Next Universal Project

Some interesting rumors have been spreading about the next big addition for Universal.

To start things off... an expansion to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been all but confirmed:

Harry Potter producer David Heyman didn’t keep mum on the Harry Potter Home Entertainment Celebration red carpet at Universal Orlando last weekend.

He told one fansite that plans for a Wizarding World expansion and new Potter parks were in “early days,” and as it turns out he had a bit more to confirm to a major news outlet.

From the Toronto Sun:

Heyman confirmed with Sun Media that details are being planned, including new Potter-themed thrill rides. Heyman himself has been thrilled with the response. “This is the first time we’ve been here with this crowd,” he said of “real fans” of the Harry Potter universe. “You realize it does live on and it lives on in so many ways.”

So now we know that thrill rides are part of the expansion plan. I’m personally still holding out for a Gringotts ride to take over the existing Poseidon’s Fury area at Universal Orlando.

We’ll continue to keep you updated on any expansion and new park news as it becomes available!

Be sure to check out our list of 8 things we want to see in a new Potter park.

http://www.hypable.com/harry-potter/2011/11/19/more-murmurs-of-wizarding-world-at-universal-orlando-expansion-from-producer-david-heyman/

More interesting rumors are spreading (from JungleSkip at Orlando United):

A whole park isn't in the cards... But a lot more than we would have guessed seems to be. I know I'm being a bit short but I'm headed to bed.

The more I hear, the more I think my friendly Spirit was mistaken on what he heard or what he was told.

A contractor that worked on version 1 has said the plans are very big for Phase II, but not USF big.

He's also said Transformers is on its way (different aka better from the USH/USS versions) and something to replace Fear Factor.

Other rumors (some from Spirit, some from other sources):

Exactly ... and UNI has some amazing things headed down the pike. Potter Phase II has grown so large that it has outgrown IOA ... it's like in that movie Jaws 'we're going to need a bigger park' ... or is that 'we're going to need to borrow some land for an existing one?'

I don't know that I'd go that far. But WWoHP is absolutely the most impressive O-town theme park development of this century BY FAR ... and just wait for Phase II ... so big it's going to be in TWO PARKS! (no, I am not kidding! kiss the plastic sharkie bye-bye!)

Nope. Both expanding in IOA and BEYOND ... and I just heard it this week, but have had it confirmed by two others.

That be the plan ... apparently connected by the Hogwarts Express.

But Amity, Jaws and Fear Factor stage (which isn't used most of the time) would cease to exist under the plan.

~GFC~

In all respect to my very dear friend Spirit, he is misinformed on Jaws. Not going anywhere. Phase II is growing however.

If I haven't told you yet let me also confirm that Potter phase II will be several steps above phase I. The two E-tickets (that is not a typo as I consider one of the other attractions planned for Potter to be an E-ticket) will blow FJ away in terms of show with at least an equally innovative and fun ride system. Transformers is an amazing ride and where it is going in USF is also surprising. USF will become an amazing park with the two E-tickets and the other attractions about to be launched.

It seems that the WWoHP Phase II expansion is bound to happen, but bigger than before. So if that's the case, you might want to take some last pics of the Lost Continent before it gets bulldozed.

Now let's get to Transformers. Before we get to rumors, let's get to some recent commotion.

Now, I know that Screamscape reported that Spielberg misspoke about Transformers, and that it won't come. After hearing some of the rumors lately, I think Universal tried to shoot down this rumor with that report.

Within the last couple of months, the old Hard Rock Cafe by Woody Woodpecker was finally demolished after sitting abandoned since CityWalk opened with a new Hard Rock Cafe. One would expect a KidZone attraction to be added, due to its proximity to KidZone. HOWEVER, this is where things start to get interesting... looks like the Lost Continent isn't the only section on the chopping block:

We’ve heard several rumors lately about Universal planning an extensive new attraction for the Studios park in Orlando. In particular, there seems to be a lot of concerted effort on Universal’s part on restructure the backstage area of the northeastern portion of Universal Studios.

This area within the park is home to the aging American Tale themed play area and other “kids zone” type attractions including Barney, Woody Woodpecker, and Curious George just north of the E.T. attraction.

Prior to the Universal resort expansion that introduced CityWalk and Islands of Adventure this portion of the park exited into what was a large Hard Rock cafe. When a new Hard Rock Cafe was built as part of CityWalk the building became redundant and was closed to the public – used only for internal purposes – and eventually not used at all.

In September of this year Universal began the process of tearing down the old Hard Rock building and subsequently filed the appropriate paperwork with the Florida water management district. This teardown in and of itself adds a sizeable plot of expansion space for a decent sized-attraction to Universal Orlando all on it’s own.

However, this week Universal has begun other backstage preparations for what appears to be a much larger project than originally rumored. They’ve begun restructuring the northern backstage area by moving some of the existing parade float storage areas further north and realigning the roadways. Here’s the pertinent paperwork.

On their own these two projects wouldn’t be terribly thrilling – Hard Rock isn’t that big – but they both border a prime piece of real estate in the park. One that is considered to feature outdated franchises and are thus underutilized spaces. Here’s a handy aerial shot for reference:

So what’s it going to become? Universal isn’t talking. However, we have heard rumbling that it’s going to be a fairly large project once formally announced. So until then we’ll keep an eye on the wires.

Now might be a good time to get photos and final memories of that area of the park, lest it not exist in a year’s time.

http://www.epcyclopedia.com/2011/10/26/universal-tears-down-old-hard-rock-and-starts-other-site-prep-for-new-attraction/

More from JungleSkip:

Also, some food for thought on all of this that I personally believe is connected (though I really have no info to back it up).

This year the HHN team has said they're looking at using both parks to host HHNs yet again. Personally, I think this is ONLY because something will be going on at USF that prevents the event from being solely hosted at the venue, whether it's construction back by the Sprung tents or the Fear Factor stage being unavailable (or gone) for Bill and Ted's necessitating the Toon Lagoon stage for the show.

New Transformers hint from a contractor that's worked heavily with UOR and UC before:

Transformers is an amazing ride and where it is going in USF is also surprising.

The surprising location leads me to believe it will be in the KidZone like I had heard.

Here comes an interesting factor... while the Hard Rock Cafe building was being demolished, a camera was put up by it. Why would they put up a camera by a building demolition that looks to have no meaning... there MUST be a meaning. This tells me something big is happening, and if the two site preps mentioned in the above article mean anything, we could be looking at something big (and Curious George will probably get the axe, since it is in the way of the two sites).

As of now, they are clearing the land around it (from Obi Ubamba at Orlando United):

They are flattening out the area and clearing out some surrounding area.

And another interesting factor... could we be looking at an announcement date soon as part of the Universal Centennial celebration:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-redesigning-logos-centennial-261811

It seems that if Universal Orlando Resort were to announce a giant expansion (Potter and Transformers), it would be that day, sometime in the next few months (April 30 is the 100th birthday of the company, so that would be the latest).

It should get very interesting in the next few months...

SeaWorld: New Expansion With TurtleTrek, Antarctica, and Oasis

This was announced on the 8th:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-seaworld-new-rides-20111108,0,2965294.story

SeaWorld Orlando is expected to announce today what park officials call the biggest expansion in the resort's history, with three new attractions to be built over the next two years.

The plans include two additions scheduled to debut next spring: TurtleTrek, a manatee and sea-turtle habitat that will include a first-of-its-kind, three-dimensional and 360-degree movie experience; and Freshwater Oasis, a new area in SeaWorld's limited-admission park Discovery Cove. Oasis guests will be able to swim, wade and hike through a rainforest-themed environment that will include encounters with Asian otters and small monkeys known as marmosets.

Those two projects will be followed a year later by the biggest addition of all: Antarctica — Empire of the Penguin, an area within the main park themed to the snowy continent that will include a new attraction that SeaWorld says will feature never-before-used ride technology.

Although company officials did not disclose a price tag, SeaWorld Orlando President Terry Prather said the additions, taken together, represent the largest expansion in the marine park's 38-year history, both in terms of cost and footprint.

With the expansion — which has been urged by SeaWorld's corporate owner, the private-equity firm Blackstone Group — SeaWorld hopes to win back some of the ground it has lost during the past two years to Walt Disney World and, particularly, to Universal Orlando, which in June 2010 opened its wildly popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

SeaWorld Orlando attendance fell an estimated 12 percent in 2010, even as the number of visitors overall to Orlando soared above 50 million for the first time.

Company officials say SeaWorld Orlando attendance has improved this year and that Discovery Cove, which this summer opened a new attraction dubbed the Grand Reef, is in the midst of a record year. The company's three Orlando parks, which also include the water park Aquatica, account for roughly 40 percent of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment's total operating income, according to industry analysts.

Prather said the timing of the expansion is ideal.

"When you look at last year, doing 51 million visitors to Orlando, and then look around the country, look around the world at some of these [other] destinations, … it's crystal clear around the world that Orlando is the No. 1 family destination," Prather said. "Our owners see that as a big plus."

Importantly, SeaWorld said, all three additions will be suitable for visitors of all ages.

Guests at TurtleTrek, for instance, will first walk through a pair of massive aquariums, one filled with hundreds of freshwater fish and manatees, the other with more than 1,500 saltwater fish and more than a dozen sea turtles. They will then enter a domed theater, where a 3-D film about the life journey of a sea turtle will be projected all around them — even above them. The entire experience will last about 18 minutes.

"Content will be all around you," said Brian Morrow, SeaWorld Orlando's chief designer.

The attraction, which will use space most recently occupied by SeaWorld's Manatee Rescue pavilion, will include an explicit conservation theme urging guests to become "everyday heroes" in wildlife protection. A post-show gift shop will include physical and environmental effects triggered whenever guests purchase items from which a portion of proceeds will be donated to a company-founded conservation fund.

Freshwater Oasis at Discovery Cove will be designed with a rainforest canopy above freshwater springs. SeaWorld said guests will be free to explore at their own pace, wading and hiking through flooded trails that will take them through habitats with otters and marmosets — animals that SeaWorld said were chosen because they are small, kid-friendly and active. The oasis will replace a now-closed saltwater reef that had been leaking into the area's underground aquifer.

In contrast to Grand Reef — a deeper, saltwater pool that includes an underwater experience — SeaWorld said Freshwater Oasis will be shallower and accessible to all guests. "Ensuring that everybody gets to participate is key to our brand," Morrow said.

SeaWorld discussed fewer details in advance about Antarctica — Empire of the Penguin, which company officials said will be the park's biggest-yet single-attraction expansion.

Replacing the park's 24-year-old Penguin Encounter habitat, the new attraction's central experience will be a "family adventure attraction," suitable for people of all ages, in which guests will experience life in Antarctica through the eyes of a penguin. Morrow said the attraction will be "a new species of ride," with an innovative system that allows different adventures to occur during each ride. The experience will also include close interactions with penguins.

SeaWorld said the Antarctica-themed expansion will be a more-immersive experience than just a single ride.

"It will be a new world within the park," Prather said. "It's a new realm that we're building."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-seaworld-new-rides-20111108,0,2965294.story

Theme Park Review also posted some facts from the press announcement (and got some photos from the event):

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42837&start=2370#p1109445

SeaWorld released some concept art for the additions:

Freshwater Oasis:






































TurtleTrek:




























































Antarctica - Empire of the Penguin:




































The rumor mill on the Antarctica area has been getting quite interesting lately too:

2013 - Antarctica - Empire of the Penguin - (11/11/11) In 2013 SeaWorld will open one of their biggest projects to date, Antarctica – Empire of the Penguin. This huge new highly themed area will take the place of the current Penguin Encounter plaza and allow guests to “Explore the frozen wildernesses of the Antarctica through the eyes of the world’s most loved bird - the penguin.
Antarctica - Empire of the Penguin will take guests on a journey like no other to the coldest and most barren place on earth with a state-of-the-art interactive ride combined with an animal attraction. More details to follow.... for now it’s on ice.”
(10/10/11) The Orlando Sentinel has posted their own report on the various new projects SeaWorld has in the works right now. The park has now filed the necessary paperwork with the county confirming plans to replace the current Penguin Encounter attraction area with something new for 2013. The current exhibit will close in December to begin the 18 month long construction project, starting with the demolition of the existing structure. The park has also trademarked the names ‘Antarctica” and “Empire of the Penguins”, possibly for use here.
(9/2/11) Screamscape sources have reconfirmed that plans are still in the works to bring a dark ride to the new Penguin Encounter revamp project area, in addition to a new Penguin attraction and a restaurant. No word on what kind of ride it will be, but we can expect to see demolition begin on the current area buildings in early 2012.
(8/29/11) While the rumors of a total redevelopment of the Penguin Plaza area are still alive, I have not heard a peep about that rumored dark ride concept in some time, which is unfortunate for Dark Ride and attraction fans in general. In addition, the rumor of somehow connecting the new Penguin replacement exhibit to a large new restaurant has also come to light. However… anyone who has visited any Penguin exhibit at any park or zoo anywhere can attest the cute buggers rank a bit towards the top on the Stink-O-Meter… maybe a level or two below Skunks and Roadkill. So I’ve got to question to wisdom of attaching a Penguin exhibit of any kind with any kind of establishment meant to serve food… unless they’re going to go the extra mile to make the exhibit run as it’s own air-tight eco-system to keep the noxious fumes in place.
In related news, SeaWorld Parks has filed for a couple of interesting trademarks this month: “Snowworld” and “Antarctica”, both of which could possibly be connected to the rumored Penguin replacement project.

TurtleTrek started construction in September, with the closure of the Manatee exhibit. Antarctica will start in the next few months.

This seems like a very nice addition to SeaWorld. The intriguing part IMO is the ride that they say "will feature never-before-used ride technology." Something tells me this isn't a standard dark ride system, and I doubt it's a Spider-Man type system either. We may be seeing something very unique here.

Hopefully more attractions come to SeaWorld in the future. It is a wonderful park, but it needs more rides. I think this is the start of something awesome for SWO! =D

New Theme Park News

Again, I do apologize for neglecting the blog lately, but I have been terribly busy. Now I finally have the opportunity to update some things.

First off I will start with the name of B&M's new design that debuted this year. Yes it's official: it will be called the Wing Coaster. This pic is from IAAPA Trade Show 2011 (from ThemeParkReview):
























So we have our Wing Coaster name! I actually really like the name. =)

Dollywood:

So to start things off, let's look at our current Wing Coaster construction. Dollywood recently completed their Wild Eagle as of November 2, 2011. Here's two pics from ernierocker at ThemeParkReview from a recent backstage construction tour:





































This looks to be one of the most photogenic rides, especially when trees or flowers get added to that last pic.

Thorpe Park:

Swarm was also completed recently, on November 18, 2011 (from The Swarm - Developers Diary on Facebook):

















Keep in mind, when the plans were first seen, it showed some thematic elements installed, including an airplane at the bottom of the first drop (headchopper I think). With those installed, this will look incredible (not that it doesn't already, ESPECIALLY with that twist n' dive on top).

I know I keep saying this all the time, and it might sound repetitive, but FLORIDA NEEDS ONE (that and a hyper, giga, stand-up, and more Intamins and launched coasters)!!

Leviathan:

Getting out of the Wing Coaster zone, let's look at another one of B&M's impressive new coasters next year: the giga coaster, Leviathan, at Canada's Wonderland. Recently vertical construction started, and on the 18th, the 306 ft. lift hill has been topped off. It really towers over the park, and here are some pics from CWMania (the last one is from ThemeParkReview):






































































When I first saw the topped off lift hill, I dropped my jaw. The monster is literally dominating the look of the park, and I love it! This is the most exciting coaster next year for me! I hope I can experience this bad boy soon!

In the second picture, notice how the big box track above transitions into the standard B&M box track. Apparently this is a new design for B&M: essentially, their version of I305's support structure. Once the big box track separates from the main track, the big box structure goes to the ground, acting as a support. Hopefully B&M uses this in one of their future hyper/giga designs!

Skyrush:

Don't worry Skyrush, haven't forgotten about you! Vertical construction has begun for the new Intamin hyper winged coaster at Hersheypark on November 17, 2011. On the 19th track was already installed (with vertical construction being worked on the turn after the main drop):



















Just that turn alone makes me drool with anticipation! I305's turn after the drop was pure awesomeness, and I think this will be neat as well! This ride experience will be very unique (remember how the trains look like? ;) )!!

The more they come, the more I want one in the Sunshine state (come on, at least a hyper)!!

Six Flags Magic Mountain 2013:

Now the rumor side of things begin. Recently, SFMM has removed one of their log flumes: Log Jammer. Rumors are pointing towards the replacement being a record breaking coaster... possibly a giga (from TheCoasterGuy):

Brand new gigacoaster to be built were Log Jammer sits today @SFMagicMountain. Will debut for 2013 season.

It does seem possible to build a Giga, since the last coaster built that is Mega Coaster related is Goliath back in 2000. Also keep in mind, the farm in Buena Park is also rumored to build a Giga (yes, I mean Knott's) however the park will not get a new ride next year (according to a recent Cedar Fair press release). This makes me think it got delayed to 2013 (that or by next year, they mean when the 2012 season starts). So if it was delayed, we could be seeing a giga coaster war, almost similar to the 2009 coaster war in Florida (Rockit at Universal, Manta at SWO, and an all-new Space Mountain at MK). In short; if you go to SoCal, you will be in for quite a big treat in 2013!

Here is an overview of the Log Jammer plot of land to give a better idea of what may occur:

















I think some interesting rumors are coming soon.