The Future of The Simpsons Ride/Springfield (Orlando)

[pumpkinbot343]

Some of the arguments both for and against Wicked being part of USF is that it’s a “studio park” and Emerald City would either fit perfectly or contrast the theme of a “studio park”. I dunno, but I have the argument that USF should cast aside the studio theme for several reasons, one of them being outside of a small number of attractions like Mummy (which rumors say was originally going to be a haunted museum), USF is totally not really like “studio” anymore. Plus Diagon Alley makes the rest of USF lands embarrassing in comparison.

Like USF could evolve into a different theme entirely, like maybe do something like Halloween Horror Nights did in 2009 where the facade of the front gate is a movie theater, and the story for the whole park is that all the attractions and streets are basically movies inside the theater. That could live up to the “Ride the Movies” tagline and could make Wicked make sense being in USF.

 

[belloq87]

To me, a "studio" theme should mean less that the park is themed as an actual "studio," but that it is showing off the properties of the parent studio*. That's why I think basically anything could be made to fit in USF (or Hollywood Studios, for that matter, setting aside space/layout limitations).

That doesn't mean some IPs couldn't be more suitable for someplace else, of course.

* And properties licensed from other studios, naturally.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think it's been several years since the original concept of the "Studio" park has remained, whether it's Universal or MGM/Hollywood studios, meaning the concept of how movies are made and learning that in various ways.

Barely anything in any studio park has that idea anymore, because there's so many other ways people can learn about behind the scenes filming.

 

[RFRees]

I'm not holding onto the "Studio" aspect. I acknowledge that's pretty much dead.

But trying to explain why F&F feels right at home at USF but doesn't feel right at IOA, there's something real there. I'll disagree with anyone who wants to put BTTF or F&F or Ghostbusters at IOA, and all the same, LOTR or Wicked or Zelda (as full immersive worlds) at USF.

And I'd also disagree with comparing USF to any other Universal Studios (Hollywood, Japan, Beijing, Singapore, and soon UK). The major difference between our Studios in Orlando and all the others, is that they are 'single child' parks and we have two sisters (IOA and Epic). That means we (well, UOR leadership) get to choose where to place an IP, and base that decision on more than just "who needs a new ride." We get to choose where it makes the most thematic sense.

 

[pumpkinbot343]

I'm not holding onto the "Studio" aspect. I acknowledge that's pretty much dead.

But trying to explain why F&F feels right at home at USF but doesn't feel right at IOA, there's something real there. I'll disagree with anyone who wants to put BTTF or F&F or Ghostbusters at IOA, and all the same, LOTR or Wicked or Zelda (as full immersive worlds) at USF.

And I'd also disagree with comparing USF to any other Universal Studios (Hollywood, Japan, Beijing, Singapore, and soon UK). The major difference between our Studios in Orlando and all the others, is that they are 'single child' parks and we have two sisters (IOA and Epic). That means we (well, UOR leadership) get to choose where to place an IP, and base that decision on more than just "who needs a new ride." We get to choose where it makes the most thematic sense.

Well you see, in my opinion the problem with the USF park in that the areas aren’t really that interesting. Production Central-now Minions, NY, San Francisco, Hollywood, even the old Amity area, Dreamworks. None of them are really interesting streets to walk around in, and I think part of it is that all of them except for New York are not big enough to really have much detail. And as I said before, having Diagon Alley in that park makes it so much worse, because you have this rich incredibly detailed immersive area on one hand and on the other hand you have all these other “so-so” sections that don’t compare at all. Compare that to IOA where all the other lands (even Seuss) has their own flair and design quirks that can match up to Potter.

I have my own reason why Wicked should be an Epic addition, but having it in USF could really take the park to another level, and I’ve already suggested USF could evolve to something else (basically not a “studio park” anymore) where something like Wicked and LOTR can feel right at home.

 

[Alicia]

World Expo in the 90s wasn’t a city. KidsZone wasn’t a city.

The only reason they even have/had a city motif in the first place is that the front half of the park is designed as studio backlots for filming, and NY and LA are popular locations for tv and movies to be set. As you move further into the park the false facades of the backlot give way to more immersive locales that put you into the story, like Amity Island for JAWS. No one was going to film a movie there, the same way no one can film a movie in Diagon Alley.

Which is also the same way no one would be able to film a new Jardiance commercial in a Wicked themed land, they way they did recently do in the NY backlot area.

So, not sure why they couldn’t theme a new land replacing the fictional city of Springfield with a fictional Emerald CITY.

I rest my case.

 

[Tobias]

World Expo in the 90s wasn’t a city. KidsZone wasn’t a city.

The only reason they even have/had a city motif in the first place is that the front half of the park is designed as studio backlots for filming, and NY and LA are popular locations for tv and movies to be set. As you move further into the park the false facades of the backlot give way to more immersive locales that put you into the story, like Amity Island for JAWS. No one was going to film a movie there, the same way no one can film a movie in Diagon Alley.

Which is also the same way no one would be able to film a new Jardiance commercial in a Wicked themed land, they way they did recently do in the NY backlot area.

So, not sure why they couldn’t theme a new land replacing the fictional city of Springfield with a fictional Emerald CITY.

I rest my case.

And it should be noted the Jurassic Park River Adventure was originally going to be in the Studios before IOA came along, and that wouldn't have been a city if it did.

 

[Clive]

Here’s my position on all this:

They were THIS close to building Nintendo in the Studios. It ultimately went to Epic.

Park cohesion has been a “nice to have” across all major domestic theme parks for a long while. I’ll be happy if something and ambitious gets built, period.

 

[mccgavin]

There have been a lot of proposed additions to USF that didn't see the light of day, or were built elsewhere in the resort. While that does give us insight to what type of lands and IP that have been considered for adding to USF, its also important to consider that these "what-ifs" are not the direction the park ultimately took.

If we had never gotten a second and eventually a third park, USF likely would've looked drastically different. It likely would've been much more of a random assortment of various IP lands with no real correlation, much like the other "Universal Studios" parks around the world that never got a second gate. Jurassic Park could've ended up at USF, but they ultimately decided it would be better suited for IOA where it could be better fleshed out, and serve as the park's anchor. KidZone was really the only place Super Nintendo World would've made sense space-wise in the original resort before Epic got the greenlight, and even if it was built there, it would've been self-contained much like Diagon.

I'm somewhat skeptical that a Diagon-style transition is possible in the Simpsons plot, and even if it is, that probably would not be the best utilization of the land given its shape. It's also worth considering that given the success of Wicked: For Good, they will likely want to make a land that is "fully immersive" similar to The Wizarding World and the lands within Epic. I don't think they are going to accomplish that if they use Simpsons, as it would not only be visible from the whole lagoon, but the surrounding park would be fully visible from within the land.

 

[ChrisFL]

I wanted a Jurassic Park hotel

 

[TheUniC6]

There have been a lot of proposed additions to USF that didn't see the light of day, or were built elsewhere in the resort. While that does give us insight to what type of lands and IP that have been considered for adding to USF, its also important to consider that these "what-ifs" are not the direction the park ultimately took.

If we had never gotten a second and eventually a third park, USF likely would've looked drastically different. It likely would've been much more of a random assortment of various IP lands with no real correlation, much like the other "Universal Studios" parks around the world that never got a second gate. Jurassic Park could've ended up at USF, but they ultimately decided it would be better suited for IOA where it could be better fleshed out, and serve as the park's anchor. KidZone was really the only place Super Nintendo World would've made sense space-wise in the original resort before Epic got the greenlight, and even if it was built there, it would've been self-contained much like Diagon.

I'm somewhat skeptical that a Diagon-style transition is possible in the Simpsons plot, and even if it is, that probably would not be the best utilization of the land given its shape. It's also worth considering that given the success of Wicked: For Good, they will likely want to make a land that is "fully immersive" similar to The Wizarding World and the lands within Epic. I don't think they are going to accomplish that if they use Simpsons, as it would not only be visible from the whole lagoon, but the surrounding park would be fully visible from within the land.

A counter point would be that parts of USH are visible from their version of Potter.

The hill my mind is dying on is there will be no new portal in EU until all the existing lands get their expansion pads filled, so if Pokemon is going into IOA, Wicked will likely be what replaces Simpsons. If they are aiming to go Potter level, I could also see them expanding into MIB as well. While the ride is still popular with the GP, it's based on what is effectively a dead IP that Universal doesn't even own.

 

[mccgavin]

A counter point would be that parts of USH are visible from their version of Potter.

USH has significant space restrictions that USF does not have to deal with. It is very impressive that they were able to fit the land there at all. Even Hollywood's Super Nintendo World has has poor sightlines of the surrounding area from certain angles. That's just a reality that the park has to deal with given its size, layout, and location.

The hill my mind is dying on is there will be no new portal in EU until all the existing lands get their expansion pads filled, so if Pokemon is going into IOA, Wicked will likely be what replaces Simpsons.

I would not assume this at all. Even to this day, IOA has not utilized all the expansion pads that exist within the park.

If they are aiming to go Potter level, I could also see them expanding into MIB as well. While the ride is still popular with the GP, it's based on what is effectively a dead IP that Universal doesn't even own.

I don't think MIB will stick around forever, but I don't think it makes sense the devote the entirety of Simpsons + MIB/Fear Factor to a single IP. That would take up too much real estate within the park's usable area. MIB/Fear Factor is enough space to build a distinct land, or at least a mini-land.

 

[Skold]

Which is also the same way no one would be able to film a new Jardiance commercial in a Wicked themed land, they way they did recently do in the NY backlot area.

The game is on!

We need this on the yellow brick road!



A little pill with with a [big beer if you win] to tell!

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Here’s my position on all this:

They were THIS close to building Nintendo in the Studios. It ultimately went to Epic.

Park cohesion has been a “nice to have” across all major domestic theme parks for a long while. I’ll be happy if something and ambitious gets built, period.

It helps that Uni's park themes are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more elastic than some of Disney's. "Studio park", "island travels", and "portals to worlds" is way easier to play with than "Permanent World's Fair", "Park Where Animals and Humans Live in Harmony", and even "park with Americana".

To me, a "studio" theme should mean less that the park is themed as an actual "studio," but that it is showing off the properties of the parent studio*. That's why I think basically anything could be made to fit in USF (or Hollywood Studios, for that matter, setting aside space/layout limitations).

That doesn't mean some IPs couldn't be more suitable for someplace else, of course.

* And properties licensed from other studios, naturally.

I'd go one step fruther and say these parks should have higher turn over than the other parks.

 

[Jones14]

Most of the Emerald City scenes in the movies are in courtyards enclosed by buildings on all sides, so if they wanted to cut off views of the lagoon from inside the land with facades and shops it would be very easy to do. Hogsmeade does exactly that to great effect, and it doesn’t preclude them from having a patio or walk way along the water à la Three Broomsticks.