Well crud

[mulchpuppy]

Been away for a bit - with no trips planned until Mummy previews (when, oh when...), I've been trying to avoid the various websites just so I didn't get that little sad feeling in the cockles of my heart.

Then I see today where a few other sites have reported that Vivendi officially sold off their 1800 acres that were ripe for the next Universal park(s)...

So there goes that. The Orlando Business Journal flat out said it the harshest...

"Universal Orlando appears to have washed its hands of a long-range plan to one day grow as large as rival Walt Disney World."

So that's great.

Now I know why I kept away for a while.

 

[damo]

I was pretty disappointed by that news as well.

 

[Fafolguy]

At first I was surprised to see that, but unless Universal was interested in either A) build a monorail type of transportation between the two sites or B) have shuttle busses running through the already crowded I Drive area, the land wasn't in a good location to include a park as part of the Universal complex. No, now, Universal has sold the land - probably for top $ - and will be able to focus on their current parks.

As for Universal being as large as WDW, who ever thought that would be the case? Remmeber, Walt bought a lot of land in secret a long time ago, when there were orange trees and not much else there. Trying to expand to something the same size as Disney is just not going to happen anywhere in central FL.

Personally, the size of the resort area and ease of maneuvering through all it has to offer is what made my decision to go there instead of WDW that much easier.

 

[h20jag]

Just wait'll that High School behind IOA needs new buildings, maybe a new location to boot.
Sound-proofing technology will have improved then too. Near-by residences won't have a leg to stand on with all the money involved. (OK, my New Year's prediction only)
Happiest of Holidays to all!

 

[robvia]

I was bummed too, but there's plenty of room at the existing parks to add. Disney is diluted having to visit 4 parks to cover the thrill rides, each parks seems to have 2 good rides, and the rest doesn't really interest me. I'd rather visit two parks and see everything.
I think it comes down to maintenance costs of the rides. You'll notice, parks are replacing old rides with something new. If the suits replace old attractions with fun rides, then I'll be happy. If they add lame shows, and family rides, then I'll be frustrated.

Let's take USF. Beind the Wild West Stunt show, there is a field. Put a queue there, and have the coaster run thru the field. Same with BTTF, put a queue there, and run a coaster back thru the field. Plenty of room to do something, if the suits would get into Fun Ride mode.
IOA - Put a world record Gyro Drop where the Triceratops Encounter used to be. The gyro drop at PKD is a hit.
And of coarse, the Flyer next to Rip Saw Falls.

 

[Aptor]

Thanks for the information.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

I was bummed by the info as well. I agree, hopefully they will place more focus on what they currently have.

 

[DocBosch]

This is really disappointing.

Yes, Universal could theoretically be as big as Disney currently is. Maybe not in physical size, but in scope, definitely. Disney currently has four parks and far too many hotel resorts and miscellaneous other activities (golf courses, ect.). Believe it or not, due to the amount of roads and other, smaller facilities on the property, Disney barely has enough room for fifth park.

On the property that they just sold, Universal could have fit two more IOA size parks, at least one more resort and possibly another water park. That would amount to four parks, just as many as Disney.

The former Universal expansion property is actually very well positioned. It does not border International Drive, as many propone, but the rarely used Universal Blvd. The same Universal Blvd that intersects the Universal property could be taken south, over I-4, across I-Drive and into a surprisingly quiet area of town. Once you pass Sand Lake, the forested area to the left is the much-touted property.

If handled correctly, that area could’ve been as easy to navigate as the current Universal property. It would’ve been extremely simple to get from "campus" to "campus" as the obviously titled Universal Blvd would connects both. And, hey, you know what, a monorail, or something else equally as ingenious, would've been a great for of transportation between the two properties.

And since space would still be an issue, the two new parks would’ve most likely been build right next to each other, like the current parks. Park hopping between at least two parks would've been as practical as it is today.

At this rate, Universal will never be more them small potatoes compared to Disney. Universal has proven to be comparable to Disney in terms or theme, design, creativity and technology, but it still needs to get recognized at large. This can only be accomplished by growing is size and presence. But with the current development, it seems Universal is destined to just be considered the "other" Orlando.

The saddest thing is that I remember when IOA was just being developed, with all the interest and excitement about what was coming, and knowing that the something similar will most likely never happen again.

-Kevin