thanks for the gate, but we are slowing down on the HP stuff" era of Universal. I guess we are still a ways away.

The land in Epic needs another attraction.