Could Wicked Replace the Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure?
I have no insider knowledge here, and everything below is speculation built on public reporting and my own wishful thinking.
The Lost Continent is coming down, and I am having a hard time looking away. Roughly three-quarters of the land has already disappeared, and Universal has confirmed only that construction is underway for something new. The theme park rumor mill has settled on Pokémon as the replacement for the moment. Still, I want to make the case for a different property, one with green skin, pink bubbles, and a far better claim to this particular park.
Wicked makes more sense than Pokémon for Islands of Adventure
Islands of Adventure has always been a park built on stories that started on the page. The Lost Continent itself was based on epic poems and hero tales like Merlin, Sindbad, and Greek mythologies. Seuss, Jurassic Park, Marvel, Toon Lagoon, and Hogsmeade all began on the page, as did Wicked. It comes from Gregory Maguire’s novel, which reimagines L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, and that lineage makes it a far more natural neighbor for Dr. Seuss than a franchise born as a video game.
It is also a Universal Pictures property, which certainly does not hurt in that there are no licensing agreements or fees. Some may argue that Kong already broke the mold in not being based on literature, but I would remind you that Kong is a mini-land at best. For the major lands of Islands of Adventure, I’d love to see them stick to the literary theme!
Does the CityWalk event tell us anything?
I think it does. Universal has kept Wicked in front of guests long after the movie’s release, starting with Wicked: The Experience inside Universal Studios Florida and themed treats at CityWalk. Now comes Oztacular Spectacular, a one-day fan event at CityWalk with Glinda and Elphaba meet-and-greets, stained-glass photo spots, and a yellow brick dance floor. Photos from the event show how popular it turned out to be.
A company does not keep programming events around a franchise it thinks is fading, and it feels like they are testing its staying power – with pretty positive results. Wicked also reaches a cadre of teens and adults who might otherwise skip Islands of Adventure and its more Super Hero and Dinosaur focus. That is exactly the audience a new land could bring to the park.
What would the headline ride look like?
I would call it Escape From Oz, and I would set it at the end of the first film. It would be a book report-style ride, with guests tagging along with Elphaba and Glinda’s daring escape from the flying monkeys, Madame Morrible, and the Wizard at the end of the first movie. The dark ride portions would feel more like E.T., gliding through the Wizard’s palace. Then the ride would transform into a short launch coaster for “Defying Gravity,” with giant screens in the style of Gringotts putting Elphaba on her own broom beside you. A thrilling dark ride with a punch of excitement at the end for the triumphant moment Elphaba escapes!
Is there room for something lighter?
Yes, and that is where Glinda’s Bubble Gliders come in. A Zamperla Flying Carousel ride dressed in pink bubbles would give smaller guests and nervous riders something to enjoy. It would also look great from the walkway, a spinning canopy of floating bubbles. Every great land needs a ride the youngest guests can brag about. And Universal already has a relationship with Zamperla, having installed a version of this ride at Universal Kids Resort in Puss in Boots Del Mar.
What about a show and the food?
A stage show would center on “Dancing Through Life.” The Ozdust Spectacular would feature dance, music, big moving sets, and magical moments with talking Animals. It could be the land’s biggest crowd-pleaser on par with the stage shows at Epic Universe. Meanwhile, the attached Ozdust Dining Room would provide a “spledificatious” food experience. Universal has already been experimenting with Ozian foods, so it’s not much of a lift to move them to a dedicated restaurant.
What would the skyline look like?
This is my favorite part. Picture the Emerald City rising across the lagoon at dusk, with Mythos gone and nothing in the way. The lagoon is already the park’s best photo spot, and a new skyline would change how the whole place looks. Who can say it would be changed for the better, but it would definitely be changed for good!
Will it happen? Probably not, and if I had to bet, I would still bet on Pokémon. But given that I’d love the opportunity to defy gravity myself, I would happily be wrong about the odds!
Lead photo courtesy of Bioreconstruct.
