Dinosaur Death Trap In Flordia

Anticipation of my trip to Universal Studios next December is murder. Know what else will murder you? Dinosaurs. One of the things I'm looking forward to is spending some time in Jurassic Park. By the time we go, the new ride will be open and there's gonna be some cool new stuff to check out.

Last time we were there, while eating lunch at one of the JP restaurants, this kid randomly yelled "WWE SUPERSTARS!" and slammed down his soda. There we were, an entire theme park restaurant staring at this kid like a freak. 

 

The main focus of the area is the Discovery Center and River Adventure. They manage to recreate the look and feel of the original movie really well. The River Adventure is the second version of the Jurassic Park ride that originally opened at the Hollywood Park in 1996. 

The ride was in works before the movie believe it or not. If you look at the images behind John Hammond during the dinner meeting scene in the original movie, you'll see conceptual art from the ride. It's in the 'future attractions' slide. Pretty cool huh? The version in Florida opened in 1999 and is clearly version 2.0 as there's a few differences. 

There's another version in Japan, which is a little different as well. The Singapore ride follows a similar idea, but is a river rapid style ride instead of a boat ride with a flume drop. Recently they upgraded the Hollywood Park ride into a Jurassic World version with new scenes and upgraded effects. It looks great... but I still think I like the original better. It just has a charm, you know?

 

Epic Universe

Universal Orlando announced earlier today (yesterday for you) the upcoming new park at their resort called Universal's Epic Universe. This will be the fourth park at the resort and second park since Comcast bought the company. I'm pretty excited even though it's years away from opening. I've been watching the developments of this on theme park blogs as the land was being purchased and various plans were changed and names were thrown around (it was at one point called Fantastic Worlds). While in their press conference, they gave a light description without going into too many details. That's fine, that's to be expected as they're literally still clearing the ground. This is a huge undertaking and in the end will be something amazing.

This preliminary picture of the park gives a general idea of what to expect. The new park will have it's own Citywalk and resorts. It's practically a brand new Universal Studios on it's own. While details are scarce, the underground rumblings that have been right all along are saying details that just seem amazing. Nintendo is going to be here. While originally going in the original park, then planned to be spread across all the Orlando resort parks, now the plan is to be here as a basic clone of the Japanese land. The same scuttlebutt claims there will be also a Fantastic Beast's land (more Harry Potter), a How to Train your Dragon land (probably will be a DreamWorks area in general), and a Universal Monster's land (you know I'm practically pee'ing myself over that). What makes this so great is, if you'll notice how Diagon Alley is and look at the plans for Super Nintendo Land in Japan (coming here), you'll have a good idea how this park is going to work by the above picture. Basically self contained themed lands that are accessible by a central hub that will be full of Universal Studios style total immersion. Universal Studios original slogan was 'ride the movies', and as they've been doing in the recent years with additions, they mean it. You're literally going to walk into the movies world and that is AWESOME. 

Megatron for Grad Night

Terminator 2 3-D commercial

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man commercial (1999)

Just spent some mental time today reflecting on this great ride.

Golden Lagoon reference in post title

The new night-time  lagoon show at Universal Studios Orlando has started shows recently, and man is it something to see. If you skip ahead to 11:59, you can see the ultra cool Transformers segment that uses scenes from the various movies, but also from the ride. Or you can just watch the whole thing, it's neat.

Evac said I could ride with him any time

Wonder what his gas mileage is?

Ever since the idea hit me that there should be a a Studio Series Evac, I can't not think about how nice it would be. In all honesty, the regular Evac toy is a really nice figure (keep thinking a special stealth edition would be cool). I just can't help but to think a premium edition as a Studio Series would be great. They could realistically spruce up the original figure (if they wouldn't choose to make a new toy). Maybe some new accessories, like the gun he uses in the ride, the Allspark fragment, etc. Give the figure a more premium paint job. Maybe metallic, that'd be sharp. And his included diorama could be the N.E.S.T hangar or better yet, the Universal Studios gate or ride building. Maybe even give him his own number to drive people who like completing series nuts.

The Science of Transformers the Ride 3D

I ran across some cool promotional videos for Universal Studios and was delighted to find this neat little thing. It's an informative video on the Transformers ride that goes a little into how things work as well as the design of Evac. It's pretty cool to see these little things and some great shots of the ride itself.

Halloween Things

Yes I know it's a little early for Halloween Horrorcon to present itself here in Zone Base, but bear with me here. My beloved Universal Studios has announced they will have Stranger Things haunted mazes this year at Halloween Horror Nights. That's seriously awesome. Stranger Things is my current favorite show and after two seasons might join the ranks of my all time favorite shows. I've been on the band wagon of if USO ever was to remove the E.T Adventure, that re-themeing it to be a Stranger Things attraction would be awesome. I and others of my generation may love E.T, but it's obvious that others aren't as interested and as the other parks have removed their E.T rides, the clock in ticking on USO (literally the ride is there because Steven Spielberg wants it there) to pull the trigger one day.

As Stranger Things is steeped in a pseudo Steven Spielberg 80's movie setting full of horror references, I'd imagine the que in the woods and woods part of the ride would fit right on in. It's already kinda scary as it is, and some reworking of the government vehicles into Hawkins Laboratory vehicles wouldn't take too much. Hell, really riding those bikes through the woods and being confronted by the police and agents could almost translate directly into a Stranger Things theme. Just work in some new dialog and random bits and bobs. Perhaps even some voice clips of characters calling for Will and or Eleven. Man, some animatronic Demogorgon encounters in those woods would be great.

The scene where the bikes fly over the city would need to be reworked, which I imagine would be a good place to work in entering the research facility and that portal through space to the Green Planet would be the show stopper where you go inside the Upside Down with more Demogorgons and a showdown with the Mind Flayer before getting whisked away to safety of the real world again.

I can literally hear that great theme music playing in my head as I imagine it. The gift shop could be a mix of Stranger Things merchandise and assorted horror merch. I should stop before I get myself too excited.

Don't look at me like that.

Centaurus Phoenix Megazord

I'm sorely tempted to rock out a bunch of Mystic Force swag the next time I go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Defender of the Universe-al

This is in St Louis, isn't it great?

Here me out, I got another theme park idea. Yes it's for Universal Studios. Don't look at me like that.

Before I talked about the much rumored to go Shrek 4D (talking Orlando) would make a great spot for a Godzilla 4D attraction. Then last night it dawned on me. Dreamworks makes the current Voltron show. Which just happens to be the best damn robot show on TV. Hey... Comcast owns Dreamworks... and Universal... 

So, what if a Voltron 4D attraction was created in that building? Imagine it, the facade and que would be re-themed into the Castle of Lions. Perhaps even with a mighty Voltron statue on top of the sign (similar to the rad Transformers set up just a little down from this area, but I'll get to that in a second). The line could feature props from the control area and have a video briefing from Allura, Coran, and the Paladins. This bit could be funny as Coran is hilarious. Throw in some animatronic Space Mice and you got a cool que and pre show!

I imagine the plot could follow a Galra attack that would feature cool scenes of Zarkon and Hagar with accompanying smoke and light effects in the theater. We could be treated to funny dialog from the Paladins before all hell breaks loose and we get a show stopping Lion Force battle with the Galra Empire. An epic Voltron formation would add to the excitement with the visual effects from the theater combined with 3D video and moving seats. I can see lasers firing inside the theater. That would be amazing. It would all end with Zarkon attacking in his epic mech suit with a show stopping battle with Voltron defeating Zarkon and the Galra and a great feel good ending. 

Guest would then exit into a shop selling all sorts of cool Voltron merchandise. Maybe a cool Universal exclusive version of the Playmates Voltron sets. I could see plush toys of the Space Mice being a hit among even the most casual of guests. As they exit the theater, well heck, there's the Paladins in a meet and greet session. Maybe even Zarkon. 

Seeing as Transformers is just down a bit in the park, there could be a cool sci fi snack cart located in between the two robot attractions. Maybe selling things like neon colored drinks and glow sticks at night. 

I'm going to talk about Universal Studios, take a shot

One of my favorite YouTube Vloggers, Tim Tracker, just posted a new video from USO and he found some new Transformers ride swag I'd like to get my hands on.

These are from the video

These also are from the video

There's two diecast kit cars themed as Bumblebee and Optimus Prime. These are a part of what looks like a new park line of merchandising as there's also a car for Jurassic Park and a slew for Fast and Furious. Actually, Fast and Furious has a neat station where you can build your own. Wonder what else will get those neat cars?

There's also a new candy bar, which is part of the park characters candy bar line. Looks like a regular chocolate bar, so should be enough for even the most picky fan. The wrapper matches a TF lanyard they sell (yes I have it). I don't know when I'll get to go back, but man I hope it's in time to score some of these.

Giving the Islands a new Adventure

It's another Rob imagines Universal Studios stuff post

As my readers know, I love me some Universal Studios Orlando. I'm regularly dreaming up fantasy situations for the park and while I've been having a ball doing it, I feel quite bad that I've ignored Islands of Adventure, the other park on the resort that's really awesome in it's own right. Islands has the awesome Hogsmeade from Harry Potter, a great Jurassic Park area, and that extremely rad new Skull Island. While I certainly love the other areas, the subject of how to reinvigorate them comes up often in various circle and I've put my noggin to use figuring out how to work with some of the other Islands. But, keeping with my sense of economy, I tried to figure out how to do it without sacrificing too much of the great stuff that's already there.

Just picture it

Everyone speculates that the Lost Continent is on the chopping block. Personally, I think the area (what's left of it post Harry Potter) is a really pretty landscape that just could use some sprucing up. With the new Super Nintendo Land coming to Universal Studios, it would be a good use of that license to adapt The Legend of Zelda to the land. Some costume changes here, some decoration changes there. Maybe something extra over there, and it pretty much does itself. Poseidon's Fury could get retrofitted with a new show inside with some of the facade redone to sell the show as a temple or dungeon experience. Mythos just could use a few touches. People complain about the Sinbad show, welp, let's do a new Zelda show in the theater. I honestly think just a little fine tuning, a little re-theming, and a little new bits and bobs and this area could be given a new life that would probably be a hit.

They've already got park history

Folks regularly say Toon Lagoon is also on the chopping block. While I dig the Newspaper comic pages characters, I could see where it could be lost on another person. How about Nickelodeon characters? The water rides could be re-themed to Sponge Bob (he already has a store at Studios!) and I could easily see the stores be re-fronted as newer Nickelodeon characters. Maybe work that boat ride into a multi character ride.

This would be awesome

I think Marvel Island is completely awesome. I'm a big fan of the overall 90's comic vibe and think the Spider-Man ride is amazing. That being said, Disney own's Marvel and it's created a weird situation that many wonder will eventually result in Marvel Island getting removed sooner or later. Going with that trail of thought and working with the fact that Marvel Island already kinda bleeds into Toon Lagoon, what if it became a TMNT/Power Rangers section? TMNT is already owned by Nickolodeon and Power Rangers has been airing on the channel for about 7 years now. That great city facade would lend itself into both quite well. I could see Spider-Man's ride system redone as a new TMNT ride. The Hulk repainted into a Power Rangers coaster (the roar could be the Dragonzord). Doctor Doom and Storm Force is a free fall and tea cups ride respectively that also could be realistically re-themed to the characters.

I know I'm just shooting from the hip as an arm chair quarterback. I have no real knowledge of how these things work past a fans general knowledge. But I see opportunities and things I'd think would be really fun. Not to mention, I kinda really like that park.

Don't look at me like that.

Cybertron Land

These are real pictures of the original Universal Studios Transformers attraction.

I'm admittedly excited for the planned trip to Universal Studios Orlando we're hoping to make come next Christmas. I'm literally bubbling with a form of excitement that can best be described as ... there's no definition. My excitement defies definition. Earlier today I was thinking about a post I made  in which I mentally dreamed up a small expansion to the Transformers ride. Then as I was thinking about it, it occurred to me... why not a mini Transformers land?

These are real pictures of the original Universal Studios Transformers attraction.

In the 80's, in the Hollywood park, they had a neato Transformers meet and greet area with costumed actors and photo ops. What I'm concieving isn't very different. After all, you already have the great costumed actors at the Transformers meet and greet. But how about a few dynamic static scenes similar to the Jurassic Park section at Islands of Adventure with a few more Transformers characters? Pepper that in with the ride, supply vault, the meet and greet and my earlier day dreamed game and snack set up and I think you got a pretty neat little area. Heck, set up another store and sell some more cool stuff even!

These are real pictures of the original Universal Studios Transformers attraction.

Evac is awesome

I happen to think Evac is the coolest idea. Just a great way to experience a ride based on the idea of robots that transform into cars and stuff. How about you ride inside a Transformer? What if he transformed into your ride vehicle? All of the point of view action is literally your point of view since your inside Evac's vehicle mode. Seeing the ride vehicle and system is the same used in Spider-Man, that would make one excellent crossover toy. I already have some Evac toys, but I'd double dip for a Spider-Man version!

Thanksgiving weekend status update

I'm currently enjoying a really relaxing Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I promise regular updates will resume soon, I just needed a little down time.

In other news, the wife and I decided to do a trip to Universal Studios Orlando for Christmas next year! As long as nothing effects those plans, man, it's going to be a long year! It's hard enough not being in that wonderful place every waking minute, let alone patiently waiting a year for my next trip.

I'm currently on a pre Christmas restriction from buying any toy for myself as the wife is buying me presents. Though I am allowed to buy my beloved crazy bootlegs and random Legions. So, time to get some more K.O Brave toys from Tuesday Morning!

So far I've spent this break watching movies and holiday shopping. It's been relaxing and I have a few days left. Man, I've really needed this. Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful for what you have. I'm certainly thankful for the folks who read Zone Base. I promise regular updates will resume soon!

Monsters Cafe

I've been thinking lovingly about Universal Studios (this happens regularly throughout the day) and also about Universal Monsters (this also happens regularly throughout the day). Being Halloween and all, I felt it fit to talk about my favorite restaurant at the park (Krusty Burger comes in a close second though).

Monsters Cafe is located near Shrek 4D building not far away from the entrance of the park and is wonderful. First of all, the place is decked out with Frankenstein and all his pals. Not just that cool sign on the building and neat-o statue that grabs your attention before you get close. Inside the restaurant, you're immediately greeted by dioramas of the monsters behind glass. Well done, true to scale representations of the gang right there in your face. However, this is more than a cool sign and a few displays. The inside of the restaurant's seating is separated into different sections inspired by each monster. Yes, you can eat a pizza in Dr Frankenstein's lab. Yes, you can have a salad in the Creature from the Black Lagoons boating dock. You can have chicken tenders at the Wolfman's crib. Or if you're like me, you can eat a monster burger in Dracula's Castle.

A Monster Burger? Oh yeah mofo, a monster burger (that's actually just what I call it, because I'm fun to be around). Picture this, a big ol burger with not just cheese and lettuce... BUT PULLED PORK BBQ! While I would have happily enjoyed a lounge or a museum of sorts dedicated to the Universal Monsters, a restaurant with really good food is something I desire even more on vacation. Monsters Cafe is a Quick Serve restaurant, so if you have that dinning plan, it's totally compatible (and I'm a burger and fries kinda guy).

While I'm not sure exactly when I'll be able to make it back to the extra most best-est place in the universe (hopefully 2019, we're planning to do a Halloween vacation at Disney World next year), I know exactly where I want to eat!

Imagining a Pacific Rim Universal Studios Experience

So, Pacific Rim is my favorite movie. I love it. It's a wonder super robot Saturday morning cartoon come to life. With Pacific Rim Uprising coming out just in time for my birthday, excitement is an understatement. A recent conversation in Toku Legion about the possibility of a Universal Studios ride based on PR as Uprising is a Universal Pictures release. The fact that Terminator 2 3D is closing to make room for a new experience based on a 'exciting Universal film franchise' completely inspired me to dream up an attraction based in the Terminator show building in like 5 minutes. I think we all are confused as to why I'm either not employed by one of these companies or locked away in an asylum drawing robots on the wall.

So, here's my newest Universal Studios fan fiction attraction.

Using the Terminator 2 3D set up, I can see the entire thing being a Shatterdome facade and the Pan Pacific Defense Corps putting on a demonstration for new investors or political visitors (which are you, the guests) in the Jaeger program. The rising stage areas that once held the live action Terminators could present Ranger suits at a point in the presentation. The placement in the theater screen could be where live actors walk in and out the 4D movie going on interacting with the Jagers on screen moving about. The 3D video combined with the sensory additions from the theaters moving seats, lights, and other effects would really play up the experience of looking at Gypsy Danger in the face as it moves about. 

Just as things are going smoothly, we have a breach and a kaiju is attacking... ORLANDO FLORIDA! We are then treated to a visual spectacle on screen as the Jaeger fights the kaiju complete with all sorts of 4K tricks. Seats bumping around. Fire, lights, 3D video, (what if the kaiju had banana breath?), you name it. Finally Gypsy Danger kills the kaiju in a messy splatter of blood as we get sprayed by water in the seats. The PPDC then addresses us and the show is over. As we leave the Shatterdome, we enter a gift shoft that of course has all our Pacifc Rim needs available.

Think Charlie Day would want to be in it?

It really was.

It's just that good.

Just been thinking how much I'd like to be at Universal right now.