More Universal 2012 Hints

From Universal Orlando Resort Facebook:

UORHint: The new attraction is being designed by the same team that has brought to life many of Universal Orlando’s great entertainment experiences -- but it is based on a concept that is entirely different from what is now in our theme parks.

Hmmm... I don't know if they mean a new concept as in a new theme or a new ride system. I'm not sure if a ride system change is possible, considering the timeline between August 18, 2011 (the time Neutron closes) and Spring 2012 (the time I'm guessing when the new attraction opens). But I think a new ride system for the Jimmy Neutron replacement should be pretty interesting.

I can't wait until they announce the new attraction!

USF 2012 Update

From Universal Orlando Resort Facebook:

Here’s the first UORHint: We captured this photo of Thierry Coup, Senior Vice President of the Creative Studio, working in his office at Universal Creative. What do you think he is working on?

Well the first Universal Orlando hint on their new 2012 attraction (replacing Jimmy Neutron) has been posted. Now for some notable clues:

1. A banana. This means either King Kong 360 or Despicable Me (the Minions' favorite food). There have been rumors of a version of the Kong 360 coming to Florida replacing Disaster. I doubt it will fit in the Neutron building though. So I'm leaning towards Despicable Me (and even more reasons will come in the next two clues I spotted).

2. I don't know if this is just his shadow or not (with the pen), but Coup's hand apparently has a shadow of Gru, the main character of Despicable Me, pointing his finger.

3. At first I didn't see it, but if you look carefully from the window:















I seem to have created a red circle, circling what appears to be a Minion looking inside the office.

I think this spills the beans. Despicable Me is coming to Universal! =D I might miss Neutron still, but I have no doubt that Despicable Me will work epic as a ride! =)

Where and When Will the next B&M Wing Coaster go up?

Raptor is now open at Gardaland. Since then, I have been thinking the past few days... where and when will the next B&M Wing Coaster go up? Now, I know that Thorpe Park (in England) is building the next Wing Coaster for 2012, LC12, but I mean after that (I understand this might be too early, but I'm still curious).

Before we go through that, I believe it is best if we look at the parks that are getting coasters in 2012 or 2013, as well as the Merlin parks.

I'll first start with the Merlin parks that do not have (or have announced) Wing Coasters (that means Gardaland and Thorpe Park can be ruled out... and obviously the Legolands can be ruled out too)...

Heide Park:

This can obviously be ruled out because they are getting Krake this year, unless they pull a Kings Dominion and open a coaster two years from now (Dominator - 2008, Intimidator 305 - 2010).

Alton Towers:

I believe this is most likely the next Merlin park to get a Wing Coaster. Remember that rumor last summer of Secret Weapon 7 being under development? It seems to be confirmed:

TOP-SECRET plans are being drawn up for the most expensive ride yet at Alton Towers.

The new ride is set to open for the 2013 tourist season and will top the £15 million spent building the Th13teen ride which opened last year.

News of the ride comes as Alton Towers revealed it attracted more than 2.7 million visitors last year – a 17-year record.

General manager Ian Crabbe told The Sentinel: "We are going to be working extremely hard to make sure this ride is the only one of its kind in the world.

"It will draw people in from across the UK."

About 2,700 people are employed at Alton Towers. More than 120 of them have been preparing the park for the new season.

New attractions for this season include:

An entertainment show devised by Mike Stock, of Stock, Aitken and Waterman fame;

BMX stunt riders;

Britain's biggest fireworks display outside of London's New Year show;

Opening the theme park for Christmas celebrations for the first time.

Mr Crabbe added: "The really exciting thing for me is our ability to be a successful business.

"It gives me a real buzz that we can employ 2,700 people, especially when you look at a third year of recession.

"Last year was the most successful year we have had since 1994 when Nemesis was launched.

"This business has grown over the last two-and-a-half years and we have seen an increase of between 300,000 and 400,000 visitors."

Many of the 2,700 Alton Towers workers live in North Staffordshire.

Student Hayley McNutt, aged 20, of Stoke, who is starting her first season, said: "I've been excited. I'm doing face-painting for children, so I've been doing a lot of practising."

Amy Plant, aged 18, of Cheadle, said: "This is the second year I've worked here and I really enjoyed it last year.

"I love Alton Towers anyway. Rita, Queen of Speed is my favourite ride."

Kirsty Beattie, aged 31, of Blythe Bridge, who visited the park on Saturday for the first time in more than 10 years, said: "I've been looking forward to going on Th13teen and Air."

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/PARK-PLANS-NEW-ROLLER-COASTER/article-3379002-detail/article.html

I have gut feeling that Alton Towers may actually get the first rotating version of the Wing Coaster (if B&M still supposedly wants to do so).

Chessington's Worlds of Adventures:

This seems to be the only Merlin park not building a new coaster. Their last coaster was built in 2004, which increases the possibility for a 2013/2014 coaster, possibly as a Wing Coaster.

Who else (non Merlin)...?

Dorney Park:

This park is building a 2012 coaster, but it seems all but confirmed that this is the old Invertigo coaster from California's Great America.

Port Aventura:

The park could be building a 2012 coaster. However, this will probably not be a Wing Coaster, due to the presence of Furius Baco, an Intamin Wing Rider.

Hersheypark:

While I still have this feeling the 2012 coaster project could be the first Wing Coaster in America, I'm starting to believe that Attraction 2012 could be an Intamin Hypercoaster (which would still be cool).

Now onto the good ones...

Six Flags Great America:

This park could be building a 2012 coaster in the old Splashwater Falls site. However the latest rumor is that this will be an Intamin ZacSpin like Green Lantern at SFMM, but with a different theme (according to Screamscape). Still, I wouldn't rule out a B&M Wing Coaster just yet. Also, the last big coaster in the park was installed in 2003 (Superman), they have been adding family coasters (Rajun Cajun - 2005, Dark Knight - 2008, and Little Dipper - 2010) and they took out a big coaster in 2007 (Deja Vu). Not to mention, Chang, which was supposed to be their 2011 coaster, was taken away at the last minute last summer (in the planning) and sent to SFGAdv instead. This park could certainly use a great coaster. Also, if this is a Wing Coaster, it could be the only coaster in the area.

Dollywood:

Recently, Dollywood in Tennessee has been planning something big for the 2012 season, possibly a new coaster. While one of the articles says 11 feet, it could very well be a typo. It could be 110 feet... which certainly matches up the height ranges of the current B&M Wing Coasters (Raptor - 108 ft, LC12 - 127 ft). And Dollywood doesn't have a B&M coaster yet either.

Cedar Point:

Cedar Point has gone 5 years without a new coaster, and now that SFMM took their coaster crown, CP will probably want to take it back.

Kentucky Kingdom:

While the reopening of Kentucky Kingdom has apparently been delayed to 2013 recently, this hasn't stopped rumors of Ed Hart ordering a B&M coaster as a replacement for Chang (though technically, Chang's spot is becoming a water park). I wonder if this could be a Wing Coaster.

Canada's Wonderland:

There are rumors that for 2012, Canada's Wonderland could be receiving its second B&M coaster. And Canada lacks a Wing Rider/Wing Coaster and a 4D coaster. This does make me wonder...

California's Great America:

I'm honestly considering this, however I have my doubts. Chances are, if this park were to do anything within the next few years (given how things are going with the 49ers and Invertigo's removal), it would close forever. However, I wouldn't rule this out just yet.

Islands of Adventure:

Okay, this park is not building a 2012 coaster, but I've always felt that the Jurassic Park section of the park could use another ride other than JPRA. I've always liked the idea of converting Pteranodon Flyers into Canopy Flyers (as seen in Singapore, with new trains), and building a Pteranodon-themed coaster (either a B&M Flying Coaster or a B&M Wing Coaster). Of course, with Harry Potter Phase II all but confirmed, this might have to wait a few more years, but hey, I can always dream. =D

Universal Water Park Rumors are BACK!

Remember last summer when Universal surveyed ideas for a possible on-site waterpark. Looks like the rumors are back! From Screamscape:

2015/2016 - New Waterpark - Rumor - (3/17/11) Over the years I’ve talked on and off about the long term plan for Universal to build their very own on-site waterpark. This is because the land under Wet ‘n Wild was only leased to the park when it was built back in the mid ‘70s, and the clock has been ticking down towards the inevitable expiration date of the deal. While no one with solid knowledge of the deal has ever come forward to give an official answer about just how long the lease was for, several years ago I did read a report in the Orlando Business Journal that did confirm that the land owners would not be looking to sign another long term lease deal.
Why bring this up again? Because a few days before the Blackstone news broke, I had started to hear rumblings about possible preparations beginning again to get the official plan for this new on-site waterpark in development again. The plans would drop the new waterpark onto that remaining vacant site across the street from the backside of Ripsaw Falls and the big Jurassic Park building.
This time they are apparently not just in a Blue-Sky dreaming mode, as they have been previously when submitting a few guest surveys to find out just what kind of waterpark experience the public expected from the Universal brand name. If the rumors are true, the idea this time may be to put a solid entry for the waterpark project into the new 5-year Masterplan that Universal is working on as a follow up to the Potter-verse.
Five years is also an important date that may fit well into the scheme of things. While Wet ‘n Wild Orlando opened in 1977, the lease on the land would have likely been signed the year before (1976) which would make 2011 the 35th year of the lease. Many long term lease deals use rounded numbers, and while this is just speculation, 2016 would be year 40, and a good possible year for the lease to end. Again, this is all just speculation… but I’ve got a good feeling about this possible timeline. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, as the current ownership shifts taking place between Comcast and Blackstone could cause some major ripples here.

Well this could be interesting... last time we went to Universal we saw that plot of land that is between the backside of JPRA/Ripsaw Falls and I-4. It looks pretty big.

I really hope this whole Blackstone situation doesn't affect the water park rumor! It would be nice to have a Universal water park on site.

And if this is true, it seems you have 4-5 years left to experience Wet N' Wild. Take precautions!

Blackstone Ouchies!!

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-03-16/business/os-blackstone-offers-sell-universal-s20110316_1_blackstone-group-universal-orlando-resort-wizarding-world

Even as it churns out the most impressive results in its history, Universal Orlando finds itself suddenly thrust back into ownership turmoil.

A move by the Blackstone Group, the private-equity firm that has co-owned Orlando's No. 2 theme-park resort since 2000, to put its Universal stake up for sale has triggered a chain of events that could ultimately lead to the entire resort being put back on the auction block.

A sale could have huge implications for Universal. Some of the resort's most important licensing contracts — including its agreement with Warner Bros. for the rights to Harry Potter — include provisions in which Universal could lose those rights if it is acquired by a new owner.
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People with all of the companies involved — Universal Orlando; co-owners Blackstone and NBCUniversal Media LLC; and NBCUniversal's new owner, Comcast Corp. — say it is too early to predict the ultimate outcome.

But Universal executives vowed Wednesday that the uncertainty would not blunt the momentum the resort has built since opening its smash-hit Wizarding World of Harry Potter last June. It is, after all, a familiar scenario for a resort that over the years has been passed between a Japanese electronics manufacturer, a Canadian liquor company, a French media concern and an American industrial conglomerate, among others.

"We have worked with several ownership partners throughout our 20-year history and have always been successful, thanks to our great attraction experiences and the world-class service we provide to our guests and to one another," Universal Orlando Chief Executive Officer John Sprouls wrote Wednesday in an e-mail to Universal's roughly 16,000 employees. "You can have confidence that Universal Orlando Resort will remain strong and stable."

Blackstone set the wheels for a sale in motion earlier this month by making a formal offer to sell its half of the resort to fellow co-owner NBCUniversal, the media-and-entertainment conglomerate. Universal disclosed the offer in a securities document filed Monday with federal regulators.

NBCUniversal now has three months — until June 12 — to accept the offer and buy out the private-equity firm. If it doesn't, Blackstone has the right to seek an outside bidder to buy both sides' stakes in Universal Orlando, according to the terms of the two companies' joint-ownership agreement. What's more, NBCUniversal would be compelled to sell if Blackstone were able to find a rich enough offer.

Eep!

Uh... personally I don't think anything particularly BAD will happen. If a new owner comes in and takes out, say, HHN or Mardi Gras or Potter (in the article), the resort will be in a world of trouble. Those things make money, and without them, a huge attendance drop will occur.

One thing that does worry me however is Marvel. If a new owner comes in, Disney is probably going to want to take Marvel out of Universal... and boy, I pray this doesn't happen.

But either way, we're just going to have to wait and see.

Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast: 2003 - 2011

Yesterday was the last day for Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast before it runs seasonal until closing permanently on August 18th (according to the stuff USF said on Facebook).

In fact, it seems that work has ALREADY begun on removing the attraction, from objects in the post show room being removed (such as the Nickelodeon benches that used to be at the old Nickelodeon Studios attraction and the trivia games) to some of the Jimmy Neutron facade getting painted over outside.

The little speck of slime next to the main Jimmy image is gone (with the old Nickelodeon logo too, next to it). The "Hey Arnold" facade next to the Cosmo and Wanda facade is also gone, as is the image of Tommy from Rugrats in the walls next to the area before you enter the pre-show room.

And now, two pics.

From figment1986 at Orlando United:



Also from figment 1986 at Orlando United (showing the trivia games gone):



So long, JNNB! =(

Now, it is time to move on... hopefully to Despicable Me! =D

Is Kraken Sinking?

Yesterday, Screamscape reported this scary rumor about Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando:

Park News - (4/1/11) A nasty rumor has sprung up it seems for a signature attraction of SeaWorld. I didn't believe this at first, but a source has confirmed to me that it is true. Now when I post this, I want to make a statement that even though this rumor sounds full of garbage, do not start ranting that I am full of crap, etc. I am posting this so you can get one last ride when the time comes.
With that said, the nasty rumor is that Kraken, the B&M Floorless in the park, is sinking, due to poor infrastructure on the land it sits on. SeaWorld may be forced to remove it entirely and relocate it to either another SeaWorld park or a Six Flags park.
I would hope SeaWorld puts it up somewhere else in the park. With the lack of rides in the park, removing Kraken would just cause an attendance drop for the park and that would not be too good.

Eep...! I would hope this is false.

*please let this be an April Fool's joke*