What Rides Do You Think Universal UK Will Have?

Speculation & Predictions
1

Let’s have some fun - what do you think Universal will build in Bedford?

Based on Universal’s other parks, we might see:

Likely IP Franchises:

  • Harry Potter (Wizarding World) - almost certain given UK connection
  • Jurassic World/Park
  • Transformers
  • Fast & Furious
  • Minions/Despicable Me
  • How to Train Your Dragon

Possible Additions:

  • Nintendo (Super Mario, Donkey Kong) - depends on licensing
  • DreamWorks properties (Shrek, Kung Fu Panda)
  • Classic Universal Monsters

UK-Specific Adaptations:
Given the UK climate (let’s be honest - rain!), I predict:

  • More indoor attractions than Orlando
  • Covered queues throughout
  • Climate-controlled areas
  • Year-round operation focus

My Predictions:

  1. A Wizarding World similar to Orlando but with UK-specific details (Diagon Alley, anyone?)
  2. A major indoor dark ride (Jurassic World or Transformers style)
  3. At least 2-3 world-class roller coasters
  4. A unique UK-exclusive attraction we haven’t seen before
  5. Extensive family-friendly zones (Minions, How to Train Your Dragon)

Orlando Insights:
Having visited Universal Orlando many times, I can tell you their attention to detail is incredible. The theming, the immersion, the queue experiences - everything is designed to transport you into another world.

I expect Universal UK will take everything they’ve learnt from Orlando, Hollywood, Japan, and Singapore and create something truly special for the European market.

What do YOU think?

  • What’s your must-have ride?
  • Which IP do you want to see?
  • What will make Universal UK different from Orlando?
  • Any UK-specific ideas?

Let’s hear your predictions!

-Chazz

3

I’m thinking that the park itself will be smaller in comparison to Orlando, seeing that UK in general is much smaller in size. How will they compare?

4

It’s a fair point, everything usually feels a bit more ‘compact’ here in the UK! However, the scale of the Bedford site is actually one of the most exciting parts of the news so far.

Universal has already purchased 476 acres and has the option to expand that to 700 acres. To put that in perspective, the original Universal Studios Florida is about 541 acres, and Islands of Adventure is only around 110 acres.

If they use the full 700 acre plot, the UK resort will be almost as large as the brand new Epic Universe in Orlando (which is about 750 acres) and right on par with Europe’s heavy hitters like Alton Towers and Disneyland Paris. It definitely looks like they are going for a full scale ‘world-class’ resort rather than a mini version!

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