Universal Studios Florida: What Do We Think About It?

[belloq87]

Sounds like the heavy rumors are now pointing towards Pokemon not going into this park, but IOA. Beyond the HRRR replacement, the only other existing rumor for this park (an old one, but from a credible source) relates to a Supercharged overlay.

Unless there are still other cards being held very close to the vest (I hope there are), the foreseeable future at this park doesn't sound too inspiring for those of us hoping for big improvements to the park roster.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Sounds like the heavy rumors are now pointing towards Pokemon not going into this park, but IOA. Beyond the HRRR replacement, the only other existing rumor for that park (an old one, but from a credible source) relates to a Supercharged overlay.

Unless there are still other cards being held very close to the vest (I hope there are), the foreseeable future at this park doesn't sound too inspiring for those of us hoping for big improvements to the park roster.

UOR definitely knows there's a need to have USF in a better state. I think their choice to move Pokemon over to IOA is that I don't think they're willing to wait until the Simpsons contract expires.

Maybe Wicked finds it way into one of the two large theaters at USF (FFL or Animal Actors)?

I think Rip Ride Rockit replacement, F&F Supercharge retheme, and something Wicked (even if it's just a scaled down stage show or stand alone attraction) could be enough for USF until they can touch Springfield?

 

[belloq87]

I think Rip Ride Rockit replacement, F&F Supercharge retheme, and something Wicked (even if it's just a scaled down stage show or stand alone attraction) could be enough for USF until they can touch Springfield?

In isolation, over a four-ish year span, that doesn't sound so bad, especially if the WICKED thing could be a (non-screen-heavy) standalone ride of some sort.

But when looked at in the context of the last 10+ years at USF, I think the park still needs to net several additional physical/practical attractions as soon as possible, as well as refreshing general place-making in various areas, and a new land seems like the quickest and most efficient way to accomplish that (as would have been the case with Nintendo, as well).

 

[AustinT]

With whatever is happening over in Lost Continent being the next big project, I really hope something big is coming to USF soon. It needs it so badly. My next thought would be that if Springfield isn't going to become Pokemon, maybe it becomes Far Far Away? The new Shrek movies should surely do gangbusters, and a large Far Far Away land there where Simpsons/Animal Actors is would be positioned nicely next to Dreamworks land. Maybe they can even connect them so Dreamworks isn't a dead end? There's a ton of merch/food options they can do if they lean into the spoof branding like the "Farbucks" coffee shop in the movie if they want to keep the same amount of F&B options that Springfield currently offers the park too.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

Sounds like the heavy rumors are now pointing towards Pokemon not going into this park, but IOA. Beyond the HRRR replacement, the only other existing rumor for this park (an old one, but from a credible source) relates to a Supercharged overlay.

Unless there are still other cards being held very close to the vest (I hope there are), the foreseeable future at this park doesn't sound too inspiring for those of us hoping for big improvements to the park roster.

As others have said, I suspect they see events as being enough to carry USF. They're going to have to pick and choose projects going forward.

"The other site" is suggesting that Pokemon being owned by three different companies seems is making the rights a headache, and that Nintendo wants Zelda in Epic. So can we safely say that Wicked is going in LC?

 

[OrlLover]

UC is very busy at the moment and I’m sure there some projects exclusivily being looked at for USF.

I feel they are going into a transition period with Epic now in the mix of getting their cadence/project delivery right.

 

[Mad Dog]

UC is very busy at the moment and I’m sure there some projects exclusivily being looked at for USF.

I feel they are going into a transition period with Epic now in the mix of getting their cadence/project delivery right.

Yep. Providing new attractions for three parks is much harder, budget & creative wise, than doing two parks. WDW found that out with
their four parks. Probably best to not over expect.

 

[TheUniC6]

With whatever is happening over in Lost Continent being the next big project, I really hope something big is coming to USF soon. It needs it so badly. My next thought would be that if Springfield isn't going to become Pokemon, maybe it becomes Far Far Away? The new Shrek movies should surely do gangbusters, and a large Far Far Away land there where Simpsons/Animal Actors is would be positioned nicely next to Dreamworks land. Maybe they can even connect them so Dreamworks isn't a dead end? There's a ton of merch/food options they can do if they lean into the spoof branding like the "Farbucks" coffee shop in the movie if they want to keep the same amount of F&B options that Springfield currently offers the park too.

Shrek has so much potential for theme parks. If Pokemon is slated for IOA now, Shrek might be the next best option for a Simpsons replacement.

 

[Lucky Planet]

With whatever is happening over in Lost Continent being the next big project, I really hope something big is coming to USF soon. It needs it so badly. My next thought would be that if Springfield isn't going to become Pokemon, maybe it becomes Far Far Away? The new Shrek movies should surely do gangbusters, and a large Far Far Away land there where Simpsons/Animal Actors is would be positioned nicely next to Dreamworks land. Maybe they can even connect them so Dreamworks isn't a dead end? There's a ton of merch/food options they can do if they lean into the spoof branding like the "Farbucks" coffee shop in the movie if they want to keep the same amount of F&B options that Springfield currently offers the park too.

Shrek has so much potential for theme parks. If Pokemon is slated for IOA now, Shrek might be the next best option for a Simpsons replacement.

maybe reinvent the Shrek ride video to have the same story but done again to fit the Simpsons building. ( new video but same plot)
add more jokes

 

[belloq87]

As others have said, I suspect they see events as being enough to carry USF. They're going to have to pick and choose projects going forward.

It's certainly possible that's how they view USF internally.

I could not disagree more with that view, though. Epcot kind of languished for years, in terms of attractions, because management allowed it to be propped up by special events, to such an extent that a massive, multi-billion dollar overhaul was eventually implemented (to lesser or greater effect)... and that park still isn't in the greatest of shape.

Letting eight weeks of HHN dictate that USF is just fine as-is*, and doesn't need serious work because HHN brings in the big bucks, is a terrible strategy for the long-term in my view. The park is open for 52 weeks a year; it should be a world-class experience for all 52.

* I'm classifying "as-is" as things that do not fundamentally shift or rebalance the park's attractions offerings.

UC is very busy at the moment and I’m sure there some projects exclusivily being looked at for USF.

I feel they are going into a transition period with Epic now in the mix of getting their cadence/project delivery right.

Which is part of the reason some of us had been identifying an urgency to see USF course-correct for seven or eight years now, to get out in front of all the other investments (Epic, the U.K. park, Horror Unleashed, the Texas park) that are now taking up more of the company's bandwidth.

 

[Mad Dog]

It's certainly possible that's how they view USF internally.

I could not disagree more with that view, though. Epcot kind of languished for years, in terms of attractions, because management allowed it to be propped up by special events, to such an extent that a massive, multi-billion dollar overhaul was eventually implemented (to lesser or greater effect)... and that park still isn't in the greatest of shape.

Letting eight weeks of HHN dictate that USF is just fine as-is*, and doesn't need serious work because HHN brings in the big bucks, is a terrible strategy for the long-term in my view. The park is open for 52 weeks a year; it should be a world-class experience for all 52.

* I'm classifying "as-is" as things that do not fundamentally shift or rebalance the park's attractions offerings.


Which is part of the reason some of us had been identifying an urgency to see USF course-correct for seven or eight years now, to get out in front of all the other investments (Epic, the U.K. park, Horror Unleashed, the Texas park) that are now taking up more of the company's bandwidth.

and....that's the problem, "all the other investments that are now taking up more of the company's bandwidth". The 2012 to 2015
USF and 2010 to 2020 IOA speedy renaissance is history. Hollywood is in the same boat too......
Started with Beijing and then Epic, Tx., Horror stuff, UK, and an underbuilt Epic again.
There will be new stuff, but not as much and not as often.

 

[Tbad556]

I think I'm once again a little confused about what's desired here.

Between HRRR and LC, both IOA and USF have construction walls up for active projects right now. Especially if both are replaced, Supercharged is replaced after that, and Simpsons is presumably targeted after that, what about that screams "languishing" or being tossed aside to be carried by events?

This seems like the exact same pace as before all of the "Universal Destinations" projects, if not faster. Rockit is coming down at a record pace to get things moving for USF even despite HHN happening at the same time.