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

[SplashJacket]

MK is closer t0 85k (they actually hit 80k once). And tell me what theme park worries about comfortable capacity? Certainly not Disney or Universal. They are looking for $$$

Yeah the company that still has a reservation system to balance demand

And the company that limited ticket sales and left money on the table by not selling more Epic tickets

Both don’t care abut comfortable capacity

 

[MisterPenguin]

MK is closer t0 85k (they actually hit 80k once). And tell me what theme park worries about comfortable capacity? Certainly not Disney or Universal. They are looking for $$$

Iger and Chapek both spoke to how *feeling* overcrowded brought down GSATs. And when the guests are uncomfortable, their wallets stay shut. So, they're fiscally motivated to keep things comfortable.

This led to the many ways WDW tried to limit overcrowding.

• Higher costs for busy times and discounts for off-peak times
• Hiking ticket prices faster than inflation trying to find the tipping point that would dissuade a portion of the public
• Reservations
• New capacity

Also, After Hours and Party Nights events are capped for comfortableness.

 

[DCBaker]

 

[Andrew25]

The stage for a future firework show at Epic Universe will be fantastic. Saw it last night and I’m excited for what they are planning.

As of now, they’re using the expansion pads between Monsters-SNW and Stardust-Ministry for them, but I’d imagine they can put more permanent ones on top of Monsters show building and Mininstry.

Every time I’m there at night, I’m always ed off that UOR keeps closing the park early… it deserves 11Pm closings

 

[Sir_Cliff]

The stage for a future firework show at Epic Universe will be fantastic. Saw it last night and I’m excited for what they are planning.

As of now, they’re using the expansion pads between Monsters-SNW and Stardust-Ministry for them, but I’d imagine they can put more permanent ones on top of Monsters show building and Mininstry.

Every time I’m there at night, I’m always ed off that UOR keeps closing the park early… it deserves 11Pm closings

Must say I am kind of puzzled that they didn’t open this park with a nighttime spectacular. Disney doesn’t do them out of the goodness of their heart, but because they bring in a lot of money and Epic has a lot of dining venues that would benefit from keeping people in the park later.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Pro:

• Lots of fireworks
• A lot of the fireworks looked really good... really good
• Syncing with all the lights is good

Cons:

• Non-stop fireworks really don't tell a story, and can start to become a bit much
• I thought the Luminous narration was too much...
• The main fountain was made for people to encircle it. That puts the fireworks to the backs of a good number of people. So, it'll be annoying or just wasted space for a fireworks-fountain show.
• I didn't recognize the music. It sounded like AI generated 'majestic orchestral' riffs.
• it's a 4th of July fireworks show because they tell you it is and make the lights RWB. But the show itself doesn't seem to be telling any Independence day story.

Conclusion:

• I'd go to see this over WDW's 4th of July fireworks shows

</hot take>

 

[JusticeDisney]

Fireworks. Just another area where Universal will always be second fiddle to Disney. But hey, no shame in a silver medal!

 

[earlthesquirrellover23]

Pro:

• Lots of fireworks
• A lot of the fireworks looked really good... really good
• Syncing with all the lights is good

Cons:

• Non-stop fireworks really don't tell a story, and can start to become a bit much
• I thought the Luminous narration was too much...
• The main fountain was made for people to encircle it. That puts the fireworks to the backs of a good number of people. So, it'll be annoying or just wasted space for a fireworks-fountain show.
• I didn't recognize the music. It sounded like AI generated 'majestic orchestral' riffs.
• it's a 4th of July fireworks show because they tell you it is and make the lights RWB. But the show itself doesn't seem to be telling any Independence day story.

Conclusion:

• I'd go to see this over WDW's 4th of July fireworks shows

</hot take>

The music is an newly arranged suite composed just for the fireworks show from Thomas Bergensen's American Dream album: https://www.thomasbergersen.com/album/american-dream/

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Pro:

• Lots of fireworks
• A lot of the fireworks looked really good... really good
• Syncing with all the lights is good

Cons:

• Non-stop fireworks really don't tell a story, and can start to become a bit much
• I thought the Luminous narration was too much...
• The main fountain was made for people to encircle it. That puts the fireworks to the backs of a good number of people. So, it'll be annoying or just wasted space for a fireworks-fountain show.
• I didn't recognize the music. It sounded like AI generated 'majestic orchestral' riffs.
• it's a 4th of July fireworks show because they tell you it is and make the lights RWB. But the show itself doesn't seem to be telling any Independence day story.

Conclusion:

• I'd go to see this over WDW's 4th of July fireworks shows

</hot take>

This may be a bit divisive, but I think the fireworks are another area where the hotel doesn't make for a great backdrop.

I'm not sure quite how you overcome that, but I almost wonder whether they should be thinking of a Fantasmic-style set-up to add a night show to the park.

 

[flynnibus]

Must say I am kind of puzzled that they didn’t open this park with a nighttime spectacular. Disney doesn’t do them out of the goodness of their heart, but because they bring in a lot of money and Epic has a lot of dining venues that would benefit from keeping people in the park later.

Even disney closes their dining early… especially obvious on a event night. They don’t extend f&b

The difference must really be the main street effect…

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Even disney closes their dining early… especially obvious on a event night. They don’t extend f&b

The difference must really be the main street effect…

Could well be, though dining seems to be the draw at Epcot.

This may be going a little too further afield, but one of the bigger theme park mysteries is why Disneyland Paris seems to close food and beverage early when it seems everything that remains open is slammed. I guess maybe f&b isn't as profitable as you'd imagine... though I struggle to see why that would be the case.

 

[build_it]

I think Universal is playing the long game with Epic. Why open with a nighttime spectacular when you can add it later to give people something new.
I also think they knew the park would open with some known lineup issues and some unknown issues. Get feedback from guests then use feedback to move forward on expansion plots and/or park revisions.
If this is true, I anticipate the Epic that exists in five or ten years looks even better than opening.
I also agree, Universal is trying to gain guests and grow their fan and visitor base. I don’t anticipate they are trying to take anyone else’s base, just add to their own. Some of those will come from Disney, a lot will come from other areas.

 

[JusticeDisney]

I think Universal is playing the long game with Epic. Why open with a nighttime spectacular when you can add it later to give people something new.
I also think they knew the park would open with some known lineup issues and some unknown issues. Get feedback from guests then use feedback to move forward on expansion plots and/or park revisions.
If this is true, I anticipate the Epic that exists in five or ten years looks even better than opening.
I also agree, Universal is trying to gain guests and grow their fan and visitor base. I don’t anticipate they are trying to take anyone else’s base, just add to their own. Some of those will come from Disney, a lot will come from other areas.

I respectfully disagree. Nothing they are doing is intentional. They opened Epic before it was ready and the operational issues have been a nightmare. The bloom came off that rose quick, fast and in a hurry.

 

[Virtual Toad]

Spent two days at Epic last weekend. Thoughts:

-- Incredibly detailed, stunning, elaborate placemaking. Reminded us a lot of Disneyland Paris when it first opened and others have compared it to Tokyo DisneySea.

-- Best theme park food we've had in a long time. Mobile ordering allows guests to sit down and relax(!) while waiting for food which is delivered to your table. Real silverware, delicious options and beautiful decor made for a laid back and rejuvenating experience.

-- The portal "reveals" as you enter each land were jaw-dropping and cinematic. A deliberate design choice masterfully executed. When a 58 year old gets tears in his eyes entering Super Nintendo World you know they've done something right. Pro tip: enter Darkmoor (Monsters land) after dark and right after a rainstorm.

-- Each land has its own jaw-dropping moments. Isle of Berk beat our expectations. Ministry of Magic had "wow" factors we didn't expect. Super Nintendo World was our kids' (20 and 16yo) favorite by far. Judging by the crowd levels Uni has another huge IP hit on their hands.

-- Crowd levels, long queues, operational issues (breakdowns) and rain closures are definitely a problem. Ministry of Magic did not go well for us on day two and Mario Kart delays were also a challenge the second day. Plan ahead and set expectations accordingly.

-- Rope drop and/or Express Passes are a must. Those who plan ahead and arrive EARLY will have a much better experience than those who stroll in at 11am unprepared. We rope dropped successfully and were first in line to enter SNW both days which made a massive difference. Expect every 30 second delay in the morning to cost you 30 minutes later in the day. We strongly urge a minimum of two days to see and explore everything the park has to offer. We did not do Express Passes and saw almost everything on our must-do list on day one.

-- Not sure why others are lamenting the absence of a nighttime "spectacular." We found the fountain and light show at the end of the day spectacular enough and it was super-easy to find an excellent viewing spot. The show was a sweet "kiss goodnight" and the synchronized lights and fountains were a wonder to watch. Using a classical score instead of pandering pop versions of movie themes was a pleasant throwback to classic Illuminations and a classy move on Universal's part.

-- Constellation Park shows just how badly Disney botched the Epcot hub redo. What Universal accomplishes with synchronized lights and fountains makes Epcot's massive hub failure even more unforgivable.

-- Final takeaway: best theme park visit we've had as a family in a long time. Is Epic perfect? No. But there's an awful lot to like for theme park enthusiasts who know what to expect. Happy to answer any questions about the experience.

 

[999th Happy Haunt]

Spent two days at Epic last weekend. Thoughts:

-- Incredibly detailed, stunning, elaborate placemaking. Reminded us a lot of Disneyland Paris when it first opened and others have compared it to Tokyo DisneySea.

-- Best theme park food we've had in a long time. Mobile ordering allows guests to sit down and relax(!) while waiting for food which is delivered to your table. Real silverware, delicious options and beautiful decor made for a laid back and rejuvenating experience.

-- The portal "reveals" as you enter each land were jaw-dropping and cinematic. A deliberate design choice masterfully executed. When a 58 year old gets tears in his eyes entering Super Nintendo World you know they've done something right. Pro tip: enter Darkmoor (Monsters land) after dark and right after a rainstorm.

-- Each land has its own jaw-dropping moments. Isle of Berk beat our expectations. Ministry of Magic had "wow" factors we didn't expect. Super Nintendo World was our kids' (20 and 16yo) favorite by far. Judging by the crowd levels Uni has another huge IP hit on their hands.

-- Crowd levels, long queues, operational issues (breakdowns) and rain closures are definitely a problem. Ministry of Magic did not go well for us on day two and Mario Kart delays were also a challenge the second day. Plan ahead and set expectations accordingly.

-- Rope drop and/or Express Passes are a must. Those who plan ahead and arrive EARLY will have a much better experience than those who stroll in at 11am unprepared. We rope dropped successfully and were first in line to enter SNW both days which made a massive difference. Expect every 30 second delay in the morning to cost you 30 minutes later in the day. We strongly urge a minimum of two days to see and explore everything the park has to offer. We did not do Express Passes and saw almost everything on our must-do list on day one.

-- Not sure why others are lamenting the absence of a nighttime "spectacular." We found the fountain and light show at the end of the day spectacular enough and it was super-easy to find an excellent viewing spot. The show was a sweet "kiss goodnight" and the synchronized lights and fountains were a wonder to watch. Using a classical score instead of pandering pop versions of movie themes was a pleasant throwback to classic Illuminations and a classy move on Universal's part.

-- Constellation Park shows just how badly Disney botched the Epcot hub redo. What Universal accomplishes with synchronized lights and fountains makes Epcot's massive hub failure even more unforgivable.

-- Final takeaway: best theme park visit we've had as a family in a long time. Is Epic perfect? No. But there's an awful lot to like for theme park enthusiasts who know what to expect. Happy to answer any questions about the experience.

Thoughts on Monsters Unchained? My favorite new ride in a longggggg time and happy it seems to be one of the best in the park operationally

 

[JusticeDisney]

What part?

It being the best operational. I was just busting chops, meaning that there have been well documented operational problems with a lot of the other attractions. All joking aside, I agree with your take on Monsters.

 

[Virtual Toad]

Thoughts on Monsters Unchained? My favorite new ride in a longggggg time and happy it seems to be one of the best in the park operationally

Monsters was the one ride we heard a lot of hype about before our visit. The first ride-through perhaps didn't live up to the hype for us, though there was a ton of talking during the preshow that made it difficult to follow. But by the end of Day 2 it was one of my favorite rides in the park. I think repeat ride-throughs help a lot because there is a ton of stuff to take in, and once you understand the story, the pieces totally fall into place. Thankfully no down time either day but they did skip the preshow *and* stack the ride later in the day on Sunday (not loading every ride vehicle which led to longer-than-necessary waits), another one of those operational missteps they will hopefully correct ASAP.

But long story short, yes, it is definitely a masterpiece, taking what at first glance might seem like an outdated IP and giving it new life in a creative, compelling and visually impressive way. Edit to add and without spoilers: some of the animatronics are not to be missed!

 

[CosmicDuck]

-- Crowd levels, long queues, operational issues (breakdowns) and rain closures are definitely a problem. Ministry of Magic did not go well for us on day two and Mario Kart delays were also a challenge the second day. Plan ahead and set expectations accordingly.

Came away with very similar impressions from our three day trip. Though honestly I wish we had even more time and can't wait to go back.

I know it's been discussed ad-nauseum but I'm a little baffled at the decision to build a majority of rides that all shut down in the rain, in a state that experiences disproportionate amount of it. At minimum, both Berk and probably Darkmoor could have used indoor dark rides in place of their flat rides. I'm sure ideally they would have loved to and operations I'm sure tried to make the argument, but paying those ticket prices and going to a major theme park where 75% of it is not functional as soon as the skies get cloudy is a recipe for disaster. Hope it pushes them to expand quickly!

 

[CosmicDuck]

Thoughts on Monsters Unchained? My favorite new ride in a longggggg time and happy it seems to be one of the best in the park operationally

Not OP but my wife and I were blown away by how much we loved Monsters Unchained. Easily our favorite universal ride of all time and one of the best rides we've ever done period. And we are not horror people in the slightest so that ride and land held very little interest for us on paper.

I lost count of how many times we rode it in three days and could have done a dozen more without ever getting tired of it. I'm shocked and impressed at how well the alchemy of those original takes on those classic monsters characters works in the pre-show with the ride system. They straddle this beautiful line that Haunted Mansion does of being a mostly all ages attraction in the skin of something that could be tonally much darker and ends up working like magic. It's a line that I think the rest of the land misses ever so slightly but the ride nails. The choice to not make this a gory/horror/HHN type ride and make the characters loveable in a darker/more comedic way was brilliant. It's an incredible recipe for success and I hope they are able to replicate it again because I would love to see them do more rides in that setting and tone both in this park and around the world.

It's not perfect, and I have a few very small nitpicks for the queue and the land as a whole, but the way its a little rough around some edges makes it very endearing in the way a lot of our favorite Disney dark rides are. Ministry of Magic was the most technically impressive attraction of Epic Universe but Monsters Unchained was by far our favorite.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

View from the Helios Grand this morning. I love this hotel!