The first shows the location in the park for the project, which will be located between the Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park lands.
The second shows the position of the show building for Project 340 within the project site.
This is a building of significant size, almost as large as the show building for Hogwarts Castle. (If you'd like to examine the full collection of correspondence filed with the district on this project, the application number is 140320-17 and the permit number is 48-00103-S. Kudos to @orlando_united for tweeting about these plans yesterday, before I got around to my weekly check of the district and City of Orlando permitting websites.)
These documents connect Project 340 with a specific site within the boundaries of Islands of Adventure, effectively confirming that Project 340 is a new attraction in the park, and almost certainly the King Kong project that we've reported has been approved by Universal for development. But what will Universal fans discover inside that show building? We await the filing of additional information with local regulatory agencies or the leak of more detail from people associated with the project. Until then, your informed speculation is welcomed in the comments.
Tweet
kong seems like a better fit in disaster or twister at universal
As for wondering whether Universal's new set of fans will care, the success of Springfield and Transformers (which will be reflected in this past year's attendance) show that as long as it's quality, the people will come.
So, while I don't think this (whatever it is) will be open by January, I fully expect it to be open by next May. Which, in a way, is kinda insane.
I'm all for an expansion, especially when it means adding and not just replacing. I know Universal doesn't have that much room to play with, but this seems like a pretty good way to use it. I'm not in love with King Kong, but I'll still give it a thumb's up for the investment.
@Rob If IOA is expanding Jurassic Park for 2015, shouldn't that work be underway now? And, is it? Also, what are "they" saying is going to change? I am much more excited about JP expansion than the addition of King Kong, fo' sho'.
However, if the rumors of what's coming are true, I am not excited. There are other ways to pull the family crowd without dumping in some spinners and a lightly themed, off the shelf youth coaster. Universal need only look at the Gringott's Family coaster they are building at US for an example of something they should be doing for a Jurassic Park expansion! A 40" height requirement should help get more kiddies into the park. In this one case, I hope the rumors about what is coming to the JP expansion are wrong and Universal is going to continue the trend of bringing innovative new attractions to their parks, not a bunch of themed carnival rides.
Still, Universal is on a roll attraction-wise, so until TPI snags the official expansion plans and posts them six months before Universal actually announces them, I will withhold judgement.
Again, Universal Creative has been on a roll, so I am not discounting anything. My only real point is that I wish Jurassic Park was getting the BIG expansion in 2016 instead of King Kong. While King Kong has sentimental value to me, I doubt many of the Potterites driving the attendance at Universal will plan repeat visits just to see a giant ape. King Kong does not seem to be a character that resonates with today's youth. Even the 2005 Peter Jackson film which amassed $550M world wide (at a $300M cost) has an AUDIENCE rating of only 50% on Rotten Tomatoes (a "C"). Critics generally liked the film, and it made some good DVD money for Universal, but it would seem JP with its $2.1B in world wide success and its upcoming new movie (Jurassic World) is the stronger candidate for a major new attraction.
As for a JP major attraction, the problem comes from the property itself. What else can you do that hasn't already been done with Jurassic Park River Adventure? Head through the gates? Check. See herbivores in their environment? Check. Something goes horribly wrong? Check. Approaching sense of danger? Check. Raptors attacking? Check. Dilophosaurus spitting? Check. T. rex attempting to eat you? Check.
All the boxes for Jurassic Park are checked off in River Adventure. A jeep ride that everyone wants would basically be the same ride without the water.
Also, whatever they are planning for Kong can be done with JP... just substitute a T-Rex or some other dino for Kong. If I remember correctly, in JP2 the T-Rex was running amok in some major city (maybe even New York), so you could even have him climb the Empire State Building or the (RIP) Twin Towers. =)
Regardless, we'll just have to wait for TPI to break the news before we can get too excited or disappointed about what is or is not coming.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
