Universal Studios Florida: What Do We Think About It?

[Freak]

Plus Epic has the newness factor.

It has been decades since a new theme park opened in the Orlando market not including Legoland.

Unfortunately it was gonna feel dated regardless because the park still has a lot of the same bones from 1990.

That also presents another fundamental problem this park has: The bones of this park don't really permit the park to have anything else beyond simulators.

Just look at the park layout. There isn't really any means to put anything else in those spaces besides simulators. Any slots are all "blocked in" from all sides. This and the fact that this is the HHN park are likely the top contributors of this park being held back from improving.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

That also presents another fundamental problem this park has: The bones of this park don't really permit the park to have anything else beyond simulators.

Just look at the park layout. There isn't really any means to put anything else in those spaces besides simulators. Any slots are all "blocked in" from all sides. This and the fact that this is the HHN park are likely the top contributors of this park being held back from improving.

I think this is true to an extent - it's safe to assume that the Hollywood/New York/San Fran areas will largely look the same forever. It's just ingrained into the park's DNA, and I'm fine with that.

However, I think they can get creative with space to do some dark rides - even if they have to build vertically like Transformers. I think Villain Con could have been a dark ride - but the budget at that point was probably very low!

 

[Freak]

I think this is true to an extent - it's safe to assume that the Hollywood/New York/San Fran areas will largely look the same forever. It's just ingrained into the park's DNA, and I'm fine with that.

However, I think they can get creative with space to do some dark rides - even if they have to build vertically like Transformers. I think Villain Con could have been a dark ride - but the budget at that point was probably very low!

100%. SLoP or at least a dark ride with a similar layout could easily fit in Villain Con. IDK why they didn't go with a proper Minions dark ride.

The original plans for SLoP did call for a trackless dark ride where the entire queue, eatery, and exit gift shop were on the first floor with the entire ride on the second. This would be ideal for a Ghostbusters dark ride. They could put something like that where Fallon is and/or something similar where that empty building is behind the NY Library facade. They would probably want to keep that building empty for events and for pres for HHN so I guess just the Fallon structure.

Beyond that....shoot that entire South side of the park is basically gonna stay the way it is. Not much they can do. Other than that, you have FFL, The backstage area, Supercharged, Springfield and Dream Works Land to work with. That entire North side of the park is where all of the major change will be at. Even then they will probably want to tread carefully with the backstage space to not interfere much with HHN.

Man, Men In Black is kind of in the way for park expansion. But that's my favorite shooter lol

 

[belloq87]

That also presents another fundamental problem this park has: The bones of this park don't really permit the park to have anything else beyond simulators.

Just look at the park layout. There isn't really any means to put anything else in those spaces besides simulators. Any slots are all "blocked in" from all sides. This and the fact that this is the HHN park are likely the top contributors of this park being held back from improving.

I don't think that's true.

The Supercharged plot is massive. The Race Through New York building didn't house a simulator until 2017. Springfield and/or (currently) back-of-house in DreamWorks offers plenty of space. FFL and VillainCon's plots could house compact dark rides, as well.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

100%. SLoP or at least a dark ride with a similar layout could easily fit in Villain Con. IDK why they didn't go with a proper Minions dark ride.

The original plans for SLoP did call for a trackless dark ride where the entire queue, eatery, and exit gift shop were on the first floor with the entire ride on the second. This would be ideal for a Ghostbusters dark ride. They could put something like that where Fallon is and/or something similar where that empty building is behind the NY Library facade. They would probably want to keep that building empty for events and for pres for HHN so I guess just the Fallon structure.

Beyond that....shoot that entire South side of the park is basically gonna stay the way it is. Not much they can do. Other than that, you have FFL, The backstage area, Supercharged, Springfield and Dream Works Land to work with. That entire North side of the park is where all of the major change will be at. Even then they will probably want to tread carefully with the backstage space to not interfere much with HHN.

Man, Men In Black is kind of in the way for park expansion. But that's my favorite shooter lol

I've mentioned it a ton of times on IU across different threads, but I think people underrate how much potential the FFL area has. Combining the FFL theater and MIB tent area, you can build a show building the size of Mummy!

 

[Mad Dog]

I've mentioned it a ton of times on IU across different threads, but I think people underrate how much potential the FFL area has. Combining the FFL theater and MIB tent area, you can build a show building the size of Mummy!

I'd like a dark ride replacement for FFL, but if I remember correctly, they can't use the MIB tent area due to access issues.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I'd like a dark ride replacement for FFL, but if I remember correctly, they can't use the MIB tent area due to access issues.

I know they couldn't use it for HHN, but I wasn't sure if those issues would still exist with a new build!