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

[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]

 

[MisterPenguin]

 

[DarkMetroid567]

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.

You jinxed us, as it then died around 2:00 and never reopened.

 

[twilight mitsuk]

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.

what do you expect from seaworld parks?

 

[JT3000]

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.

What they should have done is expand the village, with some stores and a walkthrough or something. Darkmoor is way too small. I haven't even been on Werewolf yet, but I'm already hoping it's the first opening day attraction to be replaced, preferably when Dark Universe gets expanded with a second major attraction.

 

[Bob Harlem]

Mario's creator Shigeru Miyamoto was in epic today.

 

[MrPromey]

The stairs thing is absolutely true.

They really are pretty much everywhere.

On Mario Kart, you start off on the second level and then go up stairs to a third level once inside, only to then go down two levels of stair later on to the ride which is apparently on the first level.

... only to go back up to the second level on the way out to exit... Then when you leave the land, while they have escalators to take you up to the second level on the way in, it's stairs (or an elevator) on the way out unless you opt for the somewhat hidden ground-level exit through doors off to the side in an alcove under Peach's castle... assuming you're already on the first level at that point.

 

[FoodRockz]

The stairs thing is absolutely true.

They really are pretty much everywhere.

On Mario Kart, you start off on the second level and then go up stairs to a third level once inside, only to then go down two levels of stair later on to the ride which is apparently on the first level.

... only to go back up to the second level on the way out to exit... Then when you leave the land, while they have escalators to take you up to the second level on the way in, it's stairs (or an elevator) on the way out unless you opt for the somewhat hidden ground-level exit through doors off to the side in an alcove under Peach's castle.

While climbing and descending all the stairs around the park, the memory of a certain TWDC CFO came to mind. Maybe she was on the EU team!

 

[FoodRockz]

Also, in regards to CotW, my group all really enjoyed that ride and rode it twice because of it. Only bad part was the super cheap ending scene when you come back into the station. But that's a cheap fix.

 

[Rescue Ranger]

What an incredible day I had today at Epic Universe....it truly was EPIC!!

Every single land/portal floored me with the amount of immersion. My personal favorite being Dark Universe but they were all fantastic. Nintendo was like being transported into a console with things going on all around you.

I was able to ride Monsters twice, Yoshi, Mario Kart, DK, Constellation and view Cirque Arcanus & Ministry queue. Glad I was able to tour each land, try some good food and interact with numerous characters as well as street performers.

Saving some attractions for a future visit.

The only attraction I didn't care for was Mario Kart. Love the game but the ride instantly felt dated and the images blurry. The exterior/queue for this was far more fun than the ride itself. They could have made this so much better. Yoshi was what it was. Nice relaxing ride but nothing much going for it + it was direct sun. The biggest thing Nintendo has going for it is the immersion and your surroundings, which at the end of the day, matters most to me. Monsters was awesome!! Constellation is a great Carousel but I think it would be best enjoyed at night as it doesn't reach its potential during a sunny day. DK was good. Bumpy and hard but good. Le Cirque Arcanus was a great show with incredible theming.

Today I experienced more magic in one day than I've experienced in WDW in years. It shocks me to say this as a Disney purist and as someone who hasn't felt this way about the other Universal parks, but it's true. The Disney resorts are still home and my preference for an overnight stay but the park experience is falling behind. It's noticeable. The little things matter.

Being able to walk around Dark Universe bumping into the Invisible Man, the Violinist, Igor, the Monster or Bride was amazing. Walking and talking alongside the students and shop owners roaming Ministry of Magic was unbelievably special - it was a blast! Loved every moment of interacting with each of them. Disney not bringing back the Citizens of Hollywood is so sad. They made such an impact and their presence is severely missed and noticeable. Closest we have are Stormtroopers.

A very special day and hats of to the Universal team for creating such special and Epic destinations in the form of portals. Bravo

 

[Agent H]

The stairs thing is absolutely true.

They really are pretty much everywhere.

On Mario Kart, you start off on the second level and then go up stairs to a third level once inside, only to then go down two levels of stair later on to the ride which is apparently on the first level.

... only to go back up to the second level on the way out to exit... Then when you leave the land, while they have escalators to take you up to the second level on the way in, it's stairs (or an elevator) on the way out unless you opt for the somewhat hidden ground-level exit through doors off to the side in an alcove under Peach's castle.

I don’t really see why this is a problem. As you said there’s multiple ways to get up and down without taking the stairs and it allows for more varied use of the space as opposed to if the land were one story and just the Mario kart ride the restaurant and maybe the yoshi ride.

 

[MrPromey]

I don’t really see why this is a problem. As you said there’s multiple ways to get up and down without taking the stairs and it allows for more varied use of the space as opposed to if the land were one story and just the Mario kart ride the restaurant and maybe the yoshi ride.

You don't understand - you really have to experience it.

There are stairs EVERYWHERE. Yes you can wait for the elevators but you're competing with the actual disabled and people with strollers for those. it's not something you're going to want to do all day.

Sometimes it's just a choice of six or eight steps or going the long way around. Often it's full flights or multiple flights. All. Day. Long.

Every land and almost every queue.

The Celestial Park also has a lot of elevation variety that has you going up and down a few steps everywhere, too as you go back and forth between portals.

Not a rough thing to start out with but after 10+ hours of it, for someone who's not a teen, you really feel it... And so did my 13 year old so maybe for lazy teens, too.

The Mario area is just a super crazy example of it. In addition to Mario Kart which sends you up a level as soon as you walk into the queue only to send you down two levels at the end to board (and then back up a level to exit), Yoshi is on the 3rd level but the entrance to the queue is on the first level, then just before loading, you go up a spiral staircase to get to the boarding on that third level... then down a spiral staircase to exit back to the first level.

In most instances, I get the logic behind why they did it but having been to all the FL theme parks, most of what's out in California and stuff in various states between, I've never in my life encountered as many sets of stairs as this park has.

Not even close.

That wouldn't stop me from going back but I sure noticed it and seeing stuff like that video online, I see I'm not the only one.

 

[MrPromey]

While climbing and descending all the stairs around the park, the memory of a certain TWDC CFO came to mind. Maybe she was on the EU team!

If I went to this park every day, my heart would be in tip-top shape for the rest of my life and I certainty wouldn't be needing smaller portions of anything.