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

[phillip9698]

(Let me know if I need to relocate this post)

Epic Universe is a fantastic park. Its major flaw is the lack of family-friendly attractions that can be experienced by the entire family that does not involve significant motion or getting wet. I'd prioritized a family-friendly dark ride at the park to help improve this aspect (either #1 or #7). I'd also try to fast-track some sort of minor addition to Dark Universe (#4 below) to add additional experiences within the land.

After experiencing the park, I don't think they need to touch the large expansion pads until the existing portals are fleshed out (and USF/IOA get significant investment)

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I just want to say you did a very good job with this slide. Do you use powerpoint a lot for work?

 

[Rich Brownn]

Gotcha. I wanted to be sure. But in good faith one has to admit this is not limited to Universal. Disney has worked with multiple outside sources in the past and Present. Lucas before they owned Lucasfilm for Star Wars, Indy,(much of MGM Studios and Great Movie Ride, CBS, and even now with Lightstorm for Avatar has some holdings and was not a part of Disney first.

It is also not cut and dry even when entirely owned. Marvel has portfolio say and control over much of what happens with Disney's theme parks. Kind of easier but a lot of same issue as studios that have product and experience divisons, and so many do now.

Dreamworks however, which is specifically what I was speaking of, is owned by Universal, so it was an off-moot point.

When Disney-MGM opened there were so many non-Disney IPs we started referring to it as Disney-EBU studios (Everybody but Universal)

 

[celluloid]

I’m not asking questions…

Through all of the design and the overwhelming majority of the construction of Epic Universe, Legend of Zelda was eyed for Islands of Adventure. At one point it would have even opened before Epic Universe and Super Nintendo World. The Eight Voyage of Sinbad was closed in 2018 for Zelda but it didn’t move forward. Poseidon’s Fury was closed in 2023 for Zelda but again, the project didn’t move forward. Only very recently has Zelda now been considered for Epic Universe. So I’m not sure what they would have removed because throughout the design and construction of the store the anticipation was that Zelda would be in another park.

Some corrections. Sindbad was closed due to budget and poseidon used because bigger plans came in to move forward with replacement in a bigger scale. You habe to remember Sindbad closed years before Poseidon's Fury.
It was rather abrupt as poseidon had just gotten it's biggest refurbishment of audio, visual and pyro of the last decade. Then from the top a choice was made.

Zelda was never going to open before Epic Universe as Hagrids, Velocicoaster l, Minion Blastand Dreamworks land were always the agenda and bilingual prior to EPIC.

There are however plans moving forward with LC slowly but surely.

 

[lazyboy97o]

No. Sindbad was closed due to budget and poseidon used because bigger plans came in to move forward with replacement in a bigger scale. You habe to remember Sindbad closed years before Poseidon's Fury.
It was rather abrupt as poseidon had just gotten it's biggest refurbishment of audio, visual and pyro of the last decade. Then from the top a choice was made.

Zelda was never going to open before Epic Universe as Hagrids, Velocicoaster l, Minion Blastand Dreamworks land were always the agenda and bilingual prior to EPIC.

There are however plans moving forward with LC slowly but surely.

Both were closed for Zelda.

Before Epic Universe was moved up to 2023, both Zelda and Pokémon would have opened before Mario in Florida.

Minion Blast and DreamWorks Land were not part of a long range vision. They both came up after Epic Universe had been delayed.

 

[Lil Copter Cap]

Both were closed for Zelda.

Before Epic Universe was moved up to 2023, both Zelda and Pokémon would have opened before Mario in Florida.

Minion Blast and DreamWorks Land were not part of a long range vision. They both came up after Epic Universe had been delayed.

This is correct information & tracks with my experience.

 

[celluloid]

Both were closed for Zelda.

Before Epic Universe was moved up to 2023, both Zelda and Pokémon would have opened before Mario in Florida.

Minion Blast and DreamWorks Land were not part of a long range vision. They both came up after Epic Universe had been delayed.

This is not true. Sindbad was closed in 2018. and Hagrids was well on its way under prep work by then. Hagrids was well underway into 2019 and Velocicoaster in design. Bourne was also under work and opening in 2019.
Zelda and Pokémon were never set to open before EPIC.

Hagrids 2017
Bourne 2019
Velocicoaster 2021
Minions 2023(Shrek was known to public to close in 2022.
Dreamworks 2024

Notice how you could not even squeeze Zelda in there with all that going on.
IOA was not going to open a new large ticket property of scale right when huge E tickets were opening so close.

Zelda in fact got delayed, but it and Pokémon by 2017 were always going to be after EPIC.

 

[lazyboy97o]

This is not true. Sindbad was closed in 2018. and Hagrids was well on its way under prep work by then. Hagrids was well underway into 2019 and Velocicoaster in design. Bourne was also under work and opening in 2019.
Zelda and Pokémon were never set to open before EPIC.

Hagrids 2017
Bourne 2019
Velocicoaster 2021
Minions 2023(Shrek was known to public to close in 2022.
Dreamworks 2024

Notice how you could not even squeeze Zelda in there with all that going on.
IOA was not going to open a new large ticket property of scale right when huge E tickets were opening so close.

Zelda in fact got delayed, but it and Pokémon by 2017 were always going to be after EPIC.

Your reading comprehension is poor. You just keep repeating what was built.

 

[celluloid]

Your reading comprehension is poor. You just keep repeating what was built.

No.

Parks don't build and open multiple new attractions that would steal from each other. Particularly within the same park right within two major E tickets.
Hagrids was set to open in 2019.
Velocicoaster was always going to open by 2021.
Zelda was never pre Epic. The delay of EPIC's opening would have actually given them more time to open it before EPIC.

What does your source say the opening for Pokemon and Zelda would have been set to open?

You can stop the insults towards me and other posters.

 

[lazyboy97o]

No.

Parks don't build and open multiple new attractions that would steal from each other. Particularly within the same park right within two major E tickets.
Hagrids was set to open in 2019.
Velocicoaster was always going to open by 2021.
Zelda was never pre Epic. The delay of EPIC's opening would have actually given them more time to open it before EPIC.

What does your source say the opening for Pokemon and Zelda would have been set to open?

You can stop the insults towards me and other posters.

Why are you again repeating the order of what was built?

 

[celluloid]

Why are you again repeating the order of what was built?

Because it is relevant to the order of which things are planned to open. Years in the production and building and a planned sequence.
Zelda was never in that part of the sequence of opening before EPIC.

Why are you deflecting?

When does your source say Zelda and Pokémon would have opened?

 

[BrianLo]

Presumably these projects were heavily planned in and around 2016/17 for a 2022-2024 timeframe.

Bourne and Velocicoaster were maybe being co-developed projects along with Epic. The latter won out by late 2018 and Epic was pulled forward. Zelda seems to have been stuck in an "almost next" development cycle forever, but Epic has sucked up all the real money in the room.

Minions and Dreamworks were never things at the time; they were clearly developed during the pandemic on shoe-strings. Super Nintendo World was planned for KidZone, there was no long-gesticulating Dreamworks.

Initial work on Pokemon for Orlando dates back to 2013.

 

[BrianLo]

After experiencing the park, I don't think they need to touch the large expansion pads until the existing portals are fleshed out (and USF/IOA get significant investment)

These seem like good projects to me. But it shows the pending folly of our three park ecosystem. 3/5 of our unknown project years (2028-32) you have assigned three Epic dark rides.

That doesn't leave much wiggle room for the other two parks. Assuming, optimistically, Universal keeps up the one notable attraction a year cycle.

 

[Giss Neric]

Monsters Unchained is great; however, I feel like Victoria constantly talking throughout the ride definitely lessened the scariness of the ride. Definitely reminds me of Skull Island Reign of Kong and even Dinosaur where someone is talking throughout the ride. Maybe a moment of silence then an animatronic pops up would be a great scare.

 

[celluloid]

Presumably these projects were heavily planned in and around 2016/17 for a 2022-2024 timeframe.

Bourne and Velocicoaster were maybe being co-developed projects along with Epic. The latter won out by late 2018 and Epic was pulled forward. Zelda seems to have been stuck in an "almost next" development cycle forever, but Epic has sucked up all the real money in the room.

Minions and Dreamworks were never things at the time; they were clearly developed during the pandemic on shoe-strings. Super Nintendo World was planned for KidZone, there was no long-gesticulating Dreamworks.

Initial work on Pokemon for Orlando dates back to 2013.

This is nice theory but not in the way it happened. Zelda has had real plans, however, was never planned to open before EPIC.

The Mario in Kidzone was kaputz while already being iffy if it was going to anchor the new park by 2016 as Comcast announced where to go with it. I was in the meeting. Zelda Development came after this.

Minion Blast/Minion Land began before pandemic because of the success in Japan in 2017 of their veresion of Minionland, and of course minions making bank in general. Dreamworks-land was developed pre pandemic after Universal's Aquisition of Dreamworks 2016. This is why Barney was able to close at the start of 2021. Shoestrings and execution be darned. Bourne obviously had just opened before Pandemic in late 2019. Zelda was nowhere in there.

My point was never to say that Zelda was not in development, but the plan was never to open it prior to EPIC.
Hence why still now even with Epic's delay and now open, we are not in the middle of construction on it or demo.

Poseidon and Sindbad were the biggest money drainers for their ROI/mid GSAT on entire IOA and next to the most efficient money maker ROI the theme park world has ever known. Which sucks to me because I enjoyed the heck out of them and I feel the park needs it. They went far before anything was solid.

 

[Andrew25]

These seem like good projects to me. But it shows the pending folly of our three park ecosystem. 3/5 of our unknown project years (2028-32) you have assigned three Epic dark rides.

That doesn't leave much wiggle room for the other two parks. Assuming, optimistically, Universal keeps up the one notable attraction a year cycle.

My timeline on that specific Epic plan is ambitious and likely unrealistic.

I fully believe the next 5-10 years should be USF's golden decade with major new additions and aesthetic overhauls. A more realistic timeline, when considering the other two parks below.

Universal had a period where Transformers, Springfield expansion, Skull Island, Cabana Bay and Diagon Alley were all under construction simultaneously. With other major projects like Volcano Bay, Sapphire Falls, Fallon, and Supercharged all under development and nearing the start of construction.

*I am missing projects, and stuff like Figment & Space Mountain are just wild guesses.

USF - Prioritize a replacement for Fast and Furious immediately for short-term gain (BTTF), open up the Rockit replacement, and then a major addition (that is primarily physical environments) with Pokémon. The park also needs to improve its guest experience with major aesthetic overhauls of certain areas (mainly the park entrance & Minion Land)
IOA - Add Wicked to Lost Continent, bringing use to a deserted area and more importantly, adding an entertainment component to a park devoid of live entertainment.
UEU - Prioritize smaller capacity additions, with a major family-friendly dark ride in the next 3-4 years. (I'd personally make a Dark Universe addition first, but likely Nintendo sees the expansion first.)

I hate saying this, but if Universal can do smaller capacity additions to Epic Universe and just one family-friendly dark ride... they can justify not expanding that park until the next decade. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

 

[celluloid]

The lack of family dark rides/accessible slow moving rides is definitely a real strong critique and got to be an issue with Universal parks in general.

Hopefully there can be a big scale to hit an entire audience like the opening era of Studios had and when the tallest height requirement in the park was 36 inches until 1991 with 40 inches and no height requirements on some rides.

 

[Moth]

I think everyone is sleeping on the Yoshi Peoplemover. It's a cute ride

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think everyone is sleeping on the Yoshi Peoplemover. It's a cute ride

With a freaking height requirement.

 

[celluloid]

I think everyone is sleeping on the Yoshi Peoplemover. It's a cute ride

It is great but even it does feature a height requirement.

If it sees lines anywhere like Japan's it is hard to wait 65 min to 90 to the short cute ride.

For my family the kinetics it added was cooler than the actual attraction.