Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[zg44]

I'd honestly be stunned if there's no shopping area/walking area, i.e. CityWalk 2.0. It's the most obvious way to connect various properties and bring in outside guests.

So although it's conjecture at this point, it feels like it'd be a huge mistake to not build it given convention goers nearby and as a way of getting guests to spend more time on the resort when not at the parks, i.e. night hours as @JungleSkip mentioned.

 

[JungleSkip]

Have we discussed “Project 304” before?
First Permits for New Universal Park Filed – Project 304? – ParkRumors.com

 

[Brian G.]

I like the name Site B but I also like Universal South.

Didn't Universal mention plans for building a new park during their court hearings to acquire the new land?

"We choose Site B!"

- Inside Universal

 

[Magic-Man]

Have we discussed “Project 304” before?
First Permits for New Universal Park Filed – Project 304? – ParkRumors.com

Yes, but I think those permits are new.

 

[JungleSkip]

"We choose Site B!"

- Inside Universal

I mean I'll never call it anything other than Site B

 

[Brian G.]

Posting our official article on the news.

Comcast confirms plans for new theme park for Universal Orlando | Inside Universal

 

[Scott W.]

 

[Teebin]

I don’t think your statement “With 570 acres, Site B is several times larger than their current Resort property” is accurate. The current resort is around 680 acres.

 

[JungleSkip]

So after some searching, the following position was filled and started in May. I'd say it's likely that Project 304 is the park for Site B.

Assistant Director, Engineering and Safety, Project 304, Universal Creative

 

[Alicia]

So after some searching, the following position was filled and started in May. I'd say it's likely that Project 304 is the park for Site B.

Assistant Director, Engineering and Safety, Project 304, Universal Creative

Having fun digging into all the PDFs right now myself...

So far, the only structures permitted are office trailers, that I can find. But the land area is quite large for sure.





Photos below from ParkRumors:

 

[jtsalien]

Speculation, but I'd be really surprise if a City Walk-type area is not in the plans. I don't see them building multiple resorts and parks without a nighttime entertainment/dining area. Not to mention the fact that they'll be trying to compete for convention goer $$$ with the surrounding offerings.

I'd also say a Water Park is likely, but a bigger question mark. Volcano Bay flat out can't handle more guests, so you don't want guests staying at the South Property traveling up that way, and you also don't want them going off property to Aquatica.

This is pretty spot on. The other big question to me is transportation. Something has to be done... I don't know if it's anything major like a light rail or gondola. But at the very least, the current transport hub at Citeywalk 1 can't handle the flow of crowds a true 3rd part is gonna bring.

Have we discussed “Project 304” before?
First Permits for New Universal Park Filed – Project 304? – ParkRumors.com

Yes.

 

[JungleSkip]

This is pretty spot on. The other big question to me is transportation. Something has to be done... I don't know if it's anything major like a light rail or gondola. But at the very least, the current transport hub at Citeywalk 1 can't handle the flow of crowds a true 3rd part is gonna bring.

I've been hearing about a transport hub reconfiguration for like 3 years now. I'm honestly going to be shocked if it's not done before Endless Summer opens, because otherwise they are not prepared for all the additional people being bused in

 

[Brian G.]

I don’t think your statement “With 570 acres, Site B is several times larger than their current Resort property” is accurate. The current resort is around 680 acres.

Don't know where my head was that when I typed that. Corrected.

 

[Jushin Thunder Liger]

Doing some simple math, I got that 31.328347384% of the 4th Park will be Nintendo

 

[Magic-Man]

 

[ParkRumors]

Yeah, those permits for the office trailers on the "Project 304 Site" are the first public mention of the project number for what I assume to be the new resort.

I don't want to get anyone in trouble by naming specific names, but a few people already have "Project 304" listed on their resumes/websites, and it's very easy to find them with a quick Google search. For example, the job title JungleSkip posted comes from someone's LinkedIn profile. Additionally, there's another person who has done work for tons of other themed entertainment projects that lists "Universal - Project 304" on their clients page under Roto which is a huge Design/Build firm, so they're definitely involved with the new resort as well.

There's also a couple of other permits that have been filed with Orange County for the mass grading of the new land. The first one (18-MGF-0032) was for the grading of the 100 or so acres for the warehouse space and new offices. The second one (18-MGF-0033) is for the mass grading of around 425 acres. The second permit is definitely for the "Project 304 Site", as it contains the land where the trailer complex is being built. I've included a shot of the permit as well as the parcels it applies to below:

So yeah, they've definitely already got the gears in motion for the new resort.

 

[Scott W.]

Yeah, those permits for the office trailers on the "Project 304 Site" are the first public mention of the project number for what I assume to be the new resort.

I don't want to get anyone in trouble by naming specific names, but a few people already have "Project 304" listed on their resumes/websites, and it's very easy to find them with a quick Google search. For example, the job title JungleSkip posted comes from someone's LinkedIn profile. Additionally, there's another person who has done work for tons of other themed entertainment projects that lists "Universal - Project 304" on their clients page under Roto which is a huge Design/Build firm, so they're definitely involved with the new resort as well.

There's also a couple of other permits that have been filed with Orange County for the mass grading of the new land. The first one (18-MGF-0032) was for the grading of the 100 or so acres for the warehouse space and new offices. The second one (18-MGF-0033) is for the mass grading of around 425 acres. The second permit is definitely for the "Project 304 Site", as it contains the land where the trailer complex is being built. I've included a shot of the permit as well as the parcels it applies to below:

So yeah, they've definitely already got the gears in motion for the new resort.

That Roto company have some interesting work:

 

[ReelJustice]

That Roto company have some interesting work:

I saw that in The Last Jedi

 

[Magic-Man]

That Roto company have some interesting work:

I'm gonna have to block you for that.

 

[Alicia]

Not that these descriptions ever really matter, but I do find it intriguing that the Fantastic Worlds and Epic Universe have different intended uses according to the trademark filings...

Fantastic Worlds

Entertainment services in the nature of amusement park and theme park services; entertainment services in the nature of an amusement park ride; entertainment in the nature of amusement park attractions, namely, a themed area​

Epic Universe

Amusement park attraction and theme park services; live stage performances, namely, presentation of live show performances; providing waterpark services; providing recreational areas for entertainment and amusement, namely, interactive play areas​

Again, usually these descriptions are kinda just catchalls, but it's interesting that they're different in this case.