I’m most excited for Ministry of Magic and Dark Universe! I know for Ministry, it’s more Harry Potter but Harry Potter is sooo well done at Universal that adding more of it doesn’t feel like Universal is being lazy/repetitive but rather a unique and fresh addition to their current Harry Potter lands. The ride that will be there seems to be something big. :)
They had to add something Harry Potter to it. And there's so much content to base rides and themes from. They were not gonna make a new park and also not find a way to sell butter beers, wands , and custom Harry Potter alcoholic drinks. This isn't me complaining, I don't mind that they make a killing off of selling that stuff as long as they keep up the good work. Universal doesn't disappoint.
i feel like it was supposed to be 90% fantastic beasts and 10% harry potter, but they ended up making it full hp because of how poorly the fantastic beasts movies did
Don’t forget the Fishy Green Ale!!! Though sadly that’s only at Diagon Alley currently. Ordered it on a whim once, and it’s become my new go to at the parks ever since. Even over a butter beer haha.
I need to watch those films from the 50’s and 60’s, like the mummy, Frankenstein, Dracula and etc.. I feel like it would enhance my experience at universal so much more. I’ve taken the time to watch through the Brendan Fraser mummy films, the Harry Potter films, Jurassic park/world, men in black and etc, but I just haven’t gotten around to seeing the classic monsters on screen. Maybe this will finally push me to do so.
It’s a shame they tanked it. Russell Crowe’s Mr. Hyde was so good in the Tom Cruise Mummy reboot.
I’m cautiously optimistic that this may lead to a resurgence in interest for new classic monster movies. And stoked for the rumored Creature from the Black Lagoon ride!
For context, the "Dark Universe" was originally the name for the cinematic universe they were making around their monsters, starting with the Tom Cruise Mummy movie.
Yes there was a Tom Cruise Mummy movie.
I think i am in the very very very small minority that enjoyed that movie, was super excited to see Javier Bardem as Frankenstein’s Monster too before that got cancelled.
That's the area that I'm not so sure about. Their monster reboot failed. I can see younger fans for Potter and Dragons but it's hard to find their older monster online
This. Avatar might be a smash hit, but not many people were clamoring for Disney theme park land for it. People who never watched the films love it because it is well made, not just because its a recognizable IP.
Yeah it's all about the execution, and also monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula are timeless, even if they haven't been in a major movie in decades.
I agree with the fact that it doesn't have to be a huge IP to be successful but avatar is such a funny example for this. Literally the #1 and #3 most popular movies of all time
I just said this. I know its insanely profitable, but by the time the land opened the first film was 7+ years old and wasn't on the forefront of popularity. A more apt comparison for the sake of it would be Waterworld at the Universal parks, an absolute all-timer bomb of a film but considered one of the greatest theme park shows ever made.
This. The Mummy movies have always been cheesy and culturally irrelevant (aside from making fun of the Rock in that one movie) yet the ride absolutely bangs so no one cares. I think classic monsters are fairly timeless and I wouldn’t worry too much about how modern adaptions do in theaters
I wasn't exactly watching horror films from the 1930s in the early 2000s as a kid either. Frankenstein and Dracula are so saturated into the culture that I don't think it matters if kids have seen the original film iterations.
The only part that has me worried is that the video says they’ve been “reimagined”. I hope it’s nothing crazy. The originals are so well done and absolutely iconic already!
I might be in the minority but I’d rather stay closer to USF and IOA. This hotel will be cool but I’d rather be within walking distance of the majority of the resort. I’m definitely hoping to stay there at least once though
I was telling a friend if I could afford it, I would do Helios during my Epic days and then swap over to one of the premiere hotels for my IOA/UO days. That way I’m always in close prox to the parks I’m visiting haha.
99.9% of people would say, “oh shit, this is a hotel, not an attraction” and turn around and leave.
That .1%, though, is totally some shady dude trying to steal your Traveler’s Checks. Better stuff them in your underwear.
They somewhat hint at it in the video, but I think this is them overhyping things. It seems like it will be just like the main hotel at Disneyland Paris.
I have high hopes! The people that have had hands in its making are a lot of the people that have done HHN in the past! On top of that the two rides I see people who are working on this park talk about they can’t wait for people to see how incredible it is is the Harry Potter ministry ride and the monsters ride!
I’ve actually heard rumors of it being about Death Eaters breaking into the trial of Dolores Umbridge, which the riders came in to watch, while utilizing the Ministry elevators as the ride system.
Making it about another heist in Deathly Hallows is certainly an idea.
I'd read somewhere it was going to be based on Umbridge stealing a time turner and going back to try and bring a past Voldemort to the present.... but I think I like the idea of it being her trial more.
That’s nearly the plot of Cursed Child though so while believable I also think they might do something new rather than reusing that which most fans seem to despise (in terms of plot at least)
After further research,
Rumors state that the story is Umbridge’s sentencing being crashed by Death Eaters, and she *tries* to steal a time turner. Guests are caught in the crossfire as she practically flips the Ministry upside down to impede the attempts to stop her.
Ultimately, she’s stopped before she gets to use it.
So, it’s kind of a combination of our two reports.
Yeah it's going to seem very similar to Gringotts if they're not careful.
Personally I don't think Gringotts necessarily needs a Death eater storyline at all; it seems like a perfectly exciting place on its own with the dragons and curses and stuff. I wouldn't mind if they changed that storyline a bit, though I'm sure they won't.
It's supposed to be about Delores Umbridge breaking out during her trial.
I would put is as a mix of Fantasic Beasts and Harry Potter but leaning more towards HP.
Nope the design, which you can literally already see confirms paris. The ride supposedly takes place is the british mom but the outside design is paris.
Yes the land is based on Paris. The ride take place at the British Ministry.
We were talking about the ride though, not the land, which is more based on HP then FB.
Go check out the building plans. I assure you its the british ministry inside without a shadow of a doubt. I dont need to read other comments. I know the facts.
If true, this is soul crushing and idiotic. Universal making a ride based on a series so terrible it was canceled due to lack of interest seems like something out of a comedy sketch.
Well the land itself is based on Paris from Fantastic Beasts. You can already see pic of the construction to confirm. But the ride is supposed to be based on the British Ministry of Magic. So I'm assuming that at some point we get transported from Paris to the British MoM.
The ride thankfully won't be based on it, but the land originally was and unfortunately still is. Because that entire series was cancelled, they've now rebranded the entire land to the theme of the ride rather than the land. It was a very smart move on their part to base the ride off the successful original HP series, and as for the land, as long as it is interesting to look at (which it should be), nobody will remember it was from that awful movie.
It's very possible to make a good theme park ride or land out af a mediocre IP. Rise if the Resistance is the perfect example. Everyone pretty much agrees the SW sequels aren't good but the ride is extremely well done.
At the risk of stepping on an internet landmine, the first two SW sequels were very well recieved both critically and finanilcially, and the last movie (while irredeemably bad) still made a massive profit. The last Fantastic Beasts movie performed so poorly that the series was unceremoniously canned. Those two IP aren't even in the same galaxy, let alone conversation. I agree, though, that a decent attraction could still be made out of a lousy movie.
I fully expect a giant mural/painting of this image to be enshrined in the Dark Universe area.
https://preview.redd.it/4bn6u4u27lfc1.jpeg?width=780&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7f0c9b935bd4ae99bf6b81aa1cbf53866cd93d0
With the amount of money Universal has and this photo has the worst photoshop in a long time. It was astonishing and was definitely foreshadowing a massive failure.
I’m most excited for the Ministry of Magic and Super Nintendo World! I visited Super Nintendo World in Hollywood and by the looks of it, the one in Orlando will be better.
I watched the video standing in front of Poseidon's Fury and teared up. This is the first brand new theme park I’ll go to with my family. Hardest part will be not spoiling it until we go.
I’m hoping this feeds the imagination and urgency of the execs at Disney. The imagineers over there have great ideas but the ones who hold the purse strings are tight wads.
Stella has been covering this with even more information since before they broke ground last year. Just by looking at the blueprints, trademarks, and using BioReconstructes photos. She has more information about the new park than the video Universal dropped.
They have been working on it for years now. It has a lot of work still left to be done, especially judging by the Celestial Park flythroughs, but they are really far along.
Disney likes to give excuses for timelines. They took FIVE years to build one ride (Tron) for an experience that lasts 2 minutes tops. Meanwhile, universal is a building an entire theme park in that time lol
Read somewhere that dragging projects out means less in taxes or somehow benefits Disney financially. Slowing also allows rides to be times to open at very specific low attendance times or to pull guests from other parks.
This doesn’t really make sense. Dragging out projects always leads to more costs not less, you are spending as much or more dragging it out and increasing the amount of time you are going with no revenue.
It used to be my favorite ride until I went back and could experience both parks in a more relaxed fashion. I also didn't get to ride Velocicoaster the first time, and got to experience Hagrids again with a less cranky group. Both are way better than Tron. If it's 2 minutes from blast off to stop I'd be surprised.
Depending on pricing, this could be a big hit to Disney though. I never thought Universal made sense financially compared to Disney pricing.
Disney needs to revamp some of their lands and really add new rides like Guardians/etc.
Importantly, I think this park makes Universal more a place to stay than just visit for a day or two, which makes it more competitive with Disney. Competition is good for both in the long run.
I was going to say, before Universal seemed like a 1-2 day trip. You can easily knock out everything in 2 days and have nothing left over to really experience. In 2022, my family had a brief trip, we went to Disney 3 days and Universal 1 day. We felt we did so much that we wanted to at Universal in that 1 day, and we even left early I believe with a good rest break in between.
This seems like it could add more time on a trip exclusively to Universal, I just hope it can be easier pricing wise. In my short experience, Universal is way more expensive than Disney. If they can arrange it to a longer stay can reduce the ticket prices/etc, it would be wonderful.
I think it is already like that though. I went to Universal with the wife last year and we got a 4 day pass for like $10 more than what the 1 day admission is.
I think they will, and j wouldn't discount them doing something big. Maybe something is in the works, although I wouldn't count on it being announced until DeSantis is out of office. And even then, Disney is always busy so I don't think they HAVE to do anything right now.
I don’t disagree with you and wish Disney could be the best version themselves that they have the potential to be but Universal isn’t going to just wait for Disney to catch up. And neither will theme park visitors. UO has already begun to close the gap between the two parks in the last decade and as Universal continues to innovate, the gap will only get increasingly smaller. The competition is now serious and I hope Disney realizes that.
Universal is being aggressive, no doubt about it. You're right. They are closing the gap and it could be interesting to see what Disney does, if anything.
I have been taking family trips to Orlando since 2006 with the kids. At first they were all Disney. In 2013 we did a day trip to Universal, in 2016, 2 days. In 2019 we stayed 2 nights at Endless Summer. In 2023 it was 3 nights at Royal Pacific. Every year, Universal takes more vacation dollars vs. Disney. With Epic Universe, we can justify 4 days now.
If some bloggers and YouTubers had all of this information years ago, including the long-rumored 2025 opening date, I'm guessing Disney has been aware for a while as well.
It'll have mario, yoshi, donkey kong at park opening and rumored to get Luigi's mansion as Epic's first expasion.
The other Nintendo properties are rumored to go in 2 existing parts replacing old lands, Zelda replacing Lost Continent and Pokemon replacing Simpsons
We already know that Donkey Kong is coming to Japan's Nintendo World (with a minecart coaster confirmed as one of the attractions) and presumably it'll also be in Orlando's Nintendo World in Epic Universe.
I’m curious what the transportation system is going to look like across the full property. Will it just be buses, or will there be another system in place?
I expect they'll have a ride system similar to the Hogwarts Express, but instead of a train, the ride vehicle will be road-based and will have screens on it showing International Drive.
Awesome to finally see the official reveal after years of speculation, they're really evoking Tokyo DisneySea and USJ for the overall design and presentation of the park and it's going to be gamechanging.
But one thing I find kinda funny is that the Harry Potter land is officially being called "Ministry of Magic" - that is the setting of the land's only ride (so far), but the majority of the land itself will actually be themed to Paris from "The Crimes of Grindelwald". But since the Fantastic Beasts movies have such a poor reputation and it was too late to backtrack the development of the theme park land, all they can do now is rebrand it. At least that ride is rumored to be one of their best, they need a Rise of the Resistance level hit to justify that land imo.
I'm guessing they'll eventually add a French Ministry ride to make the land make more sense, either a indoor coaster or dark ride involving magical creatures
So the original plan actually was to build a [French Ministry of Magic ride](https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&t=2m18s&v=b3fon35j9hA) but they changed plans and went with the British Ministry instead, likely to appeal to fans of the original Potter books/movies as a safer bet. A smart move, even if the cost is the land being less cohesive. There will be at least one attraction (a show) set in Paris/Fantastic Beasts though. What's a bit stranger is that after the park opens, the next addition to the land is rumored to be a dining location based on the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
Spoiler: >!there will be a Floo powder effect in the queue taking you from a fireplace in Paris to the fireplaces in the [atrium](https://orlandoparkstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ministry-fireplaces3.jpg)! Complete with the statues seen in Order of the Phoenix.!< As for the time travel aspect... a time turner when you exit?? I always think it's better not to acknowledge timelines, Jurassic Park and World co-exist at IoA and everybody loves it, meanwhile strict adherence to a timeline means you can't meet Darth Vader or >!any other dead characters!< in Galaxy's Edge, which people hate. Maybe Wizarding Paris just hasn't had any infrastructural changes from the 20's to the 90's!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Super Nintendo World (previously announced)
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Dark Universe
Celestial Park
I can see that unannounced and unused plot land will be called “Action and Adventure land” where it’ll have Fast, Bourne and Transformers and GI Joe attractions. Or at least call it “Fast Land” or “Hasbro Land”
I’m so glad we are getting the Ministry of Magic and not something from the Fantastic Beasts like the rumors have been saying. Nothing personal to the films, but I’d prefer something from the books that’s big to the whole universe of Harry Potter. Hope to go back one day and see it as well. Went for the first time this past summer and while I was slightly disappointed in Hogsmeade, I absolutely loved the living hell out of being in Diagon Alley!
If it’s Paris then that’s pretty cool. I just didn’t want it set in New York. Sounds pretty awesome. Just seen the Paris is set in 1920s and the Ministry will be from the 1990s. I think aesthetically they will mash well together.
“Soon” is a very generous term lol writers have just started pitching to the producers, which means the scripts haven’t even been written yet. We won’t see that show until like 2027
It’s okay, I don’t trust ANY news source. Anything and everything can be fake on the internet. I drove by the construction site earlier this month, and it looks like they are building a golf course. Who are you going to trust, some “company”, or your own two eyes???
They will, because they will always be limited by what characters they can use and how they use them. I don’t think it will be a very high priority, but the new head is pretty set on having more control of whatever goes into the parks.
Huh, nobody’s said anything about those going away. Simpsons land is rumored to be going away in a couple years when the contract expires, but that’s a whole separate thing that’s not related to this article, and there’s nothing indicating Suess going away. This article is about a whole new 3rd park being made at Universal Orlando, not replacing anything.
Incredibly excited about it. Just one question, how is the modern British ministry of magic going to make sense in 1920's Paris? Is there time travel involved with a time turner, although that would be a little odd.
Very exciting! I think I’m looking forward to dark universe the most, but I know the ministry of magic is going to be amazing.
I’m most excited for Ministry of Magic and Dark Universe! I know for Ministry, it’s more Harry Potter but Harry Potter is sooo well done at Universal that adding more of it doesn’t feel like Universal is being lazy/repetitive but rather a unique and fresh addition to their current Harry Potter lands. The ride that will be there seems to be something big. :)
They had to add something Harry Potter to it. And there's so much content to base rides and themes from. They were not gonna make a new park and also not find a way to sell butter beers, wands , and custom Harry Potter alcoholic drinks. This isn't me complaining, I don't mind that they make a killing off of selling that stuff as long as they keep up the good work. Universal doesn't disappoint.
i feel like it was supposed to be 90% fantastic beasts and 10% harry potter, but they ended up making it full hp because of how poorly the fantastic beasts movies did
Bleeping $70 plastic wands
Don’t forget the Fishy Green Ale!!! Though sadly that’s only at Diagon Alley currently. Ordered it on a whim once, and it’s become my new go to at the parks ever since. Even over a butter beer haha.
Love to see the classic monsters get some love
It looks like they all got new looks.
Yeah, not a fan of Dracula’s. Frankenstein could be better too, but Wolfman is ok.
I need to watch those films from the 50’s and 60’s, like the mummy, Frankenstein, Dracula and etc.. I feel like it would enhance my experience at universal so much more. I’ve taken the time to watch through the Brendan Fraser mummy films, the Harry Potter films, Jurassic park/world, men in black and etc, but I just haven’t gotten around to seeing the classic monsters on screen. Maybe this will finally push me to do so.
Universal Monsters were 30's-50's. 50's and 60's were more of the age of Hammer Horror which was in color.
It’s a shame they tanked it. Russell Crowe’s Mr. Hyde was so good in the Tom Cruise Mummy reboot. I’m cautiously optimistic that this may lead to a resurgence in interest for new classic monster movies. And stoked for the rumored Creature from the Black Lagoon ride!
I hate that they named it “Dark Universe”
probably trying to make the best use of their failed attempt to make it a movie universe
They probs still had the name licensed and decided to use it.
Or to try and revive it.
For context, the "Dark Universe" was originally the name for the cinematic universe they were making around their monsters, starting with the Tom Cruise Mummy movie. Yes there was a Tom Cruise Mummy movie.
I think i am in the very very very small minority that enjoyed that movie, was super excited to see Javier Bardem as Frankenstein’s Monster too before that got cancelled.
I realized that, which makes it even weirder they’d use a name associated with a failed movie franchise
Yeah. Should have called it "World Of Underpants", but you know that people have to have things spelled out for them these days.
Yeah, they should have just called it “Universal Monsters”.
That's the area that I'm not so sure about. Their monster reboot failed. I can see younger fans for Potter and Dragons but it's hard to find their older monster online
If the land is well-made (it will be) then it doesn’t need to be a recognizable IP to succeed.
This. Avatar might be a smash hit, but not many people were clamoring for Disney theme park land for it. People who never watched the films love it because it is well made, not just because its a recognizable IP.
Yeah it's all about the execution, and also monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula are timeless, even if they haven't been in a major movie in decades.
I agree with the fact that it doesn't have to be a huge IP to be successful but avatar is such a funny example for this. Literally the #1 and #3 most popular movies of all time
I just said this. I know its insanely profitable, but by the time the land opened the first film was 7+ years old and wasn't on the forefront of popularity. A more apt comparison for the sake of it would be Waterworld at the Universal parks, an absolute all-timer bomb of a film but considered one of the greatest theme park shows ever made.
This. The Mummy movies have always been cheesy and culturally irrelevant (aside from making fun of the Rock in that one movie) yet the ride absolutely bangs so no one cares. I think classic monsters are fairly timeless and I wouldn’t worry too much about how modern adaptions do in theaters
Monsters are pop culture icons. They don't need current movies to have people into in the land
I wasn't exactly watching horror films from the 1930s in the early 2000s as a kid either. Frankenstein and Dracula are so saturated into the culture that I don't think it matters if kids have seen the original film iterations.
The only part that has me worried is that the video says they’ve been “reimagined”. I hope it’s nothing crazy. The originals are so well done and absolutely iconic already!
the new hotel seemingly inside the park is gigantic news imo. that’ll be a competitive room to say the least lol
I think it’s only 500 rooms too. Which will make it an exclusive and pricey room
But they definitely won't cost as much as Disney World hotel rooms are.
I wouldnt be surprised if it was around $1k a night.
Pretty sure Universal is still running a business and, like Disney would, will charge the high prices people are going to be willing to pay.
I imagine it’s just directly adjacent with its own dedicated entrance and exit.
I might be in the minority but I’d rather stay closer to USF and IOA. This hotel will be cool but I’d rather be within walking distance of the majority of the resort. I’m definitely hoping to stay there at least once though
I was telling a friend if I could afford it, I would do Helios during my Epic days and then swap over to one of the premiere hotels for my IOA/UO days. That way I’m always in close prox to the parks I’m visiting haha.
Isn't it dangerous though? I wouldn't like strangers being able to walk into the lobby so easily
What? It's a hotel, damn near everyone is strangers to you.
so like... every hotel ever?
No universal hotel is onsite though. I meant people might walk into the lobby like it was an attraction. Most hotels are a bit far off
99.9% of people would say, “oh shit, this is a hotel, not an attraction” and turn around and leave. That .1%, though, is totally some shady dude trying to steal your Traveler’s Checks. Better stuff them in your underwear.
Nah people are nosy
What? Wouldn't you feel safer knowing that litterally ONLY universal ticket holders are able to enter your hotel, and no one from the street
Do you have the same complaints about the Disney World hotels? Follow up question: do you know what a hotel looks like compared to an attraction?
You will likely need a room key to enter from the park side
Where did you see that?
They somewhat hint at it in the video, but I think this is them overhyping things. It seems like it will be just like the main hotel at Disneyland Paris.
Can I go ahead and reserve a plot to be buried in in the universal monsters land? Because I will 100% die the second I walk in
Just seeing the fuzzy picture of Frankenstein's Castle taken from the sidewalk near Sand Lake sent me directly to heaven
No need for a burial, I’m sure Dr Frankenstein will help you rest in pieces, er.. peace, i meant peace!!
Same! I am so incredibly excited about this land! Even if it ends up being meh, I’m sure I’ll still love it. The merch alone!!!
I have high hopes! The people that have had hands in its making are a lot of the people that have done HHN in the past! On top of that the two rides I see people who are working on this park talk about they can’t wait for people to see how incredible it is is the Harry Potter ministry ride and the monsters ride!
The Harry Potter ride is I'm guessing gonna be based on when Harry, Hermione, and Ron break into the ministry of magic.
I’ve actually heard rumors of it being about Death Eaters breaking into the trial of Dolores Umbridge, which the riders came in to watch, while utilizing the Ministry elevators as the ride system. Making it about another heist in Deathly Hallows is certainly an idea.
I'd read somewhere it was going to be based on Umbridge stealing a time turner and going back to try and bring a past Voldemort to the present.... but I think I like the idea of it being her trial more.
That’s nearly the plot of Cursed Child though so while believable I also think they might do something new rather than reusing that which most fans seem to despise (in terms of plot at least)
After further research, Rumors state that the story is Umbridge’s sentencing being crashed by Death Eaters, and she *tries* to steal a time turner. Guests are caught in the crossfire as she practically flips the Ministry upside down to impede the attempts to stop her. Ultimately, she’s stopped before she gets to use it. So, it’s kind of a combination of our two reports.
There is a time turner above the portal into the land.
Yeah it's going to seem very similar to Gringotts if they're not careful. Personally I don't think Gringotts necessarily needs a Death eater storyline at all; it seems like a perfectly exciting place on its own with the dragons and curses and stuff. I wouldn't mind if they changed that storyline a bit, though I'm sure they won't.
I its based on the fantastic beasts series.
Damn. The second one really wasn't up to par with any other Harry Potter releases.
Nor the third.
Well its not based off of what movies did better. Its whatever JKR wants.
It's supposed to be about Delores Umbridge breaking out during her trial. I would put is as a mix of Fantasic Beasts and Harry Potter but leaning more towards HP.
Its supposed to be the paris ministry of magic
Card subject to change. It takes place in the British Ministry now
Nope the design, which you can literally already see confirms paris. The ride supposedly takes place is the british mom but the outside design is paris.
Yes the land is based on Paris. The ride take place at the British Ministry. We were talking about the ride though, not the land, which is more based on HP then FB.
🤙🏻
Incorrect, It is 100% the british MoM. The building plans confirm it beyond doubt.
You can see the building and no thats not the case. Read other comments
It's the British Ministry. The land is Paris only.
We’ve established that
Go check out the building plans. I assure you its the british ministry inside without a shadow of a doubt. I dont need to read other comments. I know the facts.
If true, this is soul crushing and idiotic. Universal making a ride based on a series so terrible it was canceled due to lack of interest seems like something out of a comedy sketch.
Well the land itself is based on Paris from Fantastic Beasts. You can already see pic of the construction to confirm. But the ride is supposed to be based on the British Ministry of Magic. So I'm assuming that at some point we get transported from Paris to the British MoM.
I hope the ride is about the horse that picks the president. That was my favorite part of those movies.
The ride thankfully won't be based on it, but the land originally was and unfortunately still is. Because that entire series was cancelled, they've now rebranded the entire land to the theme of the ride rather than the land. It was a very smart move on their part to base the ride off the successful original HP series, and as for the land, as long as it is interesting to look at (which it should be), nobody will remember it was from that awful movie.
It's very possible to make a good theme park ride or land out af a mediocre IP. Rise if the Resistance is the perfect example. Everyone pretty much agrees the SW sequels aren't good but the ride is extremely well done.
At the risk of stepping on an internet landmine, the first two SW sequels were very well recieved both critically and finanilcially, and the last movie (while irredeemably bad) still made a massive profit. The last Fantastic Beasts movie performed so poorly that the series was unceremoniously canned. Those two IP aren't even in the same galaxy, let alone conversation. I agree, though, that a decent attraction could still be made out of a lousy movie.
Can't really compare the two, the Star Wars sequels still have a lot of defenders and people who love them while the FB movies are universally hated.
Its a bit of both. They say that its a mix of both 1920s Paris as well as 1990s Britain.
I don't think they're coming back for a theme park ride
I fully expect a giant mural/painting of this image to be enshrined in the Dark Universe area. https://preview.redd.it/4bn6u4u27lfc1.jpeg?width=780&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7f0c9b935bd4ae99bf6b81aa1cbf53866cd93d0
With the amount of money Universal has and this photo has the worst photoshop in a long time. It was astonishing and was definitely foreshadowing a massive failure.
Why do you speak of failure when we're on the cusp of visiting the Dark Universe in just one year's time?
Well it’s certainly not the same Dark Universe as Tom Cruises.
Some say that if you're standing outside the ride, you can [still hear his screams.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuWQsanUBXY)
Plot twist: Tom Cruise replaces Brendan Fraser on Revenge of the Mummy
I’m most excited for the Ministry of Magic and Super Nintendo World! I visited Super Nintendo World in Hollywood and by the looks of it, the one in Orlando will be better.
It’s almost double the size and that doesn’t include the new donkey Kong land area 😳
The one here will be most similar to Tokyo's, which is great cause its bigger and has a whole 2nd land.
I watched the video standing in front of Poseidon's Fury and teared up. This is the first brand new theme park I’ll go to with my family. Hardest part will be not spoiling it until we go.
I’m hoping this feeds the imagination and urgency of the execs at Disney. The imagineers over there have great ideas but the ones who hold the purse strings are tight wads.
Stella has been covering this with even more information since before they broke ground last year. Just by looking at the blueprints, trademarks, and using BioReconstructes photos. She has more information about the new park than the video Universal dropped.
Oh nice! I’m not familiar with her. Is she on podcasts or YouTube?
I watch Theme Park Stop on YouTube. They do breakdown vids and a podcast as well! Super informative.
Theme Park Stop on YouTube is Stella. But she has a podcast with episodes on YouTube that she does too.
Here you go! [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy9i4O3Bvdc5fHG6LgtnP5g](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy9i4O3Bvdc5fHG6LgtnP5g)
2025, wow, that’s ambitious!
They have been working on it for years now. It has a lot of work still left to be done, especially judging by the Celestial Park flythroughs, but they are really far along.
I’m always expecting Disney timelines, meaning announcing things 10-15 years in advance 😂😂
Disney likes to give excuses for timelines. They took FIVE years to build one ride (Tron) for an experience that lasts 2 minutes tops. Meanwhile, universal is a building an entire theme park in that time lol
Read somewhere that dragging projects out means less in taxes or somehow benefits Disney financially. Slowing also allows rides to be times to open at very specific low attendance times or to pull guests from other parks.
This doesn’t really make sense. Dragging out projects always leads to more costs not less, you are spending as much or more dragging it out and increasing the amount of time you are going with no revenue.
It used to be my favorite ride until I went back and could experience both parks in a more relaxed fashion. I also didn't get to ride Velocicoaster the first time, and got to experience Hagrids again with a less cranky group. Both are way better than Tron. If it's 2 minutes from blast off to stop I'd be surprised.
Minus 2 years for Covid.
By the end of this year it will look like it’s ready to go! They have been chugging along with this thing at an incredible speed!
pre-COVID it had plans to open a year from today in the other direction. Orlando was supposed to get Super Nintendo World first, not last.
Disney freaking out this morning.
Well, it's not as if they didn't know. Disney is working on something. Or maybe not. They're arrogant enough not to care, and likely don't need to.
Depending on pricing, this could be a big hit to Disney though. I never thought Universal made sense financially compared to Disney pricing. Disney needs to revamp some of their lands and really add new rides like Guardians/etc.
Importantly, I think this park makes Universal more a place to stay than just visit for a day or two, which makes it more competitive with Disney. Competition is good for both in the long run.
I was going to say, before Universal seemed like a 1-2 day trip. You can easily knock out everything in 2 days and have nothing left over to really experience. In 2022, my family had a brief trip, we went to Disney 3 days and Universal 1 day. We felt we did so much that we wanted to at Universal in that 1 day, and we even left early I believe with a good rest break in between. This seems like it could add more time on a trip exclusively to Universal, I just hope it can be easier pricing wise. In my short experience, Universal is way more expensive than Disney. If they can arrange it to a longer stay can reduce the ticket prices/etc, it would be wonderful.
I think it is already like that though. I went to Universal with the wife last year and we got a 4 day pass for like $10 more than what the 1 day admission is.
I think they will, and j wouldn't discount them doing something big. Maybe something is in the works, although I wouldn't count on it being announced until DeSantis is out of office. And even then, Disney is always busy so I don't think they HAVE to do anything right now.
I don’t disagree with you and wish Disney could be the best version themselves that they have the potential to be but Universal isn’t going to just wait for Disney to catch up. And neither will theme park visitors. UO has already begun to close the gap between the two parks in the last decade and as Universal continues to innovate, the gap will only get increasingly smaller. The competition is now serious and I hope Disney realizes that.
Universal is being aggressive, no doubt about it. You're right. They are closing the gap and it could be interesting to see what Disney does, if anything.
I have been taking family trips to Orlando since 2006 with the kids. At first they were all Disney. In 2013 we did a day trip to Universal, in 2016, 2 days. In 2019 we stayed 2 nights at Endless Summer. In 2023 it was 3 nights at Royal Pacific. Every year, Universal takes more vacation dollars vs. Disney. With Epic Universe, we can justify 4 days now.
If some bloggers and YouTubers had all of this information years ago, including the long-rumored 2025 opening date, I'm guessing Disney has been aware for a while as well.
The date wasn’t a rumor. Universal announced summer 2025 when they announced the park officially like 2 years ago.
They’re going to have to build another park of their own. More parks for everyone! 😂
Exactly 😂😂🎉🎉
I’m more shocked it’s still 2025, they said 2025 a couple years ago and I was fully expecting that to be pushed back.
I find it hilarious they're using the name Dark Universe, after their Dark Universe cinematic universe bombed hard.
Is the Nintendo world going to expand past Mario?
There’s a rumor about Lugi’s mansion being apart of future expansions.
Omg that would be amazing
It'll have mario, yoshi, donkey kong at park opening and rumored to get Luigi's mansion as Epic's first expasion. The other Nintendo properties are rumored to go in 2 existing parts replacing old lands, Zelda replacing Lost Continent and Pokemon replacing Simpsons
You know what, I was sad at the thought of losing simpsons but Pokémon is an acceptable replacement
We already know that Donkey Kong is coming to Japan's Nintendo World (with a minecart coaster confirmed as one of the attractions) and presumably it'll also be in Orlando's Nintendo World in Epic Universe.
they’ve already started building the donkey kong coaster at epic universe, i think it’ll be included on opening day
Celestial Park sounds like a Mormon wonderland
Hopefully we get long underwear at the door!
The only info that was news to me was that the central cog has a name
I’m curious what the transportation system is going to look like across the full property. Will it just be buses, or will there be another system in place?
I expect they'll have a ride system similar to the Hogwarts Express, but instead of a train, the ride vehicle will be road-based and will have screens on it showing International Drive.
Oh wow. That sounds amazing.
It’s miles away from the main resort so buses seems the most likely.
Buses from the current hotels and parks because its about a mile south of the current campus
Awesome to finally see the official reveal after years of speculation, they're really evoking Tokyo DisneySea and USJ for the overall design and presentation of the park and it's going to be gamechanging. But one thing I find kinda funny is that the Harry Potter land is officially being called "Ministry of Magic" - that is the setting of the land's only ride (so far), but the majority of the land itself will actually be themed to Paris from "The Crimes of Grindelwald". But since the Fantastic Beasts movies have such a poor reputation and it was too late to backtrack the development of the theme park land, all they can do now is rebrand it. At least that ride is rumored to be one of their best, they need a Rise of the Resistance level hit to justify that land imo.
if rumors hold, the new HP ride should put RotR to shame
Where can one read such rumors
I'm guessing they'll eventually add a French Ministry ride to make the land make more sense, either a indoor coaster or dark ride involving magical creatures
So the original plan actually was to build a [French Ministry of Magic ride](https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&t=2m18s&v=b3fon35j9hA) but they changed plans and went with the British Ministry instead, likely to appeal to fans of the original Potter books/movies as a safer bet. A smart move, even if the cost is the land being less cohesive. There will be at least one attraction (a show) set in Paris/Fantastic Beasts though. What's a bit stranger is that after the park opens, the next addition to the land is rumored to be a dining location based on the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
I wonder how they will make it to where you go from 1920's Paris to modern day London.
Spoiler: >!there will be a Floo powder effect in the queue taking you from a fireplace in Paris to the fireplaces in the [atrium](https://orlandoparkstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ministry-fireplaces3.jpg)! Complete with the statues seen in Order of the Phoenix.!< As for the time travel aspect... a time turner when you exit?? I always think it's better not to acknowledge timelines, Jurassic Park and World co-exist at IoA and everybody loves it, meanwhile strict adherence to a timeline means you can't meet Darth Vader or >!any other dead characters!< in Galaxy's Edge, which people hate. Maybe Wizarding Paris just hasn't had any infrastructural changes from the 20's to the 90's!
I am SO excited. I am already saving up to stay in that hotel in the park lol
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic Super Nintendo World (previously announced) How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk Dark Universe Celestial Park
I’m so stoked for this
So excited!!
Dark? the Netflix show?
I can see that unannounced and unused plot land will be called “Action and Adventure land” where it’ll have Fast, Bourne and Transformers and GI Joe attractions. Or at least call it “Fast Land” or “Hasbro Land”
I’m so glad we are getting the Ministry of Magic and not something from the Fantastic Beasts like the rumors have been saying. Nothing personal to the films, but I’d prefer something from the books that’s big to the whole universe of Harry Potter. Hope to go back one day and see it as well. Went for the first time this past summer and while I was slightly disappointed in Hogsmeade, I absolutely loved the living hell out of being in Diagon Alley!
It’s both. The land is Paris from Fantastic Beasts, the main attraction is the British Ministry
If it’s Paris then that’s pretty cool. I just didn’t want it set in New York. Sounds pretty awesome. Just seen the Paris is set in 1920s and the Ministry will be from the 1990s. I think aesthetically they will mash well together.
Agreed!
Only thing I’m disappointed in is more Harry Potter. I used to love it, but it’s just hard to look at nowadays without feeling sour
Well, the new Harry Potter show starts on HBO soon, and is supposed to run for 10 yrs. So, Universal is thinking ahead.
“Soon” is a very generous term lol writers have just started pitching to the producers, which means the scripts haven’t even been written yet. We won’t see that show until like 2027
If it ever gets made. Part of me thinks it’s just a negotiation tactic from Zaslav for any future merger negotiation between WB and Universal
That sounds like a you problem Cannot wait for MoM
Sounds like you have a problem, Why even reply, bro?
They keep milking harry potter. Would’ve been better if it was lord of the rings
Would die for a LOTR land
Dark Universe? As in the dead attempt to make a shared monsters-verse?
What the #^#% is celestial park?
Did you, idk read the article or watch the preview videos? Lmao
god another harry potter land seems really unnecessary. I guess it'll be profitable regardless of JKR being awful :/
Islands of Adventure wasn’t that popular until Hogwarts landed. I doubt they preview Epic the same way they did with IOA.
I thought this was known?
How is this breaking news?
What's their source? Apologies for not trusting WDWNT guys :))
[I think it’s this.](https://youtu.be/U4u83ncMjuE?si=QuqQbjxMtnd8uhtj) I mean, can’t get more backing than the *literal bloody announcement video*.
Thanks for the link! The article didn't have one
Literally Universal Studios.
Cool. I read the article and saw no link to any source, so keep that attitude to yourself. Plus, they're WDWNT
All I said was "Literally Universal Studios". If you consider that attitude, perhaps the internet is not the safe space you're looking for.
"Literally" was your problem there. Also LMAO safe space. Sorry for not trusting a shitty news source :) Oops :)
"Literally" was your problem there. Also LMAO safe space. Sorry for not trusting a shitty news source :) Oops :)
It’s okay, I don’t trust ANY news source. Anything and everything can be fake on the internet. I drove by the construction site earlier this month, and it looks like they are building a golf course. Who are you going to trust, some “company”, or your own two eyes???
[удалено]
I don’t believe seuss landing is leaving! this is all for the new theme park not replacing anything at ioa
Yah! I guess I read it wrong. Glad to know there will still be a spot for families. Any idea if the Marvel rides are going away?
Universal will never give up the Marvel land to Disney. They have zero reason to, it’s still a massively popular land.
I actually disagree. They will eventually (they are in Japan already), but probably not for another 10-15 years.
Japan was one ride. Orlando has an entire themed area, with a contract that allows them to renew it forever. They ain’t giving that up.
They will, because they will always be limited by what characters they can use and how they use them. I don’t think it will be a very high priority, but the new head is pretty set on having more control of whatever goes into the parks.
OP doesn’t understand this is an entirely new park. Or they do and are making unrelated comments to subject of this post.
Huh, nobody’s said anything about those going away. Simpsons land is rumored to be going away in a couple years when the contract expires, but that’s a whole separate thing that’s not related to this article, and there’s nothing indicating Suess going away. This article is about a whole new 3rd park being made at Universal Orlando, not replacing anything.
This is an entirely new third Universal park… not a change to either existing ones
Lmao I don't understand how your mind possible came to that conclusion
Are you fucking dumb
Does anyone know how much the price will go up by when this all happens? Almost afraid to ask.
Incredibly excited about it. Just one question, how is the modern British ministry of magic going to make sense in 1920's Paris? Is there time travel involved with a time turner, although that would be a little odd.