Theme Park Discussion / Huge/continuing expansion at Universal Orlando?

It looks like Universal is going to be ramping up expansion at it's Orlando resort in the coming years. Transformers opens within the next month or two, Harry Potter phase 2 opens next year, and the Springfield area around The Simpsons ride opens this summer. Looks like they're not stopping there according to some insiders:

As for the UNI information, I have been asked by my source to not place all that I know out just yet and I respect that. What I can tell you is more general, but still incredibly impressive. UNI has BIG ... no, HUGE ... plans for Central Florida that include major new attractions, the real E-tickets, in the next 5-6 years (they will just keep coming with no gaps) for both parks, the addition of more hotels (beyond the three existing and the one being built -- two with VERY kewl themes), a new water park and ... while y'all debate mythical fifth gates at WDW, UNI will be/is building a third. I guess that's big enough news right there. That's not rumour either. That is the plan right now.

I can tell you that by 2018, EVERY existing expansion pad/locale at UNI and IOA will either have something new on it or something under construction.

As for a timeline...

The current time table looks something like this from all the rumors and news rounded up.

2012 DM, Parade, Cinespec
2013 TF, Springfield, New Chassis for Rockit Trains, upgrades to select shows for 2013 and 2014
2014 Potter, Cabana Bay, New IOA Show, Major Ride Refurb planned for early in year before Potter crowds
2015 Jurassic Park Expansion and Fear Factor Replacement
2016 Kidszone Project

We can pretty much expect a new addition to one park each year for the rest of the decade from what I've heard. Creative is on OVERDRIVE and not just with Orlando. Thats one thing everyone has to remember there also working on entire new parks around the world, massive expansion projects to every resort they have, and TONS of blue sky being reviewed and revised by new owners Comcast.

Past 2015
New Hotels
Water Park
Expansion to CityWalk

There have been numerous talks of land acquisition and a third gate but its all blue sky and everything would have to fall into place perfectly and at the right price to make it happen. But here is whats interesting from what I've heard. As I mentioned they are planning on adding major attractions each year to turn these parks into full day destinations. Once you build your current parks up and they sustain 9-10 million visitors a year each then that third gate really comes into focus.

Finally I will say that the future is so bright with Universal and as fans we will be busy in the Universal sections of every forum on every site for many years to come. This is just the tip of the sword in a new era of the theme park wars.

Looks like exciting times for Universal. They're really taking the fight to Disney and that's a good thing. Disney has been resting on it laurels for far too long and they need a good kick in the ass to get some expansion going (and I don't mean fancy meet-and-greets or cloned omnimovers).

Glad to see you posting again, Scott! Hoping to see an update on your Disney park soon.

I've also heard this news and I'm pretty excited. At the same time though, I'm not surprised. Universal has been a vacation destination for years despite being in the shadow of Disney, and it looks like they're stepping up their game to get ahead. They're also being incredibly crafty by doing things like connecting the Harry Potter expansions by an attraction, encouraging guests to purchase multi-day tickets. Disney has the MyMagic+, but I actually think Universal will adopt this technology like they did with Disney's Fastpass. I'm really looking forward to what Universal has to bring to the table though. The new Potter expansion looks fantastic and I will lose all of my shit if there's a Jurassic Park expansion soon.

I hope Disney wakes up, too. Fantasyland was a terrible response to the first Potter expansion and the numbers show it. Disney has a lot of catching up to do but I think they're capable of it. With rides like Mystic Manor, Universal should be scared of what Disney can cook up, and I'm hoping Disney retaliates with something legit. It looks like Avatarland is slowing getting off the ground, but by the time it's finished, Universal will have already started the JP expansion I bet. There's been talks that Disney's Hollywood Studios is going to see some major overhauls. There's been speculation of gutting the entire backlot for a Carsland clone but I'm hoping if they did add anything to this park, that it be original and not another cloned ride (Ariel in Fantasyland's only saving grace is it's fantastic queue). I'd like to see them pursue a Monster's Inc ride at least in the studio next to Toy Story Mania. People want a Star Wars land in the backlot too, but I find any sort of major Star Wars attraction unlikely until Disney sees success with the movie reboots.

The weather's warmed up and finals are coming up so I haven't been on my computer much. I'll get an update in soon.

I've also heard this news and I'm pretty excited. At the same time though, I'm not surprised. Universal has been a vacation destination for years despite being in the shadow of Disney, and it looks like they're stepping up their game to get ahead. They're also being incredibly crafty by doing things like connecting the Harry Potter expansions by an attraction, encouraging guests to purchase multi-day tickets. Disney has the MyMagic+, but I actually think Universal will adopt this technology like they did with Disney's Fastpass. I'm really looking forward to what Universal has to bring to the table though. The new Potter expansion looks fantastic and I will lose all of my shit if there's a Jurassic Park expansion soon.

MyMagic+ was a huge waste of money imo. While the touch-to-enter is cool (just got my RFID AP this past weekend) and the possibilities are endless, I don't see it justifying the rumored billion dollar price tag (I'm not sure if that includes all the next-gen queues or not).

As for the JP stuff, I've read that construction will start this summer as soon as Transformers opens. The rumored attractions are an amber mine coaster and a dark ride in the Discovery Center.

I hope Disney wakes up, too. Fantasyland was a terrible response to the first Potter expansion and the numbers show it. Disney has a lot of catching up to do but I think they're capable of it. With rides like Mystic Manor, Universal should be scared of what Disney can cook up, and I'm hoping Disney retaliates with something legit. It looks like Avatarland is slowing getting off the ground, but by the time it's finished, Universal will have already started the JP expansion I bet. There's been talks that Disney's Hollywood Studios is going to see some major overhauls. There's been speculation of gutting the entire backlot for a Carsland clone but I'm hoping if they did add anything to this park, that it be original and not another cloned ride (Ariel in Fantasyland's only saving grace is it's fantastic queue). I'd like to see them pursue a Monster's Inc ride at least in the studio next to Toy Story Mania. People want a Star Wars land in the backlot too, but I find any sort of major Star Wars attraction unlikely until Disney sees success with the movie reboots.

You hit the nail on the head. However, I honestly don't see the Avatar expansion happening. It was announced what seems like forever ago and we've yet to see a single piece of concept art. The leaked blueprints don't count. Plush I think there's some development problems on the sequels which may hinder the lands progress. I'm not sure what the status of Carsland at DHS is. I read it was a go back in December/January and haven't heard much since.

If Disney wants to combat this (which I doubt they will, they are Disney after all), they need to get projects going now. Aside from Avatar, the only thing in the pipeline is a possible Epcot addition which will probably be film based. Not what Disney needs.

Universal finally acknowledged Harry Potter phase 2. It looks impressive.

Building on the global phenomenon that is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expansion of historic proportion with the entirely new themed environment, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

Scheduled to open in 2014, the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience expands The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both Universal Orlando theme parks and allows Universal’s creative team to bring an unparalleled vision to this unique project. The new area will bring to life some of the experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films, offering brand-new adventures for fans and theme park guests from around the world.

Diagon Alley and ‘London’ will be located within the Universal Studios Florida theme park, which is adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, where guests now experience Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The new area within Universal Studios will be just as expansive, immersive and authentic as the existing themed environment.”

And yes, according to sources that building will in fact have an animatronic dragon.

Here's a bit longer quote, this time with stuff about the ride.

‘London’ and Diagon Alley Will Come to Life at Universal Orlando in 2014
World’s First Centrally Themed, Multi-Park Experience
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 8, 2013) – Building on the global phenomenon that is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expansion of historic proportion with the entirely new themed environment, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
Scheduled to open in 2014, the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience expands The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both Universal Orlando theme parks and allows Universal’s creative team to bring an unparalleled vision to this unique project. The new area will bring to life some of the experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films, offering brand-new adventures for fans and theme park guests from around the world.
Diagon Alley and ‘London’ will be located within the Universal Studios Florida theme park, which is adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, where guests now experience Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The new area within Universal Studios will be just as expansive, immersive and authentic as the existing themed environment.
And – just like in the books and films – guests will be able to travel between ‘London’ and Hogsmeade aboard the Hogwarts Express.
Work on the new area is already underway. When complete, it will feature shops, a restaurant and an innovative, marquee attraction based on Gringotts bank – all directly inspired by the fiction and films.
More details on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be released over time.
To bring Diagon Alley and ‘London’ to life, Universal’s creative team is working closely with Warner Bros. and the production design team from the Harry Potter films – just as it did for Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.
"I'm so pleased that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has proved so popular to date, and I'm sure that the attention to detail in creating the new Diagon Alley area will make this an even better experience," said J.K. Rowling.
“We are continuing the journey and adding an entirely new level of adventure,” said Tom Williams, Chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts. “And we are bringing the same drive, commitment, enthusiasm and innovation to this project as we did to the first.”
“We are thrilled to offer the legions of fans the opportunity to embark on this new journey and experience Diagon Alley as it was brought to life in the books and films,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
“Our vision is to create two amazing theme park experiences that combine into one, complete, magical journey,” said Alice Norsworthy, executive vice president, marketing and sales for Universal Orlando Resort.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in June 2010 as a fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment - bringing to life the bestselling books by J.K. Rowling and the blockbuster feature films from Warner Bros. Since that time, it has become a global phenomenon, entertaining millions of people from around the world.
Visitors to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter are swept into the adventures of Harry Potter. They can tour Hogwarts castle, shop in Hogsmeade and dine at the Three Broomsticks. They can soar above Hogwarts with Harry, be chosen by a wand at Ollivanders, sample Butterbeer and much more.

I'm curious how the train ride/simulator will work. Particularly if they'll have a different show in each direction, and if they'll give single-park ticket-holders the option to take a round-trip in a designated car. The Gringotts coaster sounds like a very exciting new ride system as well. Overall, looks like a lot of innovation is going into this expansion.

Also, the dragon should help with Diagon Alley otherwise not having much of a weenie.

On a mostly unrelated note, I really wish Disney had come up with a better term than weenie

how does it work if you only have a ticket for one of the parks with the train? I guess you have to have a ticket to both to ride it? Seems pretty self-explanatory but how many people have tickets to both on the same day (or do you usually get a package deal, I don't know how it works)

anyway, sounds sick. I was always curious why they settled with hogsmeade at ioa instead of diagon alley because the latter is so much more iconic but it will be a great addition.

If Hogwarts Express does require the two-park ticket to ride, I think Universal will have some very upset guests when they get back there and are told they can't ride with their one park ticket. An easy alternative is to inform people when they are purchasing their tickets at the gate that they need the two-park option in order to ride the HE. However doing that means you miss telling people who buy their tickets online or through third parties.