Lost Continent... Days (i.e. YEARS) Numbered?
Ever since Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened, fans have been speculating the future of Lost Continent... Potter took over a section of Lost Continent called Merlinwood or something of that nature... Sinbad, Poseidon, and Mythos, along with the bazaar area are all that remains... So, what does the future of Lost Continent look like?
Well, LC may not be long for this world.. By that I mean a few years down the line, so it will be around for the foreseeable future, but once KidZone is completed, it may not last... So, what will replace LC? Some speculation has started as a recent pitch to Comcast/Universal management has leaked...
When you think about what Universal is currently doing, they are focusing on IPs which can deliver food, beverage, and merchandising options... Potter was the start... Potter merchandise, Three Broomsticks, Butterbeer, Pumpkin juice... Next came Transformers with a specialty drink, Energon (though I am not sure Energon has made its way into Orlando yet)... And following that, The Simpsons with Moe's Tavern and the specialty drink FLAMING MOE, Bumblebee Man's Tacos, changing the International Food Court into Simpsons theme food options along with special themed food, Duff Gardens which serves Duff Beer (the beer from The Simpsons) and also Lard Lads Donuts... All themed food and beverage options, along with some new Simpsons merchandise options..
Thinking along this line, what other IPs offer this? There is one which I didn't think of, and it is pretty obvious... When I heard it I thought, "YEA DUH MAKES SENSE"... What is the IP you ask?
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or more precisely, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... Yes a land based off a classic book series written by Roald Dahl, which follows IOA's theme of lands being based off of literature... Ready to hear what was pitched? The pitch contained a multi-attraction pavilion, HUGE as it was described... OK, where it goes:
Obviously we'll visit Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory... In the factory, we'll take a boat ride down the river of chocolate (Chocolate River Ferry), Fizzy Lifting Drink Lab, and the Glass Elevator... The factory will be surrounded by a small British village, no doubt containing shops, food options, a candy store, and I would imagine we will also be able to walk through Charlie's house... But I don't know if that was part of the pitch or not...
The Fizzy Drinking Lab would be a kid friendly ride, and would be similar to Tokyo DisneySea's Jumpin Jellyfish attraction... Google or YouTube it to get an idea what that kiddie ride is like...
The Glass Elevator, I would imagine it could be similar to Tower of Terror.. Ride an elevator through different sections of the factory, and possible breaking through the glass ceiling and flying over the British village (in video of course)... This will be the E-ticket...
And well the Chocolate River Ferry, do I even need to describe what they could do with this family friendly ride? And would be a second E-ticket, but a family friendly E-ticket (Universal is going to be focusing on these style rides) kind of like Pirates of the Caribbean...
Wonka fits the bill... Food, beverage, and merchandise options for an IP which is a classic, is family friendly, and can be a money maker... Makes sense, right?
Remember, this was just a pitch to management... No word on if management loved the idea, if management told Universal Creative to continue to develop the land and rides, or if management shot this idea down... KidZone's remake will happen first, and those IPs are what management/Universal Creative want to nail down before moving onto Lost Continent... So, there is no guarantee Wonka will be the LC replacement... By time LC gets the remake treatment, another IP may take center stage... I think Willie Wonka would be a great addition to IOA...
Your thoughts?
