Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[Teebin]

I was looking at the map and saw this skanky mall thingy wasting space... I had no idea what it was until a little more research; Artegon. Then I found this article which gave me hope:

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/orland...-floundering-festival-bay/Content?oid=2242203

Once this fails, it would be ripe for park development.

 

[Frank Drackman]

I'm sure this is crazy and I have no clue what it cost to build (or maybe move) a massive parking garage, but at what that shopping center sold for land seems real costly....could Comcast be crazy enough to build a parking garage at the Wet-nWild parking lot, move City Walk to Wet-n-Wild's current plot and then have a third gate in front of the current two?

I imagine they could still have you enter City Walk from the garage and somehow build a short street car rail as transport from City Walk to the parks...it would take a long time and a lot of $$ so I am sure it is a crazy idea...i don't know, but yeah, I once stayed at the Orlando Hilton and there seemed to be a lot of empty land by the convention center, otherwise, there seemed to be a lot of areas off Kirkman (but I think that stared to approach Fun Spot) towards the Hampton Inn that should be redeveloped verse what appeared to be a lot of vacant buildings and vacant land.

But I am sure they have something up their sleeve based on when they mentioned building some ungodly number of hotel rooms.

 

[Mad Dog]

I would think that the present Citi Walk is too convenient to the present on site hotels & parks and too prosperous to move. But, that of course, doesn't rule out a new additional entertainment venue that could be on the W&W tract.

 

[sjago13]

If uni was only able to build one new park somewhere I would want amother themed park, but if they would build more it would cool if they build a cedar point type park with just coasters. and whatnot.

 

[blue180]

While very crazy/not likely, how cool would it be to have a long, skinny hotel in between the parks? A upscale, premium hotel that has access to the parks. Overlooks both parks....can either choose a studios view or islands view

doubt it would happen, but fun to think about.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

While very crazy/not likely, how cool would it be to have a long, skinny hotel in between the parks? A upscale, premium hotel that has access to the parks. Overlooks both parks....can either choose a studios view or islands view

doubt it would happen, but fun to think about.

Never going to happen, the soundstages are too valuable to demolish.

 

[Teebin]

Well, I am nothing else if not pragmatic... DH slaps us with FDOT plans and Skuby nails us with ownership facts... so I go looking for other options. (it is going to be a real hoot if Comcast/Uni has no intention of ever building a third gate.)

So working with the FDOT plans and the grand national extension, I came up with this:

 

[UniversalCityFL]

While very crazy/not likely, how cool would it be to have a long, skinny hotel in between the parks? A upscale, premium hotel that has access to the parks. Overlooks both parks....can either choose a studios view or islands view

doubt it would happen, but fun to think about.

I think that's an awesome idea, regardless of its likelihood. That's prime location too, you'd have both parks at your doorstep!

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Never going to happen, the soundstages are too valuable to demolish.

Why do you say this? The stages sit empty the majority of the year, save for a small cable production here and there. The revenue from a hotel would far surpass the stage rentals IMHO.

 

[darkridelover]

The Festival Bay Mall is prime real estate right new Universal. It is very much just an empty building with no hope of recovering. That being said a few years ago I company tried to build a theme park(Orlando Thrill Park) in the plot just south of the mall but the adjacent community stepped in and voted it down because of noise.

Well, I am nothing else if not pragmatic... DH slaps us with FDOT plans and Skuby nails us with ownership facts... so I go looking for other options. (it is going to be a real hoot if Comcast/Uni has no intention of ever building a third gate.)

So working with the FDOT plans and the grand national extension, I came up with this:

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

I think that's an awesome idea, regardless of its likelihood. That's prime location too, you'd have both parks at your doorstep!

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Why do you say this? The stages sit empty the majority of the year, save for a small cable production here and there. The revenue from a hotel would far surpass the stage rentals IMHO.

Uh, they're used every September and October for a little event called Halloween Horror Nights.

 

[Teebin]

The Festival Bay Mall is prime real estate right new Universal. It is very much just an empty building with no hope of recovering. That being said a few years ago I company tried to build a theme park(Orlando Thrill Park) in the plot just south of the mall but the adjacent community stepped in and voted it down because of noise.

Right... that was primarily a coaster park as I recall. If that buffer forest was left in place, I believe a Universal style park would work just fine.

 

[Skubersky]

Well, I am nothing else if not pragmatic... DH slaps us with FDOT plans and Skuby nails us with ownership facts... so I go looking for other options. (it is going to be a real hoot if Comcast/Uni has no intention of ever building a third gate.)

So working with the FDOT plans and the grand national extension, I came up with this:

Interesting, but I don't think Fun Spot is going away anytime soon...

 

[Teebin]

Interesting, but I don't think Fun Spot is going away anytime soon...

Oh, did I include their property? I thought I lined around it, or has something since been built on the vacant land in the image I used.

 

[King_K.]

The revenue from a hotel would far surpass the stage rentals IMHO.

No, it wouldn't.

 

[Dancapt]

Probably a lot of tax reasons for Uni having the sound stages as well.

 

[@gentPerry]

For a size comparison, Disneyland park (much of the backstage areas included) could fit in the festival bay/artegon plot of property

 

[UniversalCityFL]

No, it wouldn't.

When countering someone's opinion (and please do, thats what we are here for), I think it inspires better discussion when you state your reasoning as opposed to a blunt 'No" with no thoughts attached to it. Not trying to be a dick by mentioning this, I'm just trying to help this be a more conversational environment for everyone.

I can't do much with a "No, it wouldn't".

 

[ChrisFL]

The Festival Bay Mall is prime real estate right new Universal. It is very much just an empty building with no hope of recovering. That being said a few years ago I company tried to build a theme park(Orlando Thrill Park) in the plot just south of the mall but the adjacent community stepped in and voted it down because of noise.

I know Festival Bay just re-opened under a new name...is it already doing badly also?

 

[Teebin]

I know Festival Bay just re-opened under a new name...is it already doing badly also?

It got off to a very bad start with a death on its elevated rig course. That and all surrounding neighborhoods cannot easily get to it because of Florida turnpike; NE, E, SE are just off limits without going out of ones way. Premium Outlets is a diff story as they cater to tourists from International Dr.

 

[maxairmike]

I'm pretty sure that the same group that owns the outlets owns the Artegon/Festival Bay property, at least, that's what I seem to remember when the land transaction happened back in...like 2012 or 2013. I finally have some free time to do this, so I'll pop over to the property appraiser and double check it.

EDIT: I may also learn a few things about future I-Drive area plans at a nice little event on Wednesday, so that may clear up a few questions bouncing around my head as well.