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

[BrianLo]

Read between the lines are USO and IOA are flat or minorly down a couple of percentage points. On the back of multi annual 10% declines, Epic is in a large chunk dragging them back to peak attendance levels and how far beyond depends on how many bodies makes that park busy theories.

“In line with expectations” speaks to a negative factor or two and not a door buster.

 

[Andrew C]

Cool, now describe Ministry of Magic at Epic.

The third land in the Wizarding World?

Very cool, very pretty, scale is quite something. Good job with the beast integration. I am glad they still considered the kinetic energy of the area to be important.

 

[thelookingglass]

Cool, now describe Ministry of Magic at Epic.

Galaxy's Edge: We loaded it with world-building details, made it look like a plausible full-scale spaceport (with only the fact that the resistance base is right next to the spaceport being a thing that is obviously space-constraint dictated), flexed our creative muscles going all-in creating a new world not seen before in other content that still feels authentically "Star Wars-y". We went so in on realism (and cut a few too many features...) that it feels a little depressing and lifeless.

Ministry of Magic: Well, we built a generic Paris intersection. We put magical creatures and a few easter eggs in the windows and as posters. There are no breaks or gaps in the Parisian buildings so it still does not feel like a lived-in city despite being at the scale of one. Also there's only one ride and a show most people don't care about.

Tbh, both have flaws, but Galaxy's Edge is easily more impressive to me even when considering the flaws of both.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

What about Animal Kingdom?

Its a personal preference, but I understand Animal Kingdom gets mentioned for not rain friendly. I first went Animal Kingdom in 2001 and the other 3 parks in 1991. Animal Kingdom in some parts is spread out.

The park is not as sheltered as some other WDW parks although there are people that like see animals during the rain.

That park though is a bit of a wait and see after Tropical Americas since Chester & Hester area was all outdoors in terms of rain.

I went to WDW for years in late August through a couple days after Labor Day. That time of year is a must for a person to bring ponchos.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Galaxy's Edge: We loaded it with world-building details, made it look like a plausible full-scale spaceport (with only the fact that the resistance base is right next to the spaceport being a thing that is obviously space-constraint dictated), flexed our creative muscles going all-in creating a new world not seen before in other content that still feels authentically "Star Wars-y". We went so in on realism (and cut a few too many features...) that it feels a little depressing and lifeless.

Ministry of Magic: Well, we built a generic Paris intersection. We put magical creatures and a few easter eggs in the windows and as posters. There are no breaks or gaps in the Parisian buildings so it still does not feel like a lived-in city despite being at the scale of one. Also there's only one ride and a show most people don't care about.

Tbh, both have flaws, but Galaxy's Edge is easily more impressive to me even when considering the flaws of both.

I think both look gorgeous, but I'd say Wizarding World Paris should face very similar criticism as Galaxy's Edge.

Highly immersive, feels large, but somewhat empty. Also it's a locale that many are not as familiar or nostalgic for.

 

[BrianLo]

Galaxies Edge has always been one season of the force away (and a Kim Possible game) from being great. The Kim possible mostly because there would be a sprinkling of animated props (droids) around the land that people want. Season of the force would bring the cut character show.

Then I'd take the table service restaraunt and a free enchanted Star Wars room if I was being greedy. None of it are very expensive fixes. They've quietly been adding more characters over time that are starting to approach critical mass.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I think both look gorgeous, but I'd say Wizarding World Paris should face very similar criticism as Galaxy's Edge.

Highly immersive, feels large, but somewhat empty. Also it's a locale that many are not as familiar or nostalgic for.

That was kind of the point I was going for with the comparison. Each land at Epic has issues, and Ministry's are comparable to the flaws of Galaxy's Edge. Just further supporting my stance that Epic does not raise the bar for the theme park industry. And just for the record for the thread, I never have said Epic was a bad park. It's good, it's just also heavily flawed. Again, I am not arguing that it is a bad park, I am arguing that it is not the most creative, most immersive, most impressive theme park ever made.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Its a personal preference, but I understand Animal Kingdom gets mentioned for not rain friendly. I first went Animal Kingdom in 2001 and the other 3 parks in 1991. Animal Kingdom in some parts is spread out.

The park is not as sheltered as some other WDW parks although there are people that like see animals during the rain.

That park though is a bit of a wait and see after Tropical Americas since Chester & Hester area was all outdoors in terms of rain.

I went to WDW for years in late August through a couple days after Labor Day. That time of year is a must for a person to bring ponchos.

I agree it's not quite the same density but it is leagues better in the rain compared to Epic and its not even close.

The only rides that close in AK due to rain is Kali & Everest as of now (which I have seen both running in rain with no serious winds/lightning)

Safari, Wildlife Express, Dinosaur (soon to become Indiana which won't change), Nemo, Lion King, FOP, River Journey

not even including ITTBAB/Encanto/Carousel which will also all not close for regular rain (but the carousel prob will for strong winds + rain)

This means that 77% of the park is still open even with some pretty bad weather in the area, if its just rain, 100% of the park is usually open.

With the new expansions/replacements, 83% of the park's attractions will be open during the inclement weather and still 100% during the regular rains. For Disney's "worst park for weather", that is some GREAT percentages. For comparison, noting how Werewolf, Stardust, DK, Yoshi's, Rally Racers, Wing Gliders, Fyre Drill all go down in the rain... this leaves only 46% of all attractions are open during inclement weather, around half of Disney's worst park for inclement weather.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

The third land in the Wizarding World?

Very cool, very pretty, scale is quite something. Good job with the beast integration. I am glad they still considered the kinetic energy of the area to be important.

Kinetic? Did you and I go to a different park or something? I did not see many kinetics? Other than the upcharge wand spots which aren't fully "kinetic" in a park of THAT scale

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I think both look gorgeous, but I'd say Wizarding World Paris should face very similar criticism as Galaxy's Edge.

Highly immersive, feels large, but somewhat empty. Also it's a locale that many are not as familiar or nostalgic for.

Its easier to correct than Galaxy's Edge, but how long will Universal wait to correct it. The land is not as time sensitive as Galaxy's Edge considering the land has 2 different time periods due to Universal had to do corrections to the land on the fly after Fantastic Beast Franchise had problems after the 1st movie of that franchise. The Fantastic Beast Franchise actually a film that flopped unlike the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy.

The land has space for doing a third attraction after Universal decided to cancel the Broomstick VR ride.

 

[Andrew C]

Kinetic? Did you and I go to a different park or something? I did not see many kinetics? Other than the upcharge wand spots which aren't fully "kinetic" in a park of THAT scale

Difference of opinion. It happens.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Difference of opinion. It happens.

Fair, I just didn't find it particularly cool/kinetic over than its scale

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Its easier to correct than Galaxy's Edge, but how long will Universal wait to correct it. The land is not as time sensitive as Galaxy's Edge considering the land has 2 different time periods due to Universal had to do corrections to the land on the fly after Fantastic Beast Franchise had problems after the 1st movie of that franchise. The Fantastic Beast Franchise actually a film that flopped unlike the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy.

The land has space for doing a third attraction after Universal decided to cancel the Broomstick VR ride.

I think Galaxy's Edge is honestly somewhat simple to correct. Add in more droids/robots, maybe add in that 3rd Bantha ride and give us more effects around the land.


The timeline is already straining and could easily be explained away by either a "Spirit Cave" meet and greet or saying that guests are flow walkers or something in that vein.

 

[Andrew C]

Its easier to correct than Galaxy's Edge, but how long will Universal wait to correct it. The land is not as time sensitive as Galaxy's Edge considering the land has 2 different time periods due to Universal had to do corrections to the land on the fly after Fantastic Beast Franchise had problems after the 1st movie of that franchise. The Fantastic Beast Franchise actually a film that flopped unlike the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy.

The land has space for doing a third attraction after Universal decided to cancel the Broomstick VR ride.

I like that we are comparing universals third wizarding world where they were towards the end of the idea train with THE Star Wars land. It’s fun.

To be fair, appropriate because this is an epic thread. Bit of an agenda by some. That’s okay.

With that being said, when we were at WDW in march, we hardly spent any time in galaxy’s edge with the kids. We did the two rides, ran into Mando while using the bathroom. And that was it. There wasn’t anything that was keeping us there. And that’s sort of how I felt from early on. Which is disappointing because I’m a really big Star Wars fan. While we don’t plan on going back to WDW for the foreseeable future, I hope they do invest in making it better. For everyone else.

Bringing it back to wizarding Paris, the focus on beasts over the characters from those movies was the way to go. Happy they added a show to mix it up. And I could do the battle queue just on its own. they could expand it but i would rather see an additional portal before anything else happens to any other portal, outside of adjustments here and there of course.

And do I care about sightlines? Sure. But it’s not priority for me in this instance.

 

[JT3000]

Cool, now describe Ministry of Magic at Epic.

Je ne sais quoi.

Galaxy's Edge: We loaded it with world-building details, made it look like a plausible full-scale spaceport (with only the fact that the resistance base is right next to the spaceport being a thing that is obviously space-constraint dictated), flexed our creative muscles going all-in creating a new world not seen before in other content that still feels authentically "Star Wars-y". We went so in on realism (and cut a few too many features...) that it feels a little depressing and lifeless.

Ministry of Magic: Well, we built a generic Paris intersection. We put magical creatures and a few easter eggs in the windows and as posters. There are no breaks or gaps in the Parisian buildings so it still does not feel like a lived-in city despite being at the scale of one. Also there's only one ride and a show most people don't care about.

Tbh, both have flaws, but Galaxy's Edge is easily more impressive to me even when considering the flaws of both.

Tell us how you really feel.

Kinetic? Did you and I go to a different park or something? I did not see many kinetics? Other than the upcharge wand spots which aren't fully "kinetic" in a park of THAT scale

Did you avert your eyes from all of the various window displays while walking through, some with animatronics? The interactive paintings? The walkaround characters?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Je ne sais quoi.

Also a bit, how you say, "jejune," n'est-ce pas?

 

[JT3000]

Also a bit, how you say, "jejune," n'est-ce pas?

Je ne pense pas.

 

[Agent H]

And do I care about sightlines? Sure. But it’s not priority for me in this instance.

Why not?

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Je ne sais quoi.


Tell us how you really feel.


Did you avert your eyes from all of the various window displays while walking through, some with animatronics? The interactive paintings? The walkaround characters?

Uh no, like I said, when I’m walking around, some minor stuff in the windows does not fill the land or make it feel anywhere kinetic like how Tomorrowland or even Toy Story Land

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Why not?

Because if it’s bad about the park and not Disney, we ignore it and excuse it of course. Disney does it “ruins the immersion”. Universal does it “people care too much about sight lines” magically.