The Future of Lost Continent

[Brian G.]

You do need the Band for the majority of the Power-Up Band games. Guests who are unaware of how the land works enter SNW and are hit with 4 straight No's when trying to engage with attractions until the hit Mario Kart in the back of the land.

The only games that don't need a Band are the most hidden ones, tucked inside the Underground Levels.

We've played a few without one when we forget to bring one. They told us that the only thing is that we won't collect the key to unlock the Bowser Jr Game.

Double checked the website:

Play with family and friends as you test your quickness, skill, and timing in a variety of interactive challenges at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. If you’re wearing a Power-Up Band™, you can collect a digital key each time you win one of these Key Challenges. Gather enough keys and you’ll be able to unlock the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown.

It’s basically saying you can play the games without the band, but you won’t get the rewards. It's obviously framed in marketing-speak for FOMO, but again, it's not needed to play.

Double Edit: OK, Hollywood's website states it is required. So 50/50 shot.

 

[theuberguberman]

I know this is purely anecdotal and not representative of the population as a whole, but:

I'm 29. Grew up a gamer. ALWAYS hated Pokemon. Not just that I wasn't interested, but I actively disliked any clips I saw of it, all the artwork, etc. Really not my vibe.
My husband grew up in a very different area than me with a different background and ALSO hates it and was bummed when I told him it's what's likely coming to IoA lol

My parents are young to have someone my age and even they don't know a single thing about Pokemon and would assume it's for children. My sister isn't a gamer and Pokemon is the kind of thing she'd also hate.

I personally know ONE person in my life who likes Pokemon, and it's a friend of a friend lol

ALL of the above people at least grasp the concept of Harry Potter and know a couple things about it even if they've never read/seen it. They all understand Mariokart and at least feel neutral or better about Mario or the other characters.

All this to say, I wonder how many people it takes to reach that level of profit vs the number of people to reach the profit listed for the other franchises. I'm not saying Pokemon is niche (I'm not naive lol), but is it going to draw as MANY people in as the other franchises? Because while merch sales and such are great, I'd imagine there's more appeal in drawing in MORE people. Pokemon will draw a lot, but I don't anticipate it having the same lines or crowd draw as something like Harry Potter.

Very very simplified math because I'm not good at math lol:
10 people buying $100/each of merch isn't as impactful as 100 people buying $5/each of merch PLUS that additional 90 people paying the cost of resort stays, park tickets, meals, etc.

tl;dr: I'd imagine a *broad* appeal is the biggest indicator of what will actually perform well at the park, and I think Pokemon will be POPULAR for sure but it won't have the broad appeal that a lot of other IPs would have.

 

[Evan]

I know this is purely anecdotal and not representative of the population as a whole, but:

I'm 29. Grew up a gamer. ALWAYS hated Pokemon. Not just that I wasn't interested, but I actively disliked any clips I saw of it, all the artwork, etc. Really not my vibe.
My husband grew up in a very different area than me with a different background and ALSO hates it and was bummed when I told him it's what's likely coming to IoA lol

My parents are young to have someone my age and even they don't know a single thing about Pokemon and would assume it's for children. My sister isn't a gamer and Pokemon is the kind of thing she'd also hate.

I personally know ONE person in my life who likes Pokemon, and it's a friend of a friend lol

ALL of the above people at least grasp the concept of Harry Potter and know a couple things about it even if they've never read/seen it. They all understand Mariokart and at least feel neutral or better about Mario or the other characters.

All this to say, I wonder how many people it takes to reach that level of profit vs the number of people to reach the profit listed for the other franchises. I'm not saying Pokemon is niche (I'm not naive lol), but is it going to draw as MANY people in as the other franchises? Because while merch sales and such are great, I'd imagine there's more appeal in drawing in MORE people. Pokemon will draw a lot, but I don't anticipate it having the same lines or crowd draw as something like Harry Potter.

Very very simplified math because I'm not good at math lol:
10 people buying $100/each of merch isn't as impactful as 100 people buying $5/each of merch PLUS that additional 90 people paying the cost of resort stays, park tickets, meals, etc.

tl;dr: I'd imagine a *broad* appeal is the biggest indicator of what will actually perform well at the park, and I think Pokemon will be POPULAR for sure but it won't have the broad appeal that a lot of other IPs would have.

I just had a little chat with the GPT about this very thing. Trying to get a sense of what “big” means with something like Pokémon, and how much money it has made. Is that money generated from mass appeal, or very loyal fan bases locked into the ecosystem?

Is it mass engagement, or intensive engagement?

And as mentioned, even in Pokémon so many engage with the franchise in different ways, there isn’t one shared experience (like Harry Potter), which makes it even more challenging to build something that will connect with the various fans, theme park goers, and the general public.

This doesn’t mean a Pokémon land fails, it just means it will succeed differently, and likely loudly, but not seismically the way Potter did.

(imo)

 

[Clive]

Uhh, I'm not sure "the GPT" is going to give you a useful opinion on anything, much less something as relatively complex and nuanced as this.

 

[Evan]

Uhh, I'm not sure "the GPT" is going to give you a useful opinion on anything, much less something as relatively complex and nuanced as this.

I find it useful to try and understand my own thinking. Or flesh out the questions I have. I don’t expect it to be perfect, but it certainly can help me better formulate my ideas.

 

[Brian G.]

I find it useful to try and understand my own thinking. Or flesh out the questions I have. I don’t expect it to be perfect, but it certainly can help me better formulate my ideas.

Thread 'Use of AI and the Forums'

Aug 28, 2025

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• Brian G.
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• Forum: Comments & Feedback

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[OhHaiInternet95]

View attachment 28747

The big shocker here is how massive Winnie the Pooh is.

 

[DOOMBOT]

We've played a few without one when we forget to bring one. They told us that the only thing is that we won't collect the key to unlock the Bowser Jr Game.

Double checked the website:

It’s basically saying you can play the games without the band, but you won’t get the rewards. It's obviously framed in marketing-speak for FOMO, but again, it's not needed to play.

Double Edit: OK, Hollywood's website states it is required. So 50/50 shot.

My understanding is that Epic Ops has started to crack down on TM's wearing Bands, and 3 of the 5 Key Games feature a touchpoint that requires the Band to activate. I'm sure they were more lax earlier last year, but officially and operationally, only Bob-Omb and Thwomp are available to all guests.

Public information is very muddled and opaque from both UDX and Nintendo regarding the situation.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

My understanding is that Epic Ops has started to crack down on TM's wearing Bands, and 3 of the 5 Key Games feature a touchpoint that requires the Band to activate. I'm sure they were more lax earlier last year, but officially and operationally, only Bob-Omb and Thwomp are available to all guests.

Public information is very muddled and opaque from both UDX and Nintendo regarding the situation.

I still see people at USH get confused about this.

This is a particularly crazy anecdote, but I was talking with a Japanese friend of mine who had just visited USJ when she had traveled home for break. Her group didn’t ride Mario Kart because they thought a Power-Up Band was required to ride. Oops!!

 

[DOOMBOT]

I still see people at USH get confused about this.

This is a particularly crazy anecdote, but I was talking with a Japanese friend of mine who had just visited USJ when she had traveled home for break. Her group didn’t ride Mario Kart because they thought a Power-Up Band was required to ride. Oops!!

Countless guests have the exact same confusions and frustrations. The land is poorly designed in a great number of ways.

 

[Evan]

We’ve got some footage out of the new PokéPark in Tokyo, which is basically a new area in a park called Yomiuri Land よみうりランド.



Safe to say whatever Universal creates will be far far more exciting than this.

 

[Rhian]

A small update on the park-facing side of things. The waterfall on the left side of the PF facade has been off for over a week now (maybe two?), and it appears they may be letting the ponds closest to the building dry out.

We’ve got some footage out of the new PokéPark in Tokyo, which is basically a new area in a park called Yomiuri Land よみうりランド.



Safe to say whatever Universal creates will be far far more exciting than this.

While it is simple in its approach and knows what it’s going for, I really do like the variety of Pokémon on display.

The environmental storytelling done throughout the area is also a nice touch. From the Pokémon battle to Kecleon blending in with the grey wall it adds a needed dynamic element to the static figures.

It’s something to whet the appetite for a Pokémon land for sure. The Pokémon statues are well done!

 

[Mad Dog]

My understanding is that Epic Ops has started to crack down on TM's wearing Bands, and 3 of the 5 Key Games feature a touchpoint that requires the Band to activate. I'm sure they were more lax earlier last year, but officially and operationally, only Bob-Omb and Thwomp are available to all guests.

Public information is very muddled and opaque from both UDX and Nintendo regarding the situation.

Probably costing a lot in band sales. I'm surprised they allowed it at all before......or mgt. was too isolated to
even know it was happening. Those 'suits' need to get out more. Executive ivory towers inhibit good management.

 

[HHN Maddux]

...any chances this might be the official land announcement? Universal already has a Super Bowl commercial, why not add arguably one of the biggest theme park land announcements with it?

 

[mccgavin]

...any chances this might be the official land announcement? Universal already has a Super Bowl commercial, why not add arguably one of the biggest theme park land announcements with it?

I think there is a chance we could hear more about their plans for USJ, but it might be too early for Orlando news.

Edit: At a glance I thought I thought this was for the Pokémon Presents later this month. Yeah, I don't think Universal will get any mention during Pokémon's Super Bowl spot.

 

[Alicia]

I don’t see the pokemon company wasting their own money to promote another company’s theme park attractions during the Super Bowl.

I’m sure it’ll be 30 seconds of nostalgia, bridging multiple generations of Pokemon fans for the past 30 years. And growing.

 

[DOOMBOT]

Pokemon is huge. It's their 30th anniversary. They'll be focusing on themselves - the games, trading cards, showcasing the characters and creatures. They also have a new "Generation" of the franchise launching at the end of this year, featuring brand new Pokemon creatures and major tentpole games (The last Generation started in 2022, so there is a lot of built-up anticipation for the new one right now), so if they were to announce anything, that would certainly take priority.

Why spend that time advertising a third-party theme park land that is half a decade away and not even properly announced? This won't have anything to do with theme parks.

 

[Mike S]

Pokemon is huge. It's their 30th anniversary. They'll be focusing on themselves - the games, trading cards, showcasing the characters and creatures. They also have a new "Generation" of the franchise launching at the end of this year, featuring brand new Pokemon creatures and major tentpole games (The last Generation started in 2022, so there is a lot of built-up anticipation for the new one right now), so if they were to announce anything, that would certainly take priority.

Why spend that time advertising a third-party theme park land that is half a decade away and not even properly announced? This won't have anything to do with theme parks.

If anything is announced park wise it’ll be confirmation of what Japan is getting during the Presents. I believe Nintendo wasn’t shy about showing off Japan’s SNW worldwide before the US versions internationally.

 

[RFRees]

At the very least, any advertisement from the Pokemon Company will positively impact the parks (when they build Pokemon), as it will further solidify Pokemon as a dominant IP in the culture.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I pray in advance for all the op team members that have to deal with a Hagrid and Pokemon dual rope drop combo.