Universal's Epic Universe - New Theme Park?

[BevS97]

Originally Posted by loola30

Overview of the ‘resort’:

Completely agree that is seems disjointed at the moment. I’ll be interested to see how this goes.

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Thank you. That’s interesting.

They are always going to struggle since they didn’t have Walt buying a huge parcel of land while It was all empty.

What’s happening with the wet n wild land?

[gjdjud]

Originally Posted by BevS97

Thank you. That’s interesting.

They are always going to struggle since they didn’t have Walt buying a huge parcel of land while It was all empty.

What’s happening with the wet n wild land?

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Wet n wild is now the new Endless Summer Resort. The 4 Universal parks still won’t be a spread out as Disney though when you take the distance from Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by kerrie1781

I thought the land was at the other end of international drive? Further past Seaworld?

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The new park is just south of W Sand Lake Road and north-east of Pointe Orlando. So it's closer to the rest of Universal than Seaworld. It's not on International Drive. It's east of Universal Blvd. It's about a mile away from the Endless Summer Resort.

See the map already posted - although note that Universal aren't currently developing all of that and not everything will be part of the theme park. Some areas will be used for parking and additional roads.

Here's what the plans currently look like:

Universal Blvd runs across the bottom. The big grey area near the middle of the picture will be the parking lot. The actual park itself is in the area northwest-ish of the grey parking lot

The plans also say that there will be a dedicated bus lane along S Kirkman Road. That'll be used to transport guests from the current Universal Resort area to the new park. I believe work is already underway for this.

[°o°-Hannah-°o°]

I really hope they don’t include even more Harry Potter stuff in a new park. I’m so bored of Universal and this time the kids have only wanted to go twice as ‘there’s not much to do and we’ve done it all loads of times before’. Universal is dating fast.

[bighal]

Just in case anyone didn't know the new park is being built on the former Lockheed Martin land, you know the one where you used to get lost and end up at a security gate and had to turn around..

[Squidgyness]

Originally Posted by CAD

Interesting. The common feel is that Universal is pretty on trend at the moment. It's quite refreshing to hear that not everyone has been impressed as much as Universal would like you to believe.

I suspect that there will be Harry Potter in the new park as it be another draw for many Harry Potter fans. I think placing Harry Potter across two parks was such a clever idea financially for them I can see them trying it again.

This video is quite good if anyone is interested in what maybe happening.

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When we were deciding whether to go back in 2017 we noted that Disney was like a time capsule from 2009 - except for all the things that had closed or were not as good as they were back in the day. Universal on the other hand was vibrant and new with things happening - it felt like a real up and coming destination.

For me after 2 onsite visits to Universal (with days in the disney parks) the feel is still the same - Universal the youthful and active parks, Disney lumbering and reacting from a deep slumber. This new announcement is yet more sign that of the two it is they who are making more moves and forging ahead. Plus, at least when Universal do make a mis-step with a bad ride (Fast and Furious) another comes along to interest me.

Hopefully it spurs Disney to do more than simply plonk a few more shops and a single ride into one of their parks. Another park or at least a major expansion (not simply replacing dated things but adding new things as well) would be nice.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by °o°-Hannah-°o°

I really hope they don’t include even more Harry Potter stuff in a new park.

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Considering the amount of interest in Harry Potter stuff - the Hagrid ride had huge queues on opening day and Universal still sells a ton of overpriced Butterbeer and magic wands - I'd be very surprised if the new park didn't have a Harry Potter area in it.

Originally Posted by bighal

Just in case anyone didn't know the new park is being built on the former Lockheed Martin land, you know the one where you used to get lost and end up at a security gate and had to turn around..

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I remember looking on Google many years ago and seeing a Lockheed Martin site there. I wondered whether I could get a job there (until recently, the customer for the project I was working on was Lockheed Martin).

I believe LM will still be in the area. Their offices are just to the east of the new park.

Originally Posted by Squidgyness

Hopefully it spurs Disney to do more than simply plonk a few more shops and a single ride into one of their parks.

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You mean like Universal did with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at IOA?

[kerrie1781]

I can’t see Harry Potter in the new park - there’s talk of The Hobbit or Lord of the rings (I get mixed up with those).
I love Universal, I like rides so find it more thrilling.
Very excited to see what’s announced though.

[lizzie145]

i think it will be monster related though how this will look i have no idea and then some HP stuff relating to the more recent films so it fits in.
Nintendo land will most likely be there - though i dont see the big attraction but maybe i am not hip enough?

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by kerrie1781

I can’t see Harry Potter in the new park - there’s talk of The Hobbit or Lord of the rings (I get mixed up with those).
I love Universal, I like rides so find it more thrilling.
Very excited to see what’s announced though.

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I think there were speculative rumours of a Middle Earth area but I get the impression talks with Tolkein's estate haven't gotten very far. I'd love to see a Middle Earth area but the rumours don't seem to be pointing this way any more (still, who knows!).

A Super Nintendo world/area and a Dreamworks area seem very likely. There may be a couple of different Dreamworks areas (Shrek, Madagascar, How To Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, etc). An Illuminations area (Minions/Despicable Me, and maybe Secret Life of Pets?) is also probable. There's talk of a classic Universal monsters area. They may add a Waterworld area because a couple of their other parks have this. They may also have a Jurassic World area, but that seems to be covered by IOA. Then there's a potential Harry Potter area.