Universal UK theme park in Bedford

[witchfinder]

Good ! serves merlin right for doing the bare minimum to get the height record off the big one if they had gone all out maybe the height record would of been with them for much longer.

Hyperia will have held the height record for 7 years by the time this opens. The marketing benefit will be well and truly over by then

 

[Tonkso]

Would be silly to build a ride that cannot operate for months of the year in a 365 park. They've also become a maintenance nightmare and logistically difficult with health and safety regulations in the UK.

There is always the potential for an indoor flume. Bobbejaanland sets the climate precedent there.

 

[emoo]

I wouldn't object to any records being beaten during this time but would be happier to see more complete, quality and lengthy experiences added. Both Merlin and Mandy have put out statements saying they welcome this news but have been doing it for years. Let's see what what everyone can/will actually do.

 

[Nicky Borrill]

It's frustrating that mainstream media journalists are browsing this thread, and other enthusiast resources, and reporting our speculation as fact.

Even the BBC are at it. They reported that there would be no harry potter area, because of the Studio Tour, along with a load of other theories and speculation blatantly lifted from enthusiast spots... And now, because the BBC said it, the general public on social media are quoting them as if it's known fact. :/

 

[Tonkso]

Time to start posting utterly unhinged speculative nonsense then?

Like the obvious inclusion of the world's first inverting log flume.

 

[roomraider]

Time to start posting utterly unhinged speculative nonsense then?

Like the obvious inclusion of the world's first inverting log flume.

The unannounced area will be a Coronation Street themed dark ride focusing on the false imprisonment of Deirdre Barlow.

 

[spicy]

Time to start posting utterly unhinged speculative nonsense then?

The green coaster will be themed to flying monkeys.


Oh wait..

 

[bratcurry]

Wicked!

 

[spicy]

Oh here we go..

We live by Universal theme park site - it's HORRENDOUS & will ruin our lives

RESIDENTS of a village by the site of the UK’s first Universal theme park claim it’s going to be horrendous and ruin their quiet way of life. The quiet village of Stewartby, Bedford …

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[emoo]

Let's see what what everyone can/will actually do.

Merlins first action after Universal announcement, remove Altons new coaster's maintenance shed.

So awesome. I know its not Merlin's response or related - this chess move would already have been in the works. Also this was posted with a wink in Niles' eye long before I noticed but the synergy is just hilarious.

Give me all the mud, dirt and walls; sensible speculation based on water drainage; predictions based on the concept art that someone can claim they were right in the future no matter how much of a wild guess or sure fire thing it was. Actually give me a slow moving dark ride with high effective tech and not a splash battle please. Not everything Universal do is what I want but they sure are producing better coasters than much of the alternatives right now. Boy am I giddy about getting back to Orlando ASAP.

Time to start posting utterly unhinged speculative nonsense then?

One of my favs - as long as it recognised as such. Its a bit early for expectations to be concrete whatever the source. Epics concept art did change in small pockets. (the apparent show became a coaster, the entrance arch got fancy and if you go far enough back the carousel lost 1/3 of its domes)

.. reporting our speculation as fact.

We could give prizes at a live to anyone who goes viral, the best drone footage or critically acclaimed fan fic.

Basically silly times are ahead while we wait out the ground prep stage until this park actually stars to rise. I truly hope my body wont have broken down by ~'31 and can still hack whatever thrill is constructed.

 

[Nicky Borrill]

Well, we know there's to be 4 main areas, (and a maybe couple of small bonus areas... )

So this is my prediction, based on things discussed here, as well as my own complete fantasy fabrications...

Definitely a bit controversial... For example, I'm calling it now, that's ALL Jurassic World, including a JW coaster!!! And that mystery area, where Shrek is, will ALL be Dreamworks, including the show. Maybe not How To Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda, but definitely all Dreamworks... Also, that show building behind main street, will be fed from the Jaws area, not main street as others are predicting... Probably a Jaws dark ride, but if not Jaws, a Dark ride to accompany whatever that little area will be themed to.

 

[roomraider]

I clearly missed the thinking behind that being Jaws themed? What was the reasoning in the end?

 

[Nicky Borrill]

I clearly missed the thinking behind that being Jaws themed? What was the reasoning in the end?

Very very very loose… It looks ‘a bit’ like Amity

 

[Matt N]

Oh here we go..

We live by Universal theme park site - it's HORRENDOUS & will ruin our lives

RESIDENTS of a village by the site of the UK’s first Universal theme park claim it’s going to be horrendous and ruin their quiet way of life. The quiet village of Stewartby, Bedford …

www.thesun.co.uk

To be fair, that Sun article is far less negative than you’d expect given the title.

One person in it expresses concerns, but they also have one person excited for it in there and they then go on to talk excitedly about park details. So it’s hardly showcasing crippling backlash to the project!

I'd argue "residents" in that blurb is a bit misleading, as from reading the article, it does in fact appear to be a singular "resident" expressing concerns!

 

[JoshC.]

Finally have a chance to respond to this thread after the announcement.

All very exciting, isn't it.

I must admit, none of the speculated IPs captivate me that much beyond Back to the Future, simply because I don't have any attachment to them. But then again, the expected quality that comes with Universal makes up for that.

There's obviously a level of treading carefully that has to be done from Universal with creating a UK park - I wonder what proportion of Orlando's visitors are from the UK / Europe? And how many will potentially sack off a visit there to go to the UK one, given it'll save money. Equally, it does make it significantly more accessible to people from around these parts - I've already had multiple non-enthusiast friends message me saying about how we'll have to go once it opens.

With regards to Harry Potter, I wonder if they're holding off on introducing it straight away because of the upcoming TV series? Come 2031, it is a whole new generation of people at the parks. Whilst Harry Potter has a level of timeless appeal, and will still spark Millennials' interest, they will be "older films", and there will be a reboot of it that is several years in potentially.
If the TV show flops, then it's almost a bit of a risk introducing a HP area as the brand might be damaged.
If it's a success, then maybe hold off and create a HP land based off the TV shows instead, appealing to a newer audience.
I agree with what people have said though in that not having Potter is surely a huge missed opportunity commercially, with all the selling of merch and F&B they could achieve.

I'm not reading much into the concept art at this stage beyond some of the speculated IPs. I frankly am not that bothered by it in that regard, and know that it could still chop, change or be just for show.

I do hope we see a major water ride at some point though. Yes, the weather makes that trickier, but modern water rides can be adjusted to suit the climate. If Phantasialand can run Chiapas at 0 degrees Celsius in January, Universal can find a way to create a major water ride capable of running in parts of winter.


I'm also excited to see what they do with Halloween Horror Nights and how that translates to the UK market. I also wonder, given the temporary nature of Halloween attractions, if they have any way of creating HHN before Universal GB officially opens. Feels almost pipe dream-esque, but imagine Universal running HHN as a scream park event in 2030 (maybe even 2029) to build up further awareness, hype, get staff in, etc. Could be very intriguing...

 

[Niles]

Would be silly to build a ride that cannot operate for months of the year in a 365 park. They've also become a maintenance nightmare and logistically difficult with health and safety regulations in the UK.

While it would be closed for part of the year i believe the IOA flume and rapids have a maintenance/closed period, ours would definitely be longer but when there is a bit of sun in the UK our water rides get packed, and im sure there are ways to adjust the wetness so you get a little wet during colder months.

Maintenance wise more modern ones should be much better than what we are used to in the UK

I do hope we see a major water ride at some point though. Yes, the weather makes that trickier, but modern water rides can be adjusted to suit the climate. If Phantasialand can run Chiapas at 0 degrees Celsius in January, Universal can find a way to create a major water ride capable of running in parts of winter.

What JoshC said sounds good to me.

While a bit silly and i understand why it looks like we are not getting one i think one could exist and work, even if it's a completely indoor flume i would still be happy.

The below would also be a fab water ride.

J_Taylor: The speculated Jaws dark ride towards the entrance proves to be true, I would love to see the new Mack rocking boat hardware used! Equal parts terrifying and awesome haha

 

[Nicky Borrill]

With regards to Harry Potter, I wonder if they're holding off on introducing it straight away because of the upcoming TV series? Come 2031, it is a whole new generation of people at the parks. Whilst Harry Potter has a level of timeless appeal, and will still spark Millennials' interest, they will be "older films", and there will be a reboot of it that is several years in potentially.
If the TV show flops, then it's almost a bit of a risk introducing a HP area as the brand might be damaged.
If it's a success, then maybe hold off and create a HP land based off the TV shows instead, appealing to a newer audience.
I agree with what people have said though in that not having Potter is surely a huge missed opportunity commercially, with all the selling of merch and F&B they could achieve.

Snap

A theory that crossed our minds was that maybe they're waiting to see what happens with the series. They haven't been shy about renewing old IPs to their modern variants in the past, Jurassic Park / World for example. Maybe one of the expansion areas either side is already earmarked for a harry potter area, but whether it will be based on the movies or the upcoming series will be decided by the popularity of that series. That would be a very shrewd move imo.

I'm glad I'm not the only one though. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if planning a new area to open in 6 years time, based on the movies, is actually a terrible idea, for this very reason.

 

[maiconcosta]

View attachment 36942
This potential back to the future coaster looks to have a swing launch and switch tracks! It’s a very interesting layout looks like it may be the new tallest coaster in the uk! Thorpe park will be fuming if that happens!

In my interpretation — and of course, it's just an illustrative concept — I imagined it with two switch tracks to alternate between forward and backward sections. I even posted a video showing my take on the concept

 

[James F]

I'm really hoping that the Jaws IP happens. As much as I love Harry Potter, the lack of Jaws in Florida still feels present. It's also one of my all time favourite films so there's that.

 

[Bentleya]

I’m hoping the concept for the possible Intamin / Mack launch coaster (Back to the Future) is going to be an extreme spinner or the trains like on the new Fast & Furious Intamin going in at Universal Hollywood; as there is far too much backwards going on there for my liking…