Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Opens May 22 2025

[ToTBellHop]

I thought Hogwarts Legacy was a misfire -- it's not bad, it's just... misguided. Hogwarts and Hogsmeade are by far the best part of the game, but very little of the story actually takes place there, and most of the students/professors are just set dressing. There are only a handful of characters with any personality.

It was also a wild choice to have a 15 year old killing literally hundreds of goblins and wizards.

It would have been a much better game with a smaller focus on just being a student at Hogwarts, with trips to Hogsmeade and possibly a few excursions elsewhere (like Diagon Alley). Hogwarts Castle is fantastically detailed, full of all the nooks and crannies you'd hope for, and it's barely utilized.

Regardless, it was obviously incredibly successful, even if the game itself doesn't live up to the sales figures IMO.

The thing that prevented them from making the student simulator that some fans clamor for is that at the end of the day a video game with that budget needs to be fun and exciting with mass appeal.

Could they have added a bit more story to the Hogwarts areas, yes, but going full student simulator would have led to a sales catastrophe.

It was hard enough for them to get this game working on all of the systems it’s on, but I could see more classes in DLC one day or integrated into the 2nd game. In any event, its sales despite its shortcomings demonstrate how fervent the fanbase is. There is crossover appeal to action RPG gamers but it also brought over many non-gamers who needed the structure the game provides to know what to do. And people still get stuck on puzzles that gamers find easy. The open world game some want would’ve failed with many players.

But, there are ways to increase interactivity, particularly in the postgame which currently feels rather dead.

 

[UNCgolf]

The thing that prevented them from making the student simulator that some fans clamor for is that at the end of the day a video game with that budget needs to be fun and exciting with mass appeal.

Could they have added a bit more story to the Hogwarts areas, yes, but going full student simulator would have led to a sales catastrophe.

I'm not advocating an all out student simulator; just something that wasn't almost completely divorced from being a student. The game never really feels like you're a student at Hogwarts (and certainly doesn't feel like you're a 15 year old). I also disagree about your sales catastrophe -- even though I personally wouldn't want an all-out student sim, I think one that was set in a Hogwarts as detailed as the one in the game would have sold 10+ million to all the HP fans. Probably not as many as this game sold, but still a massive success.

Hogwarts and Hogsmeade are incredible (and are the most iconic part of the setting) in the game, but they're barely used. There's a lot of neat stuff in/around the castle that you'll only see if you go exploring, which is fun, but it really feels like a waste to not make that a major part of the game.

I thought it was just kind of above average as a video game (the open world and combat is pretty repetitive/boring compared to other games), and also just kind of above average as an HP game. It has great moments here and there, but it wasn't one of the better games I played last year, and if you cut out Hogwarts/Hogsmeade it probably would have been one of my least favorite (not that it was bad, just kind of bland outside of the HP trappings). It is beautiful, though.

Huge swathes of the game feel like generic wizard simulator. It needed a better story and many more interesting characters (that you can interact with regularly instead of a few specifically scripted moments) to make the world feel alive.

I assume they'll make a Hogwarts Legacy 2 considering how successful it was, but I think it needs some significant writing and mechanical changes to actually be a great game. I also think they really need to go off forwards or backwards a decade so they can have a clean slate to work with. I struggle to see how they could make a quality sequel using the same character.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I'm not advocating an all out student simulator; just something that wasn't almost completely divorced from being a student. The game never really feels like you're a student at Hogwarts (and certainly doesn't feel like you're a 15 year old). I also disagree about your sales catastrophe -- even though I personally wouldn't want an all-out student sim, I think one that was set in a Hogwarts as detailed as the one in the game would have sold 10+ million to all the HP fans. Probably not as many as this game sold, but still a massive success.

Hogwarts and Hogsmeade are incredible (and are the most iconic part of the setting) in the game, but they're barely used. There's a lot of neat stuff in/around the castle that you'll only see if you go exploring, which is fun, but it really feels like a waste to not make that a major part of the game.

I thought it was just kind of above average as a video game (the open world and combat is pretty repetitive/boring compared to other games), and also just kind of above average as an HP game. It has great moments here and there, but it wasn't one of the better games I played last year, and if you cut out Hogwarts/Hogsmeade it probably would have been one of my least favorite (not that it was bad, just kind of bland outside of the HP trappings). It is beautiful, though.

Huge swathes of the game feel like they could just be generic wizard simulator. It needed a better story and many more interesting characters to make the world feel alive.

I assume they'll make a Hogwarts Legacy 2 considering how successful it was, but I think it needs some significant writing and mechanical changes to actually be a great game. I also think they really need to go off forwards or backwards a decade so they can have a clean slate to work with. I struggle to see how they could make a quality sequel using the same character.

A second game is confirmed. By then, our lead boy/girl will be 16 and murdering Mudbloods between courses at dinner.

 

[UNCgolf]

A second game is confirmed. By then, our lead boy/girl will be 16 and murdering Mudbloods between courses at dinner.

They'll almost have to if the developers want to ramp things up from the first game. The protagonist has already slaughtered their way through like 50% of the wizard population!

 

[BrianLo]

Absolutely some tourists will do 4 WDW days and the new Universal park, or 3 WDW days and 2 Universal days. The question is how many will do 3 Uni days and 1-4 WDW days. I think a lot of theme park fans overestimate that number.

I agree and I think people also aren’t weighing the costs here. Three day tickets at Uni are also about to swell. Maybe one can entirely cut out WDW, but the logical move is still to get an extended ticket for WDW and a single day for Epic. Secondarily, a two day for Epic and IOA/USF, where in practicality USF is being squeezed out for the most part.

There isn’t a lot of financial motivation to pick up a three day ticket at that stage. A 3 day Uni + 4 day WDW stay is extremely costly for families. A 2 day Uni, 5 day WDW is a better deal (with overall longer park hours and more evening entertainment). Until USF can start pulling its weight, I don’t think the seismic ‘cutting out WDW’ shift is going to occur day one like everyone thinks it will.

 

[lewisc]

I agree and I think people also aren’t weighing the costs here. Three day tickets at Uni are also about to swell. Maybe one can entirely cut out WDW, but the logical move is still to get an extended ticket for WDW and a single day for Epic. Secondarily, a two day for Epic and IOA/USF, where in practicality USF is being squeezed out for the most part.

Don't you think pricing will be front loaded?
A one day Epic ticket, assuming it's offered, will be $$$$. Posters claim no Express Passes will be available. We might see some lines. (Can't figure out how to add GIF) Might Universal start with a 2 day EPIC pass? A, by theme park standards, modest upcharge to add 2 or 3 days legacy parks. Pay for 2 get 5?

 

[BrianLo]

Don't you think pricing will be front loaded?
A one day Epic ticket, assuming it's offered, will be $$$$. Posters claim no Express Passes will be available. We might see some lines. (Can't figure out how to add GIF) Might Universal start with a 2 day EPIC pass? A, by theme park standards, modest upcharge to add 2 or 3 days legacy parks. Pay for 2 get 5?

I thought parks ticket pricing was front loaded to the number of days and parks.

Minor savings at WDW to scale from 1-3 and slightly more at 4, additional days come cheaply thereafter. Very similar prices for 1 v 2 day tickets at Universal currently, additional days come cheaply thereafter, particularly for the four day ticket offer. I assume they convert more to a 5 day offer post-Epic.

I think the calculus is going to be interesting none the less. You no longer hit the ‘tipping point’ by trying to cram in both resorts in a week.

 

[Andrew25]

Universal might pull a stupid and require only 1-day "Epic Exclusive" tickets (no multi-day ticket or park-to-park passes). I get the need to limit attendance to prevent operations from being flooded on opening... but look at what all the ticket modifications caused at Disneyland during SWGE's opening.

Not to mention that Universal will now have a solid reason to convince guests they need nearly a week dedicated at their resort instead of hopping over to WDW.

USF will debut a new parade and nighttime spectacular soon, so while USF won't have any new substantial additions to the park, it'll help spread guests between all 3 parks.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Universal might pull a stupid and require only 1-day "Epic Exclusive" tickets (no multi-day ticket or park-to-park passes).

I would guess that they'd have a 3-day ticket that includes one day at EU and a hopper for the other two for two days.

Double it for that "full week at Universal"... 2 days at EU with 4 hopping days at the other two. (Or, 3 days at EU with 3 days hopping the other two.)

Throw in the water park.

 

[Andrew25]

I would guess that they'd have a 3-day ticket that includes one day at EU and a hopper for the other two for two days.

Double it for that "full week at Universal"... 2 days at EU with 4 hopping days at the other two. (Or, 3 days at EU with 3 days hopping the other two.)

Throw in the water park.

That would be the smart choice. I just find the idea of not packaging tickets absurd when you are working on becoming a full-week destination. People who previously have never given Universal a chance on their own will start planning trips, and if they see it is more expensive than WDW they'll just do Epic alone and spend the rest of their trip at WDW.

VB is popular as is, no need for them to package it. It's insane how much that park has taken from WDW's water park attendance.

 

[jannerUK]

As a UK resident we currently have as the big seller "Three Park Tickets for 14 days" lumbered in with Disney it's about £912.

I wonder how that will change when EU starts opening up. Upgrade to a Four Park Ticket? Wonder how much the add on will go up by realistically.

 

[BrianLo]

As a UK resident we currently have as the big seller "Three Park Tickets for 14 days" lumbered in with Disney it's about £912.

I wonder how that will change when EU starts opening up. Upgrade to a Four Park Ticket? Wonder how much the add on will go up by realistically.

They are currently selling people a 14 day Universal ticket?

A week seems borderline egregious to me in the current state. Maybe this is Volcano Bays attendance problem, you basically need to treat it like an extension of your resorts pool complex.

 

[JoeCamel]

They are currently selling people a 14 day Universal ticket?

A week seems borderline egregious to me in the current state. Maybe this is Volcano Bays attendance problem, you basically need to treat it like an extension of your resorts pool complex.

Its more like a 14 day Orlando ticket for three parks plus other experiences I think it's this onehttps://www.travelrepublic.co.uk/attractions/orlando/theme-park-combos/disney-14-day-and-universal-3-park

 

[BrianLo]

Its more like a 14 day Orlando ticket for three parks plus other experiences I think

I think it’s just for Universal (the 2+1 parks)

Universal Orlando™ | Park Tickets

ukstore.universalorlando.com

Though I’m sure some UK visitors just double dip and get both Uni and Disney products, overlapping them.

 

[JoeCamel]

I think it’s just for Universal (the 2+1 parks)

Universal Orlando™ | Park Tickets

ukstore.universalorlando.com

Though I’m sure some UK visitors just double dip and get both Uni and Disney products, overlapping them.

I think there is a combo

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[EvilChameleon]

A star pattern is emerging in the fountain...

 

[UpAllNight]

I think it’s just for Universal (the 2+1 parks)

Universal Orlando™ | Park Tickets

ukstore.universalorlando.com

Though I’m sure some UK visitors just double dip and get both Uni and Disney products, overlapping them.

I think Disney believes that the rising tide lifts all boats but I don’t see it.

I’d say most people who go to Florida from the UK go for 2 weeks typically, and Universal / Disney 14 day tickets seem to be the option people go for. For anyone not aware, it’s “14 days for the price of 7”, for each ticket, that starts on first day of use for each set of tickets - useful for anyone going longer than 2 weeks, but effectively once tickets bought it’s just a battle for who wins the attention and benefits from daily visits / merch / food.

We typically visit for 3 weeks as we’re huge theme park fans, but don’t go every year. Cramming all of these parks into 2 weeks is already a challenge…to do it in 3 actually is for us already, pre Epic Universe.

Something has to give. For us Universal have already taken Hotel and Day, days, off Disney.

I was fortunate enough to go twice in 2022, and we skipped Disney entirely on the second (shorter) trip.

I’m booking for 3 weeks in 2025 when Universal announces dates. In 2022, of 19 nights in hotels, we stayed 7 Universal, 12 Disney. Second trip 7 Universal. 2025 is looking like 14 Universal, 7 Disney. I should add due to location, we visit Seaworld and sometimes Busch whilst staying on Universal property.

Disney have a real fight for our attention, as much as we love it.

For us, without children, the appeal of Universal is the simplicity and ease of the experience. I don’t know what I want for dinner tonight, and Disney want your life story in half a years time. Concerned Universal go down a similar route, but for now, Universal is a breeze, and feels like a holiday.

I can’t help but feel Disney have seriously misjudged their strategy in having no response on the immediate cards.

 

[donaldtoo]

A star pattern is emerging in the fountain...

Woof…! That thing is huge, and only a “small” part of the overall project…?!!!!!

And, Disney just spent the last how many years constructing, basically, a garden area with a themed small-scale water feature attraction…?!!!!!

 

[Animaniac93-98]

USF is lackluster as it stands right now, but I think just replacing RRR, Jimmy Fallon, and F&F along with the existing plans (Dreamworks, new parade and night show, Pokemon replacing Simpsons) would go a long way to fixing the park.

The changes in recent years have been a mixed result (Bourne, Minions etc), but it's clear they know the park needs help.

 

[Andrew25]

USF is lackluster as it stands right now, but I think just replacing RRR, Jimmy Fallon, and F&F along with the existing plans (Dreamworks, new parade and night show, Pokemon replacing Simpsons) would go a long way to fixing the park.

The changes in recent years have been a mixed result (Bourne, Minions etc), but it's clear they know the park needs help.

Agree with most points, USF received lots of investment... but a lot fell flat compared to IOA's projects.

Bourne is a hit, not sure of your line of thinking there, and Fallon does surprisingly well with the general public (not merch-wise though).

The biggest difference between Universal and Disney is that Universal, even with Epic in construction, has massive plans for its current parks, and USF will receive the bulk of that. Disney tends to invest and leave the parks untouched for a while.