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

[ToTBellHop]

Who Knows! Hopefully the Fountain Shows and UOR 's first chance at a High Level Fireworks Show are NOT Cut!!!!!

They’ll show them but will they cut them for entire months of the year like they do at the existing parks? Awful track record.

 

[celluloid]

Just confirming if anyone was wondering. Celestial Park's entertainment was in fact cut. Wild.

 

[jrhwdw]

They’ll show them but will they cut them for entire months of the year like they do at the existing parks? Awful track record.

You think????? If UOR wants to be the #1 Spot in Orlando, they need to better their Entertainment Record!!!

 

[rd805]

What was the rumored entertainment that was cut? Character / area "inhabitants?"

 

[ToTBellHop]

You think????? If UOR wants to be the #1 Spot in Orlando, they need to better their Entertainment Record!!!

It would require changed habits for the company. The rumored entertainment cuts do not suggest such a seismic ship actually occurred.

 

[DCBaker]

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience:

 

[ToTBellHop]

What was the rumored entertainment that wascut? Character / area "inhabitants?"

Yes. Several streetmosphere acts.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Just confirming if anyone was wondering. Celestial Park's entertainment was in fact cut. Wild.

Well.. I've been occasionally bringing up Comcast's financial constraints, so, I'm not surprised. Put on top of that the current and likely, worsening, world financial milieu... this won't be the first company holding back and nursing their bank account large debt portfolio.

 

[Agent H]

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience:

Am I the only one who thinks the room looks a little too much like a room they just decorated with some props? I don’t know. It doesn’t seem organic the way the rest of the land does.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

You’re probably overthinking how much they care. The vast majority of the park workforce is local to the Orlando metro area (read: they didn’t move to work at Disney/Universal) and can pretty indifferent to being part of “the team” or caring about how secret a new park must be kept.

I would not describe the park employees I have met this way. Having visited Universal very recently, I've met a number of park employees who are really enthusiastic about working there, and excited for the opening of Epic Universe.

Mind, I'm not saying every employee feels this way, but I've repeatedly met employees who appear to be genuinely enthusiastic about working for Universal, and a good number who say they have applied to work in the new park and are excited to have been accepted.

All across Universal, the enthusiasm is palpable.

It is in strike contrast to the CM's at WDW, who have become less personable over the years. All throughout Universal, time and again, I've met employees who really care about providing high quality service.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

On one hand, rushing a hotel to open before it's actually fully completed is kind of dumb, especially when that hotel doesn't even service a park that is open yet. On the other hand, rushing to stay at it opening day just for negative clickbait content is worse. Guys like this don't deserve any views. This is just as annoying as all of the vloggers who constantly state how incredibly amazing every single experience is.

After browsing his channel briefly, I have to say. This. This is the definitive example of everything that is wrong with the modern day theme park enthusiast community.

I wasn't at Terra Nova on opening day, but I was at Stella Nova on opening day, and I had a great experience. For the price, the details, room quality, and food quality were outstanding! My breakfast was excellent!

It was very weird though to be surrounded by vloggers. They were doing things like filming while eating. A number of the were also surprisingly disheveled looking. I mean, if I was filming myself for a living, I'd at least shower, change my clothes, and brush my hair every day. It was really odd that a number of them looked like they had gone days without basic grooming.

 

[DCBaker]

Universal has released details on a National Epic Universe Portal Tour:

Ahead of the highly anticipated opening of its fourth theme park – Universal Epic Universe – Universal Orlando Resort will launch the National Epic Universe Portal Tour across select cities this spring to give fans an exciting glimpse of the adventures that await in the immersive new theme park. The tour will include stops in Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago and will bring a one-of-a-kind “epic” experience directly to fans.

The centerpiece of the tour will be a gigantic, 30-foot-tall Chronos – a replica of the icon of Universal Epic Universe and the gateway that guests will enter to experience the theme park’s five incredibly immersive worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe. As the tour makes its way through iconic locations in each city, guests will be invited to approach the mesmerizing portal structure to witness action-packed sequences that celebrate the incredible adventures of the new theme park.

Attendees will get the chance to take a photo beside the portal and can visit the structure at night for an awe-inspiring, spectacular night show with dynamic lighting and all-encompassing music. Theme park enthusiasts visiting the portal will also have the chance to enter a sweepstakes to win a trip to Universal Orlando Resort and experience Universal Epic Universe for themselves.

The National Epic Universe Portal Tour will be open to guests on the below dates from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (subject to change):

• April 11-13: Atlanta, Georgia (Pemberton Place, adjacent to World of Coca-Cola)
• April 23-26: New York, New York (Rockefeller Center)
• May 16-18: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (The Rocky Steps)
• June 13-18: Chicago, Illinois (Pioneer Court)

 

[mkt]

All across Universal, the enthusiasm is palpable.

Can confirm.

 

[celluloid]

Well.. I've been occasionally bringing up Comcast's financial constraints, so, I'm not surprised. Put on top of that the current and likely, worsening, world financial milieu... this won't be the first company holding back and nursing their bank account large debt portfolio.

Its themed entertainment wide. Shift in culture against Entertainment again. Merlin, Disney and Uni all had entertainment setbacks recently.

This was not so much financially focused from parent company. It was more local execs felt people would be rushing from Portal to Portal, but this is corporately misplaced judgment as they are going by Team Member Previews. And a crowded day where people are in a hub multiple times a day will play very differently.

They did not rehearse this for ten weeks and were set to perform it due to Portfolio issues.

But if you want the pat on the back that you noticed...good for you!

The main cut for those wondering, was a character of traveling musicians who bring their stories and music from the various worlds they have visited.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It was more local execs felt people would be rushing from Portal to Portal,

Oh, I didn't know you were in dialogues with local execs. So, yeah, it must be that they thought guests wouldn't appreciate streetmosphere with so much other shiny new stuff around them.

Tho, I wonder, for established parks without the shiny new stuff... they're cutting back entertainment there, too. Funny how the reason given doesn't really apply to all parks, tho, the claim is that it does.

That's life!

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Oh, I didn't know you were in dialogues with local execs. So, yeah, it must be that they thought guests wouldn't appreciate streetmosphere with so much other shiny new stuff around them.

Tho, I wonder, for established parks without the shiny new stuff... they're cutting back entertainment there, too. Funny how the reason given doesn't really apply to all parks, tho, the claim is that it does.

That's life!

Well, he did give you a pat on the back for noticing, so that's something.

 

[celluloid]

Oh, I didn't know you were in dialogues with local execs. So, yeah, it must be that they thought guests wouldn't appreciate streetmosphere with so much other shiny new stuff around them.

Tho, I wonder, for established parks without the shiny new stuff... they're cutting back entertainment there, too. Funny how the reason given doesn't really apply to all parks, tho, the claim is that it does.

That's life!

Not so much dialogues as friends in show direction for it. Yes. Everything takes money and live ent operations is always the first thing cut. It is the theme park way.
Even when things are strong things that they don't think are worth it get cut.

 

[Gringrinngghost]

It would require changed habits for the company. The rumored entertainment cuts do not suggest such a seismic ship actually occurred.

Their issue too has been outside of the Potter and Dragon show, nobody knows when any of this stuff is happening

 

[mkt]

Remember that “Team Member” is a very broad term that covers more than in-park operational roles.

Same as Cast Member over at Disney.

 

[TalkToEthan]

as much as it's impressive to see, I feel like it will somehow affect the ride experience when some AA are not working as intended.

yes, profoundly affect one’s ride.

from a park goer perspective I would expect the main point of the ride is to see advanced, next level life like AA’s.

If those figures go static mode on us( for long periods)then the ride will be ridiculed far worse than Yeti. Universal needs those figures operating properly far more than Disney needs a swiping Yeti.

But I’m pretty sure universal will not allow their prized figures to remain static if and when they do go down.