Monsters Unchained is a return to form for theme park attractions

[mergatroid]

We must have been lucky on our week visit earlier this month. No breakdowns or problems at Epic for us.

Good to hear. Watched a vlog by Prince Dev the other day where he did a $7,000 V.I.P. Epic day and went on Monsters and said it was a little disappointing to have some of the animatronics not working and how this is becoming a bit of a problem with the attraction. Saw a random UK vlog about Epic a month ago and both the pre-show was down along with an animatronic in the show which they commented about.

I'm sure with so much going on in the attraction it can still be great fun and be enjoyed, but just like at Disney it's not ideal when something designed for the attraction isn't working as it should be.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Keep hearing on vlogs that some of the animatronics are down quite a bit.

It has a ridiculous amount of AAs. I love it, but the first time I rode it I was like, "That's amazing, but good luck with all those AAs."

 

[JT3000]

Keep hearing on vlogs that some of the animatronics are down quite a bit.

I think everyone saw this coming from a mile away, given Universal's relatively limited experience with animatronics. I don't fault them for being ambitious, but Monsters is probably a textbook example of biting off more than you can chew.

 

[FoodRockz]

It has a ridiculous amount of AAs. I love it, but the first time I rode it I was like, "That's amazing, but good luck with all those AAs."

I said the same thing! It's like they shot too much in the other direction after FnF. Great ride though.

 

[dmc493]

Other forums have documented the status of animatronics pretty well, seems its relatively cyclical with a few down every so often. The challenge is that with no AP available, you're never going to have consistent enough coverage, of people who care enough to post in a forum/reddit, in the park on a day to day basis to truly know how bad the situation might be

 

[thelookingglass]

I think everyone saw this coming from a mile away, given Universal's relatively limited experience with animatronics. I don't fault them for being ambitious, but Monsters is probably a textbook example of biting off more than you can chew.

They're a multi billion dollar company, they have the resources to figure this out.

Reminder that if they aren't doing everything they possibly can to give you the experience they are promising you when you purchase a ticket, they are, in a way, ripping you off.

This applies to all theme parks. You are owed the show quality that the company promised.

Now obviously I know absolute perfection is not really possible, but several major figures or effects is a big deal.

 

[Purduevian]

I was able to ride Monsters unchained twice during my only visit. The first ride only the preshow and the electricity frank were down... amazing ride.

Second ride the preshow was back up, but like 4-5 others were down... that really took away from the ride. I think EPIC is in a tough place because bringing monsters unchained down really hurts the ride capacity in the park... I wish they would have pulled a Na'vi Shaman and had a B mode screen for each AA when it went down so it wasn't so obvious.

Also... did anyone else recently learn there is a Hunchback figure in the bell? I watched multiple ride throughs and rode it myself twice and never knew... I think they need to adjust the lighting on him.

 

[Andrew C]

We must have been lucky on our week visit earlier this month. No breakdowns or problems at Epic for us.

Same. We rode multiple times in march and it was in good shape. Just one time Mr. Piano Man wasn’t moving.

 

[Tom Morrow]

EPIC

Just wondering, why are so many of you on this forum typing "EPIC" like it's an acronym? It's not, and Universal's official name of the park does not have it in all caps. Only in the logos.

 

[Purduevian]

Just wondering, why are so many of you on this forum typing "EPIC" like it's an acronym? It's not, and Universal's official name of the park does not have it in all caps. Only in the logos.

Probably 2 fold.
1) I've seen others do it... Monkey see, Monkey do
2) The offical logo has it in all caps

 

[Andrew C]

Just wondering, why are so many of you on this forum typing "EPIC" like it's an acronym? It's not, and Universal's official name of the park does not have it in all caps. Only in the logos.

Should we also discuss how some see Epic meaning great, awesome, or grand...while the other interpretation is that Epic means a monumental, legendary, or grand story

 

[Tom Morrow]

Should we also discuss how some see Epic meaning great, awesome, or grand...while the other interpretation is that Epic means a monumental, legendary, or grand story

Both meanings work for the park, but the use of "Epic" as great, awesome, grand to describe things is heavily "online millennials in the early 2010's" (that was me!) coded for sure.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Also... did anyone else recently learn there is a Hunchback figure in the bell? I watched multiple ride throughs and rode it myself twice and never knew

Wow! No we didn't see the hunchback at all!!! We even rode it 3 times. When we go again next year I will be sure to look for it.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I have not gone to EPIC yet but from what I see from YouTube this the very high quality to be expected from Universal, similar to the super high quality seen in the Potter lands in Universal and IOA.

I have no facts, but it seems at Universal theme parks, budget is secondary and theme and immersion is the top priority.

From what I have seen with the EPCOT Future world renovation, budget is top priority; Disney puts out what they can with what money they have..

I hope Disney proves me wrong with Cars and Villains in MK.

Time will tell.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I have not gone to EPIC yet but from what I see from YouTube this the very high quality to be expected from Universal, similar to the super high quality seen in the Potter lands in Universal and IOA.

I have no facts, but it seems at Universal theme parks, budget is secondary and theme and immersion is the top priority.

From what I have seen with the EPCOT Future world renovation, budget is top priority; Disney puts out what they can with what money they have..

I hope Disney proves me wrong with Cars and Villains in MK.

Time will tell.

This is all a huge over-generalization. You are comparing Disney's worst recent efforts with Universal's best.

Galaxy's Edge, for example, even though it has its set of issues, is still far more immersive and more impressive in scope and scale than anything at Epic Universe.

The Epcot Future World makeover was budget and worse than Celestial Park, but then you have other issues where Disney shines and Universal fails, like the fact that Disney is still really, really good with sightlines and immersion, while Epic Universe is full of bad sightlines and views of stuff you shouldn't be able to see.

 

[Disstevefan1]

This is all a huge over-generalization. You are comparing Disney's worst recent efforts with Universal's best.

Galaxy's Edge, for example, even though it has its set of issues, is still far more immersive and more impressive in scope and scale than anything at Epic Universe.

The Epcot Future World makeover was budget and worse than Celestial Park, but then you have other issues where Disney shines and Universal fails, like the fact that Disney is still really, really good with sightlines and immersion, while Epic Universe is full of bad sightlines and views of stuff you shouldn't be able to see.

Agree to disagree about Galaxy's Edge VS EPIC.

EPIC's lands are much more immersive and much more impressive than Galaxy's Edge in my opinion.

The first time I walked into Galaxy's Edge when it first opened, I wondered to myself, where is the music? Where is the kinetic energy? As I walked in initially through the themeless walkway, I already thought to myself, there should be all sorts of space critters moving through the woods there.

I am happy you like Galaxy's Edge.

Frankly, Ide rather have the seasonal Osborne lights.

 

[networkpro]

Agree to disagree about Galaxy's Edge VS EPIC.

EPIC's lands are much more immersive and much more impressive than Galaxy's Edge in my opinion.

The first time I walked into Galaxy's Edge when it first opened, I wondered to myself, where is the music? Where is the kinetic energy? As I walked in initially through the themeless walkway, I already thought to myself, there should be all sorts of space critters moving through the woods there.

I am happy you like Galaxy's Edge.

Frankly, Ide rather have the seasonal Osborne lights.

I too am glad of the positive review of Galaxy's edge from people, but its not for me either.

 

[FoodRockz]

Also... did anyone else recently learn there is a Hunchback figure in the bell? I watched multiple ride throughs and rode it myself twice and never knew... I think they need to adjust the lighting on him.

I saw him on my first go round during previews. Maybe lighting was different then though?

 

[Tom Morrow]

Agree to disagree about Galaxy's Edge VS EPIC.

EPIC's lands are much more immersive and much more impressive than Galaxy's Edge in my opinion.

The first time I walked into Galaxy's Edge when it first opened, I wondered to myself, where is the music? Where is the kinetic energy? As I walked in initially through the themeless walkway, I already thought to myself, there should be all sorts of space critters moving through the woods there.

I am happy you like Galaxy's Edge.

Frankly, Ide rather have the seasonal Osborne lights.

You said you have not been to Epic, so how can you compare? (it's Epic, not EPIC!)

Throughout Epic Universe, you can see a ton of stuff you should not see. You cannot see stuff you shouldn't see in Galaxy's Edge, or if you can you have to try very hard as opposed to having it blatantly visible. So, kinetic energy or not, music or no music, I don't see dumpsters, utility vehicles, and water treatment plants that aren't even on the property while in Galaxy's Edge. But you can see all of these things as you traverse around Epic Universe without having to look for them.

 

[JT3000]

They're a multi billion dollar company, they have the resources to figure this out.

Reminder that if they aren't doing everything they possibly can to give you the experience they are promising you when you purchase a ticket, they are, in a way, ripping you off.

This applies to all theme parks. You are owed the show quality that the company promised.

Now obviously I know absolute perfection is not really possible, but several major figures or effects is a big deal.

The situation at Monsters can obviously improve. It's not Expedition Everest. However I expect it to take a while.

Galaxy's Edge, for example, even though it has its set of issues, is still far more immersive and more impressive in scope and scale than anything at Epic Universe.

Galaxy's Edge more impressive than wizarding Paris is wild.