The Future of The Simpsons Ride/Springfield (Orlando)

[RFRees]

'Wicked is the only IP that can save USF from the cancer that is The Simpsons.'

If that's the stance you're going with, I guess we'll need to agree to disagree.

Maybe it comes down to a difference of opinion with how much it matters that Disney/Universal use a recognizable IP, vs the belief that we just need immersive worlds and good rides. I think both matter, but I'd lean towards the second choice if I had to pick.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

Perhaps not previously emphasized is that all IP featured at USF are not just based on cities/urban environments, they're in modern times.

It's possible Shiz University could work, but I'm not seeing Emerald City, Munchkin Land, the Witch's Castle, the farmland, the fields of poppy, any forest setting, the desert, etc.

Let's do a thought experiment ... Let's pretend a F&F Island was coming to IOA. How would these forums react? Beyond the general disdain for the property, we would see plenty of "that IP doesn't belong at IOA!"

Why can't we use the same logic for why F&F belongs at IOA with what's been said about Wicked at USF?: "the park is a mishmash of IP and themes," "the park is all about immersive experiences, F&F will have that," "the park needs a big IP." None of these truly speak to whether F&F feels right at IOA.

We could do that same thought experiment with LOTR or Zelda coming to USF, or Ghostbusters or Back to The Future coming to IOA, something feels off.

Let's look at how Universal approached Kong at the two parks. Both contain the same IP, both containing Kong as the central character. USF is set in New York City and the other is set in Skull Island. How do you explain, to someone not on these forums, why Skull Island feels right at IOA, and feels wrong at USF? How would you explain why Kong in NYC feels right at USF, but would feel wrong at IOA?

That "off" feeling for USF, I sum up as "modern era IPs - primarily in urban (sometimes in suburban) environments" belong at USF, where all other IP within a fantasy setting of castles, forbidden forests, broomstick coasters, sunken temples, wooden barrel flume rides, etc, all belong at IOA or Epic.

If you feel I'm wrong about this, I'd like you to name a castle that has ever been at USF. Or, tell me a jungle biome ride at USF. Or, tell me a prominent IP featured at USF which takes place before the 1900s. (Aside from KidZone/DW, which barely counts.)

I'd argue against the "USF gets Wicked or USF is dead" line of thinking. The park is relatively solid once 1) it has fully replaced RRR, which was arguably one of Orlando's worst coasters, with F&F, which may be one of Orlando's best coasters. And 2) after Supercharged (arguably one on the worst attractions Universal has ever built) is closed, and replaced with something we're excited for (hopefully), like Hill Valley/BTTF (or something else).

After those two, I'll be pretty damn excited to go to USF consistently. And maybe during that timeframe, Universal gets in some other surprises. Why not a USF version of SLoP in the DW section (or the other half of Shrek)? How about a new USF stage show in Blue Man Group?

Specifically to replace Simpsons, there's plenty USF could add besides Wicked, we just have to use our imaginations a bit. Here are just a few cities which could work at USF (not saying any of these are likely, but all would feel right at USF):

• Hill Valley - We've got the rumor of it replacing F&F. Beyond that, it's also rumored to come to Universal GB. So this idea isn't as insane as it may have sounded several years ago.
• 80s nostalgia city - several people have suggested a sort of home for nostalgic properties, which feels right at USF. I could see a general cyberpunk / neon city atmosphere, with rides that could include BTTF (if it doesn't come in a Hill Valley land) or a Universal version of Great Movie Ride.
• Gotham and/or Metropolis - several stars would need to align for this to happen. Comcast would need to purchases WB, they would need the DC theme park rights, and Marvel contract would need to allow them to put a competitor at sister park. If all those stars align, a more realistic superhero city could work well at USF (perhaps based on the James Gunn Universe).
• Tokyo - I've seen a few suggestions around adding Tokyo, with Godzilla and a popular anime.
• Pokemon town/city - plenty to choose from (if it doesn't come to IOA).

And here's some additional potential IP which feel right at USF, just to name a few (obviously not all could be used due to cost of licensing/rights issues/being featured at other parks):

• Luigi's Mansion
• Ghostbusters
• Music - Tailor Swift, Ariana Grande, etc, similar to RRR or Rockin Rollercoaster Featuring Aerosmith
• K-Pop Demon Hunters
• Sing
• SLoP
• Stephen King - a King attraction was somewhat close to having a greenlight
• Wonka
• Speed Racer
• Scooby -Doo
• Sonic (from movies)
• TMNT
• TV/sitcoms/stand-up - SNL, Friends, etc - though already represented by Fallon, TV could potentially have a larger presence in the future at USF.
• "Movie making" / BTS rides or walkthroughs - we're not entirely done with these, considering the current Wicked presence at USF is essentially just that.

​

I could go on, but the point is that there's a mountain of other IP which feel right at home in USF. It's not a dichotomy of "Wicked or nothing."

Edit
To clarify, I'm not saying Wicked could never come to USF (especially in a "theater show" experience)... I mean hell, it's technically there already. But an entire Oz world at USF feels off and I'm leaning heavily towards that going to Epic or IOA... not that anyone here has any sort of say in the matter.

Fundamentally I agree with all of this…

…but to counter…

if any fantasy IP would fit into a “Studio” park it would be Wizard of Oz. I know Wicked is technically a different thing but the iconography from those movies screams Golden Age of Hollywood more than any other theme park-viable IP (I’m operating under the assumption here that a Gone With the Wind land wouldn’t play lol).

 

[RFRees]

Fundamentally I agree with all of this…

…but to counter…

if any fantasy IP would fit into a “Studio” park it would be Wizard of Oz. I know Wicked is technically a different thing but the iconography from those movies screams Golden Age of Hollywood more than any other theme park-viable IP (I’m operating under the assumption here that a Gone With the Wind land wouldn’t play lol).

I can see your point.

However, I feel like Universal might want to make things feel fresh, as they've done with the Wicked movies. This would allow them to fully brand Oz as their own, rather than rely on the nostalgia from the original movie (which WB owns).

I guess it all depends on Universal's approach.

 

[belloq87]

'Wicked is the only IP that can save USF from the cancer that is The Simpsons.'

If that's the stance you're going with, I guess we'll need to agree to disagree.

That is not my stance, though.

My stance is "There are a limited number of plausible IPs to build an entire land around in USF, so let's keep as many of those options open as possible."

 

[RFRees]

That is not my stance, though.

My stance is "There are a limited number of plausible IPs to build an entire land around in USF, so let's keep as many of those options open as possible."

That's a much softer stance than your previous post where you seem to suggest USF is on life support:

I'm of the belief that the scale of work needed to get USF up to par (what I think is "par" is subjective, obviously) is quite large, and the "easiest" way to achieve that in a relatively fast timeline is through a singular, major land.

And again, we have no real indication that Supercharged or FFL are getting replaced with new E-tickets (or any tickets). A lot of us hope such things are coming soon.

IF those two things were to happen before the end of the decade (assuming the replacements were good), then yes, I think that buys USF a little more time to get Springfield's replacement sorted out. I think that's a big "if," though.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I am really hoping we can get some inside info from someone on whether the Simpsons contract has been extended or not.

 

[belloq87]

That's a much softer stance than your previous post where you seem to suggest USF is on life support:

One follows from the other. I think USF needs the scale of work that a new land could (relatively) quickly provide, so I want to see land-worthy options remain on the table. That's it!

I also wouldn't use the phrase "life support" to describe how I feel about the park. It's no secret I'm extremely down on USF from a creative standpoint, but I'm not implying the park is about to die from an attendance or monetary standpoint.

 

[fryoj]

IMO, and I say this from the slant of not consuming any Wicked content yet, Emerald City is a "reveal moment" location, and not a "see across the lagoon" location. I just don't think they can do that with the Simpson's plot. Epic portal makes a lot more sense to me for Oz.

Simpsons I'd rather see as Hill valley. Don't know if they'd actually bring it back though. One of the bigger issues would be, the amount of food venues in Simpsons. How easily could they shoehorn BttF into those? Besides Cafe 80's, theres not a lot of thematic fits. Sure "Hill Valley Tacos" and "Strickland's Donuts" can be done if necessary, but finding a second ip, or a different ip completely, may be needed to not lose the dining capacity.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Simpsons I'd rather see as Hill valley. Don't know if they'd actually bring it back though.

The interesting thing is: USF never had a Hill Valley. It could be the unique thing to set a new BTTF thing apart in USF.

 

[RFRees]

The interesting thing is: USF never had a Hill Valley. It could be the unique thing to set a new BTTF thing apart in USF.

First in Florida. Potentially the third, if we're counting USH (especially during Fanfest nights) and the rumored version at Universal Studios UK.