The Future of Lost Continent

[kimlovesfl]

I would keep LC just as it is, except change up or replace the Sinbad show. Mystic Fountain, Sinbad, and Mythos are actually really popular, and I think Poseidon is just a super-cool walk through attraction. You all on this board, theme park and thrill ride fanatics that we are, forget that there HAS to be something for people who don't ride things, and there are a LOT of people who won't go on rides that might even remotely make them dizzy or sick. There is also a need for attractions for all ages and heights and physical limitations to enjoy. Poseidon is one of those attractions.

I am glad they took out those cheesy games, although I don't like them in JP either. The "lobby" area of Potter, as I like to think of it, is so pretty and soothing and calming. Well, until the hoards from the train start entering.

 

[graspthesun]

Once again...they don't need a park full of huge IP's...I don't know what it is with people and their fascination of having the next best thing plastered over everything. Its all about balance. Too much of one thing will destroy the item being spoken of. Kind of like drugs...too much can kill you but just the right amount stimulates all of your senses. IOA doesn't need to stock up on the next big IP to attract people. The numbers speak for themselves...Harry Potter is doing that for them. Kong isn't even to attract more people but rather its to give people another reason to visit on top of everything else they have.

Balance...it's vital.

The last non-IP thing built in either park was HRRR in 2009. Before that, it was Disaster in 2008. WWOHP opened in 2010. Despicable Me opened in 2012. Transformers opened in 2013 along with Springfield. Then we have WWOHP2 opening any day now and Kong opening in 2015. Everything we know about in the pipeline is related to expanding current IPs. The current original attractions are being neglected with no real upgrades and are rumored for replacement. I'm not saying any of those rumors are true, but for better or for worse, I think we're looking at nearly exclusive IP expansions from here on out.

Universal doesn't do original under the Comcast regime.

 

[Cole]

Well wondersea will probably be mostly if not all originality so the complaint really stops there. Universal isn't disney in the case that they can make something completely original like mystic manor and not worry about crowds coming up. Universal wants a needs for more people to come through their gates so adding something original and expecting people to love and accept it as they do thunder mountain is too big of a risk to take

 

[mahnamahna]

I would keep LC just as it is, except change up or replace the Sinbad show. Mystic Fountain, Sinbad, and Mythos are actually really popular, and I think Poseidon is just a super-cool walk through attraction. You all on this board, theme park and thrill ride fanatics that we are, forget that there HAS to be something for people who don't ride things, and there are a LOT of people who won't go on rides that might even remotely make them dizzy or sick. There is also a need for attractions for all ages and heights and physical limitations to enjoy. Poseidon is one of those attractions.

I am glad they took out those cheesy games, although I don't like them in JP either. The "lobby" area of Potter, as I like to think of it, is so pretty and soothing and calming. Well, into the hoards from the train start entering.

Sinbad isn't popular... it's the only real show in IOA so it makes sense people would show up. Poseidon's Fury has lackluster execution... as a POTC-style dark ride, it could be amazing (which if Universal allows lap-sitting, would be all-ages).

LC is the area most people walk through to get to Potter and Seuss. I wouldn't mind keeping both non-restrictive, but some sort of ride is needed. And I'd rather a new Lost Continent be built in Wondersea Island... waterslide through something like the Poseidon's Fury facade, etc. and then the old one used to expand Seuss. That would be all-ages and finally give Seuss a chance at an E-ticket (Horton family boat ride, Grinch E-ticket).

 

[kimlovesfl]

Sinbad is popular with foreign guests, and if Universal went back to the original script for Poseidon, it could once again be great. The facade alone is almost enough reason to keep it.

 

[DufflesMcGee]

Sinbad is popular with foreign guests, and if Universal went back to the original script for Poseidon, it could once again be great. The facade alone is almost enough reason to keep it.

that facade and mythos

 

[mahnamahna]

Sinbad is popular with foreign guests, and if Universal went back to the original script for Poseidon, it could once again be great. The facade alone is almost enough reason to keep it.

Put a POTC-style boat ride instead of the walkthrough and I'd be fine with Poseidon staying. Sinbad needs a new show.. and I like Mystic Fountain and Mythos so LC staying wouldn't be awful. Just have to reclaim some USF soundstages for Seuss expansion

 

[natespf]

Sinbad is popular with foreign guests, and if Universal went back to the original script for Poseidon, it could once again be great. The facade alone is almost enough reason to keep it.

They should have changed the script for Sinbad and kept the original script for Poseidon.

 

[Cole]

I really don't think posiedons fury is THAT easy to change. They can't just make a boat ride or a omnimover, that would require a complete demo of the entire building

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

I really don't think posiedons fury is THAT easy to change. They can't just make a boat ride or a omnimover, that would require a complete demo of the entire building

Universal would have no problem knocking a building down for something more grand.

 

[mahnamahna]

I really don't think posiedons fury is THAT easy to change. They can't just make a boat ride or a omnimover, that would require a complete demo of the entire building

LC needs a ride of some sort if it's going to stay. Most people unfortunately skip over it because of no rides to go on. Keep PF facade, demo the building and add a boat ride. Universal could use a slow moving one. But LC isn't likely to stay. Wondersea Island would be a great place for it. I just don't see LC staying after Kong has opened. Maybe 2017-2019... but the near future I'm expecting a replacement of some sort.

 

[Cole]

All I'm saying is if universal is going to knock something down at the lost continent then they will knock everything down with it. I really don't think universal is going to keep a mediocre attraction because of its facade either

 

[TylerDurden]

LC needs a ride of some sort if it's going to stay. Most people unfortunately skip over it because of no rides to go on. Keep PF facade, demo the building and add a boat ride. Universal could use a slow moving one. But LC isn't likely to stay. Wondersea Island would be a great place for it. I just don't see LC staying after Kong has opened. Maybe 2017-2019... but the near future I'm expecting a replacement of some sort.

A lot of what youre saying comes off as baseless conjecture. I dont mean to sound rude but theres nothing to suggest most people skip over LC. I'm inclined to believe Kimlovesfl, a Universal TM, that Sinbad is indeed popular with foreign guests, the parks' bread and butter. And Cole is right that retrofitting PF to become any sort of ride is nearly impossible because the building is set up in such an oddly-specific way right now as is...demolishing the whole thing for a boat ride? I doubt Universal sees much ROI in that. Also, PF doesn't do terribly for what it is...it attracts enough of a crowd to justify its existence in its current iteration.

 

[mahnamahna]

A lot of what youre saying comes off as baseless conjecture. I dont mean to sound rude but theres nothing to suggest most people skip over LC. I'm inclined to believe Kimlovesfl, a Universal TM, that Sinbad is indeed popular with foreign guests, the parks' bread and butter. And Cole is right that retrofitting PF to become any sort of ride is nearly impossible because the building is set up in such an oddly-specific way right now as is...demolishing the whole thing for a boat ride? I doubt Universal sees much ROI in that. Also, PF doesn't do terribly for what it is...it attracts enough of a crowd to justify its existence in its current iteration.

Well there's not much ROI with the way the island is now. If there was a ride in addition to the shows, I'd be fine with it. LC is a shell of its former self. I don't expect it to remain past 2020, but that's just my opinion.

 

[fryoj]

Well there's not much ROI with the way the island is now. If there was a ride in addition to the shows, I'd be fine with it. LC is a shell of its former self. I don't expect it to remain past 2020, but that's just my opinion.

uhhhh, I'd say the LC paid itself off a long time ago. Or do you not know what ROI is?

 

[TylerDurden]

Well there's not much ROI with the way the island is now. If there was a ride in addition to the shows, I'd be fine with it. LC is a shell of its former self. I don't expect it to remain past 2020, but that's just my opinion.

ROI stands for Return on Investment. Universal's investment in Lost Continent has ready paid itself off, like fryoj said. You cant lack ROI if you havent made an investment, which IOA hasnt done to Lost Continent in 15 years lol.

 

[natespf]

uhhhh, I'd say the LC paid itself off a long time ago. Or do you not know what ROI is?

I was about to say the same thing. The walkthru only needs to justify operation, turning it into a ride would need to justify construction and operation.

(And technically the longer LC is able to stay the way it is would mean they have a greater return on the investment.)

 

[mahnamahna]

ROI stands for Return on Investment. Universal's investment in Lost Continent has ready paid itself off, like fryoj said. You cant lack ROI if you havent made an investment, which IOA hasnt done to Lost Continent in 15 years lol.

Wrong phrase .. they're not selling merchandise to the levels of other IPs like Potter, Transformers, Simpsons, DM, Seuss, Marvel, JP, etc. without Mythos, LC is just an average stunt show and slightly underwhelming if satisfactory walkthrough. But it's obvious Universal Creative has proposed replacements for this area before (more Potter, Grinch, Wonka, etc). Mythos is what keeps the land remotely relevant now that LC's former two rides are Potter themed now. Mystic Fountain is a great feature, but the lack of a ride hurts the repeat factor. I remember being a kid and going on Poseidon, assuming it was a ride based on how beautiful the exterior was... then I saw the show. I was annoyed. It was okay but it just screamed dark ride to me.

They're high capacity and eat crowds, so they'll be great for the rush these next couple years. But IOA is sorta landlocked. And draining the lagoon for expansion space would be a bad move. So you've got 3 real areas to grow not counting Kong. TL front area, land by Cat, TE/Discovery Center area. Unless you remove something. Dragon Challenge will stay for a good long time, Dudley is enjoyable but lacking in theme, and LC has become so tiny.

The Greek/Arabian theming could also work in WonderSea Island. LC would work well in a waterpark. Poseidon's temple as a slide, maybe a flume ride? A pirate lagoon with a slide for Sinbad. Plus the theme wouldn't feel so hacked up. And Grinch is getting a new movie November 2017, so if that's successful, there's more incentive.

LC shouldn't be a first priority, obviously. Kong, JP, Toon theater/front area, Seuss, nighttime show... Those should come first. LC's a beautiful, if barren and small, section of the park that has two of the park's 5 indoor attractions. But as expansion options are limited, I definitely can see LC getting nixed. Not now, but later down the line.

 

[Cheezbat]

I think the majority of people walk up to Poseidon's Fury and think "whoa, this has got to be an awesome ride..." And then they experience it finding out its just a walkthrough show and they're highly disappointed.

If it was a boat ride similar to Journey to Atlantis at Sea World, you could almost guarantee it would be extremely popular. Of course, if they ever did that, then Universal could justify removing Dudley for A Lord of the Rings dark ride.

 

[natespf]

Keep in mind that you guys are not saying it doesn't work as a walk-thru, but rather what you are saying is that you just don't like walk-thrus.