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

[cjkeating]

I wonder if adding Epic to park hopper options might actually help the overcrowding situation? Currently people can only enter Epic with a one day, one park ticket. People feel obligated to stay all day and ride everything. However, if it was part of a park hopper option, people may feel they got their value by only riding a few rides and walking around as they got value out of USF/IOA for the other part of their day.

It's an interesting theory, but I'd bet that so many people would hop there every late afternoon & night; when crowds may be manageable to hit those late day rides, thus keeping the park totally packed ALL day haha.

I expect we'll see a rebalancing of demand, slightly less in the morning, slightly more in the evening. Possibly busier in the middle of the day as people crossover.

 

[Stripes]

That's the size of the dormant land in Potter Portal for the 2nd ride that got 'delayed.'

It's also the size of the expansion pad next to Mario Portal.

It could be an attraction expansion, but I feel like those permits are usually very specific when it comes to square footage. In the past I’ve seen numbers like 78,240 sq ft. Would anyone with more knowledge of permitting like to jump in?

 

[mkt]

That's the size of the dormant land in Potter Portal for the 2nd ride that got 'delayed.'

It's also the size of the expansion pad next to Mario Portal.

I have to assume one small upside of the 2020–2022 inflation and supply chain mess is that a lot of projects that were already greenlit and permitted ended up paused, not canceled.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I have to assume one small upside of the 2020–2022 inflation and supply chain mess is that a lot of projects that were already greenlit and permitted ended up paused, not canceled.

It’s too bad the Play pavilion got cancelled.

 

[WolverineInMichigan]

That's the size of the dormant land in Potter Portal for the 2nd ride that got 'delayed.'

It's also the size of the expansion pad next to Mario Portal.

It is most likely the Wizarding World. The contract with WB and the author most likely requires that Potter worlds are equal to or better than all other theme park areas.

 

[JoeCamel]

It is most likely the Wizarding World. The contract with WB and the author most likely requires that Potter worlds are equal to or better than all other theme park areas.

I cannot imagine a world where something so subjective would be a clause in a contract.
Who is the judge?

 

[WolverineInMichigan]

I cannot imagine a world where something so subjective would be a clause in a contract.
Who is the judge?

while I am in no way in possession of knowledge that such a clause exists; insiders here and on other sites (as well as reporters who have covered business dealings with comcast and WB) have speculated and stated that such a clause exists. While that may be an internet rumor that leaked out to the general public; it absolutely sounds like a reasonable thing to include. Who is the Judge? Like any issue where people are in conflict over facts--- either a juge or jury of the case if ever brought and litigated.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

It’s too bad the Play pavilion got cancelled.

No, it's not. It would've sucked.

 

[lazyboy97o]

while I am in no way in possession of knowledge that such a clause exists; insiders here and on other sites (as well as reporters who have covered business dealings with comcast and WB) have speculated and stated that such a clause exists. While that may be an internet rumor that leaked out to the general public; it absolutely sounds like a reasonable thing to include. Who is the Judge? Like any issue where people are in conflict over facts--- either a juge or jury of the case if ever brought and litigated.

The original contract included this:

“ APPROVALS:
3.1 Licensee shall at all times in all respects maintain the general appearance, maintenance, staffing and overall quality of the Theme Park, including without limitation, the rides, attractions, themed areas and all other aspects of the Theme Park at a first class, world class level for destination theme parks unsurpassed in quality by any other destination theme park worldwide (at a minimum, equivalent to the quality of the Theme Park as of the date of this Agreement) throughout the Term.”

But it applies to the Theme Park, which is all of Islands of Adventure.

 

[lazyboy97o]

That's the size of the dormant land in Potter Portal for the 2nd ride that got 'delayed.'

It's also the size of the expansion pad next to Mario Portal.

Second and third ride. The second ride wasn’t going to occupy the whole space.

 

[Jon81uk]

Spent over 13 hours at Epic yesterday, early entry to the fountain show at 10pm. It was a fantastic day, didn’t wait more than 45 minutes for anything, rode everything once but also spent time taking photos and using friends powerbands in Nintendo World, just those mini games took at least half hour but filled time during weather delay.

Monsters Unchained is the standout ride and Werewolf is fun but needs to be twice as long. Main complaint is the food portion at Das Stakehaus was small and Cirque Arcanus is too short once actually seated. The park also needs more slow moving rides, each land needs the equivalent of Yoshi, something like a Black Lagoon boat ride in Monsters.

 

[Bill Cipher]

Second and third ride. The second ride wasn’t going to occupy the whole space.

Interesting, I had known about the broomstick ride in the French Ministry but wasn't aware another ride was planned for the same space. Do you know/can you share what the third ride was?

 

[CoastalElite64]

The original contract included this:

“ APPROVALS:
3.1 Licensee shall at all times in all respects maintain the general appearance, maintenance, staffing and overall quality of the Theme Park, including without limitation, the rides, attractions, themed areas and all other aspects of the Theme Park at a first class, world class level for destination theme parks unsurpassed in quality by any other destination theme park worldwide (at a minimum, equivalent to the quality of the Theme Park as of the date of this Agreement) throughout the Term.”

But it applies to the Theme Park, which is all of Islands of Adventure.

Just speculating, but I wonder if they're expediting a Harry Potter expansion while WB is still independent.

 

[BrianLo]

Wasn’t there also something going In across from Atlantic? Just before we run away with this being substantive.

Though if we assume the coaster is 2027 and the IOA land is 2029, a stand alone attraction added to an Epic land could sneak in there. Assuming they still have this annual installment drive.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Interesting, I had known about the broomstick ride in the French Ministry but wasn't aware another ride was planned for the same space. Do you know/can you share what the third ride was?

It was just an expansion pad for future use.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Just speculating, but I wonder if they're expediting a Harry Potter expansion while WB is still independent.

Warner Bros. is already on its third different owner since the original contract. Also, neither large attraction development nor large business deals like that move very quickly.

 

[Gusey]

Wasn’t there also something going In across from Atlantic? Just before we run away with this being substantive.

Though if we assume the coaster is 2027 and the IOA land is 2029, a stand alone attraction added to an Epic land could sneak in there. Assuming they still have this annual installment drive.

The new restaurants that they built before Epic opened but never filled of the expansion spot between Celestial Park and Nintendo. If the second, that's rumored to be an event space, right?

 

[CoastalElite64]

Warner Bros. is already on its third different owner since the original contract. Also, neither large attraction development nor large business deals like that move very quickly.

For sure, Im just wondering if it influenced their timelines. I'm sure they have various concepts with Nintendo and Warner Bros in motion as standard practice. I guess we will find out soon what happens.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I'm aware of two substantial projects being recently green lit for Epic Universe. Neither should be a surprise.

 

[lazyboy97o]

For sure, Im just wondering if it influenced their timelines. I'm sure they have various concepts with Nintendo and Warner Bros in motion as standard practice. I guess we will find out soon what happens.

It wouldn’t influence timelines because it wouldn’t change how things work. It started with Pixar and Harry Potter, but now it is more standard practice to have the originating studio involved. DreamWorks Animation and Illumination have to sign off on projects similar to Warner Bros despite both being part of Universal.