So, what do you think is on the chopping block for proposed Nintendo area?

[CPanther95]

Moreover, while the Hulk coaster is a good coaster, it's easy to re-theme.

Yep, would make more sense as an Iron Man coaster.

 

[ChrisFL]

There has not been one credible report of an expansion of the Marvel properties at Universal that hasn't come from a Universal fanboy. The license dates back to 1992. If they really had more rights, they would have done something else well before now.

There, however, has been extensive discussion of whether Dreamworks is going to stay at Disney or move to Universal. Spielberg has a long and complicated history with both companies, and his involvement with Universal parks dates back to 1987.

Marvel park rights are the only thing Universal has that Disney wants, and Universal wants DreamWorks under its roof.

And with two of the attractions being mysteriously "updated" later this year (Hulk and Dr. Doom), that could be the first domino to fall. The Marvel stuff at IoA is horribly dated and by no means 1/10th the draw that the Potter stuff is. Moreover, while the Hulk coaster is a good coaster, it's easy to re-theme. The Storm Force and Doom Freefall are just re-branded generic rides, also easy to re-theme. And Spider-Man is just the same simulator forumla they use in most of their simulator rides. They re-themed Back to the Future into the Simpsons (which was also a huge improvement); they can just as easily re-theme Spider-Man into something else.

That really is in STARK contrast to everything I've heard

 

[atricks]

That really is in STARK contrast to everything I've heard

Minor upgrades to Marvel are already starting, and the Hulk upgrades start in the Fall, and more in 2016. (And a LOT more after Kong opens, on a major scale. It will still be Marvel.)

 

[Planogirl]

There has not been one credible report of an expansion of the Marvel properties at Universal that hasn't come from a Universal fanboy. The license dates back to 1992. If they really had more rights, they would have done something else well before now.

There, however, has been extensive discussion of whether Dreamworks is going to stay at Disney or move to Universal. Spielberg has a long and complicated history with both companies, and his involvement with Universal parks dates back to 1987.

Marvel park rights are the only thing Universal has that Disney wants, and Universal wants DreamWorks under its roof.

And with two of the attractions being mysteriously "updated" later this year (Hulk and Dr. Doom), that could be the first domino to fall. The Marvel stuff at IoA is horribly dated and by no means 1/10th the draw that the Potter stuff is. Moreover, while the Hulk coaster is a good coaster, it's easy to re-theme. The Storm Force and Doom Freefall are just re-branded generic rides, also easy to re-theme. And Spider-Man is just the same simulator forumla they use in most of their simulator rides. They re-themed Back to the Future into the Simpsons (which was also a huge improvement); they can just as easily re-theme Spider-Man into something else.

Universal already has DreamWorks properties onsite. Disney has some rights to distribute and can also air some things on its networks. It's not a perpetuity deal if I understand it right. However, it is definitely complicated.

As for what Universal can offer...how about ANY usage of the big name Marvel characters in the WDW parks. That's a pretty big prize.

 

[damo]

Until Comcast took over, hardly anything new was done in the parks and basically nothing at IOA until Wizarding World came along. I don't think the lack of new stuff had anything to do with the Marvel contract but more to do with the attitude of the owners when it came to improving the park.

 

[dark54555]

Universal already has DreamWorks properties onsite. Disney has some rights to distribute and can also air some things on its networks. It's not a perpetuity deal if I understand it right. However, it is definitely complicated.

As for what Universal can offer...how about ANY usage of the big name Marvel characters in the WDW parks. That's a pretty big prize.

They're two different sets of rights. Disney owns Marvel and US has the park rights in Florida and Japan. Disney is DreamWorks's film distributor, but that deal will be up for renewal in 2016. Disney flat outbid Universal last time, and could do so again, but a deal could be struck putting DreamWorks under Universal distribution (they already have some park rights to complement that) and Marvel park rights back under Disney.

There is far more benefit to controlling more of one company's properties than there is in having bits and pieces of different ones.

See http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-explores-move-paramount-universal-780557 for some discussion on it.

 

[dark54555]

I should also point out, Universal did let the Western US rights lapse already. Disney could start construction on Marvel anything they wanted at the California parks tomorrow, and Universal can do literally nothing about it. Also, because of that, there's an argument to be had that anything Disney does in the parks with Marvel may block Universal from doing anything "confusingly similar" from a trademark perspective.

 

[donnajherren]

I'm starting to substantially wonder what they actually have a license TO because there are clearly limits at play. It certainly looks like they can't build anything around any Marvel film properties.

I think this is a valid point. Sure, Marvel stuff is HUGE right now, but what's huge for most people is the film adaptations. When those properties diverge widely in either image or content from what's offered at IOA, it creates a branding problem. I don't think it will hurt them, not in the least, but it certainly won't help as much as it could in driving business because of the chasm between people's expectations and their offerings.

 

[BrianL]

I was excited by the Nintendo news as a big Nintendo fan, and I heard about it while I was in the parks last week. I was looking around Uni trying to figure out where they might implement it or how they could re-theme certain rides to fit. If they do swap Marvel, I'll only miss Spider-Man, which is the most well done ride of it's kind and the best attraction at all of USO in my book. I was surprised to see the Skull Island construction as I didn't know about it at all, though it also has me very excited.

 

[Planogirl]

They're two different sets of rights. Disney owns Marvel and US has the park rights in Florida and Japan. Disney is DreamWorks's film distributor, but that deal will be up for renewal in 2016. Disney flat outbid Universal last time, and could do so again, but a deal could be struck putting DreamWorks under Universal distribution (they already have some park rights to complement that) and Marvel park rights back under Disney.

There is far more benefit to controlling more of one company's properties than there is in having bits and pieces of different ones.

See http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-explores-move-paramount-universal-780557 for some discussion on it.

Really all I'm saying is that Universal would be wise to hold out for something big. They could try to land complete rights for DreamWorks of course but with that renewal coming up I'm not sure if that's nearly as good a prize as Marvel characters in WDW. But who knows? These two monster companies may be discussing something completely different for all we know.

 

[ChrisFL]

I thought Dreamworks has been struggling lately, I'm not sure Universal would have a lot of interest in it for their parks these days.

 

[Planogirl]

I thought Dreamworks has been struggling lately, I'm not sure Universal would have a lot of interest in it for their parks these days.

They have How To Train Your Dragon which I adore so I hope that you're wrong.

 

[dark54555]

I thought Dreamworks has been struggling lately, I'm not sure Universal would have a lot of interest in it for their parks these days.

Isn't Minion Mayhem the most popular non-Potter attraction?

 

[ChrisFL]

Isn't Minion Mayhem the most popular non-Potter attraction?

That isn't Dreamworks, it's Universal

 

[dark54555]

That isn't Dreamworks, it's Universal

Actually, it was Illumination Entertainment. But my bad.

But Shrek and Transformers are both Dreamworks, and both at Universal.

 

[ChrisFL]

If you're going to be that technical, Universal distributed Despicable me...and if you're not calling that good enough, then only the first two Transformers movies were distributed by Dreamworks but produced by Hasbro.

 

[Planogirl]

To make it even worse, DreamWorks Animation was spun off from DreamWorks and used Paramount for distribution until recently and now they use Fox. I can't keep these studios straight.

 

[agavegirl1]

One. You don't have to own an IP to have the theme park rights to said IP and do it justice.

Two. I thought this thread was about what will go to make room for the Nintendo IP.

Three. I think much of it will go into Kidzone with additional offerings going to the expansion pad near MIB. MIB may or may not be re-themed at a later date depending on the popularity of the IP.

Four. I would prefer they put all Nintendo IP into Tune Lagoon and re-theme the two water rides there but that is just that, my preference.

That is All.

(Yes, I do read all those other message boards and participate in them.)

 

[mdb78]

I'm excited about Nintendo being there, but at the same time it would bother the ocd in me if they put it in IOA. Isn't everything there supposed to be based after books, comic books and strips, etc..?

 

[damo]

I'm excited about Nintendo being there, but at the same time it would bother the ocd in me if they put it in IOA. Isn't everything there supposed to be based after books, comic books and strips, etc..?

Lost Continent is themed to myths and legends so I think they can stretch the idea of things being based on pretty much anything.