Inferno Posted Wednesday at 11:50 AM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 11:50 AM I can never tell if you're serious or just being sarcastic @Benin 😆 This is a very different situation to the London Resort though isn't it... And actually I'd argue that 6 years is not a long time at all when you consider what it is they're actually building. Construction is due to start next year, so really when you consider that in the meantime they will be arranging contracts with builders, engineers and suppliers etc, the project will be very much actively moving forward within months. Of course there's always the chance that it could be pulled, but really I think this is overwhelmingly positive and is looking very likely to go ahead. Very exciting! I honestly can't wait to visit, especially as my kids will be the perfect age for all this when it opens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glitch Posted Wednesday at 11:57 AM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 11:57 AM Look forward to it and especially the vloggers economy it will create! I might consider going full time on tiktok live and live streaming the park daily updating everyone on each new piece of merch and food that becomes avalible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted Wednesday at 12:20 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 12:20 PM 27 minutes ago, Inferno said: I can never tell if you're serious or just being sarcastic @Benin 😆 Always assume sarcasm. Like any project anything could happen to it. But once Universal had to reveal their hand it had far more chance than London Resort ever did. Everything crossed. Inferno and Matt 236 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inferno Posted Wednesday at 12:21 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 12:21 PM 23 minutes ago, Glitch said: Look forward to it and especially the vloggers economy it will create! I might consider going full time on tiktok live and live streaming the park daily updating everyone on each new piece of merch and food that becomes avalible! I don't know what's real and what isn't anymore 😆 This would probably be quite lucrative honestly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planenut Posted Wednesday at 06:25 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 06:25 PM Much more chance of going ahead though I can't imagine many folks aiming to use Luton Airport to get there. Though this is not a Governmental project, their employment figures are a bit far-fetched. It will be interesting as to the source of the bricks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Doyle Posted Wednesday at 06:32 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 06:32 PM I do look forward to seeing what excuses this country's famous exquisite collection of NIMBY's will have to try and stop it. However, this is exciting stuff and if/when it happens will majorly shake up both the UK and European theme park scenes!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inferno Posted Thursday at 02:58 AM Report Share Posted Thursday at 02:58 AM 8 hours ago, Martin Doyle said: what excuses this country's famous exquisite collection of NIMBY's will have to try and stop it. Ugh… Hopefully because of the site they’ve chosen this won’t be too bad an issue. There aren’t many housing estates close enough to really be too badly affected. They’ve also done a lot of work surveying the site, so hopefully the usual obligatory “rare wildlife” issue won’t come up. I think as well, just simply due to the state of things in the UK at the moment, the plans will all be waved through. We really do need this in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted Thursday at 05:58 AM Report Share Posted Thursday at 05:58 AM 11 hours ago, Martin Doyle said: I do look forward to seeing what excuses this country's famous exquisite collection of NIMBY's will have to try and stop it. However, this is exciting stuff and if/when it happens will majorly shake up both the UK and European theme park scenes!! Astoundingly, we have a project that the locals are heavily for. Don't bother reading social media comments though, complaints about muslims, poor pensioners and cost of living is all the blue ticks have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted Thursday at 07:30 AM Report Share Posted Thursday at 07:30 AM Post from the BBC - Bond and Paddington set to star at Universal park They mention Bond, Paddington and LoTR which is interesting.... Also says that Harry Potter will not be making an appearance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted Thursday at 08:21 AM Report Share Posted Thursday at 08:21 AM The sources in that BBC article just sound like people who they probably found lurking around the fence trying to get first glimpses. Feel sorry for the security if/when construction gets started. Having to deal with certain influencers appearing almost daily. Glitch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paultons Parkway Posted Thursday at 06:17 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 06:17 PM 10 hours ago, MattyB said: Post from the BBC - Bond and Paddington set to star at Universal park They mention Bond, Paddington and LoTR which is interesting.... Also says that Harry Potter will not be making an appearance Not surprising really. Harry Potter is only 30 odd miles away at Leavesden. Perhaps Universal and Harry Potter might offer joint ticketing to allow access to both on consecutive days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glitch Posted Thursday at 11:39 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 11:39 PM 5 hours ago, Paultons Parkway said: Not surprising really. Harry Potter is only 30 odd miles away at Leavesden. Perhaps Universal and Harry Potter might offer joint ticketing to allow access to both on consecutive days. You’d think a combo ticket would work well here as long as WB want the collaboration seeing as it still sells out months in advance. In other news has Johnny B jumped ships yet to work on the you can do whatever you like no matter the cost project yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted Friday at 07:31 AM Report Share Posted Friday at 07:31 AM I would expect a lot of the Merlin staff are probably eyeing up a potential move over to Universal at some point. Considering the redundancies the company is going through, I wouldn't be surprised. Inferno 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted Friday at 08:13 AM Report Share Posted Friday at 08:13 AM Depends. Given most will work in and around Midlands, you'd have to move closer to Bedford, and would the wages be better or as good as anywhere you could get nearby? Universal have their own creative team. They don't need the minds behind Hyperia. Glitch and Coaster_Contrarian 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted Friday at 08:00 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 08:00 PM I can definitely imagine some UK theme park staff will be tempted by a move. Moving from (say) the Surrey parks towards Bedford isn't a huge distance / upheaval. Prices for rent etc will be similar. Salary will probably be similar. But the draw for UK people to be able to say they work at Universal will be big. When I worked at Thorpe, which is when the London Resort park seemed potentially possible, I know people were saying they would be looking to move if it happened. I especially think your middle-manager folk will be tempted. It could represent career progression, that opportunity to be a part of something new and big, and look at going somewhere else if they become disgruntled with Merlin. Same could also be said for engineers and maybe even those slightly higher up. Universal will have their own Creative Team, Senior Leadership, etc in mind and happy to relocate as necessary. But they'll need plenty of people from the UK, and I'm sure they wouldn't grumble at people who have multiple years at the top UK theme parks coming over. This is what I've always said is the biggest risk for Merlin: the short term loss of staff. I think they'll be fine with visitation, and the premium price and product of Universal will just add a layer to the dynamic of the UK industry, rather than completely change it. But they will struggle if there's an exodus of staff looking to see if the grass is greener. I also think staffing for Halloween will become significantly harder. I can imagine loads of scare actors will have their heads turned at the prospect of saying they worked at Halloween Horror Nights for example. Even ones who live in Surrey (for example) will be happy to relocate for a couple months if needs be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.