State of USH - What's Next?

[Viator]

From @ethanuniversal--work continues on the progress for the future Studio Mill nearby Earthquake.



As noted by him: surveying cameras are on-site right now.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Wicked or HTTYD props would be cool

 

[UniversalRBLX]

For those that visit USH frequently, are lower crowds noticeable in person?

June saw a 14% decline in wait-times compared to last year. July is trending (so far) even worse with wait-times dropping by 25% compared to last year.

Year to date is looking 17% down.

 

[Clive]

Anecdotally, seeing a lot of reports that the park feels less crowded, yeah.

 

[Jerroddragon]

For those that visit USH frequently, are lower crowds noticeable in person?

June saw a 14% decline in wait-times compared to last year. July is trending (so far) even worse with wait-times dropping by 25% compared to last year.

Year to date is looking 17% down.

I mean for sure its not busy when I have gone but might be because I mainly go on weekends

Funny enough I looked up wait times for today and it looks kinda packed the Tram, Transformers, Jurassic, HP rides and the Mummy are about an hours each and MK is 90 mins

So thats pretty bad but also I go rope drop or go once its past 4 PM, that also seems to help

 

[viking_wizard_eyes]

For those that visit USH frequently, are lower crowds noticeable in person?

June saw a 14% decline in wait-times compared to last year. July is trending (so far) even worse with wait-times dropping by 25% compared to last year.

Year to date is looking 17% down.

It's definitely feeling more quiet to me. Can't back that up with figures or anything, it's just a feeling based on my visits, but yeah. Kinda felt that way in spring too, honestly.

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

It's definitely feeling more quiet to me. Can't back that up with figures or anything, it's just a feeling based on my visits, but yeah. Kinda felt that way in spring too, honestly.

Park hasn’t recovered since January fires. Literally no real peak season

 

[Clive]

It's probably too soon to say with real confidence what's causing the downturn, but I'd offer a combination of "foreign tourism is down due to obvious reasons we won't get into," "local tourism is down due to obvious reasons we won't get into," and "no new attractions with a big obvious one coming next year, so people are waiting for that to open."

 

[highdefrex]

"foreign tourism is down due to obvious reasons we won't get into"

And now foreign tourism's about to take another hit with this new $250 "visa integrity fee." Absolutely disgusting. Foreign families with kids now having to pay $1,000+ extra just to step foot in the US is going to be a hard "no" for a lot of people, especially on top of everything else going on. California parks are gonna feel it for sure, and Orlando's parks are definitely going to feel it.

 

[Jerroddragon]

And now foreign tourism's about to take another hit with this new $250 "visa integrity fee." Absolutely disgusting. Foreign families with kids now having to pay $1,000+ extra just to step foot in the US is going to be a hard "no" for a lot of people, especially on top of everything else going on. California parks are gonna feel it for sure, and Orlando's parks are definitely going to feel it.

Jake in another thread said it looks like 40+ counties shouldn't have to do this so hopefully its not too bad

But I think the bigger thing here is the Messages/Vibes we are sending everyone in the world...and to me its telling people do not come.

Funny enough while summer has been normal/kinda slow USH has been pretty darn busy the last week so it seems like they can draw people when they get big groups to come and visit or rent out space

 

[Viator]

Update on the mill via @ethanuniversal--markings are now spotted around the new studio mill site (the one that should replace the one by the cluster). Additionally, the survey camera has been removed from the site.

 

[Viator]

From @ethanuniversal--the tags going on the trees has infected and outgrown that of The Simpsons Ride and Springfield proper: now going as far as Jaws Lake.



Additionally--more of the trees around the Studio Tour Tram Maintenance are now being marked aswell.

 

[cdogsumo]

If they have been cooking up something for the Olympics — surely they could still close something near the end of this year or early next year (Mummy or Simpsons) and have it ready 2.5 years later — ready for the Olympics?

I’m not saying that this is going to happen, but that it is still possible.

 

[Viator]

If they have been cooking up something for the Olympics — surely they could still close something near the end of this year or early next year (Mummy or Simpsons) and have it ready 2.5 years later — ready for the Olympics?

I’m not saying that this is going to happen, but that it is still possible.

Personal speculation on the table (and forgive me Mods for reaching a bit), but I wonder if they are beginning the process of coordinating with the studio side, to ensure that both the two ends of the lot can sustain themselves and grow further in abilities and potential.

Even if you start small with relocation of the Studio Tour plaza + it's maintenance barn (I brought it up in the past, but the old Sound Design structure and the soon to be outdated Mill would actually give them enough if they combined it with T-Pad for both a plaza and maintenance barn), the regrading and restructuring of Kirk Douglas Road and the hillside as a whole, and of the replacement of The Simpsons Ride...you'd still be left with potentially a 20+ acre land acquisition for the park.

And with the park transitioning in the next few years as we get to LA2028 to become a true "Resort" destination; maybe safeguarding and preparing the lot with studio and park reshuffling might be the best play?

We already have that with the Creative Campus having new sound design facilities. The Old mill next to the old sound design should also become outdated with what's being built over by Earthquake. And the Park Lake soundstages, do have potential of still being of use for LA2028 (even if they don't become the IOC's international broadcasting committee HQ [which honestly could just kill the potential expansion of the stages--but in that case, they did just build Barham's sets]). Add in the new Tech facilities for the park being done at Z-Lot, and that gives you options for the long-term future.

I'm wondering if Universal's looking fourth dimensionally at this. With the decade mostly a wash, the main thing they can do right now is focus on preparing and safeguarding the future path of the lot to be in a place that is cooperative of eachother.

Though maybe this is probably just a large stretch by me.

 

[TheUniC6]

Even if you start small with relocation of the Studio Tour plaza + it's maintenance barn (I brought it up in the past, but the old Sound Design structure and the soon to be outdated Mill would actually give them enough if they combined it with T-Pad for both a plaza and maintenance barn), the regrading and restructuring of Kirk Douglas Road and the hillside as a whole, and of the replacement of The Simpsons Ride...you'd still be left with potentially a 20+ acre land acquisition for the park.

So to break this down I measured the Simpsons plot and the Tram plaza + maintenance barn on Google Earth. It came out to about 8 acres or so. I guess you must have meant when you combine all the areas you mentioned it would total up to 20 acres. Also isn't some of stuff like the Mill and sound design structure on the lower lot near SS 16-24? Thinking about how to properly grow USH makes my brain hurt lol.

 

[cdogsumo]

Thinking about how to properly grow USH makes my brain hurt lol.

It’s so funny when people talk about expanding the Orlando parks (Disney or Universal) and they are like “just build it.” Meanwhile, over on our coast everything has to start with something like, “well if we move the entrance to this entire ride, then it gives us an extra acre to work with.”

Neither Disney nor Universal planned on their CA Parks becoming institutions lol.

 

[Viator]

They have begun to rip out the ground around that of the new Studio Mill.

 

[Freak]

Sorry I have to let some of my hyperfixations out: I thought about how the park needs at least one more show and how the Monster Make-Up show at USF would be such a fantastic fit for the park. The stage itself doesn't take up a ton of space, which is very optimal for USH....but there's no place to put it. Though I think I did finally find a place they could put it at....in the lower lot of all places!

Probably won't happen anytime soon because of that stupid Panda Express contract, but they could put the show in the Panda Express there. Before you gripe about me how there's no space, just have the stage go upstairs! There's adequate room for a waiting lobby where you can have a mini museum for people to look at props and other displays. Once it's showtime, guests could go upstairs to see the show! It wouldn't be a large theater much like the one at USF where it only has 300-ish seats, which would be adequate for a show that would run every hour or so on slower days and every 30 minutes on peak days.

If the biggest concern is that the giftshop can't close because it's attached to the women's restroom....well, you won't even need to touch it! That's the beauty of a multi-story attraction! The entire first floor would just be for the lobby and stairs/elevator and the entire second floor would be for the stage and backstage.

I really hope USH considers that spot because the park needs at least one more live show and the Monster Make-Up show would be so perfect for the park!

 

[Viator]

I'm gonna be honest: I wouldn't mind if you bulldozed Parisian Courtyard and French Street, and made a theater space that could have Sing: Live and a new VIP dining environment.

Could help widen the space around DMMM and Pets a bit too, and it would give Universal a stage for flex use purpose. Plus, Sing 3 has been acknowledged to be in some form of development, so unless if Illumination is now the Barbie, Nintendo, and Gru show; I imagine we'll get Sing 3 by the end of the decade.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I'm gonna be honest: I wouldn't mind if you bulldozed Parisian Courtyard and French Street, and made a theater space that could have Sing: Live and a new VIP dining environment.

Could help widen the space around DMMM and Pets a bit too, and it would give Universal a stage for flex use purpose. Plus, Sing 3 has been acknowledged to be in some form of development, so unless if Illumination is now the Barbie, Nintendo, and Gru show; I imagine we'll get Sing 3 by the end of the decade.

Its hard because it host the oldest Building in the park

But I agree, not that I want the area gone but would not be upset if they could get another Theater in that area, not just for most days but also gives HHN and Fan Fest another place to make attractions

I also doubt it but if they could gut the buildings and keep the look of French street I would not be against this as well, the area is nice but for sure they could put an attraction there