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

[Tom Morrow]

I'm not a fan either, but a fast roller coaster is an obvious IP tie-in WIN. The real dumbest thing was designing an attraction with the name FAST and FURIOUS and not have the vehicle actually go fast (barely move)? I can't believe they signed off on it.

and then doing it a second time with Mario Kart.


(yes, Mario Kart is still a far better ride than F&F but still).

F&F is fine for a limited theming outdoor coaster. The films might be dumb, but "cool cars going fast" is an easy enough concept for most to enjoy.

 

[JoeCamel]

That coaster in Hollywood on the hillside looks like a lot of fun

But for gods sake…they should dump the fast and furious stupidity

Why build rides something so played out?

They seem pretty intent on keeping F&F in the parks in some capacity, and a "bare support" coaster is the perfect ride system for it (outside a slot car style ride). Leave the dark rides/special effects for Ghostbusters and other IPs that deserve it.

Fast and the furious is the dumbest thing since unsliced bread

I'm not a fan either, but a fast roller coaster is an obvious IP tie-in WIN. The real dumbest thing was designing an attraction with the name FAST and FURIOUS and not have the vehicle actually go fast (barely move)? I can't believe they signed off on it.

I agree. Some properties are just not meant for a theme park. There is no whimsy. No magic. Just testosterone and cars.

I always feel like successful theme park experiences need some sort of fantastical element to them. Dinosaurs, Mummies, Magic, Cartoons … where the limits of our world don’t exist, etc.

Check the box office for the franchise, all you need to know.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Check the box office for the franchise, all you need to know.

Doesn’t mean it makes good IP for theme park attractions. A show maybe, but a ride? Nah.

At least the coaster makes somewhat sense.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Any updates on Monsters show quality? I feel like if more than one or two animatronic figures are down, the ride should be delayed until they are fixed. The animatronic figures make the ride.

It's not like Tiana, for example, where the real world views the ride provides make it interesting enough without the animatronics moving. Or Forbidden Journey, where the more aggressive movements and screens add a thrill factor. But Monsters, no. The animatronics ARE the ride.

Epic is not a strong enough park without Monsters, Ministry, and Stardust Racers. All three need to not only be open and reliable, but in great show quality (or in the case of Stardust, actually racing).

 

[JoeCamel]

Doesn’t mean it makes good IP for theme park attractions. A show maybe, but a ride? Nah.

At least the coaster makes somewhat sense.

The front office does not care, they point to the BO and say "see people like this" and the edict comes down from on high to build something

 

[earlthesquirrellover23]

Doesn’t mean it makes good IP for theme park attractions. A show maybe, but a ride? Nah.

At least the coaster makes somewhat sense.

I think it actually does make a great IP for a theme park ride. Car-based attractions have been part of amusement parks since the very beginning, even Disneyland had Autopia. Universal just made a big mistake when they decided to bring the tram tour attraction to Florida which was already not that well received on the studio tour at USH and they are righting their wrongs.

 

[MrPromey]

Would be kind of like having:

• Harry Potter in 3 parks
• Beauty and the Beast in 3 parks
• Little mermaid in 2 parks
• Nemo in 2 parks
• Frozen in 2 parks
• Lion King in 2 parks
• Muppets in 2 parks
• Star wars in 3 different areas of the same park
• Indiana Jones in 2 parks (coming soon)
• Toy Story in 2 parks

And I'm not even counting M&Gs.

Nintendo the biggest IP they've had since Potter (and it could be argued this is a bigger IP). They would be smart to spread out the love.

I think it actually makes more sense than those examples.

Mario and Donkey Kong live in a shared universe.

Obviously, Zelda isn't part of that.

The only thing tying Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid, etc. is Nintendo.

This would be a little like saying it only makes sense to put Secret Life of Pets in the same park as Minions and that can only be Epic because of Mario due to the movies all being Illumination.

They could continue to call this Super Nintendo after adding to one of the other parks or just change it to Super Mario since that's more precisely what it is, anyway and the name change would be warranted after Mario and DK aren't the only Nintendo properties in use.

Disney's changed the name of multiple whole theme parks so this seems like a minor update that would probably go unnoticed by most of the general public.

 

[MrPromey]

Fast and the furious is the dumbest thing since unsliced bread

I have the same bias you do, here.

I've accepted there's an audience for this and on a vinn diagram, my circle is on a different continent from those folks.

 

[CoastalElite64]

Luigi's Mansion still makes the most sense for Epic. A Yoshi land too.

Zelda should be its own thing. Nintendo always made Zelda feel like the most special of all.

 

[Purduevian]

Luigi's Mansion still makes the most sense for Epic. A Yoshi land too.

Zelda should be its own thing. Nintendo always made Zelda feel like the most special of all.

Does anyone have a building layout for SNW? I'm super interested to know if there would be any way for them to get a queue in/out of the bowser jr. challenge or toadstool cafe side. (Also yes I know the rumor is that is is going to be a concert venue or something... but let me dream, I don't want them using a new portal pad for a SNW expansion.

 

[Tha Realest]

That coaster in Hollywood on the hillside looks like a lot of fun

But for gods sake…they should dump the fast and furious stupidity

Why build rides something so played out?

Universal is interesting. They took an abysmal failure of a movie and it’s become one of the most enduring (if not best?) theme park stunt attractions. If I’m not mistaken, they even recently built a Waterworld attraction at one of the overseas parks?

 

[earlthesquirrellover23]

Universal is interesting. They took an abysmal failure of a movie and it’s become one of the most enduring (if not best?) theme park stunt attractions. If I’m not mistaken, they even recently built a Waterworld attraction at one of the overseas parks?

Every Universal Resort has the show except for Orlando. Even the UK resort is looking like its gonna get it.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Universal is interesting. They took an abysmal failure of a movie and it’s become one of the most enduring (if not best?) theme park stunt attractions. If I’m not mistaken, they even recently built a Waterworld attraction at one of the overseas parks?

I just saw that show…it’s REALLY good

 

[JT3000]

I have the same bias you do, here.

I've accepted there's an audience for this and on a vinn diagram, my circle is on a different continent from those folks.

Did you mean Venn diagram? Or Vin diagram?

 

[MrPromey]

Did you mean Venn diagram? Or Vin diagram?

I actually made a typo and started with Vin... that would have been the perfect accidental joke but yours is a way better intentional one.

 

[flynnibus]

Funny now that crowds and wait times soar.. social media posts blame universal for "oversellling" the park

 

[Disney Analyst]

Funny now that crowds and wait times soar.. social media posts blame universal for "oversellling" the park

I mean. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

But this park was always going to have capacity issues with only a few really high capacity, and not enough smaller, easy to access, reliable rides.

 

[JusticeDisney]

There are 3 good rides in the entire park. The rest of the place is one and done, if that.

 

[Andrew C]

Here we go.

 

[JoeCamel]

Universal is interesting. They took an abysmal failure of a movie and it’s become one of the most enduring (if not best?) theme park stunt attractions. If I’m not mistaken, they even recently built a Waterworld attraction at one of the overseas parks?

A good stuntshow eclipses the IP. People are looking in wonder of the spectacle not to see if it tells a story.
Thin story see Sinbad but I liked sitting in the top row and watching the stunts but even Indy is people doing things that would kill most in real life.