Universal Orlando announces closure of child attractions for new "family entertainment"

Finally happening, glad ET is staying.

I assume that that area will soon have an electric rat infestation, along with his (googling now) 994 friends.

Electric rat? Nope.

Touchdown:

I assume that that area will soon have an electric rat infestation, along with his (googling now) 994 friends.

Alright... I'll bite

Not Pokémon? Seems like a mistake, you have the most profitable IP under your umbrella, why not leverage that?

I'd never expect it now, but there were plans years and years ago to make that all Spongebob stuff. That was around when they moved the Hard Rock, I think.

If it were my money, I'd go with Minions.

Minions are already taking over Shrek and Monsters Cafe (besides the ride that’s already there) so I doubt it’s Minions.

Sing or Trolls.

Dreamworks Animation anchored with The Secret Lives of Pets dark ride from California.

If you went to HHN this year you would have noticed a lot of land being cleared closer to MIB. Some sort of reconfiguration is happening for sure.

I just got back from HHN and I didn’t see anything different back there, yes they moved the MIB tent to Fast, moved one of the sprung tents enterance to the other side of MIB and lengthened the line for The Weeknd but all those trailers are always back there.

What is the shelf life of Minions? That motion ride was kinda dumb, I thought.

Touchdown:

I just got back from HHN and I didn’t see anything different back there

Maybe I am misremembering but the area beyond these fences seemed to be torn up and not a parking lot like the satellite imagery suggests. It was dark and I see things that aren't there so who knows what I actually saw.

Jeff:

What is the shelf life of Minions? That motion ride was kinda dumb, I thought.

It's not amazing but it's still a popular attraction. The latest movie is approaching a billion worldwide so I don't see the end of minions in the parks anytime soon. Maybe they are shuffling the attractions around? The rumored replacement for Shrek is a weird moving walkway thing so perhaps they open that, close the motion ride thing, and build a bigger thing back there?

I didn’t look over the fence, but I highly, highly doubt anything will be built that far back for guests. Adults complain about walking that far back (including this one) kids will definitely enjoy walking that far back.

Walking is a sport there. Ever park in the garage?

Touchdown:

that far back

If an attraction's show building is back there you would never even notice.

^Exactly, there is a finite distance a person is willing to walk in a park. You essentially have to walk around the HRH to get there from the main entrance, you also have to walk by two massive parade float buildings. I can see a ride building going as far back as the first parade (this year Monsters maze) but to have something guest related further back then the new parade building (Weeknd House) no way.

The distance from the entrance to the area in question is roughly half that of Epcot's entrance to the American Gardens Theatre via Canada (4,341.18 ft). And just because I am a crazy person... from Universal's security hub to the area in question is 4,097.29 ft.

Touchdown:

you also have to walk by two massive parade float buildings.

They can just move all of that. I am not suggesting that there's going to be an HHN style path to get back there. Everything that's in the way can be pushed back into the area I am referring to.

I never would have guessed it was still a shorter walk then Epcots, my HHN trip is the only time I walk more at Universal then Disney. HHN adds 6-7 miles of walking over normal Universal (10 miles vs 16-17 miles) and I blame most of that on those two houses back there.

Jeff:

What is the shelf life of Minions? That motion ride was kinda dumb, I thought.

That ride was just and overlay of the existing Jimmy Neutron one, so there was only so much they could do.

I think Minions would be good for the area simply because it's still a popular franchise after 5 (?) theatrical release movies, and parents seem to find it amusing also. They can't seem to do anything but print money with that IP.

God forbid you go to an amusement park and walk and get some exercise.