Universal United Kingdom Resort - Speculation & Rumors

[Clouday]

I'd say it matters if you want to convince European visitors to try UUKR over UOR. Which they'll need if they're getting anywhere near the proposed visitor numbers.

Also want to chime in - besides loathing the idea of getting another JK Rowling Land, slapping another 20 year old Forbidden Journey in Harry Potter's home-turf is just such an appalling proposition. From a land design standpoint, if UUKR's getting some all-indoors land a la Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness at Beijing (kinda teased in the concept art as being an all-indoors Shrek land), then delivering a larger, more comprehensive Hogwarts with multiple attractions would be the way to go... as opposed to just exploring Hogwarts in a queue as is currently done.

A chamber of secrets coaster, a hub featuring the moving staircases, a Great Hall dining experience, a different room of requirement-set attraction, maybe a greenhouse show with puppet mandrakes - you get me. I've heard the argument a lot that Harry Potter's running out of new areas to realise in-park, but the fact the castle itself hasn't really been done properly/fully presents as a more original approach for UUKR. And given the author's behaviour towards the film's cast, I really wouldn't be surprised if they use the show to theme it instead (under the guise of being more "book accurate").

Watch them do Forbidden Journey anyway.

I hear what you’re saying, but if we consider the rumours accurate that we would get a Wizarding World in some guise, would the Studios Tour be so keen to allow UUKR to adapt so much of what they offer? Obviously a walk through the studios and sets is in no way similar to having themed attractions within, but at the Studios Tour you can experience the Great Hall, and they have the greenhouses with mandrakes etc. I think if anywhere was going to get that kind of recreation it would need to be anywhere but the UK which has the Studios already.

Why not do Hogsmeade, some kind of ride based on the Shrieking Shack and a quidditch style ride (Tron and Avatar FoP lend themselves so perfectly). That’s obviously money and investment, but what is the point of putting a Forbidden Journey clone.

I am biased being British and wanting something original but I can’t understand how Universal can square their circle of incredibly ambitious visitor numbers with creating a park full of clones. If we get Wizarding World it should be something new, or give us anything LOTR

 

[LieutLaww]

WB has to agree to let Uni use Potter in the UK park, if the only way they agreed to let that happen was to use clones then that's what Un will have to do. And plenty of families in the UK will be glad to see the attractions as they cant afford to visit the US

 

[marsguo]

I hear what you’re saying, but if we consider the rumours accurate that we would get a Wizarding World in some guise, would the Studios Tour be so keen to allow UUKR to adapt so much of what they offer? Obviously a walk through the studios and sets is in no way similar to having themed attractions within, but at the Studios Tour you can experience the Great Hall, and they have the greenhouses with mandrakes etc. I think if anywhere was going to get that kind of recreation it would need to be anywhere but the UK which has the Studios already.

Why not do Hogsmeade, some kind of ride based on the Shrieking Shack and a quidditch style ride (Tron and Avatar FoP lend themselves so perfectly). That’s obviously money and investment, but what is the point of putting a Forbidden Journey clone.

I am biased being British and wanting something original but I can’t understand how Universal can square their circle of incredibly ambitious visitor numbers with creating a park full of clones. If we get Wizarding World it should be something new, or give us anything LOTR

It's a great point, I hadn't thought how much a comprehensive Hogwarts would specifically overlap with the Studio Tour and that there might be a scale on which WB allows or vetos land concepts. I was thinking more binary - they either allow the license blanketly, or they don't. Fair enough. In that case we get short-changed either way. For the people clamouring for a JK Rowling Land in the home of JK Rowling, we either get an outdated screen-heavy clone, or you get some new area that's unlikely to be recognised by the casual UK public as being obviously HP because we've got to skirt around the fact that the WB Studio Tour covers all the best-of bits. "Why didn't they build the castle?"

I think we can all agree that the mystery plot of land should be something new or different. As @tommyhawkins says, the park line up looks fine but the originality and scale of this mystery land will decide the global fate of UUKR. I don't think it'll majorly compete with DLP without a knockout in that plot.

Viva la LOTR

 

[Chessy]

I’m off to Orlando next month and I can tell you it’s not cheap. I could holiday in Spain three times over for what it’s cost. However it is an experience and a great place to visit.

With Universal UK I think it’s a balancing act for the company, they want to make it unique. But bearing in mind many people in the UK have never been and probably won’t be able to afford a trip to Orlando. So a few clones aren’t exactly going to kill it, it’s done all over the world at Universal parks.

I suspect they’ll be at least two original attractions. Though the park is based in the UK, they are trying to appeal somewhat to other European tourists too.

 

[BBPH]

I'd say it matters if you want to convince European visitors to try UUKR over UOR. Which they'll need if they're getting anywhere near the proposed visitor numbers.

Also want to chime in - besides loathing the idea of getting another JK Rowling Land, slapping another 20 year old Forbidden Journey in Harry Potter's home-turf is just such an appalling proposition. From a land design standpoint, if UUKR's getting some all-indoors land a la Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness at Beijing (kinda teased in the concept art as being an all-indoors Shrek land), then delivering a larger, more comprehensive Hogwarts with multiple attractions would be the way to go... as opposed to just exploring Hogwarts in a queue as is currently done.

A chamber of secrets coaster, a hub featuring the moving staircases, a Great Hall dining experience, a different room of requirement-set attraction, maybe a greenhouse show with puppet mandrakes - you get me. I've heard the argument a lot that Harry Potter's running out of new areas to realise in-park, but the fact the castle itself hasn't really been done properly/fully presents as a more original approach for UUKR. And given the author's behaviour towards the film's cast, I really wouldn't be surprised if they use the show to theme it instead (under the guise of being more "book accurate").

Watch them do Forbidden Journey anyway.

The UK park is not meant to compete with UOR.

It’s try Universal, not try UUKR over UOR.