Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[fryoj]

If an obvious Mega-IP came along that was worthy of spending the third of the cost of a whole new park did come along - I don't believe any franchise fits that bill by ANY IP holder - it makes absolutely no financial sense at all to have a huge capital expenditure in one location. ROI would increase by spreading that IP across three parks. Even if Epic had opened in ~2009, it makes little sense to build all of Potter offerings in the one plot - their objective is to get more people visiting & staying for longer, not to thematically centre the same IP in one location - so i believe they would still do it the same way all over again to leverage attendance to across all their parks not just one.

If we escape the mindset that they are holding out for a singular IP to go into a giant 21 acre $2.2B land and it is not getting built whilst also considering it is more than likely Zelda goes in next door to Monsters in the next 2-5 years, then realistically one of those two remaining pads could literally come at any moment.

The reason i asked what IP would everyone choose from the WB library is if they do get a deal they might have to build sooner rather than later (contractually speaking) - and perhaps WB like the idea of their IP going next door to Potter

While I agree in principle, this is the same company that gave HTTYD ~15 acres. A major ip getting 20 isn't that far fetched.

 

[tommyhawkins]

While I agree in principle, this is the same company that gave HTTYD ~15 acres. A major ip getting 20 isn't that far fetched.

in reality the actual built land is half the 21 acre expansion pad. So if the answer is to fill it with like 8 acres of water features like the guy who traces Disney Blueprints drew up a while back for LOTR just to cut down on cost of building more attractions, who does that serve? So far, and this is not directed at you, but I havent seen any good reasons why it needs to be one singular land that make good business sense to UDX or any reason why two divested but sizeable lands that introduce more variety is not preferred by UDX or visitors alike

 

[Wicked Salad]

in reality the actual built land is half the 21 acre expansion pad. So if the answer is to fill it with like 8 acres of water features like the guy who traces Disney Blueprints drew up a while back for LOTR just to cut down on cost of building more attractions, who does that serve? So far, and this is not directed at you, but I havent seen any good reasons why it needs to be one singular land that make good business sense to UDX or any reason why two divested but sizeable lands that introduce more variety is not preferred by UDX or visitors alike

The front gate only has two spots to put new portal medallions lol. They could, of course, replace the gate if they wanted to split it into two portals. But also idk where everyone is getting 21/20 acres because when I measure it on Google Earth, it's just under 19.

 

[RFRees]

The front gate only has two spots to put new portal medallions lol. They could, of course, replace the gate if they wanted to split it into two portals. But also idk where everyone is getting 21/20 acres because when I measure it on Google Earth, it's just under 19.

So, playing somewhat of a devil's advocate here, Zelda might be considered part of SNW and thus not get its own medallion.

 

[Legacy]

So, playing somewhat of a devil's advocate here, Zelda might be considered part of SNW and thus not get its own medallion.

This was always my assumption of how any additional Nintendo land would get added to Epic. Sure it *could* get its own medallion, but it would likely be accessible from SNW as well.

 

[Wicked Salad]

So, playing somewhat of a devil's advocate here, Zelda might be considered part of SNW and thus not get its own medallion.

Yeah, but the locations on the gate match where each portal is or could go. I assume Universal will give Zelda its own medallion even if it's connected to Super Nintendo World, so that they can market it as a new world.

 

[fryoj]

in reality the actual built land is half the 21 acre expansion pad. So if the answer is to fill it with like 8 acres of water features like the guy who traces Disney Blueprints drew up a while back for LOTR just to cut down on cost of building more attractions, who does that serve? So far, and this is not directed at you, but I havent seen any good reasons why it needs to be one singular land that make good business sense to UDX or any reason why two divested but sizeable lands that introduce more variety is not preferred by UDX or visitors alike

The "best" reason I can come up with for a single IP is you don't need to cut the property up and tie up space with a second portal, two paths, etc. 20 acres is a lot, but it's also the last big plot in a park that needs as much capacity as it can get. With one IP, you can put the portal by Stardust and start world building with shops and food right there. With two, you have to back the portals up till there's room for both portals, and that's going to lead to some "wasted" space between celestial and the portal split.

But that still depends on an IP worth that much land that they'd actually build enough capacity in rides to make that matter, which is a whole other problem.

 

[Alicia]

Some of that plot may also be reserved for additional backstage connection roads once parking lot is replaced with future additions to the resort. To connect ring road to new backstage on the east.

 

[tommyhawkins]

Some of that plot may also be reserved for additional backstage connection roads once parking lot is replaced with future additions to the resort. To connect ring road to new backstage on the east.

que?

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

que?

New theme park in the current parking lot. Everything will need reworking.

 

[tommyhawkins]

New theme park in the current parking lot. Everything will need reworking.

Ring road would not need to be shortened on this plot for this. Example below

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Ring road would not need to be shortened on this plot for this. Example below

These are good visuals Tommy! Appreciate it.

 

[tommyhawkins]

These are good visuals Tommy! Appreciate it.

appreciate it, thank you, I have a new update coming up in my new article hoping to drop before tomorrow

 

[Rikku]

Here I am just hoping the Dark Universe rumored Creature ride or something just happens sooner rather than later but am happy Potter is getting another rumored ride for I do think that is the portal that needs it the most first.

 

[tommyhawkins]

New theme park in the current parking lot. Everything will need reworking.

I dropped the article on Xmas day.
This one took me more than a month write, everytime I thought I was done there would be new stuff to change my thinking.
It covers the three independent expansion pads, goes into more details about why Wicked or any IP would not get a 21 land, and has my most up to date thinking on the 4th gate layout as well as outlining how the west parcel could work with hotel and city walk 2.0

Universal Didn’t Spend $7 Billion to Stop at Epic Universe (Part 3)

Analysing the next 28 acres of expansion pads, why Wicked may not be as inevitable as it seems, and how a fourth gate fits into Universal’s long-term masterplan

open.substack.com

 

[Mad Dog]

I dropped the article on Xmas day.
This one took me more than a month write, everytime I thought I was done there would be new stuff to change my thinking.
It covers the three independent expansion pads, goes into more details about why Wicked or any IP would not get a 21 land, and has my most up to date thinking on the 4th gate layout as well as outlining how the west parcel could work with hotel and city walk 2.0

Universal Didn’t Spend $7 Billion to Stop at Epic Universe (Part 3)

Analysing the next 28 acres of expansion pads, why Wicked may not be as inevitable as it seems, and how a fourth gate fits into Universal’s long-term masterplan

open.substack.com

I agree with your assumptions on the large expansion plot. As a business decision, there's little to no chance it will be one land devoted to one IP.
Two lands in most probability, developed at different times, is my best guess.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Here I am just hoping the Dark Universe rumored Creature ride or something just happens sooner rather than later but am happy Potter is getting another rumored ride for I do think that is the portal that needs it the most first.

I have no info but the vibes I'm getting are "Phase 2 that never happens" for the Creature ride. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[tielo]

I dropped the article on Xmas day.
This one took me more than a month write, everytime I thought I was done there would be new stuff to change my thinking.
It covers the three independent expansion pads, goes into more details about why Wicked or any IP would not get a 21 land, and has my most up to date thinking on the 4th gate layout as well as outlining how the west parcel could work with hotel and city walk 2.0

Universal Didn’t Spend $7 Billion to Stop at Epic Universe (Part 3)

Analysing the next 28 acres of expansion pads, why Wicked may not be as inevitable as it seems, and how a fourth gate fits into Universal’s long-term masterplan

open.substack.com

That is (again) an amazing article. I love how you also explains that Universal is broadening their visitors demographic going into wildly different ip's. It's what Disney isn't doing anymore. Their movies and shows are only shown on their streaming service so a kid with no access to that service will never ever see a Disney movie or show ever, will get no connection and won't dream (like I did when I was young and my parents where poor at the time) of going to WDW in Florida. We ended up owning a vacation home there for 11 years and visit the parks often. It's such a poor, short sighted way of doing business as their audience wil die down eventually.
There is the word ETicket in the article that (when read to me) sounded weird so maybe you can check that one.
Although I still hope for a mega LotR land I understand that it doesn't make sense and the Potter way in spreading the cost, risks and guests over the whole resort is much smarter....but still.

 

[tommyhawkins]

That is (again) an amazing article. I love how you also explains that Universal is broadening their visitors demographic going into wildly different ip's. It's what Disney isn't doing anymore. Their movies and shows are only shown on their streaming service so a kid with no access to that service will never ever see a Disney movie or show ever, will get no connection and won't dream (like I did when I was young and my parents where poor at the time) of going to WDW in Florida. We ended up owning a vacation home there for 11 years and visit the parks often. It's such a poor, short sighted way of doing business as their audience wil die down eventually.
There is the word ETicket in the article that (when read to me) sounded weird so maybe you can check that one.
Although I still hope for a mega LotR land I understand that it doesn't make sense and the Potter way in spreading the cost, risks and guests over the whole resort is much smarter....but still.

Thanks I need to go through and correct a bunch of typos, this is what happens when you spend a month staring at the same writing.


There is of course the possibility that USGB opens with one land of LOTR, and a different part of the franchise gets built somewhere in Orlando, since that park certainly in it's first decade won't have huge expansion opportunities like epic does.

As far as creature is concerned I included the two possibilities in Part 2 for good reason in terms of development rumours. But it's likely further down the list of priorities with capital allocations than Potter and a Zelda land that has a related movie release within the next two years and a solution to Nintendo capacity problems. Just think it's number 3 or 4 on the list