The Future of The Simpsons Ride/Springfield (Orlando)

[UniversalRBLX]

The more realistic scenario is that the Pokemon company is waiting to see the response (both creatively and financially) from USJ's attraction before allowing Universal to expand elsewhere.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

With all this discussion, I'm curious how much merit the contract extension rumor has.

 

[belloq87]

This line of discussion is depressing.

USF needs major work immediately.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

This line of discussion is depressing.

USF needs major work immediately.

They’re building a new coaster right now.

 

[Mad Dog]

This line of discussion is depressing.

USF needs major work immediately.

They need it but won't get it. Harsh reality. One new outdoor D ticket coaster and one other D/E attraction before 2030 is probably it. Outdoor
coasters, that aren't Hagrids level theming, are probably the cheapest budget route, thus replacing RRR instead of a nice new shiny D/E level dark ride at this point in time.....Ironic attraction addition: When Universal was struggling financially, they built RRR, a fairly low budget new attraction, to try
to increase attendance. Now that USF attendance/revenue remains flat, or down, for eight quarters, their answer is a low/moderate budget coaster....again.....Sounds like the Diagon Alley level additions are gone for a good while.

 

[TheUniC6]

If it comes to “ahead of major announcements,” @Alicia is still around and she is more explicitly ahead of things than Tomfoolery was. Tom obviously knew stuff ahead of time, but was also smart enough to present arguments based on publicly available information. That’s always the defense for (smart) insiders.

As someone who’s played these games for a while… and as someone who’s popped up on Universal’s radar more than once (“‘Sup?”), including leaking the Simpsons on WDWMagic way back in like 2004, it actually takes a LOT to force Universal’s hand. And, again, using public information and couching in noncommittal, indirect ways makes it even harder for Universal to justify retribution. It also takes a pretty explicit leak of confidential information to go excessively viral to draw third-party attention to leaks that don’t involve them. I doubt Tomfoolery’s UK reveal was even on the Pokemon Company’s radar.

Basically, correlation does not mean causation. Life happens, even for insiders, that can cause them to go quiet for extended periods. Universal could be looking at the long-term economic environment and slowing domestic development. Maybe all parties involved just can’t get the Pokemon attraction they want to *work*

Usually theme park companies have backup plans if a major collab or partnership doesn't pan out. IIRC you mentioned the idea of Looney Tunes or WB Animation taking over Simpsons/Springfield. If NBCU gets the WBD streaming and studio assets, that would be an ideal replacement if Pokemon doesn't pan out. To me LT and WB Animation seems like a much better fit for the 3-4 acre plot Springfield sits on. Considering how massive Pokemon is, the plot and just one ride (that we knew of) seems way too small for the crowds it would get.

 

[GA-MBIT]

They’re building a new coaster right now.

This conversation has played out countless times at this point ... but to jump back into position for a moment - HRRR was due for a replacement, but it was hardly the most glaring issue for the park. San Fran and Springfield are huge, sprawling areas that completely effect the feel and experience of USF as a park, and that both feel, to be a bit uncharitable, very dead right now. Moes and the Duff Bar are still solid, and Fast Food Blvd gets business because of it's offerings and location, but generally both lands don't offer a ton, and certainly nothing on the level of Islands, Diagon, or Epic.

HRRR is a thrill coaster outside the walkable bounds of the park. It's very important, it's very visible in the skyline, etc. But it's also just one attraction, and essentially, a 1 to 1 replacement. Mid thrill coaster into a (probably) great thrill coaster. It won't meaningfully change the more fundamental issues with lack of attraction variety, screen tech reliance, and smaller scope theming. Tackling San Fran and/or Springfield could potentially tip the scales on all three significantly.

Personally? While I'd love to see all of these complete teardown / rebuild projects happen asap, I also would be relatively okay with smaller Dreamworksland-style projects to fix a lot of these dead areas. Ghostbusters meet n greet outside the Firehouse in New York; the BTTF Clock Tower retheme of F&F; making the San Fran Jaws theming permanent; giving The Simpsons Ride such much needed TLC; a new show in FFL.

I feel like none of those are huge unattainable goals, and yet, it seems like there is a lack of movement on any of them. Epic needed a lot of their resources, but Epic is here. Maybe we'll see something in time, that would be wonderful. But the line for a little while was "Epic is the priority right now". I am admittedly a little concerned that even after Epic, all the smoke seems to be indicating that USF is still not a priority.

 

[Disneyhead]

They need it but won't get it. Harsh reality. One new outdoor D ticket coaster and one other D/E attraction before 2030 is probably it. Outdoor
coasters, that aren't Hagrids level theming, are probably the cheapest budget route, thus replacing RRR instead of a nice new shiny D/E level dark ride at this point in time.....Ironic attraction addition: When Universal was struggling financially, they built RRR, a fairly low budget new attraction, to try
to increase attendance. Now that USF attendance/revenue remains flat, or down, for eight quarters, their answer is a low/moderate budget coaster....again.....Sounds like the Diagon Alley level additions are gone for a good while.

One minor correction about the new coaster, while not being the most themed attraction ever, it will most certainly be a major E Ticket on the thrill scale. Imagine riding sections of Velocicoaster sideways and backwards.

 

[Spike101]

Usually theme park companies have backup plans if a major collab or partnership doesn't pan out. IIRC you mentioned the idea of Looney Tunes or WB Animation taking over Simpsons/Springfield. If NBCU gets the WBD streaming and studio assets, that would be an ideal replacement if Pokemon doesn't pan out. To me LT and WB Animation seems like a much better fit for the 3-4 acre plot Springfield sits on. Considering how massive Pokemon is, the plot and just one ride (that we knew of) seems way too small for the crowds it would get.

I was just dreaming of a reimagined Simpsons ride as a Wile E Coyote & Road Runner dark ride, my idea of bliss.

 

[Disneyhead]

Word on the street, so don't quote me on this. Disney did in park surveys on how to include the Simpsons into the Disney parks and the answers ranged from "Eww, no!" to "(CENSORED)".

Disney then approached Universal with the possibility of an extension.

Just what I heard.

 

[Mad Dog]

Word on the street, so don't quote me on this. Disney did in park surveys on how to include the Simpsons into the Disney parks and the answers ranged from "Eww, no!" to "(CENSORED)".

Disney then approached Universal with the possibility of an extension.

Just what I heard.

Sounds business sensible. Disney has so many underutilized IP's that their fans 'love'. Simpsons never screamed Disney to me. I've been
theorizing an extension for a few years on this forum, thinking the same Disney survey results, if the survey is true. Myself, I love the Springfield
land. Both Alene and I like the ride/bar/humor. Disney wouldn't dare to use the same humor that Universal uses. Their fan base would
revolt. That said, Universal social media super fandom wants Simpsons ride and land replaced ASAP. I know I'm in the minority.
Clean up the projection and the ride I say. When it was BTTF, it was the favorite ride of many. It can last a few more years with a good refurb.
.....But if
there's replacements to be made before 2030, let it be that F&F turkey attraction in the middle of the park. Better than a closed down Springfield, wasting empty for a bunch of years like the Lost Continent in IOA.

 

[Mike S]

Word on the street, so don't quote me on this. Disney did in park surveys on how to include the Simpsons into the Disney parks and the answers ranged from "Eww, no!" to "(CENSORED)".

Disney then approached Universal with the possibility of an extension.

Just what I heard.

So the implication is that Disney wants to continue getting what’s essentially free money from Universal?

If I had the choice between that and Pokémon I’d tell Disney to shove it lol

 

[Jake S]

If I had the choice between that and Pokémon I’d tell Disney to shove it lol

Trying to work with The Pokemon Company might be the one thing that would make me rush to collaborate with my largest in-market competitor.

 

[Spike101]

I'm still going to wish really hard for my Wile E Coyote ride.

(Cant stand Pokemon)

 

[Clive]

I hope everyone understands how catastrophically bad it would be for Universal and Warner Bros. to merge. Getting a Looney Tunes land (when you have those all over the country in Six Flags parks) is not worth it.

Anyway, none of this has anything to do with Springfield or its future.

 

[GA-MBIT]

Trying to work with The Pokemon Company might be the one thing that would make me rush to collaborate with my largest in-market competitor.

This is funny, but I'm not sure it's exactly accurate. While Nintendo is notorious for being really fickle with it's licensing and IP rights, and while TPC have had their moments, the latter seem really willing to partner and cooperate to make things work in a way that the audience would like.

Pokemon x Tekken, the Aardman short films, the multiple other Pokemon theme parks that exist, the touring stage production in the 90s, Pokemon Go with Niantic and now Scopely, a million Build-a-Bears, the upcoming Lego sets. The trading cards have had countless artists that are given a good amount of freedom in how they depict the Pokemon themselves. There are countless examples.

They may not necessarily be easy to work with, (no brands at the scale of Pokemon are easy to work with), but it seems to me like Creatures Inc. and TPC at large are most definitely willing and able to work well alongside other artists, brands, or companies.

 

[belloq87]

HRRR is a thrill coaster outside the walkable bounds of the park. It's very important, it's very visible in the skyline, etc. But it's also just one attraction, and essentially, a 1 to 1 replacement. Mid thrill coaster into a (probably) great thrill coaster. It won't meaningfully change the more fundamental issues with lack of attraction variety, screen tech reliance, and smaller scope theming. Tackling San Fran and/or Springfield could potentially tip the scales on all three significantly.

This is exactly how I feel about it.

The HRRR replacement isn't going to address any of (what I subjectively perceive to be) the major issues in the park. Assuming it's a good ride for fans of coasters, that alone will be a net improvement for the park (because HRRR isn't good). But swapping a minimally-themed thrill coaster for a (hopefully better) minimally-themed thrill coaster doesn't do anything to decrease the proportion of screen-intensive attractions in the park's line-up, or afford an opportunity for the park to add its first new (non-simulator-y) dark ride in 25+ years, or refresh sizable areas that are relying on very old ride systems and infrastructure to anchor them (Springfield).