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

[Purduevian]

No idea how they are scrubbing this data, but very cool to see the capacity and % of tickets sold for each date https://www.thrill-data.com/epic-universe-tickets

If this is accurate, EPIC will hit "full" capacity starting July 3rd (22,000 people)

 

[Andrew25]

When Will Universal Sell Epic Universe Annual Passes?

We take a look at some of the hurdles that are preventing Universal Orlando from selling an Epic Universe Annual Pass

blogmickey.com

I think it'll happen sooner than later. Probably in late August/Early September. Epic Universe, like Epcot, has a lot of dining capacity that needs an additional influx of local guests to arrive for dinner. I think Epic does a fantastic job at this and I really hope we can get APs.

At the moment, they're selling AP tickets through the end of the year, but they can easily credit that purchase into the price of an upgraded AP.

 

[Purduevian]

I think it'll happen sooner than later. Probably in late August/Early September. Epic Universe, like Epcot, has a lot of dining capacity that needs an additional influx of local guests to arrive for dinner. I think Epic does a fantastic job at this and I really hope we can get APs.

At the moment, they're selling AP tickets through the end of the year, but they can easily credit that purchase into the price of an upgraded AP.

I wonder if they would consider an "after 4pm" upgrade to annual passes to get people in for dinner and late night rides while leaving more ride capacity for full price guests.

 

[Andrew25]

I wonder if they would consider an "after 4pm" upgrade to annual passes to get people in for dinner and late night rides while leaving more ride capacity for full price guests.

I think they are working through on how to best approach AP sales, along with ensuring daytime full-priced guests can experience the park without APs filling the place up.

I can see a reservation system in place for APs through the end of the year, and then similar to WDW have the opportunity to visit without a reservation after a certain time.

They can also test a "After 4PM" ticket first to see if that has any demand, before they release the AP valve.

 

[mkt]

 

[jrhwdw]

 

[jrhwdw]

 

[lazyboy97o]

It’s definitely been a learning experience for them as they have so far not been directly responsible for such elaborate attractions.

 

[mkt]

It’s definitely been a learning experience for them as they have so far not been directly responsible for such elaborate attractions.

No doubt. North campus is within the City of Orlando and WDW is within their own district. Before Epic, most "elaborate" attractions they'd deal with were those at Sea World.

 

[DCBaker]

Here's a link to the YouTube livestream for the Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday:

Join us on May 21 at 6 p.m. EST and be part of the Universal Epic Universe Grand Opening Celebration. Catch exciting interview moments from the Blue Carpet, get looks at all five worlds, watch a dazzling fireworks spectacle, and stick around for epic surprises throughout the stream.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Looks like Busch Gardens Williamsburg got the better Wolf coaster this year.

Makes you think about what Universal could have done with that coaster, but a higher budget.

 

[mkt]

It’s definitely been a learning experience for them as they have so far not been directly responsible for such elaborate attractions.

It makes sense to me. Prior to Epic, short of mutual aid calls, OCFD's most "elaborate" attractions have almost all been at Sea World. WDW uses CFTOD'd department and UO's North Campus uses City of Orlando.

 

[Andrew25]

Looks like Busch Gardens Williamsburg got the better Wolf coaster this year.

Makes you think about what Universal could have done with that coaster, but a higher budget.

Werewolf was unfortunately designed late in development after previous plans were dropped. They didn't have the budget for a major ride, but just enough for a smaller coaster. Unfortunately, I think they should have waited for an eventual phase 2 instead of giving/wasting that space for Werewolf. I would have been fine with a smaller well-themed flat ride off to the side to provide a short-term capacity boost instead.

 

[Purduevian]

BATM seems to be doing pretty well today... 300 min wait from 9:06-9:44am, down from 9:44am-11:03am, then between 120 and 200 since then.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Looks like Busch Gardens Williamsburg got the better Wolf coaster this year.

Makes you think about what Universal could have done with that coaster, but a higher budget.

I saw a POV and was not impressed, especially as a fan of the original Big Bad Wolf coaster. Before it actually looked like you traveled through a village to some extent, now it's just a big open unthemed pad of land with the leftover village facade in one corner. Curse of the Werewolf honestly has better theming and that's saying a lot.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I saw a POV and was not impressed, especially as a fan of the original Big Bad Wolf coaster. Before it actually looked like you traveled through a village to some extent, now it's just a big open unthemed pad of land with the leftover village facade in one corner. Curse of the Werewolf honestly has better theming and that's saying a lot.

It looks like a more enjoyable coaster to me, as I'm worried about the spinning aspect of CotW

CotW is too short and if the cars spin at the wrong time it sounds like you can't even see the werewolf in the barn

 

[Tom Morrow]

It looks like a more enjoyable coaster to me, as I'm worried about the spinning aspect of CotW

CotW is too short and if the cars spin at the wrong time it sounds like you can't even see the werewolf in the barn

True. It's just for me the new coaster looks like basically Penguin Trek but with a village facade in a corner. Probably overall a more enjoyable coaster than CotW though, but the legacy and scope of the coaster it's honoring is pretty big and it didn't live up to that.

 

[MrPromey]

Werewolf was unfortunately designed late in development after previous plans were dropped. They didn't have the budget for a major ride, but just enough for a smaller coaster. Unfortunately, I think they should have waited for an eventual phase 2 instead of giving/wasting that space for Werewolf. I would have been fine with a smaller well-themed flat ride off to the side to provide a short-term capacity boost instead.

Agreed.

In addition to not blending well with the area, its location really kills the burning windmill weenie, turning it into something people will now only notice (at least before sunset) when in the back of the land right in front of it.

There is no other attraction back there so the only reason someone would have for even venturing back that way is to watch it do its thing or go to the pub below it.

The two days we were there, so many people were completely oblivious that anything was even happening when it was on fire because this coaster with it's netting obscures it so much from the front of the land.

 

[TalkToEthan]

BATM seems to be doing pretty well today... 300 min wait

……. sounds a bit contradictory—— from a guest point of view

(((But I know what you mean)))

 

[MisterPenguin]