Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Now Open!

[SplashJacket]

That's interesting to read about those who did not read the books but loved the movies. My husband was like that. He loved the movies. I kept telling him about what was Not in the movies and he got interested in reading the books after that. He is glad he did. Those books started him reading more books. He has never cared for reading books, period. But the HP books started him on the road of experiencing more books. All turned out good All because he read the HP novels.

Never read or watched the movies but love the lands

 

[MisterPenguin]

There's a whole section stuck being on. Individual bulbs elsewhere aren't lighting up or are also stuck on...

Here, the two inner circles don't fully light up. Some bulbs in the outer circle don't light up, and some bulbs are off-colored.

Ground lighting is cursed!!!

 

[networkpro]

Hmm I wonder what it says about me if so far I'm only interested so far in Constellation Carrousel and Starfall Racers ? Jaded and looking only for unique new attractions?

 

[JoeCamel]

There's a whole section stuck being on. Individual bulbs elsewhere aren't lighting up or are also stuck on...

View attachment 849348


Here, the two inner circles don't fully light up. Some bulbs in the outer circle don't light up, and some bulbs are off-colored.

View attachment 849349


Ground lighting is cursed!!!

60 days til it opens, over/under on if they will work then?

 

[Jrb1979]

Hmm I wonder what it says about me if so far I'm only interested so far in Constellation Carrousel and Starfall Racers ? Jaded and looking only for unique new attractions?

I'm in a similar boat in a sense. Outside of Mario, none of the IP are a draw for me. I'm very excited for the Monsters ride based on the reviews as well as Starfall racers. IIP has never been why I went to Disney or Universal.

 

[Rich Brownn]

Umm? Dollars are being spent on how to train your dragon. They are making a whole new live action movie about it and just spent a billion dollars on an entire theme park land about it. What are you even talking about??? I also love that when you say something it's fact but when anyone disagrees it's personal emotions.

Berk was beautiful.

 

[mkt]

Its free publicity for them (universal) and they didn’t break any rules. The only people mad about them are the ones that are jealous they couldn’t post or review anything before they did. Otherwise, nobody in the general public cares. Its a themepark. Its not serious.

They did.

There are signs all over the park stating photography is not allowed.

 

[BringMeTheHoriz]

Berk was beautiful.

After walking through the land I asked my family for their feelings about the intrusive sightlines, even pointing out Stardust and the Untrainable Dragon show building. They didn’t notice these things until I pointed them out, and even after doing so they didn’t care at all. As we walked back to the car my family gave Berk full marks as the best land in the park. They were not expecting anything at all from Hiccups Wing Gliders and it became their consensus favorite ride in the entire park. Berk isn’t just a slam dunk, it’s a breakaway windmill slam dunk with the crowd going berserk (Berk-serk?) as confetti rains down from the ceiling. Guests are absolutely going to eat this land up, the gamble on this IP paid off big time.

 

[Moth]

After walking through the land I asked my family for their feelings about the intrusive sightlines, even pointing out Stardust and the Untrainable Dragon show building. They didn’t notice these things until I pointed them out, and even after doing so they didn’t care at all. As we walked back to the car my family gave Berk full marks as the best land in the park. They were not expecting anything at all from Hiccups Wing Gliders and it became their consensus favorite ride in the entire park. Berk isn’t just a slam dunk, it’s a breakaway windmill slam dunk with the crowd going berserk (Berk-serk?) as confetti rains down from the ceiling. Guests are absolutely going to eat this land up, the gamble on this IP paid off big time.

The last 15 years has allowed a deep passionate love for the series to build, much akin to films like Lilo and Stitch, the iron, after all this time, after the series had a definitive end, is still red hot. I guarantee that a land based off Shrek or Kung Fu Panda would not garner the same passionate reactions that are coming out of Berk.

 

[BringMeTheHoriz]

The last 15 years has allowed a deep passionate love for the series to build, much akin to films like Lilo and Stitch, the iron, after all this time, after the series had a definitive end, is still red hot. I guarantee that a land based off Shrek or Kung Fu Panda would not garner the same passionate reactions that are coming out of Berk.

Great observation. The characters, the themes, the setting, and the aesthetic of the movies just transcends time and generations. The dream of flight is relatable to everybody, dragons have always been cool (bonus: in the series there’s a dragon to match everyone’s personality), adventure is in all of our hearts, and the Nordic region and artwork is beautiful. Those ingredients are enough to create a timeless land, all that was needed was Creative execution. And boy did they execute.

 

[mkt]

One of the rumors floating around - and to be clear, I haven’t heard it from enough sources to say it’s true - is that some influencers actually reached out to Team Members on social media and paid for access during previews. I’ve also heard the reverse: that some TMs offered up their spots to influencers for a price.

If any of that’s true… yeah, that’s a massive no-no.

I’ve now heard from a several more people that terminations related to “leaks” - meaning unauthorized photos, videos, livestreams, or reselling preview merch - have reportedly ranged from several dozen to over 100 per day during previews.

I want to be clear: I don’t know how many of those were Team Members personally breaking the rules vs. their guests doing it. But when a TM gets someone in for free, they’re responsible and accountable for their guest’s behavior.

Most of those terminations have been marked as no rehire, and in many cases, folks were also trespassed: either for the violation itself or for how they reacted when caught.

This is the "find out" part after "hecking around".

 

[darkridenjoyer]

Leaks you say? Did anyone have the cajones to do a POV of Monsters Unchained?

 

[Tom Morrow]

Seems like they really went all out on the lighting. I wish they'd consider opening the park later so it can stay open during night time more often, both because of the lighting and because of the severe lack of shade in the daytime.

 

[Stripes]

60 days til it opens, over/under on if they will work then?

I'll bet the system will need continuous troubleshooting.

 

[JoeCamel]

I'll bet the system will need continuous troubleshooting.

Epcot guy moved over to Epic?

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I’ve now heard from a several more people that terminations related to “leaks” - meaning unauthorized photos, videos, livestreams, or reselling preview merch - have reportedly ranged from several dozen to over 100 per day during previews.

Does Universal has such a large supply of staffing that it can let go of up to 100 per day?? That’s a lot of people.

 

[MisterPenguin]

As we walked back to the car my family gave Berk full marks as the best land in the park. They were not expecting anything at all from Hiccups Wing Gliders and it became their consensus favorite ride in the entire park. Berk isn’t just a slam dunk, it’s a breakaway windmill slam dunk with the crowd going berserk (Berk-serk?) as confetti rains down from the ceiling. Guests are absolutely going to eat this land up, the gamble on this IP paid off big time.

Called it back in January of last year...

I honestly expect HTTYD to be a bit of a sleeper hit...

I concur. Seems like the most complete and fun land of the group.

 

[Laura]

Seems like they really went all out on the lighting. I wish they'd consider opening the park later so it can stay open during night time more often, both because of the lighting and because of the severe lack of shade in the daytime.

This is what I’m hoping for the most. I’m a night owl and I hate how early all the other parks close. I am someone who enjoys *arriving* at HHN at midnight.

After experiencing Celestial Park in person in the daytime, I know I could spend hours there at night without entering any other portals. I felt like Celestial Park had a World Showcase vibe with all the restaurants, bars, and shops, but the scenery is so much better and there’s a lot more space to move around. We ate lunch on a shady, breezy patio at Meteor Astropub overlooking Stardust Racers and we could have sat there for hours.

 

[Laura]

As we walked back to the car my family gave Berk full marks as the best land in the park. They were not expecting anything at all from Hiccups Wing Gliders and it became their consensus favorite ride in the entire park.

That was my favorite ride as well. Though Stardust Racers was closed during my visit, and Battle at the Ministry of course. So once I’m able to experience those 2 rides, Hiccups might fall to 3rd place. But it will be a solid 3rd, with a decent gap between that and Monsters which I would put below it.

 

[mkt]

Does Universal has such a large supply of staffing that it can let go of up to 100 per day?? That’s a lot of people.

Nope. But this is one area that’s zero tolerance.