Universal Studios Florida: What Do We Think About It?

[UniversalRBLX]

A few days ago, Storm Force, Popeye's and Ripsaw all closed an hour before park close, anyone know what's up with that?

Standard process for Popeye’s, but Ripsaw and Storm Force doing that is relatively new.

 

[belloq87]

I'm bringing this whole discussion over here, because I think it's more relevant to the parkwide conversation than the HRRR replacement:

I love Epic, been there four times, plan to go many more times.

Universal has gotten plenty of "we're working on Epic so IOA/USF gets neglected" passes already.

2019 - Hagrids - good year
2020 - Bourne - mediocre year
2021 - Velocicoaster - good year
2022 - nothing - first Epic pass (arguably considered the 'COVID pass')
2023 - Villaincon - subpar year - second pass
2024 - parade, nighttime show, DreamWorks - subpar year - third pass
2025 - Epic - fourth pass
2026 - nothing ?- fifth pass
2027 - RRR replacement? - Hopefully good?

Here's my perspective - no major theme park should sit there longer than five years without something new. It'll be five years for IOA in 2026. The Epic pass has been used (several times), but now it's time to throw up some work walls at the neglected parks. They've done that with USF. I'll be happy to see it with IOA, and disappointed (but somewhat understanding) if it doesn't happen somewhat soon. (My guess is 2026 for IOA work walls with 2028 open date.)

It's not a pass, it's the reality of the situation. Epic is the addition for 2025, and they were planning to ride that wave into 2026 (outside of possible small additions). We're really minimizing how COVID messed up a lot of things.

You’re moving the goal posts now to “USF and IOA additions” and are already signaling that you’ll move them again based on what you personally consider a big addition. The idea that dreamworks, a new parade, and a new nighttime show is a pass year id laughable.

To probably nobody's surprise, I'm more of @RFRees' view than not. I have been concerned about Epic's impact on the ability for USF to be more quickly fixed since the park got underway. Now, concerned enough to wish Epic didn't happen at all? No. But I foresaw this exact scenario unfolding, which is why the subpar (Bourne-excluded) all-day attractions added since Diagon are all the more unfortunate; everything that is not Bourne or entertainment has been a complete whiff (in my opinion; mileage varies) from 2015 onward.

Part of me misses when they didn’t promise “something new” every year.

Sometimes you need time to cook.

They better be cooking some impressive things for this park.

Waterworld is a perfect example, as is Bourne, and Terminator before Bourne.

...please tell me this is a Waterworld tease...

I dare not even begin to get my hopes up for WaterWorld, but something on that level would really do a lot of good (while we wait for the even-more-needed help to arrive).

 

[Brian G.]

I'm bringing this whole discussion over here, because I think it's more relevant to the parkwide conversation than the HRRR replacement:

To probably nobody's surprise, I'm more of @RFRees' view than not. I have been concerned about Epic's impact on the ability for USF to be more quickly fixed since the park got underway. Now, concerned enough to wish Epic didn't happen at all? No. But I foresaw this exact scenario unfolding, which is why the subpar (Bourne-excluded) all-day attractions added since Diagon are all the more unfortunate; everything that is not Bourne or entertainment has been a complete whiff (in my opinion; mileage varies) from 2015 onward.

I'm sorry, but calling a VelociCoaster a whiff because you don't like it is an asinine statement.

Either way, we're not arguing the quality of attractions. I'm arguing that being disappointed that 2026 doesn't have anything major after a new freaking theme park opened is spoiled AF.

These bad-faith arguments are exhausting.

 

[belloq87]

I'm sorry, but calling a VelociCoaster a whiff because you don't like it is an asinine statement.

1. VelociCoaster is not in USF.
2. I have never implied VC was anything other than a big win for IOA overall.

 

[Brian G.]

1. VelociCoaster is not in USF.
2. I have never implied VC was anything other than a big win for IOA overall.

Apologies then; but you took a conversation that was discussing resort wide investments and pivoted it so you can understand the confusions.

 

[belloq87]

Apologies then; but you took a conversation that was discussing resort wide investments and pivoted it so you can understand the confusions.

My intent with bringing the discussion here was to focus it on USF.

 

[Brian G.]

My intent with bringing the discussion here was to focus it on USF.

Yes - I understand but this is merging two different discussions. The intent of the discussion was about how there is no 2026 addition; not “USF needs help”.

 

[belloq87]

Well, USF would have been helped by a major 2026 addition!

I thought I was preventing thread drift by addressing the angle of the discussion that I wanted to comment on in the thread I thought was most relevant to it. If I should have done so in the HRRR thread instead of here, then I apologize.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I truly think the entire resort is fine without a new addition in 2026. Maybe something small like a new dining location, some entertainment, etc. I'd like to see them continue to work their way through the quick service locations like they've been doing!

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Insane that we got a brand new state of the art theme park, first in 25 years, and we’re complaining there isn’t more being done, when there is construction started on a replacement for USF clearly happening.

 

[Tyc00n96]

I saw in another thread the hint of maybe a new show for 2026. I hadn't heard that before.

 

[Brian G.]

Well, USF would have been helped by a major 2026 addition!

I thought I was preventing thread drift by addressing the angle of the discussion that I wanted to comment on in the thread I thought was most relevant to it. If I should have done so in the HRRR thread instead of here, then I apologize.

I get the intent, and I appreciate that. I was clarifying why there was an assumption you weren't just strictly talking about USF because the conversation was about a larger talking point.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I saw in another thread the hint of maybe a new show for 2026. I hadn't heard that before.

Waterworld I beleive has been confirmed to fit in the FFL plot. That to me just makes by far the most sense. I find it wild it’s not in Orlando in general.

If this were to happen, and open I’d assume for summer, wouldn’t construction need to start, kinda asap?

 

[TheUniC6]

Waterworld I beleive has been confirmed to fit in the FFL plot. That to me just makes by far the most sense. I find it wild it’s not in Orlando in general.

If this were to happen, and open I’d assume for summer, wouldn’t construction need to start, kinda asap?

Maybe the reason why it was passed on for Orlando has to due with the Florida stormy climate. But that wouldn't hold water since Singapore has a similar climate.

If there is a new show at USF for 2026, it will likely take the form of a parade.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Maybe the reason why it was passed on for Orlando has to due with the Florida stormy climate. But that wouldn't hold water since Singapore has a similar climate.

If there is a new show at USF for 2026, it will likely take the form of a parade.

I think the lack of WaterWorld is just a mix of other projects being in the work and prioritized over WaterWorld for USF.

USF opened with the Wild Wild Wild West. When IOA was under development/under construction in the mid-1990s, the Eight Voyage of Sinbad would be designed as the park's stunt show, albeit a different theme. Simultaneously, Terminator 2 is being worked on for the park and opens up in 1996. So with those two projects in the works, there was no real need to push WaterWorld into USF.

Obviously, Sinbad wasn't well received and saw a pretty consistent flow of alterations to the storyline. Fear Factor (the show) then premieres in 2001, and the park wants to synergize with that IP versus WaterWorld... and opens up FFL in 2005 - great idea but the show isn't well received. Once they realize FFL is not great, the park/resort is in jeopardy with all resources diverted to Potter.

After Hogsmeade, UOR goes through a massive transformation with other major projects in the work that pushes WaterWorld off to the side.

History of Stunt Shows at UOR:
Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show (USF) - 1991 to 2003
Terminator 2 3D (USF) - 1996 to 2017
Eight Voyage of Sindbad (IOA) - 1999 to 2018
Fear Factor Live (USF) - 2005 to 2020
Matt Hoffman's Aggro Circus (IOA) - 2010 to 2011
Bourne Stuntacular (USF) - 2020 to Present


Obviously, Universal deems WaterWorld a major success, so while it is shocking that Orlando never got it, looking at the timeline makes sense.

 

[Tyc00n96]

Waterworld I beleive has been confirmed to fit in the FFL plot. That to me just makes by far the most sense. I find it wild it’s not in Orlando in general.

If this were to happen, and open I’d assume for summer, wouldn’t construction need to start, kinda asap?

if WW were to go in the FFL spot construction wouldn't be able to begin until HHN is over (obv). I don't think they would waste that spot on the old Sinbad theater etc. To further TheUnic6's point, I don't think it would be of this scale of something was slated for '26 but I'd love to be wrong.

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[Rhian]

Were the FFL theater get replaced where would HHN have its show? The FFL stage is flexible enough to change things around for a different show each year but the WW stage is custom-built like the Sinbad theater.