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

[BrianLo]

That is ebb and flow in everything. Especially with food and entertainment.

But IOA/Universal Studios and especially now EPIC have far superior Entertainment operations than Disney parks, particularly WDW and specifically Hollywood Studios.(which is almost back to entertainment offering count it had a decade ago since Mermaid and other venues have been shuttered)

So not sure how you can say this is where you weigh your value but feel they are some of the sloppiest in operation. Live Entertainment is one of the places Studios and IOA are simply the best of the major in Orlando.

Am I being nuts?

IOA has no night show, rotating theatre or single open entertainment venue. It has the small stage show in Hogsmeade. What superior entertainment?

Hollywood Studios has like 8 right now in various stages of decline with two new shows this summer. Hollywood Studios is an ebb and flow. After years and year I might add of me complaining about how they needed to redo the shows. IOA has… literally nothing?

Note this reason was why I don’t like IOA specifically as much as consensus. I’m very pleased with what I’m hearing about Epic’s entertainment, but that isn’t IOA.

 

[celluloid]

Marvel Characters, Potter Frog Choir, Potter Tri Wizard, Olivanders, Hogwarts Express Train conductor, Raptor Encounter, Mystic Fountain, Madagascar characters, Seuss characters(and small shows in Seuss)

Blues Brothers, Beat Builders, Diagon Alley's stage shows, Money Exchange, Olivanders Marilyn Manroe, Parade, Horror Make Up Show, Animal Actors, Dreamworks show, and Bourne, Spongebob characters, Dreamworks

Compare those to EPCOT and Animal Kingdom and I don't know how you can think that the entertainment line up there is much better.

AK has two big stage spectacles...but to me that does not compare nor variety.

You are not nuts, but no accounting for taste.

Certainly silly to think of Uni's entertainment operation is weakest. And this is from someone who feels the park needs the stunt show and poseidon.

You seem to be a sit down theater show person.

 

[BrianLo]

They will not wait five years to open another major attraction. I would bet my house on it.

PS: The Simpsons contract ends in only three years.

Maybe! This was Alicia Stella who said 2030, not me.

I would include Luigi’s Mansion. But, I thought we were hearing 2027 for that and it has gone pretty quiet.

 

[BrianLo]

You seem to be a sit down theater show person.

100%.

I should have said show, but I also don’t need to sit… Almost nothing at IOA qualifies and I don’t need a list of things at USO. That’s not remotely my criticism of USO, it’s one of the few things I like about that park.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Ummm...
Sure did.

Whether from Toon Lagoon Ampitheater or wondering what the heck Camp Minnie Mickey was and exploring thus odd thing called Pocahontas and her forest friends like an odd flat painted theater. Asia was also confusing. Dinoland as.many hate it was not even that yet. Tents that you were told were bone exhibits.

And those were things you were invited to see, not a few backstage views that are not begged or focal points. ( And can be easily fixed as time goes on)

I'm sorry but DAK did not have big open views of backstage, ever (excluding the Wildlife Express train where you're supposed to see it). I was there. Things you're supposed to see, even if they suck = not nearly an issue compared to things you shouldn't see but can.

The IOA issues from the Toon Lagoon theater area still exist, but 1: the park was built without the goal of total immersion, and 2. that was 26 years ago, things have changed in the theme park industry.

First pic is from the path leading from storybook circus to tron and 2nd picture is from the path between cosmic rewind and mission space.

And here is one from two recent Magic Kingdom openings less than 20 feet off the ground, that is somehow excused because of what company and during ride time where you should not see it, rather than a ledge on an elevated extended queue.
View attachment 853564

These aren't as bad as the example I posted. You can see a building, what you can't see is vehicles, dumpsters, etc.

My immediate reaction seeing this is it reminds me of the view from Test track, a 20 year old ride that still has horrible sight lines.

But you're on a ride going fast on this portion, the discussion is about views you can see freely on foot. Also, Epcot's goal has never been total immersion. I'll remind everyone again that the entire conceit of Epic and its portals is that the lands would provide total immersion.

So many "but Disney" examples, yet they still aren't as bad as some of the views Epic has. Even if they were, they're all due to later additions, not a park designed with a blank slate. Why a brand new park, taking into consideration all the advancements the industry has seen in that time, didn't do every possible thing it could to hit the finish line is worth criticizing, despite what the resident Universal PR Department here says.

 

[thelookingglass]

Friendly reminder: Constructive criticism of Universal, the theme park company I've chosen to align my identity with, is NOT allowed.

Universal is ALWAYS better than Disney, and when they're not, its because that aspect actually doesn't matter and only Disney Adults would care about it.

 

[celluloid]

Barnstormer and it's storybook situation and Tron are not 25 year old examples.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Barnstormer and it's storybook situation and Tron are not 25 year old examples.

No, but your examples were. Tron was juxtaposed into an existing park and the situation is more like Forbidden Journey, where, okay, it was hard to hide the show building. Also again, note that while you can see the building itself, what you can't see is dumpsters and vehicles and delivery equipment and whatever else.

A brand new park from a blank slate had the absolute ability to hide unsightly views as much as would be reasonably possible, but they opted to not do that. That is worth some constructive criticism.

 

[Andrew C]

A brand new park from a blank slate had the absolute ability to hide unsightly views as much as would be reasonably possible, but they opted to not do that. That is worth some constructive criticism.

Some, yes.

 

[TalkingHead]

Still wondering how the business side is supposed to work with the number of Orlando tourists who will simply swap out USF for Epic. That’s not a problem that gets solved in a year or two.

 

[celluloid]

The IOA issues from the Toon Lagoon theater area still exist, but 1: the park was built without the goal of total immersion, and 2. that was 26 years ago

Hilarious every time you state this. It is specifically what IOA was about. Entire TV specials on it. You know what it was named?

Things have as well as have not changed in the theme park industry.

This is why even Disney projects are not like that of old. Tastes and expectations change. You keep citing a few flaws. They are not egregious anymore than any other theme park opening. Sightlines are merely one type of flaw.


But it is also why the last parks to go by on opening were IOA and DCA. So 26 years ago to now, we go compare to IOA and DCA.

 

[flynnibus]

Disneyland Monorail still rides over and behind all the BoH showing all the trash/etc.. and it sucks there too.

Why the hell does 'but Disney...' excuse a comment about Epic's implementation? Can't someone just be concerned with what they are getting at Epic?

This endless deflection and 'but...' hand waving is exhausting.

 

[Ragerunner]

For anyone that would like to take a 4K full walkthrough of Epic Universe. It truly is amazing park and beautiful done.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I would include Luigi’s Mansion. But, I thought we were hearing 2027 for that and it has gone pretty quiet.

It is dead at the moment and probably for the best. There was a very real chance of Luigi’s Minion Blast.

Universal remains committed to opening one new attraction per year but that absolutely includes new offerings like Minion Blast and DreamWorks Land. It may also be awhile before Universal Studios Florida really looks all that different because they did stuff like Minions Land and DreamWorks Land. There’s a high chance we get more of that because they end up again just pushing projects through to have something which has the knock on effect of the more areas being too new to redevelop.

 

[celluloid]

Disneyland Monorail still rides over and behind all the BoH showing all the trash/etc.. and it sucks there too.

Why the hell does 'but Disney...' excuse a comment about Epic's implementation? Can't someone just be concerned with what they are getting at Epic?

This endless deflection and 'but...' hand waving is exhexhausting.

It is not deflection but asking for common sense that these are common in all new theme parks to the posters stating "This is why Disney will still be number one" in two years.

The flaws of EPIC(that some are even saying as high as arbitrarily ten percent as if it is everyone's take that EPIC is that the park only 90 percent effort)
If you make such claims, know that the industry norms will be compared.

It's been 26 years since a park of this caliber opened on a non 22 square mile freedom parcel of real estate, and there is nothing as egregious to most as some clearly hope there to be about the park

 

[celluloid]

3 preview days sold out. If you are onsite get them quick for your day.

 

[flynnibus]

It is not deflection but asking for common sense that these are common in all new theme parks to the posters stating "This is why Disney will still be number one" in two years.

Heat is common in Orlando - doesn't mean one can't ask for shade.

It's been 26 years since a park of this caliber opened on a non 22 square mile freedom parcel of real estate, and there is nothing as egregious to most as those hope there to be about the park

Good lord the "first theme park in..." talking point is so freaking tired and overplayed. If we hold to that statement... can we stop calling Volcano Bay a theme park? And USO stop claiming they have 4 theme parks?

There have been other from scratch theme parks.. like Hard Rock Park in SC... they just were never on this level of ambition. But ffs.. can we stop repeating the same bullet points every time someone turns their head?

And what in the world does any of this have to do with my comment? Have they banked up some credits of mulligans or something because it's been so long?

 

[JT3000]

Friendly reminder: Constructive criticism of Universal, the theme park company I've chosen to align my identity with, is NOT allowed.

Universal is ALWAYS better than Disney, and when they're not, its because that aspect actually doesn't matter and only Disney Adults would care about it.

I don't know about you, but now that this has been turned into a Universal vs. Disney battle for the umpteenth time, I'm seeing a whole lot of "that aspect actually doesn't matter" from both sides. It's actually pretty funny what people are willing to excuse while digging into the competition, regardless of your allegiances.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It is dead at the moment and probably for the best. There was a very real chance of Luigi’s Minion Blast.

Universal remains committed to opening one new attraction per year but that absolutely includes new offerings like Minion Blast and DreamWorks Land. It may also be awhile before Universal Studios Florida really looks all that different because they did stuff like Minions Land and DreamWorks Land. There’s a high chance we get more of that because they end up again just pushing projects through to have something which has the knock on effect of the more areas being too new to redevelop.

So... what's scheduled to open in 2026 in USO?

I'm not aware of any current site prep or project in progress.

 

[Moth]

So... what's scheduled to open in 2026 in USO?

I'm not aware of any current site prep or project in progress.

Rip Ride Rockit replacement?
...maybe? That'd be like, late 2026 though. And that implies a fast, rushed build.

It's more likely 2026 is a break year for Universal, or they put a flat somewhere?

Maybe the rumored DK play area? A show somewhere? Plausible breaking ground on Pokémon?