The Old KidZone Thread

[Disneyhead]

So are we expecting this after Jurrasic Park and before a new Seuss e-ticket or after both?

Rumor is 2016.

 

[Hatetofly]

Rumor is 2016.

Indeed, I think 2015 will see the change of Fear Factor.

 

[Felipe]

Indeed, I think 2015 will see the change of Fear Factor.

I remember a while back someone mentioned that the contract runs out in 2015. Hopefully we're getting that rumored 007 show!

 

[Hedwig201]

So I just finished watching Hotel Transylvania and I must say I was quite impressed...However, I must also say I was paying close attention to the detail of the Hotel itself as well as the storyline elements of the film and call me crazy but I think it would be great fit for Kidzone. There is already a sequel planned for 2015 so I think it'd be safe in terms of drawing in big crowds. I was thinking it could be placed in Curios George's Play area or even Barney....Just a thought.
Also, if done right, it could be Universal's equivalent to Mystic Manor

 

[USO92]

See this,

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gbMl_XPFH2E

I stand corrected on relevancy. Would I personally like to see it come here? No...but it's not about me. So, with that said, we'll see what they do!

 

[KreativeKid]

2014 is bringing Harry Potter. Can't see anything else added.
2015 is a possibility for either a Jurassic Park expansion or a Seuss E-ticket. I don't see both being added. But who knows. UOR seems to be adding E-tickets left and right nowadays.
2016 is the best bet for a KidZone redo. A Fear Factor replacement could be introduced as well.

 

[TheMackMachine]

I feel that with the new Spongebob store in Kidzone doing good business, and with Universal wanting to open something new every year, the Kidzone redo might happen in phases. I think it will be a new ride one year, then a new ride the next year, and so on. Just a thought.

 

[Accio Butterbeer]

2014 is bringing Harry Potter. Can't see anything else added.
2015 is a possibility for either a Jurassic Park expansion or a Seuss E-ticket. I don't see both being added. But who knows. UOR seems to be adding E-tickets left and right nowadays.
2016 is the best bet for a KidZone redo. A Fear Factor replacement could be introduced as well.

The JP expansion is happening. And HTF said Fear Factor should be replaced in 2015. Just giving you a heads up.

 

[mahnamahna]

I feel that with the new Spongebob store in Kidzone doing good business, and with Universal wanting to open something new every year, the Kidzone redo might happen in phases. I think it will be a new ride one year, then a new ride the next year, and so on. Just a thought.

Yeah I could definitely see that working!! However, unlike New Fantasyland, Universal should make sure not to do the grand opening/re-dedication until after the main new E-ticket is open. Plus, they obviously plan on doing some big things in IOA and a major new land in USF after the KidZone redo is finished.

Well SpongeBob is pretty much guareenteed a ride/attraction due to the store and likely addition of the Krusty Krab farther down the road - maybe Fievel will get renovated into Bikini Bottom with a Jellyfish Fields subsection including a solidly themed flat ride.

Hotel Transylvania seems extremely plausible as an anchor for the new area, maybe as an E-ticket trackless dark ride - no screens or 3D though! Just AAs

I'd also say that G.I. Joe, and My Little Pony are possible as well - especially because Hasbro is hinting that Universal will add more Hasbro attractions soon!

Dora the Explorer is the best bet for taking over the Animal Actors/Barney area of KidZone - with a new show, a store, and some sort of track/flat ride a given.

The wild-cards right now are most likely How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods, Scooby-Doo, and Sesame Street - all for various different reasons

The Smurfs also seem pretty confirmed if they're doing surveys about complete ride concepts for them

But yeah all of the signs point to 3-4 major additions to IOA after Potter 2.0:

2015 -
JP expansion (Rumored to be 2 attractions)

2016 -
Seuss expansion

2017 -
Toon and LC renovations? (this seems most likely)

2018 -
HP Phase III?? (Great Hall/Dragon Challenge theming/FJ upgrade/etc)

2019 and beyond -
Marvel retheme??? (if Disney shows them the money, I could see Superman and Batman setting up shop, just saying :thumbs:
Another major JP addition is also likely if JP4 is a blockbuster hit - on whichever plot they don't use (Helicoptours would work on the Thunder Falls plot)

 

[Plush_collector]

Dora and spongebob definitely should come. I would love for far far away land from Singapore to come as well huge shrek fan and hopefully dreamworks makes another one because they haven't had a mega franchise like that since shrek.

 

[IzzyB]

BLah.... I realized I hate almost all Nick properties. So not so excited about Spongebob or Dora. But it is so far off, who knows what they do.

 

[TheMackMachine]

@mahnamahna Yes if Universal was in a New Fantasyland situation, they would have a grand opening after their main E-ticket opens. However, I do not expect a lot of big rides in the KidZone redo. I think Spongebob will take over Fievel, either in an overlay of the water play area or in a new twirl 'n' splash ride similar to the one existing internationally (I forget the location of the ride). I think E.T. stays, but it gets a new outdoor queue. After that I expect a new attraction in place of Barney, Curious George, possible where the Woody Woodpecker coaster is, and the Krusty Krab. That will make some serious dough for Universal.

As for the IP, my dream is the Looney Tunes, but it might be current just to have some familiarity with the kids. We'll find out from someone here when this redo begins demo, whenever that happens.

 

[mahnamahna]

@mahnamahna Yes if Universal was in a New Fantasyland situation, they would have a grand opening after their main E-ticket opens. However, I do not expect a lot of big rides in the KidZone redo. I think Spongebob will take over Fievel, either in an overlay of the water play area or in a new twirl 'n' splash ride similar to the one existing internationally (I forget the location of the ride). I think E.T. stays, but it gets a new outdoor queue. After that I expect a new attraction in place of Barney, Curious George, possible where the Woody Woodpecker coaster is, and the Krusty Krab. That will make some serious dough for Universal.

As for the IP, my dream is the Looney Tunes, but it might be current just to have some familiarity with the kids. We'll find out from someone here when this redo begins demo, whenever that happens.

I agree with a lot of that - Cars Land had 3 new, Potter had 3 new so I would guess this expansion will have 3 brand new rides/attractions while the rest are repurposed and rethemed. I would think Summer 2016 is a good target date - maybe Seuss could open their expansion at the same time, making that summer all about family-friendly adventures?

I definitely think a flat ride or two is in order because they just help fill up space, give the area kinetic energy it so desperately needs! We can all agree a brand new non-ET replacement dark ride will come in, and that Woody Woodpecker will probably get some expanding since the ride is just a bland Roller Skater - at least Hippogriff has some great theming and an AA. Barney/Animal Actors will probably go for Dora since those are kinda the toddler/preschool favorites, while SpongeBob is definitely taking over Fievel and KidZone Pizza - Curious George is a wild card but I could see Scooby-Doo setting up shop somewhere along with the Looney Tunes. Maybe My Little Pony? Everyone keeps rumoring that

 

[Nick]

I agree with a lot of that - Cars Land had 3 new, Potter had 3 new so I would guess this expansion will have 3 brand new rides/attractions while the rest are repurposed and rethemed. I would think Summer 2016 is a good target date - maybe Seuss could open their expansion at the same time, making that summer all about family-friendly adventures?

I definitely think a flat ride or two is in order because they just help fill up space, give the area kinetic energy it so desperately needs! We can all agree a brand new non-ET replacement dark ride will come in, and that Woody Woodpecker will probably get some expanding since the ride is just a bland Roller Skater - at least Hippogriff has some great theming and an AA. Barney/Animal Actors will probably go for Dora since those are kinda the toddler/preschool favorites, while SpongeBob is definitely taking over Fievel and KidZone Pizza - Curious George is a wild card but I could see Scooby-Doo setting up shop somewhere along with the Looney Tunes. Maybe My Little Pony? Everyone keeps rumoring that

WWoHP only had two new attractions - FJ and Olivanders, and Olivanders is more of an experience than anything. Both Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge were Repurposed. They also reused existing facilities in Three Broom Sticks.

 

[KreativeKid]

If I were Universal, here is how I would redo the KidZone.

A Day in the Park with Barney= same
Animal Actors on Location= same
Curious George Goes to Town= same
E.T. Adventure= Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase
Fievel's Playland= Smurf Village
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster= Madagascar Crate Coaster

 

[JungleSkip]

If I were Universal, here is how I would redo the KidZone.

A Day in the Park with Barney= same
Animal Actors on Location= same
Curious George Goes to Town= same
E.T. Adventure= Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase
Fievel's Playland= Smurf Village
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster= Madagascar Crate Coaster

Busch has the Sesame Street rights in the US.

Also, while SSC is cute, ET is a superior attraction.

 

[hildyp0824]

I must admit that I haven't been in this area of the park for a long time. I only get as far as ET. It would be great for US to revamp the area to attract more people (even those of us without kids).

 

[JungleSkip]

I must admit that I haven't been in this area of the park for a long time. I only get as far as ET. It would be great for US to revamp the area to attract more people (even those of us without kids).

The only time I ever go further into the land than ET is during HHN. It always seems so sad and forgotten.

 

[Nick]

I will say, as sad as most of it is, Curious George's war zone is still kinda fun from time to time...

 

[jtsalien]

The only time I ever go further into the land than ET is during HHN. It always seems so sad and forgotten.

It hits me from time to time, and my mind boggles at the fact that Fievel is still standing.