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.