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Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Now Open!
- Thread starter Bob Harlem
- Start date
flynnibus
Premium Member
Teething issues like uptime and staff quality really aren’t issues one should be focusing on when talking about the long term impact of the park. They are growing pains that will be in the past soon enough.
I keep saying you need to be looking at this over quarters… not weeks… and here just 2.5 weeks after official opening you all are talking like it’s fading away…
The crowds that seek an opening are the fringe… they are not the meat and potatoes of the industry. People are going to vacation when they vacation… not everyone switch to the last week of may.
Sit back… it’s gonna be a long ride
I keep saying you need to be looking at this over quarters… not weeks… and here just 2.5 weeks after official opening you all are talking like it’s fading away…
The crowds that seek an opening are the fringe… they are not the meat and potatoes of the industry. People are going to vacation when they vacation… not everyone switch to the last week of may.
Sit back… it’s gonna be a long ride
Nothing to defend. For many of us the park meets all reasonable expectations. Food exceeded my expectations. Ride down time isn't great, for a couple of attractions; similar to Rise.
Did anyone really think EPIC was going to TURN WDW into a ghost town?
I did not…. But there were people gleeful about those posters predictions that Universal was going to cause WDW to fall due to Epic..,, I am sure it is a great park and I look forward to visiting it one day…. But Epic is not the Disney killer many Uni fan boys were hoping for
Maybe because EU not being ready with a Regular Fireworks Spectacular or Flying Dragons over Berk is not defend-able???
I don't remember. Were nightly fireworks and drones promised by Universal? It's hard to remember rumors on fan sites vs actual releasesd plans
Nothing Official was said from UOR . However High Fireworks were in the concept art and there were enough Tests before EU that showed could do High Level Fireworks. Yes we saw a Spectacular on May 21st, but how far along is EU on a Regular Spectacular? Who Knows!
Same can said with the Flying Dragons
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
Epic is definitely not an entire park of the full immersion found in Pandora or SWGE. Or Diagon Alley. Only two of the five lands at Epic achieve that level of full immersion. Which is fine, except the entire concept of the park was that the portals would completely "transport" you to "fully immersive worlds". This is one of the biggest issues with the park. If they weren't promising full immersion from the beginning, I think the perception and initial reactions to the park would have been higher.
And no, I'm not trying to claim that reception to the park has been all bad, because it hasn't. However, there does not seem to be many people that were blown away. I would say that the average response to the park has been mixed to positive but not glowing. I do believe it will only improve over time and as far as openings go, Epic's was okay, but it's not a smash hit right out of the gate.
IMO, Animal Kingdom remains the most immersive and cohesive theme park in Florida, especially now that Dino-Rama is gone (and hopefully this doesn't stop with the upcoming changes). It's common for people to dismiss them because they aren't IP based, but Harambe (Africa) and Anandapur (Asia) are just as immersive as SWGE and Pandora.
Because of my life and my interests I know and interact with a lot of "theme park people" and yes, a lot of people actually thought this. It's the social media bubble effect - seeing only negative discourse about Disney and only positive discourse about Universal makes them think that Disney was doomed. What these people don't consider is that Disney is a behemoth of a resort, an institution, a "right of passage" for many, and some negative online complaints or one new theme park aren't going to change that anytime soon. Then you have to consider that on a typical day, the Magic Kingdom alone sees as many guests as USF/IOA/VB combined, or... well, I could go on, but basically all the "Disney is doomed" people are not well informed but are trying to appear informed.
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Sir_Cliff
Well-Known Member
I think this is a good way of describing the vibe around Epic Universe since it opened to guests and why it stands out: few people seem blown away.
The response generally seems positive to me beyond what will hopefully be teething issues regarding reliability, capacity, and shade. However, it is more 'positive' than 'blown away', and I think expectations were set more toward the latter before it opened.
Andrew C
You know what's funny?
I have seen the exact opposite response.
flynnibus
Premium Member
Are these a bunch of people that don’t do real adulting?
Sir_Cliff
Well-Known Member
Fair enough, and this is why I was honestly interested in the first post that mentioned this feeling as I was wondering whether it was just me who has sensed a change in tone. Not a negative reaction, just more a muted reaction.I have seen the exact opposite response.
For example, I occasionally look through the Universal Orlando reddit group and my impression is that it skews positive overall, but probably more mixed than this forum in terms of trip reports.
Blown away by what though? I don't think anyone has ever been blown away by an entire park. Certainly not one that just opened.
Obviously a lot of improvement is needed in operations, capacity, etc. That will likely work itself out in time. As far as the actual content of the park goes, you could reasonably argue that Epic Universe has the best ride in the world, the best-themed land, some of the best food, maybe even one of the best shows. Its lineup of experiences isn't lacking for a brand new park, and there are lots of superlatives you could throw at this park, but it's of course not all of the same quality, which wouldn't have been a realistic expectation or goal. Some of it is even outright disappointing, but that was bound to happen.
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JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
Comcast being the environmentally responsible company you would expect is limiting their use of the fireworks which as you know deposit heavy metals in the fallout zone and they don't want to return the site to superfund status.
Unlike their neighbor down the street that just shoots off anything willie nilly, anywhere
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Andrew C
You know what's funny?
They could use the Disney cruise line ones and feed the birds.
Sir_Cliff
Well-Known Member
That is certainly reasonable, and the only park I can think of that opened in all the time I have been a fan (slightly post-DLP opening) that I think did blow people away as a whole was Tokyo DisneySea. I kind of remember more excitement around IOA post-opening, though I don't know if that is more a different time and hazier memories.
Again, this is where I am interested to see if it is just me reading things this way. My sense before opening was that the expectation was that this park would raise the bar for theme parks in Orlando. Since it has opened, I don't get the sense many people feel that it has.
I agree that all the short-term issues will likely be worked out and with all the features you mention. That's honestly why I have been a little curious to see what seems like such a muted reaction, because it's not like any of the headliners disappointed and it certainly has at least two of what look to be the best-themed lands in Orlando (or anywhere).
Anyway, I probably should stop going on about this vibe/impression as I am not trying to say that I think the park has opened to a negative reaction or been a disappointment. I don't think either is correct.
build_it
Well-Known Member
I think there is a disconnect where fans try and equate a full immersive environment to equal a more enjoyable visit or more excitement.
I have been to SWGE and it is very immersive, however, it falls short in so many ways that have little or nothing to do with immersion. If they would throw out the specific time and location, and included a wider variety of Star Wars as a full property, IMHO it would be way for enjoyable, but less immersive.
Just a thought as the immersive element seems to be a significant discussion point. Some of that Universal did to itself thru marketing, but I really believe some of it is the disconnect between immersion and enjoyment/entertainment.
I have been to SWGE and it is very immersive, however, it falls short in so many ways that have little or nothing to do with immersion. If they would throw out the specific time and location, and included a wider variety of Star Wars as a full property, IMHO it would be way for enjoyable, but less immersive.
Just a thought as the immersive element seems to be a significant discussion point. Some of that Universal did to itself thru marketing, but I really believe some of it is the disconnect between immersion and enjoyment/entertainment.
hopemax
Well-Known Member
The ticket restrictions don't lend themselves to continuing discussion. Like pointed out, a lot of us already visited, and probably aren't in a position to go back for a little bit. We did 2 preview days, and my next visit will be 2 days in September. Which will also be my DH's first visit. I'll have stuff to say then. My Dad is a local and would love to go back, and would have gone back already if it was included in his AP to try more food. But he doesn't want to pay $140 to go by himself.
I still think Epic is a game changer in the same way I thought Harry Potter was a game changer. There was a lot of resistance among the Disney faithful that HP could possibly be that good, and change people's idea of the value of visiting Universal. But it wasn't ever going to be instantaneous. The change will be in how people think and plan their visits to central Florida. Also, the same as how DCL slowly, but surely started capturing WDW market. Universal is now in a position to capture a week long vacation (including a family's travel days). Especially, as the market regenerates itself with new children aging into Universal.
I also think because it’s been so long since a new park has opened in the US, people have poor expectations of what a brand new park is supposed to have and be like. I have been around long enough to remember the underwhelming and often negative reaction and marketing desperation surrounding the opening of both AK and DCA, and I don't get the same sense of that about Epic. For Epic, people want *more* while DCA was, "Why the heck did they build it like this?" and AK was a lot of confusion by the general public. Building out more is a much more solvable problem than people rejecting your entire underlying concept.
I still think Epic is a game changer in the same way I thought Harry Potter was a game changer. There was a lot of resistance among the Disney faithful that HP could possibly be that good, and change people's idea of the value of visiting Universal. But it wasn't ever going to be instantaneous. The change will be in how people think and plan their visits to central Florida. Also, the same as how DCL slowly, but surely started capturing WDW market. Universal is now in a position to capture a week long vacation (including a family's travel days). Especially, as the market regenerates itself with new children aging into Universal.
I also think because it’s been so long since a new park has opened in the US, people have poor expectations of what a brand new park is supposed to have and be like. I have been around long enough to remember the underwhelming and often negative reaction and marketing desperation surrounding the opening of both AK and DCA, and I don't get the same sense of that about Epic. For Epic, people want *more* while DCA was, "Why the heck did they build it like this?" and AK was a lot of confusion by the general public. Building out more is a much more solvable problem than people rejecting your entire underlying concept.
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