Once you take out the pause in construction for Covid, Epic Universe was built quicker than that - it probably took five years all in.
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[News] Universal Theme Park - UK
- Thread starter jcdenton08
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BrightonCottager
Well-known member
As far as I know, the well-known Brighton Mears family aren't now running Universal, are they?Relevance…?
- Oct 17, 2008
- 16,949
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- #43
This video shows it quite well from when the plans were submitted 11 months ago, including footage from the field which will be used as the park.
In case you CBA to watch, Universal Studios would fit comfortably within the allotted space. The car park will house approximately 4,200 cars (compared to Hollywood’s 10-11,000 and Florida’s 20,000) - however ours will be serviced by mainline train, whereas neither of the US sites have mass transit of note.
Worth noting too that the site’s initial acreage is 476 acres (this appears to include things like the new railway station on the plans) but with plans to expand up to 700 acres.
- Oct 17, 2008
- 16,949
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- #44
Those legends of the industry
- Oct 17, 2008
- 16,949
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- #45
Ah but this is Britain…
dolphins
Well-known member
This is superb news - been watching this development and was hoping it would happen, so the announcement at midnight (I think it was - presumably embargoed) is fab.
Slight point of order: it's not (despite what the reports are saying) the first Universal park in Europe as PortAventura in Salou, Spain (which is great) was a Universal park for a while. Universal Mediterranea. Anyway, I digress.
It's going to be nice being able to get on a train at Preston Park (etc) that will whisk us to the park.
Having visited the Singapore Universal park in February, I suspect it will be similar to that in size and scope, and indeed there are similarities with the artist render that has been released. I've got a higher res version of that which I can post here? Didn't spot it when I started typing this...
Slight point of order: it's not (despite what the reports are saying) the first Universal park in Europe as PortAventura in Salou, Spain (which is great) was a Universal park for a while. Universal Mediterranea. Anyway, I digress.
It's going to be nice being able to get on a train at Preston Park (etc) that will whisk us to the park.
Having visited the Singapore Universal park in February, I suspect it will be similar to that in size and scope, and indeed there are similarities with the artist render that has been released. I've got a higher res version of that which I can post here? Didn't spot it when I started typing this...
dolphins
Well-known member
Great video - puts the size into perspective and removes any doubts over it. Love the overlays of different parks to show how the scale of this new one easily matches and in some cases surpasses existing parks. In any event, if done well, a park's size isn't the be all and end all... USS (Singapore) is their smallest park but well laid out and arguably more manageable for full day visits.
Attached is the artist render of what USGB might be like. Looks like Waterworld (as seen at Universal Hollywood, Singapore, Beijing and Japan) is there - despite the film not being a much loved classic, the attraction is a fun stunt show on a reasonable scale.
Attachments
There's no doubt that the Universal parks in the States are immense (I've been to both Florida and California) BUT I think that is unfair. With Universal, the queues are far, far worse than you'll ever see at our parks (and they are bad enough) UNLESS you literally drop hundreds of pounds on their queue beating passes.
In Florida, we paid for their fast track passes because we were on holiday, but it did leave a bitter taste in the mouth. It didn't make me feel good having a 15 minute wait rather than a 2 hour wait for rides. Money talks in the States more than anywhere else.
- Oct 17, 2008
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- #50
The Waterworld show is awesome. The plane effect was stunning. Really miss T2:3D though, but I appreciate it was time to go.
jackalbion
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- Aug 30, 2011
- 5,886
Wixham station, was already going in for a housing development, they made ground a couple of months ago.
Home and Away
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2018
- 700
Great video thanks. Does look massive.
Gabbiano
Well-known member
Let's hope it doesn't go the same way as the London Resort by Bluewater.
Bedford is actually quite a sensible location for this, access to London, the Midlands and airports, as well as the new East West Rail link.
Bedford is actually quite a sensible location for this, access to London, the Midlands and airports, as well as the new East West Rail link.
That's not strictly always true. I've never bought an express pass but rarely queue more than 20 mins for anything. Getting to the parks early helps (using early entry at IOA), knowing where to go and in what order and using the odd single rider line. Granted in the busiest periods its harder. I have bought an express pass for Epic because I only have one day there, it's going to be heaving and with the current situation in the States, God knows when I'll be back. I do, however, buy Lightning Lanes when in Disney.
Nobby Cybergoat
Well-known member
- Jul 19, 2021
- 9,790
Never been there. So, is this a bit like Paradise Park then? Not sure what the fuss is about?
- Oct 17, 2008
- 16,949
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- #56
I do know what you mean, but fast passes have been common (and entirely necessary if visiting during school holidays or on weekends) for years at Thorpe Park, Chessington and Alton Towers. Last time I went to Alton Towers, some years ago, Smiler was 2 hours, Wicker Man 3 hours…
Two other things I’ve noticed with Universal vs Tussauds, fewer closures and for shorter periods (better/more maintenance plus better weather), and critically for me, Universal/Disney parks are far, far cleaner and better maintained generally.
I went to Thorpe Park a few years ago and was appalled. Graffiti, overflowing bins, rubbish on the floor, and about four key rides were down all day.
I know this is going to sound snobby, but Disney and Universal prices most of the undesirables out of going. Never at one of their parks did I see the things I saw at Six Flags, Seaworld (ugh) or Busch Gardens.
Gangs of unruly teens, leaning over railings and spitting on queuers below, brazen queue jumping and even fighting. At Universal they’d have been kicked out in a flash, and it wasn’t one or two people either.
I bow to your greater knowledge, but my post is based purely on my own experience.
Back in the day, we went to all of them in this country regularly (had a Merlin pass for 3 successive years) as well as Florida - and in the summer I can categorically say that while the queues at our parks were pretty big, the queues at Universal and Disney were absolutely shocking - far worse than I ever saw in the summer at Thorpe Park or Alton Towers. We bought express passes for Universal but not for every day, and it made for a totally different and much improved experience. But from memory, I recall we were paying something like 500 bucks for our family of 5 to do that, on top of entry! It was an awful lot of money.
Interesting that you say the fast passes are necessary because that ought not to be the case. 15 years ago, Disney's fast track scheme was excellent - you could fast track 2 or 3 key rides for free by booking a time slot, and that was it. I suspect that has changed now, as there is obviously money to be made by selling fast track passes.
And I can't agree about Disney/Universal pricing out undesirables - I've seen all sorts in those parks, but obviously there are a lot of people who live life on tick in the States. And I've only spent 2 weeks in Florida parks, and saw TWO fights. We don't have a monopoly on shit unsociable behaviour, I can tell you. Where I agree with you is the cleanliness - the American parks are FAR cleaner than ours.
If Universal are American then they can do one, i’m boycotting anything American….
Prime minister confirms new UK Universal theme park in Bedford
The company says the new site is expected to create 28,000 jobs and generate £50bn for the economy.www.bbc.co.uk
Utterly fantastic news, and well done to all involved to push this through. With some 28,000 jobs being created, and a massive influx of that sweet, sweet tourism money, this can only possibly be viewed as a good thing. Even locals support it, according to the article, with 92% of 6,000 polled supporting the venture.
This is a guaranteed success and will make bank for everybody, which in this financial climate is an extremely good thing.
On a purely selfish note, I am very excited having loved both Universal California and Florida, and having no desire to return to the States.
2031 does seem to be to be incredibly optimistic for an opening date though - the landscaping alone will take years.
Strongly suspect it will be opened in stages, as each area is developed and themed and attractions are slowly added. They will be very mindful of what happened with EuroDisney, which nearly sunk that whole division, and lessons have no doubt learned.
I have a strong feeling we will get Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter World, and maybe one UK exclusive attraction to try and tempt Americans over.
Why can’t we have a Didley Squat World theme park?
- Oct 17, 2008
- 16,949
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- #60
As you say above, can only speak anecdotally on our own experiences. I don’t think the cleanliness thing is really a debate, so glad you agree on that. The absolute state of our parks in terms of maintenance and stuff.
Re; Disney/Universal - yes, they used to be superb with (free) fast passes. You’d take a paper ticket from the machine, then return back at your allotted time and queue no more than 10 minutes usually.
That’s all gone now replaced by Genie+ which is of course monetised and all done on the smart phone. Universal have their own equivalent. I’ve not actually been since it was implemented by balked at the prices