Universal Great Britain

[EllieB]

Ellie babe, im not built for my own British weather, i need back sweat inducing heat when im in theme parks.

What about if the park opens with the Bond Stunt show and then that expansion pad behind is what it expands with

I'd be happy with that. Has there ever been Bond in a theme park before? They might want to test the reaction to it before they commit to more attractions. I think one of the cool things about using Bond for theme parks his how many iconic settings you could pull from; literally any city or fancy setting would make a perfect backdrop for a Bond experience. And I'd love to see interactives where you show spy ID to unlock secret moments (like the wands or power up bands) or even code phrases you can say to team members to get specific reactions, etc.).

 

[Mark_E]

Very excited about this. Especially for the area seemingly themed to Back to the Future. Also looks like it's all but confirmed we get some form of Jurassic World Adventure from Beijing which is such a great ride.

RE Shrek: I think that would be a bad idea. That would mean 3 areas aimed at kids. Also curious if Merlin have an exclusivity deal as they run the Shreks adventure attraction in London. Also, as good as it is, I hope we don't get a rehash of the stunts and effects show from Singapore/Beijing. Something new and exciting on a similar scale though, would be great.

The Beijing initial concept art included a Shrek area, River Adventure, The Mummy, and an additional outdoor coaster. The updated final concept art was amazingly accurate and specific, so I think the next version will confirm for sure what we are getting.

 

[Altonsky]

Do we think the government may have negotiated a two park deal when discussing this with universal similar to Beijing? Or is that something they won’t have done.

 

[tommyhawkins]

Do we think the government may have negotiated a two park deal when discussing this with universal similar to Beijing? Or is that something they won’t have done.

I think it's worth remembering that Beijing was a Joint Venture Partnership and that was not ...fun for Universal

This was about government subsidies, just like it is when governments want to attract movie/TV companies to film in their country.

The only caveat to that is, if they go down the NSIP planning route they have more options for compulsory purchase so they may earmark land now for a Phase 2/3/4. That way you don't have the problems that places like Heathrow have where they need to grow but surrounded by housing and infrastructure

 

[Altonsky]

I think it's worth remembering that Beijing was a Joint Venture Partnership and that was not ...fun for Universal

This was about government subsidies, just like it is when governments want to attract movie/TV companies to film in their country.

The only caveat to that is, if they go down the NSIP planning route they have more options for compulsory purchase so they may earmark land now for a Phase 2/3/4. That way you don't have the problems that places like Heathrow have where they need to grow but surrounded by housing and infrastructure

Ahh yeah that makes sense.

I assume if they do what you’ve said and potentially purchase more land that’s something we’d hear about at some point. Better to have it and not use it than need it but be blocked in.

 

[rob@rar]

Do we think the government may have negotiated a two park deal when discussing this with universal similar to Beijing? Or is that something they won’t have done.

Hope they haven't agreed a 2-park deal with the government. That was a disaster for Disneyland Paris, forcing them to build a sub-par park on a shoestring budget because the magnificently overbuilt first park still wasn't making any money. If/when Universal want to build a second gate it needs to be viable and properly resourced. I can't see it happening, to be honest, certainly not a full scale second gate. I think they will have plenty to attract more business by maximising the quality of what gets built on the expansion pads, moving it from a 1-day park to a 2-day park, and a 3-day park, with accompanying new hotel builds.

 

[tommyhawkins]

Hope they haven't agreed a 2-park deal with the government. That was a disaster for Disneyland Paris, forcing them to build a sub-par park on a shoestring budget because the magnificently overbuilt first park still wasn't making any money. If/when Universal want to build a second gate it needs to be viable and properly resourced. I can't see it happening, to be honest, certainly not a full scale second gate. I think they will have plenty to attract more business by maximising the quality of what gets built on the expansion pads, moving it from a 1-day park to a 2-day park, and a 3-day park, with accompanying new hotel builds.

A disaster of Disney's own design. They did the bare minimum cos they run the company five minutes at a time.


As I've said the Frisco and/or Rutlantica option is a viable, if my estimates are close they will end up with a 100+acre park excluding BOH that's about ten more than Europa which is a 2-3day park , if they farm the kiddie stuff out to a smaller park it has so much potential

 

[Altonsky]

I’d like to see something like what they’re building in vegas at some point.

People here like dark themes, it’d do well

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Has there ever been Bond in a theme park before?

WAS THERE!

 

[rob@rar]

A disaster of Disney's own design. They did the bare minimum cos they run the company five minutes at a time.

Yes, ultimately it was their responsibility. But they had to open a 2nd gate by that time as a consequence of their agreement with the French government. But because EuroDisney was buried under the weight of debt they couldn't raise enough funds to build a fully featured park, so had to limp along with a minuscule budget and open with something which was incredibly poor. I was a shareholder at the time and went to the first public preview of the park before it opened and was staggered that they had built what I though was essentially an unthemed theme park, which even now isn't a good foundation for a proper 2nd gate. It would have been much better all round if EuroDisney had waited another decade or more until the company was on a much stronger financial footing, and then raised enough capital to build a theme park worthy of the name Disney.

That's why I hope Universal haven't entered an agreement with the UK government to build a 2nd gate by a pre-determined date. Universal, and Universal alone, should decide if that makes good business sense.

 

[Chessy]

Took Orlando 9 years to build a second gate. Not sure what the reasoning was, maybe due to space constraints at the studio park? And growing popularity.

I think they’ve left themselves enough room to expand this one before deciding to add a second gate. But it all depends on the viability, could happen within 10-15 years or longer.

 

[JT01]

Looks like a trade mark has been spotted for BTTF guys, I think this confirms what the spike coaster will be!

Trademark

 

[MistaDee]

Minas Tirith is the only Middle-earth "castle" that comes to mind of being somewhat recognisable; it seems like an interesting choice if they do go down the Gondor route (as I don't think they'd have space for Hobbiton/Rivendell too!). Here's hoping BBC is wrong!

Lord of the Rings is such a fascinating IP for theme park adaptation. I think it's safe to say that if they choose to include this IP it will be a major land, if not the park's centerpiece. Universal has gotten very good at developing the medieval/fantasy aesthetic for theme parks - I think Darkmoor clearly builds on UC's learning from Potter.

Minas Tirith is definitely the most iconic, but Helm's Deep is another recognizable castle that might be easier to realize. I'd love to see a land with a Good/Evil dichotomy - which could be Minis Tirith on one side with Mt. Doom + the Eye of Sauron (using forced perspective for scale of course) with an Osgiliath/Black Gate transition between the two.

Less ambitious but with a similar duality concept Helm's Deep with Isengard or even Rivendell with Moria. The shire is also pretty iconic so I wonder if the best mix would be to have Minis Tirith as the main area with Mt. Doom and the Eye of Sauron in the distance as forced perspective, with the attraction visiting Mordor but not as a walk around area. Then you could also have a section for the Shire. I don't know if trying to do Minis Tirith, Mordor and the Shire would be feasible within even a gigantic land on the scale of Berk.

the Argonath, Lonely Mountain, Rivendell, Lothlorian, Fangorn Forest and Edoras are all pretty spectacular locations too. Here's some community made concept art that I found intriguing:



Link to creator Sara Gilman's awesome design work this is for a whole theme park concept, but each of the lands/areas is rendered really nicely here.


Rivendell concept from a planet coaster concept on youtube

 

[DanM]

I’ve seen a lot of news reports say that Universal have an option to purchase extra land to take the total land up to 700 acres. Does anyone know (on a map) which extra land this is? That’s incredibly exciting if true, as it means the park could be developed in the future to be as big as euro Disney.

 

[Altonsky]

I’ve seen a lot of news reports say that Universal have an option to purchase extra land to take the total land up to 700 acres. Does anyone know (on a map) which extra land this is? That’s incredibly exciting if true, as it means the park could be developed in the future to be as big as euro Disney.

It’s the land where they’ll be building the road extensions and all of that jazz I think, just to the left of the main site.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Took Orlando 9 years to build a second gate. Not sure what the reasoning was, maybe due to space constraints at the studio park? And growing popularity.

Several companies purchased Universal during this time with lots of high expectations for the Orlando resort. The original concept was to add attractions that weren't at USF: kids friendly outdoor attractions and immersive worlds. So if I was Universal I'd open the new park then see what folks want to see and are missing, then focus on that for the second park.

 

[tommyhawkins]

I’ve seen a lot of news reports say that Universal have an option to purchase extra land to take the total land up to 700 acres. Does anyone know (on a map) which extra land this is? That’s incredibly exciting if true, as it means the park could be developed in the future to be as big as euro Disney.

I asked who owns this land before, but ive forgotten the answer maybe it came from @bedfordmassive

but no the dog leg for road extension does not make the total 700, id have to check with @Scott W. but the purchase was ~550acres. there is ~150acres next to the dog leg that would be the most logical and you get to the magical 700Acre number you quoted

 

[DanM]

I asked who owns this land before, but ive forgotten the answer maybe it came from @bedfordmassive

but no the dog leg for road extension does not make the total 700, id have to check with @Scott W. but the purchase was ~550acres. there is ~150acres next to the dog leg that would be the most logical and you get to the magical 700Acre number you quoted

Thanks I was thinking that as well. That 150 acres looks like active farmland so I’d expect the owner of the big farm dwelling on the land also owns the surrounding farmland. Perfect for a second gate further down the line!

 

[MangoDance]

Looks like a trade mark has been spotted for BTTF guys, I think this confirms what the spike coaster will be!

Trademark

Honestly this is my one wish dream coaster that I never had any real hope of coming true, so chuffed if its actually happening!

last time I was in Orlando I was telling the kids where the old bttf ride was and saying how sad I was the ride is gone from the park, someone from park security(?) walked up to me, put his hand on my shoulder and said “me too buddy, me too” and walked off again.

Hope he’s as excited as I am about the (potential) attraction!

 

[DanM]

I asked who owns this land before, but ive forgotten the answer maybe it came from @bedfordmassive

but no the dog leg for road extension does not make the total 700, id have to check with @Scott W. but the purchase was ~550acres. there is ~150acres next to the dog leg that would be the most logical and you get to the magical 700Acre number you quoted

I’m not sure why universal brought the land with the giant lake already there. They labelled half of it as a conservation area, with any buildable parts being a long thin sliver next to it that would appear to be unsuitable in shape for another park. Maybe they’re thinking car parking ‍