Universal Great Britain - Speculation & Rumors

[xtpower]

That concept art to me feels like an early art of their proposed concept. The lagoon, Hotel, Jurassic World and BTTF ride feels like the only parts that I'd expect to see in the actual park. The rest is either placeholders, early designs or they copied Beijing to account for areas still being developed.

It makes sense that it won't be fully indicative of the final product as the concept art dropped before land grading and enabling works had even begun. We're 2 years away from the proposed start to actual Resort construction, which means Universal has plenty of time until they need to finalise their designs and the Park concept as a whole.

 

[rob@rar]

That concept art to me feels like an early art of their proposed concept. The lagoon, Hotel, Jurassic World and BTTF ride feels like the only parts that I'd expect to see in the actual park. The rest is either placeholders, early designs or they copied Beijing to account for areas still being developed.

Hope that's true.

 

[Chessy]

I think a fair bit of the concept art is not indicative of what will actually be constructed. I feel it’s something they have pieced together fairly quickly to go along with the government announcement. Just to give a rough idea of what we can expect.

 

[yepthatguy]

I’m still a bit unsure on this City Walk.

In the documents there is a plan to develop the West Gateway Zone and it says restaurants up-to 5000 sq meters.

That could be over 10 restaurants, and it mentions a 200 room hotel, and service station. Sounds like a City Walk #2.

But it’s not being built until “Future Year”?

Also with the initial 500 room hotel, if the Convention Centre is also “Future Year” in the Lake Zone, then what is that attached to the hotel? Indoor City Walk #1?

The numbers quoted are big, that’s a lot of people needing to be indoors in say November, when it’s Cold and a bit miserable, and they get wet and and I guess stay wet, all day lol.

 

[Alicia]

I’m still a bit unsure on this City Walk.

In the documents there is a plan to develop the West Gateway Zone and it says restaurants up-to 5000 sq meters.

That could be over 10 restaurants, and it mentions a 200 room hotel, and service station. Sounds like a City Walk #2.

But it’s not being built until “Future Year”?

Also with the initial 500 room hotel, if the Convention Centre is also “Future Year” in the Lake Zone, then what is that attached to the hotel? Indoor City Walk #1?

The numbers quoted are big, that’s a lot of people needing to be indoors in say November, when it’s Cold and a bit miserable, and they get wet and and I guess stay wet, all day lol.

My gut has told me that single Toothsome and the connected indoor space attached to hotel is the “CityWalk.” And the documents referring to it only as “Entry Zone” and saying “restaurant,” singular, isn’t helping.

 

[rob@rar]

My gut has told me that single Toothsome and the connected indoor space attached to hotel is the “CityWalk.” And the documents referring to it only as “Entry Zone” and saying “restaurant,” singular, isn’t helping.

My guess is a Toothsome*, a bar, a couple of small merch outlets and maybe an outdoor performance space, all clustered around the entry arches. Longer term, 3-5 years, something bigger in the West Gateway.

* If they don't call it Toothsome's Chocolate Brickworks and use some of the recovered bricks from the old brickworks in the fake chimneys on top of the building, Universal Creative will be out of their minds.

 

[EllieB]

My biggest problem with the concept art we have at the moment is that it doesn't entirely sit in harmony with the quotes in the planning documents about this park being unlike anything they've done before. You can't be unlike anything you've done before and copy entire lands or attractions from elsewhere.

Of course, you could reimagine ideas with a new spin... Like building a super silly fun land but here the rollercoaster really does spin outside the building, for example.

I know it's just early concept at the moment though so...

 

[rob@rar]

My biggest problem with the concept art we have at the moment is that it doesn't entirely sit in harmony with the quotes in the planning documents about this park being unlike anything they've done before. You can't be unlike anything you've done before and copy entire lands or attractions from elsewhere.

Of course, you could reimagine ideas with a new spin... Like building a super silly fun land but here the rollercoaster really does spin outside the building, for example.

I know it's just early concept at the moment though so...

I'd be delighted with a Jurassic World land which is very similar to what they already have in Beijing, which looks awesome from what I've seen on YouTube. For me that's the highlight of what was presented in the concept art. The chances of me visiting Universal in China are so slim that a clone Jurassic land will effectively be brand new to me, as I suspect it will be for most visitors to Bedford, so I don't worry too much about cloning of that land.

Looking around the concept art, if it is a very tall BTTF coaster that will be unique to Bedford, but I'm not especially motivated by coasters whose claim to fame is they beat height or speed records, so I'm left with a resounding "meh" at what might be a return to Hill Valley. What I really, really want to see is a unique and class-leading dark ride. Something with makes Potter's Forbidden Journey or Monsters Unchained look a little bit second class. Something which makes the theme park online world come to Bedford on opening day. Universal Creative Unchained. Maybe the oddly unspecified top righthand corner of the concept art will be an opportunity for something which tops everything that Universal has done so far. A unique land, with a best in the world dark ride. Then my slight feelings of being underwhelmed will soon fade.

 

[EllieB]

Yeah I have to clarify: I'm not unhappy about getting clones in any of the areas if they'll be things not coming from the US, it just feels to me that it wouldn't be on a par with the vision they've laid out in the planning documents.

I would also love to see an amazing new dark ride. I would love that to be in BTTF because it's such a favourite film of mine and I'm not able to ride big coasters anymore (because of an injury, sadly). Time travel dark ride? Yes please! There doesn't seem to be a space for it on the concept art as yet though.

I also hope they do something awesome with the James Bond IP. It's so iconic and there's never been much particularly amazing done with it. There's a lot of potential there.

 

[yepthatguy]

My gut has told me that single Toothsome and the connected indoor space attached to hotel is the “CityWalk.” And the documents referring to it only as “Entry Zone” and saying “restaurant,” singular, isn’t helping.

Thank you.

You’ve followed and seen parks being built and then visited them in immense detail, and documented it.

I have to ask, are you underwhelmed, or is this proposal impressive?

Also, just curious how these public documents match up to the American equivalents, and your general excitement level over the plans?

 

[Alicia]

Thank you.

You’ve followed and seen parks being built and then visited them in immense detail, and documented it.

I have to ask, are you underwhelmed, or is this proposal impressive?

Also, just curious how these public documents match up to the American equivalents, and your general excitement level over the plans?

I think the park will be better than the art makes it look, but there’s far too much infrastructure work to be done before they can really delve into the real meat and potatoes on extra offerings beyond the park—hence focusing on the park, signature hotel, and small dining and shopping to accompany the hotel as much as people exiting the park.

Beyond these initial offerings, there’s still plenty that can trip them up in timing, like wildlife in the Lake Zone, and residents on Manor Rd, so focusing on the park to start makes sense to get it done fast.

I do have a feeling there will be a land put off for first expansion to help speed things up even faster, which is why they have a Shrek restaurant in there as a placeholder. But when I say expansion, I mean like BttF the ride opening the following year at USF.

In many ways this park and initial resort reminds me of USF at first. It’s a starting point, sure, but I bet some of those first rides are going to really surprise us.

Just keep in mind, Universal concept art often hides things to throw us off the scent.

 

[EllieB]

I've finally found enough time to sit down and watch your video Alicia, it's excellent, thank you for all your time spent putting it together.

From a UK point of view, one thing that surprised me was that they're requiring 30 spaces for a petrol station at the entrance. That seems like an awful lot for just a petrol station; even one with a moderate sized Tesco Express would normally only have a dozen or so. I wondered if perhaps they were considering some sort of grab and go convenience food here also, like a Costa / Starbucks style with a drive through and a few parking spaces for people to run in and grab a snack before they hit the road?

Also, £35 for parking is definitely going to put off people from just dropping in for a meal in the entry zone. I assume in the US annual passholders get parking included, so UK passholders may do so here too?

I also found it interesting that they've indicated the maximum heights to cover the areas where the car park will be as well as over the park area itself. I assume they're covering themselves in case they want to move any boundaries?

Another very minor detail I noted was the mention of "sport" in the possible uses of the land. Is it too much to hope for mini golf?! I'd love to hit a golf ball to 88mph or putt into a dinosaur's mouth.

I think it's phenomenal they included all the write-in answers from the surveys. I hadn't found them yet but that's now next on my list of documents to read.

 

[JT01]

It would be a missed opportunity not to develop a proper CityWalk for this location. The Bedford area appears to be in need of a shopping and entertainment district, and this project could fill that gap perfectly. Additionally, most Universal properties feature well-developed CityWalks, so anything less here would feel underwhelming by comparison.

 

[Alicia]

I've finally found enough time to sit down and watch your video Alicia, it's excellent, thank you for all your time spent putting it together.

From a UK point of view, one thing that surprised me was that they're requiring 30 spaces for a petrol station at the entrance. That seems like an awful lot for just a petrol station; even one with a moderate sized Tesco Express would normally only have a dozen or so. I wondered if perhaps they were considering some sort of grab and go convenience food here also, like a Costa / Starbucks style with a drive through and a few parking spaces for people to run in and grab a snack before they hit the road?

Also, £35 for parking is definitely going to put off people from just dropping in for a meal in the entry zone. I assume in the US annual passholders get parking included, so UK passholders may do so here too?

I also found it interesting that they've indicated the maximum heights to cover the areas where the car park will be as well as over the park area itself. I assume they're covering themselves in case they want to move any boundaries?

Another very minor detail I noted was the mention of "sport" in the possible uses of the land. Is it too much to hope for mini golf?! I'd love to hit a golf ball to 88mph or putt into a dinosaur's mouth.

I think it's phenomenal they included all the write-in answers from the surveys. I hadn't found them yet but that's now next on my list of documents to read.

They definitely can add garages to expand the offerings further south, which is partly why heights for the parking lot are being agreed upon now.

And you can find the write in answers to surveys in the final, 6th, section. One of the first few files.

It would be a missed opportunity not to develop a proper CityWalk for this location. The Bedford area appears to be in need of a shopping and entertainment district, and this project could fill that gap perfectly. Additionally, most Universal properties feature well-developed CityWalks, so anything less here would feel underwhelming by comparison.

Maybe later, when they add a garage, expanding the entry plaza south into a bonafide CityWalk is on the table. Just want to get initial park open and running first.

 

[havaska]

The petrol station may well have 30 parking bays as some of those will be used to rapid chargers for electric cars. I would also expect there to be a Costa, Pret A Manger or Greggs or something similar as part of the petrol station too.

 

[rob@rar]

In terms of EV charging, I think Universal said in the planning application that either 3% or 5% of the guest parking spaces will have EV charging capability. Presumably that’s slow speed charging, where you plug in for the day rather than a quick top-up from a high speed charger.

There’s also a preliminary planing application before Bedford Council for a very large (60 charging stalls) high speed EV charging station off the A421, just next to Universal.

If those plans come to fruition there’ll be plenty of opportunity for EV owners to charge their cars before the leave the location.

 

[marsguo]

I'd be delighted with a Jurassic World land which is very similar to what they already have in Beijing, which looks awesome from what I've seen on YouTube. For me that's the highlight of what was presented in the concept art. The chances of me visiting Universal in China are so slim that a clone Jurassic land will effectively be brand new to me, as I suspect it will be for most visitors to Bedford, so I don't worry too much about cloning of that land.

Looking around the concept art, if it is a very tall BTTF coaster that will be unique to Bedford, but I'm not especially motivated by coasters whose claim to fame is they beat height or speed records, so I'm left with a resounding "meh" at what might be a return to Hill Valley. What I really, really want to see is a unique and class-leading dark ride. Something with makes Potter's Forbidden Journey or Monster's Unchained look a little bit second class. Something which makes the theme park online world come to Bedford on opening day. Universal Creative Unchained. Maybe the oddly unspecified top righthand corner of the concept art will be an opportunity for something which tops everything that Universal has done so far. A unique land, with a best in the world dark ride. Then my slight feelings of being underwhelmed will soon fade.

I agree with this re: BTTF. Lots of focus here on potential height and speed, which are great, but a Merlin mindset, frankly. I think the ride needs to have dark ride scenes to justify the theme, right? Like, a pterodactyl roller coaster in the Jurassic Park area - as part of a comprehensive offering with a world class dark ride - doesn't need to be much more than a coaster with an interesting queue. The land already offers so much that a coaster is a great compliment. That fits.

However, if you're getting in Doc's Delorean, you're going somewhere. If you're going up a spike at 88mph, you've just travelled in time. That action means something. If you load in a 1955 Hill Valley (say it's an indoor loading area set at night, during the thunderstorm... we can dream), then after that spike you'd expect to arrive somewhere/sometime else, hopefully in a big dark ride scene after coasting around outside, like an 1885/2015 Hill Valley. Cue some Biff shenanigans while the track switches etc., and it's time to launch off again, zoom around outside travelling through time, and head back to where you started. You exit back out into the 1955 hill valley land and continue your day in the park. That's the sort of storytelling that would make this an unmissable attraction. The technicals of the Hollywood Drift system, the grandeur of the rollercoaster track and design itself - all work to serve a fantastic story. That's really what we're after. It should be a spectacle.

Otherwise why go up to 88mph (presumably)? Why get in the delorean at all? It'd be totally meaningless. Might as well make it a stand-up-coaster painted like the hoverboard. Cute, fun, maybe. I'd never travel halfway across the world for that, though.

 

[rob@rar]

I agree with this re: BTTF. Lots of focus here on potential height and speed, which are great, but a Merlin mindset, frankly.

Yes, I think that’s absolutely right, and why, on current speculation, the BTTF potential land leaves me a bit cold. I’ve lived about 20 minutes away from Thorpe Park for the last 30 years. In that time I’ve visited twice, second time under sufferance. Just have no interest in the “Merlin mindset”, and the entire park is not a pleasant experience for me. I enjoy riding the coasters in Orlando, but I want so much more from Universal. As much as I enjoy Velocicoaster I think Hagrid’s is a more fun experience all round. Making Velocicoaster 50% taller and 50% faster wouldn’t make it 50% more enjoyable for me. I worry that with the height freedom that Universal are requesting in Bedford their mindset will be tempted towards the Merlin way of doing things, not the Universal way of doing things because they want to compete for headlines with other European theme parks. That would be a big mistake, in my book.

 

[Chessy]

It would be a missed opportunity not to develop a proper CityWalk for this location. The Bedford area appears to be in need of a shopping and entertainment district, and this project could fill that gap perfectly. Additionally, most Universal properties feature well-developed CityWalks, so anything less here would feel underwhelming by comparison.

I believe the Orlando resort started off with a lot less before we got the current City Walk we see there. However I do understand that only a couple of restaurants and retail outlets, may not necessarily cut it compared to other resorts. I’m sure Universal have plans to make a fully fledged City Walk even if it’s not fully fleshed out in the beginning. If there’s a lot of demand I can see expansion coming in the first few years.

 

[xtpower]

Yes, I think that’s absolutely right, and why, on current speculation, the BTTF potential land leaves me a bit cold. I’ve lived about 20 minutes away from Thorpe Park for the last 30 years. In that time I’ve visited twice, second time under sufferance. Just have no interest in the “Merlin mindset”, and the entire park is not a pleasant experience for me. I enjoy riding the coasters in Orlando, but I want so much more from Universal. As much as I enjoy Velocicoaster I think Hagrid’s is a more fun experience all round. Making Velocicoaster 50% taller and 50% faster wouldn’t make it 50% more enjoyable for me. I worry that with the height freedom that Universal are requesting in Bedford their mindset will be tempted towards the Merlin way of doing things, not the Universal way of doing things because they want to compete for headlines with other European theme parks. That would be a big mistake, in my book.

I really think you're doing Universal a huge disservice here by implying they are going down the 'Merlin path'. Universal has a reputation for pairing their Coasters with immersive theming and storytelling. I don't see that changing here and this is certainly not some marketing exercise like Merlin. Universal's brand power is such that they have zero need to be chasing stat records to bring in the common punter.

I think the main issue lies in the vagueness of the concept art and how early we got it in their design process. I am fully confident that the BTTF ride will be just as immersive and with the storytelling of a Hagrid's or Velocicoaster.

As for the scale of the ride elements, I put that purely down to Universal wanting to genuinely hit 88mph and them future-proofing the limits of their rides incase they go down that road again. That green Coaster seems indicative of the normal Universal coaster and as such BTTF is probably unique because of that 88mph requirement.