Universal Studios Florida: What Do We Think About It?

[TheCodeMan95]

So.. let's continue that conversation here!

 

[MAC]

So.. let's continue that conversation here!

Yes. More conversation about the Today Show Cafe. Let's go!

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Yes. More conversation about the Today Show Cafe. Let's go!

Still unreal that they scrapped the Big Apple Cheese

 

[DOOMBOT]

I don't think I can agree with the idea of Pokemon not being Potter big. Pokemon is the single biggest IP in the world... And by a LARGE margin at that. It is going to to have a massive impact on the resort.

Nothing will be Potter big. Not Star Wars, Super Mario, Marvel, Wicked, LotR, or any other IP the template is used for. Potter hit so hard because of the time and place, for the property itself, the state of tourism at the time, and for how much it changed the game for theme parks. No attempt to recapture that hype and frenzy will ever reach it again.

 

[Stitch_101]

Nothing will be Potter big. Not Star Wars, Super Mario, Marvel, Wicked, LotR, or any other IP the template is used for. Potter hit so hard because of the time and place, for the property itself, the state of tourism at the time, and for how much it changed the game for theme parks. No attempt to recapture that hype and frenzy will ever reach it again.

I think you are drastically underestimating the demand for Pokemon and how powerful an IP it is. In terms of overall IP revenue, it has made more than twice the overall revenue as the next highest IP, which is Mickey Mouse. It has made more than triple both Harry Potter and Star Wars. It's a juggernaut. If we were talking about any other IP, I'd likely agree with you. But Pokemon is likely one of the few left to really have the pull for that sort of impact.

 

[Clive]

I think you are drastically underestimating the demand for Pokemon and how powerful an IP it is. In terms of overall IP revenue, it has made more than twice the overall revenue as the next highest IP, which is Mickey Mouse. It has made more than triple both Harry Potter and Star Wars. It's a juggernaut. If we were talking about any other IP, I'd likely agree with you. But Pokemon is likely one of the few left to really have the pull for that sort of impact.

It is a juggernaut and it will have a huge impact if the quality is there, but, the IP is also far more ubiquitous and saturated than Potter was at the time of its debut. Pokemon fans have dozens of outlets to engage with the IP and express their fandom, including in-person experiences like small parks and stores (in the East) and trading card tournaments and the like worldwide. There's already merchandise everywhere.

When Wizarding World opened, very little merchandise was available, and Potter fans had way fewer means to "experience" the world or its characters.

Again, Pokemon Go was a phenomenon, and that's telling. It'll be very, very, very big. But Potter was on a whole other level because of the relative scarcity of the IP.

 

[MAC]

I think you are drastically underestimating the demand for Pokemon and how powerful an IP it is. In terms of overall IP revenue, it has made more than twice the overall revenue as the next highest IP, which is Mickey Mouse. It has made more than triple both Harry Potter and Star Wars. It's a juggernaut. If we were talking about any other IP, I'd likely agree with you. But Pokemon is likely one of the few left to really have the pull for that sort of impact.

I think @DOOMBOT isn’t necessarily talking about the popularity with which Pokemon will have, but the way that HP altered the way everyone thought about these lands, the design that existed before these lands, won’t happen again. We will never see the crowd wrapped around Citywalk to just enter the front gates (that is an image forever stamped in my head having been at those front gates that day). Ops knows what can happen, planners know what can happen, and strategies are in place each time something of that magnitude opens. HP1 was also extremely narrow and challenged with holding large numbers of guests.

When Pokemon comes, it will be large. It will have reservations. All things will be considered in a way that didn’t exist prior to Hogsmeade.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I've mentioned in the past on here - but I would never claim that USF is a better park than IOA.

But for whatever reason, I always feel like we spend way more time in USF vs IOA. I think that has a lot to do with the vibe, the food, and the entertainment.

 

[Mad Dog]

I've mentioned in the past on here - but I would never claim that USF is a better park than IOA.

But for whatever reason, I always feel like we spend way more time in USF vs IOA. I think that has a lot to do with the vibe, the food, and the entertainment.

Exactly the same with us. The entertainment is a big plus, and it's a more relaxing park to just hang out and people watch and/or relax. IOA is the rides supremacy park.

 

[Andysol]

I think you are drastically underestimating the demand for Pokemon and how powerful an IP it is. In terms of overall IP revenue, it has made more than twice the overall revenue as the next highest IP, which is Mickey Mouse. It has made more than triple both Harry Potter and Star Wars. It's a juggernaut. If we were talking about any other IP, I'd likely agree with you. But Pokemon is likely one of the few left to really have the pull for that sort of impact.

There is popular IP; of which Pokémon is bigger than potter, I agree. And there is popular IP as a themed land in a park. And nothing touches potter.
1) wands
2) butterbeer

Other lands have challenged food offerings, merch, shirts, etc. But nothing comes close to wand sales and butterbeer. Nothing.

It’s absolutely insane how much money those two print; and that’s ignoring any other beverage, food, robe, etc.

Pokémon has nothing that can rival it. Nothing does.
LotR, as amazing as it would be could sell… standard theme park stuff.

Pokémon might have a leg up on others if they find a way to have a ball catch them in a marketable way. But it will never sniff potters success because nothing can. Even after it opens butterbeer and wand sales will trounce anything Pokémon can offer two decades later.

I think @DOOMBOT isn’t necessarily talking about the popularity with which Pokemon will have, but the way that HP altered the way everyone thought about these lands, the design that existed before these lands, won’t happen again. We will never see the crowd wrapped around Citywalk to just enter the front gates (that is an image forever stamped in my head having been at those front gates that day). Ops knows what can happen, planners know what can happen, and strategies are in place each time something of that magnitude opens. HP1 was also extremely narrow and challenged with holding large numbers of guests.

When Pokemon comes, it will be large. It will have reservations. All things will be considered in a way that didn’t exist prior to Hogsmeade.

I wasn’t even considering that type of appeal. I agree.

 

[MAC]

There is popular IP; of which Pokémon is bigger than potter, I agree. And there is popular IP as a themed land in a park. And nothing touches potter.
1) wands
2) butterbeer

Other lands have challenged food offerings, merch, shirts, etc. But nothing comes close to wand sales and butterbeer. Nothing.

It’s absolutely insane how much money those two print; and that’s ignoring any other beverage, food, robe, etc.

Pokémon has nothing that can rival it. Nothing does.
LotR, as amazing as it would be could sell… standard theme park stuff.

Pokémon might have a leg up on others if they find a way to have a ball catch them in a marketable way. But it will never sniff potters success because nothing can. Even after it opens butterbeer and wand sales will trounce anything Pokémon can offer two decades later.


I wasn’t even considering that type of appeal. I agree.

Yeah, Rowling's worldbuilding for HP was to the point that when someone said Butterbeer, you knew exactly what they were referring to. You could picture the drink, you could imagine drinking it, all that was left was the taste (and as someone who never gets enough Butterbeer, they hit it on the money and I still wish the once-announced alcoholic version was around). There's food items from HP as well that you could recall.

Wands... man.

Pokemon won't have the F&B aspect (nor does Mario and it shows because there's no appeal for me personally to go eat at Toadstools). Unless the anime has introduced something, I don't think anyone will ever be like 'I need the XYZ drink'. The same couldn't be said for Butterbeer.

Merch... I could see Pokemon being the closest. I'm not sure how they will handle the Pokeball/catching Pokemon/Pokedex aspect, but that will be something to pay attention to since I imagine they will want it to be as immersive as possible. Could we see a Pokemon Go/UO app connection? Maybe. I wouldn't be surprised if there are immersive elements through the park (IOA, I guess) to bring Pokemon more to life. Obviously the TCG cards are a hot commodity and I wonder if UO will figure out a way for some exclusive cards there (will we see be line up outside of UO like they do at Target/Best Buy/Costco for them?).

The worldbuilding has never been the priority of Pokemon and I think you're spot on that they won't be able to replicate some of the sales we've seen at HP (while possibly having some items that could match the wands popularity).

LotR? Nope. Not even close.

 

[DragonSlayer]

Agree with all of the above. So much talk over the last decade about finding the ‘next HP’ when the short answer is simply that there won’t be one, ever.

I also think this is a good reason for Universal (and others) to be more flexible with additions than simply trying to make everything a full-on immersive land on the same template all the time.

IOA could be the immersive lands park. Epic could be the big scale portal worlds park. Why not let USF have a variety of high-quality but more individuated experiences? I feel like it would suit the identity of the park more easily and would stop them boxing themselves in and/or needing huge amounts of land for everything new. Go for premium and boutique.

 

[Evan]

Okay so I am definitely the wrong demographic for Pokemon, so my opinion is VERY biased.

I fully understand it's a popular IP. Extremely so. A huge money maker. And I could care less about it.

That aside, I think Pokemon does have a hard hill to climb. It's not going to be a natural fit for a themepark experience. It will engage Pokemon fans completely, but how do they get it to appeal to just regular themepark goers? That will be the question. It also risk being similar to SNW. Reliant on buy in, apps, and wanting the audience to engage in a fully interactive experience.

I still land on that One Piece is a far more natural fit for a theme park land or experience, and while it's not as BIG as Pokemon, it's still huge.

But in general, I'd prefer to see a focus on broader lands again, that can incorporate many IPs.

All this to say, Pokemon is likely not going into USF... and USF needs some serious help. I'd certainly prefer Pokemon in USF however... give IoA One Piece. It fits that park just so well.

 

[Brian G.]

Okay so I am definitely the wrong demographic for Pokemon, so my opinion is VERY biased.

I fully understand it's a popular IP. Extremely so. A huge money maker. And I could care less about it.

That aside, I think Pokemon does have a hard hill to climb. It's not going to be a natural fit for a themepark experience. It will engage Pokemon fans completely, but how do they get it to appeal to just regular themepark goers? That will be the question. It also risk being similar to SNW. Reliant on buy in, apps, and wanting the audience to engage in a fully interactive experience.

I still land on that One Piece is a far more natural fit for a theme park land or experience, and while it's not as BIG as Pokemon, it's still huge.

But in general, I'd prefer to see a focus on broader lands again, that can incorporate many IPs.

All this to say, Pokemon is likely not going into USF... and USF needs some serious help. I'd certainly prefer Pokemon in USF however... give IoA One Piece. It fits that park just so well.

If that’s the crux of your argument, you can’t then use One Piece as the example

 

[Evan]

If that’s the crux of your argument, you can’t then use One Piece as the example

I did state I am biased in general here.

But if it DOES need to be a single IP land, I feel One Piece works better for IOA

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

How they implement Pokémon into the parks will be a discussion point, same as how they implemented Mario and DK and Mario Kart and all.

How on earth does anyone think Pokémon don’t translate to theme parks??? It’s animated, it’s lively, it’s unique species, it’s unique locations, it’s a unique score……. Pokémon SCREAMS theme park material. It’s their only shot to replicate Potter success, IMO.

 

[Columbo]

While Pokemon has more "outside experiences" than Potter did in 2010 and you can't recreate the cultural impact on theme parks of a "Potter land", in terms of performance I think Pokemon could match Potter for merch and experiences

The wandshop for instance is a huge draw, but getting assigned a starter pokemon would be massive. There are tons of experiences along those lines they could be creating within the land

In addition, there was definitely tons of Harry Potter merch I got growing up and it's not like Universal can't provide something unique merchandise wise for Pokemon. Pokemon merchandising will be huggeeeee

 

[Touchdown]

If they find a way to sell Poke Balls that allow you to catch Pokemon, and then be able to use them in game, look out. No matter how many iterations there are everyone always wants a Charizard, Blastoice and Venusaur on their team. Ditto for other popular Gen 1s like Gengar, Mew Two, Pickachu.

Also, while I realize it’s a table service place, the Pokemon Cafe does gangbuster business in Japan, if they can translate those dishes to CS, look out.

Then you have the possibility of park exclusive cards.

Pokemon will do just fine.

But so would One Piece, I wanna eat some meat, Soba King soba, etc. Not sure how you translate OP into a ride though, only thing I can think of is a Spider-Man/Transformersesque ride. Hard to translate all that devil fruit/anime action into animatronics.