Is Universal Quietly Buying Land for Something Big

[ADP]

Universal recently purchased 52 acres around Wet N Wild back in June. Now there's word of a major land purchase (612 acres) across from Universal Blvd. Its land that Vivendi Sold back in 2002. It's now been sold by Lockheed Martin to an apparent theme park operator. According to the documents filed to Orange County it calls for a 600 room hotel 315 unit timeshare resort, new commercial and retail space (482,000 Sq Ft) and most importantly a new theme park

This is total speculation, but the Orange County filing is interesting. I don't have a link to the filing yet. We don't know who bought the land, but the filing lists a company that secretly keeps the purchaser, well....A secret.

Could Comcast have purchased this land or another theme park operator? Quite honestly, I'd love to see Universal expand someday.

 

[ADP]

Here's an overhead view of the land.

Here's a link to the Orange County filing. Take note of page 22.

http://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagl....pdf?id=DOC1310S19391.A0&parent=DOC1310S19391

 

[disrailfan]

Maybe Disney is purchasing land for when they Assimilate US.

 

[moose615]

If Universal did buy the land, the idea of the timeshare is interesting. I've always thought Universal should do a DVC like timeshare if they kept expanding the parks. I sold my DVC but I would prob buy in on a universal timeshare.

 

[damo]

You need to become a member at Orlando United. They've been discussing all of this is great detail.

 

[Planogirl]

That is really close to where we usually stay so count me in.

 

[Florida Bill]

Hmmmm could it be related to this story at all?

ORLANDO, Fla. —The world's tallest roller coaster is slated to be built somewhere in Florida.

U.S. Thrill Rides has confirmed the 525-foot tall coaster has been purchased by a company in Florida that will soon announce that construction is underway.

The coaster will also be the longest in the U.S. with 8,000 feet of track.

"This is fast, smooth and very, very exciting," U.S. Thrill Rides President Michael Kitchen said.

Kitchen discussed the new coaster at the ongoing convention of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions at the Orange County Convention Center. He said the ride vehicle would be part of the next-generation coaster.

The ride, currently known as the Polercoaster, can be anywhere from 300 to 650 feet tall.

"We use these on the Polercoaster in either a four-person or eight-person configuration," Kitchen said.

More than 90 people can ride at one time in a chain of vehicles, doing inversions and sudden accelerations in a tower-like structure 50 stories high.

The roller coaster also doubles as a high-rise restaurant.

"It will be 525 feet tall, and it's going to have two levels on top with nearly 20,000 square feet of restaurant, retail bar and banquet space available with 360-degree views of Florida," Kitchen said. "Unfortunately, until our customer releases that information, we're going to keep the location a tightly held secret for another couple of weeks."

Kitchen said the buyer has yet to decide the theme, specific design for the store and restaurant space or even the color scheme.

The roller coaster will be almost 100 feet taller than the SunTrust Tower in downtown Orlando and almost 200 feet taller than the Federal Aviation Administration tower at Orlando International Airport.

The FAA, which would have to approve a roller coaster that tall, also said it has no such paperwork for the state of Florida.

 

[Metro West]

You need to become a member at Orlando United. They've been discussing all of this is great detail.

Yeah...read through the threads tonight...very interesting. I wonder how much will turn out to be true? I work in that general area so I'll be curious about the possible expansions and it's affect on my commute when/if this comes to pass.

 

[RudeDogg1]

I'm pretty sure I red somewhere the tallest coaster will be at seaworld

 

[truck1]

Theres a couple of different options for the coaster assuming its staying in the cfl area and not going to somewhere like Jacksonville or Miami. Legoland is expanding, plus you have Busch Gardens. That's not including the company putting up the big ferris wheel on the I drive area or any number of other companies I've heard considering putting in an amusement park near the Mercado Village.