Universal Creative

Last updated
Universal Creative
Company type Division
Industry Engineering, architecture, design
Founded1968;56 years ago (1968)
Headquarters Orlando, Florida
Key people
Molly Murphy, President
ProductsTheme parks, resorts, attractions
Parent Universal Destinations & Experiences

Universal Creative is the division of Universal Destinations & Experiences responsible for designing, developing, engineering and producing themed attractions, rides, and resorts. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida the company operates at Universal Parks & Resorts locations around the world in the United States, Singapore, Japan and China. [1]

Contents

Universal Creative often collaborates with entertainment design companies, such as Forrec, THG Creative, and P+A Projects. [2] [3] [4] It’s divisions include master planning, creative development, design, engineering, project management, and research and development. The Universal Creative team includes artists, architects, engineers, designers, producers, builders, and writers.

History

In December 1958, MCA Inc. purchased the Universal City Studio Lot in California. After MCA and Universal merged in 1962, MCA-Universal expanded into recreation. [5] In 1964, MCA-Universal officially opened Universal Studios Hollywood. [6] As the park grew, Universal Creative was founded in 1968 under the name MCA Planning and Development as part of MCA-Universal's recreation division. [7]

Universal Creative continued to operate through 1996 as MCA Planning and Development, opening Universal Studios Florida in 1990 and creating attractions such as Jaws and E.T. Adventure. [6] In 1996 MCA was sold to Seagram, which changed the company name to Universal Studios, Inc. In 1997, MCA Planning and Development was renamed Universal Creative. Two years later Universal Creative opened Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort.

The company moved to Universal Orlando Resort in 2001, the same year it opened Universal Studios Japan. [7] In 2011, Comcast purchased NBCUniversal, incorporating Universal Parks & Resorts and Universal Creative into its portfolio. [8] Universal Studios Singapore, a joint venture with Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island, was opened by Universal Creative in the same year. The company opened the world's first "Water Theme Park" in 2017 with the opening of Universal's Volcano Bay. In 2021, Universal opened Universal Beijing Resort, which was the first ever theme park to achieve a LEED Certification. The company's latest project is Universal Epic Universe, which will become the fourth park at the Universal Orlando Resort. Universal Creative has offices in Hollywood, Orlando, Osaka, and Beijing. [9]

Executive leadership

By December 13, 2022, several individuals had retired from Universal Creative as part of an NBC-wide retirement initiative. [10]

Notable projects

Attractions

Volcano Bay's 200 ft. tall "Krakatau" volcano. Volcano Bay (36829605694).jpg
Volcano Bay's 200 ft. tall "Krakatau" volcano.

Universal Volcano Bay

Volcano Bay is Universal's first attempt at developing a water park. This project, the third park at Universal Orlando Resort , replaced Wet 'n Wild Orlando in 2017. At the center of the park is "Krakatau", a 200-foot-tall (61 m) volcano. Its slides include water coasters, capsule plunge slides, and slides that drop riders four feet above the pool below. Similarly to Disney's MagicBands, Volcano Bay uses TapuTapu wristband technology, which was later used in the Super Nintendo World areas. [21]

Jurassic World VelociCoaster

VelociCoaster is said to be Florida's fastest, tallest, and most intense launch coaster, traveling at speeds up to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) and reaching a maximum height of 155 feet (47 m). [22] VelociCoaster features two high-speed launches powered by linear synchronous motors, a top hat, four inversions, and an over-water heartline roll.

Super Nintendo World

Universal Studios Japan contains the world's first Super Nintendo World area. This area contains dozens of interactive elements, as well as two rides that let guests experience the world of the Super Mario franchise. Universal Creative worked closely with Nintendo, including Shigeru Miyamoto, to create the area. The rides in this land include Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge, an interactive dark ride with augmented reality based on the Mario Kart spin-off franchise. Super Nintendo World uses "Power-Up Bands" that allow guests to interact with certain elements in the land, such as the "Power-Up Band Key Challenges," and track high-scores through the official Universal Studios Japan smartphone application.

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

Universal Creative's Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure has 7 launches, more than most coasters, and contains the longest coaster track in Florida, measuring approximately a mile in length. The ride has a free-fall vertical drop of 17 feet (5.2 m), and it catapults guests 65 feet (20 m) in the air at more than a 70-degree angle before immediately dropping them back down in one movement. The construction of this attraction also included planting a forest of 1,200 trees. [23]

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure won the Thea Award from the Themed Entertainment Association for outstanding achievement, the Best New Roller Coaster Award from Theme Park Insider, and was named "best new attraction installation of 2019" from the 2019 Golden Ticket Awards. [24] [25] [26]

Transformers: The Ride - 3D

Universal Creative, in partnership with Oceaneering International and Industrial Light & Magic, created Transformers: The Ride - 3D at Universal Studios Singapore, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Orlando Resort. The attraction blends computer-generated imagery with reality using 14 screens and physical props. [27] Universal Creative opened this attraction in Singapore in 2011 and Hollywood in 2012, followed by Orlando in 2013. Due to space constraints, the Orlando ride was placed on two stories. [28] Transformers: The Ride - 3D has won numerous awards, including the Thea Award for outstanding achievement, the International 3D Society Lumiere Award, and was named "best new attraction" from Theme Park Insider. [29]

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

Universal Creative's The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is a dark ride using advanced audio, with the sound accurate to 1⁄5 of a video frame. [30] Universal Creative partnered with Oceaneering International to create a 12-passenger motion-base simulator pod capable of six degrees of freedom (heave, sway, surge, yaw, pitch, and roll) and 360-degree rotation (achieved with a ring and pinion gear system), all contained in an angled shell to direct riders' view. Universal Creative's Phil Hettema and William Mason received inventor credits on the ride system patent, known as the SCOOP. [30]

Universal Creative employees Scott Trowbridge and Thierry Coup storyboarded a scene-by-scene breakdown of the ride that would be projected onto thirteen 30-foot-tall projection screens integrated with physical sets. Since guests would be moving toward, away from, or past these 3D screens, animators had to consider the perspective shift that viewers would actually encounter if these really. They developed a new process they called "squinching", used to account for a viewer's moving sightline and distorting the animation to match. [30]

Created for the Islands of Adventure theme park that opened on May 28, 1999, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man won Amusement Today 's Golden Ticket Award for Best Dark Ride for twelve consecutive years from 1999 through to 2010. In 2000, the ride won a Thea Award from the Themed Entertainment Association for outstanding themed entertainment and experience design. It has also won numerous public-voted Theme Park Insider Awards and Screamscape Ultimate Awards. The ride has been duplicated at Universal Studios Japan, which opened in January 2004.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure)'s 200 ft. tall "Hogwarts Castle" facade. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Studios Hollywood) Castle (2).JPG
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure)'s 200 ft. tall "Hogwarts Castle" facade.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey opened in June 2010 as part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure. It features robotic arms as a ride vehicle which are mounted on a track, to travel through the attraction while performing their movements in synchronization with the ride's show elements (animated props, projection surfaces, and so on). [31] In Amusement Today 's annual Golden Ticket Awards, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey debuted as the best new ride of 2010. It won the Best Dark Ride category for five consecutive years from 2011 to 2015. [31] Due to the popularity of the ride, it was duplicated at Universal Studios Japan (which opened on July 18, 2014) and Universal Studios Hollywood (which opened on April 7, 2016).

Resorts

The Universal Creative Resort Development team designs and develops resort, hotel, restaurant, and retail experiences for Universal Parks & Resorts. Universal Orlando Resort's long-standing partnership with Loews Hotels led to the development of Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal's Aventura Hotel, Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Surfside, and Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Dockside. [32] Universal Creative's other resorts include The Universal Studios Grand Hotel and the NUO Resort Hotel – Universal Beijing Resort at Universal Beijing Resort. [33]

Restaurants

The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen at Universal CityWalk Beijing Universal CityWalk - The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen (20210907124023).jpg
The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen at Universal CityWalk Beijing

Universal Creative designs and develops the restaurants inside Universal's theme parks, as well as their Universal CityWalk shopping and restaurant areas. Restaurants within the parks include Mythos Restaurant, The Leaky Cauldron, and The Three Broomsticks at Universal Orlando Resort. [34] [35] Restaurants in Universal CityWalk Orlando include The Cowfish, Vivo Italian Kitchen, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, and Savory Feast Kitchen. Other restaurants shared between several Universal CityWalk areas include Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Bubba Gump, and Voodoo Doughnut. [36]

All projects

Current projects

Universal Creative is in the process of developing Epic Universe, the fourth park to be added to the Universal Orlando Resort portfolio, which was announced in August 2019. It will feature an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. It is expected to be located within a larger 750-acre site that will nearly double Universal's total available acreage in Central Florida. The park is set to open in 2025.

On January 11, 2023, Universal announced two projects: Universal Kids Resort, a "new concept"-styled theme park geared towards families with children in Frisco, Texas, and Universal Horror Unleashed, a "horror-experience" in Las Vegas, Nevada. [37] [38]

On December 19, 2023, Universal confirmed it had "acquired land" near Bedford, UK and is "at the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site". [39] [40]

ProjectPark/ResortOpening Date
DreamWorks Land Universal Studios Florida June 14, 2024 [41] [42]
Minion Land Universal Studios Singapore 2024 [43] [44]
Super Nintendo World 2025
Universal Horror Unleashed Area15 [45]
Unnamed second theme park Universal Beijing Resort [46]
Universal Epic Universe [47] Universal Orlando
Universal Kids Resort 2026 [48]
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift [48] Universal Studios Hollywood [49] [50] [51]
Universal Studios Great Britain [52] TBA

Past projects

Patents

Universal Creative files numerous patents for new technologies with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In 2019, Universal Creative filed 43 patents. [53] Some notable patents include the SCOOP ride vehicle designed for The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man in Universal Orlando Resort, interactive wand technology for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and moving portraits for the queue of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. [54] [55] "We actually had to create the technology which was used to make those portraits look like moving paintings," said Thierry Coup, Senior Vice President of Universal Creative's Creative Studio. "There's a whole portfolio of patents that Universal filed just with the creation of this attraction." [56]

Awards

Thea Awards

AwardYear(s) ReceivedProjectPark/Resort
Paragon Award2015 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter [57] Universal Studios Florida
Diagon Alley
Hogwarts Express
Diagon Alley Retail/Dining
Award for Outstanding Achievement1996 Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular Universal Studios Hollywood
1997 Terminator 2: 3D: The Battle Across Time Universal Studios Florida
2000FiestAventura Universal Studios Port Aventura
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man Islands of Adventure
2001 Men in Black: Alien Attack Universal Studios Florida
2002Animal Celebration Universal Studios Japan
2002Templo del Fuego Universal Studios Port Aventura
2005 Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios Florida
2006 Fear Factor Live Universal Studios Florida
2008Peter Pan's Neverland Universal Studios Japan
2009 The Simpsons Ride Universal Studios Florida
2009 Universal Studios Hollywood
2010 Disaster! Universal Studios Florida
2011 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Islands of Adventure
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Islands of Adventure
2012 Space Fantasy The Ride Universal Studios Japan
2013 Transformers: The Ride 3D Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Singapore
2014The Song of An Angel Universal Studios Japan
2015 Harry Potter & The Escape from Gringotts Universal Studios Florida
2017 Springfield (Themed Food & Beverage Experience) Universal Studios Hollywood
2018 Universal's Volcano Bay Universal Orlando Resort
2019Universal Spectacle Night Parade – The Best of Hollywood [58] Universal Studios Japan
2020 Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Universal Studios Florida
2021 Super Nintendo World Universal Studios Japan
The Bourne Stuntacular Universal Studios Florida
2022 Universal Beijing Resort Universal Beijing Resort
Untrainable Universal Beijing Resort
Jurassic World Adventure Universal Beijing Resort
Award for Technical Excellence2015Interactive Wands Universal Studios Florida
Classic Award2002Universal Studio's Tram Tour Universal Studios Hollywood
2017 WaterWorld: A Live Sea War Spectacular Universal Studios Hollywood

The Golden Ticket Awards presented by Amusement Today [59]

AwardYear(s) ReceivedProjectPark/ResortNotes
Best Indoor Attraction1998 Back to the Future: The Ride Universal Studios Florida
Best Simulated Interactive Ride
Best Dark Ride1999 - 2010 The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man Islands of Adventure
2011 - 2015 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Islands of Adventure
Best Water Ride2001 - 2002, 2004, 2006 - 2014 Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls Islands of Adventure
Best Indoor Coaster2008 - 2019 Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios Florida In 2019, Amusement Today retired the category of Best Indoor Coaster as Revenge of the Mummy had won it every year since 2008. As well as retiring the category, Amusement Today presented Revenge of the Mummy with the Legend's Award. [60]
Best New Attraction2010 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Islands of Adventure
2019 Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Islands of Adventure
2020/2021 Jurassic World VelociCoaster Islands of Adventure
Golden Ticket Awards Legend2019 Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios Florida

Theme Park Insider Awards [61]

AwardYear(s) ReceivedProjectPark/Resort
Best Theme Park2002 - 2004, 2010 - 2011. 2020 - 2022 Islands of Adventure Islands of Adventure
Best Attraction2002 - 2005 The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man Islands of Adventure
Best Roller Coaster2003 - 2004 The Incredible Hulk Islands of Adventure
2021 Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Islands of Adventure
2022 Jurassic World VelociCoaster Islands of Adventure
Best Table Service Restaurant2003 - 2008, 2019 - 2022 Mythos Restaurant Islands of Adventure
Best New Attraction2004 Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios Florida
2008 The Simpsons Ride Universal Studios Florida
2010 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Islands of Adventure
2012 Transformers: The Ride Universal Studios Hollywood
Best New Family Attraction2015 Hogwarts Express Universal Orlando Resort
Best Quick-Service Restaurant2015, 2020 The Leaky Cauldron Universal Studios Florida
2016 - 2018 The Three Broomsticks Universal Studios Hollywood
Best New Theme Park2017 Volcano Bay Volcano Bay
Best New Roller Coaster2017Krakatau Volcano Bay
2020 Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Islands of Adventure
2022 Jurassic World VelociCoaster Islands of Adventure
Best Show2022Untrainable Universal Studios Beijing

Brass Ring Awards [62]

AwardYear(s) ReceivedProjectPark/Resort
Most Creative Holiday Show2021Crystal PromiseUniversal Studios Japan

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Orlando</span> Resort in Orlando, Florida

Universal Orlando Resort, often shortened to Universal Orlando, is a 541-acre (219 ha) theme park and entertainment resort complex located in Orlando, Florida. Following the opening of Universal Studios Florida in 1990, NBCUniversal moved forward with plans to expand from a single park into a large resort hoping to compete with Walt Disney World. In 1999, a second theme park called Islands of Adventure opened in addition to CityWalk, a shopping promenade and nightlife district that incorporates a variety of themed hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets. A third 30-acre (12 ha) water theme park, Volcano Bay, was added in 2017, and a fourth upcoming theme park, Epic Universe, is scheduled to open in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Destinations & Experiences</span> Theme park division of NBCUniversal

Universal Destinations & Experiences, is the theme park unit of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. They are also referred to as Universal Studios Theme Parks or Universal Theme Parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Islands of Adventure</span> Theme park in the United States

Universal Islands of Adventure, originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and later Universal's Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The resort's slogan Vacation Like You Mean It was introduced in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Studios Florida</span> Theme park in the United States

Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, that opened on June 7, 1990. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal, it features numerous rides, attractions, and live shows that are primarily themed to movies, television, and other aspects of the entertainment industry. Universal Studios Florida was the first of two theme parks to open at Universal Orlando Resort, joined later by Islands of Adventure in 1999. In 2019, it ranked eleventh in the world – sixth in North America – for overall attendance among amusement parks with approximately 10.9 million visitors. A third park, Epic Universe, is expected in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Themed Entertainment Association</span> Theme park industry association

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is an international non-profit association that represents creators, developers, designers and producers of themed entertainment. It is also noted for its THEA Awards, which were founded in 1995 and are distributed annually in a range of themed entertainment categories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man</span> Motion-based 3D dark ride at Universal Parks

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is a 3D motion simulator and dark ride located at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Based on the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man, it was originally built for Islands of Adventure's grand opening in 1999. A second version of the attraction also existed at Universal Studios Japan from 2004 to 2024. The attraction has a hybrid configuration that combines motion vehicles with 3D projection and elaborate physical sets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flight of the Hippogriff</span> Junior roller coaster at Universal parks

Flight of the Hippogriff is a junior roller coaster at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of the many Universal theme parks. It is present at Universal Islands of Adventure in Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Beijing. Designed by Universal Creative, the first installation opened at Islands of Adventure on June 18, 2010. The new ride was a redesign of an existing roller coaster known as Flying Unicorn, which the park closed in 2008 to begin its transformation. The design change was implemented to fit the new Harry Potter-themed area that was being constructed at the park. Flight of the Hippogriff is a mild alternative to the area's more extreme rides such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Following a successful launch, identical versions of the roller coaster were installed at Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood over the next several years, with the Beijing version opening with the park in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey</span> Attraction at Universal theme parks

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a motion-based dark ride located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-themed areas of Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida; Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California; Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan; and Universal Studios Beijing in Beijing, China. The ride takes guests through scenes and environments in and around Hogwarts Castle from the Harry Potter series of books and films. Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative, described the ride as an in-depth look at the world of Harry Potter, which utilizes never-before-seen technology which transforms "the theme park experience as you know it". The ride first opened at Islands of Adventure with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 18, 2010; subsequent versions opened at Universal Studios Japan on July 15, 2014, at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016, and at Universal Studios Beijing on September 20, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Orlando Resort)</span> Area in Universal Orlando theme parks

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a themed area spanning three theme parks—Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida and the upcoming Universal Epic Universe—at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. The area is themed to the Harry Potter media franchise, adapting elements from the film series and novels by J. K. Rowling. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was designed by Universal Creative from an exclusive license with Warner Bros. Entertainment.

This article details the appearance of Harry Potter theming in amusement parks. In the late 1990s, Universal Parks & Resorts began discussing the possibility of purchasing the license for Harry Potter to create and theme amusement park rides. As Time Warner owns the license, a small walkthrough attraction was constructed at Warner Bros. Movie World called the Harry Potter Movie Magic Experience in 2001. This attraction was removed two years later. In 2010, Universal Islands of Adventure park opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Similar attractions have also opened in Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan and are planned for Universal Studios Beijing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Studios Hollywood)</span> Area at Universal Studios Hollywood

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a themed area at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park near Los Angeles. The area is themed to the Harry Potter media franchise, adapting elements from the film series and novels by J.K. Rowling. The attraction—the second Harry Potter-themed area to exist at a Universal resort—was designed by Universal Creative from an exclusive license with Warner Bros. Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wizarding World of Harry Potter</span> Harry Potter-themed land at Universal theme parks

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a chain of themed areas at Universal Destinations & Experiences based on the Harry Potter media franchise, adapting elements from the Warner Bros.' film series and original novels by J. K. Rowling. The areas were designed by Universal Creative from an exclusive license with Warner Bros. Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts</span> Ride at Universal Studios Florida

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is an indoor steel roller coaster designed by Universal Creative and built by Intamin at Universal Studios Florida, a theme park located within the Universal Orlando Resort. Similar to dark rides, the roller coaster utilizes special effects in a controlled-lighting environment and also employs motion-based 3-D projection of both animation and live-action sequences to enhance the experience. The ride, which is themed to the Gringotts Wizarding Bank, became the flagship attraction for the expanded Wizarding World of Harry Potter when it opened on July 8, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thierry Coup</span> French creative director

Thierry Jean-Andre Coup is the Chief Experiential Futurist at JOCOUP Creative. Coup began his career working in the film industry, performing set design and visual effects. He moved into theme park design in the early 1990s when Walt Disney Parks and Resorts offered him a position with Walt Disney Imagineering. In 1995, he transferred over to Universal Creative and led projects such as The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Transformers: The Ride, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley and Super Nintendo World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure</span> Roller coaster at Islands of Adventure

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a multiple-launch steel roller coaster located in the Hogsmeade section of Universal Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando. Manufactured by Intamin, the $300-million attraction opened to the public on June 13, 2019. The partially-enclosed motorbike coaster operates both indoor and outdoor, and it is the sixth Harry Potter-themed attraction created for the resort. Universal marketed the ride as "a highly-themed roller coaster" that focuses on "a different corner of the wizarding world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Epic Universe</span> Upcoming theme park in the United States

Universal Epic Universe is an upcoming theme park under construction in Orlando, Florida. Announced in August 2019, the park will be the fourth theme park at Universal Orlando. The park is scheduled to open in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragon Challenge</span> Defunct inverted roller coaster at Universals Islands of Adventure

Dragon Challenge, formerly named Dueling Dragons (1999–2010), was a pair of intertwined inverted roller coasters in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter area of Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida, United States. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard of Switzerland, the ride was a dueling roller coaster featuring two tracks – one side was called Chinese Fireball and the other Hungarian Horntail – that were themed as two chasing dragons. Its layout involved two trains sharing adjacent lift hills, with each traversing unique courses. Trains on the Chinese Fireball track reached a maximum speed of 60 mph (97 km/h), while trains on the Hungarian Horntail reached 55 mph (89 km/h). Both tracks featured five inversions and an identical ride duration of 2 minutes and 25 seconds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VelociCoaster</span> Roller coaster at Islands of Adventure

VelociCoaster is a launched roller coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Manufactured by Intamin, the ride opened to the public on June 10, 2021. It is themed to the Velociraptor dinosaurs depicted in the Jurassic World film franchise and is located in the Islands of Adventure's Jurassic Park area, occupying the site of the former Triceratops Encounter attraction. VelociCoaster features two high-speed launches powered by linear synchronous motors, a signature 155-foot-tall (47 m) top hat, four inversions, and a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).

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  50. ↑ "New 'Fast & Furious' coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  51. ↑ "Calling all speed demons: Fast & Furious roller coaster coming to Universal Studios". USA Today . Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  52. ↑ Roffe, Erica; Hutchinson, Paul (December 19, 2023). "Breaking news: Universal Studios confirm they are planning a theme park in Bedford Borough". Bedford Independent. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Universal Creative LinkedIn". LinkedIn.
  54. ↑ "This Amazing Adventure May be One of the Best Rides Ever Built. Here's the Inside Scoop". Theme Park Tourist. 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  55. ↑ "World Intellectual Property Organization" (PDF). World Intellectual Property Organization.
  56. ↑ Hill, Jim (2016-03-15). "Universal Orlando Has the Tech It Takes to Make "Skull Island: Reign of Kong" Trackless". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  57. ↑ "Past Thea Award recipients: 1994-2017". teaconnect.org. Archived from the original on 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
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  59. ↑ "Home Page". The Golden Ticket Awards. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
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  61. ↑ "The Theme Park Insider Awards". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
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