Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Opens May 22 2025

MickeyLuv'r

MickeyLuv'r

Well-Known Member
UNCgolf said:
And almost every other Universal resort is within walking distance of the parks -- the Disney comparison doesn't make any sense here. Why would anyone choose to add the extra travel time to/from the parks if it wasn't significantly cheaper when the only other Universal resort with that issue is Endless Summer, and it's still significantly closer?

It's at least a 15-20 minute drive to get from there to the Universal parking deck (Google Maps says it would take 21 minutes right now at 10 PM, so I imagine it will take even longer at busy times). I assume some kind of bus service will be operating, but then you have to factor in waiting for the buses.

It's a short term issue until EU opens, but it's still a real one.
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I plan to do 1 night at one of the Stella hotels just to check it out before the park opens.

While I agree the older hotels are closer to the parks, there is something fun about staying at a brand-new hotel. Everything is super clean and the staff are generally very enthusiastic.

There's something special about staying in a place where everyone seems happy to be there.

I don't plan to go to the parks that day.
 
Rich T

Rich T

Well-Known Member
UNCgolf said:
They're opening that hotel months before the park opens? Why would anyone stay there when it's separate from every other Universal offering?
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I’m a local with an annual pass, so I’ve got a room booked at Stella Nova in January for a quick little staycation. Planning to check the place out (love what I’ve seen in the previews), see if there’s any early merch, have a relaxing night, and then check out early, get in my car and head over to IoA to ride Hagrid’s. 😃

Just got another SN reservation for May 22. 😃
 
JoeCamel

JoeCamel

Well-Known Member
celluloid said:
Yes. There is confusion as the district grants Universal permission to develop kn more than the original 750 according to much published information. It seems both are true. I wanted to find an article that clarifies this.
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NO, the district controls the development in 2000 acres of their district as a quasi government. Making a district does not give Universal any rights to land they do not own it just controls what they can do with the land they do own plus it streamlines planning for the area.
Both are not true
 
lazyboy97o

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
Shingle Creek Transit and Utility Community Development District has no development or building authority. Planning is still controlled by Orange County. Universal is able to build what they want because their land is zoned as a planned development which grants significant leeway to the property owner.

The numbers being tossed around are incorrect. The CDD is only 719.185 acres per the district itself.

Shingle Creek Transit and Utility CDD – Shingle Creek Transit and Utility CDD

shinglecreektransitandutilitycdd.com shinglecreektransitandutilitycdd.com

The plan published by the Orlando Business Journal is not for the CDD. It’s hard to read, but the areas in just grey are “Universal Property” according to the drawing legend. The dashed line denotes the “Area within the Universal Boulevard P.D.” and the grey and hatched properties are “Area within the Universal Boulevard P.D. Land Use Plan and designated as Convention Plaza District Equivalent Zone.” As the legend states, not all of the property within the dashed line is owned by Universal.

The Orange County InfoMap does not appear to have been updated to reflect these filings from the summer. Most of what is shown as Universal property on the filing is on the interactive map as part of the Universal Boulevard PD/LUPA and is described as being 54837956.9495 square feet (1258.906 acres). The major areas from the filing that appears to be missing from the interactive map are the southern most and northern most parcels. The southern parcels are adjacent to the Beachline, most of which is intended to become the SunRail / Brightline station. There is also a faint revision cloud around the area. The area not included is about 60 acres. The northern most parcel is listed as the Pavilion and Sand Lake planned development and is one parcel just under 120 acres. Rough math suggests Universal owns closer to 1500 acres with the rest being being the adjacent properties shown in a hatch. This also doesn’t account for the land Universal still owns that will be handed over to the county as public roads.

Its important to note that even if Universal did acquire the entire area within the PD boundary on the plan that there are some major caveats. First, some of it is already developed including with residents who would have to be evicted. Second, the land is not contiguous, and will be even less so once the new roads are deeded to the county. Just because the math adds up to a certain size doesn’t mean that is available in a single plot. People also dont tend to include things like water management ponds outside of a park when calculating their size but this sort of infrastructure would have to be built on Universal owned property.
 
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T

TennHokies

New Member
stu1901 said:
How far will guests of the Helios Hotel be able to go out the back without a park ticket?
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Great question Stu, I was wondering the same. For example, will Helios guests be able to dine at the Blue Dragon Pan-Asian restaurant without using their single day park ticket? That restaurant appears to potentially connect to Helios Grand, but it’s listed as being located within Celestial Park.
 
J

jrhwdw

Well-Known Member
TennHokies said:
Great question Stu, I was wondering the same. For example, will Helios guests be able to dine at the Blue Dragon Pan-Asian restaurant without using their single day park ticket? That restaurant appears to potentially connect to Helios Grand, but it’s listed as being located within Celestial Park.
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IDK.......I can't believe the Nighttime Spectacular would be available without Park Admission......
 
Disneyhead'71

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
Yeah, all that said. Toy Story Land vs The Isle of Berk.

Discuss.



They seem to be lifting a dragon into place on the left side.


20241026-012757-2.jpg
 
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SplashJacket

SplashJacket

Well-Known Member
Disneyhead'71 said:
Yeah, all that said. Toy Story Land vs The Isle of Berk.

Discuss.

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Said it before, but it’s more a cross of Pandora and TSL than TSL.

Coaster is far superior to Slinky, flat is superior, boat ride should be very good and fun to watch, and finally, the theater show is a headlining show anywhere. For the “weakest” land, it should really blow people away.

Curious how potter gets perceived. How would GE be liked if instead of opening Falcon first, they opened Rise first? I think great.

The restaurants and overall atmosphere of Dragons should also blow people away.
 

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