Florida Parks Future Attractions Update

Busch Gardens Tampa:

Falcon's Fury is almost done, but the grand opening of this ride has recently been delayed by the park. From BGT's Twitter:

"Due to construction delays, the grand opening of #FalconsFury has been delayed. We’ll post more info as it’s available, so check back soon."

So it looks like the opening will have to wait a bit longer. Meanwhile the park did post a nice POV of the drop tower (going upwards was sped up, but downwards was normal):

They actually did the tilting RIGHT! I rid Acrophobia in SFOG, and that does tilt... I just didn't feel it though (for some reason). This one, though, is straight down and will probably feel a LOT more effective! Regardless of delays, Falcon's Fury looks to be another winner for BGT.

But what will come after? Reports are now spreading that the next major addition (probably a coaster) won't come until 2016. Gwazi, however, is apparently set to close by the end of 2014. That means that whatever they have planned, it's probably going to be massive. Since Falcon's Fury broke the 300 ft barrier, we now know BGT isn't afraid of creating thrill rides taller than 300 ft. So could we be seeing the first Giga Coaster coming to a SeaWorld Entertainment park? It's been rumored for a while, ever since Busch executives went to Canada's Wonderland to check on Leviathan, a B&M Giga, back in October (Screamscape):

2015/2016 - Gigacoaster - Rumor - (10/7/13) According to a local area source members of the ride engineering department from Busch Gardens Tampa were spotted at Canada’s Wonderland over the weekend. While neither park is a stranger big rides, especially B&M coasters, the one big thing that you can find at Canada’s Wonderland and no where else in the world would be Leviathan, a B&M Gigacoaster. Is BGT ready to build the coaster coaster in Central Florida to break the 300 foot height limit? Stay tuned!

I would say a Giga Coaster is definitely possible, especially with Gwazi closing by the end of the year for this 2016 addition. They would have all of 2015 to transform the Gwazi area into an immersive land to accompany this new addition, including a rumored transformation of Gwazi Park. I also think the park could be keeping an eye on Carowinds' 2015 addition ("Centurion", a B&M Giga; not an official name but we know it's a giga). Once Carowinds opens Centurion, BGT could try to take whatever height/speed/length record Centurion has into their 2016 addition. That would be a GREAT marketing tool, and would definitely give this park even more attention than it already does. Another benefit is the park and the state finally getting the airtime coaster they need!

The only other option I can see for their 2016 coaster is... a RMC Wooden Coaster. While the state does have more inversions than needed, I would absolutely love it if they build a RMC coaster in the caliber of Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City and Goliath at Six Flags Great America. These coasters have received amazing reviews, some ranking them as their best coasters (even the redos of New Texas Giant and Iron Rattler). I heard RMC also constructed El Toro (Disclaimer: constructed NOT made. ET was made by Intamin, another great company). If anything related to that amazing woodie comes to Florida, I would NOT mind waiting for a Giga. Also, like the Giga, BGT would get a lot of attention in the Southeast if they install a RMC Inverting Woodie. Plus, Gwazi is BGT's only woodie, and really the only well-known woodie in Florida, and it's supposedly on the chopping block (ever since they permanently closed half the ride in 2012).

I would be slightly disappointed if they got another steel coaster with inversions (For example, as much as I'm intrigued by them, B&M Wing Coasters). While I would love the ride (I do love inversions), the state has enough for the time being, unless it's RMC inversions. I also do believe that these two additions can also attract some of the huge crowds going to Universal and Disney (that they are sure to get in the next few years).

Walt Disney World:

Snow White Mine Train coaster is opening at the end of May at last. So what's next for Disney?

Pandora: The World of Avatar.

Yes, this new section (opening 2017) has finally begun construction at Animal Kingdom, in the beginning of the year with the closure of Camp Minnie-Mickey. We finally have Disney's response to the growing success of Universal's Harry Potter expansions.

But what else?

I barely follow Disney that much, but I've heard the possibility of refurbishing Hollywood Studios (almost like what they did to California Adventure in 2007-2012), mainly a Star Wars section dominating Indiana Jones and Muppets, as well as the Backlot Tour getting demolished for a Pixar Place expansion (possibly with that long-rumored Monsters Inc indoor coaster). That could help Disney as well! But the only problem here, is that not much about this has come as of late. I do see this happening at one point... when Disney gets it together with the construction! XP

SeaWorld Orlando:

We saw SWO get their newest major addition in 2013, Antarctica, which opened to... well, less than stellar reviews. What could the next addition to this marine life park?

Well, I'm not sure if this is happening anytime soon or not, but rumors have been spreading that the next addition to SWO is a B&M Hypercoaster on the southern side (or border) of the park. If true, I'd expect this by 2017, after BGT completes their 2016 coaster. For those not familiar, the northern side of SWO is home to Manta, JTA, Kraken, and Antarctica, while the Southern side is home to Shamu Stadium, the kids area, the old Clydesdale Hamlet/Hospitality House, and Wild Arctic. So the Southern side, from the looks of it, is dying for some attention. A hyper is a great choice IMO! While BGT builds an intense B&M Giga, or an inverting RMC Woodie, SWO can provide a nice alternative: a not-as-intense, 150-225 ft range airtime coaster.

Here's the rumors from P@n!K_Sw1tC# at Orlando United to give a better idea:

I can, in confidence, say that a hyper coaster is in the works for the south side of the park. The location in question is the Port of Call/ Bayside Stadium area near the parking lot. BGW is scheduled to get a premier rides Superman clone (SFDK) near Apollo's Chariot.

Expect a B&M hyper at SeaWorld within the next couple of years. This has been in planning since the construction of Antarctica. If there's one thing I'll give the SWPaE crew credit for, it's that they generally come up with the best coaster designs in each of those ride's respective categories. Although the hyper is going to be targeted towards the family - I can guarantee you in won't be a flop.

So we're looking at a 2016-2017 range. If it was coming in 2015, we would have heard rumors by now, maybe even an announcement (Manta was announced May 2008; Antarctica was announced Nov 2011 with details announced April 2012), and seen construction (no I don't mean the fenced off Bayside Stadium. I heard that was for events apparently). 2017 also seems to fit SWO's 4-year major attraction pattern:

2009: Manta

2013: Antarctica

2017: New B&M Hyper

The Hyper in SWO can also go head-to-head against Avatar opening in Animal Kingdom, while not exactly the *best* competition (think about it, THEMED mega attraction catering to tourists VS a hypercoaster catering to us enthusiasts. Tourists are bigger. Unless the coaster has inversions on a woodie or is a giga, like what I believe is coming to BGT). It will at least attract a few of the crowd.

Universal:

We all know Universal's big mega-weapon, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley, is opening this summer! This will probably bring in even greater crowds than when the original WWoHP opened in 2010. Here, we have a very innovative new coaster, Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts (obviously themed to the Gringotts vaults in the book/film). Gringotts will be essentially a combination of Spider-Man and the Mummy. We also have a connection between IOA and USF with the Hogwarts Express. I cannot tell you how excited I am about this expansion! I was a little sad when JAWS had to go, but, as I believed before, this expansion will probably be worth the loss! Diagon Alley will supposedly open in June.

Diagon Alley however is just the beginning (or really it was Despicable Me and Transformers; heck, I'd say WWoHP Hogsmeade started it). Comcast is really spending money on this place ever since they bought it in 2011, and it seems that they aren't stopping anytime soon... and it shows with the latest rumors.

Last we heard, Universal will open a Jurassic Park expansion in 2015, King Kong in 2016, and the KidZone redo in 2017.

Now, we have JP's expansion put on hold, King Kong coming in 2015, and the KidZone redo in 2016!

For King Kong, land clearing is apparently underway already, with permits being filed for a show building in the plot between JPRA/Thunder Falls and Ripsaw Falls. There is also loads of markings in the forest between the two rides. I saw the markings myself, and some have the word "Save" written on them (they're white markings). I believe that this means either: they will leave those alone and repurpose them for Skull Island, or relocate them either temporarily or permanently when work begins in the viewable area.

These are the permits found on March 22 by BriMan at Orlando United:

So being bored on Saturday night, I stumbled across this. Some plans were filed to the South Florida Water Management that gives a good idea on what the show building and project area for Kong will be. I threw up this together based on the filings. The red outline is the project outline, and the shaded light pink area is the apparent show building.

 It looks like they are all set and ready to go with King Kong. I'm more excited that they are supposedly completing this within a year. For comparison's sake, work on Diagon Alley (including the removal of Jaws and Amity) lasted from January 2012-June 2014 (with all buildings up by the end of 2013), and work on Transformers (which included tearing down SS44 and building a 2-story building in its place) lasted from June 2012-June 2013. This is apparently following a similar timeline to Transformers, but this time not only do you have a different ride system as opposed to a clone, but also you have a heavily themed area. And they expect this done by next year? Insanity... madness... Comcast really isn't wasting anytime with this place.

What's even more intriguing is KidZone. Not only are there rumors of a 2016 opening for whatever is going there, but work is also supposed to begin by the end of 2014 (according to rumors from April 4, 2014) from Parkscope:

"UOR Rumor: KidZone Replacement Imminent

Over the past few days we've heard chatter from multiple sources about KidZone going the way of the dodo. Now that we feel we have adequate confirmation, or at least as much confirmation you can get on a thing like this, we feel comfortable sharing what we've heard with you, our loyal readers.

The info we've heard from quite a few people point to the vast majority of KidZone being leveled in the fall to make way for a large scale/large budget project. Attractions that seem destined for the bulldozer are A Day in the Park with Barney, Curious George, and Fievel's Playland. It is unknown whether or not Woody's Nuthouse Coaster will stay and be rethemed, be moved, or be thrown out with the rest. Old school Universal fans will be happy to hear that both ET and Animal Actors should survive the wrath of Universal Orlando's extreme makeover.

We've been told that the scale of the project is large, some even calling it Potter-like. As to what we're going to see come in, well, that's anyone's guess. No one seems to know the theme of the new area, and if they do they certainly aren't sharing. We've been discussing the possibilities, and everything from Dreamworks to Scooby Doo to Fast and Furious have been brought up.

One thing's for sure, Universal isn't slowing down, nor did we expect them too. With this project and the King Kong project seemingly ready to roll once Cabana Bay and Diagon Alley wrap up, Universal is poised to continue to truck ahead.

As always, continue to follow @Parkscope for news updates."

http://www.parkscope.net/2014/04/uor-rumor-kidzone-replacement-imminent.html

This definitely does not sound like a simple KidZone redo. I would expect just a KidZone redo (like Planet Snoopy rethemes, except Universal standard) but I should know better. This won't be a Universal standard; it will be a COMCAST Universal standard. Especially with the timeline lasting from Fall 2014-Spring/Summer 2016. Again, looking at the construction timelines of Universal projects, this will have a longer construction period than Transformers or King Kong. Judging by that logic, I believe we'll be seeing an even larger addition come to KidZone in 2016. According to the rumors, we can say goodbye to Barney (YES! I hate Barney), Curious George (NO! Not the ballhouse :'( ), and Fievel's Playland (based on an outdated animated film, need I say more). No fate on Nuthouse Coaster just yet, but why scrap it? It offers a nice family coaster experience in the other park, and I can see it being relocated somewhere else in the park, maybe towards Springfield/Krustyland. Also according to the rumors, we will also see E.T. and Animal Actors stay (thank god. If they kill another classic like E.T., nostalgic dudes and park fans will swarm the place like angry bees, and Spielberg would be pissed!). If it's really "Potter-like" like what they say in the article, I would expect it to be not as massive as Diagon Alley, but much more massive than Transformers/Kong.

As for construction starting in the fall, I wonder how this will affect the houses in HHN. When I first went to HHN in 2013, I found two houses in KidZone (La Llorona and Walking Dead). Could the entrances of these houses be relocated? Or will they just stay while construction is taking place?

I'm going with the first option, because if these entrances remain the same while they demolish everything, not only will it take longer to do work, it will also congest that whole area. I think they could relocate the entrances to two places:

1. Double the entrance of Afterlife's house with La Llorona's house. I think it's possible to do so with a few modifications here and there. The entrance in question is between MIB and Simpsons (also one of the entrances used for Gradbash students).
2. Create a new entrance for Walking Dead's house. Where? In between the Simpsons and Kwik-E-Mart (where the wall showing Chief Wiggum and Bart is).

I will make a better diagram of this later. Of course, they could work on KidZone during the day, while in the night they stop and go with the later option for HHN.

Either way, the news of these two projects definitely proves what I've been saying: Comcast is NOT wasting time. Remember some of us thinking Comcast will destroy Universal; now it seems that they're improving it drastically! There's even rumors of a 5th resort hotel being built between Royal Pacific and Cabana Bay (the new one opening in 2014), as well as a new water park where Wet N' Wild is (apparently it will be VERY ground breaking!). I said this a few times, and I'll say it again:

"Come 2020, and this haven will look much different than when the first spring of success was spawned."

What do I mean by that? Well (in not so fancy terms :P), by the end of this decade, Universal will look different compared to when the "spring of success," the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, opened in 2010.