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

[UNCgolf]

I know we have a couple extremists, but several of my top ten global rides and many top 25 are screen-forward.

I might fall into the extremist category, but I don't hate heavily screen-based attractions -- e.g., I like both Soarin' and Flight of Passage. They just... age, I guess? far more quickly to me.

Flight of Passage was amazing the first time I rode it, and then by the 3rd or 4th time it was just kind of well it's fun enough but it's not special. I can watch a 4K version of the ride video and feel like I'm getting close to the full experience. It's obviously subjective and will vary wildly from person to person, but whenever something is mainly screens it lacks the immersion of physical sets and AAs for me. I don't feel like I've been transported to another place the way I do (or at least can; it of course depends on the quality) when it's a full physical environment. They can still be enjoyable rides, but they never feel as impressive as something like Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

[celluloid]

Hmm. So Spielberg movies have a good chance of coming/coming back to the parks?

Have(small but significant appearances in parades, night time shows and venues)
and will (UK Park)

It is a good mix of nostalgia timing and Woodbury being in charge.

He is basically the reason ET Adventure was always so easily protected in FL. The ole promise to his buddy that as long as he had influence and could help it, The first ET Adventure would at least remain there. And we got an entire new park before it was replaced for that and operational reasons.

 

[BrianLo]

They can still be enjoyable rides, but they never feel as impressive as something like Pirates of the Caribbean.

I just think there’s a lot of bad ones! Especially from Universal.

On that note on Pirates, Pan (Tokyo) and Pirates (Shanghai) are sublime and in many ways are more impressive than their equally still great practical progenitors.

 

[celluloid]

I might fall into the extremist category, but I don't hate heavily screen-based attractions -- e.g., I like both Soarin' and Flight of Passage. They just... age, I guess? far more quickly to me.

Flight of Passage was amazing the first time I rode it, and then by the 3rd or 4th time it was just kind of well it's fun enough but it's not special. I can watch a 4K version of the ride video and feel like I'm getting close to the full experience. It's obviously subjective and will vary wildly from person to person, but whenever something is mainly screens it lacks the immersion of physical sets and AAs for me. I don't feel like I've been transported to another place the way I do (or at least can; it of course depends on the quality) when it's a full physical environment. They can still be enjoyable rides, but they never feel as impressive as something like Pirates of the Caribbean.

My honest thoughts on Flight of Passage and Soarin' whether first time or fifth, they have made me miss Back to the Future and Horizons more. Not because these newer are bad, but because it was done the best in balance and emotonal pull for me on the others.
I think they have done non dark ride motion simulators just about as best as they can in that mode.

Like, I have to admit that Flight of Passage is the best motion simulator out there as an entire experience, but that is where it stops. And it its design feels a bit too much like a process with that many briefing rooms.

 

[UNCgolf]

I just think there’s a lot of bad ones! Especially from Universal.

On that note on Pirates, Pan (Tokyo) and Pirates (Shanghai) are sublime and in many ways are more impressive than their equally still great practical progenitors.

I'm not that impressed with Shanghai Pirates -- it does look good (certainly not a bad attraction, unlike some of Universal's truly bad screen ones), but the heavy reliance on screens in places really drags it down to me. It's why I don't want it cloned to Orlando; I think they could use that tech and build something even more impressive if there was less reliance on CGI movies.

Pan, on the other hand, actually doesn't look very interesting at all to me!

 

[Streetway Again]

Have(small but significant appearances in parades, night time shows and venues)
and will (UK Park)

If only some of that stuff would come to Florida too.mainly shark.

It is a good mix of nostalgia timing and Woodbury being in charge.

He is basically the reason ET Adventure was always so easily protected in FL. The ole promise to his buddy that as long as he had influence and could help it, The first ET Adventure would at least remain there. And we got an entire new park before it was replaced for that and operational reasons.

Always heard that rumor. Very interesting. Thought it was only legend.

 

[BrianLo]

I'm not that impressed with Shanghai Pirates -- it does look good (certainly not a bad attraction, unlike some of Universal's truly bad screen ones), but the heavy reliance on screens in places really drags it down to me. It's why I don't want it cloned to Orlando; I think they could use that tech and build something far more impressive if there was less reliance on CGI movies.

Pan, on the other hand, actually doesn't look very interesting at all to me!

Just know that extremist was meant as an endearing term, not a mean spirited one!

The opposite end exists too, some have described Disney as boring wax museums.

I thrive on variety.

 

[celluloid]

Probably true. USF is a collection of "movie studio city sets" that contain bite-size IP immersions. DHS is now just a park about golden age Hollywood, Star Wars, and Toy Story.

To further this, with Muppets putting on show business and G Force Records going away soon, Sci Fi diner, Indy and backlot express are the movie making corners left.

Horror Make Up Show, Animal Actors, movie vehicles, narratives revolving around a studio recording(even if fake) and newer implementations like Wicked behind the scenes exhibits focus on the core cohesiveness of movie magic.

 

[UNCgolf]

Like, I have to admit that Flight of Passage is the best motion simulator out there as an entire experience, but that is where it stops. And it its design feels a bit too much like a process with that many briefing rooms.

I think Flight of Passage is the motion simulator done about as well as one can possibly be done. It has a beautiful video through an exotic environment -- I'm not sure how you can top it. It's just that motion simulators in general aren't the best attractions.

I think that's one part of my issues with Forbidden Journey. The broom flight simulation is really drab.

 

[celluloid]

Always heard that rumor. Very interesting. Thought it was only legend.

It became much more believable when you consider we got a new kids land next to it, and then EPIC Universe, and ET still stands. It only became more valuable of course due ot ET now being the lowest height requirement family accessible ride outside of stationary seating of Minion Mayhem. When it opened. It was ironically one of the only height requirements in the park. The Park now has more ET than ever.

Woodbury, Peter Alexander and Speilberg are such a dream team.

 

[celluloid]

I think Flight of Passage is the motion simulator done about as well as one can possibly be done. It has a beautiful video through an exotic environment -- I'm not sure how you can top it. It's just that motion simulators in general aren't the best attractions.

I think that's one part of my issues with Forbidden Journey. The broom flight simulation is really drab.

I view Forbidden Journey's simulation segments as wish fulfillment or flying with the characters on brooms and transitions into the next dark ride scene and settings. To me it is very much a modern (albeit more thrilling)Horizons in this way.

 

[UNCgolf]

Just know that extremist was meant as an endearing term, not a mean spirited one!

The opposite end exists too, some have described Disney as boring wax museums.

I thrive on variety.

Oh, I wasn't offended!

I'm not opposed to parks building screen-based attractions, especially since some people love them. They're not designing a park specifically for me (that basically already happened with original EPCOT!).

I do wonder if I'll ever experience a mainly screen-based attraction that I find truly great though.

 

[UNCgolf]

I view Forbidden Journey's simulation segments as wish fulfillment or flying with the characters on brooms and transitions into the next dark ride scene and settings. To me it is very much a modern (albeit more thrilling)Horizons in this way.

Yeah, that's definitely what they're going for. And obviously it works for tons of people, so the fact that it doesn't work for me is irrelevant in the grand scheme.

It basically ruins the attraction for me though.

 

[James Alucobond]

Why are you referring to the park as “Epic!”? Is “Epic!” the official name? I’m looking all over and have never seen it referred to as such!

It’s not. Also, any company that stylizes a wordmark like that should be shunned. It’s the musical Oliver! all over again.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Disneyhead is referring to the original concept name: Epic! At The Theme Park

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Why are you referring to the park as “Epic!”? Is “Epic!” the official name? I’m looking all over and have never seen it referred to as such!

Is there an "official" acronym? I think "EU" is taken.

There is a lot here to dump on the theme park community all at once. I mean, we have to come up with short hand acronyms for a bunch of rides, and restaurants.

It's a work in progress.

I think BM for Bar Moonshine is...not great. But they kinda asked for that one. Just sayin'.

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

Why are you referring to the park as “Epic!”? Is “Epic!” the official name? I’m looking all over and have never seen it referred to as such!

Is it more just fantastic than Epic. If so, that was a name that trended as would been the name before Epic Universe which would of been Universal's "Fantastic World's".

 

[Agent H]

I'm not that impressed with Shanghai Pirates -- it does look good (certainly not a bad attraction, unlike some of Universal's truly bad screen ones), but the heavy reliance on screens in places really drags it down to me. It's why I don't want it cloned to Orlando; I think they could use that tech and build something far more impressive if there was less reliance on CGI movies.

Pan, on the other hand, actually doesn't look very interesting at all to me!

I think the coolest part is when you go between the two pirate ships like in the original concept art for the original pirates. Or least that’s what I’ve observed from video.

 

[Gringrinngghost]

Is there an "official" acronym? I think "EU" is taken.

UEU is Universals official abbreviation.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Ehh... DAK was underbuilt, but in its current state is comparable to Epic and it will have more attractions (as in not just rides) than Epic when the Dinoland and TTBAB replacements are complete.

But I also feel that this is dismissive. DAK was built as a highly ambitious theme park. Something like Kilimanjaro Safaris in a theme park was unheard of. Not in the sense of riding through a space and seeing animals, but the scope of it and the fact that it looks and feels real. DAK also remains the most immersive and detailed theme park in the US, as well as the most cohesive.


Agreed with this. IOA in its earliest days was often described as "a fancy Six Flags" and that wasn't entirely unwarranted. It has a lot of detail and heart, but is still very much a theme park with nice set dressing. A product of its time with very loud and clashing aesthetics everywhere.

Epic is probably Universal's first time deciding to make areas that feel both beautiful and meaningful. And they mostly succeeded! I just... wish they hadn't stopped at 90%.

I said earlier they went 90% in. Universal's way is to put up a hard stop at theming and everything beyond that, that is plainly visible but clearly not part of the "magic" is ok. Like when you look at SNW from Atlantic, the green hills painted on the surrounding wall stop and then the tan Mario Kart show building is plainly visible. But I think the General Public gets it. And I think it is really a non issue. Purists can stand there jaw dropped at the break in "immersion" while normies don't even notice. I mean, they see it, but they are in a theme park and are willing to ignore what the designer suggested they ignore.