New Water Park coming to Universal Orlando?

[UniversalCityFL]

Would be pretty hard to blow it out of the water

I see what you did there.

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I don't want to delve too deep in it

NICE.

 

[AK-Jake]

one question... what is EXPECTED finished first.. the new hotel or the water park or both around the same time?

Sapphire Falls is opening summer 2016 and the rumored opening date for the new water park mentioned on this thread and other sites is expected to be 2017(ish). That's just shy of 3 years away, so if construction is actually starting to ramp up on this project, that tells me that this is 1) going to be a SUPER elaborate water park concept, 2) going to be built at a slower, Disney-pace, instead of the recent, frantic Universal pace, 3) a combination of 1 and 2, or 4) it's opening sooner than 2017. I'm incredibly curious to see this park when it's finished. After seeing what Uni's been doing with Potter, Kong, and other projects, I suspect this new park could easily give Disney's 20+ year old (excellently-themed) water parks a real run for their money. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[Teebin]

I suspect this new park could easily give Disney's 20+ year old (excellently-themed) water parks a real run for their money. We'll have to wait and see.

That is the plan. The designed capacity shadows both Disney parks... and I doubt this will change either.

 

[Dan_raven]

From what I heard a few months back, this park is going to be an original design with it's own convoluted story. Of course, things can change but I have been lead to believe that this is doubtful.

I would love to see them create their own back story. Theming it to an IP brings numbers in on the short term but can age quickly.

 

[Cheezbat]

I would love to see them create their own back story. Theming it to an IP brings numbers in on the short term but can age quickly.

That would also require a lot of extra money dumped into the park every decade or so to keep it relevant. Spend tens (or hundreds?)of millions on IPs or a few million on new rides?

I'm glad this park is going to have a huge capacity. It's going to need it!

 

[IzzyB]

I don't think a water park needs an IP. People are either into water parks and go or they are not into them and don't go. I don't think an IP is going to sway a person one way or another. You might get a few here and there, but not enough to invest money in an IP. I think Uni is being smart on this one. I think a well themed water park will get repeat business and that is really what they need. Good word of mouth and repeat business.

 

[Cole]

I don't think a water park needs an IP. People are either into water parks and go or they are not into them and don't go. I don't think an IP is going to sway a person one way or another. You might get a few here and there, but not enough to invest money in an IP. I think Uni is being smart on this one. I think a well themed water park will get repeat business and that is really what they need. Good word of mouth and repeat business.

I definitely agree but if you could get a name on it for a land or something that's just another reason to go. Like people are gonna go to blizzard beach no matter what but if they themed it to frozen I think people would have a bigger reason to go

 

[Nick]

I definitely agree but if you could get a name on it for a land or something that's just another reason to go. Like people are gonna go to blizzard beach no matter what but if they themed it to frozen I think people would have a bigger reason to go

There's no justification to spend the money. If Disney were to do anything Frozen at BB it would be maybe a quick service location, that's it.

People either love water parks or they hate them. Adding an IP isn't going to get someone who doesn't like water parks in the first place to suddenly change their mind.

Point is: Money is better off spent elsewhere if they are going to license anything. With a little advertising, it shouldn't be too hard to get people into a new water park.

 

[rhino4evr]

Based on Teebin's posts, isn't the center piece going to be a giant volcano? A Volcano makes me think of Hawaii, or some other island. A backstory about a volcano eruption that carved natural "slides" into the earth from hot Magma, seems possible?

the volcano could rumble and shoot mist/steam? through out the day, giving park guests a sort of mini thrill.

the highest slide would be one from the top or near top of the volcano. Similar idea as Summitt Plumitt.

the park walkways could be sprinkled with water geysers coming out of the ground.

The lazy river will circle the volcano and encompous the inner circumfrence of the park.

Am I on to something here?

 

[anihilnation]

Since the name wondersea island makes me think of something Atlantis like, I wonder if the idea of a volcano is not meant as something exotic a la Hawaii, but rather as something ancient and adventurous, think Pompeii for instance. Have the whole place like an ancient ruined city. Take the idea of IOA's lost continent and translate it into a waterpark, and put a volcano there which is reason for the ruination. Most beautiful pool I have been is in Hierapolis, Turkey, you swim in a real ancient temple ... https://www.google.com/images?client=opera&q=hierapolis+swimming+pool&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest&gws_rd=ssl&hl=en&sa=X&as_q=&nfpr=&spell=1&ei=WAwsVIO3Fo-2yASthoHIAQ&ved=0CBIQvwU

 

[Teebin]

^ Wow, I had never heard of Hierapolis. Funny how it all looks kinda fake as we are used to the finest theming in Orlando.

 

[anihilnation]

^ Wow, I had never heard of Hierapolis. Funny how it all looks kinda fake as we are used to the finest theming in Orlando.

That is actually a very good observation Teebin!
Hierapolis is by Pamukalle, which are these magnificent white rocks full of thermal springs.

 

[Cole]

Based on Teebin's posts, isn't the center piece going to be a giant volcano? A Volcano makes me think of Hawaii, or some other island. A backstory about a volcano eruption that carved natural "slides" into the earth from hot Magma, seems possible?

the volcano could rumble and shoot mist/steam? through out the day, giving park guests a sort of mini thrill.

the highest slide would be one from the top or near top of the volcano. Similar idea as Summitt Plumitt.

the park walkways could be sprinkled with water geysers coming out of the ground.

The lazy river will circle the volcano and encompous the inner circumfrence of the park.

Am I on to something here?

Your on to something. I forget who but an insider once said the volcano won't just be a centerpiece, there would be things in it so I say you have a good hypothesis

 

[Teebin]

the highest slide would be one from the top or near top of the volcano. Similar idea as Summitt Plumitt.

It appears to me, but I could be wrong, that all the big drops will not be visible from outside the volcano.

The lazy river will circle the volcano

There is a misstatement in this sentence, but I am not telling you what. I am going to sit back and see if any of you can figure out what it is. It's important and I have never let on about it.

Your on to something. I forget who but an insider once said the volcano won't just be a centerpiece, there would be things in it so I say you have a good hypothesis

I said it.

 

[Cole]

Thanks teebin wanted to give credit where credit was due. Very intriguing, if the misplacement is the word around then possibly it could go through the volcano and other areas in the park. Also very happy the volcano slides aren't fully outdoors, that would probably just make it like any old water slide

 

[JungleSkip]

There is a misstatement in this sentence, but I am not telling you what. I am going to sit back and see if any of you can figure out what it is. It's important and I have never let on about it.

Two shots in the dark:

Either 1) the river won't be "lazy" at all and will be more of a thrilling adventure or 2) it'll be rivers (plural) with one thrilling river and one lazy river.

 

[Teebin]

Very intriguing, if the misplacement is the word around then possibly it could go through the volcano and other areas in the park.

The word "around" was not the misstatement, but you are correct that the later part of your statement above is a given, to a degree. What degree is unclear to me.

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Two shots in the dark:

Either 1) the river won't be "lazy" at all and will be more of a thrilling adventure or 2) it'll be rivers (plural) with one thrilling river and one lazy river.

:wave:

Your second shot is a bulls eye.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

It appears to me, but I could be wrong, that all the big drops will not be visible from outside the volcano.

Reading through this thread makes me think this waterpark will have more than a passing resemblance to the Atlantis Aquaventure in Paradise Island. There's a not-so-lazy river there as well, and it's pretty awesome. But more importantly is that Atlantis has integrated several slides within structures rather than on the outside. The Mayan Temple has a slide that winds "through" it rather than drop off the side. Same with the newer Power Tower structure. The whole place uses the space it has very effectively…I'm not sure the exact acreage but in what seems like much less space than is available at Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, there are about eight slides and the river.

Here it is for reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK85J8lo63g
(that's not me in the video btw lol)

A big "drop" slide through a volcano could definitely work like this, and if the structure is large enough, I'm sure several slides could share the space. If that's the case, that will be pretty awesome because slides, generally speaking, are pretty ugly.


Another cool feature about their park is the ability for the river to take you up conveyor belts to the starting-off point of a couple of different slides, so you don't have to walk up the stairs or even leave your tube. Maybe someone who's in the know can elaborate on this…if Universal is planning on integrating some of that type of technology/design, they would have quite a waterpark on their hands.

 

[Cole]

The word "around" was not the misstatement, but you are correct that the later part of your statement above is a given, to a degree. What degree is unclear to me.
:wave:

Your second shot is a bulls eye.

Hmm It could quite possibly have heated sections? Aww that's gonna be sick with multiple pathways. Kinda like adventure island but probably way more detailed. Thanks teebs!!!

 

[Teebin]

Hmm It could quite possibly have heated sections?

Perhaps... and possibly just the opposite. :look: