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

[Moth]

A bunch of Universal's creative team that was working on EU has been laid off. Don't know if they were full time employees or ad hoc hires.

I think they were contractors? I heard that Disney and Universal pass around the same group of people

 

[Gusey]

People are probably getting ahead of themselves with Zelda. The project has been in development hell for years. The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad in 2018 in anticipation of Hyrule coming. Poseidon’s Fury also closed for the same reason and still nothing. Super Nintendo World was not designed for expansion nor were the land plots designed for anything specific.

It would be it's own portal in between SNW and Dark Universe, with the Nintendo Shop in Celestial Park in between the two portals

 

[BaconPancakes]

It’s not. Those are your personal emotions speaking. Pay attention to where dollars are being spent.

Watch out, we have a real expert on our hands here!

 

[Disney Analyst]

Well, DL has had 70 years to adapt. In the beginning there were a lot more chain link fences and dirt.

Sure, but they always had a berm built to help, the rest was foliage.

I get every new park has growth needed to help, but I think the point we are making is that Epic could easily have installed berms in places, which they did not.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Berms are dirt-cheap.

 

[mkt]

Of course, I’m just pointing out that there’s a record number of former UC folks working at WDI right now. Most of those people left UC after contributing to Epic Universe.

I know. I helped a LOT of them with portfolio/reel/book reviews.

 

[mkt]

Why??? EU is not even open yet!! Better not be the Nighttime Spectacular team!!

Because their contribution to the part of Epic that they worked on is complete.

WDI and Uni Creative both run massive project-based teams. If you see some of the old timers's desks, you'll easily see 7-8 WDI and UC hardhats and a stack of nametags, credentials, and other knick-knacks from both companies.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The SNW store in Celestial Park has a large selection of Zelda merchandise, as well. They seem to have focused on Twilight Princess although it’s unclear if that is the chosen aesthetic for any eventual attractions. It’s one of the darker games. Could bridge the Mario area to Dark Universe well.

 

[jrhwdw]

The SNW store in Celestial Park has a large selection of Zelda merchandise, as well. They seem to have focused on Twilight Princess although it’s unclear if that is the chosen aesthetic for any eventual attractions. It’s one of the darker games. Could bridge the Mario area to Dark Universe well.

Does Celestial Park have Stores for each Portal?

 

[lazyboy97o]

A bunch of Universal's creative team that was working on EU has been laid off. Don't know if they were full time employees or ad hoc hires.

Being a project hire and full time are not necessarily different things. The projects are long enough that they can provide full time employment for their duration. Being a project hire means they’re not going to look to move you to another project.

Why??? EU is not even open yet!! Better not be the Nighttime Spectacular team!!

Normally, it’s just the normal course of work. Different roles are also needed at different points in time. Epic Universe had an extra layer of churn because Universal Creative was absolutely decimated during COVID.

I think they were contractors? I heard that Disney and Universal pass around the same group of people

Contractors are a different category of employment and wouldn’t be considered employees as they either work for themselves or another firm.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It would be it's own portal in between SNW and Dark Universe, with the Nintendo Shop in Celestial Park in between the two portals

A plot held when they were closing a show in Lost Continent to make way for Zelda. There was no long term plan to put Zelda in that spot. It was even recently being looked at for other properties.

 

[djlaosc]

The SNW store has stained glass windows of characters represented in the land (world of Mario and DK) but one additional character:

View attachment 849037

Someone said earlier in here that a window and the parking lot sign would give us an idea of the next expansion - guess this is the window...

 

[djlaosc]

The SNW store in Celestial Park has a large selection of Zelda merchandise, as well. They seem to have focused on Twilight Princess although it’s unclear if that is the chosen aesthetic for any eventual attractions. It’s one of the darker games. Could bridge the Mario area to Dark Universe well.

Can someone say Wolf Link plush?

 

[BaconPancakes]

Twilight Princess would be elite. I wouldn’t be mad about it.

 

[Streetway Again]

A plot held when they were closing a show in Lost Continent to make way for Zelda. There was no long term plan to put Zelda in that spot. It was even recently being looked at for other properties.

we’re off to see the wizard?

 

[djlaosc]

You can't vision a land based off Game&Watch and Duck Hunt because your brain isn't big enough. Give me enough Monster Energy, Duck Hunt zappers, and sharpies and I'll have a Duck Hunt land that'd make DisneySea cry in shame for being the worst thing ever compared to it.

I think Kirby could work as a land/mini-land attached to mainline SNW. But I'm biased because I love the pink puff, so other voices that don't have a bias should comment here.

Animal Crossing is in the same vein as Kirby, maybe the attraction can be a train ride across a "town"? Museum walk through attraction? I don't know. This has stumped me in my brainstorming sessions.

I think TLOZ has an issue of "what type of TLOZ do you focus on?", but once that's overcome, I can see a land for it working out.


I do think Wario deserves a ride though. Imagine a Wario Log Flume or something. I don't know.


Anyway, tomorrow is my EU day!!!

Hope you're having a good time!

They could probably make a land out of most things, but unless they make loads of lands, then they'll have to make a choice as to what would work best.

A bunch of mini-lands could work, but the issue is that I think that they would have to remove something from Super Nintendo World in order to connect, without adding a new portal (I wish Google/Bing Maps would update a bit more so we could look at potential expansion pads without watching Youtube videos) - I wonder how Luigi's Mansion would be rumoured to connect (I would guess that that would not get it's own portal?)

If people are complaining that there is a lack of dark rides (like Fantasyland/Cat in the Hat scale), then something Kirby/Animal Crossing etc. could work (I'm a fan of both as well).

 

[Tom Morrow]

I think a Zelda land needs to look like Twilight Princess. Opting for the more cartoony styles would be a poor decision IMO.

 

[Moth]

I think a Zelda land needs to look like Twilight Princess. Opting for the more cartoony styles would be a poor decision IMO.

I think BOTW/TOTK could strike a good equilibrium. That blue outfit would be an issue though....

 

[Tom Morrow]

I think BOTW/TOTK could strike a good equilibrium. That blue outfit would be an issue though....

Yeah those work too. I only said Twilight Princess because it’s the most realistic depiction of quintessential Zelda.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Sometimes I wonder if this isn’t intentional, Disney has painted themselves into a corner and really limited what they can build as a result of their immersion standards, they could never do an exposed ride like Velocicoaster without insane backlash, I think Universal simply chose a level of immersion that places them solidly in the theme park category while also freeing them up to build some amazing amusement park rides without the confines of everything being completely hidden.

I guess it depends on your perspective on exposed coasters, but to the extent that Disney painted themselves into a corner I would suggest it is more that they established a higher standards of quality. In a sense that is a restriction in that it is harder for them to lower that standard of theming and get away with it, however it has also kept them insanely profitable and the leaders in the industry for 70 years now. That is why I would suggest Uni stop building exposed coasters if they truly want to compete with Disney as equals in the theme park industry: they are a visible sign of lower quality in terms of theming.

All of this comes with the usual caveats that Disney often doesn't meet the standards it set for itself and there is nothing wrong to preferring exposed steel coasters to themed attractions. If Uni is not trying to equal or "out-Disney Disney" on theming and immersion, that's also their prerogative and it may make business sense. If that is the case or if they are still falling somewhat short, though, I think we need to be honest about it.