What’s happening at Universal Orlando?
Miami Herald
Universal Orlando is dealing in a lot of mystery this year: What will replace Terminator 2, which closed in October? What will the new Nintendo attractions be and wherewill they go? Universal isn’tanswering questions.
Nothing Universal is doing is as mysterious as the land the company has acquired off Sand Lake Road. Some of the land has been cleared and roads are being built, but Universal hasn’t revealed its plans for the property. Speculation on fan sites has been feverish. Will it become Universal’s fourth Orlando park?
“We are looking at it,” Steve Burke, CEO of NBCUniversal, said during an earnings call recently. “We love the theme park business.”
Universal has had several developments this year, some of which made big splashes. The Fast and Furious — Supercharged ride debuted in the spring, and a new water and light show replaced Cinematic Spectacular in July, both at Universal Studios. Voodoo Doughnut has opened at Universal CityWalk. The resort’s sixth hotel, Aventura, opened, and others are planned. And at least we know that the ride replacing Dragon Challenge, which closed in September at Islands of Adventure, will be anotherHarry Potter-themed roller coaster.
No question, these are important times for Universal Orlando, a resort with three parks, including its water park, Volcano Bay; five hotels — six when Aventura opens; CityWalk dining and entertainment center; the Harry Potter franchise, which has driven a combined 67 percent increase in attendance at the two theme parks since the first Wizarding World opened at Islands of Adventure in 2010; and a commitment to add Nintendo-themed attractions in Orlando and other Universalparks.
The acquisition of hundreds of acres of land in several pieces over a period of years improves Universal’s ability to compete with Disney World, but it’s still a challenge. Disney’s Orlando empire sits on 27,000 acres with four theme parks, two water parks, the sprawling Disney Springs shopping and entertainment center, a campground, golf courses and about 25 hotels with more than30,000 rooms.
Unlike Disney, which usually announces new lands and attractions years before they open — often before any earth is moved — Universal tends to wait until a new project is well under construction before revealing what it’s working on.
So when the question of a fourth park came up recently during an earnings call for Comcast, Universal’s parent company, Mr. Burke’s vague answer was no surprise to fans, who months ago moved on from the question of if there will be a new park to debating what intellectual properties — characters or stories such as Mickey Mouse or Harry Potter that are protected by trademark or copyright — it will feature.
Universal had already fought in court to remove a deed restriction against theme parks on part of the land. Photos of new grading and road construction on other Universal-owned property had already been posted on some fan sites. In June, Universal applied for a trademark on the name “Fantastic Worlds” for use in amusement parks. (In the past, Universal has applied for trademarkson names it never used,however.)
Asked if the trademark filing meant NBCUniversal was looking at a fourth park, Mr. Burke answered: “We are looking at it. We filed basically a name registration. We have a lot of great (intellectual properties). We love the theme park business. It’s one of our best, most consistent businesses. And we think … another gate in Florida would have the advantage of turning Florida from a two or three-day destination to potentially a weeklong destination.”
Universal Orlando did not respond to questions about a fourth park or Nintendo. “We’ve got nothing more to add beyond what was shared on the call,” a park spokesman told the travel publication Skift.