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

[flynnibus]

Funny now that crowds and wait times soar.. social media posts blame universal for "oversellling" the park

 

[Disney Analyst]

Funny now that crowds and wait times soar.. social media posts blame universal for "oversellling" the park

I mean. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

But this park was always going to have capacity issues with only a few really high capacity, and not enough smaller, easy to access, reliable rides.

 

[JusticeDisney]

There are 3 good rides in the entire park. The rest of the place is one and done, if that.

 

[Andrew C]

Here we go.

 

[JoeCamel]

Universal is interesting. They took an abysmal failure of a movie and it’s become one of the most enduring (if not best?) theme park stunt attractions. If I’m not mistaken, they even recently built a Waterworld attraction at one of the overseas parks?

A good stuntshow eclipses the IP. People are looking in wonder of the spectacle not to see if it tells a story.
Thin story see Sinbad but I liked sitting in the top row and watching the stunts but even Indy is people doing things that would kill most in real life.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

There are 3 good rides in the entire park. The rest of the place is one and done, if that.

my next epic visit will probably be just marathoning Monsters, Stardust, and Hiccup and having a good lunch

 

[Tom Morrow]

There are 3 good rides in the entire park. The rest of the place is one and done, if that.

I mean until Pandora there were only 3 good rides in DAK too.

 

[Andrew25]

There are 3 good rides in the entire park. The rest of the place is one and done, if that.

To each their own, but I think these type of comments do nothing but stir debate. Fine if you don't like everything, but you could make the same comment about a lot of parks... including Disney.

Epic Universe has a lot of great attractions & experiences, and they obviously intend on adding more throughout its life.

Based on general guest observation - Stardust, Monsters, Ministry, Untrainable Dragon and Hiccup's are a major success in the park... 5 right there.

Fine category - Mario Kart, Donkey Kong, Cirque Arcanus, Carousel

Then there's (3) duds - Werewolf, Racer Rally, Yoshi


Animal Kingdom is my favorite park... and yet I can say that there's only 3 good rides in the park and the rest are one and done. Everybody is going to have their own tastes and preferences.

There are sightline issues and capacity concerns, but Epic is not a failure. (I do think the ticketing scheme is ultimately going to hurt them at the end.)

 

[mkt]

Werewolf,

Eh, disagree on this one. It's a perfectly fun ride.

 

[FoodRockz]

To each their own, but I think these type of comments do nothing but stir debate. Fine if you don't like everything, but you could make the same comment about a lot of parks... including Disney.

Epic Universe has a lot of great attractions & experiences, and they obviously intend on adding more throughout its life.

Based on general guest observation - Stardust, Monsters, Ministry, Untrainable Dragon and Hiccup's are a major success in the park... 5 right there.

Fine category - Mario Kart, Donkey Kong, Cirque Arcanus, Carousel

Then there's (3) duds - Werewolf, Racer Rally, Yoshi


Animal Kingdom is my favorite park... and yet I can say that there's only 3 good rides in the park and the rest are one and done. Everybody is going to have their own tastes and preferences.

There are sightline issues and capacity concerns, but Epic is not a failure. (I do think the ticketing scheme is ultimately going to hurt them at the end.)

Don't forget Fyre Drill! I really enjoyed that one. I also enjoyed Curse of the Werewolf, but understand that it's not the most themed attraction ever made.

 

[JusticeDisney]

To each their own, but I think these type of comments do nothing but stir debate. Fine if you don't like everything, but you could make the same comment about a lot of parks... including Disney.

Epic Universe has a lot of great attractions & experiences, and they obviously intend on adding more throughout its life.

Based on general guest observation - Stardust, Monsters, Ministry, Untrainable Dragon and Hiccup's are a major success in the park... 5 right there.

Fine category - Mario Kart, Donkey Kong, Cirque Arcanus, Carousel

Then there's (3) duds - Werewolf, Racer Rally, Yoshi


Animal Kingdom is my favorite park... and yet I can say that there's only 3 good rides in the park and the rest are one and done. Everybody is going to have their own tastes and preferences.

There are sightline issues and capacity concerns, but Epic is not a failure. (I do think the ticketing scheme is ultimately going to hurt them at the end.)

I agree with just about everything that you said. You can find pluses and minuses at every park, including Disney parks. And I am in no way saying that Epic is a failure. It most certainly is not and will not be in my opinion. In my view, however, other than the three big rides, the rest of them leave quite a bit to be desired. As you pointed out, though, that is a subjective thing and to each their own. I guess my larger point is (and again this is just a matter of my own opinion) that Epic is not now nor is it ever going to be the park that makes Disney shake in their boots, as a lot of people have proclaimed would be the case over the last couple years. To that point, if you stop and really think about it, with the expansions that Disney has going on at the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, they are adding more total top level attractions than the entirety of Epic did. Of course, don’t ever put it past Disney to promise big and deliver small so we will all have to wait and see how that actually plays out, lol!

 

[European1992]

I think Epic is the best theme park that has opened in the last 25 years or so.

 

[JusticeDisney]

I think Epic is the best theme park that has opened in the last 25 years or so.

Which attractions at Epic were your favorites and which ones, if any, did you not care for?

 

[Purduevian]

There are 3 good rides in the entire park. The rest of the place is one and done, if that.

Having not been to EPIC myself... at least my perception is (rides only):

	EPIC	MK	EPCOT	DHS	AK	USF	IOA
Headliners	(3) Monsters, HP, Stardust	(3)Tron, Pirates, HM	(1) Cosmic Rewind	(2) ROTR, TOT	(3)Safari, Everest, FOP	(2) Gringotts, Mummy	(2) Hargrid, Velocicoaster
Fringe headliners	(1) Mario Kart	(4)Big Thunder, Space Mountain, Tiana, Jungle cruise	(3)Remy, Soarin, Test Track	(2)SDD, MMRR	(1)DINO	(1)Men in Black	(2)Forbidden Journey, Spiderman,
Solid rides	(2)Minecart, Hiccups	(3)Pan, people mover, 7D	(4)Mission Space, Frozen, SSE, the land	(2)RNRC, MFSR	(1)Na'vi	(3)Transformers, ET, Rip Ride Rockit	(2)Hulk, River Journey
Decent rides	(2)CotWW, Yoshi	(4)Small world, Buzz, mermaid, Pooh	(2)Nemo, Grand Fiesta	(2)Star Tours, TSMM		(3)Hogwarts express, Villian Con, Simpsons	(4)Kong, Hogwarts express, Popeye, Dudley, Dr. Doom
Skippable	(3)Carousel, Rally, Fyre	(10)Railroad, Riverboat, COP, Dumbo, Astro, Tea, Barnstomer, Carousel, Carpets, Speedway	(1)Figment	(1)Alien	(1)Kali	(4)F&F, Jimmy, Twirl & Hurl, Minions	(7)Cat in the hat, Sues Trolley, Caro-Seuss-el, Hippogriff, one fish, Storm Force, Flyers

From a pure ride basis, I would say it's the 3rd best park in Orlando behind MK and IOA

 

[JusticeDisney]

Having not been to EPIC myself... at least my perception is (rides only):

	EPIC	MK	EPCOT	DHS	AK	USF	IOA
Headliners	(3) Monsters, HP, Stardust	(3)Tron, Pirates, HM	(1) Cosmic Rewind	(2) ROTR, TOT	(3)Safari, Everest, FOP	(2) Gringotts, Mummy	(2) Hargrid, Velocicoaster
Fringe headliners	(1) Mario Kart	(4)Big Thunder, Space Mountain, Tiana, Jungle cruise	(3)Remy, Soarin, Test Track	(2)SDD, MMRR	(1)DINO	(1)Men in Black	(2)Forbidden Journey, Spiderman,
Solid rides	(2)Minecart, Hiccups	(3)Pan, people mover, 7D	(4)Mission Space, Frozen, SSE, the land	(2)RNRC, MFSR	(1)Na'vi	(3)Transformers, ET, Rip Ride Rockit	(2)Hulk, River Journey
Decent rides	(2)CotWW, Yoshi	(4)Small world, Buzz, mermaid, Pooh	(2)Nemo, Grand Fiesta	(2)Star Tours, TSMM		(3)Hogwarts express, Villian Con, Simpsons	(4)Kong, Hogwarts express, Popeye, Dudley, Dr. Doom
Skippable	(3)Carousel, Rally, Fyre	(10)Railroad, Riverboat, COP, Dumbo, Astro, Tea, Barnstomer, Carousel, Carpets, Speedway	(1)Figment	(1)Alien	(1)Kali	(4)F&F, Jimmy, Twirl & Hurl, Minions	(7)Cat in the hat, Sues Trolley, Caro-Seuss-el, Hippogriff, one fish, Storm Force, Flyers

From a pure ride basis, I would say it's the 3rd best park in Orlando behind MK and IOA

That’s a really fair breakdown of the rides, in my opinion. I certainly have some disagreements regarding the rankings of the rides, and I would not put Epic as high as number three, but overall I can see where you are coming from and, like I said, that’s a really good list.

 

[cheezbat]

There are 3 good rides in the entire park. The rest of the place is one and done, if that.

No way.

Stardust Racers
Monsters Unchained
Hiccups Wing Gliders
Mario Kart
Battle at the Ministry
Fyre Drill

Werewolf is decent, and so is Donkey Kong…
And I actually liked Dragon Racers Rally too…

It’s the Carousel and Yoshi I could skip.

 

[mkt]

Here's my tier ratings


S-Tier:
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Stardust Racers

A-Tier:
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
The Untrainable Dragon – Surprisingly emotional show. Puppetry and effects are next level.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge – Augmented reality plus chaos. Not everyone’s cup of tea but wildly impressive.

B-Tier:
Mine-Cart Madness
Le Cirque Arcanus
Curse of the Werewolf

C-Tier:
Yoshi’s Adventure
Dragon Racer’s Rally
Fyre Drill
Constellation Carousel

D-Tier:
Astronomica (it's a splash pad)
Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience (It's a gift shop/experience pretending to be an attraction)
Viking Training Camp (it's a playround)

F-Tier
Nothing here earns an F. Even the D-Tier stuff is well themed and can be fun.

 

[lewisc]

Your D Tier attractions are geared to kids who don't meet the height requirements for many rides.

A guest tall enough to ride Stardust isn't going to love a splash pad or playground

 

[Agent H]

I’m still surprised that people rank yoshi’s adventure and Mario kart so low. Yoshi’s adventure is a really cute people mover ride and Mario kart is chaotic and fun in the same way runaway railway is. I think it definitely deserves to be considered an e-ticket and will definitely function that way for the general public.

 

[Purduevian]

That’s a really fair breakdown of the rides, in my opinion. I certainly have some disagreements regarding the rankings of the rides, and I would not put Epic as high as number three, but overall I can see where you are coming from and, like I said, that’s a really good list.

Yeah, I'm sure everyone's list is a little different, but looking at EPIC, vs DHS, vs AK attraction line up my personal rankings

Attraction Rank	EPIC	DHS	AK
1	BATM	ROTR	FOP
2	Monsters	ToT	Everest
3	Stardust	MMRR	Safari
4	Mario Kart	SDD	Dinosaur
5	Hiccups	RNRC	FotLK
6	Minecart	MFSR	Na'vi
7	Untrainable Dragon	Toy Story Mania	Nemo
8	Circus	Indy	Gorilla falls
9	COTWW	Mermaid	Jungle Trek
10	Yoshi	Frozen	Kali
11	Fyre Drill	BATB	Feathered Friends
12	Dragon Racer's	Villains	Animation class
13	Constellation Carousel	Vacation fun	Affection section
14	Viking Training camp	Walt Disney Presents	Boneyard
15	Astronomica	Launch Bay	Conservation Station