The Future of Lost Continent

[MAC]

That was quick.

Man...

With Toon Lagoon, this was one of my favorite areas of the park when I visited the park the first time in 2000. Just great attention to detail and immersive. I hope whatever comes here (Zelda, Pokemon, Churro Stands Galore), it is as beautiful and detailed as this was.

 

[Andy]

I’m drawing a blank but was this the last great Non-IP original Universal land standing? Or even built? Also I know it was a shell of its former self but it definitely is still a bit of a shocker to see, this morning.

Some of you may be too young to have experienced Dueling Dragons in its original glory, the Enchanted Oak, or even the live performers of Merlin’s Woods. Shoutout to the scarezones that called this area home as well. Always was one of the best areas of the park in the early years.

Hope we see something grand take its place.

 

[MAC]

I’m drawing a blank but was this the last great Non-IP original Universal land standing? Or even built? Also I know it was a shell of its former self but it definitely is still a bit of a shocker to see, this morning.

Some of you may be too young to have experienced Dueling Dragons in its original glory, the Enchanted Oak, or even the live performers of Merlin’s Woods. Shoutout to the scarezones that called this area home as well. Always was one of the best areas of the park in the early years.

Hope we see something grand take its place.

I remember riding Dueling Dragons during HHN, which was a fun experience. I don't remember the live performers of Merlin's Woods though. Enchanted Oak, I do. Such a great corner of the park before HP took a huge chunk out of it (which really hampered the land overall).

But yeah... I think this is the last original non-IP land. Man...

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I think this is the last original non-IP land.

Celestial Park!

 

[MAC]

Celestial Park!

Fair.

 

[Myah1220]

I think it feels like a given that it's going to be Pokemon...and while I know that the fandom is not quite as big as Pokemon...I do think, especially with Universal Fan Fest Nights having it, that it would've been cool to repurpose Lost Continent as Dungeons and Dragons. Not that thinking that contributes anything to actual spec lol. But it would've been neat and an easy fix since a lot of the aesthetics could've pretty much stayed the same but with some enhancements.

 

[zemmyzub]

(for myself) - an absolutely iconic level of creation, theming, and detail that has now become a distant memory for this generation. an era that shaped my childhood and started my passion and love for what this art form could be. With risks, scopes, and choices that seem like a foreign concept in the domestic parks these days. I am confident they'll deliver on what park goers want in this day and age with the replacement, but there will not be another mythos built, and a story within a facade like that in that park again, sadly.

 

[Jwhee]

Lost Continent did an incredible job of feeling like it had always been there. Even though the land was only about 25 years old, the design, layout, and architecture made it feel timeless. It also complemented Port of Entry perfectly, with both lands sharing a similar style and atmosphere that gave Islands of Adventure a strong sense of cohesion and identity

 

[Evan]

There's still time to reverse course and stop the madness! May the power of Poseidon compel you!

 

[MAC]

There's still time to reverse course and stop the madness! May the power of Poseidon compel you!

I think we're well past the reverse course stage.

 

[Evan]

I think we're well past the reverse course stage.

Poseidon, strike the heathen down! They are not a true believer.

 

[Mike S]

There's still time to reverse course and stop the madness! May the power of Poseidon compel you!

 

[Mad Dog]

I'm surely not a fan of Pokemon, and loved Lost Continent, but anything will be an improvement of that big, mostly empty, space that has made IOA seem so much smaller. Pokemon will surely spur attendance.

 

[Alicia]

The land died with Merlinwood.

 

[belloq87]

(for myself) - an absolutely iconic level of creation, theming, and detail that has now become a distant memory for this generation. an era that shaped my childhood and started my passion and love for what this art form could be. With risks, scopes, and choices that seem like a foreign concept in the domestic parks these days. I am confident they'll deliver on what park goers want in this day and age with the replacement, but there will not be another mythos built, and a story within a facade like that in that park again, sadly.

Lost Continent did an incredible job of feeling like it had always been there. Even though the land was only about 25 years old, the design, layout, and architecture made it feel timeless. It also complemented Port of Entry perfectly, with both lands sharing a similar style and atmosphere that gave Islands of Adventure a strong sense of cohesion and identity

Lost Continent was a triumph of placemaking, and the suggestion of larger story behind all of the design choices was extremely effective.

I'm notably ambivalent about Pokemon (I don't have anything against it, but I also just don't "get it," and didn't even when I was in the target age range when it caught on in the late 1990s), so I guess the best I can hope for is that we get one great dark ride out of it. And if we do, that will be great for the park lineup.*

But the loss of ancient mysticism and mystery from the park's range of moods and aesthetic flavors is going to remain a big one. Quieter, "vibes" areas are still important in theme parks, and with this and Jurassic Park's dense jungle being severely truncated for VelociCoaster (and the Forbidden Journey lockers), these kinds of places are becoming more and more scarce at IOA.

* Though not as great a benefit as it would be for USF if it were going there instead!

 

[Myah1220]

I definitely agree it'll be missed...I think one of the saddest things about losing one of the original lands is recognizing that anything that will replace it ultimately will, likely, no longer be a part of the park's original concept which was...literature/books. Marvel Super Hero Island (comic books), Toon Lagoon (Comic Strips), Seuss Landing (Books), Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton's book although that one was a little tricky because obviously most of it was directly inspired by the Spielberg movies...), and then Lost Continent (Greek mythology.) Even when HP rolled around at least it could still be tied to the books (even though like JP, it was also moreso borrowing from the movies.) It's exciting to speculate what might replace it but also sad to think that whatever does is most likely going to stray further from the original literature based vision.

 

[Dinoman96]

I guess the saddest thing one can say about the Lost Continent at the end of it all is that it kinda evoked where the theme park industry has gone since 1999: (as Jeremy Thompson put it in his review of IOA from years back): it was the one place on Universal Orlando property that retained a franchised purity as if it had actually been born from the imaginations of a few bright-eyed and ambitious creative directors, each burning to share her or his vision with the world....but in the end it ended up being devoured by two massive multimedia properties (Harry Potter, and Pokemon assuming the rumors are correct). I guess there's always Celestial Park, even if that really acts as a hub to get to the popular multimedia IPs...

I definitely agree it'll be missed...I think one of the saddest things about losing one of the original lands is recognizing that anything that will replace it ultimately will, likely, no longer be a part of the park's original concept which was...literature/books. Marvel Super Hero Island (comic books), Toon Lagoon (Comic Strips), Seuss Landing (Books), Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton's book although that one was a little tricky because obviously most of it was directly inspired by the Spielberg movies...), and then Lost Continent (Greek mythology.) Even when HP rolled around at least it could still be tied to the books (even though like JP, it was also moreso borrowing from the movies.) It's exciting to speculate what might replace it but also sad to think that whatever does is most likely going to stray further from the original literature based vision.

The funny thing about that is that was really always more of a happy coincidence. The original vision for IOA was really "cartoons", as it began life as "Cartoon World", that's where Seuss and Toon Lagoon (Dudley and Popeye don't exactly fit the supposed literature theme either, let's be real here) really came from. Marvel too, but it's worth pointing out that Universal originally wanted to get the rights for DC Superheroes from Warner Bros. (they also wanted a Looney Tunes land).

It's just that negotiations between Universal and Warner totally broke down, and that's why they decided to instead take advantage of the down-on-their-luck Marvel, who were selling the rights to their characters wherever just to desperately stay afloat. Jurassic Park the movie AND ride in Hollywood were also a big hit and obviously they wanted to bring it to Orlando and they eventually figured it'd make more sense to make it into an entire land and centerpiece of their new theme park as opposed to just stuffing it in Studios Florida (twas originally planned for the spot where Men and Black is today, I believe). I guess they also decided to make The Lost Continent, possibly to help JP counterbalance the cartoony stuff on the other side of the park (I feel like I heard that from somewhere).

EDIT: Ah, here it is!

Thread 'Designing Islands of Adventure'

Jan 27, 2011

Dozens upon dozens of companies and individuals were hired and contacted by Universal for the design and creation of Islands of Adventure. Thanks to my over-procrastination when it comes to schoolwork, I've stumbled upon and found quite a few interesting pieces of information and concept art. I'm aware that there are already a few scattered threads on OU regarding some of these subjects, but I decided a more specific thread would be more appropriate for the post contents here. Anyhow...

So I'm thinking I'd share what different companies and people did over a few posts. Archiving it all...

• TombraiderTy
• Replies: 186
• Forum: Islands of Adventure

• 

Early in 1991, I became part of Universal's team - working on the Wakayama Marina City's Porto Europa, before joining the top-secret project that became Islands of Adventure. We were a very small group of 4 designers led by the executive team of Phil Hettema and Dale Mason. At that time, the park was slated to become Cartoon World-built around the Warner Brother's Looney Toons characters/ DC Comic's Superheroes, as well as the World of Dr. Seuss.

After negotiations fell through with Warner's, we flew through a myriad of concepts involving characters from Hannah Barbara, King Features, Nickelodeon, The Simpson's, Peanuts and Marvel Comics.

Following 1 major earthquake, 3 building moves and a lot of hours spent drawing and watching cartoons, Jurassic Park was released. As it was a huge hit, we were suddenly tasked with adding it to the mix. Thus, the Islands concept was formed and a Lost Continent was brought in to balance the cartoon-heavy ratio of the park. The following pages represent a sampling of my work on the project.

 

[TheUniC6]

With how demolition is going right now, it appears that they want to get this done as fast as possible. When Pokemon was slated for USF the plans were to have it ready by 2030 per Tomfoolery. which implied a 2 year development timeline if it was replacing Simpsons and the contract lapsed in 2028. I wonder if we could be looking at a similar timeline here for a mid to late 2028 debut.

I also wonder if these are the same core plans (the attraction and other possible entertainment) that were destined for USF albeit now reworked to fit into LC. FWIW I always viewed Pokemon having an omnimover type attraction and stage show when it was supposed to go into USF.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

With how demolition is going right now, it appears that they want to get this done as fast as possible. When Pokemon was slated for USF the plans were to have it ready by 2030 per Tomfoolery. which implied a 2 year development timeline if it was replacing Simpsons and the contract lapsed in 2028. I wonder if we could be looking at a similar timeline here for a mid to late 2028 debut.

I also wonder if these are the same core plans (the attraction and other possible entertainment) that were destined for USF albeit now reworked to fit into LC. FWIW I always viewed Pokemon having an omnimover type attraction and stage show when it was supposed to go into USF.

FWIW Diagon Alley was already going vertical two summers before it opened but we’re still in demo for LC. 2029 or later sounds more likely rn (this also assumes they start construction immediately).