Update on possibilites of Transformers

[Planogirl]

I'd be happy if they just rethemed the food at Mel's.

I would just LOVE a monsters attraction. I love the old monsters.

 

[truck1]

Was over at US last night for the concert. Bldg 44 is in the process of coming down. There is a large hole in the side of the bldg that faces Mummy, and a smaller hole facing the lake. You can see into the bldg. The sidewalks and the overhangs/que area is gone. The area around the Shrek/Donkey Meet and Greet is fenced off also. Took a couple of pictures from my phone and Ill try and post them later.

 

[keishashadow]

Screamscape is saying the latest rumors appear to have some sort of year round haunted house like House of Horrors at Universal Hollywood going into what used to be soundstage 44.He doesn't like the idea as apparently House of Horrors is pretty low quality and not up to par with haunts at HHN.I honestly wouldn't mind as Universal has a huge history with monsters and scary movies,in fact almost every year I attend HHN I think about why Universal doesn't have some sort of year round monsters attraction.So I personally love the theme,now they just need to make sure they do a good job with it.What does scare me is that this appears to have been thrown together in the last minute to create another attraction with nothing in Amity Island until Potter gets finished in a couple of years,so I'm keeping my fingers crossed if this is what actually will go there that it will be a worthwhile attraction.

The mistake is to compare an old skool walk-thru stand alone haunted house with one of the HHN offerings. Other than a possible promo/tie in for the annual HHN event in Orlando, you're talking apples to oranges comparision. USH's offering doesn't attempt to scare your pants off ala HHN. It's more about incredibly detailed set design, theme and elaborate vignettes with monster encounters thrown into the mix; geared to multi generational audience.

I really liked USH House of Horrors and there was no reference to their HHN offerings. The quality of the actors there is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

There is an audience for a stand-alone haunted house, especially since nobody else in mid Florida has one in the major parks. Many baby boomers (with disposable incomes to burn) have fond memories of old skool walk thru haunted houses and would enjoy seeing a top-notch offering. What a great way for Universal to pay homage to their catalog of monsters without any pesky licensing fees.

Mel's could be amp'd up with skating carhops if they'd block off the side street where the bathrooms are located and put some outdoor tables there. While they're at it, do something....anything....to improve the grub at monsters cafe please.

 

[damo]

The mistake is to compare an old skool walk-thru stand alone haunted house with one of the HHN offerings. Other than a possible promo/tie in for the annual HHN event in Orlando, you're talking apples to oranges comparision. USH's offering doesn't attempt to scare your pants off ala HHN. It's more about incredibly detailed set design, theme and elaborate vignettes with monster encounters thrown into the mix; geared to multi generational audience.

I really liked USH House of Horrors and there was no reference to their HHN offerings. The quality of the actors there is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

There is an audience for a stand-alone haunted house, especially since nobody else in mid Florida has one in the major parks. Many baby boomers (with disposable incomes to burn) have fond memories of old skool walk thru haunted houses and would enjoy seeing a top-notch offering. What a great way for Universal to pay homage to their catalog of monsters without any pesky licensing fees.

Mel's could be amp'd up with skating carhops if they'd block off the side street where the bathrooms are located and put some outdoor tables there. While they're at it, do something....anything....to improve the grub at monsters cafe please.

I thought people were liking the Monsters Cafe food this year.

Mel's, on the other hand...

 

[truck1]

I thought the prices were a little high in MC. Everything looked good though.Thought the chili fries were good. This is just me but I always thought that Mels and Richters were about the same quality wise, though I havent eaten in Mels in a while since my wife changed jobs and we dont go during the week anymore.

 

[damo]

Orlando United has some photos of the deconstruction.

http://orlandounited.com/2012/06/27/sound-stage-44-demolition-update/

 

[keishashadow]

I thought people were liking the Monsters Cafe food this year.

Mel's, on the other hand...

I'll believe it when i eat it

 

[kenban]

When jaws closed I just felt like it had to be for Phase 2 of Harry Potter.

This whole thing is just confusing to me. It just feels too sudden to be just a year round walk through monster house. I have expected a permanent HHN house for a few years now. But why now, when this building was already supposed to be part of HHN this year. Why not wait until HHN ends to destroy the building? What is the sudden rush and why can't it wait for November?

It just feels to me like Universal is on some very fast time table suddenly to get this building destroyed and the replacement started. Plus if it is a walk through why would they need height balloons?

The idea that Disney is willing to pay enough money to get the full rights for Marvel in theme parks back makes sense. Would Disney consider spending possibly hundreds of millions on attractions in California, while Universal still has the rights to use the characters in Florida? Disney has already announced they want to start using the characters in their theme parks and soon. One of the rumors going around is that Disney is once again looking at a third gate at Disneyland with one of the ideas the entire park being a Marvel park. Personally I think it would make more sense if they do build a third gate that they might finally build the hero's and villains park which has been rumored for years. Which could even lead to a fifth gate in Florida.

That is a lot of speculation and a very good chance it would be years away. I think transformers is possible, but I personally am not convinced. I am not certain that the space is even big enough, at a minimum I think it would take the whole block. Which means Monsters Cafe would have to go as well. Is the cafe still open? Until I see a picture showing the Monsters Cafe being torn down I don't think this is going to be Transformers.

 

[DCTooTall]

When jaws closed I just felt like it had to be for Phase 2 of Harry Potter.

This whole thing is just confusing to me. It just feels too sudden to be just a year round walk through monster house. I have expected a permanent HHN house for a few years now. But why now, when this building was already supposed to be part of HHN this year. Why not wait until HHN ends to destroy the building? What is the sudden rush and why can't it wait for November?

It just feels to me like Universal is on some very fast time table suddenly to get this building destroyed and the replacement started. Plus if it is a walk through why would they need height balloons?

The idea that Disney is willing to pay enough money to get the full rights for Marvel in theme parks back makes sense. Would Disney consider spending possibly hundreds of millions on attractions in California, while Universal still has the rights to use the characters in Florida? Disney has already announced they want to start using the characters in their theme parks and soon. One of the rumors going around is that Disney is once again looking at a third gate at Disneyland with one of the ideas the entire park being a Marvel park. Personally I think it would make more sense if they do build a third gate that they might finally build the hero's and villains park which has been rumored for years. Which could even lead to a fifth gate in Florida.

That is a lot of speculation and a very good chance it would be years away. I think transformers is possible, but I personally am not convinced. I am not certain that the space is even big enough, at a minimum I think it would take the whole block. Which means Monsters Cafe would have to go as well. Is the cafe still open? Until I see a picture showing the Monsters Cafe being torn down I don't think this is going to be Transformers.

There are plenty of threads on the DIS (Check out the Rumors and News forum) on why the 5th gate, and Disney's buying out the Marvel rights just aren't going to happen.


As for why the rush to demolish the building now and not wait until after HHN? There were rumors that the building suffered some sort of structural damage a few years back when some hurricanes blew thru the area. I wouldn't be totally surprised if after the HHN permit was submitted if someone discovered some issues within the structure that would've made it impossible to utilize the structure. It could even have been something as simple as issues that stemmed from the structure being vacant and unused for so long, such as a leak which went unnoticed which resulted in a mold or other environmental issue that would've prevented occupancy.... or even an electrical issue that could've caused serious issues and/or delays in getting built and/or permits for other work within the project.

 

[truck1]

There are plenty of threads on the DIS (Check out the Rumors and News forum) on why the 5th gate, and Disney's buying out the Marvel rights just aren't going to happen.


As for why the rush to demolish the building now and not wait until after HHN? There were rumors that the building suffered some sort of structural damage a few years back when some hurricanes blew thru the area. I wouldn't be totally surprised if after the HHN permit was submitted if someone discovered some issues within the structure that would've made it impossible to utilize the structure. It could even have been something as simple as issues that stemmed from the structure being vacant and unused for so long, such as a leak which went unnoticed which resulted in a mold or other environmental issue that would've prevented occupancy.... or even an electrical issue that could've caused serious issues and/or delays in getting built and/or permits for other work within the project.

Could also be something as simple as ADA rules/laws and or new fire codes. It may have been easier/cheaper to demo the bldg then to try and bring it back up to code.

 

[macraven]

since whatever it is that will be in the old Jaws section of the park could take a couple of years., i assume that they are in a hurry to put new 'somethings' up quickly.

probably bld 44 is the start of the new projects that can be done in a shorter time period.

 

[Planogirl]

When jaws closed I just felt like it had to be for Phase 2 of Harry Potter.

This whole thing is just confusing to me. It just feels too sudden to be just a year round walk through monster house. I have expected a permanent HHN house for a few years now. But why now, when this building was already supposed to be part of HHN this year. Why not wait until HHN ends to destroy the building? What is the sudden rush and why can't it wait for November?

It just feels to me like Universal is on some very fast time table suddenly to get this building destroyed and the replacement started. Plus if it is a walk through why would they need height balloons?

The idea that Disney is willing to pay enough money to get the full rights for Marvel in theme parks back makes sense. Would Disney consider spending possibly hundreds of millions on attractions in California, while Universal still has the rights to use the characters in Florida? Disney has already announced they want to start using the characters in their theme parks and soon. One of the rumors going around is that Disney is once again looking at a third gate at Disneyland with one of the ideas the entire park being a Marvel park. Personally I think it would make more sense if they do build a third gate that they might finally build the hero's and villains park which has been rumored for years. Which could even lead to a fifth gate in Florida.

That is a lot of speculation and a very good chance it would be years away. I think transformers is possible, but I personally am not convinced. I am not certain that the space is even big enough, at a minimum I think it would take the whole block. Which means Monsters Cafe would have to go as well. Is the cafe still open? Until I see a picture showing the Monsters Cafe being torn down I don't think this is going to be Transformers.

Where would Disney put a third park in California? I thought that they were built out.

I hope that the Monsters Cafe will be OK. The theming is amazing and the food could be. Universal of course does knock down great restaurants if necessary. RIP Enchanted Oak.

 

[La2kw]

Where would Disney put a third park in California? I thought that they were built out.

I hope that the Monsters Cafe will be OK. The theming is amazing and the food could be. Universal of course does knock down great restaurants if necessary. RIP Enchanted Oak.

There is a parking lot (which used to be an old strawberry field) which is slated for the third park.

Monsters Cafe used to have better food than it does now.

 

[2girlsmom]

So I spoke with my sister, who works for Uni IT this weekend, who says all the rumors they are hearing for Studio 44 space says Transformers. I specifically asked about some of the options we have heard about here, hoping to get some reaction, but she says no only Transformers, and so far only HP in the Amity area redo.

 

[damo]

If it is Transformers I hope they made some ride changes. Both Spiderman and Transformers follow the same basic plot line with the same movements such as dropping from a building, getting some sort of exploding article thrown at the vehicle, etc. I don't have an issue with both rides using the same ride mechanism but hope that the actual ride plot has more variation.

 

[ChrisFL]

If it is Transformers I hope they made some ride changes. Both Spiderman and Transformers follow the same basic plot line with the same movements such as dropping from a building, getting some sort of exploding article thrown at the vehicle, etc. I don't have an issue with both rides using the same ride mechanism but hope that the actual ride plot has more variation.

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but the Mummy is different enough between the Orlando and Hollywood versions, so I could see this being a possibility.

 

[macraven]

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but the Mummy is different enough between the Orlando and Hollywood versions, so I could see this being a possibility.

besides what ChrisFl said, the rides are in different parks.
spiderman in ioa, this new ride at the studios.

i'm not a transformer fan but don't see it being a problem if it is.
might be a good thing for the studios to have a thrilling 3D ride too.

 

[damo]

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but the Mummy is different enough between the Orlando and Hollywood versions, so I could see this being a possibility.

Yup. I've ridden both. That is what I am hoping for...enough variation so that the rides just aren't the same thing with different dialogue and characters.

 

[kenban]

If it is Transformers I hope they made some ride changes. Both Spiderman and Transformers follow the same basic plot line with the same movements such as dropping from a building, getting some sort of exploding article thrown at the vehicle, etc. I don't have an issue with both rides using the same ride mechanism but hope that the actual ride plot has more variation.

The drop on Transformers is basically required. The reason the building is so small is that it is two stories and the ride vehicle is on an elevator at this point. It has been a few months since I rode Transformers so I can't remember where in the story the first elevator is used.

The other problem is one of time. Mummy is mostly a simple attraction. You pretty much have a coaster which causes certain show elements to trigger when the coaster train gets to specific spots on the track. Totally changing the design could be done in a few weeks.

Transformers is just too complicated to make story modifications easily. I think going back and changing the plot of Spiderman would be easier then changing Transformers. But totally changing the plot of a ride and leaving the entire layout the same has been done before. Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom and Indiana Jones at Disneyland are the exact same ride layout just different vehicle motions and theme. But I don't know anyone who thinks Disney did a good job of it.

If this is Transformers I still believe there is a very good chance that Spiderman will close. At that point I don't think anyone will care if the two rides had similar elements.

A permit for a new staging area was filed. Looks like this is Project 609.

 

[JessicaR]

The drop on Transformers is basically required. The reason the building is so small is that it is two stories and the ride vehicle is on an elevator at this point. It has been a few months since I rode Transformers so I can't remember where in the story the first elevator is used.

The other problem is one of time. Mummy is mostly a simple attraction. You pretty much have a coaster which causes certain show elements to trigger when the coaster train gets to specific spots on the track. Totally changing the design could be done in a few weeks.

Transformers is just too complicated to make story modifications easily. I think going back and changing the plot of Spiderman would be easier then changing Transformers. But totally changing the plot of a ride and leaving the entire layout the same has been done before. Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom and Indiana Jones at Disneyland are the exact same ride layout just different vehicle motions and theme. But I don't know anyone who thinks Disney did a good job of it.

If this is Transformers I still believe there is a very good chance that Spiderman will close. At that point I don't think anyone will care if the two rides had similar elements.

A permit for a new staging area was filed. Looks like this is Project 609.

Close Spiderman? No way!