Universal Orlando Resort Purchases Wet 'n Wild Land
This great news broke yesterday evening on Parkscope, and the word has now spread all over the internet. The Universal Orlando Resort has some very important plans in store, and that is nothing new. Since Comcast acquired the Universal Orlando Resort, new rides, attractions, and shows have started popping up all over the place. But now, things are getting even more serious; so serious that should make Disney extremely concerned.
According to the latest Orlando Sentinel article on this subject ("Universal Orlando buys Wet 'n Wild land"), Universal Orlando just "purchased more than 50 acres of land under and around the Wet 'n Wild water park... Universal paid just under $31 million for the property, as implied by its documentary stamp tax payments.
So, what is Universal planning for this parcel of land? Some hint to a new third theme park, others say that is could house a new water park (which would meant that Wet 'n Wild Orlando would close for good), while others think that Universal will just refurbish the exisitng water park and build new hotels in that area. That is also what the Orlando Sentinel is thinking, as they report that Steve Burke (the chief executive officer of NBCUniversal) last fall stated the following: "We have 2,400 hotel rooms today; we probably should have 10,000... Hotel rooms are strategically important because if people stay in your hotels, they spend an extra day in your theme park."
So, what do you think? What are you expecting from Universal? Is it time for a new theme park, or should they continue to first focus on the two existing theme parks? In any situation, we can't deny that these are exciting times for Universal Orlando, especially since rumors say that even MORE land will be acquired by the company.
Excerpts quoted and italicized are from the aforementioned Orlando Sentinel's article. All rights reserved.
I think it will be great for Universal Orlando in creation of a new water park if that is the case. I doubt we see a third gate in that location as it is too small to fit a nice sized theme park. Maybe a hotel, water park, and a parking garage. But we'll see what happens as anything is possible. And don't forget to go to OrlandoUnited.com to read about a big announcement!
ReplyDeleteI love to see news like this and expansion. A new Water Park would be great. Wet N Wild has typically been the same for over 20 years.
ReplyDeleteIs the wet and wild site not far from the Universal resort site? Ie walking distance
ReplyDeleteThere isn't a snowball's chance in summertime Florida, that this is a third gate. Disney's Hollywood Studios (the smallest of the Walt Disney World parks) is 135 acres in size. It's just not feasible.
ReplyDeleteA new water park (or an expansion of Wet n' Wild) is far more practical.
Wet and Wild desperately needs help... Themeing, more rides, less concrete jungle. And Universal needs a water park. Sounds like a good fit.
ReplyDelete@Savo: Yes it is close, but it's not connected. Wet n Wild is on the south/east side of International Drive, and it's across I-4. If you look at it on Google Maps you'll see how small it really is. The existing Universal parking garage is almost twice as large as Wet n Wild, so I wouldn't expect much or anything from this land purchase alone, unless all they do is refurb the water park. Instead I would expect further land purchases so they can interconnect. They will have to build a bridge over I-4.
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