Although it hasn't been announced yet officially we know that Universal Orlando has the project to expand the Harry Potter land at Universal Orlando park, and not Islands of Adventure where the "part one" of the land has been built. We also know how damaging it has been for WDW and apparently Disney consider that because of the Harry Potter land guests are staying one day less at WDW.
Obviously the part two of the Potter land, if it's build at UNI instead than IOA, is going to be a nightmare for WDW executives as it'll mean that UNI guests coming for Harry Potter will probably stay two days instead of one, as they'll need a two parks tickets - and it will be hard for them to see the whole two parks in one day. Until now the only good news for WDW was not only the opening of the new Fantasyland later this year but also that their Potter part two won't open before 2014 or 2015.
But apparently Universal was not decided to wait 2 or 3 more years to have their guests staying longer in the parks and they announced a new nighttime show at Universal Orlando lagoon, called "Cinematic Spectacular". And guess what? It's a fountain show with projections on waterfall screens, and yes, it's the counter-attack of Universal to Disney's World of Color! Universal know that Disney have no plans to bring World of Color at WDW in a near future and apparently they decided to build their own "World of color" based on Universal phenomenal movie library. And the new show - as well as a new parade - will open...this spring!
Here is Universal official statement about this Cinematic Spectacular lagoon show: "Narrated by award-winning actor and recent Golden Globe - Cecil B. DeMille honoree, Morgan Freeman, Universal Orlando’s brand-new nighttime show, Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular, will celebrate the most powerful and emotional moments from Universal Pictures’ most iconic films – all on cutting-edge waterfall screens within the Universal Studios lagoon and surrounded by colorful fountains and pyrotechnics. The experience will take guests on a journey through epic cinematic moments filled with heroes, horror, laughter, good vs. evil and triumph. The new show opens this spring, runs all summer and then on select nights through the end of the year".
And here is the video announcement by Universal.
Now, as if this was not enough, Universal Orlando also announced a new "Superstar Parade which will feature familiar animated characters with all-new floats through the streets of Universal Studios Florida"...
...and a new 3D attraction called "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem", "which will take guests on an unforgettable 3-D adventure with their favorite characters from the hit film – Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes and the mischievous minions. The experience begins when guests enter Gru’s home, where they learn that they’re being recruited to become minions and undergo “minion training.” Things don’t go as planned, and guests find themselves on a wildly hysterical journey with Gru and his daughters. Once guests make it through training, they join an interactive, minion-inspired dance party where they can show off their best moves.here is the video announcement". here is the video announcement...
...AND they also announced a major upgrade of the beloved Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride at Islands of Adventure: "Universal Orlando is transforming what is already one of the most amazing attraction experiences ever created into what will feel like an all-new adventure. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man will soon feature all-new, 4K digital high-definition animation, new high tech 3-D glasses and upgrades to the set, audio and lighting systems. The re-animation of the ride film will include an entirely new level of detail for guests to discover, including a cameo by legendary comic book icon and Spider-Man co-creator, Stan Lee". Here is the video announcement as well as an example of the new animation of one scene of the ride.
All of these are opening this year and obviously Universal intend to be ready for 2012 to face WDW New Fantasyland opening...
With Disneyland Paris 20th Ann Disney Dreams! show in front of Sleeping Beauty castle it will be the second major fountain show to open in 2012. By the way, talking about the DLP show, although i have no doubt that Disney Dreams! will be great there is a good news and a bad one coming with it: the good news is that the Disney Dreams! show is here to stay, even after the 20th anniversary. Now for the bad one: as i told you quite a while ago DLP had the project to build a small lake at the Walt Disney Studios to install the World of Color show. It would have been a night time show, but now that they will have the Disney Dreams fountain show at DLP i think we can say bye-bye to have a World of Color at the WDS as it will be very surprising that they decide to have two fountains show using more or less the same technology in both parks. Not to mention that WOC would have been probably more expensive to build than the upcoming Disney Dreams show...
To come back to Florida we'll see what the next round will be between WDW and UNI - and from who it will come - but it promise to be interesting!
Pictures and videos: copyright Universal Studios
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