Universal Orlando Resort (USF, IOA, Epic) Discussion Thread

[PriestofSyrinx]

If anything is going to be a fad in Orlando, it maybe Avatar at Animal Kingdom, which could turnout to be flop, who knows?

Right, but I can't think of many people in Hollywood more "bankable" than James Cameron, can you?

 

Michael Bay?

 

But you are right, he does have the golden touch. (Still waiting for a Kukla Arm "Aliens" ride)

 

Hell, the more competition, the better. As long as Disney comes out on top.

 

Nick "For my Career's sake" Wells

[O-Town77]

Speaking of George Lucas, he did an interview with Time magazine in 1983 saying he was burned out and done with Star Wars after Return of the Jedi. Then he got divorced a few years later and went back to work on the prequels.

 

JK Rowling also said last year during her interview with Oprah that a new book in the series is still a possibility.

 

Even if a new book is not written, Pottermore was just launched and will include tons of previously unreleased material and an online game/social networking portal with more unique content. That can carry the franchise for years to come.

 

Nor have I seen a single article or media outlet say Harry Potter is fading...

 

As to the articles I was referring to:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204261704574276261288253316.html

http://www.examiner.com/book-in-national/the-twilight-vs-harry-potter-debate-team-potter-and-team-twilight-take-on-question-1

http://www.eonline.com/news/ask_the_answer_bitch/once_all_harry_potter_better_twilight/187768

 

Harry Potter Versus Twilight..... is like the old Star Wars Versus Star Trek debates.

Twilight has a long way to go to match Harry's box office, yet according to most

of the articles -- Potter fans are moving to the Twilight book series since they

have run out of new Potter books.

 

E! Online found that the Harry Potter series was better overall -- of course,

they've had nearly twice as many movies / books to perfect it. Personally,

I like Potter better -- so I'm probably biased. But, there is a huge Twilight

following out there that I can't discount. It would be a popular land if

created, too.

[O-Town77]

If anything is going to be a fad in Orlando, it maybe Avatar at Animal Kingdom, which could turnout to be flop, who knows?

Right, but I can't think of many people in Hollywood more "bankable" than James Cameron, can you?

 

Michael Bay?

 

But you are right, he does have the golden touch. (Still waiting for a Kukla Arm "Aliens" ride)

 

Hell, the more competition, the better. As long as Disney comes out on top.

 

Nick "For my Career's sake" Wells

 

True.

I'd say Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, George Lucas and James Cameron are all incredibly bankable.

Personally, I think Avatar is one of Cameron's weaker projects based on its concept -- not box office returns.

 

I think "the Abyss" would make a cooler attraction than Avatar if they could pull off the water effects.

Just think about a submarine ride where you end up being chased by "water snakes." I doubt the

technology is possible, but it would be amazing if they could pull it off.

[Gnome]

Twilight has a smaller demographic. For example, I dont see to many men reading the twilight series. Harry Potter, on the other hand, is more "Universal" (see what I did there?) and is more appealing to children and adults and not just teens and soccer moms. And of course readers of the HP series are going to move on. The last book came out how long ago? Do you expect them to keep buying the same book?

[cfc]

Love it or hate it, the Harry Potter series has broader appeal than Twilight. Universal is banking on the idea that Potter will have the same staying power as LOTR. Then again, they did squeeze a lot of years out of Jaws, a series that produced only one good movie.

Edited December 7, 2011 by cfc

[Anything]

There's just too much Harry Potter stuff going around now!

[Inukaza]

We had a news story running last night with the announcement (and a interview from attraction magazine), claiming that the latest rumors about the expansion that were posted 3 hours before is the 90% thing that will happen. The expansion will probally go in the UStudios park and will have a train linking the too.

 

After that, I run on TPR and am happy that it's not true. I can't wait for the expansion. It's a shame I'll be in college and out of state by then.

 

Now, we have the entire senior class believing it's exactly how it was said on the news, and how gradbash will be even better. (Obviously it won't even be ready in time.)

[ernierocker]

^Wait, I am confused. Where are you reading on here that the rumors are not true? Because everything I have read is that Potter is taking over Jaws and there will be a train linking the two.

[Swimace]

^ You keep trying to convince everybody that HP is a Fad ... it's not working.

 

BTTF a fad? Are you serious? Just because a ride was removed doesn't mean that the movies aren't popular anymore. My daughter just watched the movies for the first time a few weeks ago and LOVED THEM!!

 

I'm not trying to convince everybody of anything.

 

I simply agree with what a lot of media outlets have already said. That Harry Potter is fading and is gradually being replaced by Twilight.

Don't kill the messenger. Twilight will eventually fade and probably be replaced by Vampire Diaries -- who knows?

 

BTTF is no longer relevant enough for Universal to keep it at their parks. I own the trilogy and love the films. But kids don't

know them unless their parents force 'em to watch the DVD's. I think you are getting hung up on the semantics of the term

fad. Just because something runs its course, doesn't mean it still isn't great to watch for nostalgia. Just like Generation Z

won't know Harry Potter because there won't be any new books or films -- they will only know it when parents introduce them

to "the classics" since it will fade from pop culture (without new offerings).

 

I don't see people hanging posters of Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke) on their walls anymore, either. Time marches on.

 

Right, but I think you're failing to take into account the staying power of a franchise like this in a theme park. Is Little Mermaid or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs coming out with any more movies? No? Someone tell Disney to stop construction on New Fantasyland! Does Splash Mountain draw huge crowds year after year? Who the hell has watched the Song of the South lately?

 

Characters can stay recognizable loooong after they stop producing new books or movies, just look at pretty much everything Disney builds. Your Generation Z argument isn't very convincing.

 

If the parks build quality attractions around a highly recognizable franchise, there's obviously potential for long term popularity. Star Wars still has a huge fan following, I don't see why Harry Potter won't. And while Twilight may be popular now, there characters aren't as easily recognizable and the story doesn't have the broad appeal that HP does.

[Hilltopper39]

Some of the more successful rides and attractions at Universal (and Disney and other parks for that matter) have been based on movies that weren't necessarily huge long lasting successes as films.... The Mummy, Men in Black, King Kong, Twilight Zone, even the Bill and Ted movies are the basis for a 20 year long running live Theme Park show and those haven't been popular for years! Splash Mountain is based on a Disney movie that I've never fully seen and I don't even think they sell anymore.

 

My point is that a movie doesn't have be a huge commercial success for multiple decades to make a decent intellectual property for a theme park attraction. I got a feeling Harry Potter AND Avatar, if executed properly, will be just fine in the long run.

[SharkTums]

If there is a Twilight section of the park do all of the girls have to walk around pouting and not acting and all of the boys walk around topless?

 

That seems like a very bad idea.

[Hilltopper39]

Twilight sucks....... but I've always thought a True Blood HHN maze could be kinda cool.

[Swimace]

If there is a Twilight section of the park do all of the girls have to walk around pouting and not acting and all of the boys walk around topless?

 

That seems like a very bad idea.

 

There could be an "American Idol" style attraction, where park guests get pulled in to be actors. If they can pout as well as the Twilight girl, they get to go to Hollywood!

 

On second thought, that would get WAY to expensive sending that many people to Hollywood. I'm sure Universal has thought about this and realized that the Potter expansion will be much cheaper.

[Migs310]

 

Such a great clip, I never knew Hitler really loved Jaws.

[larrygator]

There's just too much Harry Potter stuff going around now!

 

Don't worry, it's just a fad!

[O-Town77]

^Wait, I am confused. Where are you reading on here that the rumors are not true? Because everything I have read is that Potter is taking over Jaws and there will be a train linking the two.

 

Well, those are definitely rumors -- until Universal officially announces it.

 

I'm very skeptical of the train concept running between the two parks. One

of the primary reasons Jaws is being removed is to reduce operating costs.

A train in which tickets would need to be checked by cast members to park

hop would likely be just as expensive to operate -- if not more than Jaws.

 

Again, I have no doubt that Harry Potter will get an expansion at IOA. But

I still remain unconvinced that they will add HP to both parks that have very

different themes. I actually have a few friends that still work in USF

management -- and they told me that the licensing for Harry Potter does

not include both Florida parks currently. Whether they renegotiate

that contract is anyone's guess. As far as they know, nothing has

been decided yet for the Jaws area except that they want something

newer. There are several ideas that they are considering, but they

declined to share them with me. They did say the official announcement

will come soon -- probably Q1 2012.

Edited December 7, 2011 by O-Town77

[O-Town77]

Some of the more successful rides and attractions at Universal (and Disney and other parks for that matter) have been based on movies that weren't necessarily huge long lasting successes as films.... The Mummy, Men in Black, King Kong, Twilight Zone, even the Bill and Ted movies are the basis for a 20 year long running live Theme Park show and those haven't been popular for years! Splash Mountain is based on a Disney movie that I've never fully seen and I don't even think they sell anymore.

 

My point is that a movie doesn't have be a huge commercial success for multiple decades to make a decent intellectual property for a theme park attraction. I got a feeling Harry Potter AND Avatar, if executed properly, will be just fine in the long run.

 

Well, Fantasyland is based on a majority of classic fairy tales -- not just Disney properties. Harry Potter is a modern book series and a fairly short one at that.

 

Second, Men in Black 3 comes out this summer.

Mummy 4: Rise of the Aztec is currently in development by director Rob Cohen.

Leonardo DiCaprio is currently developing a new Twilight Zone movie.

Bill and Ted 3 has been written and Keanu Reeves recently revealed plot details.

and yes, LOL -- there is a new King Kong movie on the way -- based on the book Kong: King of Skull Island.

I'll also add that a new Terminator film is also on the way.

 

Those are all active -- simply because the producers know they need to keep them running to stay relevant for the general public.

But, to reiterate -- the Harry Potter film franchise has been (prematurely IMO) ended by its author.

[ernierocker]

^Wait, I am confused. Where are you reading on here that the rumors are not true? Because everything I have read is that Potter is taking over Jaws and there will be a train linking the two.

 

Well, those are definitely rumors -- until Universal officially announces it.

 

I'm very skeptical of the train concept running between the two parks. One

of the primary reasons Jaws is being removed is to reduce operating costs.

A train in which tickets would need to be checked by cast members to park

hop would likely be just as expensive to operate -- if not more than Jaws.

 

Again, I have no doubt that Harry Potter will get an expansion at IOA. But

I still remain unconvinced that they will add HP to both parks that have very

different themes. I actually have a few friends that still work in USF

management -- and they told me that the licensing for Harry Potter does

not include both Florida parks currently. Whether they renegotiate

that contract is anyone's guess. As far as they know, nothing has

been decided yet for the Jaws area except that they want something

newer. There are several ideas that they are considering, but they

declined to share them with me. They did say the official announcement

will come soon -- probably Q1 2012.

 

That's great, you are extremely opinionated. You've made that perfectly clear by your last 20 posts in less than 24 hours in this thread... That still doesn't answer my question why Inukaza is off celebrating that the expansion isn't happening in the Studios park based on what he read on TPR. Because I haven't read it anywhere. All I've read is how this rumor would be feasible. (i.e. how the train would fit in with the service roads.)

Edited December 7, 2011 by ernierocker

[BeemerBoy]

Well, Fantasyland is based on a majority of classic fairy tales -- not just Disney properties. Harry Potter is a modern book series and a fairly short one at that.

 

Second, Men in Black 3 comes out this summer.

Mummy 4: Rise of the Aztec is currently in development by director Rob Cohen.

Leonardo DiCaprio is currently developing a new Twilight Zone movie.

Bill and Ted 3 has been written and Keanu Reeves recently revealed plot details.

and yes, LOL -- there is a new King Kong movie on the way -- based on the book Kong: King of Skull Island.

I'll also add that a new Terminator film is also on the way.

 

Those are all active -- simply because the producers know they need to keep them running to stay relevant for the general public.

But, to reiterate -- the Harry Potter film franchise has been (prematurely IMO) ended by its author.

DUDE, you're just not getting it. All you're doing is continually proving our point......all of those rides/attractions are based on franchises that were seemingly "dead" at one point. How is Harry Potter any different by your definition???

 

Has it not been proven, that in Hollywood, projects never die....they just hibernate? Seriously, I'm all for logical discussions, but this is going nowhere fast.

[Swimace]

^This.

 

I'm very skeptical of the train concept running between the two parks. One

of the primary reasons Jaws is being removed is to reduce operating costs.

A train in which tickets would need to be checked by cast members to park

hop would likely be just as expensive to operate -- if not more than Jaws.

 

I don't understand how having staff there to scan tickets would be more expensive than operating Jaws.

 

Jaws is really expensive to run and maintain. The explosion is expensive, the upkeep on the boats and scenery is expensive. Operating an outdoor water attraction in Florida requires a lot of maintenance work. When you say that Jaws has high operating costs, I don't think Universal is as concerned about paying the staff members for the ride as they are with the other costs.

[O-Town77]

^Wait, I am confused. Where are you reading on here that the rumors are not true? Because everything I have read is that Potter is taking over Jaws and there will be a train linking the two.

 

Again, everything is a rumor until Universal officially announces it. You can

even expect concept artwork for the new project when it is officially released. But

until that happens, it is all rumors and speculation.

[O-Town77]

I think I get it.

The wild card is that J.K. Rowling doesn't live in Hollywood -- She lives in England.

The "make a quick buck" rules don't apply to her mindset -- she already is rich beyond her dreams.

 

She was incredibly smart to retain full control of her property which is something the creators of the previous mentioned franchises did not do.

That is the difference. Control. Even Spielberg got burned by not having control over his early works (which got recycled as stock footage for TV movies). But Lucas and Rowling have control.

Edited December 7, 2011 by O-Town77

[Sir Clinksalot]

Right, but I can't think of many people in Hollywood more "bankable" than James Cameron, can you?

 

This

 

Forcing the studio to try to stretch out 7 books into 8 films due to the lack of storylines, yet Warner wanting to keep the films going. But without the films in theaters, I know it will fade like everything else does.

 

You obviously haven't read the books ...

 

The fact is, the last 3 movies could have VERY EASILY been split into 2 movies each. At least Book 5 and Book 7. And if I'm not mistaken, JK Rowling was against the idea of splitting the books into two movies at first.

 

Even with the two movies, there was still a LOT that was left from the books, there was just no way to cram it all in there.

 

Harry Potter Versus Twilight..... is like the old Star Wars Versus Star Trek debates.

Twilight has a long way to go to match Harry's box office, yet according to most

of the articles -- Potter fans are moving to the Twilight book series since they

have run out of new Potter books

 

Where are you seeing that there is going to be another Twilight book? There is one more movie coming out next year, that's IT.

 

And as somebody who has read that piece of crap (again, my daughter wanted to read it), it's the most anti-climactic 1/2 of a book. You want to talk about a studio stretching 1 movie into 2 for financial reasons, there you go.

 

The last 1/2 of Breaking Dawn is basically going to be 2 hours of standing around doing nothing ... kind of like the last 45 minutes of Return of the King.

 

Love it or hate it, the Harry Potter series has broader appeal than Twilight. Universal is banking on the idea that Potter will have the same staying power as LOTR. Then again, they did squeeze a lot of years out of Jaws, a series that produced only one good movie.

 

Dude, Jaws 3D!! Come on!!! Give it some props!!!

 

But, to reiterate -- the Harry Potter film franchise has been (prematurely IMO) ended by its author.

 

How does an "author" end a film franchise? She can end the books, which she has ... for now.

 

Does anybody REALLY think this is the last we'll see of Harry Potter?

 

DUDE, you're just not getting it. All you're doing is continually proving our point......all of those rides/attractions are based on franchises that were seemingly "dead" at one point. How is Harry Potter any different by your definition???

 

Has it not been proven, that in Hollywood, projects never die....they just hibernate? Seriously, I'm all for logical discussions, but this is going nowhere fast.

 

[O-Town77]

^This.

 

I'm very skeptical of the train concept running between the two parks. One

of the primary reasons Jaws is being removed is to reduce operating costs.

A train in which tickets would need to be checked by cast members to park

hop would likely be just as expensive to operate -- if not more than Jaws.

 

I don't understand how having staff there to scan tickets would be more expensive than operating Jaws.

 

Jaws is really expensive to run and maintain. The explosion is expensive, the upkeep on the boats and scenery is expensive. Operating an outdoor water attraction in Florida requires a lot of maintenance work. When you say that Jaws has high operating costs, I don't think Universal is as concerned about paying the staff members for the ride as they are with the other costs.

 

Trains are also expensive to operate as well. Which is why the Monorail only services 2 parks (out the 4) at Disney.

Considering the limited nature of the train proposed (mainly for transportation), I don't think the accountants would go for

it at Universal. The marketing department generally pushes for new attractions, not transportation when it comes to

theme park expansions historically. A dark ride is easy to advertise, but a tram ride doesn't generally move the

turnstyles.

[Sir Clinksalot]

^ A Train from IOA to USH isn't even comparable to the Monorail system at WDW.

 

There are TONS of smaller parks that operate trains (Castle Park comes to mind). MK has trains, Disneyland has trains. Yes, their trains take a LOT of work and upkeep, because they are OLD. I doubt USO would go the ancient route for their train.