The Theme Park Thread • Page 229

That’s one ride I'm bummed I didn’t do when I went back in January

 

I got so lost looking for the ferry the other day because they moved it. I ended up exiting the park and walking toward the buses before I realized it wasn't the right way.

 

Wtf

 

Looking at the high detail pictures from that EU model.

This might be my favorite part of the park. I will just spend all day here chilling with my boy Funky Kong in the save point plane thanks, don't need anything else

 

Oh and Dark Universe details should be announced on Thursday

 

I can't wait to see the model in August. That thing is massive.

 

sorry jenny nicholson set the new standard so ima need a 4+ hour defunctland at some point

 

I'm starting to develop a theory that post-Epic Universe once Universal is rolling in cash they're finally be confident enough to rip off the bandaid and drop Marvel from IoA. I think them letting go of the Simpsons is a sign of that. If I were in the position they're probably going to be in a couple years I'd look at what Disney did with Marvel at DCA and say "go ahead and have it, please spend a lot of money, take your time, and do it in Florida just like that"

I have a pretty good idea what IP they already own the theme park rights to that I think they can replace Superhero Island with.

 

Los Alamos from Oppenheimer?

 

I do wonder if Disney will make any use of The Simpsons in their parks after Universal is done with them. Seems like a cool thing to do, but what do I know?

 

• They still own the park rights to Spongebob
• Spongebob is still one of the most valuable and highest grossing IPs on earth. Just from merch alone.

• They're doing a Spongebob Land in their new Texas park, so they're willing to use it, and have plans for it

• Universal Orlando has a historic connection to Nickelodeon so it would feel very on brand and Classic Universal in a way
• I think their current strategy is to make the parks more kid and family friendly

• I think they can retheme Spider-Man to Spongebob without ruining it or pissing people off

• Hulk coaster tracks are already green. Paint the queue and ride building orange. Make it the Nickelodeon Slime Coaster. It's right by the land entrance too, it would look awesome.

• Krabby Patties would be a huge snack for them

 

Tron was such a disappointment for me, it wasn't thrilling enough to be that short. If the ride wad maybe a bit faster and included some more thrilling elements I'd be ok with the short length but it's just kind of meh. It's shocking how much better of a ride Cosmic Rewind is.

 

Back from five nights in the bubble. Walked 45 miles on 4 park days. Tore a chest muscle lugging the double stroller around. Worth it.

Pop Century is still the GOAT. Skyliner is the best way to travel. Even with a long line the thing moves quick.

Got Genie every day. Don’t take for granted that I’m able to do so. A lot of “see those lines” to my kids and they look at me like I’m nuts.

Rope dropped Astro Orbiters. Only ride I’ve never been on before this trip. Expanding MK needs to happen but they have to be big spaces. The walkways are so tight. Flying carpets really screwed things up over in Adventureland. People going every which way.

Galaxy’s Edge was more fun now that my oldest knows Star Wars and we got pilots on the Falcon. Core memory for sure. Hollywood needs 2-3 more attractions to stay solid.

Epcot as previously referenced feels so much more open and will be a more pleasant festival experience for those that like that sort of thing. Fireworks were delayed and we bounced. Kind of a bummer.

Animal Kingdom still remains my favorite and once they redo that Dinoland area, it will be even better. 5 years later and that would have never been greenlit. So much detail and open space.

Best meal, which I wasn’t expecting to be, was Cinderellas Royal Table. I’d do that again over a buffet meal. Feel the value is there when it comes to adult meals. Felt bad for our server, Lord James. Felt like he was stuck in an endless SNL skit.

Honestly feel food prices are fair except for snacks and pre-packaged items. Why are we charging $7 for a Churro but $12 for a full quick service meal.

Universals prices in the new Dreamworks area are even higher than Disney norms. I’d expect Epic Universe prices to be high as well. Thus leading to increases at Disney parks.

 

Fuck it, sell Jellyfish Jelly sandwiches too

 

Has the Simpsons removal ever actually been confirmed?

 

Not officially no. But the 20 year contract runs out in 2028, and multiple theme park news sites and insiders reported that sources who are techs on the ride are all saying it is on the way out. That they stopped hiring or training new techs to work on the ride specifically. Also people are saying the contract goes both ways, and current Disney management isn't ever going to want to renegotiate a new deal where Universal keeps the park rights to Simpsons. Pretty much every legit theme park reporter with sources is treating like a foregone conclusion.

Look at the Spider-Man ride in Japan. Universal had a similar 20 year deal to use that character for parks in Japan. The literal second that deal ended earlier this year the ride closed because Disney was never going to renegotiate that and agree on a new deal that kept Spider-Man from being used in the future at Tokyo Disneyland.

 

With the Marvel-Universal contract in Florida it is different in that Universal has exclusive rights to use Marvel characters in theme parks east of the Mississippi in perpetuity as long as they keep the land open. If they decide to close the land and remove all Marvel characters from the park then they lose the rights to Disney. So with Marvel super hero island Universal can end it whenever they choose to and don't need to ever negotiate a new deal with Disney, but with the Simpsons they do.

 

If Disney gets the Orlando Marvel rights back, I think we’d be in 5th gate territory with a much larger Avengers Campus being the cornerstone with probably a Villains land and Pixar Land.

 

That’ll be nice in 2042

 

I don't think there ever will be 5th gate honestly

 

I remember years ago when Epcot refurb was just starting to get talked about there was heavy reporting that Disney was going to push the limits of the Universal-Marvel deal and turn Wonders Of Life at Epcot into a Wakanda Pavilion. Their case was that Black Panther isn't in any attractions or a walking character at Universal, his name/logo appear nowhere. Then Universal blocked them because of this tiny inclusion of Black Panther on a single mural. The Play Pavilion or whatever they came up with later as a plan B of course failed.


This is why Wonders Of Life is still vacant lol

 

long live the king (the amazing adventures of spider-man)

 

You know, the more I think about this, the more I realize the wasted potential in SpongeBob being in the park. They could just replace Krusty Burger with the Krusty Krab and it would be a smash. They could also sell kelp shakes