Transformers: The Ride - Summer 2013

[cbconglom]

From Jason Garcia ( @Jason_Garcia ) :

Amid Transformers rumors, Universal Orlando says it will remove "a portion" of former Hercules/Xena building as "we are preparing Universal Studios Florida for future growth."

Also, Universal says Donkey meet-and-greet will close and "eventually" be relocated. Monster's Cafe restaurant will remain open.

Well they did only demo part of the building in Hollywood. And we've heard many times about construction permits being cheaper when it's a "remodel" instead of new freestanding construction. So maybe they are only demoing part of the building

 

[King_K.]

Does anyone know how high the water table is in Hollywood, cause if we are getting Transformers I don't think they can dig as deep as they did with their construction. If we are getting it here, then expect a much taller ride building.

This shot from Westcoaster really shows how deep they went. (Ground level is right above the brown layer)

 

[Teebin]

Well they did only demo part of the building in Hollywood. And we've heard many times about construction permits being cheaper when it's a "remodel" instead of new freestanding construction. So maybe they are only demoing part of the building

Weeeeeeeell, actually, they were four separate sound stages. They ripped down the two small ones next to mummy and left the two larger in the rear. While I do not know for a fact, I believe those two are still sound stages and the newly built building is self contained... all is within.

Keeping a portion of the building is a way to save money on permits. It's cheaper to repurpose an existing structure instead of building something new. They'll likely leave a wall or something. Universal did this previously with Three Broomsticks and the Hogsmeade bathrooms. Disney did this with Mermaid in FLE.

Why don't states crack down on these stupid laws? They left a smidgeon of the submarine wall buried underground just to pull that for mermaid. Silly. Should be 'more than 30-40%' or new construction.

 

[King_K.]

Weeeeeeeell, actually, they were four separate sound stages. They ripped down the two small ones next to mummy and left the two larger in the rear. While I do not know for a fact, I believe those two are still sound stages and the newly built building is self contained... all is within.

You're correct, they ripped apart Backdraft and Special Effects Stage for Transformers. Leaving the other two structures behind it alone. You can see them to the right in the picture I previously posted.

 

[cbconglom]

Hmm well then I give up. Wonder why he said part of the building..

 

[Teebin]

Hmm well then I give up. Wonder why he said part of the building..

Because you see the existing walls in the picture KingK posted... those are probably from the 40's or 50's. All it is, is a bunch of legal trickery... it is the engineers job to 'kind of' work around it... and if the wall gets torn out, 'by mistake'... then oops!

 

[cbconglom]

Because you see the existing walls in the picture KingK posted... those are probably from the 40's or 50's. All it is, is a bunch of legal trickery... it is the engineers job to 'kind of' work around it... and if the wall gets torn out, 'by mistake'... then oops!

Thanks!! My mom has done commercial construction for twenty years, I should know this stuff.. But I don't

 

[Andy]

Pretty interesting to go back and read sections of this thread. Everyone leans one way in the first 10 pages or so, then a few curveballs and it starts getting good. Then it dies and then all of a sudden boom another ten pages

 

[ReelJustice]

Pretty interesting to go back and read sections of this thread. Everyone leans one way in the first 10 pages or so, then a few curveballs and it starts getting good. Then it dies and then all of a sudden boom another ten pages

You really want a laugh? Go back and read portions of the WWoHP Phase 2 thread. Good lord.

 

[Andy]

Oh I did that long ago to silence a few haters

 

[JungleSkip]

Glad to see someone jumped in to bring up the "keep a wall some how equals renovation" bandwagon.

As ParkRumors posted on another site, the permit is clearly for the vast majority of the building, if not the entirety. The fee for a demo permit is based on square footage. The total permit costs 116.50. The fee for the first 1,000 sqft is $50, and every 1,000 after that is $3.50.

116.50 - 50 = 66.50

66.50/3.50 = 19 = 19,000 sqft

1,000 + 19,000 = 20,000 sqft, which is the area of SS44.

And if Shrek and Donkey is being demolished as well, the only thing that's going to be standing is a wall at the most.

 

[Andy]

Was anyone at the parks this evening??? Were they moving equipment in??? Were work lights being set up??? I NEED ANSWERS!!

 

[JungleSkip]

Was anyone at the parks this evening??? Were they moving equipment in??? Were work lights being set up??? I NEED ANSWERS!!

I think we'll find out tomorrow if it's gone or not.

 

[ReelJustice]

Was anyone at the parks this evening??? Were they moving equipment in??? Were work lights being set up??? I NEED ANSWERS!!

If this were WDW, there would be 50 bloggers there waiting.

 

[Thor]

Question, people have stated the square feet of the SS44 area as 30,000 square feet. Is there anywhere that shows that stat?

 

[King_K.]

Question, people have stated the square feet of the SS44 area as 30,000 square feet. Is there anywhere that shows that stat?

Yes, on ParkRumors you can see the image and the sq ft. measured by the tool available on the Orange County Property Appraiser’s website.

 

[Thor]

Thanks King K. I'll go check that out. Appreciated!

 

[Teebin]

If this were WDW, there would be 50 bloggers there waiting.

If it was WDW, there would also be 50 imagineers there arguing on how the building should be pulled down. Meanwhile, Joe Rhode would be scratching hieroglyphs on the pavement in chalk. The contractors would stand around all day and nothing would get accomplished.

 

[Swiminn6]

This is so exciting! I love deconstruction/construction stuff and I can't believe I have been missing out on this!

BTW, I think people were coming up with the 30,000 sq. feet with the added sidewalk space?

Would this thing really be demolished tonight?

 

[Andy]

If it was WDW, there would also be 50 imagineers there arguing on how the building should be pulled down. Meanwhile, Joe Rhode would be scratching hieroglyphs on the pavement in chalk. The contractors would stand around all day and nothing would get accomplished.

Ok, that was funny.

- - - Updated - - -

This is so exciting! I love deconstruction/construction stuff and I can't believe I have been missing out on this!

BTW, I think people were coming up with the 30,000 sq. feet with the added sidewalk space?

Would this thing really be demolished tonight?

Yes the 30k includes the sidewalk space and as far as the demo well we will see in about 12 hours.