Transformers: The Ride - Summer 2013

[Felipe]

Uhhhh. No. Not even close. It'd be a miracle to finish anything there by early 2015, let alone 14.

You don't think a project can be done in two to two-and-a-half years? And as far as we know, they could have already been working on this off site and are waiting for demo and the ground to be ready to start transporting stuff. Sure, this is unlikely since we are used to hearing about permits filed and contract bidding and whatnot, but they could have gone back to their same contractors who could be working under strict confidentiality agreements. But ok, I'm speculating and dreaming more than anything... Still, I definitely think they could complete it way before 2015...

 

[JungleSkip]

You don't think a project can be done in two to two-and-a-half years? And as far as we know, they could have already been working on this off site and are waiting for demo and the ground to be ready to start transporting stuff. Sure, this is unlikely since we are used to hearing about permits filed and contract bidding and whatnot, but they could have gone back to their same contractors who could be working under strict confidentiality agreements. But ok, I'm speculating and dreaming more than anything... Still, I definitely think they could complete it way before 2015...

Demolition, and principle construction take a long time. Especially considering the Jaws waterways are pretty big. It'd take a long time to fill it all in.

2015 would be a slight possibility. 2014 would be a miracle, IMO.

 

[emily7793]

WWOHP was announced in May or sometime in the spring of 2007, opened in June 2010 about 3 years later. 2015 is a definite possibility.

 

[Felipe]

Demolition, and principle construction take a long time. Especially considering the Jaws waterways are pretty big. It'd take a long time to fill it all in.

2015 would be a slight possibility. 2014 would be a miracle, IMO.

Construction on WWoHP took about 2.5 years. Sure, they had existing coasters, kitchen for Three Brommsticks, and I think the restrooms too, but they built the whole of Hogsmeade and the whole incredible FJ attraction within that time. Amity also has existing restrooms, and we don't know that they'll be filling in the Jaws waterways. If the rumors for a Gringotts coaster turn out to be true, they could even utilize the different levels in the Jaws ride. They just need to build it up and create a rock texture all around, and voila! You got the Gringotts' caves. I guess it's just a waiting game now...

--- Update ---

WWOHP was announced in May or sometime in the spring of 2007, opened in June 2010 about 3 years later. 2015 is a definite possibility.

Also remember they didn't start construction until after that announcement, it might have even been beginning of 2008 and it actually opened before June, 2010 (but even then it was a date later than the 'late 2009' date originally planned, which probably didn't happen due to construction setbacks)

 

[JungleSkip]

Construction on WWoHP took about 2.5 years. Sure, they had existing coasters, kitchen for Three Brommsticks, and I think the restrooms too, but they built the whole of Hogsmeade and the whole incredible FJ attraction within that time. Amity also has existing restrooms, and we don't know that they'll be filling in the Jaws waterways. If the rumors for a Gringotts coaster turn out to be true, they could even utilize the different levels in the Jaws ride. They just need to build it up and create a rock texture all around, and voila! You got the Gringotts' caves. I guess it's just a waiting game now...

They'll fill in the majority of the waterway. It's too big of a plot not to. This construction will be much more indepth than Hogsmede was.

FJ was built on virgin land. Gringotts won't be.

 

[Felipe]

Yeah, they'll have to fill some of it in, but we'll just have to wait and see how much they do with it. Universal has shown that they're willing to re-purpose as much as they can. Green is Universal! LOL!

I can't wait for these helicopter pics! Disneyhead, if you're up for it again, I might join you this time around!

 

[ReelJustice]

Whatever goes in Jaws could be done by the end of 2013 or early 2014.

2012 will be demolition and site prep. You can only go so fast.

I'm also willing to bet nothing from Amity survives. It will all be dirt before they start.

 

[Vyrus]

Well UO could repurpose the existing bathrooms in front of Jaws and retheme that, one less thing to build

I just wonder where everything would go with this expansion.

 

[ReelJustice]

I just wonder where everything would go with this expansion.

I think the most interesting part is how they plan to make the transition from London to Leaky to Diagon Alley

I imagine that Stuart Craig was very involved in the design.

 

[Felipe]

I think the most interesting part is how they plan to make the transition from London to Leaky to Diagon Alley

I imagine that Stuart Craig was very involved in the design.

I'm wondering the same thing. We are assuming there will be this train connecting the two lands, but the design of Potter 2 would be so much easier to pull off without having the train station. I imagine there will be a facade of buildings with an entrance to a Leaky Cauldron restau-bar and then a street or alley going around it so people my skip going through Leaky. Once you're around back there'd be the brick wall entrance to Diagon Alley.

I am also intrigued to know if this will have an entrance and an exit, or if it will have a single way in and come to a dead end, because I don't know where the exit would be...

--- Update ---

I just noticed we've gotten off topic... I don't know if staff can move some of these posts to the WW Phase II thread or not. Either way, this is supposed to be SS 44 discussion

 

[wdwbiged]

the America Express VIP in between 44 and Monsters Cafe, but that could be moved anywhere.. then there's the issue of meeting Shrek and Donkey which I guess could be moved.. but how to safely demo the building with the Shrek exit so close...

also as to the dates of things being built anything can be built super fast if you have the money

 

[Vyrus]

When it comes to doing the Demo, thats what after hours are for...they can do the interiors during the day no problem, but when it comes to the major tear down of the walls, they could tear down one night a week a section, and have the whole thing in rubble in a week. Then another week to haul away at dark, and they are good to go.

 

[ff470]

The second Potter attraction has been in the making for some time, secretly of course. My bet is while they were building WWOHP, this attraction was already on the drawing board. SS44can be safely demo'd by using heavy tarp-like materials and vacuum/ventilation fans to take care of the particles in the air. Take the old Hard rock restaurant for instance. It was so heavily covered in mold that they demo'd 99% of it at night. I remember smelling it while working in the area one night. There were some reports of construction workers getting bloody noses from it. But it was done at night to keep guests safe. If you look at the space that Monsters and SS44 occupies, it actually is quite large. I bet if you build it UP and out to cover the space, it would fit a decent attraction in it. As far as one project being completed before the other, I would imagine they are going to end up having multiple projects happening at some point. I believe that USF is going to take a new approach and unfortunately, I would not be surprised if ALL the original attractions are gone within 10 years

The big reason JAWS/Amity is going bye bye before anything else, is the water permits. Jaws is the single, most expensive attraction Universal operates today. Even though this is in Universals Property, they have to have permits to operate any ride that has waterways. Jaws has deisel deposits and oil, etc that gets in there. Universal is required to carry permits in case the waterway is required to be drained in case of maintenance or emergency reasons. There are other reasons relating to the water as well, I am not expert tho, just what I heard from one of the heads of maintenance.

All in all, its sad to see everything that made USF what it is today is almost gone. But I guess all good things come to an end.

 

[kingeric]

Got some photos of SS44 and I watched a team member come out and then back in, and what I saw was some gym equipment in there.

 

[jh32488]

maybe its a breakroom sort of thing for team members now. kind of bums me out.

 

[JungleSkip]

According to a poster at WDWMagic, Soundstage 44's cast breakroom area has been cleared out and has been for over a month. Dunno if it means anything, but figured I'd report on it.

 

[Teebin]

Could someone refresh as to what SS 44 was ever used for? It has not been the permanent location of anything that I recall since 2004. Maybe a bit of history?

 

[JungleSkip]

Could someone refresh as to what SS 44 was ever used for? It has not been the permanent location of anything that I recall since 2004. Maybe a bit of history?

Murder She Wrote and the Xena/Hercules shows.

 

[Gambit]

And Horror Night Nightmares in 2004.

 

[Teebin]

^ Aaaah... thanks both of you. Then it has been out of commission for a very very long time.