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

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I agree with the broader point you are making. Universal has much more potential now that they have a well capitalized company behind them.

But your recollection seems off. The screen thing became an issue a decade ago. It definitely was not the issue with Universal 2 decades ago. It was an extremely practical based ride operator in its first 15 years of operation. The few instances it did have were of course more modern at the time.

I think very few people actually had familiarity with what Universal actually used to be anymore. I’m a huge fan of the Universal of old and it was the pivot they made approximately a decade ago when that light switch went off for me. You can actually find my earlier portion of my membership here championing Universal and wondering why everyone was so high on WDW, which I thought was an incredibly stagnant product.

They completely screwed up the balance and that’s why the Studios are the way they are. Epic actually seems to be a return to form for what I feel is a great attraction balance. But they need to carry that through to a fairly sizeable overhaul on USF - or at least show me evidence of that forthcoming, before I’ll start singing unending praises again. All of the projects designed in the last few years are not a vote of confidence. (Epic was not designed in the last few years).

I don’t think I’m a total contrarian, I just think I’m maybe a bit more forward looking than some of the membership. Which is why for example I was harder on WDW when everyone still seemed to be in their pixie duster phase.

I’m also a west coaster so my early impressions of Universal are all based off the Hollywood park, my first trip to USH was about 15 years ago (right before HP opened) and not a good experience. I can still recall being extremely underwhelmed after doing Despicable Me (simulator), followed by Shrek 4d (movie), followed by the Simpsons (simulator), and then Transformers (simulator), it wasn’t until we finally got on Jurassic Park and the Mummy that I felt like I was actually in a theme park.

USH has gotten better but even today the difference between the Hollywood Park and the Florida parks is night and day, my first visit to USF wasn’t until nearly a decade later, largely because of how much I disliked USH and I was pleasantly surprised to find a full fledged theme park rather than a collection of simulators

 

[Gringrinngghost]

There are two. One on each side, between the two existing lands.

That's just on the guest side...I've have even worse stories from IoA but given its nature, I preceded to not share it here for obvious reasons since in some instances direct management had to get involved to remedy the situation because it was that egregious. UOR does have an issue with their food quality especially on the TM side, and it never seems to get better for the long term no matter how many times they try to change it.

Do you realize there's much, MUCH more to operations than what time a park closes? Or a rare occurrence of food poisoning? Comparing Universal's "overall operations" to SeaWorld's is completely absurd. One of the worst takes I've ever seen in my 20+ years on this forum. Have you been to SeaWorld lately? It's a train wreck.

Oh I do understand it's more nuanced than park hours. But what does it say when you have TMs who have been there for 10+ years saying it's SeaWorld Operations, because I hear that quite a bit from those I talk with routinely. But here's the thing, If Universal want's to the same tier as Disney as they are trying to portray themselves to be, then they need to actually do such. Because there are aspects to UORs operations that are a laughing stock such as third shift and I say that as a former TM.

 

[Agent H]

I’m also a west coaster so my early impressions of Universal are all based off the Hollywood park, my first trip to USH was about 15 years ago (right before HP opened) and not a good experience. I can still recall being extremely underwhelmed after doing Despicable Me (simulator), followed by Shrek 4d (movie), followed by the Simpsons (simulator), and then Transformers (simulator), it wasn’t until we finally got on Jurassic Park and the Mummy that I felt like I was actually in a theme park.

USH has gotten better but even today the difference between the Hollywood Park and the Florida parks is night and day, my first visit to USF wasn’t until nearly a decade later, largely because of how much I disliked USH and I was pleasantly surprised to find a full fledged theme park rather than a collection of simulators

it Seems like Hollywood has benefited from having only one park. all the good stuff that in Florida ended up at islands or epic universe ended up making Hollywood a better park than the studios here. Now that doesn’t necessarily make it better than Florida but it is interesting,

 

[celluloid]

SeaWorld used to a great (to us anyway) pizza buffet. It was in that building they used to give the free beer out.

That was our go to place to eat. We were sad when it was gone.

Sea World and Busch Gardens also had some of the best potato salad of time and Crown Colony at BGT was a top resteraunt experience period theme park or not. So sad what has happened.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

This park fascinates me because there is literally nothing in this park that interests me ... except for the Monsters Land. But the Monsters Land has me more excited than anything I can remember in recent memory; maybe more than Galaxy's Edge (before it opened and I realized Disney cut corners all over the place and it kind of sucked)

 

[Disstevefan1]

This park fascinates me because there is literally nothing in this park that interests me ... except for the Monsters Land. But the Monsters Land has me more excited than anything I can remember in recent memory; maybe more than Galaxy's Edge (before it opened and I realized Disney cut corners all over the place and it kind of sucked)

The monsters land was the one that interested me the most and the Isle of berk interested me the least until I saw the videos, and that land looks really great! I also love the looks of celestial park with the beautiful fountain!

Its very poor timing that Disney decided to eliminate the Fountain of Nations at the same time celestial park was created!

 

[mkt]

I am officially staying out of the getting food poising at theme parks discussion.

I've been food poisoned at WDW, UOR, Sea World, and Busch Gardens

Legoland, Gatorland, and the Orlando Science Center are the only Central Florida attractions never to food poison me.

Using some peoples's standards, that would make them to finest attractions in the industry.

 

[MisterPenguin]

But are there actually any attractions in this park? You guys haven't even started eviscerating the attractions.

 

[TalkingHead]

It’s close to the parks, has a solid lineup of local food and drink spots, with even one venue winning a Michelin Bib Gourmand (Norigami Sushi). And yeah, it’s a cute little downtown.

And lately? Travelers want that. As of 2025, 62% feel like a trip’s a waste if they don’t explore the local scene, and 70% want to try at least one local restaurant.

Could see it maybe being appealing for the proximity to WDW but otherwise it’s not where I’d go for local food and drinks spots. Not a sushi connoisseur but good to know they have that covered.

 

[BrianLo]

I’m also a west coaster so my early impressions of Universal are all based off the Hollywood park, my first trip to USH was about 15 years ago (right before HP opened) and not a good experience. I can still recall being extremely underwhelmed after doing Despicable Me (simulator), followed by Shrek 4d (movie), followed by the Simpsons (simulator), and then Transformers (simulator), it wasn’t until we finally got on Jurassic Park and the Mummy that I felt like I was actually in a theme park.

USH has gotten better but even today the difference between the Hollywood Park and the Florida parks is night and day, my first visit to USF wasn’t until nearly a decade later, largely because of how much I disliked USH and I was pleasantly surprised to find a full fledged theme park rather than a collection of simulators

Oh yes, you caught exactly the start of the downfall! In Orlando - Minions opened in 2012 and Transformers 2013. Jaws closed in 2012. It was briefly painted over by Diagon (though Gringotts worsened the trend). The rest is history with the closure of more practical things for Fallon and Fast.

 

[EpicUniverseUpdate]

I just want to say that my apartment is right next to the park and that I can see it from my bedroom window. Though I haven't been yet, it looks like the park has more than one rollercoaster, a Super Nintendo Land (like the one in Singapore), a Dragon world, and another Harry Potter Land (not sure if it's the same as the one in Hollywood). Overall, I'm very excited to go to Epic! Universe and need to find out how to go to a preview.

 

[ryno1982]

I just want to say that my apartment is right next to the park and that I can see it from my bedroom window. Though I haven't been yet, it looks like the park has more than one rollercoaster, a Super Nintendo Land (like the one in Singapore), a Dragon world, and another Harry Potter Land (not sure if it's the same as the one in Hollywood). Overall, I'm very excited to go to Epic! Universe and need to find out how to go to a preview.

I'm sure once you get to go, you'll have an Epic! day.

 

[hopemax]

So... I'm going to Epic Universe on Thursday! (My Dad's 78th birthday)... so to say he and I are excited is an understatement. We are staying 2 nights at Stella Nova. I think on the 25th, we will head over to Helios Grand Hotel for breakfast buffet (my Dad loves these things).

As someone who has been around various Orlando theme park discussion venues since Universal bought the Lockheed Martin land initially, then sold it, and bought it back, this is so surreal that it's actually happening! I was able to visit Animal Kingdom 8 months after opening on my honeymoon, and DCA 4 months after opening (I mean, you want to talk about a Disney park with sightline issues...), but seeing a park in previews is a first! I had to do a lot of work to convince my parents to visit Universal Orlando in the first place, a couple days before the Grand Opening of Hogsmeade. They thought they were humoring me and after they used their APs a couple times they would be done with Universal. My Dad has been a continual Passholder, since that first one in 2010.

My degree is aero / astro engineering so space type things have always been in my wheelhouse and all the pictures I see of Celestial Park, the portals, the new hotels, the Helios Grand.... Otherwise, I'm trying to avoid spoilers. I'm going to the D23 event in September, and on that trip DH will be joining us and the plan is to stay at Helios Grand Hotel on that trip. So I'm trying to tell myself if we don't do everything on Thursday, it will be alright because the park isn't going anywhere!

 

[celluloid]

So... I'm going to Epic Universe on Thursday! (My Dad's 78th birthday)... so to say he and I are excited is an understatement. We are staying 2 nights at Stella Nova. I think on the 25th, we will head over to Helios Grand Hotel for breakfast buffet (my Dad loves these things).

As someone who has been around various Orlando theme park discussion venues since Universal bought the Lockheed Martin land initially, then sold it, and bought it back, this is so surreal that it's actually happening! I was able to visit Animal Kingdom 8 months after opening on my honeymoon, and DCA 4 months after opening (I mean, you want to talk about a Disney park with sightline issues...), but seeing a park in previews is a first! I had to do a lot of work to convince my parents to visit Universal Orlando in the first place, a couple days before the Grand Opening of Hogsmeade. They thought they were humoring me and after they used their APs a couple times they would be done with Universal. My Dad has been a continual Passholder, since that first one in 2010.

My degree is aero / astro engineering so space type things have always been in my wheelhouse and all the pictures I see of Celestial Park, the portals, the new hotels, the Helios Grand.... Otherwise, I'm trying to avoid spoilers. I'm going to the D23 event in September, and on that trip DH will be joining us and the plan is to stay at Helios Grand Hotel on that trip. So I'm trying to tell myself if we don't do everything on Thursday, it will be alright because the park isn't going anywhere!

Love that you know the Lockheed Martin history because boy did the park have a rough time with those GE years. That brings me back to my time in the IOACentral boards. And knkwing this fits with your interests and great mind you must have for that major.

Happy Birthday to your dad. My dad passed away before Epic was completed and he was a monster kid so that land is special to me.
Enjoy that buffet too

 

[Squishy]

It seems like depending on the direction of the wind, the park smells like poop? There is a waste water facility next to the park.

 

[Mike C]

It seems like depending on the direction of the wind, the park smells like poop? There is a waste water facility next to the park.

Hasn't been an issue any time I've gone so far.

 

[mkt]

Could see it maybe being appealing for the proximity to WDW but otherwise it’s not where I’d go for local food and drinks spots. Not a sushi connoisseur but good to know they have that covered.

Plant St Market, and the businesses up and down Plant St are a definite draw.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Why must there be tribalism at all?

Both parks(and really all) have their flaws. New parks tend to have a lot more boo boos by nature.

Because those that defend Disney…and only Disney…wouldn’t feel special for going anymore if they didn’t believe that there’s any comparable type of product?

And that’s why Disney has been allowed to skate by the customers for many years.

Do they do good things? Sure…just not to the level of volume of success as in the past.

But not enough. Epic is gonna be a real fan favorite park…in the short term at least. I don’t see people who aren’t in the tank “holing up” in lake buena vista as has been the case in past. Because they’re mostly trying to cash checks from things paid for decades ago. Still doing “swaps” in the parks instead of additions. No fooling around.

Was in universal Hollywood yesterday…something I never thought I’d see myself doing…

And I have to say…it was really nice. Mostly copies from Orlando - granted - but the sheer logistics of how it’s set up are mind boggling. It’s on the side of a mountain…basically…and the logistics of building anything in those cramped lots couldn’t have been cheap.

Is it Disneyland? No…but we had a great day on a local crowd kinda day (last Saturday of the “spring break” calendar)…and didn’t even need a $400 line skip to have fun.

It was kinda refreshing…to tell the truth.

Certainly Disney has an edge in design over uni…but that’s because of the lead history gave them…nothing to do with Cheap parlor tricks they deploy now

 

[EpicUniverseUpdate]

Where are all the restrooms within the park at Epic! no one has actually shown the areas. At the other parks there are lots of restrooms areas. So hoping for the same at Epic!. It's the one thing I can't see from my bedroom.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Where are all the restrooms within the park at Epic! no one has actually shown the areas. At the other parks there are lots of restrooms areas. So hoping for the same at Epic!. It's the one thing I can't see from my bedroom.

I read they're handing out slips with the address of a nearby apartment with a great view of the park and instructions for people to head over and ask permission to use the bathroom if the need arises.