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

[Tom Morrow]

I like the intimacy and some animatronics give true performances.
The ride does look to be another chaotic cacophony. One pace, one setting, one scrap of story.
Still gives more of a Spirit Halloween vibe (Igor, the Dr, and Dracula especially) over Universal's Classic Monsters.
Phantom scene looks wonderful. Frankenstein's movements look labored in the best way.
Several animatronics seem to simply flail at guests with some even appearing to be re-skins of the same animatronic doing the same exact thing.

Is it a game changer?
I guess if you discount every animatronic Disney has put out since the Wicked Witch and you hated Forbidden Journey, then absolutely yes.

Regardless, this is clearly a top-notch multi-media extravaganza.
Can't wait to ride it myself

It has a lot of moments that will make riders say "holy sh--" and for that reason it should not be spoiled before riding.

But, for the reasons you listed, it doesn't like, stay with you. It's a whiplash of very impressive sensory overload, but ultimately doesn't resonate in the way that Rise does. Rise feels like a journey. A cinematic one, with cinematic pacing and emotional beats. MU is perhaps more like combining Forbidden Journey with an HHN house.

That said, it's still a really great dark ride.

 

[UNCgolf]

And more to a point, one of three large scale dark rides, and one of 6 E ticket scale attractions in an opening day roster of a brand-new park. That in itself is wild.

A lot of fun can be had with a sum of parts without being a game changer.

What's the third large scale dark ride? The only thing I can think of is Mario Kart, but I'm not sure I'd call that large scale. It's only like 4 minutes long and it's also kind of terrible, although the sets are good. It would be a great C or D ticket (probably D, although the length holds it back for a dark ride) if they dumped the terrible AR shooting aspect (which also distracts from the quality sets) and just let it be a Mario ride.

Monsters looks potentially great though, and everything I've heard about the HP ride sounds fantastic.

 

[UNCgolf]

It has a lot of moments that will make riders say "holy sh--" and for that reason it should not be spoiled before riding.

But, for the reasons you listed, it doesn't like, stay with you. It's a whiplash of very impressive sensory overload, but ultimately doesn't resonate in the way that Rise does. Rise feels like a journey. A cinematic one, with cinematic pacing and emotional beats. MU is perhaps more like combining Forbidden Journey with an HHN house.

That said, it's still a really great dark ride.

How does Monsters compare to Forbidden Journey? Is it as screen reliant? I know it has some amazing AAs, but are there numerous sections where you're mainly just watching a movie like in FJ?

I don't think FJ is very good -- it has a few highlights but way too much of the ride is the broom flight simulation, which is pretty boring/bad. It's also been incredibly rough the few times I've been on, to the point that it was actually unpleasant to ride. I doubt I'll ever ride it again because of that combo (i.e. not thinking it's very good plus it being so rough).

Which also reminds me to ask if the kuka arm is smoother in Monsters.

 

[Gusey]

 

[Baloo124]

Once this opens, is VB going to still be considered one of the main "4" theme parks of UOR, or are they going to label it a water park, and make only USF, IOA, and EU considered to be theme parks? Some advertisements consider all to be just UOR parks, but some say 3 theme parks, one water park, etc. like WDW does. What exactly is the status of VB?

 

[McMickeyWorld]

Spoiler

I really liked how they introduced Ygor (aka my new "hear me out"—he's so handsome and cute, I just wanna hug him ). He gave me Arkham Asylum character vibes, and I feel like he has a more interesting personality than Victoria.

I was afraid it would feel like a superhero movie with a monster skin, and honestly, it kind of did. I wish it had more suspense, tension, and a bit of tragedy—without those, I don’t think the horror really works. I’d even say the eerie, silent atmosphere of the catacombs and tunnels, where you know something is chasing you but can’t see it, wasn’t fully used to build tension and fear.

I think Disney could still improve the concept for the villains' dark ride.

Something I really appreciate is that it has a strong identity in how the world is stylized. We haven’t seen Harry’s POV yet, but even so, it’s already my favorite land.

 

[JT3000]

What's the third large scale dark ride? The only thing I can think of is Mario Kart, but I'm not sure I'd call that large scale. It's only like 4 minutes long and it's also kind of terrible, although the sets are good. It would be a great C or D ticket (probably D, although the length holds it back for a dark ride) if they dumped the terrible AR shooting aspect (which also distracts from the quality sets) and just let it be a Mario ride.

Monsters looks potentially great though, and everything I've heard about the HP ride sounds fantastic.

Mario Kart is inarguably a large-scale E-ticket dark ride. It doesn't magically shrink just because you personally don't like it, and four minutes is very much a standard length for modern dark rides.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Once this opens, is VB going to still be considered one of the main "4" theme parks of UOR, or are they going to label it a water park, and make only USF, IOA, and EU considered to be theme parks? Some advertisements consider all to be just UOR parks, but some say 3 theme parks, one water park, etc. like WDW does. What exactly is the status of VB?
View attachment 852006

They are advertising "4 Parks"

 

[Animaniac93-98]

What's the third large scale dark ride? The only thing I can think of is Mario Kart, but I'm not sure I'd call that large scale. It's only like 4 minutes long and it's also kind of terrible, although the sets are good. It would be a great C or D ticket (probably D, although the length holds it back for a dark ride) if they dumped the terrible AR shooting aspect (which also distracts from the quality sets) and just let it be a Mario ride.

In terms of scale and square footage Mario Kart is a major E-ticket dark ride

Thinking it doesn't live up to the hype isn't the same thing as it not being an E-ticket

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Looking at videos, the one thing about EU that is DisneySea quality is Wizarding Paris.

DisneySea doesn't just have lots of detail and ornamentation, it has a scale throughout the entire park that has since only been matched by individual areas like Galaxy's Edge or Cars Land. The buildings are tall, the vistas are wide, and yet the "immersion" is kept because of the organization of objects, and the implied space beyond what you can see. Wizarding Paris achieves this and the forced perspective set piece that looks silly from helicopter shots absolutely works from ground level (where it was always meant to be seen).

Berk's sightline issues could have mostly been avoided. The painted sky backdrop for the theater was never going to work and they should have at least painted the backside of that restaurant building in Celestial Park. At Euro Disneyland the rear of the Main Street buildings were made up like lumber yards and mills to blend in with that land. Had they swapped Nintendo and Berk it wouldn't have been right next to the coaster and the tall outer walls of Nintendo would have helped to obscure it. That you can see Helios from the land doesn't bother me too much. It's like seeing the castle from Frontierland in DLP. It's a wayfinding guide for guests, even if it takes away a bit from the sightlines.

They tried hard to make it look spooky, but like a HHN scare zone, Darkmoor loses something in the bright Florida sunlight. I'm thinking this should have been an indoor (or partial indoor) land to make it always dark and to better set the mood. Also would have helped with sightlines. It's clearly meant to be seen at seen at night and it likely works better then.

 

[jrhwdw]

I'm Sorry, Forget the Rides! Spending the Evening at CP is My Style!!!! There's NO Reason EU should close before Sunset after May 22nd!!!!!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Once this opens, is VB going to still be considered one of the main "4" theme parks of UOR, or are they going to label it a water park..

They are advertising "4 Parks"

Indeed. From the beginning of VB, Uni has treated it as one of their 3 theme parks. That will continue.

I think I saw a post somewhere that WDW started touting their 6 theme parks.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I'm Sorry, Forget the Rides! Spending the Evening at CP is My Style!!!! There's NO Reason EU should close before Sunset after May 22nd!!!!!

You know that Uni has a habit of closing their theme parks early in the evening, right?

Maybe.. just maybe... they'll keep this open later, especially if it has a spectacular night show.

That'll kill their other parks, and CityWalk for the evenings, tho.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Why, once you're in the queue, and the placemaking puts one in the wizarding world, is there a sign advertising the name of the attraction? Midway Mania does the same thing by using "Toy Story" on the fake game boxes.

Also, funny that if there's an emergency and you're looking to run out of the building, there are exit signs pointing away from the very clearly visible outside. (Yes, it's probably a land-locked overflow queue there, but, in a real emergency, who isn't going to run out that side portal rather than head for the further-away entrance?)

 

[Baloo124]

They are advertising "4 Parks"

Indeed. From the beginning of VB, Uni has treated it as one of their 3 theme parks. That will continue.

I guess that makes sense competitively. Makes them look closer to being on par with WDW in offerings. Just not so sure I'm on board with it.

 

[TalkingHead]

They tried hard to make it look spooky, but like a HHN scare zone, Darkmoor loses something in the bright Florida sunlight. I'm thinking this should have been an indoor (or partial indoor) land to make it always dark and to better set the mood. Also would have helped with sightlines. It's clearly meant to be seen at seen at night and it likely works better then.

I’ve thought the same thing for a while. Why they didn’t commit to putting it indoors where the atmosphere control would’ve been complete is beyond me. Knockturn Alley should’ve been the prototype.

Speaking of implied space and perspective and how that adds to the illusion, the second floor over the ordering area in the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon is a good example of that.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Looking at videos, the one thing about EU that is DisneySea quality is Wizarding Paris.

DisneySea doesn't just have lots of detail and ornamentation, it has a scale throughout the entire park that has since only been matched by individual areas like Galaxy's Edge or Cars Land. The buildings are tall, the vistas are wide, and yet the "immersion" is kept because of the organization of objects, and the implied space beyond what you can see. Wizarding Paris achieves this and the forced perspective set piece that looks silly from helicopter shots absolutely works from ground level (where it was always meant to be seen).

Berk's sightline issues could have mostly been avoided. The painted sky backdrop for the theater was never going to work and they should have at least painted the backside of that restaurant building in Celestial Park. At Euro Disneyland the rear of the Main Street buildings were made up like lumber yards and mills to blend in with that land. Had they swapped Nintendo and Berk it wouldn't have been right next to the coaster and the tall outer walls of Nintendo would have helped to obscure it. That you can see Helios from the land doesn't bother me too much. It's like seeing the castle from Frontierland in DLP. It's a wayfinding guide for guests, even if it takes away a bit from the sightlines.

They tried hard to make it look spooky, but like a HHN scare zone, Darkmoor loses something in the bright Florida sunlight. I'm thinking this should have been an indoor (or partial indoor) land to make it always dark and to better set the mood. Also would have helped with sightlines. It's clearly meant to be seen at seen at night and it likely works better then.

I've also watched a few videos and was in two minds about whether to comment as I think I've been perhaps too much on the negative side in this thread and more than a little repetitive.

My overriding view, though, was confusion about why they seem to go so close toward Disney-level theming and immersion as though that's what they're aiming for, even in the portal concept, but then cut corners all over the place such that it doesn't quite get there. For example, Darkmoor has a lot that looks great, but why build a plain steel rollercoaster surrounded by nets and plain metal fences in the middle of it all? Or why not go all in on the portal concept and build up the berm so that the hotel tower is not looming behind the graveyard inside the entrance?

You've already covered all the many things in Isle of Berk where you think "couldn't they have just...?" In general, why invest so much into what could be a very cool "portal" concept without then putting in the effort to make them work beyond SNW and Wizarding Paris?

At the risk of being repetitive, after watching some videos, Celestial Park is still the area where I am the most puzzled by the excitement it seems to inspire from some. To me, it looks very much like it could be a new hotel, retail, and dining complex in Las Vegas or a Disney Springs-style venture. It is not bad, per se, but in terms of themed entertainment it seems more on a Disney Springs level than a DisneySea level. On that note, it kind of makes sense when people suggest it will become a park where locals would hang out after work and maybe get dinner or a few drinks as it looks like a venue designed for that in a touristy city.

Well, I think I've said too much and been too negative yet again! I am honestly glad that people are finding it lives up to their expectations, though, and just want to reassure you that I am also very negative about a lot of things current Disney is doing, too!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

They tried hard to make it look spooky, but like a HHN scare zone, Darkmoor loses something in the bright Florida sunlight. I'm thinking this should have been an indoor (or partial indoor) land to make it always dark and to better set the mood. Also would have helped with sightlines. It's clearly meant to be seen at seen at night and it likely works better then.

Dark Universe is the area I am most looking forward to and while I have really been trying to avoid seeing much did see a few second clip of someone walking into the area and while it looks cool definitely didn't feel as "spooky" in the daylight

Trying to plan out for our one day at Epic later in the summer and definitely wanting to focus on Dark Universe at night - but also fearful everyone else will lol. Thinking might try to do the rides during the day (we have Express pass) and then just focus on being in the area after it gets dark but we shall see.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Indeed. From the beginning of VB, Uni has treated it as one of their 3 theme parks. That will continue.

I think I saw a post somewhere that WDW started touting their 6 theme parks.

Disney posted after announcing both water parks would be open that they would have 6 Parks open (though I noticed they specifically said "6 parks" and not "6 theme parks")

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Disney posted after announcing both water parks would be open that they would have 6 Parks open (though I noticed they specifically said "6 parks" and not "6 theme parks")

6 parks is how WDW has been advertised for some time now in markets outside of the USA