Local News reports part of Nintendo Land has been moved to new park

Image: Nintendo 

Though official reports about the future of Universal Orlando Resort, including Nintendo Land, have been pretty sparse, the rumor mill has been fairly active, with some very detailed descriptions of planned attractions leaking online. 

Originally, the plans for Nintendo Land were rumored to include attractions based on Mario Kart and a Donkey Kong roller coaster, but now local news station WFTV is reporting that those rides will be moving across the street to one of the new land parcels that will eventually be a part of Universal's third and fourth full theme park (even though Universal likes to call Volcano Bay, their third theme park, we're still not buying it). Though there are of course still plans to bring Nintendo Land to Universal Studios Florida in the very near future, it looks like Universal is hoping to spread Nintendo out the same way they have with the Harry Potter License, and will now be focusing on a Pokémon attraction at Universal Studios Florida for the pilot Nintendo Land. 

So what happens next?

It's hard to believe that Universal's "secret" plan to build additional theme parks, hotels, and more has been in the works for nearly four years now, with not as much as a peep from officials about this ambitious undertaking. However, with Universal's legal problems seemingly being solved, and Universal reportedly in talks with the Orange County Government about creating a unique transportation solution for guests wanting to visit the new parks, it looks like things are finally starting to really come together for this project. Though 2018 might be too much to hope for with regard to an official announcement, we'd guess that by this time next year, these new parks are at least confirmed to be in development with a launch year window (potentially as soon as 2021) in sight. 

In the meantime, Universal Orlando Resort is likely focusing on the 2018 opening of its all new Aventura Hotel, as well as the recently announced new Value hotel category, which will see the opening of Surfside Inn and Suites in the summer of 2019 and Dockside Inn and Suites in 2020. And with three new hotels opening in three years, it seems Universal may just be prepared for their new theme parks to open at the beginning of the next decade.

Image: Universal Orlando Resort