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

Rich Brownn

Well-Known Member
We're only discussing the most recent quarter, not the full year.

As far as capacity, there are no restrictions on gate capacity at this time (and there haven't been in quite a while)
Not according to Comcast - they specifically state they aren't allowing capacity at this time:

“In terms of Epic itself, our focus now is just driving increased ride capacity. It's a new park and very technologically advanced, so working on the labour and the kinks to drive it to full capacity.

We've been holding back a little bit to make sure the experience is what we want it to be. We expect it to fully scale up in the months ahead, and we'll really be driving higher attendance, per caps, and improved operating leverage.”
 

Unbanshee

Well-Known Member
Not according to Comcast - they specifically state they aren't allowing capacity at this time:

“In terms of Epic itself, our focus now is just driving increased ride capacity. It's a new park and very technologically advanced, so working on the labour and the kinks to drive it to full capacity.

We've been holding back a little bit to make sure the experience is what we want it to be. We expect it to fully scale up in the months ahead, and we'll really be driving higher attendance, per caps, and improved operating leverage.”

They can certainly say whatever they'd like (and I would draw your attention to "ride capacity" as the topic of the quote), but the fact is that they are not hitting capacity limits. Tickets remain available, which means that they aren't "holding back" anything in terms of gate capacity.

Perhaps they're discussing "holding back" capacity in terms of not offering an Annual Pass, but that interpretation would require reading past the words that were actually said

I believe that they are holding back in terms of ride capacity. Say, running 10 cars instead of 15 because they are concerned that the ride may break when a 12th car enters the track.
 

Rich Brownn

Well-Known Member
They can certainly say whatever they'd like (and I would draw your attention to "ride capacity" as the topic of the quote), but the fact is that they are not hitting capacity limits. Tickets remain available, which means that they aren't "holding back" anything in terms of gate capacity.

Perhaps they're discussing "holding back" capacity in terms of not offering an Annual Pass, but that interpretation would require reading past the words that were actually said

I believe that they are holding back in terms of ride capacity. Say, running 10 cars instead of 15 because they are concerned that the ride may break when a 12th car enters the track.
What exactly do you think they meant by "holding back a little bit" - that they are deliberately not running the rides at full capacity. No, they are limiting park capacity. They even added "to make the experience is what they want it to be" Thats specifically attendance. Saying "we're not running the rides at full capacity to make the experience what they want it to be" would equate to "We're deliberately making long lines because thats what people want"
 

JT3000

Well-Known Member
Since wait-time data on Thrill-Data has been recorded, this has been the busiest year yet.

Unlike previous years with highs and low, every single night has been consistently busy.
That would suggest that even non-peak nights, of which I've been attending, should be unusually busy. They haven't been. I could maybe be convinced of unusually busy weekends, but I was there personally to witness business as usual on the other nights. For the longest time, FNAF was the only house regularly breaking the three digit mark. Even Terrifier was usually only 80-90 until more recently.
 
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Tom Morrow

Well-Known Member
They can certainly say whatever they'd like (and I would draw your attention to "ride capacity" as the topic of the quote), but the fact is that they are not hitting capacity limits. Tickets remain available, which means that they aren't "holding back" anything in terms of gate capacity.

Perhaps they're discussing "holding back" capacity in terms of not offering an Annual Pass, but that interpretation would require reading past the words that were actually said

I believe that they are holding back in terms of ride capacity. Say, running 10 cars instead of 15 because they are concerned that the ride may break when a 12th car enters the track.

I think it's just corporate big wigs saying things that will please shareholders that they don't even really have to "prove" of doing. If they actually increase how many people they allow in the park, the way it currently is, it would be a big mistake.

I thought it was normal to not run at capacity. Disney does not run their attractions at capacity, like Sorin?

No. Disney and Universal are both very good at running "at capacity" or close to it whenever they can or need it, in terms of how many vehicles/theaters/etc are operating for the day.

Just in case there's confusion, a ride's theoretical maximum hourly capacity is not the same as a ride considered to be running at full capacity. For example, Hulk can run with three trains, so having all three on means the ride is operating at full capacity. However, the theoretical maximum hourly capacity is how many riders could ride in one hour if every seat is filled and there are absolutely no delays. This is rarely ever achievable, so every ride has an adjusted expectation for how many riders should be able to ride per hour given the number of available ride vehicles.
 
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Sir_Cliff

Well-Known Member
I know the parks are coming of a rough few years, but is a 13% jump in profits for the division of the basis of a new park a bad result? I guess it comes down to how much they spent to build it and their expectations. However, I would have thought that was a reasonable bump considering it is for the whole division and seems to be coming entirely from Epic and the associated hotels.
 

cjkeating

Well-Known Member
As far as capacity, there are no restrictions on gate capacity at this time (and there haven't been in quite a while)
I know people have referenced the lack of APs but I didn't see people mention the only way to visit Epic this year is with a single day full price ticket or a single admission included in a a multi-day ticket. This has been a significant artifical supression of demand.

Let's see how this impacts park attendance next year when these ticket restrictions are removed.
 

rd805

Well-Known Member
I just really hope they have something fast-tracked for Epic. I know the coaster is going to be built as fast as possible already, ground prep at Lost Continent...but clearly 1 ride to loosen crowd grip on Epic is very, very needed. High capacity, indoor, limited size restriction AND small spinner type add on for Celestial Gardens, no size under a canopy like the Carousel. It just has to happen asap....has toooo
 

Dranth

Well-Known Member
I know people have referenced the lack of APs but I didn't see people mention the only way to visit Epic this year is with a single day full price ticket or a single admission included in a a multi-day ticket. This has been a significant artifical supression of demand.

Let's see how this impacts park attendance next year when these ticket restrictions are removed.
Except the park can't handle the attendance it has been seeing so that artificial suppression was necessary. My guess is they are starting to see the initial rush wear off and need to open up sales to keep existing levels or maybe even a small bump. Anything more than that and the park will suffer significant GSAT issues until they can bring more/more reliable capacity online.
 

Dranth

Well-Known Member
Do they care about GSAT issues at all? Look at the park reviews…
True, and maybe this is just me, but the park is still new enough that it likely will and does get a pass for a lot of issues. Fix those, and people will just remember it as growing pains. However, if they open the flood gates without better addressing some of the operational and capacity issues... yikes. Feels like you are getting into more long-term perception damage about the park at that point.
 

cjkeating

Well-Known Member
Except the park can't handle the attendance it has been seeing so that artificial suppression was necessary. My guess is they are starting to see the initial rush wear off and need to open up sales to keep existing levels or maybe even a small bump. Anything more than that and the park will suffer significant GSAT issues until they can bring more/more reliable capacity online.
Oh I completely agree. I was just adding a point regarding multi-day tickets as I hadn't seen it mentioned yet when people were discussing whether or not demand has been suppressed.
 

Tom Morrow

Well-Known Member
I wonder if adding Epic to park hopper options might actually help the overcrowding situation? Currently people can only enter Epic with a one day, one park ticket. People feel obligated to stay all day and ride everything. However, if it was part of a park hopper option, people may feel they got their value by only riding a few rides and walking around as they got value out of USF/IOA for the other part of their day.
 

rd805

Well-Known Member
It's an interesting theory, but I'd bet that so many people would hop there every late afternoon & night; when crowds may be manageable to hit those late day rides, thus keeping the park totally packed ALL day haha.
 

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