Late 2013 - New Resort - Rumor - (1/30/12) Early word is that Universal Orlando may be working with their hotel partner (Lowes Hotels) on finalizing plans to open a forth resort hotel by the end of 2013 in one of the empty lots beyond the Royal Pacific. More than likely, they may opt to build this resort of the bigger plot of land, which is also the furthest one away, directly behind the giant Jurassic Park ride building.
.....The rumored theme of this resort may be a 1960’s era California ocean side resort hotel with a heavy surfing theme.
The Surfing theme may be played up quite a bit here, with the creation of an on-site waterpark for hotel guests that will include an abundance of surf wave equipment (wave pool, stationary surf waves, etc). From what I’m hearing, a surfing lesion may even may be included as part of the experience for hotel guests. Even better news, it seems the price point they are shooting for with this new hotel may be to fit in more with Disney’s Moderate resort level price point.
.....In a previous master plan amendment filed with the city back in 2007, they did identify both of the empty lots beyond the Royal Pacific as future resort sites. The closest site (labeled Site D) was planned to have an 800 room, 8-story tall hotel structure, while the bigger site we’re talking about here (Site E) was to hold a proposed 1800 room resort with 16-story tall hotel tower wings branching off a central structure. The plan at the time did show that Universal intended to expand the river system to allow for transportation to these two new hotel projects. (This was the same master plan where they revealed the apartment complex that was built behind the Jaws area and The Promenade at Universal Plaza office complex that went in across from the Hess station.)