Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
I’m including the Ygor preshow because his lines are fun (“you delightful freaks”) and the mini KUKA arm is cool.
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Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Now Open!
- Thread starter Bob Harlem
- Start date
I’m including the Ygor preshow because his lines are fun (“you delightful freaks”) and the mini KUKA arm is cool.
flynnibus
Premium Member
We did sr on monsters which only walks by the coffin. So we lost a bit with that… at least on MoM the SR does not miss the major elements like the atrium.
The blending of SR traffic just through the wide open exit traffic was awkward tho. I can imagine that being a lot more problematic during busy periods
The blending of SR traffic just through the wide open exit traffic was awkward tho. I can imagine that being a lot more problematic during busy periods
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
Oh, yeah. Single Rider on Monsters misses basically everything and the ride will make no sense. Though the single rider queue is its own slightly creepy corridor of doors.
brb1006
Well-Known Member
Has anybody checked out the three-part documentary "Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks" that arrived on Peacock last Monday? It covers the construction and months leading up to Epic Universe's grand opening. Any thoughts for those that seen it? Currently finished Episode 1: The Build.
rd805
Well-Known Member
1) Valid worry; I'm not doubtful the roller coaster will be upgrade over RRR. The bar is so low on F&F, that WHATEVER replaces it should be at worst a minimal upgrade. That's at worst.
***They do need to work out some theming to make it "actually" cohesive, and not just better attractions too, so I get that.
2) As a Uni apologist, makes me laugh hard too lol.
3) First episode didn't hit quite the way I wanted it too; something that Disney Imagineering documentaries always seem to be able to do. But, I'm going to revisit maybe tonight though lol
HoustonHorn
Premium Member
My Great/Good/Bad/Ugly/Weird/Notable Review of Epic and the Helios Grand Hotel
Who: me (48/m), my daughter (10/f), my buddy (52/m), his wife (younger than me, but I don't ask), their sons (11,10)
When: Saturday, 11/22/25
The Great
1. The placemaking. Every land is extremely well done. Darkmoor is much better at night; the rest work both day and night. Walking into the Ministry of Magic was as awe-inspiring as walking into the Stormtrooper room on Rise the first time. As a kid of the 80s, being able to walk into and around a Mario game was incredible. Berk is probably the most complete land, and the details are amazing. I really like the portal conceit.
2. The headliners. MoM, Monsters Unchained, Untrainable Dragon and Stardust Racers are all top-notch attractions. I didn't notice anything being down or in B-mode (though to be fair, I went in without watching videos - I'm just saying that nothing stood out as wrong or off).
The Good
1. The score. The music in all the lands is really good. A little loud, especially in Celestial Park. But otherwise good.
2. The Mac & Cheese Cones in Berk. Worth the hype. Carb-filled to fuel you, tastes good, fun and unique. Was a hit with every person in my party.
3. The semi-private VIP tour. This one cost us about $500 per person. In 4 hours, we did 8 rides (everything except Yoshi, Fyre Drill and the carousel), and afterward, you get an Express pass. Because of that, plus the early entry from Helios, we did about 20 attractions each - everything except the carousel, most things twice, and some three times. And that was getting in line at 8:30 and getting back to the hotel at 8:45. To the extent anything is "worth" anything, that was worth it to all of us.
4. Park-view room at Helios. I am not a "view" guy when it comes to hotels normally, but this was worth it. Epic is a gorgeous park, especially at night.
The Bad
1. Ride length for some attractions. Mine Cart and Wing Gliders are really fun family coasters, but both are way too short. Werewolf is absurdly short, and it also needs to be done at night only - during the day,
!
2. Cirque Arcanus preshow. None of us cared for the show at all, and I think a big reason is the preshow - you go through a line to stand for a 10-minute-ish preshow like cattle, then are fed into the main room for the show. By the time we got into the show, we were in bad moods. This was a one-and-done.
3. Yoshi. It's also short, but in this case, that's a good thing. I'd ride Circus McGurkus another 100 times before getting back on Yoshi.
4. Tiny ride vehicles. Universal continues to self-select itself out of big and tall guests. Several of the vehicles are really uncomfortable - Werewolf, Yoshi, Wing-Gliders, and others.
The Ugly
1. Universal Tech. I cannot get over the frustration with their tech. I don't know why they can't have all of your entitlements (entry, express, photos, room key, payment) on one card or wearable. Having to keep up with multiple cards at all times is just absurd. For all the crap we give Disney (myself included, as I think their tech is mid), they absolutely blow Universal away here.
2. Bar Helios. The bar is cool looking, the menu looks good, and they have a decent selection of booze. But the prices are absurd, and they are really rude. Hostess stand on two different nights were just rude. And they told us they were full of reservations, but there were always at least 1/2 of the tables empty both nights we went. I did not care for their attitude at all.
The Cognitively Dissonant
1. Celestial Park is huge and spread out and feels empty. But every land is compact and crowded - especially SNW and Potter. It's jarring to move from wide open spaces into crazy crowds.
Neither Good Nor Bad, But Notable
1. Our consensus on day/night preference
A. Experience During the Day
(1) Berk
B. Experience at Night
(1) Dark Universe
(2) Werewolf
(3) Stardust Racers
C. Experience Both Times
(1) SNW
D. Doesn't Matter
(1) HP
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed it. MoM and Monsters Unchained are absolutely top-notch. With an Express Pass, the rides and show can all be done in a half-day. It really does need more. Potter needs another ride. Dark Universe needs another ride and maybe a show. Nintendo could use a show. Celestial Park could use more to do. Only Berk feels like a fully-fleshed out land.
It's not a Disney-killer or MK-killer, but it's a lot of fun and we will be back.
Who: me (48/m), my daughter (10/f), my buddy (52/m), his wife (younger than me, but I don't ask), their sons (11,10)
When: Saturday, 11/22/25
The Great
1. The placemaking. Every land is extremely well done. Darkmoor is much better at night; the rest work both day and night. Walking into the Ministry of Magic was as awe-inspiring as walking into the Stormtrooper room on Rise the first time. As a kid of the 80s, being able to walk into and around a Mario game was incredible. Berk is probably the most complete land, and the details are amazing. I really like the portal conceit.
2. The headliners. MoM, Monsters Unchained, Untrainable Dragon and Stardust Racers are all top-notch attractions. I didn't notice anything being down or in B-mode (though to be fair, I went in without watching videos - I'm just saying that nothing stood out as wrong or off).
The Good
1. The score. The music in all the lands is really good. A little loud, especially in Celestial Park. But otherwise good.
2. The Mac & Cheese Cones in Berk. Worth the hype. Carb-filled to fuel you, tastes good, fun and unique. Was a hit with every person in my party.
3. The semi-private VIP tour. This one cost us about $500 per person. In 4 hours, we did 8 rides (everything except Yoshi, Fyre Drill and the carousel), and afterward, you get an Express pass. Because of that, plus the early entry from Helios, we did about 20 attractions each - everything except the carousel, most things twice, and some three times. And that was getting in line at 8:30 and getting back to the hotel at 8:45. To the extent anything is "worth" anything, that was worth it to all of us.
4. Park-view room at Helios. I am not a "view" guy when it comes to hotels normally, but this was worth it. Epic is a gorgeous park, especially at night.
The Bad
1. Ride length for some attractions. Mine Cart and Wing Gliders are really fun family coasters, but both are way too short. Werewolf is absurdly short, and it also needs to be done at night only - during the day,
none of us saw the werewolves, but at night we did and that was fun
2. Cirque Arcanus preshow. None of us cared for the show at all, and I think a big reason is the preshow - you go through a line to stand for a 10-minute-ish preshow like cattle, then are fed into the main room for the show. By the time we got into the show, we were in bad moods. This was a one-and-done.
3. Yoshi. It's also short, but in this case, that's a good thing. I'd ride Circus McGurkus another 100 times before getting back on Yoshi.
4. Tiny ride vehicles. Universal continues to self-select itself out of big and tall guests. Several of the vehicles are really uncomfortable - Werewolf, Yoshi, Wing-Gliders, and others.
The Ugly
1. Universal Tech. I cannot get over the frustration with their tech. I don't know why they can't have all of your entitlements (entry, express, photos, room key, payment) on one card or wearable. Having to keep up with multiple cards at all times is just absurd. For all the crap we give Disney (myself included, as I think their tech is mid), they absolutely blow Universal away here.
2. Bar Helios. The bar is cool looking, the menu looks good, and they have a decent selection of booze. But the prices are absurd, and they are really rude. Hostess stand on two different nights were just rude. And they told us they were full of reservations, but there were always at least 1/2 of the tables empty both nights we went. I did not care for their attitude at all.
The Cognitively Dissonant
1. Celestial Park is huge and spread out and feels empty. But every land is compact and crowded - especially SNW and Potter. It's jarring to move from wide open spaces into crazy crowds.
Neither Good Nor Bad, But Notable
1. Our consensus on day/night preference
A. Experience During the Day
(1) Berk
B. Experience at Night
(1) Dark Universe
(2) Werewolf
(3) Stardust Racers
C. Experience Both Times
(1) SNW
D. Doesn't Matter
(1) HP
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed it. MoM and Monsters Unchained are absolutely top-notch. With an Express Pass, the rides and show can all be done in a half-day. It really does need more. Potter needs another ride. Dark Universe needs another ride and maybe a show. Nintendo could use a show. Celestial Park could use more to do. Only Berk feels like a fully-fleshed out land.
It's not a Disney-killer or MK-killer, but it's a lot of fun and we will be back.