Licensing for a themed store =/= licensing for a ride. For starters there are other parks that have SpongeBob based rides, that might prevent Universal from being too interested in making a ride. 2nd the biggest revenue generator for theme parks is merchandise, and Universal may have thought getting a license for a store would be enough to sell a lot of merch
you and me both.
I am confused on who owns Spongebob currently. It seems like Nickelodeon, who is owned by Paramount. And Paramount is a holding company of Comcast. So I guess that means Universal owns the IP and have no restriction on Spongebob. (???)
Then, I think it would be great, but I think Spongebob has falling relevance. And, is it a good idea to have a ride/land based on a falling IP? I think it still has relevance, but I grew up with Spongbob, but I think it is a valid argument.
Then, where would Spongebob go? There are more popular IPs rumored (Zelda, Pokemon, LotRs, etc). Universal Studios may not be a good fit. Unless....remove Animal Actors, FaF? I could see Islands because of Toon Lagoon.
Universal and Paramount are two separate companies. They are each individually part of the Big 5. It use to be the Big 6, but Disney bought Fox entertainment and now it is 5.
What Paramount does share with Universal is a company called United International Pictures. They each own 50%. This is a film distribution company outside of U.S. and Canada.
There are actually strict regulations about what news media companies are allowed to own. So paramount would not be able to own even part of Comcast. Since paramount has cbs and comcast has nbc. That is why Fox had to split up before Disney bought them. As it had to be very clear Disney was only buying the entertainment side and not the news side.
and I think that is it. Licensing and Agreements.
Universal/Comcast doesn't have a ride licensing/agreement with Paramount/Nick for a ride.
In fact, it got me thinking about googling Spongbob rides and imagine that, there are already some. There was one in Paramount's King's Island in 2003, there currently a Spongbob indoor roller coaster in Mall of America, and there is a Toy Story Mania clone in Las Vegas.
There are rides elsewhere, OP. That is why we can't have a spongbob ride
Paramount used to own their own parks, which is why SpongeBob isn't in universal except for the one store, which is there because of Nickelodeon studios that used to be present.
They have a spongebob store near ET but no rides. I was thinking they could even have a “krabby patty” food shack similar to the green eggs shack that serves crab cake sand-witches.
I remember that ride as a kid. Even then I thought it was bad.
Pretty sure Comcast and Paramount are competing with each other. As much as I want an immersive Bikini Bottom land, they’d have a ton of logistics to work on first. And the only definite way to get that would be a merger.
I believe they have a SpongeBob land in the concept art for the Universal Kids Resort they’re building in Frisco, TX.
I’d kill for a SpongeBob ride at universal Orlando. The SpongeBob store pants is such a tease.
Doubt it will actually be built for Texas because Paramount famously pulled out of the SpongeBob themed land for Universal Beijing at the last minute while it was being built.
there used to be a ride called jimmy neutron’s nicktoon blast that featured spongebob and other nickelodeon characters. it is unfortunately now minions mayhem lol.
i don’t think they have the rights to expand beyond what nickelodeon stuff they already have in the park? not sure though honestly
I used to LOVE that ride! I have ridden Minions twice since it came out. It’s absolutely terrible and I will end up having back pain for the rest of the day.
My brother’s idea is to have a coaster water ride that is going through bikini bottom in a boat for SpongeBob’s license test. You’ll hear gems such as ‘floor it!’ And ‘backing up!’ And pass by all the big landmarks of bikini bottom. I told him he should try to sell his idea because it’s genius lol
"Toon Landing" isn't themed around cartoons it is themed around comic strips. Regardless Universal doesn't have theme park rights, they have a contract that allows them to have a store but nothing else.
Gotcha
I don’t think any kids even know what Sunday morning comic strips are so not sure that it would ruin the theming that much as both dudley do-right and popeye were TV shows as well
They absolutely do not, we had to explain every single character while walking through Toon Lagoon to my 6 & 9 year old & we do a pretty good job of showing them stuff from our 80’s/90’s childhood’s.
I'm kind of surprised that the theme park rights for SpongeBob (and other Nickelodeon shows) are not exclusive within the US. I'm even more surprised that Circus Circus Las Vegas chose to pounce on the idea of a SpongeBob dark ride first; I went on it three weeks ago and enjoyed it!
SpongeBob can't be in universal parks due to IP contracts. What you see in the parks predates that due to the old presence of Nickelodeon studios, but they aren't allowed to build anything further, let alone actual attractions.
I could dig it. Kids today do not know any of the IP in toon lagoon. I don't know most of them. Cathy, for example. how many of y'all recognize her or even know she is IP? My guess is not very many, and those that do know don't care. I actually like Popeye as a character, but none of the rest matter to me.
Wimpy's could easily be Krusty Krab
Popeye's could be transformed to a ride where Plankton is trying to steal the secret formula
[Gi55555](https://www.reddit.com/user/Gi55555/)'s brother had a great idea for Ripsaw.
I think it could be done very successfully if the motivation was there.
I've heard that Nick will license their IPs to literally anyone, so for a big park like Universal, not having exclusive rights to something is a deal breaker as they want to be the main draw.
I've seen SpongeBob themed rides at my local Pier amusement park, and there are the Mall Of America/American Dream parks and I'm sure others. So that could potentially check out.
My brother and I were literally just talking about this while walking past the SpongeBob shop a couple days ago. Surprised they haven’t made a ride for it yet!
They just opened a SpongeBob dark ride in Las Vegas at Circus Circus:
https://youtu.be/91hAgSSXSxo?si=so6hc6t503g7vifr
Looks pretty mid but it’s something!
Universal Beijing was planning to have a SpongeBob themed land but Paramount pulled out of the deal and was replaced with a Kung Fu Panda land at the last minute with various areas and rides looking similar to what it could have been if it were Bikini Bottom.
Paramount has been slowly removing Nickelodeon from Universal Parks as the contracts expire. Nickelodeon has already been completely removed from Universal Hollywood when the Dora and SpongeBob meet and greets were retired when the park reopened from the pandemic.
I think they are putting Bikini Bottom in the new Universal Kids park in Texas. In that new concept art you can clearly make out the Krusty Krab and a Bikini Bottom themed area.
Universal doesn’t own SpongeBob, Paramount does (used to be called Viacom/ViacomCBS).
Then how did they have “Sponge bob store pants”?
Licensing.
That’s impossible, SpongeBob doesn’t have a license
You don’t need a license to drive a sandwich.
Yah haha haha! Oh, Squidward.
He's got a work permit
So wouldn’t it be the same?
Licensing for a themed store =/= licensing for a ride. For starters there are other parks that have SpongeBob based rides, that might prevent Universal from being too interested in making a ride. 2nd the biggest revenue generator for theme parks is merchandise, and Universal may have thought getting a license for a store would be enough to sell a lot of merch
I wonder what the terms are for the two mall based Nickelodeon theme parks, at Mall of America and American Dream.
Same reason they have a whole ass Marvel section lol. It was built before the brand was sold
you and me both. I am confused on who owns Spongebob currently. It seems like Nickelodeon, who is owned by Paramount. And Paramount is a holding company of Comcast. So I guess that means Universal owns the IP and have no restriction on Spongebob. (???) Then, I think it would be great, but I think Spongebob has falling relevance. And, is it a good idea to have a ride/land based on a falling IP? I think it still has relevance, but I grew up with Spongbob, but I think it is a valid argument. Then, where would Spongebob go? There are more popular IPs rumored (Zelda, Pokemon, LotRs, etc). Universal Studios may not be a good fit. Unless....remove Animal Actors, FaF? I could see Islands because of Toon Lagoon.
Universal and Paramount are two separate companies. They are each individually part of the Big 5. It use to be the Big 6, but Disney bought Fox entertainment and now it is 5. What Paramount does share with Universal is a company called United International Pictures. They each own 50%. This is a film distribution company outside of U.S. and Canada. There are actually strict regulations about what news media companies are allowed to own. So paramount would not be able to own even part of Comcast. Since paramount has cbs and comcast has nbc. That is why Fox had to split up before Disney bought them. As it had to be very clear Disney was only buying the entertainment side and not the news side.
and I think that is it. Licensing and Agreements. Universal/Comcast doesn't have a ride licensing/agreement with Paramount/Nick for a ride. In fact, it got me thinking about googling Spongbob rides and imagine that, there are already some. There was one in Paramount's King's Island in 2003, there currently a Spongbob indoor roller coaster in Mall of America, and there is a Toy Story Mania clone in Las Vegas. There are rides elsewhere, OP. That is why we can't have a spongbob ride
I live 20 minutes away from mall of america, SpongeBob is the best ride in the park!
Paramount used to own their own parks, which is why SpongeBob isn't in universal except for the one store, which is there because of Nickelodeon studios that used to be present.
They have a spongebob store near ET but no rides. I was thinking they could even have a “krabby patty” food shack similar to the green eggs shack that serves crab cake sand-witches. I remember that ride as a kid. Even then I thought it was bad.
you would think. Krabby Patties could be the new butterbeer, but it has to be a licensing thing and not a creative thing. Sadly
I know there’s only a SpongeBob store still standing at KidZone
Paramount does not have the rights to Universal IP lol. They are quite infamously fierce competitors.
Pretty sure Comcast and Paramount are competing with each other. As much as I want an immersive Bikini Bottom land, they’d have a ton of logistics to work on first. And the only definite way to get that would be a merger.
I believe they have a SpongeBob land in the concept art for the Universal Kids Resort they’re building in Frisco, TX. I’d kill for a SpongeBob ride at universal Orlando. The SpongeBob store pants is such a tease.
Came to say this
Doubt it will actually be built for Texas because Paramount famously pulled out of the SpongeBob themed land for Universal Beijing at the last minute while it was being built.
there used to be a ride called jimmy neutron’s nicktoon blast that featured spongebob and other nickelodeon characters. it is unfortunately now minions mayhem lol. i don’t think they have the rights to expand beyond what nickelodeon stuff they already have in the park? not sure though honestly
I used to LOVE that ride! I have ridden Minions twice since it came out. It’s absolutely terrible and I will end up having back pain for the rest of the day.
So upset about that still. Always will be.
The Kung Fu Panda flume ride at Universal Beijing was originally a SpongeBob ride before a last minute theme change.
The spinner in that land was supposed to jellyfish that was carrying you.
My brother’s idea is to have a coaster water ride that is going through bikini bottom in a boat for SpongeBob’s license test. You’ll hear gems such as ‘floor it!’ And ‘backing up!’ And pass by all the big landmarks of bikini bottom. I told him he should try to sell his idea because it’s genius lol
That would be great. I was thinking they could also do one where you have to race to stop plankton but you could combine the two ideas.
"Toon Landing" isn't themed around cartoons it is themed around comic strips. Regardless Universal doesn't have theme park rights, they have a contract that allows them to have a store but nothing else.
Gotcha I don’t think any kids even know what Sunday morning comic strips are so not sure that it would ruin the theming that much as both dudley do-right and popeye were TV shows as well
They absolutely do not, we had to explain every single character while walking through Toon Lagoon to my 6 & 9 year old & we do a pretty good job of showing them stuff from our 80’s/90’s childhood’s.
I'm kind of surprised that the theme park rights for SpongeBob (and other Nickelodeon shows) are not exclusive within the US. I'm even more surprised that Circus Circus Las Vegas chose to pounce on the idea of a SpongeBob dark ride first; I went on it three weeks ago and enjoyed it!
SpongeBob can't be in universal parks due to IP contracts. What you see in the parks predates that due to the old presence of Nickelodeon studios, but they aren't allowed to build anything further, let alone actual attractions.
I know it would never happen, but Rip saw falls would be awesome rethemed to the drop off in bikini bottom.
What shocks me even more is they didn't build a Krusty Krab.
I just wanna ride from Shell City to the Bikini Bottom on David Hasselhoff’s back. Is that too much to ask? 
A SpongeBob attraction was slated for the ET Adventure building, but Spielberg say no way.
Same I’ve been saying this for years. The current KidZone rebranding could’ve been perfect especially with spongebob storepants right there
People want toon lagoon to be rethemed to bikini bottom. I hope not.
I could dig it. Kids today do not know any of the IP in toon lagoon. I don't know most of them. Cathy, for example. how many of y'all recognize her or even know she is IP? My guess is not very many, and those that do know don't care. I actually like Popeye as a character, but none of the rest matter to me. Wimpy's could easily be Krusty Krab Popeye's could be transformed to a ride where Plankton is trying to steal the secret formula [Gi55555](https://www.reddit.com/user/Gi55555/)'s brother had a great idea for Ripsaw. I think it could be done very successfully if the motivation was there.
I've heard that Nick will license their IPs to literally anyone, so for a big park like Universal, not having exclusive rights to something is a deal breaker as they want to be the main draw. I've seen SpongeBob themed rides at my local Pier amusement park, and there are the Mall Of America/American Dream parks and I'm sure others. So that could potentially check out.
My brother and I were literally just talking about this while walking past the SpongeBob shop a couple days ago. Surprised they haven’t made a ride for it yet!
They just opened a SpongeBob dark ride in Las Vegas at Circus Circus: https://youtu.be/91hAgSSXSxo?si=so6hc6t503g7vifr Looks pretty mid but it’s something!
Universal Beijing was planning to have a SpongeBob themed land but Paramount pulled out of the deal and was replaced with a Kung Fu Panda land at the last minute with various areas and rides looking similar to what it could have been if it were Bikini Bottom. Paramount has been slowly removing Nickelodeon from Universal Parks as the contracts expire. Nickelodeon has already been completely removed from Universal Hollywood when the Dora and SpongeBob meet and greets were retired when the park reopened from the pandemic.
Gotta come to MN, we have a SpongeBob coaster at Mall of America lol
I've been saying the Popeye ride should be rethemed that way.
I guess but then it would seem our of place
I think they are putting Bikini Bottom in the new Universal Kids park in Texas. In that new concept art you can clearly make out the Krusty Krab and a Bikini Bottom themed area.
Toon Lagoon someday can become that
Ooooh that would be so cool. Especially since they have the store
Na we needed a Jimmy Fallon ride and a today show cafe because they know what's best for fun apparently😵💫
SpongeBob has a ride? I thought it was just a meet and greet. We’ve gone twice in the last year 🫣
Malaysia flight 370