Lionsgate World Resort

[Teebin]

Oh my goodness. I keep forgetting about my renounced list... oops!

I apologize DH!

 

[Parkscope Joe]

For what it's worth, this seems like a typically Comcast move. They have done wonders for the parks, but they're pretty anticompetitive in the cable industry.

If they're this worried for reasons other than sightlines, I wonder if that indicates Comcast's desire to try something in the I-Drive market. Disney has tried various regional experiences before (DisneyQuest, cough) and I-Drive would be the ideal place for one.

They're going to be building hotels closer there, probably don't want giant billboards getting people away from the new parks. I don't blame either sides and indifferent if it's built, but it just doesn't seem like a great idea from a financial perspective.

Anyway this is going to be interesting to follow.

 

[maxairmike]

I want to see it built for my own personal entertainment reasons, but in the larger picture I'm not particularly swayed in either direction. The dissent from Universal surprised me at first.

 

[alomar]

TPR has a good overview of tweets from someone that was at the meeting.

Waiting for P&Z meeting to discuss @SKYPLEXOrlando. It will essentially be Team Skyplex vs. Universal.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 6h6 hours ago
Skyplex discussions pushed to last item (next in line) since it will be longest. I'm having flashbacks of the Orlando venues vote night.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 6h6 hours ago
The @SKYPLEXOrlando item begins P&Z discussions ...

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 6h6 hours ago
Interesting. @SKYPLEXOrlando's Joshua Wallack said the climb up the Skyscraper will be straight vertical not wrapping around tower. Word?

Watching Universal team in the last row of this @SKYPLEXOrlando meeting. They just smirked at Skyplex demo video ending in fireworks.

The @SKYPLEXOrlando legal speaker called Universal's lawsuit over a lake "whohaa" (Did I spell that right?)

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 6h6 hours ago
The numbers are thrown around but the highest point of the Skyscraper coaster is 501 ft. The core structure goes higher.

The topic of that I-Drive/Sand Lake Rd. pedestrian bridge is coming up now in these @SKYPLEXOrlando talk.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 6h6 hours ago
The Skyplex team taking QnA from P&Z board on dealing with traffic. The Universal people look ready to go.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
And Universal is on to give their concerns on @SKYPLEXOrlando

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Universal legal speaker saying not enough study has been done on @SKYPLEXOrlando project to determine true impact.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Universal legal speaker also said they don't think the project is "compatible" with the size and magnitude.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Next Team Universal speaker questioning lack of traffic study and how smooth traffic will actually be when it opens.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Universal's heavy-hitter John McReynolds park supports but not at the height. Disney, Uni and Seaworld are "world class" without being 500ft

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
McReynolds also took shot at County for talking about @SKYPLEXOrlando before I-Drive vision plan complete. Says his time must freed up.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Universal's McReynolds also said @SKYPLEXOrlando can have the "tallest" moniker. And that this isn't about competition.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Head of the I-Drive ETC (represents some biz) said she support project but also at a height restriction.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Confusing part was ETC rep asked who was on board and it included prominent people who I believe weren't against @SKYPLEXOrlando. #hmm

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Clarification: ETC member was asked who was on her board. Not sure it was clarified who on that board had a problem.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
.@SKYPLEXOrlando legal rep asking after all the success, "why us?" "They know we can't build" with a lower height.


Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
.@SKYPLEXOrlando legal rep says Universal has special land use process where they don't have to worry about notice or compatibility.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
I have no other way to describe this other than @SKYPLEXOrlando is going all out to punch Universal in the mouth.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
P&Z member said he didn't know I-Drive ETC were against this. @SKYPLEXOrlando rep says that board lost way and peeps leaving that board.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
P&Z member asked why not wait for I-Drive vision plan? @SKYPLEXOrlando's Wallack says they have already & this will revolutionize I-Drive.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Will the lack of a traffic study and not height push this vote back? Looks like that's the bigger issue here. @SKYPLEXOrlando

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
So far I'm counting 2 members that won't go for this. One seems in support the other 4 I can't get q read on yet.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
Holy heck! This discussion has gone into preventing light pollution?! @SKYPLEXOrlando

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
.@SKYPLEXOrlando rep says fireworks impact night skies and this wasn't a concern when it comes to tourist area.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 5h5 hours ago
OK another P&Z member says she is uneasy on "giant pole" glowing in sky. My feeling is she's starting to lean against.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 4h4 hours ago
I can't help but sense personal opinion in play here. I've seen it happening in many of the boards in play with this @SKYPLEXOrlando project

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 4h4 hours ago
To update: The concerns of height (we expected to be the issue) has evolved into traffic, light pollution and glowing. @SKYPLEXOrlando

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 4h4 hours ago
This may get pushed into the I-Drive vision study. P&Z is trying to catch county planner flat-footed on if this fits in the vision.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 4h4 hours ago
OK so far one P&Z member says he would deny based on new info of people against the project.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 4h4 hours ago
P&Z member calls out Universal for coming up with a residential letter against the project that was sent law last night. Gives his support

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 4h4 hours ago
Member with glow issue says that's her issue. Another says there's still too many question. Score so far is 3 against and 2 for. 2 left.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 4h4 hours ago
Vote taken and the motion failed 4-3 against @SKYPLEXOrlando. This means they DO NOT recommend the county leaders to approve it.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 4h4 hours ago
Note this isn't the end of @SKYPLEXOrlando because the Orange County commission has their say later. However, this isn't good.

Richard Bilbao ‏@RichOBJ 3h3 hours ago
.@SKYPLEXOrlando update: Speaking with people after meeting and I hear O.C. staff supports project and that weighs more than the P&Z board.

 

[Cheezbat]

I have heard that Universal had a height restriction of 200 feet seeing as how they're near a residential area.

If that's the case, I could see why they'd be against it...unless the county approved a change on Universals height restriction. Of course, much of this could have to do with Universals future plans...which could become a very interesting project.

 

[Bobharlem]

Drop a 570 ft tall cylinder into Google earth at the location, and try viewing it from various locations around it. The area already has the pseudo 3d treatment so you can get a good idea of sight lines from that.

Edit, I found a model of another building approx the same height and this kmz file will drop it into the approximate location of the skycoaster. You can use it to see roughly how sight lines are affected.

Download the attachment and rename it to SkyplexPlaceholder.kmz and you can load it into google earth.

yeah it's pretty visible from the residential areas to the west. And winds up dominating the middle of the hulk loop from the end of Port of entry

The building is just a grayish square building (not the real skyplex), but the height and width (at the top is generally correct. The location is right (you can see it yourself in google earth)

 

[Legolas813]

I am so mad at Universal for fighting this. They are the new Disney. Keep the big parks out of politics. New attractions benefit everyone.

 

[Brian G.]

Why are people so upset about this?

I'm willing to bet that if it opened up, most of us would ride it once in a blue moon. There's a lot of questions with the PollerCoaster. I think a glaring one is if it doesn't succeed, how would everyone feel about a 500+ foot headstone being seen from everywhere?

 

[Disneyhead]

Why are people so upset about this?

I'm willing to bet that if it opened up, most of us would ride it once in a blue moon. There's a lot of questions with the PollerCoaster. I think a glaring one is if it doesn't succeed, how would everyone feel about a 500+ foot headstone being seen from everywhere?

Why? 501' vertical lift hill. Need I say more?

Seriously though, I'm even curious about the giant Mango Joe's making it. It's massive, and kinda in a weird location.

 

[JungleSkip]

Why? 501' vertical lift hill. Need I say more?

Seriously though, I'm even curious about the giant Mango Joe's making it. It's massive, and kinda in a weird location.

I think it's a testament to the problems of these projects that NONE of the proposed polercoasters across the country are anywhere close to beginning construction

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

Having a vertical lift would reduce the amount of people who ride IMO. The vertical lift at HRRR already turns people off, I can't imagine what a lift more than three times the size of Rockit's and requires admission would cause.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I am so mad at Universal for fighting this. They are the new Disney. Keep the big parks out of politics. New attractions benefit everyone.

I think the Skyplex people have been very good in creating this dissent on Twitter and forums.

 

[IzzyB]

Yeah, I don't think we want that kind of eyesore in Orlando. You are going to be able to see that thing from a lot of places.

 

[maxairmike]

Meh. I can already see the Peabody, Eye, and the two largest Rosen hotels (and more, really) from all the way out on US27 towards Championsgate. On an especially clear day I can barely make out a few downtown buildings. The iSquare development (still can't believe that's happening) will be pretty tall as well. I think you're starting and will continue to see large development on I-Drive build upwards, as it is clear a more efficient use of space is needed, similar to downtown districts. Height alone isn't a good enough reason to not do this development, viability is.

 

[Bobharlem]

Here's another mockup, this time using a bad photoshop from a different angle. You can see why Unviersal is a bit worried.

 

[anihilnation]

I think this would be great! Though I agree that it is unlikely it will happen because the people behind it seem to be dreamers. Can't understand why people would imagine this would be an eyesore, but then, I love the aesthetics of coaster tracks and twisted steel

 

[anihilnation]

Why? 501' vertical lift hill. Need I say more?

Seriously though, I'm even curious about the giant Mango Joe's making it. It's massive, and kinda in a weird location.

Vertical lift hill? I thought the lift was just an even spiraling around the tower.

 

[Brian G.]

Vertical lift hill? I thought the lift was just an even spiraling around the tower.

Nope. That changed recently.

 

[maxairmike]

I wonder if it will be a vertical lift like RockIt or more of an elevator style lift since I believe the trains are only like 2 cars long.

 

[JungleSkip]

I wonder if it will be a vertical lift like RockIt or more of an elevator style lift since I believe the trains are only like 2 cars long.

I feel like it has to be some sort of elevator system