[News] Universal Theme Park - UK

[jcdenton08]

He's dead

She’s deeeead

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Let's hope it doesn't go the same way as the London Resort by Bluewater.

Bedford is actually quite a sensible location for this, access to London, the Midlands and airports, as well as the new East West Rail link.

They obviously thought about it! Maybe Tony Bloom is secretly in charge.

 

[dazzer6666]

Let's hope it doesn't go the same way as the London Resort by Bluewater.

Bedford is actually quite a sensible location for this, access to London, the Midlands and airports, as well as the new East West Rail link.

Comcast don’t **** about (value c$130 billion)……..but our unfailing ability to balls up major projects in this country might hamper them a bit. Wonder if they’ll get a Starmer tariff applied ?

 

[jcdenton08]

James Bond, Paddington and Lord of the Rings set for Universal UK

Lord of the Rings and 007 – but not Harry Potter – are expected at the Bedfordshire theme park.

www.bbc.co.uk

Lord of the Rings!! Very excited!!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

@jcdenton08 , I say this sincerely, I love your enthusiasm for this.

 

[anygivensunday]

Having visited the Singapore Universal park in February, I suspect it will be similar to that in size and scope, and indeed there are similarities with the artist render that has been released. I've got a higher res version of that which I can post here? Didn't spot it when I started typing this...

What did you think of it? I live about 20 minutes away. Half the rides are usually out of action. (very unusual for Singapore!)

 

[dolphins]

What did you think of it? I live about 20 minutes away. Half the rides are usually out of action. (very unusual for Singapore!)

I really liked it. All the rides and attractions were running (with the exception of the new Minions Land which we were around 10 days early for, but was hoping for some soft openings/test runs of things) and I liked the compact nature of it. I was puzzled how there were LONG queues for the meet and greet type things, but negligible queues for the rides. Nothing beats coming off a great ride/attraction and walking straight back in to the loading point!

 

[nicko31]

won't be the same without the fat, loud, annoying americans!

Just substituted with the British equivalent

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Prime minister confirms new UK Universal theme park in Bedford

The company says the new site is expected to create 28,000 jobs and generate £50bn for the economy.

www.bbc.co.uk

Utterly fantastic news, and well done to all involved to push this through. With some 28,000 jobs being created, and a massive influx of that sweet, sweet tourism money, this can only possibly be viewed as a good thing. Even locals support it, according to the article, with 92% of 6,000 polled supporting the venture.

This is a guaranteed success and will make bank for everybody, which in this financial climate is an extremely good thing.

On a purely selfish note, I am very excited having loved both Universal California and Florida, and having no desire to return to the States.

2031 does seem to be to be incredibly optimistic for an opening date though - the landscaping alone will take years.

Strongly suspect it will be opened in stages, as each area is developed and themed and attractions are slowly added. They will be very mindful of what happened with EuroDisney, which nearly sunk that whole division, and lessons have no doubt learned.

I have a strong feeling we will get Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter World, and maybe one UK exclusive attraction to try and tempt Americans over.

Sadly it seems no Nintendo, there is one area that looks like it could be potter themed

 

[jcdenton08]

@jcdenton08 , I say this sincerely, I love your enthusiasm for this.

well thank you @Herr Tubthumper - the thing with this, is that it has so many positives and absolutely no down sides.

Thousands of jobs created, upgraded infrastructure - all on someone else’s dime - and at the end we get a spanking new world class theme park just a couple of hours by train direct from Brighton.

It’s one of those rare situations where it’s an absolute net positive for our country with no draw backs.

Why anyone wouldn’t be pleased about this is what baffles me. It’s huge for the nation.

 

[jcdenton08]

Sadly it seems no Nintendo, there is one area that looks like it could be potter themed

The interview with the insider from the BBC above mentions Potter is a contractual thing because Warner’s own the UK Harry Potter rights. But said maybe in the future expansions along with Nintendo Land (which to be honest I was most excited about).

Superseded by a Lord of the Rings area, which I would absolutely fanboy over. Imagine an original LOTR UK exclusive dark ride, there’s so many cool things they could do.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

The interview with the insider from the BBC above mentions Potter is a contractual thing because Warner’s own the UK Harry Potter rights. But said maybe in the future expansions along with Nintendo Land (which to be honest I was most excited about).

Superseded by a Lord of the Rings area, which I would absolutely fanboy over. Imagine an original LOTR UK exclusive dark ride, there’s so many cool things they could do.

Surely WB would see it as a positive as it will help them with sales

Looks like a giant Jurassic park area and minions seems to be in all the parks as well as the family zone.

Could all be bluffs , very excited for details, wouldn't be shocked with a LOTR type announcement!

 

[jcdenton08]

Surely WB would see it as a positive as it will help them with sales

Looks like a giant Jurassic park area and minions seems to be in all the parks as well as the family zone.

Could all be bluffs , very excited for details, wouldn't be shocked with a LOTR type announcement!

The next few years are going to be very exciting for me. Theme park fans are pretty mental, and there will be no shortage of drone and perimeter footage to be able to track the progress in near real-time.

I promise not to shit up the thread with this until something exciting happens, but I’m bloody excited by all this

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

The next few years are going to be very exciting for me. Theme park fans are pretty mental, and there will be no shortage of drone and perimeter footage to be able to track the progress in near real-time.

I promise not to shit up the thread with this until something exciting happens, but I’m bloody excited by all this

Where do you stand on POV videos

I don't get it.... I don't get people ruining the surprise!

New epic universe is meant to be great and the queues are part of the ride!

 

[jcdenton08]

Where do you stand on POV videos

I don't get it.... I don't get people ruining the surprise!

New epic universe is meant to be great and the queues are part of the ride!

I only watch POV videos on rides I’ve already been on to reminisce, or for rides I’ll never get to go on (because they’re closed or somewhere I’ll probably never go to). The other week I was watching old videos of the original Bubbleworks and things like that

I’ve not watched anything at all from Universal or Disney that I haven’t ridden in person, in case I go back one day and want to experience it as new

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I only watch POV videos on rides I’ve already been on to reminisce, or for rides I’ll never get to go on (because they’re closed or somewhere I’ll probably never go to). The other week I was watching old videos of the original Bubbleworks and things like that

I’ve not watched anything at all from Universal or Disney that I haven’t ridden in person, in case I go back one day and want to experience it as new

Ha, I had a bubbleworks video pop up on my videos the other day..... I seem to recall it being less dirty....

 

[jcdenton08]

Ha, I had a bubbleworks video pop up on my videos the other day..... I seem to recall it being less dirty....

That bloody song has been going around in my head for weeks. And the smells they’d pump in, all came back to me like I was six years old again.

And yes, absolutely filthy British parks have always had a cleanliness problem. They simply don’t have enough staff.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

That bloody song has been going around in my head for weeks. And the smells they’d pump in, all came back to me like I was six years old again.

And yes, absolutely filthy British parks have always had a cleanliness problem. They simply don’t have enough staff.

The smell was the thing that always come back to me when I think of it

That and the burger place over the other side that had vampire burgers and a stage with animatronics

 

[jcdenton08]

The smell was the thing that always come back to me when I think of it

That and the burger place over the other side that had vampire burgers and a stage with animatronics

That was amazing (it later became a McDonalds and they ripped out the animatronics). The original Vampire was way better before they changed the trains to floorless too… either that or I was just younger and everything was more magical

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

That was amazing (it later became a McDonalds and they ripped out the animatronics). The original Vampire was way better before they changed the trains to floorless too… either that or I was just younger and everything was more magical

I can't recall the last time I went to chessington, might be 25 years or so.... so my memories are through younger eyes

I bet it was a dump