They can call it a theme park all they want....

[LCoulter]

...but it's still a water park!

I was really surprised to hear that the rumored 3rd gate at Universal is a water park. I'm thinking Disney isn't feeling too threatened by a water park since they have two good ones. They could use some updating though and I see that there is a new family raft coming to one of them.

The Universal water park does look beautiful but it's not enticing me to go to Universal since I rarely visit Disney's water parks anyway. It reminds me of Typhoon Lagoon.

What are your thoughts on this new addition to Universal? Is it a theme park or a water park?

 

[Accident]

I was really surprised to hear that the rumored 3rd gate at Universal is a water park. I'm thinking Disney isn't feeling too threatened by a water park since they have two good ones. They could use some updating though and I see that there is a new family raft coming to one of them.

That is not the rumored 3rd gate. The rumored 3rd gate is now the 4th gate and it's land they are starting to zone and get ready to build on.

This is brilliant in my mind for how they are marketing it. Disney being so large, a disney fan looks at universal as a way to take a day trip. Having 3 gates (and soon 4) makes it sound like I better stay at universal a couple days.. It's an interesting way to chip at disney because pretty soon they are going to be equal. It also might make it so disney needs to open 2 new parks in order to get that mentality back to "stay a week at disney"... I also question what's going to happen at prices because if the average stay is 4 nights, staying 2 more is really going to knock out the price for a lot of people who just can't go past 4 nights at disney.

I can't wait to see how this plays out...

BTW - volcano bay has always been said to be something completely new and not seen before. Personally to me it does sound like a cross between something you see at some of the biggest southern (non-us) resorts and a theme park.. I also love that they tossed this out hours after disney filed for only a new family slide for their water park..

 

[NeuroCindy]

This isn't the "rumored" third gate. They still have a giant piece of land people are waiting on an announcement about. Since they're calling this their "third gate" then they will have a fourth gate. This was announced in 5/2015, they acquired the additional land for the third/fourth gate 1/2016.

 

[DLgal]

This waterpark will feature a lot of innovations that elevate the water park experience. The innertube elevator system will eliminate the annoyance of dragging tubes up staircases over and over again...there will be two different types of lazy rivers, including an adventurous "whitewater style" one, there will be a new system for queues that is supposed to minimize line waits, etc. My kids are huge into waterparks and this looks like an amazing addition to the current offerings in Orlando. We will be going for sure next summer, even though we won't step foot into US or IOA (kids not yet into any of those kinds of rides).

 

[cschaaf]

I'm interested to know why you don't feel it's a theme park? (and I truly am interested - not in a sarcastic internet poster way). Is it because it is water based and no one has ever called a water park a 'theme' park before?

I've never been, but I'd think the 2 Disney water parks are also 'theme' parks, they just missed out on that marketing opportunity.

 

[Accident]

I've never been, but I'd think the 2 Disney water parks are also 'theme' parks, they just missed out on that marketing opportunity.

I'm mixed on this because if you think of disney as 6 parks you can't really have different pricing for the water parks and also who has 6 days plus 2 travel days to stay at disney. To a degree, people need to feel they can do it all to book and come.. There is a point where marketing actually has a negative impact...

However does this mean that disney needs to rethink it's water parks and it's time to combine/expand them to make it a water based theme park? what a fun time it is in theme park land down here!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This waterpark will feature a lot of innovations that elevate the water park experience. The innertube elevator system will eliminate the annoyance of dragging tubes up staircases over and over again...there will be two different types of lazy rivers, including an adventurous "whitewater style" one, there will be a new system for queues that is supposed to minimize line waits, etc. My kids are huge into waterparks and this looks like an amazing addition to the current offerings in Orlando. We will be going for sure next summer, even though we won't step foot into US or IOA (kids not yet into any of those kinds of rides).

Also rumors there will be animatronics during the part where the lazy river goes inside the volcano

 

[cschaaf]

I'm mixed on this because if you think of disney as 6 parks you can't really have different pricing for the water parks and also who has 6 days plus 2 travel days to stay at disney. To a degree, people need to feel they can do it all to book and come.. There is a point where marketing actually has a negative impact...

But that doesn't make them any less 'themed' or 'parks', right? I don't think you have to include them any more or less than they currently are in the ticketing structure. And there are different prices for MK.

 

[Accident]

But that doesn't make them any less 'themed' or 'parks', right? I don't think you have to include them any more or less than they currently are in the ticketing structure. And there are different prices for MK.

There was no such thing as a theme park until a reporter called disneyland a theme park. before them it was an amusement park like everything else. Many argue that Holiday Land is the first theme park even though it was called an amusement park. Knott's Berry farm also gets into that argument for the same reason and both pre-date disneyland with theming.

14 attractions doesn't sound like just another waterpark to me. I'm ok calling it a theme water park (which is what universal is calling it) and I'm ok calling what disney has themed water parks. It may not be in your definition of a theme park. It kind of excites me because what will disney interrupt as a water theme park to answer them be

Also if my annual pass for the parks get me into the volcano bay for no additional fee then universal can call it anything they want

 

[DLgal]

It is definitely going to be a THEMED water park, as opposed to Wet & Wild, for instance. I am okay with them calling it a theme park, because it is.

 

[Princess Jes]

This waterpark will feature a lot of innovations that elevate the water park experience. The innertube elevator system will eliminate the annoyance of dragging tubes up staircases over and over again...there will be two different types of lazy rivers, including an adventurous "whitewater style" one, there will be a new system for queues that is supposed to minimize line waits, etc. My kids are huge into waterparks and this looks like an amazing addition to the current offerings in Orlando. We will be going for sure next summer, even though we won't step foot into US or IOA (kids not yet into any of those kinds of rides).

Disney has the raft elevators at their water parks... I didn't think that was new for volcano bay?

also who has 6 days plus 2 travel days to stay at disney.

I do!!! Lol
But we also get 4 weeks paid vacation (called: annual leave" here) per year, and they accumulate over the years if you don't take leave (providing you're with the same employer of course)
Also, I get your point, I'm just having a joke.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I believe River Country is credited as being the first themed water park and it was such a hit that Disney then built Typhoon Lagoon ... I think a theme can have a very broad definition so anything where they are tying the attractions and the setting and "story line" together I think can be considered a Theme Park

I am a little surprise/intrigued by the fact Universal is referring to this as their "Third Theme Park" - wonder what that means for pricing if it will be the same as the other parks and if you get a multi-day pass you can use a day at Volcano Bay and if it is a multi-park pass can you use a ticket for a morning at Islands of Adventure and then "hop" to Volcano Bay?

 

[Shanti]

I've never been, but I'd think the 2 Disney water parks are also 'theme' parks, they just missed out on that marketing opportunity.

Both of Disney's water parks are themed. Typhoon Lagoon is a tropical island after a hurricane (complete with fishing boat that ended up stranded on top of a hill), and Blizzard Beach is a former ski resort that melted (the buildings are ski chalet style, there is a ski lift, & images of snow are everywhere).

 

[KingLlama]

The theme of this thread is "themes".

 

[DLgal]

Disney has the raft elevators at their water parks... I didn't think that was new for volcano bay?


I do!!! Lol
But we also get 4 weeks paid vacation (called: annual leave" here) per year, and they accumulate over the years if you don't take leave (providing you're with the same employer of course)
Also, I get your point, I'm just having a joke.

Volcano Bay will have raft elevators for ALL rides, not just the family raft rides. At Disney, most rides require you to carry innertubes up.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

...but it's still a water park!

I was really surprised to hear that the rumored 3rd gate at Universal is a water park. I'm thinking Disney isn't feeling too threatened by a water park since they have two good ones. They could use some updating though and I see that there is a new family raft coming to one of them.

The Universal water park does look beautiful but it's not enticing me to go to Universal since I rarely visit Disney's water parks anyway. It reminds me of Typhoon Lagoon.

What are your thoughts on this new addition to Universal? Is it a theme park or a water park?

It's a themed water park.

I'm more intrigued that they are calling it a 3rd gate though. Who knows if that might have been said and that's where rumors swirled of a 3rd gate. We just don't know yet if they have plans for any of that land they purchased....they owned it before and never built on it. Perhaps they have a more clear cut plan for them now but who knows. Also.....calling this a 3rd gate kinda feels like they should include it in an annual pass. My guess is that next year the premier pass will include it and the cheaper ones won't. I'd love to see it included with the power pass though. I'd prob get it for my Nieces/Nephews if the price stays reasonable enough.

 

[Hunterr]

It's a themed water park.
And it sounds awesome.

4th gate (or 3rd, depending what you call it) is forthcoming.