Universal Studios Awarded Patent for a New Flying Simulator Could be a Game Changer for Flying Theaters

Universal Studios was awarded on May 9, 2017 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office a new patent for a new Flying Simulator Design. What? Another flying theater? Yes, but as you'll see this one could be a game changer in the world of flying theaters  Below, some excerpts from the patent text as well as the patent pictures. The full Universal patent page is HERE.

So, according to the patent: "The flying simulator ride includes a track and a bogie coupled to the track. The flying simulator ride also includes a rotator ring and a plurality of cables suspending the rotator ring from the bogie such that the rotator ring is capable of rotating with respect to the track and such that the rotator ring is capable of motion in six degrees of freedom. The flying simulator ride also includes a passenger support system suspended from the rotator ring. The passenger support system includes a first passenger support unit; and a second passenger support unit, wherein at least one of the first passenger support unit or the second passenger support unit are configured to move relative to one another to assume a stacked configuration and a loading configuration, wherein a distance between the rotator ring and the first passenger support unit is decreased in the stacked configuration relative to the loading configuration."

"In accordance with another embodiment, a flying simulator ride assembly is provided. The flying simulator ride assembly includes a bogie configured to move along a track; a motion base; and a plurality of cables suspending the motion base from cable control assemblies coupled to the bogie to permit the motion base to move with six degrees of freedom. The flying simulator ride assembly also includes an extending portion fixedly coupled to the motion base and extending away from the bogie; and a passenger support system coupled to the extending portion. The passenger support system includes a first passenger row; a second passenger row; and a support coupled to the extending portion and the first passenger row and the second passenger row, wherein the support is capable of rotating with respect to the extending portion to change a position of one or more of the first passenger row or the second passenger row relative to the motion base."

If you're not sure that you understood everything from this patent description, that's normal. The way patents description are written is always a bit abstruse but thanks to the patent drawings we can at least understand that guests will stand up and not being sit as they are for instance in Soaring. There is more, of course, but even only this would be a game changer in the sensation of flying that flying theaters are supposed to provide.

Pictures: cooyright Universal Studios

Universal Studios announces The Opening at Universal Orlando City Walk of Stunning Steampunk "Toothsome Chocolate Factory"

Wow, Universal Studios announced they'll open a kind of Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory with a steampunk style at Universal CityWalk Orlando! The "Toothsome Chocolate Factory" isn’t directly related to the book or the movies, but it’s a 19th century-themed Steampunk chocolate factory where you’ll easily be able to get your chocolate fix. 

More from the official announcement:

"The brilliant minds behind Universal’s attractions and its culinary concepts have come together to deliver the next level of dining at Universal CityWalk. 
 Opening later this year, The Toothsome Chocolate Factory will transport you into a 19th century-inspired Steampunk chocolate factory. You’ll indulge your appetite amidst towering smoke stacks, funky gadgetry, and staff wearing unique Steampunk fashion.

Opening later this year, Toothsome Chocolate Factory brings out-of-this-world dining and chocolate creations to Universal CityWalk

And that’s only the beginning.

The food will take your imagination to new heights with a menu that features unique twists on classic steak, seafood and pasta entrees, gourmet burgers, sandwiches, incredible salads, all-day brunch and so much more. And the desserts will be simply…stunning.
 

Here’s a sneak peek of some of the milkshakes to get your mouth watering: Chocolate x5: An explosion of chocolate with chocolate spirals, chunks, ice-cream and whipped cream. Bacon Brittle: A fun twist on a breakfast favorite with bacon ice cream, bacon brittle, chocolate covered bacon and bacon caramel.

Espresso Buzzzz: A coffee lover’s dream with coffee ice-cream and chocolate covered beans.

Red Velvet: A milkshake topped with a Red Velvet cupcake… enough said. Key Lime Pie: We’ve taken this classic Florida dessert and turned it into a delicious shake. You’ll even get a slice of pie on top! The sundaes are anything but ordinary with flavors like Salted Caramel Flan, Chocolate Brownie Bark and S’mores. This extreme twist on a summer favorite features layers of chocolate ice-cream, chocolate sauce, marshmallow cream and graham crackers.
 
Opening later this year, Toothsome Chocolate Factory brings out-of-this-world dining and chocolate creations to Universal CityWalk You’ll even be able to watch chocolate creations being made—and purchase your very own from the restaurant’s retail shop to take home and enjoy."

Pictures: copyright Universal Studios

What the Hell is Universal Waiting For to Build a Universal Studios in Europe ?

Now that Universal owns the Harry Potter license for theme parks and that Comcast - owner of Universal - makes huge amount of money out of it the question is: what the hell are they waiting for to build a Universal Studios in Europe and bring back Harry Potter in its own land? But there IS a Universal Studios project in Moscow, you say. That's right, and it will be an indoor theme park. But i don''t count this one, i'm talking about "Europe, Europe" and i don't include Russia in it. 

What you may or may not know is that in fact Universal had plans in the 1990's to build a Universal Studios in France, near Paris, on a land close to the town of Melun, just a few kilometers from Disneyland Paris Resort. And why they never built it, you ask? Well, Universal executives were in fact waiting to see how Disneyland Paris will work, and as DLP just a few years after its opening started to have financial difficulties Universal execs apparently thought that may be it was a wrong idea to build a Universal Studios in France.
Another problem didn't helped too: lot of US theme park "givens" doesn't seem to hold true in Europe. The Asian and US fascination with buying all kinds of souvenir merchandise is not nearly as profound in Europe. Disneyland Paris hope that this would be made up by a higher demand for finer dining also proved to be not true… Europeans are happy too with hot dogs or hamburgers as apparently, for most of them, when they come to the park it's to have fun, not to spend two hours having lunch! 

That's what i was told by the person, a charming woman, who was at the head of Universal Parks back in 1999 when i did an interview of her during the opening of Islands of Adventure where i was invited. For the little story, while i was doing the interview of her i was also secretly charming her! In a "Warren Beaty" style, if i can say, i.e not by saying anything but only with the type of "energy" which was coming out of me ( which  by the way, is the best way to seduce women, but that's another story ). Anyway, she started to realize what was happening and was destabilized during all the interview as the charm was working (!) It was hilarious... 

Okay, let's come back to more serious things, i.e why Universal don't have a theme park in Europe, whether it's in France, in the U.K or elsewhere. Mind you, they did a try years ago when Universal was ruling Port Aventura in Spain - in which they introduced two E-Ticlet attractions, including the excellent Temple del Fuego show. Then, they sold back their shares and since... nothing. Which by the way has always been the luck of Disneyland Paris as DLP never had to face a competitor "next door" like Walt Disney World in Orlando. But, if we look at this on another angle, it has been also a "bad luck" for DLP as the fate of DLP would have been very different if a strong and even dangerous competitor had existed a few kilometers from the resort. You can be sure that if it had happened the WDC wouldn't have wait so long before starting a "marshall plan" to save DLP.

We're not going to rewrite history, but Universal did a big mistake when they cancelled their project in the mid 90's, thinking that a theme park could not make money in France. Why? because from the start DLP has been the most visited place in Europe with 11M + visitors and, as we know, it was the too many hotels and the financial setting of the company which has been responsible of this never ending financial mess. If Universal would have built a theme park with all their immensely popular E-Ticket of the 90's and only one hotel, it would have worked perfectly. Sure, at the start of DLP the french were a bit dubious with the theme park concept as it was new for them, but after  a few years - and  a famous "cultural" battle - almost everyone loved the concept. If Universal would have open a park at the end of the 90's i'm convinced it would have been successful. And by the way why all these european tourists going to Florida would love Universal at Orlando and not in France? Big mistake, so, and right now they probably have  a new alibi, i.e to wait that the economy crisis in Europe will end, which might take some time, and of course their new investment in China for the new Universal Studios in Beijing, not to mention the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Hollywood and many others new attractions coming both at Universal Hollywood and Universal Orlando. 

So, no need to say that building a Universal Studios in Europe is probably not their priority. But with a such strong and successful license like Harry Potter and knowing that a record of 32.8 million overseas visitors came to the U.K in 2013 may be it's time for the folks at Universal to reconsider the option and to finally decide to bring back Harry Potter in its own country, isn't it? C'mon, they have a Universal Studios in Singapore, they've built a Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Osaka, Japan and soon one in Beijing, China, and it wouldn't work in the U.K? Are you kidding me? By the way, Universal having the Potter license another option could be to partner with Warner Bros and build a Wizarding World with the excellent Harry Potter studio tour outside of London...

One more thing: Talking about Harry Potter in the U.K, one of my reader sent me a message two days ago, saying that he heard a rumor last week from someone who has been working on the Paramount park London project. The rumour is that it will include a Harry Potter hotel, in which guests can stay in the different house dorms of Hogwarts and explore the castle over the course of the evening, including a visit to the chamber of secrets and a dinner in the great hall. Another part of the rumour is that guests will board a real train from the real King's Cross station which has a train link directly to the site of the future Paramount park. Sounds exciting, yes, but there is one little problem in this rumor: it's Universal which owns the theme park rights for Harry Potter, NOT Paramount Parks, and if we except the possibility that Universal has the rights for Harry Potter for a use in a theme park but not for a hotel it's of course a bit hard to believe that a Harry Potter hotel looking like Hogwarts Castle could be include in a Paramount resort, isn't it? That said, i always give the benefit of the doubt to any rumors, and so do i for this one, even if it looks a bit hard to swallow and unlikely to happen!

Picture: copyright galleryhip.com

First Pictures of Universal Studios Beijing Land - Opening Scheduled for 2018

Shanghaî Disneyland will open end 2015 and they shouldn't have any major competitor in China before 2018, when Universal Studios Beijing will open. It's been a long time since we heard about Universal coming to China main land but this time it seems that this is it, and Stefan Zwanzger, The Theme Park Guy is back with pictures of the location where the park will be built, near Beijing. Considering there is hundred of kilometers between Beijing and Shanghaî the opening of Universal Studios Beijing shouldn't hurt too much SDL although it probably will have an impact on people from Beijing coming to SDL.

On the top you have a picture of the land for the future Universal Studios Beijing and the picture below, according to Stefan show the ground being prepared for future works.

Unfortunately, as it is often the case some villages had to be destroyed without mercy and villagers will have to move to another place. Please note that no official announcement has been down yet either from Universal of the Chinese. And now, jump to The Theme Park Guy to see more pictures HERE.

Pictures: copyright The Theme Park Guy

First Look at the Goblins Audio-Animatronics Inside Diagon Alley Gringotts Bank !

Universal will reveal on May 13 new details about the "Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts" ride, but in the meantime they've released a short but great video showing the Goblins Audio-Animatronics that USF guests will see during the pre-show of this awaited Diagon Alley E-Ticket attraction. And they look really really good, just like if they jumped out of the movie!

Click on each picture to get these high-res screen captures in big size!

In addition they've also released the digital concept-art below showing the load area of the ride!

And now, here are the Goblins Audio-Animatronics moving and talking!




Pictures and video: copyright Universal Studios

Two new major attractions coming to Universal Islands of Adventure in 2015 ?

According to the always well informed and reliable Screamcape web site not less than TWO major attractions will open at Universal Islands of Adventures in 2015! One of the two would be a long awaited new Jurassic Park ride. As Lance says "There have been too many JP themed ride rumors lately to say for sure what this one will be..." ...but we still can hope that the JP Jeep ride envisioned a long time ago could make its come back, although i wouldn't bet a lot on it... but we can dream, can't we?

The other ride to open in 2015 will be an unexpected one to be built at IOA Dr Seuss Landing. Always according to Lance some project called Project 301 "was just given the green light, with an aggressive plan to get it up and open in time for the Christmas 2015 holiday season. All I know so far is that this will be a new 3D ride experience themed to The Lorax, and that they will build a new large structure behind One Fish, Two Fish for it". 

So, just one year after what will be a major opening with Wizarding World of Harry Potter part two Universal will open two new attractions this time at IOA. At WDW,  after the 2014 opening of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train guests will have to wait until 2016 with the new Soarin' over the World movie - and 2017 with Avatar Land at Animal Kingdom - and obviously Universal is decided to use as much as they can their "momentum" and their ability to built new rides extremely quickly. Recently it was announced that Comcast - who owns Universal Studios - will add $500M more to build new rides, and now we know where they will be spent!

In the meantime don't forget to check regularly Screamscape updates for more news coming soon about these two projects!

Pictures: copyright Universal Studios

New Sesame Street Ride Will Open at Universal Studios Singapore This Fall

A brand new attraction is coming at Universal Studios Singapore, it will open in less than four months from now and it will be a "Sesame Street" attraction! Located inside the Stage 28 of the New York Street area it is rumored to be a ride with an overhead track, i.e with a vehicle suspended under the track like in Peter Pan's Flight or E.T Adventure... which, in 2007, was still envisioned to be part of USS, precisely in this location.

So, exit E.T and welcome to this brand new Sesame Street ride. It will be interesting to see how good it is as i have the feeling that Universal might bring it, after Singapore, in other Universal Studios theme parks, just like they did with the Transformers ride. As a friend of mine told me "They're really smart at Universal to create a ride on Sesame Street, Disney might have the rights on the Muppets but the Muppets are less on TV when Sesame Street - which was also created by Jim Henson - still can be watched on TV all around the world!" Personally, i won't be surprised if this Sesame Street ride will come next to Universal Studios Osaka and may be then to Universal Orlando.



But for now let's see if we can learn a bit more about the storyline itself. Two weeks ago a big construction wall - picture above - appeared, partly to hide the future entrance and the works behind but also to let USS guests know about this upcoming attraction opening this fall. But there is more hidden in this big artwork as there are plenty of clues - about the ride storyline - hidden here and there as revealed by USS marketing to Screamscape last week. So, let's have a closer look at it!









Now, let's get closer to see these clues and as you will see it's seems that the storyline will not only involved Elmo - Sesame Street famous character - but also Super Grover and some "missing spaghettis" abducted to outer space! Here is what i suggest: i let you have a look at these different fun clues and you let me know in the comments what you think the storyline of the ride might be, okay? So let's go and feel free to enlarge each picture to read well what is written.













Now, to make sure that Universal Studios Singapore guests know that this Sesame Street ride is coming they can find already Sesame Street merchandise all around the NY street area.











The Brown Derby shop, designed like a hat - and originally selling hats - has been completely re-themed and is now selling exclusive Sesame Street merchandise as you can see below.



















As you've seen, at least on a merchandise point of view, everything is ready for the opening of the attraction. The ride is expected to open before the end of the year - some are saying on October 21 as we can see this date repeated on some of the clues - and you can count on me to give you fresh news about this new attraction as soon as available! In the meantime check the new theme parks updates on Disney and more front page HERE.

Universal Studios South Korea Almost Confirmed

After one in Osaka, Japan, one in Singapore, and one eventually coming in Moscow, it seems that Universal will soon begin the works on their project of Universal Studios Korea - South Korea of course. According to the latest news a bill for government funding is going to be presented in the South Korea congress and apparently they are hopeful that it will pass.

Many different artwork was released since the announcement of the project five years ago but some elements remain the same.

On the artwork on the top and on the closer shot below we can see the entrance (top center) and that the park should have a N.Y city streets land (top center right) - you can even see a statue of liberty - a Revenge of the Mummy ride (on the left, where you can see a giant Pharaoh head), a Waterworld show (bottom left), a whole Jurassic Park land (bottom center), and a big coaster partly going over the center lagoon on which you can see 360 degrees floating projection globes. Although these are recent concept-arts, there is no doubt that the design will have some changes and improvements before the park open, an opening schedule apparently for 2016 although some are saying that Universal would be pleased to open the park before Disney open Shanghai Disneyland.



On the older artwork below, most of the elements described above are already there but with another big "dueling" coaster on the right of the Revenge of the Mummy building. Note that i wouldn't be surprised if it was not part of the final park as Universal realized in Singapore that Asian people were a bit too impressed when they see the Battlestar Galactica coaster and don't ride it that much.



About hotels, it's also interesting to notice the Venetian resort, located just outside the park as you will see on the artworks below, as well as another hotel (with a red roof) and what seems to be a City Walk dining and night entertainment area. The area on the right, behind the venetian resort, on the other side of the main road, might be a water park.





While we talk about Universal Studios some news about the Harry Potter Wizarding World coming to Universal Studios Japan. According to Screamscape HERE and quoting an article HERE "Universal Studios Japan will increase the theme park’s footprint by one fifth (to build the Potter land)" and "the new Wizarding World will feature several attractions, including a school for wizards as well as a recreation of Hogsmeade Village". If it's well done the "school for wizards" might be fun!

Artwork: copyright Universal Studios