Theme park and attraction news, rumors and videos.
Universal Orlando confirmed on July 24 that Halloween Horror Nights was cancelled for 2020. But fans have held out hope that something would still happen. Recent rumors, permits, and audition call-backs seem to point to a smaller, modified offering. This will not be a Halloween Horror Nights 30 event reborn, but instead more like a taste of Halloween.
Halloween Horror Nights is prepping for its 30th anniversary here in Florida. Whether this will be your first year or you have been here since the beginning, we all cannot wait for another fear-filled event. I can almost smell the pizza fries and fog now.
Universal Orlando continues to be quiet about their upcoming Harry Potter roller coaster.
We’ve been following along with this construction since its earliest stages. Now, we have a first look at what we believe to be official concept art for the themed coaster.
While we always try our best to be as accurate as possible, please note, this is a rumor based article. Nothing is official until it is announced by Universal Orlando.
By Fowl Owlerson
Disclaimer: Unless where otherwise noted, the following is rumor and speculation, and should not be regarded as fact unless confirmed by the companies mentioned.
So this is weird. We were all fairly confident Super Nintendo World construction at Universal Studios Florida was going to begin before the end of 2017 in KidZone, weren’t we? What happened? [Read more…]
By Fowl Owlerson
Disclaimer: Unless where otherwise noted, the following is rumor and speculation, and should not be regarded as fact unless confirmed by the companies mentioned.
Happy New Year! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Yours truly, Fowl Owlerson, is still alive and well. It’s time to brush the figurative dust off of online version of The Rumor Queue column and get back into the swing of things. [Read more…]
By Fowl Owlerson
I’m going to diverge from the mold I’ve followed for this column and speak about something of great importance. The theme park industry is inextricably linked to the movie business. Without film, the modern theme park industry wouldn’t be the same and, frankly, my first love will always be going to the movies, even though I have to sneak my own snacks into the theater because concession stands don’t sell rodents.
Another medium I hold dear is comics — titles such as Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange and The Hulk are among my favorites — so you can imagine I was excited for “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” … And the movie ultimately took the wind out of my wings and sent me plummeting to the ground with a loud thud.
“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, a movie wherein the title is just one of its many problems, released to a negative critical response and, per Box Office Mojo, an opening weekend box office gross that was below the domestic openings of “Iron Man 3” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron”. The film’s stars and director rebuffed its negative critical consensus and said it was “made for fans”, not critics, as if the two are separated by an impenetrable wall and critics are grim, soulless husks who derive pleasure from nothing because they’re not the ones buying tickets. This a dangerous train of thought, as it postulates that critics can’t judge a film for its own merits because they attend press screenings for free. While critics attend press screenings for free, they aren’t paid as well as you’d think and don’t have access to benefits people with traditional jobs take for granted. It also places a negative connotation on criticism, which I refuse to accept. Nothing is immune to criticism. I’ve learned a great deal from criticism and my work has improved as a result of it. Criticism isn’t an inherently bad thing.
“Batman v Superman” — I’m not going to include the subtitle anymore because I have yet to understand what it means beyond an unsubtle reference to “Justice League” — showed a significant drop of 55% from Friday of its opening weekend to Sunday. The film also suffered a box office drop of 69% in its second week, a trend which continued throughout its subsequent weeks of release. If you break down the numbers and juxtapose the box office performance of “Batman v Superman” with a better received (although R rated) superhero film “Deadpool”, you’ll see that despite the latter’s smaller budget and more restrictive MPPA rating, it’ll likely maintain a higher domestic (North American) gross than “Batman v Superman”, which is unprecedented. Of course, the worldwide gross of “Batman v Superman” is higher and the film isn’t a financial “bomb”, but it still begs the question, why did the film perform under expectations and suffer the subsequent drop? It shouldn’t have limped its way to the finish line.
The past few weeks have run fandom through the gamut of emotions and things have worsened with the release of “Captain America: Civil War”, which, full disclosure, I enjoyed more than “Batman v Superman”, although I do have problems with “Civil War”. They’re hard not to compare as they both tackle similar themes and are of the same genre, and yet “Batman v Superman” fell flat while “Civil War” soared for me despite its flaws. It’s fine if you like “Batman v Superman”. I’ve no qualms with people who like things I don’t like and vice versa. What I take umbrage with is the backlash against critics by certain diehards in the community.
There has been a litany of negative comments on social media about critics and absurd claims that there’s a conspiracy against DC Films. The critics are “Marvel shills,” per incensed fans. There have been think pieces published since questioning the relevancy of critics and many self-proclaimed fans have turned against critics entirely with some resorting to harassment to get their point across. This isn’t to say that critics operate with impunity. Critics should be able to take criticism, although it should serve a constructive purpose. Baseless conspiracy theories don’t count as constructive by any stretch, much less criticism.
A rational, mature response is that critics do matter. A large box office haul doesn’t prove the critics “wrong”. Critics aren’t predicting a work’s financial success; they’re reviewing the work itself. Hence why using box office results as a repudiation of a critical consensus is flimsy. It was inevitable that “Batman v Superman” was going to have a large opening weekend due to it featuring two of the most iconic characters in the world. Many expected its first weekend to be “big”. Its long-term performance was predicated on its quality and whether or not it resonated with an audience, and all of the metrics we use to try to obtain a measurement for the quality of a movie seem to indicate it didn’t resonate.
Criticism is essential. If there is art, there must be criticism. Many filmmakers have learned a great deal about filmmaking by poring through the thoughts of critics in their formative years. This isn’t to say that artists must behave slavishly toward critics or that critics are unilaterally right, or that you can’t go against the grain. You can like what you like — and speaking from one’s perspective — it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things whether a film was rated “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes or if it made oodles of money at the box office. What matters is what you enjoy. So why is this portion of the fan base obsessing over the negative things and resorting to harassment to make their point?
A common argument I’ve heard is that critics have a “Marvel bias,” hence their negative reviews for DC films, a claim that can be repudiated with ease. Reviews are inherently subjective and critics judge a film by whether they feel its good or bad, not by what studio label is attached to it. Furthermore, we’re all biased, including the section of diehard fans lobbing insults at people who have opinions they don’t like. The adversarial approach these fans are taking against critics comes from a protective place. You can like DC and dislike the current state of the DC Cinematic Universe. This isn’t a civil war; it’s nerd culture that’s now pop culture. It’s never been a better time to be a nerd and we should celebrate it, not spew venom. Film critic Drew McWeeny encapsulates this in a great editorial featured on HitFix.
Critics aren’t telling you how to feel; they’re stating how they feel. Critics use their insight, education (not only on film), and an array of experience in the medium to criticize a product. That means saying what they liked, what they didn’t like and offering a recommendation based on their taste. Their reviews are primarily subjective because an entirely objective review would be tantamount to watching paint dry while a Coldplay album plays on a loop. Critics can offer insight and alternative perspectives. They can engender thought about work and perhaps change the way you look at something, or perhaps not. They can show what a refined selection of entertainment looks like and help you develop your own taste, or reinforce the taste you have.
A film’s place in the public consciousness changes and the results are more nuanced in the long-term, and critics can shift the public tide. Pauline Kael was an influential American critic who wrote for “The New Yorker” from 1968 to 1991, and whose collection of writings from 1954 to 1965 were used for her seminal novel “I Lost it at the Movies.” She helped change the initial mixed consensus for “Bonnie and Clyde” and the film later was rereleased and reconsidered by critics and moviegoers. Other critics butted heads with her and readers didn’t always agree with her opinions, but her reviews are still insightful and erudite, and one can respect where she was coming from when she wrote them, even if they don’t agree with her.
I’ve read positive critical reviews that made me roll my eyes and cluck my bill, and I’ve suffered through negative reviews that made me twist my head around and stomp my talons. A bad critic is a bad critic, no matter if I agree or disagree with them. The presence of bad critics doesn’t negate the entire field of criticism, just as the presence of bad people amongst fandom doesn’t mean all of fandom is awful. What matters is a critic’s perspective, and as long as you can understand their criticism and their work engenders thought, they’ve done their job. We don’t learn from being told things we already know and being fed opinions we already have. Having your thoughts challenged can help you hone your opinion and refine your taste. It can also reinforce why you like something.
It’s not one thing that caused “Batman v Superman” to perform below critical and financial expectations. There’s no conspiracy. It’s an underwhelming film and there’s no greater poison to a movie’s long-term success than poor quality. Criticism is bigger than one movie, genre, or even medium. It’ll continue to evolve and persist throughout the ebb and flow of entertainment trends. Even if it needs if takes on a different permutation to do so, criticism will continue to exist. It must.
• Fowl Owlerson has been attending theme parks since he was a little owlet. When he’s not filtering through the latest murmurings around the industry, he can be found writing, reading, and snacking on the occasional rodent. Follow him on Twitter @fowlowlerson for the latest rumors, and drop an anonymous letter to him at [email protected] or via Direct Message on Twitter.
By Fowl Owlerson
Disclaimer: Unless where otherwise noted, the following is rumor and speculation, and should not be regarded as fact unless confirmed by the companies mentioned.
Hello, everyone! I’ve been spending my time unpacking, working through my backlog of books and movies, and “Owl Stuff” that you wouldn’t understand. But my break is over and it’s time get back into the swing of things.
Rumors were sent to me from credible sources about a new attraction for Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood that was covered in my top rumors of 2016 column. Universal Studios and Illumination Entertainment have been hard at work on what they hope will be the start of a brand new franchise. It circles around the premise “What do your pets do when you aren’t home?” and it’s called “The Secret Life of Pets.” The movie stars an ensemble cast of comedians and actors and is scheduled to hit theaters Summer 2016.
My sources have told me the internal response to the movie has been positive, which got the gears in motion to flesh out a theme park ride for Universal’s theme parks because “Synergy” and such. Illumination’s track record with the Despicable Me franchise instills confidence in the likelihood of this new project’s success.
Based on my sources, the ride queue will center around the New York City apartment complex seen in both trailers, which serves as the home for all of central characters of the movie. Guests will be loaded into vehicles that seat a modest number for a more immersive experience. Per the rumors shared by one of my sources, these vehicles will be trackless with the closest comparison being Mystic Manor’s ride vehicles in Disneyland Hong Kong. According to a source, the goal of Universal Creative is to use these trackless vehicles with a lower capacity in conjunction with an inordinate number of intricate animatronics (seriously, if Universal Creative gets their way, it’ll be a lot) and no screens, which would make theme park enthusiasts happy.
Domes/screens have faced heavy criticism from park-goers, and I can understand why. A practical ride like Jaws wouldn’t happen today. However, rides like Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey and Harry Potter and Escape from Gringotts are intricate in their own right. The ride layout of Forbidden Journey is staggering as can be glimpsed when the ride stops and the lights of the structure switch on or by being evacuated off of it. I give Universal Creative credit for their ingenuity no matter the technology employed in their work, but a new attraction that would be accomplished with mostly practical effects is exciting to me. So digression aside, what will The Secret Life of Pets ride feature?
My sources have related that the ride will follow the plot of the movie, which you can see a fair amount of in the second trailer (below) released by Universal Pictures. The movie’s protagonist is Max, a Jack Russel Terrier who lives with Katie in a New York City apartment complex with a slew of other animals. All is well until Katie comes home with a mongrel named Duke and things go askew. Max and Duke are lost and the other pets in the terrace set out to rescue them.
Per the rumors shared to me by multiple sources, the ride will begin in Katie’s apartment, move to a courtyard or perhaps a platform outside the apartment. Max and Duke will leave the complex in a circular sequence that is described by one source to be more intense than The Cat in the Hat ride but still family friendly, which will be the point where something goes “wrong” (as something must always go “wrong” in a theme park attraction’s narrative). From there, the ride will make its way through the alley full of vagrant cats (spotted in Trailer #2), then flushed down into the sewers of New York. The ride will take guests through the lair of pets who are outcasts (also spotted in Trailer #2) and through a climax that was not revealed by my sources. Ultimately, Max and Duke are reunited with Katie and we depart on a scene inside the apartment complex with myriad pets celebrating. It’s a happy ending, of course.
A source disclosed that the ride is slated to open in “Mid-to-Late 2017” in Universal Studios Hollywood, and will be located in the former site of Soundstage 28. Demolished in 2014, this former structure was where the Opera House from The Phantom of the Opera (1925) was located.
Another source informed me that a version of the attraction is slated for Universal Orlando Resort, but the location hasn’t been decided upon yet. Previously discussed in my top rumors of 2016 column, two potential locations are Toon Lagoon Amphitheater in Islands of Adventure or Shrek 4-D in Universal Studios. The attraction would thematically work across from Despicable Me, however, Islands of Adventure could use another attraction and the theater in Toon Lagoon has been vacant for a fair while now. Shrek 4D was previously rumored to be on the chopping block for a Star Trek attraction, although I haven’t heard much about this rumor since discussing it in my top rumors of 2015 column. The rumored opening date for the Orlando version of the ride is “mid-to-late 2018.”
My sources have said that barring “The Secret Life of Pets” performing below expectations during its theatrical run, it’s for all intents and purposes a “lock” for Universal Hollywood and Orlando. Given the subject matter, I can see this resonating with movie-goers and park-goers, even if it doesn’t seem to feature an owl as a pet. I’m admittedly biased.
• Fowl Owlerson has been attending theme parks since he was a little owlet. When he’s not filtering through the latest murmurings around the industry, he can be found writing, reading, and snacking on the occasional rodent. Follow him on Twitter @fowlowlerson for the latest rumors, and drop an anonymous letter to him at [email protected] or via Direct Message on Twitter.
By Fowl Owlerson
Disclaimer: Unless where otherwise noted, the following is rumor and speculation, and should not be regarded as fact unless confirmed by the companies mentioned.
Since Comcast purchased NBC Universal in 2009, there have been rumors of Universal Orlando’s upper brass scoping out additional land for the resort’s expansion. According to an Orange County Convention Center brochure, Universal Orlando Resort is 840 acres, which includes Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk. For reference, Disneyland Resort is approximately 500 acres and Walt Disney World Resort is more than 25,000 acres. Universal has reached the spacial limit of its aggressive expansion.
The Orlando Business Journal’s Richard Balbao reported that Universal may have found a solution to their spacial woes. Bilbao said Orange County Commissioners Pete Clarke and Ted Edwards told him Universal may be interested in an approximately 450 acre stretch of land near Universal Boulevard (which is adjacent to International Drive) from Sand Lake Road down to Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. The land is presently owned by Colony Capital, LLC, a private equity firm based in Santa Monica, Calif. Neither Colony or Universal have commented on this rumor.
Several sources have disclosed to me that Universal Orlando’s intent is to expand onto International Drive and construct a “monorail-like transport system” to shuttle guests around the entire resort. Rumors suggest Universal has made an offer to Colony Capital, LLC, but nothing has been finalized yet.
So in the event the deal is accepted and Universal acquires the land, what would they build? A third Universal Orlando theme park is in the realm of possibility, as well as another “branch” of CityWalk with shops, restaurants and clubs. Perhaps even the oft-rumored Wizarding World of Harry Potter themed hotel could find a place in this new parcel of land.
There’s a persistent rumor that Universal Orlando’s present vision of a third park would include video game properties such as Metal Gear Solid, Golden Axe, Warcraft, Pac-Man, Minecraft, Mega Man, Sonic and Nintendo’s assortment of characters. Video games have become “mainstream,” to borrow the parlance of the Internet, and an entire park dedicated to iconic gaming characters would garner a considerable amount of public interest.
With Skull Island, Saphire Falls Resort, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, Volcano Bay, and Fast & Furious on the horizon, Universal is in dire need of land to keep its momentum. I suspect there will be more developing on this story soon.
• Fowl Owlerson has been attending theme parks since he was a little owlet. When he’s not filtering through the latest murmurings around the industry, he can be found writing, reading, and snacking on the occasional rodent. Follow him on Twitter @fowlowlerson for the latest rumors, and drop an anonymous letter to him at [email protected] or via Direct Message on Twitter.
By Fowl Owlerson
Disclaimer: Unless where otherwise noted, the following is rumor and speculation, and should not be regarded as fact.
It’s that time of the year once again: Haunt Season is upon us. Universal Orlando recently unveiled what we all suspected,
Based on Universal’s announcement, this is what we officially know:
• Jack the Clown will be the host of the event.
• There will be nine haunted houses and five scarezones.
• In addition to the five scare zones, there will be roaming hordes filling in the gaps.
• The event will take place over the course of 30 nights.
More announcements are forthcoming, but you don’t need to wait to hear about the rumors that have been making the rounds. Join me as we delve into what Universal Orlando is rumored to have planned for this special 25th anniversary year of Halloween Horror Nights.
Rumored Haunted Houses
• 25th Anniversary House (Soundstage 25)
• “Blizzard” original concept house (Soundstage 24)
• Freddy vs. Jason (Soundstage 24)
• An American Werewolf in London (Soundstage 22)
• Run 3 (Disaster! Extended Queue)
• Alice in Wonderland 3D (Sprung Tent 1)
• Insidious (Sprung Tent 2)
• The Walking Dead (Parade Building)
• Scream (Shrek 4-D Theater)
Rumored Scare Zones
• Icons of Halloween Horror Nights Past (Hollywood Boulevard)
• Scary Tales meets a Steampunk setting (Plaza of the Stars)
• Psychoscareapy Fall Holiday Festival (New York)
• All Nite Drive-In (San Francisco)
• Trick-or-Treater Halloween (Central Park)
Rumored Shows
• Jack’s Carnival of Carnage Horror Nights 25th Anniversary Show
• Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure
Haunted House Speculation and Rumors
Intellectual properties are back. General park guests love them, passionate fans write polemics about them, and I don’t care as long they make for fun mazes. Never fear (or do)! If the rumored list is true, we’ve still a nice blend of original mazes that hearken back to original, classic Halloween Horror Nights mazes.
The Walking Dead is a staple to the event for the time being and should return, much to the chagrin of the diehard fans. Hold on to your rants, ardent Horror Nights fans, because The Walking Dead will most likely return to its 2013 location in the Parade Building, where it was best suited in this owl’s opinion. Like last year, there probably won’t be a scare zone to compliment the maze. As a bonus, I wouldn’t be surprised if Art & Design opted to again place actors outside the house and make the “entrance” of it extend into the queue.
Next up is a property that’s brand new to event. How many of you have wanted to see a house based on Wes Craven’s infamous deconstruction on the slasher genre: “Scream”? Rumors have persisted about this license for a while, and it looks like 2015 will finally deliver, although the caveat being that it’ll be based on the new MTV Television series and feature the new mask for “Ghostface”.
The rumored location for Scream is said be in one of Shrek 4-D’s theaters. This might sound strange upon first glance. Only so many soundstages can be allotted to Art & Design and this year will require one additional location. Rumors originally pointed to there being another Sprung Tent structure built, but it would seem this plan fell through, assuming it was ever in consideration.
An American Werewolf in London received much praise when it debuted in Orlando in 2013 and for good reason. As a wee owlet, I’d watch the indelible transformation sequence, rewind the VHS, and watch it again. I’d do this over and over, trying to grasp how they were able to capture that phenomenal effect on film. The Orlando maze encapsulated the film, which will always hold a special place in my little owl heart.
The Hollywood version of the maze in 2014 was also adulated, and it looks like An American Werewolf in London is returning for another go at Orlando. No word if it’ll be a scene-by-scene remake of the 2013 or an entirely new take, but I suspect some of Hollywood’s scenes in 2014, such as the fantastic subway train scare will make the cut in Orlando’s 2015 maze.
Freddy vs. Jason is something I’ve heard rumors of before and with the previous rapport established with New Line Cinema in 2007, and the success of Alien vs. Predator in 2014, this acquisition just makes sense. We’ll visit the dream world and Camp Crystal Lake, and end up caught between the two horror icons.
“Blizzard” is rumored to be one of Art & Design’s original mazes this year. Rumors describe it as a mental asylum like Shady Brook caught in a harsh snowstorm. The inmates will end up the prey of The Collectors from the Body Collectors mazes in 2005 and 2008. I’ve a suspicion that the asylum hallway glimpsed in the debut video of Jack is going to be the aesthetic of this maze: frigid, bleak, and of course, haunted.
Over in one of the sprung tents, Insidious is rumored to have finally found its way over on the East Coast. Given the timing of Insidious: Chapter 3’s June 5 release, the consensus seems to be that it’ll be the one of the first mazes announced for Halloween Horror Nights.
Rumored in the other sprung tent is a 3D maze based on the original Alice in Wonderland novel. This would be a psychedelic romp with a mixture of recognizable characters and scenes reimagined by Art & Design. Given that this is a special anniversary year, it seems many suspect the house will be titled “Asylum in Wonderland 3D” and take cues from the 2008 scarezone of the same name.
Many clamored for Art & Design to do a sequel to 2001’s RUN, and they got it for better or worse in 2006 with RUN: Hostile Territory. A proper successor is rumored in the Disaster extended queue. I heard it’s been labeled “RUN 3” and it’s rumored that it’ll be modeled as a carnival attraction that will force guests to maneuver through barbed wire fences, dodge chainsaws and hope they pick the “right” path to survive.
The final rumored maze is the special 25th anniversary haunted house that’ll essentially be a sequel to The Hallow’d Past in 2010. This is rumored be the “mega” maze this year, much like The Walking Dead was in 2014. The theory making the rounds is this will be a new House of Horrors for Jack’s carnival constructed out of the remnants of the Halloween Horror Nights warehouse previously seen in 2010.
Scare Zone Speculation and Rumors
In the Plaza of the Stars (the alley between Shrek 4-D and Despicable Me) Art & Design is rumored to be reimagining their Scary Tales characters in the popular-according-to-the-Internet-sub-genre-of-science-fiction STEAMPUNK. This would be the ideal place for stilt-walkers. Hurray for stilts!
Over in San Francisco, it’s a battle between black-and-white and color horror monsters with a zone called All Nite Drive-In. Think of it as an amalgamation of 2009’s Horrorwood Die-In, 2003 and 2006’s All Nite Drive-In, and 2012’s Universal’s House of Horrors.
Hollywood Boulevard will incorporate all the icons of Halloween Horror Nights past. My theory? It’ll tie into the special anniversary mega haunted maze. Perhaps we’ll revisit the warehouse scare zone in the same location in 2010 albeit with a big change? Rumors describe it as a mixture of the scare zones 7 (2011) and Face Off: In the Flesh (2014).
Central Park will boast the now indelible Jack-O-Lanterns used in previous years with scare actors of a slight stature dressed as trick-or-treaters. Think of it as a traditional take on contemporary Halloween imagery complemented with fog and hauntingly melodic music.
New York, conversely, will boast a fall holiday festival invaded by psychotic inmates from Shady Brook. If you had the privilege of walking through the wonderful Psychoscareapy: Home for the Holidays (2007), you can imagine how this scarezone will probably turn out for the unfortunate carnies.
Finally, there will be roaming hordes filling in the gaps wherever they might be. From what I’ve heard, they’ll be carnies under Jack’s thumb. Expect the Rat Lady, Chainsaw Drill Team and a few surprises.
Further Rumor and Speculation for HHN 25
The aesthetic of the theming shown on the Halloween Horror Nights official website coupled with Jack’s new attire suggests this will be a more refined version of The Carnival of Carnage theme employed in 2007. Hopefully, they’ll be more than just a handful of carnies roaming the streets.
Jack appears weathered and older in the official press pictures unveiled. Originally, I interpreted these photos as him decomposing despite his “immortal” state, but the supposed lore of Halloween Horror Nights states that Jack was “revived” as a mortal again in 2006 thanks to The Arrival show. In 2007, he located Doctor Oddfellow, the man who killed him and concealed his corpse inside a giant jack-in-the-box, and finally enacted his revenge. He pilfered Oddfellow’s jacket and took his traveling carnival on the road to recruit more attractions. We can assume that he’s continued running this carnival and it’s since grown.
I’m a nerd about the mythos and lore of things, but it’s important not to take this stuff too seriously, as Art & Design has been known to bend their rules for the sake of creative liberties that ultimately better serve the event. It’s nevertheless a curious take on the character.
Jack appearing older, far more menacing and fully decked out in ringmaster garbs is a decidedly different design compared to his past incarnations. The dark red leather connotes a more matured wardrobe, which given my older age, and many years following Halloween Horror Nights, appeals to me. How old am I? Owl lifespans are different. Also, it’s none of your business!
So Jack’s older now and may still run the Carnival of Carnage. Astute readers might have noticed that the official Halloween Horror Nights page boasts a brand new logo made just for this year’s event. While it may sound pointless to draw attention to this detail, I can assure you it’s noteworthy. Universal’s marketing package for Halloween Horror Nights 22, 23 and 24 was, frankly, lackluster and bereft of creativity. This is a positive change and indicative of Jack being the first proper icon in since 2011’s Lady Luck. It’s evident that Universal is trying once again to implement a cohesive theme into the event.
All in all, the return of The Carnival of Carnage excites me. The more time that’s passed, the more I’ve come to appreciate 2007’s event despite its faults. Further reflection revealed that 2014 was one of the most lackluster years in Orlando’s history. This isn’t to say I didn’t derive any enjoyment from it, but I’m strapped to recall more than a handful of noteworthy things from the 2012–2014 era of Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. The rumors I’ve heard thus far indicate that the event is morphing once again. We can only hope it’s for the better.
Here’s a look at the opening ceremony for the 2007 Carnival of Carnage Halloween Horror Nights:
• Fowl Owlerson, or “Fowly” as he’s affectionately known, has been attending theme parks since he was a little owlet. When he’s not filtering through the latest murmurings around the industry, he can be found writing, reading and snacking on the occasional rodent. Follow him on Twitter @fowlowlerson for the latest rumors and drop an anonymous letter to him at [email protected] or via Direct Message on Twitter.
By Fowl Owlerson
Recently, Nintendo and Universal announced a partnership, which I’ve provided for reference below:
“Nintendo and Universal Parks & Resorts today announced plans to bring the world of Nintendo to life at Universal theme parks – creating spectacular, dedicated experiences based on Nintendo’s wildly popular games, characters and worlds.
The agreement brings two icons of entertainment together and represents a significant partnership for Nintendo as it expands the reach and popularity of its characters and intellectual property.
Universal theme parks offer incredibly popular, innovative themed family entertainment experiences based on compelling stories and characters – using powerful storytelling and innovative technology. Nintendo has created remarkable and imaginative worlds filled with captivating stories and beloved characters. Now, for the first time, those stories and characters will be brought to life in entirely new ways – only at Universal theme parks.
The immersive experiences will include major attractions at Universal’s theme parks and will feature Nintendo’s most famous characters and games. More details will be announced in the future, as the Nintendo and Universal creative teams work to create specific concepts.”
The timing of this announcement intrigues me. The wording of it suggests Universal and Nintendo are still in the brainstorming phase, fleshing out potential concepts.
I suspect this was prematurely announced to circumvent any leaks, as well as appease Nintendo’s shareholders. The company is in a transitional time and needs to pivot due to lackluster sales of the Wii U gaming console.
The company faced a major pitfall with the GameCube console and then recovered gracefully with the Wii console, which introduced an entirely new audience to video games. No longer just a niche hobby, games are moving toward becoming a viable medium to impart stories in an interactive way. They’re not unlike theme park attractions in that they require a unique form of architecture to impart a story and participation from guests to be properly enjoyed.
Another intriguing aspect of the press release is the phrasing, “… — only at Universal theme parks.” This leads me to believe the contract signed stipulates the properties are exclusive to Universal’s parks and resorts.
Nintendo is famous for being extremely vigilant with its properties, often being stringent on who it allows to license its characters from merchandise to other mediums to everything in between.
A translated interview with President of Nintendo Satoru Iwata informed us that Universal designed a Nintendo land prior to approaching them about the partnership.
Seuss Landing was said to have played a major role in securing The Wizarding World of Harry Potter license, and the latter surely helped Universal convince Nintendo that their creative team could properly handle their characters in an engaging and respectful manner.
After this announcement made a thunderous impact all over the web, a cacophony of rumors emerged. Join me as we distill all of these rumors in one convenient place, offer speculation and discuss their viability.
Rumor: Marvel Super Hero Island will be retrofitted with Nintendo properties.
I’ve seen fans and publications alike report that Marvel and Universal Orlando’s contract is set to expire in 2016. This is incorrect. Universal’s contract for use of the Marvel characters in Orlando will continue in perpetuity for as long as Universal wishes. It ending would require Universal’s assent.
Tokyo’s license is said to eventually expire at an undisclosed date whereas Universal Hollywood opted not to renew the license with Marvel in 2007. This is why Disney can use Marvel characters in Disneyland, but none of the characters Universal employs are permitted in Walt Disney World.
It’s important to remember that Universal Orlando can continue utilizing Marvel’s properties for as long a they wish. “Will they?” is the question. Universal recently freshened up their Marvel character meet and greet outfits and spruced up The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man attraction. We heard tell this was in part due to Disney’s lawyers scrutinizing the Marvel contracts and representatives visiting Islands of Adventure to ensure the properties were being “properly” presented.
While it may sound surprising, Disney’s purchase of Marvel for the large sum of four billion dollars was rumored to cause Universal’s higher-ups to discuss contingencies in the event that the license had to be relinquished. Do keep in mind that the licensing of Marvel’s characters was originally due to Universal losing the rights to license Batman, Looney Tunes and several other properties from Time Warner to Six Flags. Islands of Adventure in its opening incarnation was the result of Universal surveying properties and “throwing” together a plan based on what they could acquire. Working in the entertainment industry requires one to adapt and Universal has had to do so in the past.
Is it necessary for Universal to once again pivot? The problem is the antiquity of Marvel Super Hero Island. It’s clearly a relic from a different era in Marvel’s history. As Marvel’s universe and characters continue to evolve, Universal’s Super Hero Island remains static.
So the rumors that Nintendo’s properties will serve as a replacement for Marvel’s characters aren’t unfounded. Dr. Doom’s Fearfall could be retrofitted with Bowser, The Hulk could be painted brown and replaced with Donkey Kong, Spider-Man could be gutted and replaced with the Mario Bros, Marvel’s comic shop could be replaced with a Nintendo merchandise and game store.
The entire land being rebranded is in the realm of possibility. This would first require Universal to sell the rights back to Disney, and ballpark estimates would put such a sale in the millions.
In the interim, Marvel has taken to pivoting its cinematic and comic universes. Disney Imagineering can’t use Captain America, Spider-Man or Iron Man, but it can employ Captain Marvel and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Rumor: Universal’s New Water Park will feature Nintendo characters.
Based on what I’ve been told by sources and have found on other outlets, Volcano Bay will not incorporate any intellectual properties, but instead be its own entity. If anything, it may incorporate some of its characters such as the Minions from Despicable Me, but in the same vein Disney Imagineering incorporated characters such as Goofy, Mickey and Donald in its water parks.
Rumor: Toon Lagoon will be demolished and replaced with a Nintendo themed land.
Toon Lagoon was the result of Universal improvising and licensing whatever it could manage based on its rapport with other companies and budget. While it’s an area of the park I hold dear due to many afternoons spent watching The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and reading the comics section of the local paper as an owlet, it’s a relic from another time. This is dispiriting, but as I said, the entertainment biz requires one to be malleable.
Universal at one time was said to have considered replacing Toon Lagoon with a rendition of The Shire from Tolkien’s Middle Earth lore. These rumors have since faded, but the notion of Toon Lagoon being replaced still lingers. Between Marvel Super Hero Island and Toon Lagoon, I see the latter being less appealing to the general public.
Would the land be aquatic in nature? It’s not a caveat to a potential replacement, as Universal has shown it’s not afraid to spend the extra time, effort and money to completely overhaul a space.
Rumor: Kid Zone’s much rumored demolishment and reconstruction will include Nintendo properties.
Based on the rumors that have made the rounds, SpongeBob is still set to invade Kid Zone with a new major attraction and water play area.
From what I’ve had sources disclose, E.T. Adventure and Curious George Goes to Town will remain at Universal for the time being. E.T. is said to be incorporated into the rumored Universal 25th Anniversary Museum and Curious George will remain as it presently stands, although it could be the future site of an expansion.
This means Fievel’s Playland, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster and A Day in the Park With Barney would be the new hypothetical space of this overhaul.
What if SpongeBob won’t be the only property included in this much needed rebranding of Kid Zone? What if this partnership results in a Nintendo store, character meet and greets, and perhaps an intricately themed game zone for kids?
I’m skeptical of this angle. Given the propitious nature of this license, Universal could push further and build an intricately themed land on par with Seuss Landing and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Islands of Adventure seems like the best fit, but a Nintendo space in Kid Zone is still possible.
Rumor: The Lost Continent will be demolished for a Nintendo themed attraction.
Unlikely. As far as I’ve heard, The Lost Continent will be the future site of a potential third and even fourth phase expansion for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
We’ve previously heard rumors about The Ministry of Magic and a more intricate spell experience being implemented.
I’ve received several tips that should “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” fare well and spawn a new series of films set in the Wizarding World, Universal will implement experiences from it inside a new section of the park that will require The Lost Continent be demolished.
Rumor: Wet ’n Wild will be rebranded with Universal and Nintendo’s properties.
Based on the information I received from a source, Wet ’n Wild won’t continue to be in operation past 2017. Things could change, as they have a propensity to do. Maybe Universal will rebrand Wet ’n Wild with properties in its wheelhouse and/or licensed work, opting to keep Volcano Bay a contemporary, tropical park that stands on its own?
Alternatively, Universal could opt to do something else with the estate, from new offices to a new park to selling the land for a nice sum. The future of the space Wet ’n Wild inhabits is up in the air.
Rumor: CityWalk will get a new establishment related to Nintendo.
One of the first ideas that sprang to mind after this was announced was an intricately themed bar, restaurant and arcade featuring Nintendo games and characters.
Think a mix of Player One on the scale of something like Rising Star, but with a broader appeal for families. It’d be a standout establishment at CityWalk and I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one elated to see it happen.
As far as location goes, Drew of “Orlando United” posited that NBA City near Islands of Adventure could be the ideal spot for such an establishment. Given the space available to Universal in CityWalk, I’m in agreement with him.
Rumor: Universal will build a brand new Super Nintendo Store and Game Center
I view this as a given. Universal would be foolish not to capitalize on the merchandising opportunities. Not only could they offer exclusive Nintendo merchandise, but they could also host events.
Imagine game launches and special events at this super store. For titles like Pokémon, guests could bring in their handhelds and get exclusive items and monsters.
This might surprise you, but many people of various age groups bring their handhelds to the park. I’ve personally found myself connecting with a seemingly endless number of players via Nintendo’s Street Pass system on the DS.
(Before you ask, yes, I can use a DS. It does have some issues given the feathers, but perhaps Nintendo will fix this in the new new 3DS?)
Rumor: Universal Japan and Hollywood will also be getting Nintendo attractions.
While this wasn’t explicitly stated in the press release, I’d be nonplussed if it didn’t happen. Frankly, a Nintendo themed land seems most likely in Japan. Hollywood, on the other hand, will likely have to settle for one attraction with a gift shop and perhaps a themed restaurant due to the space available.
A reader by the name of Ben at Theme Park Updates on Twitter recently revealed to us that Hollywood’s Soundstages 23, 24, and 25 are the likely future sites of expansion for Diagon Alley and possibly a Nintendo themed area. Indeed, this same rumor has since made the rounds around the web.
It would seem that any future expansion would require the park to cannabilize its soundstages. I can’t think of many alternatives that would be spacious enough for Universal Hollywood’s creative team, as Blues Brothers and Shrek 4-D are the only two that spring to mind.
I expect each Universal park to have its own unique touch on Nintendo’s work based on each resort’s constraints. This is not unlike Disney’s rumored plans for its future Star Wars expansions across multiple resorts.
No matter the direction, this acquisition is brilliant. Nintendo’s vast catalog gives Universal the freedom to explore a panoply of different worlds.
Imagine an interactive puzzle experience based on The Legend of Zelda series. Picture a haunted maze ghost hunting experience based on Luigi’s Mansion. Dream of a mine cart thrill ride based on Donkey Kong and his friends. Imagine soaring through the galaxy with Mario or picture taking in an interactive Pokémon experience. Imagine going on an aquatic adventure with Yoshi.
The brilliance of Nintendo is its versatility and ability to leap across generations and appeal to a new audience. Everyone knows of Mario, he’s iconic. The interactive and often portable experience of Nintendo’s properties allows Universal to offer a potentially more immersive experience for guests.
Even though we’ve a while until anything comes to fruition from this partnership, speculating and imagining all of the possibilities excites me. Features like Skipper Ben’s Top 10 Nintendo Attraction Ideas in Attractions Magazine’s Summer issue reinforce the notion that this partnership is a trove of potentially fantastic concepts.
What would you like to see? The sky is the limit right now.
• Fowl Owlerson, or “Fowly” as he’s affectionately known, has been attending theme parks since he was a spry owlet. When he’s not filtering through the latest murmurings around the industry, he can be found writing, reading and snacking on the occasional rodent. Follow him on Twitter @fowlowlerson for the latest rumors or drop an anonymous letter to him at [email protected] or via Direct Message on Twitter.