Universal Orlando Resort has never been afraid to retire an aging idea when something bigger can take its place.Islands of Adventure has evolved considerably since opening in 1999, and Universal continues looking toward its next generation of experiences. That naturally puts some of the park’s oldest areas under a brighter spotlight.One land stands out.It occupies valuable space, features two major water rides, and relies heavily on cartoon characters that don’t carry the same recognition among younger guests as they once did.Universal hasn’t announced that this land is disappearing. There is no confirmed replacement project, either. Still, fans have plenty of reasons to imagine what could eventually happen here.And two incredibly recognizable cartoon franchises could offer an intriguing path forward.Toon Lagoon Remains a Major Piece of Islands of AdventureToon Lagoon has been part of Islands of Adventure since opening day in 1999.Rather than building the land around one franchise, Universal created a colorful collection of comic-strip and cartoon characters. Guests encounter everything from Popeye and Betty Boop to Heathcliff.The land also contains two major attractions.Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges sends guests through a chaotic rafting adventure where getting soaked is practically guaranteed. Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls combines a log-flume experience with scenes featuring Dudley Do-Right before ending with its enormous final plunge.Me Ship, the Olive provides another Popeye presence and gives younger guests an interactive play area.The problem isn’t necessarily the attractions themselves.It’s the characters.Popeye remains recognizable, but younger generations haven’t grown up with him in the same way previous generations did. The same applies to Dudley Do-Right and several other characters throughout Toon Lagoon.That creates an interesting opportunity for Universal.Credit: UniversalSpongeBob and Scooby-Doo Haven’t Gone AnywhereCartoon tastes change quickly, but SpongeBob SquarePants and Scooby-Doo have demonstrated unusual staying power.SpongeBob SquarePants premiered in 1999, coincidentally, the same year Islands of Adventure opened. More than 25 years later, SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and the rest of Bikini Bottom remain prominent characters.Universal also has an existing relationship with SpongeBob. Universal Kids Resort, opened in Texas in 2026, features a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed area.Scooby-Doo carries an even longer history.The franchise dates to 1969, yet Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma continue appearing in entertainment and merchandise.That makes both properties intriguing candidates if Universal ever decides Toon Lagoon needs a new identity.And SpongeBob already offers an obvious destination.Credit: NickelodeonBikini Bottom Could Take Over Popeye’s CornerImagine walking into Toon Lagoon and finding Bikini Bottom instead.Universal could transform the colorful area surrounding Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges into SpongeBob’s underwater world without necessarily eliminating the existing ride infrastructure.The existing raft ride could become a chaotic boating school adventure.Guests might board circular “boats” before SpongeBob attempts another lesson at Mrs. Puff’s Boating School. Anyone familiar with SpongeBob knows how those lessons usually end.A peaceful driving test could quickly spiral out of control.The attraction could send guests crashing through Bikini Bottom while water effects preserve what makes the current Popeye ride so popular on hot Florida afternoons.Universal could surround it with places inspired by SpongeBob’s pineapple, Squidward’s home, and the Krusty Krab.That’s entirely hypothetical. Universal has announced no such transformation.But the existing ride system provides an interesting foundation for the idea.Credit: UniversalScooby-Doo Could Reinvent Ripsaw FallsDudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls presents another intriguing possibility.Rather than removing the log flume, Universal could transform those ride vehicles into stylized versions of the Mystery Machine and send guests alongside Mystery Inc. on another investigation.A mysterious monster has appeared, and Scooby and the gang need help discovering who’s behind it.Guests could travel through darkened scenes in which Shaggy and Scooby stumble into trouble while Fred, Daphne, and Velma search for clues. Universal could use physical sets, practical effects, and animated figures to create something resembling a classic Scooby-Doo episode.Then comes Ripsaw Falls’ signature moment.The investigation could lead guests directly toward the towering final drop. Just before plunging downward, riders could hear Scooby’s familiar terrified cry before their Mystery Machine races down the hill and hits the water below.It would preserve the thrill that already exists while wrapping it around characters generations of guests recognize.Credit: UniversalToon Lagoon’s Future Remains Wide OpenNone of this means Popeye is officially leaving Islands of Adventure. Universal Orlando Resort hasn’t announced a Toon Lagoon closure, a Bikini Bottom replacement, or a Scooby-Doo transformation for Ripsaw Falls. These possibilities remain exactly that: possibilities.Still, theme parks rarely remain frozen in time.Toon Lagoon has entertained guests for more than a quarter-century, and its two major attractions occupy significant real estate inside one of Universal Orlando Resort’s flagship parks.Eventually, Universal could decide that those rides need characters with stronger connections to today’s families.If that day comes, SpongeBob and Scooby-Doo would give Universal two recognizable franchises without requiring the company to abandon the area’s biggest attractions.Popeye could sail away. Bikini Bottom could move in. And somewhere nearby, the Mystery Machine could be headed toward one very big drop.For now, Universal fans can only imagine what the next chapter of Toon Lagoon might look like.The post Popeye Out, Bikini Bottom In: Universal Fans Brace for Massive Toon Lagoon Retheme appeared first on Inside the Magic.