Universal Orlando Resort (USO, IOA) Discussion Thread

[robbalvey]

People don't know who the Splash Mountain characters are either, but that doesn't stop that ride from being one of the most popular rides in the park.

 

All I DO know is that this is a really dumb argument.

 

--Robb "Can we please go back to discussing Jurassic Park?" Alvey

Edited January 16, 2013 by robbalvey

[BeemerBoy]

Young Sherlock Holmes.

Young Indiana Jones.

Young Anakin Skywalker.

Young Carrie Bradshaw.

 

Trust me, if Potter ever begins to fade in popularity, all it will take is for J.K. to put pen to paper ("fingers to keyboard" still just doesn't sound right) and create "Old Harry Potter," or maybe even "Harry Potter, Jr."

 

Money talks.

 

 

I want more raptors.

[Jakizle]

Love the sound of the dark ride, a good alternate to Spiderman and Transformers but not as "light" as Cat in the Hat. Also when I read GG I immediately thought of something like Twister...is that too intense for families? Looking forward to this big time if any of it is true.

[cfc]

^I was pretty intrigued by GG's new dark ride/coaster concept when I saw it in the IAAPA coverage last year. I hope that it comes to pass at IOA.

[LazyFriday]

This expansion (if true) sounds great. Universal has me in awe with all the new construction and revamp projects it has going on and rumored in the pipe works. The dark ride sounds great and if they can find a way to make it somewhat interactive that would be the icing on the cake. I always thought that IOA needed a family roller coaster and the Amber mine coaster seems to fit that bill. Flight Of the Hippogriff is cool for what it is but how many coasters with the same layout is already located in Orlando lol.

[gk2b]

Hey everyone! Awesome news!

 

I'm going to Orlando from 14 feb till 1 march, is JP still open then?

 

Thankyou!

[cfc]

^Nothing official has been announced. Therefore, who knows?

[Jakizle]

^I was pretty intrigued by GG's new dark ride/coaster concept when I saw it in the IAAPA coverage last year. I hope that it comes to pass at IOA.

 

That would be awesome, as well.

[disney4me2001]

Is the awesome dark ride USH added just this last summer not good enough? Or the awesome dark ride that is already coming in the form of HP?

 

Believe me, I love Transformers and I'm looking forward to HP. I'm talking about a gentle dark ride. A couple of my family members can't go on Transformers and likely won't be able to do Potter due to motion sickness from the sudden movements of the ride vehicles. Over at Disneyland, for example, they can go on the Fantasyland classics but can't handle Indy. So what I should have said was "family" dark ride. When ET was still at USH, they were able to go on that because it wasn't all that shaky, so a new ride like that would be perfect there. Sorry, I should have been more specific earlier.

 

But going back to discussing USO/IOA and JP, that Gravity Group concept would be awesome for the expansion! From the model showing the aquarium theme, I can almost picture what it might look like with the JP overlay! I liked the picture showing the eel- imagine a raptor positioned in the dark there and then having it suddenly popping out at you!

 

And another thing- any timeline yet as to when exactly the Springfield area for USF might open? Or even when it might be officially announced? Seems like there was quite a bit of info coming out about it and then nothing.

[ernierocker]

^Not sure the Simpsons expansion has ever made it past a Screamscape rumor/update. Of course, Universal has still not officially announced Potter 2 and we all know that is what it will be.

Edited January 17, 2013 by ernierocker

[Kyle Coleman]

Nice to see them finally putting something new in jurassic park but I was hoping they would finally put in the jeep ride thats been on the drawing boards since ioa opened.

[disney4me2001]

^Not sure the Simpsons expansion has ever made it past a Screamscape rumor/update. Of course, Universal has still not officially announced Potter 2 and we all know that is what it will be.

 

Ah, that would explain it then. I was wondering if it was really happening or if it was under unsecret wraps like Potter. Guess we'll find out soon enough!

[Wes]

Nice to see them finally putting something new in jurassic park but I was hoping they would finally put in the jeep ride thats been on the drawing boards since ioa opened.

 

I think Hogwarts ate that land.

[Jew]

Nice to see them finally putting something new in jurassic park but I was hoping they would finally put in the jeep ride thats been on the drawing boards since ioa opened.

 

The original concept for the JP ride as we know it now was a jeep ride. In fact, the model that is in the queue at IoA was for the jeep version of the ride.

[ahecht]

I'll just leave this here:

 

[disney4me2001]

Love it! You have no idea how many times I've tried to correct people on the name of the area!

 

"It's the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, not 'Harry Potter Land' or 'World of Potter'."

[cfc]

^People probably run out of breath saying "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter." I don't blame them for using some shorthand. It is a very awkward name.

Edited January 17, 2013 by cfc

[Gnome]

^ Is the awesome dark ride USH added just this last summer not good enough? Or the awesome dark ride that is already coming in the form of HP?

 

That's not really comparable. Those are dark rides on the more extreme end. They're on a different level from what ET was.

[BrianLo]

^Not sure the Simpsons expansion has ever made it past a Screamscape rumor/update. Of course, Universal has still not officially announced Potter 2 and we all know that is what it will be.

 

The construction walls all over, ripping up the pier area and the complete gutting of International Food Festival disagree with you.

 

I think Orlando United is claiming a late Spring opening (although Universal has yet to even acknowledge the expansion). Also Hatetofly, the guy who posted the JP article has a pretty much flawless track record so far for Universal Info. I'd expect to see them start on JP in earnest this Spring or Summer once construction crews can be relocated from Simpsons/Transformers.

[Wes]

^ I think you're just misreading what ernierocker was saying, that there wasn't an official announcement from Universal, thus the information is "stuck" at the Screamscape rumor/update stage.

[PKI Jizzman]

Gravity Group coaster? Awesome. All of their projects big and small excite me, and it's interesting to see a wooden coaster come to a Universal Park. I've been wondering if Disney or Universal would add a wooden coaster, I can't wait to see what this will look like. Besides, Florida lost one great wooden coaster recently in Dania, so it's only fair that you build a new one!

[disney4me2001]

^People probably run out of breath saying "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter." I don't blame them for using some shorthand. It is a very awkward name.

 

This is true...try saying it 10 times fast!

[BrianLo]

^ I think you're just misreading what ernierocker was saying, that there wasn't an official announcement from Universal, thus the information is "stuck" at the Screamscape rumor/update stage.

 

Ah yes sorry, I misread that then!

[netdvn]

When I was your age, the Orlando theme parks weren't always under perpetual construction. They'd usually just wait a few years before adding their next blockbuster ride/attraction.

[BeemerBoy]

When I was your age, the Orlando theme parks weren't always under perpetual construction. They'd usually just wait a few years before adding their next blockbuster ride/attraction.

Who are you speaking to, and what the hell does this even mean?