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

Purduevian

Well-Known Member
Well DAK has NRJ and safari. Soon the carousel and encanto should be easy to ride plus the shows and trails. DHS has MMRR, TSM and aliens plus lots of shows.
100% DAK will be better once Encanto and the carousel open... but people are complaining that EPC has nothing for the whole family... but I would argue it's pretty on par with DAK and DHS for those of us with young toddlers. At least my 2.5 year old won't sit through too many "broadway" style shows. Our DAK day started with FOTLK and he loved it, but we had to leave Nemo after 5 mins. We recently took a Disney cruise, and while we made it through the 3 Broadway shows (Aladdin, Frozen, and Believe) he wasn't super into any of them and required snacks/toys to get through them (we wanted to see them).

On a personal level, it's super hard to justify over $300 in tickets for USO, DHS, or DAK offer for our family (DAK is right on the boarder and Encanto and carousel would throw it over the top... but by the time it opens I'll have a 5 year old).

We are planning a big family trip next April and will have a 3.5, 2.5, and 6 month of. We will be in Orlando for a week and won't be doing DHS and are debating on AK. (thinking about driving out to Legoland instead for a day)
 

Sir_Cliff

Well-Known Member
100% DAK will be better once Encanto and the carousel open... but people are complaining that EPC has nothing for the whole family... but I would argue it's pretty on par with DAK and DHS for those of us with young toddlers. At least my 2.5 year old won't sit through too many "broadway" style shows. Our DAK day started with FOTLK and he loved it, but we had to leave Nemo after 5 mins. We recently took a Disney cruise, and while we made it through the 3 Broadway shows (Aladdin, Frozen, and Believe) he wasn't super into any of them and required snacks/toys to get through them (we wanted to see them).

On a personal level, it's super hard to justify over $300 in tickets for USO, DHS, or DAK offer for our family (DAK is right on the boarder and Encanto and carousel would throw it over the top... but by the time it opens I'll have a 5 year old).

We are planning a big family trip next April and will have a 3.5, 2.5, and 6 month of. We will be in Orlando for a week and won't be doing DHS and are debating on AK. (thinking about driving out to Legoland instead for a day)
All sounds fair enough, thanks for the perspective.

Do the animals make any difference with DAK? I would have thought that might keep younger children occupied, though I could certainly see why it wouldn't make the $300 easier to swallow!

I only ask as people never really mention animals when discussing what DAK has to do, but they are kind of central to how the park was originally planned.
 

Purduevian

Well-Known Member
All sounds fair enough, thanks for the perspective.

Do the animals make any difference with DAK? I would have thought that might keep younger children occupied, though I could certainly see why it wouldn't make the $300 easier to swallow!

I only ask as people never really mention animals when discussing what DAK has to do, but they are kind of central to how the park was originally planned.
I mean... he liked walking (strollering) through them, we did the discovery trails, gorilla falls, and jungle trek, but each one was under a 15 min experience for us as he would tell us he was "all done" pretty quick at each exhibit.

We are quite lucky to have a very good zoo ~30 mins from our house and have an annual pass to it. When the weather is good, he goes probably twice a month. He does the same thing at that zoo, but there are a lot more animals there so 30 seconds per animals is a nice morning or afternoon for him. I would say minute for minute, he liked the animal trails a little less than our home zoo because he really likes certain animals that DAK doesn't have (he loves penguins).

So again for me personally, when I'm looking at lets say $325 for my wife and I to get into animal kingdom, the animal trails don't really move the needle as it doesn't feel like something we can't get 30 mins from home and "free" (annual pass already bought). compare that to magic kingdom, where the "filler" attractions like tiki room and country bears are something we only can experience at Disney.
 

rd805

Well-Known Member
We are planning a big family trip next April and will have a 3.5, 2.5, and 6 month of. We will be in Orlando for a week and won't be doing DHS and are debating on AK. (thinking about driving out to Legoland instead for a day
Keeping it fresh to "you" as the traveler is always what is most important! Legoland is a great way to mix it up, especially if you haven't done it (or if you children haven't either). If it's new to you, my brain says DO IT!

Having just returned from a MOSTLY Universal Trip (2 Days Epic, 2 Days Other parks), I knew i had to mix in a Disney day and Park Hopped Epcot -> HS.
 

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
I mean... he liked walking (strollering) through them, we did the discovery trails, gorilla falls, and jungle trek, but each one was under a 15 min experience for us as he would tell us he was "all done" pretty quick at each exhibit.

We are quite lucky to have a very good zoo ~30 mins from our house and have an annual pass to it. When the weather is good, he goes probably twice a month. He does the same thing at that zoo, but there are a lot more animals there so 30 seconds per animals is a nice morning or afternoon for him. I would say minute for minute, he liked the animal trails a little less than our home zoo because he really likes certain animals that DAK doesn't have (he loves penguins).

So again for me personally, when I'm looking at lets say $325 for my wife and I to get into animal kingdom, the animal trails don't really move the needle as it doesn't feel like something we can't get 30 mins from home and "free" (annual pass already bought). compare that to magic kingdom, where the "filler" attractions like tiki room and country bears are something we only can experience at Disney.

And this is why filler, chill, attractions are so important to round out a park.
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
100% DAK will be better once Encanto and the carousel open... but people are complaining that EPC has nothing for the whole family... but I would argue it's pretty on par with DAK and DHS for those of us with young toddlers. At least my 2.5 year old won't sit through too many "broadway" style shows
Lets be fair - none of the major theme parks are built for 2yr olds. They are built to have families TAKE their 2yr olds along with them. The babies being free admission isn't by chance.. they all know they are tag alongs.

Disney has things like characters, and (used to have) play areas.. but the rest is about being compatible with that age group (you can take your kid with you) vs being 'for them'.

So I'd argue it's more about compatible and inclusive than 'for them'. You mention things like shows they can sit through, etc.. but while a kid can sit through philharmagic.. is it really for them? Disney Jr like shows/attractions are few and far inbetween even at Disney.
 

Purduevian

Well-Known Member
Lets be fair - none of the major theme parks are built for 2yr olds. They are built to have families TAKE their 2yr olds along with them. The babies being free admission isn't by chance.. they all know they are tag alongs.

Disney has things like characters, and (used to have) play areas.. but the rest is about being compatible with that age group (you can take your kid with you) vs being 'for them'.

So I'd argue it's more about compatible and inclusive than 'for them'. You mention things like shows they can sit through, etc.. but while a kid can sit through philharmagic.. is it really for them? Disney Jr like shows/attractions are few and far inbetween even at Disney.
Very fair... would it be fair to say DHS, USO, and to a certain extent AK aren't even compatible with a 2 year old? I don't mind doing 1 or 2 attractions a day with rider swap, but personally I'm not really interested in splitting up my family more than that.

I'm just trying to make the argument that EPIC is about as approachable to my current family as DHS. If we move the bar to what park will be "worth it" to me when he is a 4 year old... well he is quite tall and adventurous so at EPIC I assume that would unlock Hiccup, Mario kart and Mine-cart (Technically werewolf and HP as well, but I don't think I would take a 4 year old on those).
AK will open up Kali
DHS will open up MFSR, SDD, Star Tours (Technically RotR and ToT... but again idk if I'm taking a 4 year old on those).

If people want to take their 2 year old to DHS, AK, USO, six flags, ect. I don't really care. The main point I am trying to make is that people on keep saying EPIC is not family friendly enough, but IMHO it is just about as friendly for my family as DHS and AK isn't too far ahead of it.
 

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
Very fair... would it be fair to say DHS, USO, and to a certain extent AK aren't even compatible with a 2 year old? I don't mind doing 1 or 2 attractions a day with rider swap, but personally I'm not really interested in splitting up my family more than that.

I'm just trying to make the argument that EPIC is about as approachable to my current family as DHS. If we move the bar to what park will be "worth it" to me when he is a 4 year old... well he is quite tall and adventurous so at EPIC I assume that would unlock Hiccup, Mario kart and Mine-cart (Technically werewolf and HP as well, but I don't think I would take a 4 year old on those).
AK will open up Kali
DHS will open up MFSR, SDD, Star Tours (Technically RotR and ToT... but again idk if I'm taking a 4 year old on those).

If people want to take their 2 year old to DHS, AK, USO, six flags, ect. I don't really care. The main point I am trying to make is that people on keep saying EPIC is not family friendly enough, but IMHO it is just about as friendly for my family as DHS and AK isn't too far ahead of it.

I know you already explained how the animal trails and stuff don’t move the needle for you family, due to circumstances like having a regular zoo, your child already having experience with that, etc.

But I do think despite the lack of rides for young ones, it does put DAK ahead of DHS and Epic. For many families who don’t have those experiences nearby, it can be a great time suck for little ones.

Experiences like the trails, they help round out the park, giving more and varied experiences. Things you can do without waiting or paying for express. Chill, easy experiences. That’s what I think Epic sorely needs, and not behind a paywall like the Mario games.

Epic would benefit from some walk throughs, or small and easy dark rides. The parks is on the right path, but I don’t think it has met the mark of a game changer, at least not quite yet.
 

Purduevian

Well-Known Member
I know you already explained how the animal trails and stuff don’t move the needle for you family, due to circumstances like having a regular zoo, your child already having experience with that, etc.

But I do think despite the lack of rides for young ones, it does put DAK ahead of DHS and Epic. For many families who don’t have those experiences nearby, it can be a great time suck for little ones.

Experiences like the trails, they help round out the park, giving more and varied experiences. Things you can do without waiting or paying for express. Chill, easy experiences. That’s what I think Epic sorely needs, and not behind a paywall like the Mario games.

Epic would benefit from some walk throughs, or small and easy dark rides. The parks is on the right path, but I don’t think it has met the mark of a game changer, at least not quite yet.
Fair point. I agree and my #1 hope for animation courtyard is a family friendly area with multiple toddler compatible attractions. Same for EPIC, I know everyone loves the idea of a Wicked land and LOTR... but they really need more toddler compatible attractions (I'm kind of sad the area just south of SNW isn't being used for a SNW expansion)
 

Disney Analyst

Well-Known Member
Fair point. I agree and my #1 hope for animation courtyard is a family friendly area with multiple toddler compatible attractions. Same for EPIC, I know everyone loves the idea of a Wicked land and LOTR... but they really need more toddler compatible attractions (I'm kind of sad the area just south of SNW isn't being used for a SNW expansion)

This is why I say Disneyland is the most well rounded park out there, and of course it has had 70 years to get there, but the level of experiences and variety for all is why it's one of the busiest and most popular theme parks in the world.

Also one of the reasons Disneyland doesn't suffer from many of the issues MK faces with lines, and a poor Lightning Lane experience.
 

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