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

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

will there ever be a day where a forum of full grown adults last three pages in a thread without going down each other throats?

 

[flynnibus]

All true. My point is that some people just assume that more days at Epic means less days at Disney parks, and that’s not necessarily true.

For many (and probably most) it does mean that. A new theme park opening doesn’t result in you getting more vacation days or change your kid’s other activities. People only have so many days they can be away and give to one will mean taking away from another.

I think both properties hope the competition squeeze an additional FL trip out of people’s normal vacation loop.

 

[flynnibus]

So saw some reel today highlighting how bad Epic is exposed to rain… calling out that the park only had 3 indoor rides… and outdoor rides were closed for rain and not just lightning.

For some reason that day indoor shows were being cancelled too.

Does Epic have a major liability here where they could get massive drop offs like a water park just based on forecasts? Funneling everyone into so few rides is disaster.

It’s one thing when the park has so little shelter from rain/sun… but would you be satisfied with your admission paid if instead of some attractions being down… 75% of it was?

 

[earlthesquirrellover23]

So saw some reel today highlighting how bad Epic is exposed to rain… calling out that the park only had 3 indoor rides… and outdoor rides were closed for rain and not just lightning.

For some reason that day indoor shows were being cancelled too.

Does Epic have a major liability here where they could get massive drop offs like a water park just based on forecasts? Funneling everyone into so few rides is disaster.

It’s one thing when the park has so little shelter from rain/sun… but would you be satisfied with your admission paid if instead of some attractions being down… 75% of it was?

So epic has 6 attractions (4 rides, 2 shows) open in the rain if there is lightning. Those attractions are Monsters Unchained, Constellation Carousel, Ministry, Mario Kart, Untrainable, and Cirque. This isn't too far off from the number of indoor attractions at some other orlando parks. Islands only has 6 open during weather delays (FJ, Kong, Cat, Storm Force, Carosuessel, Spiderman) and DAK also has 6 (Nemo, Lion King, FOP, Navi River Journey, Dinosaur, and Safari (depending on how bad the weather is)). Epic isn't too bad, especially for a brand new park.

 

[flynnibus]

So epic has 6 attractions (4 rides, 2 shows) open in the rain. Those attractions are Monsters Unchained, Constellation Carousel, Ministry, Mario Kart, Untrainable, and Cirque. This isn't too far off from the number of indoor attractions at some other orlando parks. Islands only has 6 open during weather delays (FJ, Kong, Cat, Storm Force, Carosuessel, Spiderman) and DAK also has 6 (Nemo, Lion King, FOP, Navi River Journey, Dinosaur, and Safari (depending on how bad the weather is)). Epic isn't too bad, especially for a brand new park.

Carousal wasn’t operating in the rain (too slick maybe?). And it was already mentioned the shows were not running regularly either… related or not I can’t say. Regardless… two shows doesn’t make the cut.

For quick comparisons… i did quick look at IoA and then MGM… and just counting rides (not shows) both easily bested the 3 ride count significantly.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Carousal wasn’t operating in the rain (too slick maybe?). And it was already mentioned the shows were not running regularly either… related or not I can’t say. Regardless… two shows doesn’t make the cut.

For quick comparisons… i did quick look at IoA and then MGM… and just counting rides (not shows) both easily bested the 3 ride count significantly.

I’ve never thought counting the shows very fair, given they only run so often, and once a show is loaded you are stuck.

Sure it helps, but in the end this park was not built for Orlando weather, just like so many others. I haven’t been back to Florida since 2014, but IOA was miserable in bad weather. Which was every day in the summer pretty much.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

will there ever be a day where a forum of full grown adults last three pages in a thread without going down each other throats?

 

[JusticeDisney]

For many (and probably most) it does mean that. A new theme park opening doesn’t result in you getting more vacation days or change your kid’s other activities. People only have so many days they can be away and give to one will mean taking away from another.

I think both properties hope the competition squeeze an additional FL trip out of people’s normal vacation loop.

In my view, people are just as likely to make room for Epic by cutting a day from USO, for example, than they are by cutting a Disney day. Not saying that everyone will do that, but I’m willing to bet that a good number of people will.

 

[DKampy]

In my view, people as just as likely to make room for Epic by cutting a day from USO, for example, than they are by cutting a Disney day. Not saying that everyone will do that, but I’m willing to bet that a good number of people will.

I will say… I notice this where I live…. People I know who have traveled to Orlando who in the past have taken a day off their trip to WDW for Universal…still talk about doing this… but mention that day will be reserved for Epic rather then the other two parks

 

[earlthesquirrellover23]

Carousal wasn’t operating in the rain (too slick maybe?). And it was already mentioned the shows were not running regularly either… related or not I can’t say. Regardless… two shows doesn’t make the cut.

For quick comparisons… i did quick look at IoA and then MGM… and just counting rides (not shows) both easily bested the 3 ride count significantly.

Well Hollywood Studios is majority indoor attractions (I think slinky is the only outdoor one?), so that makes sense, a better comparison for that would be USF which is also mainly indoors. I included the shows for IOA (has none) and DAK too, so I think my point still stands. Carousel is open in weather delays, they may have just been having issues at the time and the shows will continue to and have been getting more reliable.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I will say… I notice this where I live…. People I know who have traveled to Orlando who in the past have taken a day off their trip to WDW for Universal…still talk about doing this… but mention that day will be reserved for Epic rather then the other two parks

Yes, I don't think we'll really know whether Epic's attendance is coming more at the expense of other Universal or Disney parks or mostly from new or longer visits until the quarterly resorts come out. I haven't seen many people commenting on how crowds seem at the other parks, but that never seems particularly reliable as people often claim they're low and then the quarterly reports come out that contradict the anecdotal observations or screenshots of wait times.

I'm not entirely convinced by the logic according to which Epic's attendance would come more at the expense of WDW than Universal parks. It seems more likely that those splitting time between both resorts allocate one of their Uni rather than one of their WDW days to Epic, while those who spend their entire time at Uni will presumably now be at Epic on at least one day they would have been in another park. I would similarly expect a new addition at WDW to reshuffle attendance between WDW's parks more than between WDW and Universal.

With Epic's relatively low capacity and people visiting especially for Epic, it is also, of course, possible the impact on other parks is relatively low. I think that would be the first time that has ever happened with the opening of a new park, though.

 

[DKampy]

Yes, I don't think we'll really know whether Epic's attendance is coming more at the expense of other Universal or Disney parks or mostly from new or longer visits until the quarterly resorts come out. I haven't seen many people commenting on how crowds seem at the other parks, but that never seems particularly reliable as people often claim they're low and then the quarterly reports come out that contradict the anecdotal observations or screenshots of wait times.

I'm not entirely convinced by the logic according to which Epic's attendance would come more at the expense of WDW than Universal parks. It seems more likely that those splitting time between both resorts allocate one of their Uni rather than one of their WDW days to Epic, while those who spend their entire time at Uni will presumably now be at Epic on at least one day they would have been in another park. I would similarly expect a new addition at WDW to reshuffle attendance between WDW's parks more than between WDW and Universal.

With Epic's relatively low capacity and people visiting especially for Epic, it is also, of course, possible the impact on other parks is relatively low. I think that would be the first time that has ever happened with the opening of a new park, though.

My best guess is that there there will be a net positive for all parks in the Orlando area… as in more people traveling to the Orlando area that would not have without Epic Universe

 

[The Mom]

Any posters who continue bickering will be banned from this thread.

 

[BrianLo]

I'm not entirely convinced by the logic according to which Epic's attendance would come more at the expense of WDW than Universal parks. It seems more likely that those splitting time between both resorts allocate one of their Uni rather than one of their WDW days to Epic, while those who spend their entire time at Uni will presumably now be at Epic on at least one day they would have been in another park. I would similarly expect a new addition at WDW to reshuffle attendance between WDW's parks more than between WDW and Universal.

Length of stay will be the other indicator. By far the number one reason they progressed with Epic. Right now they are pretty much capped between a 0-1 day increase in length of stay and the closer it is to zero the worse their opening strategy.

Technically there is a situation it could run negative. If people shirk multi day tickets entirely for a one off Epic ticket.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

The last domestic park to open from the big 2 was DCA with the opening act being the Sunshine Hubcap.



Just sayin'

I'm still sticking with the last domestic park to be this ambitious at opening was EPCOT Center in '82.

 

[build_it]

In the discussions in our household, Epic will drive our reason to visit Orlando. We will likely add a day to our planned Universal days, and decrease a day from our WDW days. Part of that is our personal preference for the California parks, and the general feeling that WDW has really become the inferior product. It’s nice there are four parks, but they haven’t added enough to the non-magic kingdom parks to justify more time in each park. We’ll probably spend 7-10 days in central Florida, but fewer will be at WDW than in the past. Nostalgia is big for us for WDW, but that’s not enough.

 

[brifraz]

Two days in a row (maybe more?) that I’ve watched Epic wait times on the app and attractions are still showing wait times after 10pm. Both days were listed as 9pm closing. And it’s not just things with long waits burning through their lines. Monsters has gone up from 15min to 25min tonight between 9pm and 10pm. Carousel consistently at 25 min. Anybody know what’s up with that??

 

[brifraz]

At 10:30pm, most things now show closed by Monsters and Mario Kart still showing wait times. So the app is still updating, but we are 1:30 past official closing.

 

[CoastalElite64]

The last domestic park to open from the big 2 was DCA with the opening act being the Sunshine Hubcap.



Just sayin'

I'm still sticking with the last domestic park to be this ambitious at opening was EPCOT Center in '82.

Not a fair comparison considering the very different budgets those two parks had. Would make more sense to compare to Shanghai Disneyland.

 

[Tom Morrow]

In the Monsters Unchained second pre-show, when Victoria says "... that wasn't us." Is she referring to the equipment shutting off - as in Dracula shut it off? Or is she saying that her 2.0 monster getting angry and smashing the equipment and her yelling at him isn't how they normally are?