Universal’s 5th Park rumor

[Legacy]

I read on TvTropes somewhere that AFAIK apparently Universal planned to build that said 3rd park somewhere in the mid-2000s, but because of budget problems they had to shelve it, and it had “disastrous consequences”, is there any source for that?

The budget issues resulted in them selling all of the land that was supposed to be the third park. Basically, everything was initially much closer, as the resort would have straddled Turkey Lake Road. It also included an 18-hole golf course on-property where Dr. Phillips is, as Universal planned to donate land on the corner of Turkey Lake and Sand Lake roads, while also paying to build the new Dr. Phillips High School.

The Dr. Phillips conversations were reported in Orlando Sentinel at the time, and the total property plans were shown in a model in the IoA Preview Center.

 

[RFRees]

Those were all issues before Epic was ever built- so the argument could have been made before epic. So you you rather have had the epic lands fill those spots in USF/IOA vs being their new park in Epic?

Funny because that's exactly what would have happened:

• MoM rumored to have replaced FFL
• SNW rumored to have replaced KidZone
• Berk rumored to have replaced LC

Monsters and Celestial were the only two which wouldn't have gotten built at all. Though even Monsters may have been based on an old idea from Creative to build a Van Helsing Kuka attraction in LC expansion space, before the Potter deal got signed.

 

[Legacy]

Funny because that's exactly what would have happened:

• MoM rumored to have replaced FFL
• SNW rumored to have replaced KidZone
• Berk rumored to have replaced LC

Monsters and Celestial were the only two which wouldn't have gotten built at all. Though even Monsters may have been based on an old idea from Creative to build a Van Helsing Kuka attraction in LC expansion space, before the Potter deal got signed.

I remember hearing, during the pandemic when the certainty of Epic was less certain, a plan that put Monsters Unchained where MIB is…

 

[RFRees]

I remember hearing, during the pandemic when the certainty of Epic was less certain, a plan that put Monsters Unchained where MIB is…

I wouldn't mind a Kuka ride coming to USF, but very glad Monsters got a whole land world.

 

[Frankenstein79]

I think to beat Disney you have to beat them at their own game. Magic Kingdom seems to be the 1 park that has kept them consistently ahead. Lately though Disney has seemed to open the door with their ill advised destruction of Frontierland.

If Universal could do a castle park like MK, but “Plus it” and do it even better… then they could win the war. Afterall families have been what has kept Disney ahead of Universal. They’ve already got the thrill junkies and horror fans. It’s time to move onto the next phase… the families.

 

[Jake S]

I think to beat Disney you have to beat them at their own game.

Okay, but Universal isn't going to do that. It's shown no interest in trying to steal away the Families With Very Young Kids demographic. If Disney loses its grip on this demographic, it will be due to price ... and uh, Universal isn't exactly cheap! These people will simply stop going to theme parks and do something else with their money.

 

[GAcoaster]

They may never beat Disney, but they will continue to errode their monopoly on the young kid demographics. Watching the Wicked premier, they could make huge inroads with the younger set...

 

[pumpkinbot343]

Okay, but Universal isn't going to do that. It's shown no interest in trying to steal away the Families With Very Young Kids demographic. If Disney loses its grip on this demographic, it will be due to price ... and uh, Universal isn't exactly cheap! These people will simply stop going to theme parks and do something else with their money.

I said this on another thread, I think the “main” Universal parks (USF, IOA, Epic, etc.) make it a point NOT to focus on the really young demographic, and that I think I read somewhere that the new Texas park was sort of a “test” to get those younger people ready for the “main” parks when they grow up.

So basically Universal is “usually” for the teens/grown-ups exclusively.

 

[RFRees]

Until the IP is on equal (or better) footing, I don't ever see Universal "beating" Disney at their own game.

Disney (and their parks) is recognized as the more family friendly/younger audience brand, and have a mountain of IP they can leverage in the parks to continue to bring in the families.

A lot of the work has to come from Comcast Universal's film and TV end, both in developing new IP and leveraging / promoting existing IP. (Of course, mergers/acquisitions is another angle of getting this IP.) Not even SpongeBob (which is third party) or Minions or whatever yellow or green monstrosity can compete against IP like Cars, Frozen, and Moana. Though I'll say, Pokemon is going to be interesting when that comes.

 

[Frankenstein79]

Okay, but Universal isn't going to do that. It's shown no interest in trying to steal away the Families With Very Young Kids demographic.

That strategy doesn't make any sense though. They should want everyone's money.

Universal has already done it to a lesser degree with Seuss' Landing, Minions Land and Dreamworks Land.

 

[RFRees]

That strategy doesn't make any sense though. They should want everyone's money.

Universal has already done it to a lesser degree with Seuss' Landing, Minions Land and Dreamworks Land.

There's a reason not every restaurant offers burgers and pizza.

 

[Frankenstein79]

There's a reason not every restaurant offers burgers and pizza.

But if you're in a theme park though you want more options. Even in a group of teenage friends everyone doesn't want to ride a rollercoaster or a shaky screen ride.

This is why Jaws, King Kong and E.T. were and are so popular at Universal.

 

[Jake S]

That strategy doesn't make any sense though. They should want everyone's money.

It makes perfect sense. There's an opportunity cost for every dollar you spend. Why throw gobs of money trying to refashion yourself into a destination for families with kids under 8 when you could much more effectively solidify yourself as the destination of choice for everyone else?

I'm not saying Universal doesn't appeal to families, it very clearly does. I am saying its appeal is limited if you're a family with kids who are too short to go on anything with a height requirement.

 

[Brian G.]

Universal is clearly comfortable with its demographic. They may make adjustments and tweaks, but they are where they are because that's where they want to be.

 

[Frankenstein79]

Enchanted Kingdom


I think they should call it something similar to MK, since the weenie of the park would be Fiona’s Castle. Thus playing on the whole Princess motif. It would be vastly different than any other Universal park in the world. Because it would be more like a Disney castle park layout-wise, with the wagon wheel styled pathways.


But I’d go a different route than Magic, when it comes to the Main Street area though. I think it would be best to theme it to Shrek as well like Dreamland. With fairytale characters throughout like The Ugly Stepsisters (Doris and Mabel).




The Right Side

Ice Cream Queen, Sweetsville, Farbucks Coffee and The Poison Apple (TS)



The Left Side


Hungry Like the Wolf, Castle Depot and The Three Little Pigs (dark ride)

 

[AB2020]

Those were all issues before Epic was ever built- so the argument could have been made before epic. So you you rather have had the epic lands fill those spots in USF/IOA vs being their new park in Epic? I'd absolutely rather have Epic. The same, in hindsight, could easily be argued if a 4th dry park were to be added.

That said- loved the layout- I would argue whatever goes in the top left of the new park would need to tie into the expansion at Epic so they can sell park hoppers easier. Ideally LotR in both.

Well that’s not entirely true. Lost Continent still had a ride, Springfield and F&F are still operating.

Also it was never a "this or that" decision. Yes, I love those lands being in Epic, but that also assumes that they will do something with Lost Continent or Springfield. If they stay empty (which they won’t) I’d rather not have Epic but two full parks. So if the decision is to add 4 lands, I’d rather have 2 more in epic and then one each in USF and IOA than building a new park and leaving the old parks relatively empty in some areas.

 

[Palutena]

I feel it’s a product of online discussions that over focus on brand wars of various kinds across hobbies (video games , tech , theme parks , movie box office, etx). But I feel there’s a huge misunderstanding of what it means to compete as business . Heck in some or many cases competition is intentionally synergistic (you want a customer to make a purchasing decision or identity around A or B choice versus choosing to not buy something at all ). But definitely the last thing you want to do in business competition is damage, dilute or muddy your brand identity .

I don’t really see any real benefit (let alone possibility ) of Universal “beating Disney at their own game” . In fact I would go as far as say that Universal’s brand identity from their inception into theme parks have been the fact They Are Not Disney and are not playing their game , but have made their own . This is not to say that they shouldn’t build rides , experiences or whole lands (or even soon theme parks ) that appeal to young children, they clearly are in fact doing so. But it hasn’t and never will be their full focus and I also don’t think this should be a motivation of building a 4th dry park (which isn’t happening anytime soon regardless).

There are definitely instances where a company may over index in a perceived brand identity to the detriment of alienating other demographics . A good example imo is Disney in the 00s and a focus on younger kids and “the princess demographic” that they then rebalanced away from via a decade and a half of acquisitions . It could maybe be argued Universal was veering in a similar direction with things oriented towards tweens to adults . But I don’t really think this is the case after recent additions and the general vibes of some of their aims going forward .

 

[pumpkinbot343]

Enchanted Kingdom


I think they should call it something similar to MK, since the weenie of the park would be Fiona’s Castle. Thus playing on the whole Princess motif. It would be vastly different than any other Universal park in the world. Because it would be more like a Disney castle park layout-wise, with the wagon wheel styled pathways.


But I’d go a different route than Magic, when it comes to the Main Street area though. I think it would be best to theme it to Shrek as well like Dreamland. With fairytale characters throughout like The Ugly Stepsisters (Doris and Mabel).




The Right Side

Ice Cream Queen, Sweetsville, Farbucks Coffee and The Poison Apple (TS)



The Left Side


Hungry Like the Wolf, Castle Depot and The Three Little Pigs (dark ride)

If you’re going to expand on this, I recommend posting it on this thread.