Phew, what a news week! After decades of supposed under funding for new attractions at Walt Disney World, Bob Iger in a blaze of final glory has opened the money taps that would make his predecessor Michael Eisner blush (remember him?). D23 reported on new WDW attractions, lands, resorts, transportations, restaurants and more! And although Universal has plenty of it’s own going on right now (Nintendo, Furious and third/fourth gate), we at HHNU thought we’d throw our two pence into the mix and list down the line what we think Universal’s response should be…
- A Year Round Haunt at the Studios
We spoke about this a few months ago when we received a solid tip that USF were reconsidering the idea after putting in on the ‘back-burner’ since last year. Universal Hollywood have a long tradition of year round haunts, they’ve had Van Helsing, Classic Monsters and now a super duper Walking Dead haunt. Orlando on the other hand has had none of these. A year round haunt perhaps themed to the HHN icon’s or a more generic haunt that can be redressed every Halloween would be a welcomed addition to the parks! They could even dust this idea off and give it a go…
2. Bring Jaws Back!
Last year they brought old banana breath back after a hiatus of 14 years away from the resort. Kongfrontation had been an opening day attraction that although had operating issues and was expensive to run, it was an excellent attraction that modern attractions and their screens will never compare to. Kong’s return was hailed as a success and gave Universal great marketing opportunities. That’s why when the decision was made 5 years ago to get ride of old Bruce it was a double-edged-sword that he would be replaced with a Potter expansion. Yes we all love Potter but we all loved JAWS too! ‘The Shark in the Dark‘ experience at HHN of riding the Jaws ride at night was always a must do for HHN aficionados.
JAWS was the classic attraction that despite it continued faults and whole rebuild was dubbed by Universal Parks then CEO as “an excellent attraction where guests are continually being chased as food.” JAWS has never left Hollywood or Japan’s parks – so it needs to return to Orlando in one shape or another. Imagine the house of mouse’s shock if such an iconic and popular movie was to return – they would not be able to compete.
Whether you’re 4 or 94 you know the sound that people make in every beach and pool across the world, John William’s classic “dur dum, dur dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum…” It’s brand awareness like that that your Shrek’s/McStuffins/Zootopia’s etc etc will never reach.
3. Jurassic World
Jurassic World was a box-office phenomenon a couple of years ago. A surprise hit that matched drama, peril, disaster and action in equal measures. People loved this movie, that’s why it is no surprise that many of the original cast members are currently filming the sequel to this hit right now ready for 2018. So how cool would it be to take your own adventure in a geo-sphere or come face to face with the impossible Indominus Rex?
4. More Potter
Disney’s gonna build the world’s first fully immersive and interactive hotel resort based on the Star Wars movies. It’s also slated to not be very big and to cost upwards of $1000 a night. Disney are banking on this crossing the zeitgeist and becoming this huge meta sensation, BUT, imagine the look on the Disney Executives faces if Universal announced that down the road you could stay in a Harry Potter themed hotel, that was just an immersive, just as interactive but was bigger and cheaper per night. Disney would not be happy. This has to happen!
5. Even More Potter
People love Potter, so in the words of the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels “give ’em what they want!” Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was released last year to great praise and applause and with Universal being firmly in partnership with Rowling, wouldn’t be awesome to see this movie made into a full E-Ticket somewhere within one of the parks. On top of this there is also the rumored Ministry of Magic and other worlds within this franchise that could be explored for theme park potential.
HHNU Add: If Universal does plan to implement any of these ideas – please remember to leave space for HHN! Or better still, build us some spaces to build houses!
So there you have, Universal now has the land and it certainly has the talent, so what’s stopping you guys – let’s beat Disney – hashtag #ThemeParkWar. Do you like these HHNU ideas for park additions? Let us know in the comments!