Universal Orlando Already Planning Their Next Resort Hotel?

Looks like Universal Orlando Resort isn't resting on it's laurels after the opening of their newest hotel, Cabana Bay. According to plans unearthed by the folks over at Parkscope, this new property will be going between the new resort and Royal Pacific.

The plans call for 1,000 new rooms, suites and meeting/convention space to go along with it in the new addition. Seems like a lot for just an add on, but weirder things have happened, right?

Now, the question of whether or not this is definitely linked to the Royal Pacific has come into question as well. The biggest clue that it is, is found in the documents labeled as "Royal Pacific First Addition", which is a pretty good sign it is. By the looks of it, it does also seem to follow a similar layout for the buildings and it will have water access for the ferryboats over to City Walk too. Additionally, guests will be able to walk across the new walkway that's being built for the Cabana Bay Beach Resort as well and the existing convention center will also be connected via a skybridge to the current one at Royal Pacific.

Awesome overlay done by Screamscape

The idea that this could be a "sister hotel" to Royal Pacific has also been put out there too. This is mostly from the fact that it appears the new property doesn't have included Express Pass options. If that is the case, this could definitely be something new or related to the Royal Pacific in some way as well.

It also could fit into a slightly cheaper option for visitors, not entirely sure here. It would make sense as there really aren't any offering something for the more budget concerned.

If that is the case, maybe this could be the long rumored Royal Egyptian Resort that was rumored a while back? I'd be down for something like that to spruce things up, but it could be something entirely different here as well. I'd hate to see them just extend it as a "Royal Pacific Light" as it were, so much wasted potential if that happened. Let's hope they don't go down that road though.

When the construction is to start or the new property is to open is anyone's guess right now. Either way, this looks like it's going to be a little while before we know all the details on this, but this is going to be happening most likely. Is it part of the 10,000 hotel rooms they mentioned earlier? Seems like it.

Stay tuned for more updates as we find out more on this and other new projects at Universal Orlando!

Universal Orlando is just Speeding Up and Building a Waterpark?

 Universal Orlando Resort has confirmed that they have no intention of slowing down their building spree at their Orlando and Hollywood properties. The Orlando resort has every intention of making their parks and resorts direct competition to Disney World, who is just down the highway. With opening the Wizarding World of Harry Potter they've proven they can be a full destination resort, not simply an add on to the family vacation.


 Today the Orlando Sentinel published an article stating that the Universal Studios Brand will be spending $500 million a year on their theme parks and that this will be a baseline amount. Already this year they've opened Despicable Me the Ride, The Character Parade, A new laser light nighttime show, The Simpsons retail-theme area and Transformers for the 2013 season. We already know that the newest expansion of Wizarding World themed after Diagon Alley will open in 2014, this makes me wonder what other projects will be coming to the parks next year and in the coming years?


That $500 million baseline? That means it can possibly go up with the need to spend more! The same piece has stated that Universal Orlando could have as many as ten thousand hotel rooms, fill them and keep them profitable. This comes on the heels of the resort nearly doubling their hotel rooms in 2014 with the opening of the Cabana Bay Hotel.


 Needless to say Universal Studios Orlando had many problems when they opened in June of 1990. Remember that old joke "Nothing worked"? Well for Universal Orlando it was true, I was there myself as a kid and remember 5 hour lines for one attraction because 3 others simply didn't work right those first years of operation.  Back in those days many suspected that Universal Studios Orlando may close down due to the problems or at the least they could never pose a threat to Walt Disney World. All that began to change with the addition of Islands of Adventure in 1999.

 We haven't seen anything yet and Universal has just confirmed it for us. More is coming and they have no intention of slowing down, they're just now getting to cruising speed. 

Universal Orlando- The Third Gate/Water Park Rumor

Rumor: Universal Orlando to build a Waterpark and a Third Gate Theme Park.

Oh man, here we go again.

Looks like the good folks over at Orlando Theme Park News (OTPN) have managed to scrounge up another rumor surrounding Universal Orlando Resort. Apparently over on WDWMagic someone has been prodding the shit pot in regards to the long rumored third gate and waterpark. 

Copy of the original post, Check out OrlandoParkNews.Com to see it yourself!

Wow. Okay, were do I begin with ripping this to tiny pieces?

Let's begin with the most probable of these rumors, the Waterpark.

Now, it's been rumored for years Universal Orlando Resort has wanted a waterpark. This has been a rumor...  forever. As far as I can remember it's been sitting on the back burner since Universal Studios first began making money which was about the same time they managed to get all of their rides really working and people coming in the gates around 1994/1995.  If your not 'in-the-know' of what this really means, this was the gossip from five years before Islands of Adventure opened.  This all started up because Disney World announced their (then) 3rd waterpark, Blizzard Beach.  

Making the jump, everyone just assumed that Universal would also build a waterpark to keep people on the property the way Disney World does. However, you HAVE to keep in mind this is before CityWalk Orlando was built. This is before the Wet'N'Wild Deal. This is before the Parking Garages. This is 1994/1995!

Image from Google Earth 1995. Bad Paintbrush from Yours Truly.

With some help from Google Earth you can clearly see that when this rumor began, Universal Orlando had PLENTY of room. Which leads into the really BIG DAMN PROBLEM with this rumor about the third gate. They had plenty of room for a waterpark, they had land coming out their ears before the new I-4 interchange and before International Drive, Kirkman Road and Major Blvd/Universal Blvd were built up. Today, that really isn't the case. Universal Orlando has really become a resort destination compared to it's 1995 counterpart.  Islands of Adventure and the first Parking Garage opened in 1999. CityWalk in 2000 and then they starting building hotels!

Today Universal Orlando Resort has one very big, very obvious problem...

Universal Orlando is out of SPACE

Image from Google Earth 2012. Bad Paintbush Skills from Yours Truly.

Seriously, they have NO ROOM to build. Maybe they could shoe-horn a smallish water park in someplace.. somehow? I'll grant you that much. Perhaps they'll attach it to the new Cabana Bay resort? Perhaps they could move Human Resources, Employee parking and stuff in the backlot area but it won't be something massive. This mystery space simply doesn't exist and surely not enough to manage a third gate theme park!

The only way I can see Universal Orlando Resort managing a third gate is, to be honest, one hell of a stretch on the imagination and a public relations nightmare. They'd have to buy up the homes and apartments located on Turkey Lake Road or Vineland Road and move whichever road so that it isn't cutting threw the resort. That would really be the only option, their not going to remove the resort hotels. Their not going to remove the parking garages. They are completely OUT of retention ponds to drain away then fill. Kirkman Road can't be diverted. The state of Florida would rather sink into the ocean then move the I-4 corridor, so that's not an option.

The whole concept of trying to squeeze in a mysterious third gate is a complete logistical nightmare. If they tried to move homes, the uproar would cause national media attention. The public outcry would be a serious buzzkill for UOR's current momentum. Simply, I can't see them buying out and demolishing houses for addition space then re-shaping a road. Unless you can find some mysterious space that only exists in Universal own special space-time dimension...

 On the whole, I don't think we have to worry about this mysterious 3rd gate rumor as ever becoming an issue or a reality.  The Waterpark idea, I'll grant you, could happen but I don't think we're looking at something massive. So relax and don't take much stock in those rumors running wild with the start of the theme park and tourist seasons. While they might be fun to speculate on, rumors are just rumors until the theme parks make an announcement!