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

[flynnibus]

It is a boutique hotel by major theme park resort standards f only 500 rooms and you getaway hour in the park, with probably 45 min of it ahead of anyone bussing or driving over from other resorts.

The only thing 'boutique' about it is the price point - nothing about the product itself. Which makes it.. not boutique.

I find it very disappointing they didn't build a premium product to go along with the premium location.

 

[celluloid]

The only thing 'boutique' about it is the price point - nothing about the product itself. Which makes it.. not boutique.

I find it very disappointing they didn't build a premium product to go along with the premium location.

Totally disagree. Getting to leave the most crowded theme park experience kf the decade to a mid day chill with my family where there is a guarantee of less than 1,000 guests in that big Ole building. (And likely far less) wonderful. No bustle for a mid day chill.
Part of the reason I am staying two nights and going two days.

 

[Jrb1979]

You your list was two things, one of which was incorrect.

Nobody forced them to do a spinning coaster, put the coaster over paths or not do the checks they do elsewhere. Now did anything require the land to be a revolving door of creative direction.

You and @AidenRodriguez731, @UNCgolf just stop. I keep getting told the Mouse and Universal are different. Regardless of the COST., EPIC was never meant to be the Mouse level. It is a clear upgrade to IOA which is Universals best park.

It's not there fault you want Disney lite or rides that don't move

 

[gerarar]

 

[lazyboy97o]

You and @AidenRodriguez731, @UNCgolf just stop. I keep getting told the Mouse and Universal are different. Regardless of the COST., EPIC was never meant to be the Mouse level. It is a clear upgrade to IOA which is Universals best park.

It's not there fault you want Disney lite or rides that don't move

I didn’t mention Disney… I’m comparing it to its own goals, namely immersion.

 

[Jrb1979]

I didn’t mention Disney… I’m comparing it to its own goals, namely immersion.

That is supposed to be the best immersive theme park in the US?

 

[ThemeParkTraveller]

The videos of Helios are really underwhelming...

Rooms are small and Hilton Garden Inn kinda stuff. Not really premium, let alone luxury... 325sq is not premium.

The decor style is really contemporary which in itself isn't a problem, but it just looks really sterile and interchangeable.. like it lacks character and warmth. I don't really see a lot of that decor aging well either. The lobby sounds incredibly loud... and the bar and resturant are topped by almost any random casino bar in Vegas. These aren't destination level venues.

I was also surprised by how small and cramped the entry-level rooms look. I figured rooms would at least be comparable to their current flagship Portofino Bay, where entry-level rooms start at 450 square feet. I do really like the design of the Bar Helios though. If only the rest of the resort had the same flair and wasn't so stark.

 

[JT3000]

Because Vegas copied Disney

No, they didn't. Vegas's resorts blow Disney's out of the water just as much as they do Universal's.

and both are trying to be destination resorts... for adults.

Literally no one operating in Orlando is trying to be a destination for adults. It's a family destination and they know this.

this hotel is pretty weak for a resort except for plopping it next to the new park.

I fail to see how it's any "weaker" than most other resorts in Orlando. Mind you, you're also speaking on it without even having stayed there. I'm assuming you haven't even seen it in person.

 

[flynnibus]

Totally disagree. Getting to leave the most crowded theme park experience kf the decade to a mid day chill with my family where there is a guarantee of less than 1,000 guests in that big Ole building. (And likely far less) wonderful. No bustle for a mid day chill.
Part of the reason I am staying two nights and going two days.

The 'escape' with only one restaurant...? And one pool? And one common area? No bustle?? I think you're gonna be disappointed in the kind of piece and quiet this venue will offer.

This place wasn't built with escapism in mind...

If you goto your room it doesn't matter how many other rooms there are... as your room is exclusive. What matters is where you put the bodies out in public and moving around. This design dumps them into one venue option really. The pool is large, but lacks any separation of types of crowds or activities really.

Let's see how your stay goes...

 

[flynnibus]

No, they didn't.

Yes, they did. And why most of the themed entertainment folks who built that version of Vegas in the 90s was offspring from former WDI types.

Vegas's resorts blow Disney's out of the water just as much as they do Universal's.

Yes, because one kept getting better and better, while some continue to pray on the ones who don't know any better.

Literally no one operating in Orlando is trying to be a destination for adults. It's a family destination and they know this.

And what do families consist of? Adults have feelings and desires from the family vacation too.

I fail to see how it's any "weaker" than most other resorts in Orlando. Mind you, you're also speaking on it without even having stayed there. I'm assuming you haven't even seen it in person.

Oh pulling out 'have you been there' card... heavy stuff!! Having stayed in properties all around the country and the world... I can make informed observations from video'd tours about a hotel - It's not freaking Mars. Sorry to hear you don't have the same experience.

 

[JT3000]

Yes, they did. And why most of the themed entertainment folks who built that version of Vegas in the 90s was offspring from former WDI types.

I don't care who built what, Vegas resorts have amenities and features you will not find anywhere at Disney. That's a fact.

Yes, because one kept getting better and better, while some continue to pray on the ones who don't know any better.

I honestly have no idea what you even mean by this.

And what do families consist of? Adults have feelings and desires from the family vacation too.

You're grasping at straws. No one in Orlando is going to cater specifically to your adult desires the same way Vegas does, because they aren't trying to. These destinations have two different intents.

Oh pulling out 'have you been there' card... heavy stuff!! Having stayed in properties all around the country and the world... I can make informed observations from video'd tours about a hotel - It's not freaking Mars. Sorry to hear you don't have the same experience.

Now you're pulling the "I'm special because I travel" card. Well you're not. You can travel the globe twenty times over, it won't change the fact that you have no personal experience with this particular hotel.

 

[European1992]

This thread became a dump.

OT: Epic looks amazing.

 

[Jrb1979]

This thread became a dump.

OT: Epic looks amazing.

Agreed. From all the videos I have seen it looks like the best park in Orlando.

 

[UNCgolf]

You and @AidenRodriguez731, @UNCgolf just stop. I keep getting told the Mouse and Universal are different. Regardless of the COST., EPIC was never meant to be the Mouse level. It is a clear upgrade to IOA which is Universals best park.

It's not there fault you want Disney lite or rides that don't move

What does Disney have to do with anything?

There are people (certainly not everyone; most people seem able to highlight the good and criticize the bad) in this thread acting just like the people who defend everything Disney does; any criticism is attacked. It's exhausting. It's like they feel personally attacked over opinions regarding a theme park, of all things, to the point that it seems unhealthy.

Epic Universe isn't perfect. There are things to criticize.

There's no point in even being on a discussion forum if you're not supposed to, you know, actually discuss things.

 

[Jrb1979]

What does Disney have to do with anything?

There are people (certainly not everyone; most people seem able to highlight the good and criticize the bad) in this thread acting just like the people who defend everything Disney does; any criticism is attacked. It's exhausting.

Epic Universe isn't perfect. There are things to criticize.

There's no point in even being on a discussion forum if you're not supposed to, you know, actually discuss things.

Yes Epic has some issues like all parks do.

What does the Mouse have to do with it? The loudest voices in this thread are the Mouse fans and those who done like rides that moves

 

[celluloid]

The 'escape' with only one restaurant...? And one pool? And one common area? No bustle?? I think you're gonna be disappointed in the kind of piece and quiet this venue will offer.

This place wasn't built with escapism in mind...

If you goto your room it doesn't matter how many other rooms there are... as your room is exclusive. What matters is where you put the bodies out in public and moving around. This design dumps them into one venue option really. The pool is large, but lacks any separation of types of crowds or activities really.

Let's see how your stay goes...

Who said I come to chill means I have to eat at only that resteraunt mid park day? I need to get to my room and back to the park with ease after my kids and wife hate heat and humidity, and little wait to jump back in.

But thanks for trying to question what value I get out of it.
500 rooms are not likely at full ocupancy qhuh means most of the time this thing is going to have less than 2,000 people in it.
Most will be in one kf the three theme parks or water park during the mid day.

It is fine.

 

[UNCgolf]

Yes Epic has some issues like all parks do.

What does the Mouse have to do with it? The loudest voices in this thread are the Mouse fans and those who done like rides that moves

You've described the whole issue -- this is completely made up.

Most people in this thread are just as critical (if not more critical) of Disney as they are of Universal. You're kind of proving my point here.

As an aside, "rides that move" is a funny phrase, because all rides move. It's not really a ride if it doesn't move. I guess maybe you could say a motion simulator doesn't move, since it just shakes in place, but that's about it.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Yes Epic has some issues like all parks do.

What does the Mouse have to do with it? The loudest voices in this thread are the Mouse fans and those who done like rides that moves

I wonder why Disney fans are talking so much on WDWMagic Forums... it's really a mystery.

Also we're a little upset because people were saying for years that this park would have Disney shaking and every Disney announcement was met with Universal fans saying "this is your response to Epic?" so yeah, a few years of that will leave a sour taste when basic theme park planning is overlooked.


I do defend Disney and I will defend Universal on takes where it matters to me personally. I'm sure I'm a little biased towards Disney because those are the parks I have always enjoyed more.

Also 100% the above, this is one of the more critical sites towards Disney. That same energy doesn't suddenly end when you have a new park in Florida.

 

[Agent H]

Yes Epic has some issues like all parks do.

What does the Mouse have to do with it? The loudest voices in this thread are the Mouse fans and those who done like rides that moves

I’m afraid I don’t understand. what are you talking about when you say people who don’t like rides that move?

 

[celluloid]

A view from tonight chosen because of the photo shared earlier. Different perspective.