Island of the Wild Robot: An Introduction

 (Disclaimer: These five posts might be slightly more detailed than other ones. This is in case I actually pitch this to Universal Creative and hope that they build it in a park.)

I remember watching The Wild Robot for the first time. I was 20 years old and at my grandparents' house when they pulled it up in Peacock. I was not expecting much then, but looking back at it now, I consider it one of the biggest turning points of my life.

Why? Because that was when I met Brightbill, a character whose life mirrored mine in so many ways. Being a runt and someone who was raised differently connected with me as an Autistic person. I felt inspired by him, watching his rise from misfit to hero. And the crazy part is that several other people who are Autistic or have family members with Autism have related to this in a similar way.

With this being such a moving film for me, I want to see it represented in Universal Parks somehow. I'm sure I'm not the only one too. This was a movie that resonated with a lot of people, including the ones who made it. Plus, the film has been greenlit for a sequel, so it might have a bright future after all.

I've looked for many places to put this, including spots in Universal Islands of Adventure. I eventually came to the conclusion that Universal Epic Universe would be the best place to put it, mainly for three reasons:

1. The company might want to include their newer IPs in newer parks.
2. As great as Epic is, it does lack a family area. (I mean, there's Berk, but it kind of sits between a thrill area and a family area.)
3. The level of immersion there is something I'd like to see done with this IP.

Luckily, I know just where to put it in Epic. There is an expansion pad between the Stardust Racers coaster and the Ministry of Magic area. This would give us enough room to do whatever we want, so hopefully, it would be enough for this land.

OVERVIEW:

When guests walk past Stardust Racers, they will come to a portal carved into a rock. On top of the rock is a futuristic spire overgrown with moss. The gate around the portal is made of wood, featuring carvings of Fink, Pinktail, and Brightbill on the left and Thorn, Paddler, and Thunderbolt on the right. On top of that gate is a sign with the quote "I am a Wild Robot" on it, as well as the icon of a goose in flight over a yellow backdrop (which would also be added to the Chronos in the front of the park.) The light in the portal is yellow, mimicking this color.

On the other side of the portal, guests find themselves in a forest area in all of its natural beauty. It recreates the island seen in the film, as well as forests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. There are tall, green pine trees and animals in several places. Much like Berk, there would be several animatronic animals scattered throughout the land, including deer, rabbits, woodpeckers, laughing squirrels, and skunks that spray guests on hot days (don't worry, the spray wouldn't stink.) Most of the trees are real, but some are fake to hide the wiring going into the animatronics on them. The area is even beautifully-lit at night. There are colors projected onto the trees, owls that come out and hoot, and so on. 

But there is more to see than just nature here. When guests come into a clearing, they will see two family rides that they can do. They can even find a play area to the far right side of the land, and an interactive show and two E-Ticket attractions in the back of the area, the latter two of which are hidden in a mountain range. While they are here, the guests are not seen as human. They are animals on this uninhabited island, and they will experience these attractions as such.

The story of this area is set after the events of the film. Rozzum-7134 "Roz" has returned to the island for a brief moment of time (Fink did this by ordering her online.) However, her presence has drawn Universal Dynamics to the area, seeking to recapture her and bring her back to work for them. Although she eventually does go back to keep her animal friends safe, guests do not see it happen. This backstory is explained on some stone pillars found near the entrance of the area.

The main theme of the land is family, because that's what the movie is about. All of the rides here are geared towards families, and only one of them has a height requirement. So if there are families with kids who are too young to handle the thrills of Dark Universe or Stardust Racers, this is a good place for them to hang out.

Plus, there are several shopping and dining options here, spread throughout the land. Most of them are even dug into the natural landscape to match the nature feel. The only non-nature buildings here are Roz's hut, a wrecked Universal Dynamics boat, and a portal set against a mountain, which sends guests to the Greenhouse Restaurant.

So to summarize it all, the Island of the Wild Robot is a place for everyone, from the smallest critters to the biggest predators. It would truly be a great addition to Universal Epic Universe.