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

[celluloid]

Or, and hear me out here, you could better plan the coaster to not need so much netting by not directly going over things so much. And I just saw the ending section and WOOF it looks rough right before you get off. Like state fair levels of rough.

Best laid plans. There is a reason the net did not come until late in stages. It was not planned to need them. These are types of things that have happened at all new theme parks. We just witness more of it because we saw overhead shots of this thing progressing for many years. No other theme park's construction and opening have been this documented.

Litigious and Osha things are often a headache but also keep people alive and safe. *shrug*

Yes, keep tacking on your other grievances too. It is going to be ok. I did not think it was that crazy rough.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Litigious and Osha things are often a headache but also keep people alive and safe. *shrug*

OSHA doesn’t regulate amusement rides. No federal agency does. Neither does DBPR which is the state agency in charge of occupational safety.

 

[celluloid]

OSHA doesn’t regulate amusement rides. No federal agency does. Neither does DBPR which is the state agency in charge of occupational safety.

It does not "regulate" but it sure does fine them when things go wrong or are not up to par. It is many a reason thing are done so employees don't suffer and why some protocols in place.
Department of Agriculture and consumer services is who is over amsuement rides for inspections and investigations of incidents.

Safety and legal teams were mostly the cause for the netting though.

That Dueling Dragons incident in particular really changed things ever since.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It does not "regulate" but it sure does fine them when things go wrong or are not up to par. It is many a reason thing are done so employees don't suffer and why some protocols in place.
Department of Agriculture and consumer services is who is over amsuement rides for inspections and investigations of incidents.

The nets have nothing to do with employee safety. You just threw out something technical sounding.

Regulations are written and known. They’re not a surprise. Even in terms of litigation, designs were reviewed by lawyers and even their insurance.

 

[celluloid]

The nets have nothing to do with employee safety. You just threw out something technical sounding.

Regulations are written and known. They’re not a surprise. Even in terms of litigation, designs were reviewed by lawyers and even their insurance.

No, I was listing various reasons things are designed the way they are and why things change.

Don't insult me.
I don't think OSHA, something nationally known for workplace safety that has been around for many decades is very technical.

Plenty of things that have been complained about do have to do with various safety, the nets as said, was litigious for a spinning coaster going over guests paths. The coaster does not do the metal detector technique that has been around for coasters over guest areas post Dueling Dragons' incident and guests on this ride keeps their bags/belongings with them.

 

[lazyboy97o]

No, I was listing various reasons things are designed the way they are and why things change.

Don't insult me.

Plenty of things that have been complained about do have to do with various safety, the nets as said, was litigious for a spinning coaster going over guests paths. The coaster does not do the metal detector technique that has been around for coasters over guest areas post Dueling Dragons' incident.

You your list was two things, one of which was incorrect.

Nobody forced them to do a spinning coaster, put the coaster over paths or not do the checks they do elsewhere. Now did anything require the land to be a revolving door of creative direction.

 

[celluloid]

You your list was two things, one of which was incorrect.

Nobody forced them to do a spinning coaster, put the coaster over paths or not do the checks they do elsewhere.

And yet, here we are.

No one forced Avatar's Navi River Journey to not feature a single ADA chair boat either or make the ride far more accessible than it ended up being.

Plans have oversights all of the time.

Safety and legal won on the net thing needing to be at this level.

I prefer the choice of nets to lockers and metal detectors for the scale of a family thrill coaster.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

So I can vibe there or vibe up in that awesome constellation bar at the top of the hotel? Boy, the choices are looking great! I gotta get to this place...

 

[celluloid]

The lands cost more than Diagon Alley. That’s it. You’re flailing for caveats don’t change that. It’s the world’s most expensive theme park. It was supposed to be all Diagon Alley-esque lands. They spent the money for that and a lot more.

Really? Each Land of a new theme park opening this year costing more than a highly detailed land opening 11 years ago with one major attraction in it shocks you?

Again, we have to get real.

Disney spent 1.1 billion dollars on Carsland, over 15 years ago. It is not going to buy the same now.

Just like about 12 years before that the entire opening day of AK as a park cost WDW 800 million. Incredibly cheap by today' standards, even with its opening day line up being slimmer on major rides, when you consider how rich the environments are and all the animal enclosure venues, parking lot, infrastructure etc.

Value of the money listed does not stay the same my friend. Nor does it all have to be spent on theming. You got to hit all the targets for long term sustainability.
Not sure where the park promised or stated that all lands would be like Diagon.
People come for the anchors of Nintendo and Potter, and then they enjoy the heck out of the surprise and delight of Monsters and Berk and then the Plaza of Celestial Park as a place for the larger thrill and charm. This was always what was talked about in creative.

EPIC spent their money pretty right, as evident by the hype not dying down anytime soon even with its flaws and a Disney Park would likely cost the same or more. Tron for MK has been reported to cost 250 million and we know how box like and mixed review that enclosed coaster is. And so many know how odd it was to see the numbers Martin provided for the cost of Fantasyland's expansion.

 

[Giss Neric]

We're now seeing it daily on this very thread, by people who are clearly nitpicking and being negative just for the sake of being negative. For this reason I don't believe everyone here is sincerely just trying to keep Universal "honest," if you will. Some have more mischievous motives for their tiresome shtick

If you want to find these people, they're all at the Snow White Live Action thread

 

[Misted Compass]

Disney spent 1.1 billion dollars on Carsland, over 15 years ago. It is not going to buy the same now.

1.1 billion was the entire revamp of the park including Toy Story Mania, Little Mermaid, retheming the entrance, World of Color, etc. Quite a bit more than a single land.

 

[celluloid]

1.1 billion was the entire revamp of the park including Toy Story Mania, Little Mermaid, retheming the entrance, World of Color, etc. Quite a bit more than a single land.

More to the point. All a quarter of that got us in 2023 was Tron at MK.

So 1.1 would get us quite a lot less today. Thank you.

 

[TalkToEthan]

Disney spent 1.1 billion dollars on Carsland, over 15 years ago.

Talk back then——-reliable talk——-had Radiator Springs Racers around $350 million; it was the single priciest theme park attraction ever built at that time.

That 1 + billon was used to fix DCA at large which of course included Carsland. Those monies were spread around to things like the new entry plaza taking us back to a time where Walt did his studio thing on Buena Vista street.

 

[celluloid]

Talk back then——-reliable talk——-had Radiator Springs Racers around $350 million; it was the single priciest theme park attraction ever built at that time.

That 1 + billon was used to fix DCA at large which of course included Carsland. Those monies were spread around to things like the new entry plaza taking us back to a time where Walt did his studio thing on Buena Vista street.

Yes for the opening in 2012. The point being that, this money would go lot less far if Disney did that today.

People are acting like Epic Universe is the most expensive theme park ever built because it just chose to overspend.

It is the most expensive theme park ever built because it is the only entirely new major theme park of this scale built domestically in the last 26 years.(24 if you want to count DCA)

 

[TalkToEthan]

So 1.1 would get us quite a lot less today. Thank you.

Indeed!!
Potter Alley would be noticeably more pricy today compared to the days of opening in ‘14

 

[TalkToEthan]

7 billion for Epic?

Yep, money well spent(I presume……..I’ll know definitively soon enough when I get inside)

 

[DisneyJayBama]

I got my pass holder tickets. From what I’m hearing and seeing Disney may be in trouble. I hate to see that because Disney is loved in my household.

 

[TalkToEthan]

Disney won’t be in trouble due to Epic.

The times Disney gets in trouble is when it self flagellates like some dude walking the streets of Rome in the 1450’s

 

[BrianLo]

Half these criticisms wouldn’t receive so much airtime if there wasn’t someone who felt the need to defend and excuse everything with a ‘but Disney’ example. You have to defend your employer to the death, I guess.

Epic made the classic Universal mistake of going 90% of the way and fumbling the finish line, because that’s what this company always does. Most of the glaring issues aren’t actually that expensive to remedy, they just didn’t care or see the value in the end.

WB sees the value. Nintendo sees the value. Universal execs for some reason don’t. There’s a reason the most fumbled execution is their own properties.

It’s certainly Universal’s best park domestically though, and that’s meaningful. Even if it looked at Animal Kingdom briefly and decided to lower its ambitions (but Disney)! I dislike USO and IOA has been faltering for me, but this does look like a bonafide successful park!

The two mainline E+ tickets sound like they both stuck the landing close enough, and for me that was the biggest unknown. Potter unsurprisingly as a whole sticks the landing and Nintendo is a great land, even if we knew the shortcomings on its attractions. And thank you Universal for finally seeing the value in entertainment and food offerings. Please keep them up!

 

[lazyboy97o]

Really? Each Land of a new theme park opening this year costing more than a highly detailed land opening 11 years ago with one major attraction in it shocks you?

Again, we have to get real.

Disney spent 1.1 billion dollars on Carsland, over 15 years ago. It is not going to buy the same now.

Just like about 12 years before that the entire opening day of AK as a park cost WDW 800 million. Incredibly cheap by today' standards, even with its opening day line up being slimmer on major rides, when you consider how rich the environments are and all the animal enclosure venues, parking lot, infrastructure etc.

Value of the money listed does not stay the same my friend. Nor does it all have to be spent on theming. You got to hit all the targets for long term sustainability.
Not sure where the park promised or stated that all lands would be like Diagon.
People come for the anchors of Nintendo and Potter, and then they enjoy the heck out of the surprise and delight of Monsters and Berk and then the Plaza of Celestial Park as a place for the larger thrill and charm. This was always what was talked about in creative.

EPIC spent their money pretty right, as evident by the hype not dying down anytime soon even with its flaws and a Disney Park would likely cost the same or more. Tron for MK has been reported to cost 250 million and we know how box like and mixed review that enclosed coaster is. And so many know how odd it was to see the numbers Martin provided for the cost of Fantasyland's expansion.

If you’re going to keep saying “get real”, it would probably help to make accurate claims.

Diagon Alley has two rides, not one.

The Disney’s California Adventure rebuild cost 1.2 billion, and while Cars Land was the biggest components it was just under half of that spend, not 90% of it.

TRON cost more like $350 million but also do find where I’ve said much positive about its design. Just an absolutely silly “but Disney” to trot out.

More importantly though, there are ways to equalize comparisons. You can look at just the cost of the land exclusive of rides, adjust for design and construction specific inflation, and compare on a square foot basis. I’m not unfamiliar with the numbers now or historical.