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

[ToTBellHop]

Is it internationally beloved? I really don’t know much about it

I didn’t see the movie until I was an adult and it was a “eh, nice” moment. I didn’t feel particularly inspired by the sets, although the poppies made me snarf.

I’m familiar with the Wicked play, but not the films, because I think Aaron Tveit is fantastic looking and I saw it during his run.

It was fine, catchy, but didn’t particularly make me want to visit Oz.

I realize this is entirely possibly my failing, I just didn’t know there were that many people who wanted to visit Oz badly enough to travel, possibly long distances, to pay to visit a thrill-ride-heavy brand of theme park.

I think Wicked fever may be short lived. Most of us who have seen the musical recognize a problem movie-goers will soon experience: many (most) Broadway shows have a stronger Act 1 and weaker Act 2. No where is that more dramatic than Wicked. All of the iconic songs and the best world-building are in Act 1. Act 2 has very few memorable scenes and the story gets more and more convoluted (and contradictory to the movie it tries to segue into). The result, for many, is that the exuberance you feel at the end of “Defying Gravity” is completely gone 90 minutes later. Wicked is great because of Act 1 and in spite of Act 2.

Making an entire 2-hour movie out of Act 2 was…a choice. I doubt, when all is said and done, people will still be clamoring for a theme park land.

And please don’t even think of picking up the book.

 

[BrianLo]

The result, for many, is that the exuberance you feel at the end of “Defying Gravity” is completely gone 90 minutes later. Wicked is great because of Act 1 and in spite of Act 2.

60 minutes. The second act is 30 minutes shorter. Which I am somewhat fascinated with how they’ll handle the sequel as the reviews roll in.

I am a fan and I do feel the first movie could have left 10 minutes on the cutting room floor to not drag out the songs sooo much. Like you I’ve had my doubts on the strength of the sequel. But since more than half of it needs to be original material they can maybe rescue it.


That aside, there’s plenty of potential for a Wicked land. This is in their set experience thing.

Universal is also short on options, in my opinion. So if not Wicked (and Zelda and Pokemon), what next? Maybe One Piece, albeit another license.

 

[flynnibus]

Here today.. park was empty. Was able to walk on most majors. Will probably have done everything we want by 230pm

Right now my longest wait is single rider for DK and that was posted as 45min

Walk on sr at opening for MoM
Walk on monsters… max wait has been about 20mins elsewhere

 

[Tom Morrow]

As for opening new attractions/lands Universal is even more creatively bankrupt than Disney——its reliance on IP is off the charts.

How about trying something thematically new and doing it so well that there would be a demand for a movie franchise.

To be fair, reliance on IP has always been Universal's thing. It began as a place where you can "ride the movies". (I know that before that it began as a movie studio tour).

Disney, on the other hand, used to be an even mix of IP experiences and original ones.

 

[ToTBellHop]

To be fair, reliance on IP has always been Universal's thing. It began as a place where you can "ride the movies". (I know that before that it began as a movie studio tour).

Disney, on the other hand, used to be an even mix of IP experiences and original ones.

Yes, but at least when Islands opened, it had attractions not overtly based upon a specific film showcasing specific actors. Unfortunately, that’s been diluted over time. I personally think Lost Continent was more timeless than Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter (and I love Harry Potter).

 

[Tom Morrow]

Yes, but at least when Islands opened, it had attractions not overtly based upon a specific film showcasing specific actors. Unfortunately, that’s been diluted over time. I personally think Lost Continent was more timeless than Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter (and I love Harry Potter).

I agree. And the kicker is that Universal has proven that they CAN do original stuff very well, most notably in the form of half or more of the HHN houses each year, and I would argue Darkmoor and Monsters Unchained are more an original creation than a true IP offering.

 

[flynnibus]

My impressions…

You know it, but it still feels crazy how compact the park is.
Celestial is nicer than it looks online.. it works as a nice area you pass through and the structures are nice looking. I mean you don’t want to go there just for the park… but for atmosphere it’s nice
Berk is by far the most impressive land imo as a theme park land. Harry Potter is realism like mad… but the fantasy stuff in berk is so much fun imo.

The untrainable dragon show just makes you laugh at what Disney tries to put out as stage shows right now.

So many rides had a recurring theme… you get off and say ‘that’s it??’. If I was waiting hour+ I’d be so much more put off

Monsters unchained is insane… but also felt like a demo reel. Like let’s show you everything possible in a quick reel. The figures like Igor are so impressive… everything is dialed to 11… but I still didn’t get like an emotional hook at all with the ride. I loved the castle exterior

Dk mine cart has rough spots but they are confusing like they are shimmy spot that just didn’t need to be there. Almost like construction defects… tho I am sure they are not… but just taking those out would improve it so much. The track effect looked fun.

I was supurised by how much different some was compared to the layout in Hollywood…

MoM is so impressive in how they manage the depth and projection elements… the death eaters look incredible but the human faces still seem lacking. MoM felt like Spider-Man evolved. I don’t think I could justify 3hr waits tho.

I am blessed I hit the park on what is probably the least possible crowd day. I walked on mom, monsters, and most rides. But I don’t think i could tell people with a straight face that visiting and having 90min plus waits everywhere would still be worth it.

If you are 25-35… this park probably screams yes yes yes to you. As an old guy who can’t handle the jerkiness as much anymore my time in these parks is probably closing. And that point will still probably pigeonhole universal… it won’t crack into the multi generational family trip Disney mastered. Epic helps on the low end of the range… but uni is still gonna excel at the young adult demographic and suffer at the edges.

Most shocking thing I wasn’t expecting… how empty all that space around the park is. It’s like in this wasteland of nothing with stuff planted to try to fill it.

 

[rd805]

With a fast tracked attraction, additional dining, and plant life continuing to grow; I think the beta version of this park will feel a lot better. With that said, it then STILL needs 2 more attractions (expansion plot land) after the pending Potter.

I still absolutely adored the park (helps that I had a plan, 2 days, stayed at Helios, did express 2nd day lol), but I am a huge fan of Nintendo & Potter, classic monsters is a gem IP, roller coasters: so it's made for "me." I get why people would have bad days at EPIC; with extensive planning (and probably a higher budget ready than most may be willing), I had a success.


Much like I'm impressed at the future of what WDW is working on right now (arguably 4 big expansions / updates at once); the next phase of Universal overall seems promising:
-Replace a lackluster coaster, build brand new coaster with popular IP
-Ditch popular IP crap attraction, and replace with something more popular
-Lost Continent: please get to work on this Uni! lol -> whatever is next, lezgo.

This will breathe life back into the other 2 parks, helping crowding a bit at Epic too? The overall portfolio of Uni will feel a lot better with each passing year.

 

[Poseidon Quest]

So many rides had a recurring theme… you get off and say ‘that’s it??’. If I was waiting hour+ I’d be so much more put off

I always feel that way about a lot of Universal attractions, but I end up warming up to them over time. Once past that initial overwhelming first handful of ride-throughs, and I begin to process what's occurring among the chaos, I start to look forward to certain lines of dialogue or the punchy sound design. I see why people would be angry waiting for 3+ hours for something like Ministry, but I've come to know the beats of the ride and think that it gets better with repeat ride-throughs.