King Kong Speculation Thread

[Nick]

I'm thinking they may want to keep things buzzing at the resort after HHN and some Jimmy Fallon show probably won't do that. There is visible progress for Kong now, may as well let the people know what's coming though I expect it still probably will be a while.

There was visible progress for Diagon Alley too, but that didn't stop them from waiting months on end to announce the project. When TMs were asked about it, all they were allowed to say is that they are creating something exciting for the future.

Universal does it all the time. Took them awhile with Transformers too. "Why are there construction vehicles running through the park during HHN?" "It's for your future enjoyment". Transformers was announced right after HHN ended on November 1, 2012. I think I still have the TM flyer.

 

[ReelJustice]

Why would they do a dual announcement when they can announce the Twister replacement first, then after it opens, announce Kong?

I don't expect there to be much time in between Twister and Kong.

 

[blue180]

I'm thinking they may want to keep things buzzing at the resort after HHN and some Jimmy Fallon show probably won't do that.

LOL. Diagon Alley opened legit like 4 months ago. I think they have enough "buzz" to keep them going for quite some time.

 

[shiekra38]

The next announcement, if I had to guess, will be Twister's replacement, NASCAR's replacement, and whatever they're doing for the 25th Anniversary of USF.

I don't epxect Kong or Wondersea until sometime next year.

I agree..25th is coming down the pipeline first...Kong will be the icing on the cake for the 25th if you will..separate announcement

 

[Alex23]

I've not really been following it very closely, when is it roughly going to open as I am planning to come across in Sept 15

 

[JungleSkip]

I've not really been following it very closely, when is it roughly going to open as I am planning to come across in Sept 15

Sometime in 2016.

 

[UNIrd]

The announcements at this point are not even for nerds like us, since we know what's going on before a spec of dirt is moved. I wish they could still surprise us but they're more for their half-wit Facebook followers.

 

[Nick]

The announcements at this point are not even for nerds like us, since we know what's going on before a spec of dirt is moved. I wish they could still surprise us but they're more for their half-wit Facebook followers.

Those "half-wit Facebook followers" are the people who keep the park running and keep the new attractions coming.

Don't mistake yourself, we are the 1%, which is why in the long-run, Universal cares little about appeasing us with announcements. The need to appeal to the masses in order to thrive as a company.

 

[AK-Jake]

Those "half-wit Facebook followers" are the people who keep the park running and keep the new attractions coming.

Don't mistake yourself, we are the 1%, which is why in the long-run, Universal cares little about appeasing us with announcements. The need to appeal to the masses in order to thrive as a company.

That reminds me of when I was at a coaster enthusiast's event at Kings Island back when it was still owned by Paramount (2003, I believe). They were talking up their newest attractions at the time (a Huss Giant Frisbee and a new Scooby Doo retheme of their dark ride) and a bunch of people (a large part of the group, actually) were complaining that it had been THREE WHOLE YEARS since the last major coaster had opened (Son of Beast). After a while, the park rep who was talking to us got a little frustrated and kind of lost his cool at the disrespectful folks in the crowd and told them that it was "too expensive for the park to keep building coasters to keep 10,000 people happy." (He was directing his comment at ACE and the other coaster enthusiasts in the crowd who were complaining.) That shut people up.

So yes, the parks love the super-fans and ride enthusiasts, but they focus on the general public when they design/build attractions, not the "fanbois." We're really not very important in the grand scheme of things.

 

[rhino4evr]

I often think we know more about what's coming then the actual people that work at the park. Theme park nerds know all! lol

 

[Nick]

I often think we know more about what's coming then the actual people that work at the park. Theme park nerds know all! lol

This is definitely true a lot of the time. Many employees aren't huge theme park geeks, so they only hear about things through chatter backstage.

 

[UNIrd]

Those "half-wit Facebook followers" are the people who keep the park running and keep the new attractions coming.

Don't mistake yourself, we are the 1%, which is why in the long-run, Universal cares little about appeasing us with announcements. The need to appeal to the masses in order to thrive as a company.

Nothing I said stated otherwise? Just that the announcements are targeted more for general public than for those of us who eat, breathe, and sleep this stuff.

 

[Cole]

Lol most theme park employees absolutely despise theme parks

 

[novawildcat18]

Lol most theme park employees absolutely despise theme parks

Most certainly a false statement.

 

[Nick]

Most certainly a false statement.

Agreed. Having worked at Both Busch Gardens parks and Universal, everyone normally loves it and they love the parks, however they may not come off that way at certain times if you catch them at the wrong time.

As much as working in a theme park sounds like great fun, it is really just another job at the end of the day. Going to the parks everyday... you get used to it and frankly tired of it. So on your days off, it's not necessarily a place you want to go to hang out.

But from my experience, most employees do have a genuine love for the parks, especially at Uni.

 

[anihilnation]

BG and Seaworld workers often seem more grumpy and uninterested to me, but then, I think the current state of management over there is responsible for this.

 

[Mad Dog]

Agreed. Having worked at Both Busch Gardens parks and Universal, everyone normally loves it and they love the parks, however they may not come off that way at certain times if you catch them at the wrong time.

As much as working in a theme park sounds like great fun, it is really just another job at the end of the day. Going to the parks everyday... you get used to it and frankly tired of it. So on your days off, it's not necessarily a place you want to go to hang out.

But from my experience, most employees do have a genuine love for the parks, especially at Uni.

I have great respect for the employees at Universal, Disney & BG/Seaworld. I can't ever remembering encountering a grumpy employee. Generally they go out of their way to be friendly. And, yes, it's sometimes just a mundane job after a while and everyone has bad days. But I've never had anyone take out their bad day on me, as a guest. Excellent job by these people, who, even though they aren't paid much, are very professional.( example: The people in Entertainment usually go out of their way to immerse you in their spiel).....But I do have a different view of employees at the regional amusement and coaster parks. A huge percentage of them seem surly and disinterested. Perhaps it's because most of them are seasonal employees and it may be their first job ever. And even though their wages are close to what Disney, Universal and Sea World/BG employees are paid, they do not come close to approaching the professionalism of the front line employees of those three parks. My hat off to the employees at those three companies.

 

[EPCOTcenter]

Lol most theme park employees absolutely despise theme parks

Definitely not true. Most of them (especially at Disney) are big theme park fans. You should hear certain discussions about future additions in the breakrooms!

 

[King_K.]

Lol most theme park employees absolutely despise theme parks

This isn't true at all. Unless you work at a Six Flags.

 

[shiekra38]

Definitely not true. Most of them (especially at Disney) are big theme park fans. You should hear certain discussions about future additions in the breakrooms!

Yes, it is almost a club with Uni and Disney Cast Members....some of them are actually on many of the same boards we are