Fascinating article on plans for new park (4th gate)

[APH]

This article on the current plans for the new Universal park is fascinating:
https://themeparkuniversity.com/uni...versal-orlandos-fourth-park-fantastic-worlds/

Although the plan seems to have a number of potential complications, I think it’s exciting to have a park that is trying something completely new in terms of layout.

The plan is for an open access central hub with separate gates for each of the lands. This has potential benefits (as stated in the article allows more immersion similar to the segregation of Diagon Alley at Universal Studios), but could cause problems.

And I’d like to stay in that planned hotel, which could have an amazing view. You’d want a forward facing room though. I’m not sure of the appeal of any of the other rooms.

Thoughts?

 

[TommyJK]

Take "Theme Park University" with a grain of salt. Much of the time the articles there are merely speculation or outdated plans.

The article you reference specifically has been discussed in some more details on some other forums I read and the insiders there seem to believe the idea is somewhat old and may have been abandoned by management at Universal.

It's an interesting idea, but there are a lot of logistical problems that would come with it.

 

[APH]

Yes you are right, Tommy, as the article says itself, it is speculative and subject to change.

As far as I can corroborate (purely from Google) the information does seem consistent with the information leaked from a Comcast town hall only a couple of months ago eg the hub-and-spoke design and separate entrances that block the view from the hub, but there isn’t corroborating evidence elsewhere of the other features claimed in the TPU article.

Whatever Universal decide they are going to have to come up with creative solutions to unique logistical problems, the most obvious one being how to transport guests efficiently between parks separated by 3 miles and a busy highway. Even if they give up on maintaining immersion (a major factor in Universal’s stated plans for their new park), there’ll be potential issues with road work, traffic jams etc etc.

Time will tell.

 

[TommyJK]

Yes. Hub and Spoke design, and the worlds themselves being blocked from view in the Hub seems legit per the leaks from the Comcast town hall.

It's the part where the "Hub" is going to be a "free" citi-walk type place and you have scan your tickets for each world that seems to be the more contentious bit that seems more "old rumor" than actually happening.

In terms of Transportation to and from the new park and existing location, this has for the most part been sorted out. There is a Kirkman Rd. Extension project between the city and Universal that is going to widen Kirkman Rd. and have internal dedicated bus lanes.

Have a look at the video posted here about what it's supposed to look like:

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/video/xpZDV3ZzE6M0-YTO73ryX8rsKrlWrI6s

Also, below is an update on the project about the road extensions

 

[Disney Addicted]

I'm not so certain it's been abandoned by management. After reading the article it explains an extensive Universal survey I took about a month ago. Throughout the survey I was asked to consider and rate attractions, rides and entire theme park lands and which ones I'd like best. They included Fantastic Beasts, Classic monsters, Nintendo world, How to train your Dragon, Jurassic world and even games such as Fortnight and Minecraft.

 

[maverik85]

Think the general thought isn't so much that the overall separate immersive lands like that were abandoned but the central hub was open to public for free and the only way to enter each land. IT would be a nightmare to have to keep going through ticket booths every time you switched lands. Could see a central hub that would be similar to something like Port of Entry but in a more circular/central hub position with all the lands splitting off from it. This way they could still have the same general concept but only one set of gates to have to go through. Wouldn't be surprised to see some themed tunnels between the lands too. Just simple ways to maintain the immersion but easier movement between the lands.