At Universal Orlando, nothing is certain but change. The park is known for constantly revamping, reshaping, and replacing to bring guests high-tech new experiences based on an ever-changing lineup of films and TV shows. Rather than resting on their laurels following the smash success of the Diagon Alley Harry Potter expansion, the company is hard at work developing and installing new concepts sure to blow our minds.
While Universal is officially remaining tight-lipped about what happens next, rumors and speculation are rampant. Here’s a look at 4 new experiences that might be coming in 2015 and beyond.
1. Skull Island
Possibly the worst-kept secret in Universal history, construction is really amping up on the rumored King Kong/Skull Island project at Islands of Adventure. With a massive show building now receiving exterior theming, we wonder just how much longer Universal thinks it can wait to make an announcement. In the meantime, industry insiders, long-time Universal fans, and armchair quarterbacks have begun piecing together what they can.
As a former Kongfrontation team member, I was most excited to hear that the new attraction is expected to feature at least one Kong animatronic. Some sources say that it will actually have the capacity to run, giving chase to the ride vehicles. That would be absolutely phenomenal if true, as a running audio-animatronic pushes the limits of today’s technology.
Another popular rumor claims that each ride vehicle will have an on-board guide, just as the original Kongfrontation did. If this is true, it would mark Universal Orlando’s return to spieling. Some of our favorite lost attractions, such as Kongfrontation and Jaws, relied heavily on spielers to bring the rides to life, providing a personal touch that has been lost in the endless rounds of motion simulators and other guideless attractions.
The latest predictions have Skull Island opening in early 2016, but some sources estimate late 2015. We know Universal has the ability to build quickly, and construction is progressing at an impressive rate. Right now the biggest question is, when will they finally announce the ride?
2. Water park
A water park seems like a natural addition to any theme park complex, especially one located in sunny Central Florida, and especially one that is in direct competition with Walt Disney World, which has two. Yet when Universal Orlando bought Wet ‘n Wild, it appeared that a new, customized water park was off the table. Now, however, Universal seems set to develop their own, probably on a 53-acre parcel south of the new Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
Rumor has it that the new park will be named “Volcano Bay,” and will feature a central volcanic mountain structure. Universal loves working with disaster-based themes, so a volcanic eruption would provide a cohesive back story that fits with the company’s overall direction. It looks like it will take until at least November 2016 to finish the project, so we might be looking at an opening sometime in 2017.
3. Halloween Horror Nights 25
Universal Orlando’s month-long fright fest, Halloween Horror Nights (HHN), has long dominated the Halloween season in Central Florida. The Art and Design team works hard year-round to develop an entirely new event each year. Major anniversaries, such as Sweet 16 and 20 Years of Fear, have traditionally been celebrated in a big way. As the 25th anniversary, the 2015 event is expected to outshine anything we have seen before.
Universal started promoting HHN 25 remarkably early, releasing a teaser video on the official Facebook page on Halloween 2014. The video seems to confirm the return of Jack Schmidt, one of the most beloved HHN icons of all time. Media kits containing more teasers also went out at the end of the 2014 Halloween season, but even more interesting were the surveys.
People who were signed up to receive Halloween Horror Nights surveys from Universal Orlando got a peek at the possibilities in November. It looks like the icon characters of the past are coming back, possibly in a shared house or scare zone. We might see houses based on Alfred Hitchcock or even Ghostbusters, and the Festival of the Dead parade is being considered for a return.
HHN 25 could also be the year of the extreme house. The Art and Design team has been considering the concept of a highly personalized, intensely frightening, upcharge house for a long time. In 2014, under the auspices of the Legendary Truth in-event game, they tested an impressive array of new technology. It stands to reason that some of that technology could work its way into Halloween Horror Night’s first-ever extreme house, and the 25th anniversary seems like the perfect time for its debut—a segue into a new era of horror possibilities.
4. New live shows
A persistent rumor claims that the Twister attraction will be closing sometime in 2015. Meanwhile, Fear Factor Live has rarely opened in years. While the expectation is that, because of its location, the Fear Factor Live amphitheater will be used for a Diagon Alley expansion, the new use for the Twister building is unknown. However, a recent survey from Universal Orlando sheds some light on the possibilities.
One option would be the return of Matt Hoffman’s Agro Circus. Originally housed in the Toon Lagoon Amphitheater at Islands of Adventure, this high-flying show features skateboards, bikes, and daredevil stunts.
Another floated concept is a kids’ show based on the Sprout TV network, which is owned by NBCUniversal. This actually makes some sense, as A Day in the Park With Barney is desperately due for an upgrade. More than likely, the Sprout show would move into the existing Barney theater.
Although it seems nearly unbelievable, Universal also tossed out the possibility of Sharnakdo: The Musical. Campy and over-the-top, like the movies themselves, it would be a reasonable successor to the Twister theme. Whether or not it would work would depend entirely on the cast’s ability to draw guests into the theme.
Universal is also considering an America’s Got Talent show, possibly featuring acts that have appeared on the TV series rather than pulling from the audience like Disney does for the American Idol Experience. However, another rumor suggests that a show based on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon could also be in the works for this space.
Personally, I’m pulling for Ghostbusters: Back in Town. With a reboot film on the way, and Universal bringing back King Kong for a rumored new attraction, it would be great to see the Ghostbusters reclaim their former home in the Twister building. Updated with modern technology, the special effects possibilities are truly amazing.
It’s hard to say exactly what the future holds for Universal Orlando. Yet one thing is clear—the company has found a recipe for success, built on cutting-edge new concepts and experiences, and whatever they bring out next is almost certain to amaze and impress us.
