First, at Universal Orlando — We are hearing that Universal has decided to proceed with plans to build two hotel towers on the Wet 'n Wild property, which will become available after the world's first water park closes forever after next summer. With the water park and its parking lot across the street taking up about 51 acres, the parcels are far too small to host a third gate for the Universal Orlando Resort. It'd be a tight fit to provide a home for the sprawling types of hotels that Universal Orlando has built on its core property, too. (Take a look at Google Maps and see how much space the Cabana Bay Beach Resort takes, for an example.)
But two high-rise hotel towers would fit perfectly on the parcels, with room for some nice landscaping buffer around the property, too. Universal management has expressed its desire to have 10,000-15,000 hotel rooms on its property. The addition of the Sapphire Falls Resort next summer will bring the resort up to 5,000 rooms, so Universal has quite a way to go to reach its goal. With land filling quickly at the resort, there's just one way left to go — up — so hotels towers appear to be the solution.
As for replacing Wet 'n Wild, Universal Orlando has announced plans for the new Volcano Bay water park, to be build on land south of the Cabana Bay hotel and scheduled for a 2017 opening.
Next, down the road at the Walt Disney World Resort — We have heard the big news from multiple sources that Disney has selected a contractor to build its planned Star Wars Land, and that the announcement of the new land will be coming very soon. The obvious time and place for the announcement would be the Disney Parks presentation at the D23 Expo in Anaheim on August 15, but Disney has yet to announce any announcement during the Expo for new attractions at its parks.
Still, when a theme park gets to the point of hiring outside construction help, that means that the project is a go and shovels are ready to hit the ground. Fans should expect visible construction work to begin on Star Wars Land in the park not long after the official announcement, unlike with the Avatar project, where designs weren't completed and a contractor wasn't hired for a few years after Disney's initial announcement of the land. (Or, FWIW, any of Universal's projects, where the attractions are darn near well completed before Universal bothers to make a formal announcement.)
As for Star Wars Land at the Disneyland Resort, most of what we are hearing from insiders suggests that project will run slightly behind the Walt Disney World version, so we are expecting an opening date at Disneyland at least a year or more behind Walt Disney World's, though we are not convinced that is a set deal at this point.
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I'd love to see a Universal designed high rise, and I'd be all for a 30-story hotel or two.
As for WDW, does anyone really think Star Wars will be completed in two years? I'm guessing they will perhaps finish one phase by then, but Disney likes to open lands at a slow pace. If the quality is what I know they can deliver, I don't mind waiting, I should mention.
I just really hope if that $3b vault that they may be working with is close to being correct, some of that money is earmarked for a re-working of the parking lots and thus, an actual footprint expansion of the park, rather than simply swapping attractions and some (major) re-theming. DHS is too small, as-is.
It's such an exciting time to be a Universal/Disney fan.
I am also very excited for Star Wars Land. I think the Original Trilogy is the greatest and most original space story ever told (sorry Trekkies!). And the Prequels are my three biggest guilty pleasures (please don't hate me!). However, I have a tough time theorizing about what attractions you could put in a Star Wars Land. Every moment from the films that would translate well into a ride have already been done in Star Tours.
You wanna reenact the trench scene from A New Hope? Star Tours has it.
You want the Battle of Hoth from Empire Strikes Back? Star Tours has it.
You wanna go podracing like in Phantom Menace? Star Tours has it.
You wanna meet Darth Vader? Not only does he appear in Star Tours, but your own kid actually gets to fight him with a lightsaber.
I've heard that Disney wants to incorporate some stuff from the new movie in there. Maybe that will have some good ride-worthy scenes. But hopefully not too much, so that the fans of the previous films can still enjoy the land. And hopefully the official name won't be "Star Wars Land." "Star Wars Galaxy" would probably be a much better name.
Whilst Disney has clearly lagged behind Universal in the development of high quality new attractions in the US, to suggest that they have not invested in their parks is grossly false.
In recent years, Disney has spent over $1 billion in upgrading infrastructure at their WDW parks, with the key component being the Mymagic+. This has been for the sole purpose of improving customer enjoyment whilst within the parks. There has been some criticism on this site, but mostly relating to the changes in the fast pass system, a small component of the upgrades.
By my investigations on the net (I'm not an investigative journalist), this is a significantly larger investment than the 2 Harry Potter zones combined, and I'm assuming was a far more difficult sell to the board, because its not a very marketable investment.
Whilst I'm not suggesting that increased attention to providing sorely needed new attractions is not required, I do believe that on this website's comments sections (and not noticeably in the greater community, looking at tripadvisor) there has been an excessive amount of criticism directed at Disney for not keeping up with the Jones's.
I'd be interested in seeing an article from Robert (who always provides a balanced and reasonable report on events) looking at what Disney's investments have been in recent times and what success, both financially and otherwise, they may have had.
Yeah lines are much shorter now and wait times are non existing. Disney made them to better trace their guests (location, spending, preference) to earn more money from them while DHS has almost no rides anymore and Epcot is a collection boring old pavilions in a very sad state.
Yes Universal spend less money making stunning rides and hotels to deligt guests.
I'm wondering if there aren't any good ideas laying around at Immaginering (or what is left of it). The Star Wars theme park ip has been Disney's forever and the only thing they've done with it is build a sad simulator. Even the update didn't pull any extra customers to their ride.
It's funny to thing Universal would build something else then hotels on the W&W site. The land is to small and devided for a theme park. That doesn't mean they aren't planning for one in the future.
For the time beeing they develop unused pieces of land in new rides, plus area's with smaller rides and theming and replace old rides with lands where people spend tons of hours enjoying themselfs.
Mymagic serves numerous purposes, tracking guest spending and time utilisation is one of these. This is called marketing, and Universal does it too.
You ask if there are any original ideas left in Disney? I simply ask if Universal has ever created something original. Yes, their theme is movies, and as such all of their attractions are derived from other people's ideas.
Universal has hit several home runs recently in presenting other people's ideas in a theme park format. I didn't detect any original ideas at all when I was there, just giving fans what they want.
I will be shocked if in the next few years Universal does not their own Mymagic+, complete with an ability to track guest spending so as to better market their product.
Universals 2 latest attractions: King kong and Fast Furious supercharged are Universal properties. Also Jurassic park, Despicable Me and mummy major attractions are Universals. So many of their attractions are their own though not all.
Regarding Star Wars land, I've been so disappointed with everything new in WDW since Tower of Terror opened 2 decades ago. Everything since then overall has been underwhelming imo. So I won't get excited until I see major plans on the level of Shanghai or Disney sea quality. If I had to guess, they will keep Star Tours as the anchor attraction of the land, and simply add themeing shopping and dining opportunities with no major new attraction. Hey that strategy clearly worked with New Fantasyland so why not for Star Wars? Hopefully I'm wrong.
I find that people on this site are getting excessively biased in their opinions, and it's beginning to remind me of the fanboys debating Marvel vs DC on IMDB. Yes, Disney hasn't developed new attractions as aggressively as Universal in recent times, they have still managed to redevelop DCA (finished 2012), update fantasyland and invest majorly in resort infrastructure.
They haven't had the success of universal, who deserve the credit they receive for some incredible new areas, but neither have they done nothing.
I look forward to Skull Island, and to Star Wars "land". It should be noted that Disney has not sat on their hands and done nothing with Star Wars for 20 years. They have had, with Lucas' permission, the rights to do a certain amount (Star Tours). Since buying Lucasfilm in 2012, it seems that they have delayed the development of new theme park attractions for the release of the new films - I agree they should have begun stuff earlier, but ultimately they couldn't have had stuff starting a huge amount earlier.
You mean like what Universal did with Springfield?
Yes Epcot needs some TLC and renewed focus. Yes DHS needs an overhaul (coming soon). Yes, the Magic Kingdom hasn't had a real E-Ticket expansion in a few years. Yes, the biggest investment they've put in the parks is a system to scientifically track and manipulate the movements of its guests.
But some years you just get socks and underwear from your grandmother. Doesn't mean you have to trash talk her.
There were no concrete paths in Pandora, and how are they going to replicate any of the sets in Star Wars without it looking like a theme park? The best part of walking into Hogsmeade (and especially Diagon Alley) is suspension of disbelief.
Bringing Star Wars together into a cohesive land and combining it with rides / shops.... good luck. I would love to see how this is going to be pulled off by the Imagineers.
Once again, I thank Disney for poor decision making and giving Universal the opportunity to bring one of my favorite movie franchises to life. If Disney doesn't put the obligatory carnival spinner and other kid friendly rides in these new lands, I will be surprised.
I will now sit back and wait for the predictable response from TH Creative.. he can spew out some attendance numbers and tell me how paying for parking at Universal hotels is for suckers. Can't wait to hear about 2021 where Disney will announce they are half done with the expansions.
A good land needs 1-2 e-ticket rides, as well as a couple of smaller rides to keep people out of the queues for the main attraction. Admittedly, spinners are a rather lazy choice for a smaller ride, I think cars land provides a good example of reasonable quality space-effective secondary rides (despite the failure of the hovering tyres ride, I think credit is due for trying something different). I may forgive Disney if they include an X-wing / Tie fighter spinner, but I'd be much happier flying the x-wing down the death star trench.
I see why they re-themed the two coasters at Islands of Adventure. It was a smart way to incorporate Potter into an existing area. Neither one of them sees very much action. The line for the Dragon Challenge has never been more than 5-10 minutes since Hogsmeade arrived. The entrance is hidden by a huge wall so you see less of the coaster and it is a bit hard to find if you are a newcomer.
Hogsmeade is a bit different because you do not feel as "immersed" as you do at Diagon Alley. They went to great lengths to hide those coasters as much as possible, but they are not truly part of the Potter world. I am glad they are not visible from any part of the "villiage" portion.
Any 3D screen based ride requires a huge building, which could work for Avatar as there was one in the movie. I am struggling to think of ways Star Wars could work well and not seem "Disneyfied".
I would be willing to bet each land gets a spinner. Dragon type creatures for Avatar and Land Speeders for Star Wars. The fact that Disney has to do everything "kid friendly" limits them to rather lame ride mechanics.
Avatar should have a Manta-like 56" height B&M flyer that dips through and around trees and a more intense 3D motion simulator ala Spidey or something similar. They could make up an all new story like Uni did with Gringotts and Forbidden Journey. They both have the "you are on a tour and everything goes wrong" story.
Ah you are talking about non movie creativity. I do agree that Mystic Manor is a purely original idea. But Everest I do not. It takes all of it's incluence from pre existing lore and culture of Tibet. So instead of reinterpreting a movie, Disney is presenting a major world culture, so not an original idea at all. This is something Disney does very well and often and it's how Disney's animation became so successful (by using the preexisting european fairy tales).
There are actually very few purely original ideas that disney presents in their parks, even if they are indeed non movie based. And that's certainly not a bad thing. Fun immersive environments, whether harry potter from a movie or Frontierland which was rooted in the lore and cinema of the American West during the 50s, is why theme parks are so much fun.
The point I am making is in response to comments that Disney has not invested in its parks, and that there is no originality in Disney parks. Unfortunately originality is rare to theme parks these days, but Disney and some European parks still do have some original attractions.
Harry Potter is uniquely suited to an immersive themed environment, and Universal has done an imppeccable job of adapting it (and Disney could not have done a better job). The bar has been lifted by Universals efforts.
Star Wars (and to a lesser degree Avatar) have the opportunity to have incredible atmosphere and attractions. They will struggle to match the interactive immersion of WWOHP.
Star Wars can use the force to some effect (I can't wait to hear the complaints that they're copying WWOHP on this site if they do), and I'm sure we'll see lots of light sabers around (that will become very annoying after a while).
As for spinners and other rides detracting from an immersive experience and "Disney"fying things, I guess that's an issue. Universal has proven the power of immersion without too many attractions, but a park can't exist on that alone, it can only work in isolated areas. Or can it.
As for the whole Disney vs. Universal debate...while I enjoy what Universal has done in recent years, they have all been screen-based attractions (FJ was a partial exception). I love the fact that Disney gave us sets and AAs in New Fantasyland and Cars Land.
Speaking of which, I know some of you don't like NFL. But it's a huge hit with most WDW visitors. To me, that counts a lot more than the opinions of posters on theme park sites.
Disney knows its audience. Not everything has to be "technologically cutting edge", and not everything should feel like you've been plunged into the middle of a video game or animated movie.
There is a lot of value in an old school attraction like RSR or 7DMT, in which the technical achievements are more hidden and less in your face. By the way, on our last Orlando trip, we enjoyed Dwarves more than Gringotts (shock! heresy!)
They really haven't provided an answer to a ride like RSR, which is all AAs and sets, including a spectacular mountain range. Universal's recent offerings have been loads of screens and 3D. And the AAs in the Gringotts queue were all the same thing, except for some slight variations in behavior.
I'm not knocking Universal, because we always have a great time there. But it's time for more variety in their parks.
By the way, we found the new Festival of Fantasy parade as delightful as anything in Diagon Alley. Disney really knows how to create a great parade; Universal's parades are decent at best. I saw one in 2012, and I think it's been shelved, with no replacement. I doubt many people noticed.
I'm sure we could all list off great rides we would love to see incorporated based on Disney flicks. For me, I would love to see a WALL-E ride in Tomorrowland or a Tangled Floating lights 3D experience in Fantasyland.
I really enjoy immersion and feel like being immersed in a Disney film at WDW is perfect for me!
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All the excitement is in Orlando. With the contractors chosen for Star Wars, construction should take no more than 2 years. Is 2017 the Grand Opening?