I know most people don't like the DS Zelda games, but I thought they had some practical and fun features used by a second touchscreen..

Some of these features are:

1. The option to draw your boomerang/bombchu's path. Slow-mo time can activate when this happens like the arrow bolting.

2. Having a temporary NPC partner that you can control while also controlling Link at the same time. Spirit tracks did this with Phantom Zelda: http://youtu.be/pgBgfziW26k?t=1m13s

3. Set your transportation to auto-pilot by drawing its trail on a map screen like PH's steamboat. I think Zelda U is already doing this with Epona without marking a trail though)

4. Boss fights that extend from the GamePad screen to the TV screen. Think of PH's tall wooden robot boss: http://youtu.be/unZUjqzIkEI?t=26s (images above the heart meter is the top screen)

5. Writing notes on maps. Definitely the easiest one to implement. The latest gameplay trailer showed pin marking on a map so maybe there will be note writing as well? 

6. Boss fights where one screen shows the boss perspective because the other screen is covered up by something. This appears in Phantom Hourglass where a hermit crab blinds your point of view. However, the other screen show's the boss' point of view and you can control Link at this time to aim the bow at the boss: http://youtu.be/pXERlA0LvnA?t=12s

Optional features I want to return the most are writing notes on maps, a partner who you can control like Spirit Tracks, and controlling your transport by drawing their destination on a map.

Which feature would like to return in Zelda U?

3. I don't know why people think Epona will work like that. All Aonuma was saying was that she doesn't collide into trees if you're walking towards one. You still control her, but it's more like the boat in WWHD. She's always moving forward, and the only input you're making is whether to steer her left or right.

But on topic, no. I want none of that other than writing on maps. I want to forget I have a second screen. Maps, and that's it.

I agree with spemanig.

Writing on maps is the only feature that I want, other than the quick item screen used in WindWaker HD.

I suppose some sort of use in dungeons as a way of solving puzzles (like with the twisty boss keys in Skyward Sword) would be acceptable if the puzzles were fun and weren't done in such a way to take you out the action. For instance the block sliding dungeon towards the end of Skyward, the block element could have been manipulated really nicely on the touch screen.

Essentially; I don't want them to be putting in touch screen/ dual screen elements for the sake of it. But where theres an essential part of the design that makes sense to use the GamePad's non-standard functions I want them to do it.

Useful, I know. "Don't put stuff in, unless it's good"

I wouldn't be opposed to it, as long as there are classic controls and I get to use the classic controller.

Oh, I see. You're basing this off that thread. *smirks*

1. I wouldn't mind that as long as the transition to drawing mode is cool, quick, and not too annoying when used often.

2. I liked Spirit Tracks a lot less than PhantomH, and one of the reasons was this. Switching between two characters amidst solving puzzles was like playing the Lego games in multiplayer mode by yourself.

3.  Also not the greatest feature, and I agree with what spemanig said on the topic. It worked best on PH. Shouldn't be applied to a home console Zelda.

4. This is a possibility, but obviously it can't work the same way for WiiU as with the DS because in those specific bossfights, both screens were used to present one image. (Top screen displays top half of boss chamber, bottom screen shows bottom half)

5. Really good feature, and should be polished and expanded for the upcoming game. It was a a little meh on DS since due to the low res screen, it was hard to make any text look nice.

6. Now, this could be developed into a new dungeon item to use on enemies, with the GamePad showing the enemy's view. There could be a tough overworld mob to use it on, aside from any bosses.

NO!!!!!