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

[JT3000]

My overriding view, though, was confusion about why they seem to go so close toward Disney-level theming and immersion as though that's what they're aiming for, even in the portal concept, but then cut corners all over the place such that it doesn't quite get there. For example, Darkmoor has a lot that looks great, but why build a plain steel rollercoaster surrounded by nets and plain metal fences in the middle of it all?

I'm not going to defend Werewolf, which was a last minute addition, but Disney does the exact same thing. So if Dark Universe doesn't reach Disney-level theming, that isn't the reason why.

 

[mkt]

Universal finally accepted reality, and pics are allowed once more.

Yay.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Just thinking about Stardust Racers and how the only portal it's visible outside of Celestial Park from is Berk.

What of instead of having this really tall coaster in one corner of the park, you board at the park entrance (like the Disneyland RR) have the coaster closer to the ground, but weave its way through all the areas with its own unique "portals" (tunnels) that take you into the lands to give you a preview of them? Ride along the rooftops of Paris, into the catacombs of Darkmoor, race Rainbow Road in MK, and splash into the bay of Berk?

It might break the immersion of some areas, but those same tunnels could act as berms themselves and the coaster would bring kinetic energy to each land. Right now it's the park's tallest ride, but is otherwise self-contained with no scenery.

 

[celluloid]

What's the third large scale dark ride? The only thing I can think of is Mario Kart, but I'm not sure I'd call that large scale. It's only like 4 minutes long and it's also kind of terrible, although the sets are good. It would be a great C or D ticket (probably D, although the length holds it back for a dark ride) if they dumped the terrible AR shooting aspect (which also distracts from the quality sets) and just let it be a Mario ride.

Monsters looks potentially great though, and everything I've heard about the HP ride sounds fantastic.

Mileage may very. I get it is not everyone's cup of tea or E ticket to some, but it is a large scale dark ride.

 

[BringMeTheHoriz]

Spoiler

I really liked how they introduced Ygor (aka my new "hear me out"—he's so handsome and cute, I just wanna hug him ). He gave me Arkham Asylum character vibes, and I feel like he has a more interesting personality than Victoria.

I was afraid it would feel like a superhero movie with a monster skin, and honestly, it kind of did. I wish it had more suspense, tension, and a bit of tragedy—without those, I don’t think the horror really works. I’d even say the eerie, silent atmosphere of the catacombs and tunnels, where you know something is chasing you but can’t see it, wasn’t fully used to build tension and fear.

I think Disney could still improve the concept for the villains' dark ride.

Something I really appreciate is that it has a strong identity in how the world is stylized. We haven’t seen Harry’s POV yet, but even so, it’s already my favorite land.

Spoiler

I’m pretty sure the very last scene of the ride has the tragedy you’re looking for

 

[Agent H]

View attachment 852012

Why, once you're in the queue, and the placemaking puts one in the wizarding world, is their a sign advertising the name of the attraction? Midway Mania does the same thing by using "Toy Story" on the fake game boxes.

Also, funny that if there's an emergency and you're looking to run out of the building, there are exit signs pointing away from the very clearly visible outside. (Yes, it's probably a land-locked overflow queue there, but, in a real emergency, who isn't going to run out that side portal rather than head for the further-away entrance?)

My god that sign looks out of place. It looks like it should be advertising new food items at “ insert chain restaurant here”.

 

[celluloid]

My god that sign looks out of place. It looks like it should be advertising new food items at “ insert chain restaurant here”.

Forbidden Journey does the title of the name appearing in fiber optics, Harry Potter and The Escape From Gringotts is permanantly ornate over the Bank entrance.


This is the bustling parisian version of this tradition of na.ing sethung the way the entrance itnis themed to would, and I get it is not everyone's cup of Tea the way it plays and in photo feels more jarring.

 

[Agent H]

Forbidden Journey does the title of the name appearing in fiber optics, Harry Potter and The Escape From Gringotts is permanantly ornate over the Bank entrance.


This is the bustling parisian version of this tradition, and I get it is not everyone's cup of Tea and in photo feels more jarring.

I would argue this is a little different from those. Those are on the marquee outside and presented in a more thematically coherent way while this is on the inside displayed on a sign that looks out of place and cheap.

 

[gerarar]

Saw this on my feed – Needs more trees!

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Saw a video with the Invisible Man walk around character in Darkmoor.

No joke, he's an actual person in full costume and looks great.

Epic needs to keep all these performers to help flesh out the lands and make them feel more alive

 

[celluloid]

I would argue this is a little different from those. Those are on the marquee outside while this is on the inside displayed on a sign that looks out of place and cheap.

I get it, and see that side too. All cinematic and this is more like when a film has a cold opening to the title. Where a movie places the title in a fun way each time.

 

[celluloid]

Saw a video with the Invisible Man walk around character in Darkmoor.

No joke, he's an actual person in full costume and looks great.

Epic needs to keep all these performers to help flesh out the lands and make them feel more alive

Take every survey you get. It helps keep entertainment budgeted and staffed. Don't let things decline by degrees.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Berk's most egregious sightlines in order:

1. Untrainable Dragon Theater (the most preventable)
2. Stardust Racers
3. Helios Grand Hotel
4. Parking lot seen from theater entrance plaza (should have been fixed with dirt mound and trees)
5. Backside of Celestial Park Mexican/Italian restaurant (painting it go away green and having trees in front isn't enough)

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

I’ve thought the same thing for a while. Why they didn’t commit to putting it indoors where the atmosphere control would’ve been complete is beyond me. Knockturn Alley should’ve been the prototype.

Speaking of implied space and perspective and how that adds to the illusion, the second floor over the ordering area in the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon is a good example of that.

I hear the critique about DU not looking as spooky during the day. It was one of my first thoughts while watching one of the walkthroughs on YouTube. BUT, if we're also complaining about sight lines, then we should acknowledge the difficulty of obscuring the massive building that would be necessary to contain an entire land.

A fair compromise would be to save DU for your last portal of the day.

 

[celluloid]

I hear the critique about DU not looking as spooky during the day. It was one of my first thoughts while watching one of the walkthroughs on YouTube. BUT, if we're also complaining about sight lines, then we should acknowledge the difficulty of obscuring the massive building that would be necessary to contain an entire land.

A fair compromise would be to save DU for your last portal of the day.

Or to see the transition and difference which allows for dynamic.

Also, people should consider the main atfraction itself is already dark in tone and is intense with a 48 inch height requirement. Werewolf is a middle thriller for younger and less thrill seeking to actually ride something
Thus makes the land itself more accessible to audiences who don't want HHN but still Gothic and foreboding.

Also, if these elements wee indoors we would not get the windmill fire and stormy days that frequent Central FL. That is going to be a vibe in itself closer to classic monsters than only night.

 

[UNCgolf]

Mario Kart is inarguably a large-scale E-ticket dark ride. It doesn't magically shrink just because you personally don't like it, and four minutes is very much a standard length for modern dark rides.

In terms of scale and square footage Mario Kart is a major E-ticket dark ride

Thinking it doesn't live up to the hype isn't the same thing as it not being an E-ticket

I truly don't understand this. What about the scale makes it an E ticket?

Removing the AR shooter aspect (which actively makes it worse), I don't see how the scale is beyond D ticket. Is it just the AR shooter that pushes it to E for people? It's roughly equivalent to the Tangled ride in Tokyo IMO, which also isn't an E.

 

[Moth]

Berk's most egregious sightlines in order:

1. Untrainable Dragon Theater (the most preventable)
2. Stardust Racers
3. Helios Grand Hotel
4. Parking lot seen from theater entrance plaza (should have been fixed with dirt mound and trees)
5. Backside of Celestial Park Mexican/Italian restaurant (painting it go away green and having trees in front isn't enough)

If Universal wants these fixed with trees, I am on standby and will do it all free of charge.

 

[celluloid]

I truly don't understand this. What about the scale makes it an E ticket?

Removing the AR shooter aspect (which actively makes it worse), I don't see how the scale is beyond D ticket. Is it just the AR shooter that pushes it to E for people? It's roughly equivalent to the Tangled ride in Tokyo IMO, which also isn't an E.

A few things. The scale of the queue and ride are large. It has large facade, sets, animations but practical and physical in a large show building and DEMAND that pleases a wide audience. Buit as a major draw and succeeds in that.

You also make the mistake that E ticket status is static and can't change. Mario Kart is the anchor of the land and demand.
Demand has always been the ultimate decider of what can be sold at a higher ticket price. Don't get hung up on it.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

A few things. The scale of the queue and ride are large. It has large facade, sets, animations but practical and physical in a large show building and DEMAND that pleases a wide audience.

You don't appreciate how large the sets and figures are until you ride it in person.

It's a huge 2-storey show building (queue upper level, ride lower)

It's not a D-ticket.

That doesn't mean it's a perfect ride, but it checks off all the boxes for being a headliner dark ride.

 

[UNCgolf]

A few things. The scale of the queue and ride are large. It has large facade, sets, animations but practical and physical in a large show building and DEMAND that pleases a wide audience. Buit as a major draw and succeeds in that.

You also make the mistake that E ticket status is static and can't change. Mario Kart is the anchor of the land and demand.
Demand has always been the ultimate decider of what can be sold at a higher ticket price. Don't get hung up on it.

I'm looking at E ticket based on overall scale of the attraction, not demand -- if we were just using demand then Na'vi River Journey is an E ticket.

I'm willing to accept that I'm wrong based on how Universal built it and size of show building etc., but nothing about the attraction felt E ticket level when I was on it. I really don't see a significant difference between it and Tangled, or maybe even the Little Mermaid attraction (whose sets are worse and definitely looks cheaper, which is a differentiating factor, but the scale doesn't really feel any different).