Hester and Chester's Dino-Rama
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Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Now Open!
- Thread starter Bob Harlem
- Start date
Hester and Chester's Dino-Rama
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
From what I can tell, the Epic expansion plots are:
A small one between SNW and the main entrance. Not really big enough for an E ticket.
A plot for a whole new portal land between SNW and DU.
Space for an E-ticket behind Burning Blade.
A plot for a whole new portal land between Ministry and Stardust.
So that lines up with the park planning on having up to 6 portals on the Chronos tower.
A small one between SNW and the main entrance. Not really big enough for an E ticket.
A plot for a whole new portal land between SNW and DU.
Space for an E-ticket behind Burning Blade.
A plot for a whole new portal land between Ministry and Stardust.
So that lines up with the park planning on having up to 6 portals on the Chronos tower.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
As @drew81 mentioned, the space between the entrance and Super Nintendo World was intended for an event space.
Wizarding World has the space where the second ride was located and then some. There are also some smaller, non-attraction, spaces that were similarly vacated due to cuts.
SplashJacket
Well-Known Member
My thoughts after experiencing.
I’ll attempt brevity, because I could blabber endlessly on my thoughts and emotions after following this project for nearly a decade.
First:
Wow, the park is something special. Very very different from anything Disney or Universal has ever put out. It feels like something very different — almost like a Phantasialand or Europa Park, but I feel that’s less because they’re similar, and more because it feels like a very different product to UO and IOA.
Highlights:
Food:
They killed it. The food is spectacular. The salmon at mead hall is not theme park salmon, it’s genuinely fantastic.
Animation:
Every land is absolutely filled with life and movement. From when you step in to wander by any land. Nintendo has a billion animated trinkets and creatures. Berk has dragons, sheep, and rides. Monsters has rides, fog, and the burning blade. Potter has all the wand interactives. The sheer quality and quantity of animatronics at Monsters is unfathomable. Rise has bridge Kylo and dying Kylo. Monsters has 25 of those it’s mind blowing.
Entertainment:
Untrainable is the best theme park show. This far surpasses Bourne for me (my previous favorite). Bourne is obviously a very different show, but nothing at Disney can remotely compare. Nemo is the closest comp and it blows it out of the water. Watching this show made me think Disney might actually have a problem. The HTTYD streetmosphere was incredible. No drones, but the baby toothless Boston dynamics animatronic drew a huge crowd and delight. But the animatronic interactive toothless meet and greet really stole the show. Absolutely redefines what a meet and greet can and should feel like. Incredible emotion and realism by toothless and a great job by all the actors involved.
More misc. thoughts
CP is incredible and beautiful, though it currently lacks a big reason to spend time in. With fireworks, maybe Epcot-style festival booths in the future, etc. it might give the space more justification, but we didn’t spend much time in it — though we were rushing between rides while waits are low.
For Mario Kart. I rode it 3 times in Hollywood and now once in Epic. I actually loved it in Hollywood. First ride I was pretty overstimulated, but second and third I fell in love. Only got one ride at Epic, but we really leaned into trying to “win.” Do NOT try to win. Mostly ignore the game. It’s not a ringing endorsement of the ride to ignore it’s main feature, but I’d argue the sets and scenes themselves are the main feature and getting lost in a confusing, overstimulating game just distracts from the really cool ride there. Keep the AR on, maybe use some interaction, but don’t focus on trying to do well or figure it out, just enjoy the surrounding.
Fyre drill is genuinely the most fun I’ve ever had on any theme park attraction. Disney absolutely has to bring this ride system to one of their parks. Hollywood would work perfect. I was waterboarding myself in laughter I could hardly breath. Absolutely do not skip. It’s not a flashy attraction, but it’s so fun. (tip: don’t actually shoot the targets, just start a war by shooting the other vehicles and watch the chaos).
Donkey Kong Minecart Madness is actually just not good. One of the roughest coasters I’ve ever ridden and it’s brand new. This will not be a guest satisfaction driver. High waits stemming from flashy instagramability and a low capacity means a lot of people will be disappointed. Show scenes are pretty good, though. I do enjoy the evil of monsters next to a banana. Makes me feel despicable
CotW was better than I thought it would be. And Stardust is an unbelievable pair of coasters. Mack has done it again.
Paris is unbelievable. I’ve never seen a more authentic setting than that entry street. It’s not reminiscent of Paris or an evocation of Paris. It is Paris. Unbelievable job, especially with that Cafe.
Overall, lovely park that isn’t necessarily the best park in the world, but it has strong bones and a great foundation to build off. It’s very different in the best way from the existing portfolio of Disney and Universal that pushes the industry forward in a positive direction.
I’ll attempt brevity, because I could blabber endlessly on my thoughts and emotions after following this project for nearly a decade.
First:
Wow, the park is something special. Very very different from anything Disney or Universal has ever put out. It feels like something very different — almost like a Phantasialand or Europa Park, but I feel that’s less because they’re similar, and more because it feels like a very different product to UO and IOA.
Highlights:
Food:
They killed it. The food is spectacular. The salmon at mead hall is not theme park salmon, it’s genuinely fantastic.
Animation:
Every land is absolutely filled with life and movement. From when you step in to wander by any land. Nintendo has a billion animated trinkets and creatures. Berk has dragons, sheep, and rides. Monsters has rides, fog, and the burning blade. Potter has all the wand interactives. The sheer quality and quantity of animatronics at Monsters is unfathomable. Rise has bridge Kylo and dying Kylo. Monsters has 25 of those it’s mind blowing.
Entertainment:
Untrainable is the best theme park show. This far surpasses Bourne for me (my previous favorite). Bourne is obviously a very different show, but nothing at Disney can remotely compare. Nemo is the closest comp and it blows it out of the water. Watching this show made me think Disney might actually have a problem. The HTTYD streetmosphere was incredible. No drones, but the baby toothless Boston dynamics animatronic drew a huge crowd and delight. But the animatronic interactive toothless meet and greet really stole the show. Absolutely redefines what a meet and greet can and should feel like. Incredible emotion and realism by toothless and a great job by all the actors involved.
More misc. thoughts
CP is incredible and beautiful, though it currently lacks a big reason to spend time in. With fireworks, maybe Epcot-style festival booths in the future, etc. it might give the space more justification, but we didn’t spend much time in it — though we were rushing between rides while waits are low.
For Mario Kart. I rode it 3 times in Hollywood and now once in Epic. I actually loved it in Hollywood. First ride I was pretty overstimulated, but second and third I fell in love. Only got one ride at Epic, but we really leaned into trying to “win.” Do NOT try to win. Mostly ignore the game. It’s not a ringing endorsement of the ride to ignore it’s main feature, but I’d argue the sets and scenes themselves are the main feature and getting lost in a confusing, overstimulating game just distracts from the really cool ride there. Keep the AR on, maybe use some interaction, but don’t focus on trying to do well or figure it out, just enjoy the surrounding.
Fyre drill is genuinely the most fun I’ve ever had on any theme park attraction. Disney absolutely has to bring this ride system to one of their parks. Hollywood would work perfect. I was waterboarding myself in laughter I could hardly breath. Absolutely do not skip. It’s not a flashy attraction, but it’s so fun. (tip: don’t actually shoot the targets, just start a war by shooting the other vehicles and watch the chaos).
Donkey Kong Minecart Madness is actually just not good. One of the roughest coasters I’ve ever ridden and it’s brand new. This will not be a guest satisfaction driver. High waits stemming from flashy instagramability and a low capacity means a lot of people will be disappointed. Show scenes are pretty good, though. I do enjoy the evil of monsters next to a banana. Makes me feel despicable
CotW was better than I thought it would be. And Stardust is an unbelievable pair of coasters. Mack has done it again.
Paris is unbelievable. I’ve never seen a more authentic setting than that entry street. It’s not reminiscent of Paris or an evocation of Paris. It is Paris. Unbelievable job, especially with that Cafe.
Overall, lovely park that isn’t necessarily the best park in the world, but it has strong bones and a great foundation to build off. It’s very different in the best way from the existing portfolio of Disney and Universal that pushes the industry forward in a positive direction.
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Centauri Space Station
Well-Known Member
DAK is far better
Centauri Space Station
Well-Known Member
Yet you said you were blown away by the preshows
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
For anyone who has been on Ministry, what is the comparable thrill level like for a Disney ride? I've heard comparisons to the drop in Rise, but also obviously seen comparisons to Tower of Terror. I have no problems with Rise as its dip is fairly mild. But I don't often ride Tower since the drops are kind of too much for me.
For that matter, i'll also pose the similar question towards Monsters Unchained. I know it basically uses some newer variant of the Forbidden Journey ride system, but does it move around as much as that one? This is more a question for another older family member who experiences motion sickness kind of easily and doesn't like being tilted upside down. It doesn't bother me, but i'm curious still for their benefit. I would imagine the greater emphasis on the physical scenery and less motion simulator stuff would help somewhat at least. Still curious show intense the movement is though.
For that matter, i'll also pose the similar question towards Monsters Unchained. I know it basically uses some newer variant of the Forbidden Journey ride system, but does it move around as much as that one? This is more a question for another older family member who experiences motion sickness kind of easily and doesn't like being tilted upside down. It doesn't bother me, but i'm curious still for their benefit. I would imagine the greater emphasis on the physical scenery and less motion simulator stuff would help somewhat at least. Still curious show intense the movement is though.
THEMEPARKPIONEER
Well-Known Member
I love how the Nintendo section is very interactive like toon town. It reminds me of a mix of Toontown, Honey I shrunk the Audience section for some reason and Image Works but totally it’s own thing. Just seems like a very similar type of experience and something Disney has lacked for years.
SplashJacket
Well-Known Member
Not tower, also not rise. Think more Dinosaur and like FJ drops.
Motion sickness is nowhere near FJ, though I’d say the motion itself is more violent. More comfortable motion than FJ, but more violent as in jolty and forceful. Overall I’d say lighter than FJ due to way less motion sickness.
SplashJacket
Well-Known Member
I think what’s interesting about Epic’s design is it’s somewhat like Epcot.
At Epcot you can see the whole park from pretty much anywhere. Not universally true, but also similar to Epic. You can see the whole park from a lot of different areas. Not all of them, but a lot of them.
It’s different than IOA where it’s designed to see across the lagoon. And different from seeing Canada from Germany at Epcot where it’s clearly intentional. It’s more seeing The Land from Germany, where it’s not really an intentional sight line, and more just a consequence of the park’s design. More interesting than anything.
At Epcot you can see the whole park from pretty much anywhere. Not universally true, but also similar to Epic. You can see the whole park from a lot of different areas. Not all of them, but a lot of them.
It’s different than IOA where it’s designed to see across the lagoon. And different from seeing Canada from Germany at Epcot where it’s clearly intentional. It’s more seeing The Land from Germany, where it’s not really an intentional sight line, and more just a consequence of the park’s design. More interesting than anything.
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Misted Compass
Well-Known Member
TDS is a great park but there are places where you can see the plain-looking Tokyo Bay hotels, especially from Arabian Coast.
Not a knock on the park's design as I assume the hotels were built after the park but it is an issue I rarely see mentioned.
Baloo124
Premium Member
The big one in the Berk area kinda has a space / Sci-Fi look to it. Maybe it's just me. I also wonder if it is left so obvious and open due to some planned nighttime projection show on the walls?
The way the two corners come together from this angle, they seem like futuristic "pyramids", almost like...
Watching some of vloggers videos I'm pretty impressed, the wizading world especially looked amazing. I do think looking at the videos I watched the entrance to Mario Land will be a horrendous bottle neck. I'll be in Orlando for opening day but will wait until next year to go.
UNCgolf
Well-Known Member
That doesn't sound great -- Forbidden Journey is one of the joltiest rides I've ever been on; to the point that it was actively unpleasant to ride. It was so jerky the last time I rode that it actually jacked up my GF's neck for the rest of the day and the following day. If Monsters is worse that sounds kind of miserable.
Less motion sickness is great though, and maybe answers my question earlier about the use of screens. FJ is way too screen heavy; even if it wasn't so rough I wouldn't really care about riding again. It's a handful of great moments surrounded by stuff that isn't any good -- all of the broom simulator parts are boring/bad. It's probably the most disappointed I've ever been in an attraction after reading all the "best ride ever" claims.
It's very impressive on a technical level, but it's less than the sum of its parts. It's a little similar to Shanghai Pirates to me (although I think Shanghai Pirates is better than Forbidden Journey) in that they should have been able to build something far better using that tech.
I've been hopeful that Monsters is the next step where they took the tech behind FJ and actually built a truly great attractions this time.
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Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
What's crazy is that Forbidden Journey's movements were toned down from their original profiles.
Monsters is much more "gentle" than FJ and I think most people who can't handle motion simulators should do just fine. For one thing, no motion simulation via screens. Second, FJ whips you from show element to show element. Monsters does not do that.
Monsters is much more "gentle" than FJ and I think most people who can't handle motion simulators should do just fine. For one thing, no motion simulation via screens. Second, FJ whips you from show element to show element. Monsters does not do that.
Baloo124
Premium Member
Hearing something kinda interesting, but not realistic given how early this is in its lifespan.
Are any of our actual insiders hearing any mumblings about the positive feedback MU is receiving putting Mummy in Hollywood on the chopping block?
I'm not buying this until it's been open to the general public, and is a hit for at least a year.
Also, why would USH invest in a large FF coaster, only to replace its existing coaster, regressing back to just a one coaster park?
Are any of our actual insiders hearing any mumblings about the positive feedback MU is receiving putting Mummy in Hollywood on the chopping block?
I'm not buying this until it's been open to the general public, and is a hit for at least a year.
Also, why would USH invest in a large FF coaster, only to replace its existing coaster, regressing back to just a one coaster park?
Giss Neric
Well-Known Member
Don't worry this is just the preshow but is the face of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein a projection?
sedati
Well-Known Member
That was my impression- also that this "Igor" knockoff feels like he'd be better placed over with the Minions.
sedati
Well-Known Member
Wizarding Paris looks wonderful, but more credit to Stuart Craig and his team whose work is basically being translated into Theme Park form. Hope he gets a second check out of all these lands.
To me, the one way to compete with Rise isn't necessarily with scale. It's to craft a long-form adventure that isn't just happening around me, but involves me personally. I'm not sure these attractions accomplish that, but until I ride it will be hard to say. I'm actually hoping this thinking is something that can be expanded into the new Indiana Jones Dinosaur replacement. It has to be something more that being in the wrong place at the wrong time or going on a tour. Rise is unique in that it doesn't feel (to me) impersonal. How they crossed that mental line was a masterstroke.
On the flip-side, I hope Disney's main takeaway from this park is to incorporate more kinetics into the lands (but not to make so many up-charges based on added purchases)
That said, I just caught some of the coaster POV's and holy-heck.
There's seeing backstage.
There's going backstage.
But some of these rides appear to have moments where they just full on leave the park altogether.
Watching videos and reports is giving me theme-park-fan whiplash. For a park with so many positives there seems some truly baffling negatives.
To me, the one way to compete with Rise isn't necessarily with scale. It's to craft a long-form adventure that isn't just happening around me, but involves me personally. I'm not sure these attractions accomplish that, but until I ride it will be hard to say. I'm actually hoping this thinking is something that can be expanded into the new Indiana Jones Dinosaur replacement. It has to be something more that being in the wrong place at the wrong time or going on a tour. Rise is unique in that it doesn't feel (to me) impersonal. How they crossed that mental line was a masterstroke.
On the flip-side, I hope Disney's main takeaway from this park is to incorporate more kinetics into the lands (but not to make so many up-charges based on added purchases)
That said, I just caught some of the coaster POV's and holy-heck.
There's seeing backstage.
There's going backstage.
But some of these rides appear to have moments where they just full on leave the park altogether.
Watching videos and reports is giving me theme-park-fan whiplash. For a park with so many positives there seems some truly baffling negatives.