Universals Announcement today.

[Figment632]

Well I was excited but it was smaller than I was hoping for.

What was announced

Dispicable Me to replace Jimmy Netron
Spiderman refurb and upgrades

But the Water park and WWOHP are still in the works as far as Transformers your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Timmy Boy]

Well we know Potter's expansion will happen, we just don't know when. They may be waiting to announce it around the release of the last movie, or they could be waiting until Fantasyland nears completion.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Well we know Potter's expansion will happen, we just don't know when. They may be waiting to announce it around the release of the last movie, or they could be waiting until Fantasyland nears completion.

Either of those ARE better options than announcing it now.

 

[nytimez]

Wasn't expecting much, and this met my expectations.

I don't think there's a need to announce HP expansion right now. It's still generating plenty of excitement on its own and the films almost act like free publicity for the current offerings.

I think HP expansion might not be announced for another year, when they hype starts to slow. And if they're smart, obviously it'll be timed to open just as attendance levels flatten.

But all kinds of other outside factors play a huge role here -- including the current ownership issues. If Comcast buys out Blackstone, for example, will they also be willing to shell out extra cash to invest in the parks right away? Is Comcast even willing to invest in parks in a big way in the first place?

All that remains to be seen... but hopefully the WWoHP's early numbers are enough to encourage them to keep building.

 

[ChrisFL]

or they could be waiting until Fantasyland nears completion.

I don't think they'll wait until 2015

 

[skier_pete]

Well, one thing Universal and Disney have in common. Overhyping there announcements.

My DD loved "Despicable Me" but I thought it was kind of so-so....not as bad as the many Shrek sequels (Loved the first Shrek, though.) but not as bad as a lot of animated cr*pola.

Certainly not going to distract from the Star Tours opening...which also isn't really THAT big a deal.

 

[Figment632]

Honestly the biggest news here is Spiderman. This is a major overhaul on effects and graphics. Basically they just said screw you Disney we are keeping Marvel Island for the next decade.

 

[Timmy Boy]

I don't think they'll wait until 2015

Oh sorry, I thought maybe some phase I stuff might have been done by next year, but I guess not.

 

[skier_pete]

Honestly the biggest news here is Spiderman. This is a major overhaul on effects and graphics. Basically they just said screw you Disney we are keeping Marvel Island for the next decade.

C'mon though - there's no way they were giving up Marvel. There's too much money invested in that ride alone! This update will be nice, but is not worthy of a big announcement...it's what SHOULD be done to these things.

 

[Figment632]

C'mon though - there's no way they were giving up Marvel. There's too much money invested in that ride alone! This update will be nice, but is not worthy of a big announcement...it's what SHOULD be done to these things.

My poin is it was rumored MI was going to drop the Marvel theme because it's better to not be involved with Disney. This puts that rumor to rest.

 

[skier_pete]

My poin is it was rumored MI was going to drop the Marvel theme because it's better to not be involved with Disney. This puts that rumor to rest.

OK - it might've been a rumor, but no way it was ever going to happen in reality. Universal brass might be annoyed that they have to give royalties to Disney, but they were giving the royalties to Marvel anyways - so it's not like there operation model had changed. A rumor that never made sense.

 

[Figment632]

OK - it might've been a rumor, but no way it was ever going to happen in reality. Universal brass might be annoyed that they have to give royalties to Disney, but they were giving the royalties to Marvel anyways - so it's not like there operation model had changed. A rumor that never made sense.

You are probaly correct.

 

[nytimez]

I don't think it was a "big" announcement at all. It was a Webcast, and I think an invitation-only one. And they said ahead of time that they were going to change one ride and upgrade another. That sets the expectations pretty low in my book... and they did pretty much exactly that.

So, I agree that this announcement is not a big deal. But I don't think it's a disappointment because I wasn't expecting otherwise.

Now, if they had reserved a conference hall and invited the national media for a big unveiling of some new project, I'd have high expectations and this definitely would not have fit the bill...

 

[Donut23]

C'mon though - there's no way they were giving up Marvel. There's too much money invested in that ride alone! This update will be nice, but is not worthy of a big announcement...it's what SHOULD be done to these things.

I agree completely. Can you forward your note to Fellow Castmember Bob!!

 

[TwingleMum]

My DD loved "Despicable Me" but I thought it was kind of so-so....not as bad as the many Shrek sequels (Loved the first Shrek, though.) but not as bad as a lot of animated cr*pola.

Certainly not going to distract from the Star Tours opening...which also isn't really THAT big a deal.

ITA Despicable Me doesn't do anything for me or my kids. The money could have been better spent on a more enduring themed dark ride or Kali River rapid ride.

 

[Figment632]

ITA Despicable Me doesn't do anything for me or my kids. The money could have been better spent on a more enduring themed dark ride or Kali River rapid ride.

I disagree Jimmy Netron is dated an needed to go they were gong to keep the ride system regardless so it's a good move IMO.

 

[DCTooTall]

Wasn't expecting much, and this met my expectations.

I don't think there's a need to announce HP expansion right now. It's still generating plenty of excitement on its own and the films almost act like free publicity for the current offerings.

I think HP expansion might not be announced for another year, when they hype starts to slow. And if they're smart, obviously it'll be timed to open just as attendance levels flatten.

But all kinds of other outside factors play a huge role here -- including the current ownership issues. If Comcast buys out Blackstone, for example, will they also be willing to shell out extra cash to invest in the parks right away? Is Comcast even willing to invest in parks in a big way in the first place?

All that remains to be seen... but hopefully the WWoHP's early numbers are enough to encourage them to keep building.

Another factor that's definately worth considering before announcing the HP Expansion is the crowd levels, and the impact the construction would have on the available people-eating space and crowd flows.

Unlike with Phase 1 where it was somewhat possible to "cut the corner" with the new bridge and allow crowds to flow past it, I do not believe there is any way they could bypass the rest of the Lost Continent section. The result would either be closing off the entire area (meaning crowds no longer have a nice loop to complete to avoid massive backtracking), or placing walls up creating what amounts to a glorified alleyway between Seuss and HP. Considering the pathways are extremely wide in some sections anyways before you put up walls, I doubt with then there would be enough room to easily accommodate the crowds the park is currently seeing.


So while we know HP Phase 2 may be coming, I can see other legitimate logistical reasons to delay the announcement until after the crowds coming for phase 1 die down.

 

[TheTexasKid]

Well I was excited but it was smaller than I was hoping for.

What was announced

Dispicable Me to replace Jimmy Netron
Spiderman refurb and upgrades

But the Water park and WWOHP are still in the works as far as Transformers your guess is as good as mine.

Well, this seems to be a logical move on Universal's part, as "Despicable Me" is an Universal Pictures's product, whereas, "Jimmy Neutron" was a Paramount Picture's product.

 

[pilferk]

Any word on when Spidey will go down for rehab?

 

[nytimez]

Any word on when Spidey will go down for rehab?

It may not need to go down. They've already installed the new digital projection in one scene, I believe as a test, and they didn't take down the attraction do it.