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Tom Nook Sawyer · Dec 2, 2015

Universal Studios is reportedly trying to purchase 474 additional acres for their Orlando property, which would almost double the amount of land they currently have. And this comes just a couple of months after previous rumors involving a third gate themed to video games, which they would need additional land for due to them being mostly landlocked. Beyond Nintendo, previous rumors suggested multiple other properties including Warcraft and Pokemon could come to the park too.

I want to stress 500-acres is a TON of property and essentially confirms some kind of 3rd park is coming. Islands of Advrenture (Universal's 2nd Orlando park) is only 110 acres. Now granted, a lot of that land will likely be used for other hotels and possible other future expansion, but Universal is obviously buying this land for big plans.

And I think a video game-based park would be HUGE. Nothing of this scale has existed before, and it would be a nice compliment to Universal's movie-themed parks.

Source: http://www.slashfilm.com/universal-orlando-third-park-rumor/#disqus_thread

silvermember · Dec 2, 2015

Anything is possible. It could be a video game park, it could be another movie park. The point being, it could be anything.

We have no real information.

Generalpsyduck · Dec 2, 2015

It's all speculation but if it happens it will be amazing

Tom Nook Sawyer · Dec 2, 2015

silvermember said:
Anything is possible. It could be a video game park, it could be another movie park. The point being, it could be anything.

We have no real information.

We know they're working with Nintendo; previous rumors have Universal is exploring a video game themed park, and now them trying to purchase land would seem to back that up.

ryan299 · Dec 2, 2015

Third park would be cool, but they need to revamp a lot of stuff they already have. Harry Potter needs to be extended and Nintendo stuff replacing the kids zone is the right move.

silvermember · Dec 2, 2015

Tom Nook Sawyer said:
We know they're working with Nintendo; previous rumors have Universal is exploring a video game themed park, and now them trying to purchase land would back that up.

I know they made a deal with nintendo, but such deals are fairly common in business. My point is that it could be as you said or it could be something else. So anything is possible.

either ways still cool stuff.

KelpPlankton · Dec 2, 2015

Doing a full-on video game themed park would be cool, divided up into sections like any other themepark's done but having them be Nintendo, Blizzard, etc. That would be rad.

I wonder how likely it really is though.

Tom Nook Sawyer · Dec 2, 2015

silvermember said:
I know they made a deal with nintendo, but such deals are fairly common in business.

Not when it comes to Nintendo

SinCityAssassin · Dec 2, 2015

500 Acres of Hyrule.

ScOULaris · Dec 2, 2015

SinCityAssassin said:
500 Acres of Hyrule.

Haha. They just make it a giant field through which you can ride rented horses.

SalvaPot · Dec 2, 2015

They need space for that Splatoon Zone and F-Zero Challenge.

Also imagine the minigames from Majora's Mask.

Jarlaxle · Dec 2, 2015

A dream come true if it's real but I'll hold my breath until it actually happens.

SenorPopOff · Dec 2, 2015

ryan299 said:
Third park would be cool, but they need to revamp a lot of stuff they already have. Harry Potter needs to be extended and Nintendo stuff replacing the kids zone is the right move.

Didn't they just complete the 2nd Harry Potter area? They should be fine on Harry Potter for a while. I was just there a couple weeks ago and I'd hate to see the Dr. Seuss area removed,it looked amazing decorated for the holidays.

Jawmuncher · Dec 2, 2015

I think so. Doesn't mean much but they sure liked having Resident Evil for their Halloween Horror Night.

Chairhome · Dec 2, 2015

My "take with a grain of salt" info from a friend of a friend says current plans are only about 14 acres of existing property will be Nintendo stuff, with 2 attractions. This new land info was out of the blue for my informed friend, but it's doubtful it would be dedicated to only games.

sixteen-bit · Dec 2, 2015

Biggest arcade ever?

Galloping Ghost to play catch-up?

Finale Fireworker · Dec 2, 2015

I have my ear pretty close to the ground on this kind of stuff because I love the Orlando theme park circuit.

The answer is, yes, all information and rumors suggests Universal is buying more land to construct a third park dedicated to video games. This stuff inevitably turns out to be true, theme park rumors aren't like entertainment rumors.

I have literally never heard a (reliable) theme park rumor that turned out to be false.

TheDinoman · Dec 2, 2015

Universal Orlando having a third gate after all these years would be huge. Although, what would make the world truly explode is if Disney announced a fifth gate for Disney World.

DecoReturns · Dec 2, 2015

Mario Kart.

You heard it here first folks

Tom Nook Sawyer · Dec 2, 2015

SenorPopOff said:
Didn't they just complete the 2nd Harry Potter area? They should be fine on Harry Potter for a while. I was just there a couple weeks ago and I'd hate to see the Dr. Seuss area removed,it looked amazing decorated for the holidays.

It takes YEARS to build a theme park; they also want to maintain the momentum created by Harry Potter, particularly with Disney opening HUGE lands based on Avatar and Star Wars in the next few years

Finale Fireworker said:
I have my ear pretty close to the ground on this kind of stuff because I love the Orlando theme park circuit.

The answer is, yes, all information and rumors suggests Universal is buying more land to construct a third park dedicated to video games. This stuff inevitably turns out to be true, theme park rumors aren't like entertainment rumors.

I have literally never heard a (reliable) theme park rumor that turned out to be false.

Yep, where there's smoke, there's fire. And there's a LOT of smoke here

ryan299 · Dec 2, 2015

SenorPopOff said:
Didn't they just complete the 2nd Harry Potter area? They should be fine on Harry Potter for a while. I was just there a couple weeks ago and I'd hate to see the Dr. Seuss area removed,it looked amazing decorated for the holidays.

They did, but it is by far the most populated parts of the park and it's just a tight area. More rides and a bigger space would be beneficial. I know they're already talking about knocking down Fear Factor and extending HP over to there with another ride.

They should also turn the lost continent into Hp. The area is dead. Turn the Poseidon show into a HP one.

I wonder if the video game park changes their plans for a Nintendo kids zone in Universal. That part of the park really needs a revamp.

finalflame · Dec 2, 2015

Nintendo World.

3rdamention · Dec 2, 2015

They may only be buying this land now so someone else doesn't...Then they would never really be able to expand the way they may want...

I'm a huge Universal Theme Parks fanboy, I love em..But I don't see this Video Game Theme Park rumor being real at all...I personally don't believe it...

Pinky · Dec 2, 2015

MizzouRah · Dec 2, 2015

DecoReturns said:
Mario Kart.

You heard it here first folks

A Mario Kart ride is part of the plan for the current Nintendo project.

SenorPopOff · Dec 2, 2015

Tom Nook Sawyer said:
It takes YEARS to build a theme park; they also want to maintain the momentum created by Harry Potter, particularly with Disney opening HUGE lands based on Avatar and Star Wars in the next few years

Yep, where there's smoke, there's fire. And there's a LOT of smoke here

Right, so I'd think to drum up excitement they would go a route other than more Harry Potter extensions.

I hope that with whichever route they go they build more real rides and less simulators. I'm not a fan of the Simpson's ride and the latest Harry Potter ride is not better than the first one.

Tom Nook Sawyer · Dec 2, 2015

3rdamention said:
I'm a huge Universal Theme Parks fanboy, I love em..But I don't see this Video Game Theme Park rumor being real at all...I personally don't believe it...

We already know they're working with Nintendo on attractions, but we don't know where they're going. If they want room to have future expansion for Nintendo (and other video game properties), they're going to need a new park.

This isn't like Harry Potter land. Harry Potter is a single property; Nintendo has dozens and will make new ones as long as they exist

mclem · Dec 2, 2015

There have been more persistent rumours of their own themed waterpark rather than being directly involved with Wet and Wild, which is some way off the beaten track for people who stay around the Universal area. It's more likely that. Which isn't to say a dedicated park is impossible, of course.

TheDinoman · Dec 2, 2015

I like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter a lot but I'm still kinda annoyed that it ended up devouring two different segments of the resort. First half of the Lost Continent in IOA and then Jaws/Amity Village in USF.

I always miss walking past these badass statues that used to be in front of Dueling Dragons (now Dragon Challenge).

Tagyhag · Dec 2, 2015

A video game park by Universal would be awesome, but let's see what comes of it.

Anyways, more content for theme parks is always great.

MakeMeFeelAlive · Dec 2, 2015

Universal head been on a building spree. 500 acres is a large plot of land. I imagine mousy of it is for resort hotels (they have a bunch planned) and wouldn't surprise me if some of it is for a third park. They are going for disney hard technology and another park to combat changes at disney Hollywood studios would make sense

thefro · Dec 2, 2015

The interesting thing is they actually had 1800 acres of land in this area and Vivendi (which owned Universal at the time) had to sell it because of financial problems. The 500 or so acres are part of this.

mclem said:
There have been more persistent rumours of their own themed waterpark rather than being directly involved with Wet and Wild, which is some way off the beaten track for people who stay around the Universal area. It's more likely that. Which isn't to say a dedicated park is impossible, of course.

They've already announced their own waterpark, called Volcano Bay (opening in 2017) and Wet N Wild is being shut down at the end of 2016.

Pinkman_ABQ · Dec 2, 2015

Would be awesome. I have honestly been thinking up ride ideas ever since the Nintendo?Universal news came out.

adj_noun · Dec 2, 2015

Disney best get What We Can Use From Marvel/We Own Star Wars world up and running ASAP

TheDinoman said:
I like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter a lot but I'm still kinda annoyed that it ended up devouring two different segments of the resort. First half of the Lost Continent in IOA and then Jaws/Amity Village in USF.

RIP Jaws.

Tal Shiar Agent · Dec 2, 2015

I just hope they do better with their theming and immersion this time. Diagon Alley was a nice progression, but nothing like Disney World. I want to be able to go to Universal and be able to completely forget that the outside world exists, just like I do with Disney.

schaft0620 · Dec 2, 2015

I don't see any connection with video games here, every time they have to open some new Harry Potter ride they have to close down something cool

ScOULaris · Dec 2, 2015

SG-17 said:
I just hope they do better with their theming and immersion this time. Diagon Alley was a nice progression, but nothing like Disney World. I want to be able to go to Universal and be able to completely forget that the outside world exists, just like I do with Disney.

Wizarding World wasn't that impressive, but I really thought that they knocked it out of the park with Diagon Alley. I found it to be totally immersive.

TheDinoman · Dec 2, 2015

SG-17 said:
I just hope they do better with their theming and immersion this time. Diagon Alley was a nice progression, but nothing like Disney World. I want to be able to go to Universal and be able to completely forget that the outside world exists, just like I do with Disney.

One problem I feel in that regard is that Universal doesn't nearly have as much space as Walt Disney World does. That resort is basically out in the middle of a giant forest so it's more easier to get immersed there and it's easier for Disney to built new projects. Universal Orlando Resort doesn't have that luxury, and basically everything is crunched together. It'd be incredible to see what they'd be able to do if they had a larger amount of land to work with.

Hellsing321 · Dec 2, 2015

After finally going back to Universal after 12 years to see Harry Potter I think they'd be better served adding to and updating their current parks because the other parts of the parks are dire.

Tom Nook Sawyer · Dec 2, 2015

mclem said:
There have been more persistent rumours of their own themed waterpark rather than being directly involved with Wet and Wild, which is some way off the beaten track for people who stay around the Universal area. It's more likely that. Which isn't to say a dedicated park is impossible, of course.

As someone else posted, Universal officially announced a water park a while ago.

But the fact that *those* rumors were confirmed lends further credence to the idea that these latest ones are too

thefro · Dec 2, 2015

Tom Nook Sawyer said:
As someone else posted, Universal officially announced a water park a while ago.

But the fact that *those* rumors were confirmed lends further credence to the idea that these latest ones are too

I wouldn't confuse rumors from theme park insiders with rumors from others who don't ahve a track record.

All we know is that Universal's likely buying the extra land at this point. the "Video Game Park" is a separate rumor that most of the insiders don't seem to buy at this point.

giant_frying_pan · Dec 2, 2015

Nintendoland!

Tom Nook Sawyer · Dec 2, 2015

thefro said:
I wouldn't confuse rumors from theme park insiders with rumors from others who don't ahve a track record.

Huh? Many of these rumors have either come from or been elaborated on by established theme park sources. As someone else said above, theme park rumors aren't of your usual entertainment variety.

matrixman92 · Dec 2, 2015

"Where nothing can possib-lie go wrong. Uh, possibLY go wrong. That's the first thing that's ever gone wrong."

I would go day one to a video game park

DirgeExtinction · Dec 2, 2015

Jawmuncher said:
I think so. Doesn't mean much but they sure liked having Resident Evil for their Halloween Horror Night.

I wish they would bring back Silent Hill for HHN.

Leatherface · Dec 2, 2015

Pinky said:

squeeeee!

Finaj · Dec 2, 2015

Did everyone forget Universal is the distributor for Warcraft (2016)?

They'll probably make something for that too.

ChaosZeroX · Dec 2, 2015

They do have a partnership with Nintendo. They are probably going to build a Nintendo Park which I will be at Day 1 since I live in Orlando.

Tom Nook Sawyer · Dec 2, 2015

ChaosZeroX said:
They do have a partnership with Nintendo. They are probably going to build a Nintendo Park which I will be at Day 1 since I live in Orlando.

Forget Day 1. I'll be there ready for the soft-opening...in 5-years

Finale Fireworker · Dec 2, 2015

ChaosZeroX said:
They do have a partnership with Nintendo. They are probably going to build a Nintendo Park which I will be at Day 1 since I live in Orlando.

It's going to be a Nintendo land within the park, which will otherwise just be a dedicated video game park.

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