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

[Andrew25]

Hours lately are outrageous. I presume they will need to cut hours and entertainment further just to open Epic at a satisfactory level.

Has been a thing for years. Back before Covid in 2018-2019, they finally started to realize they could justify longer hours... since then it's flipped back to their old ways.

IOA (if you believe TEA attendance numbers) is the 2nd most popular in Orlando... but somehow closes at 7PM most nights next month. I know Orlando is experiencing a decline in attendance, but if WDW can justify 9PM+ closures for 3 parks, Universal can too.

 

[SpectreJordan]

I've been very adamant/vocal against Universal over the past few months now (you can see some of my brutal comments on Twitter and the InsideUniversal forums), so Universal is on my bad side at the moment. But complaining about a hotel (that is visually breathtaking from the concept art) is a separate issue from entertainment. Universal Creative has matched (or surpassed) the design and quality of Imagineering... yet Universal still operates the parks like a damn regional Six Flags. It's embarrassing as they claim to be a world-class resort and dampens the experience that Universal Creative designed.

But you are right to an extent, Universal gets away with a lot of things that Disney would be crucified over. Universal closes their parks in favor of corporate buyouts regularly at 6-7PM (or just cause they feel like closing early) even though their parks have matched WDW's attendance levels.

I think the craziest thing about how early they close is that I feel their audience is the "late night" crowd anyway. They'd make a killing if at least one of the parks was open to midnight regularly.

 

[Andrew25]

I think the craziest thing about how early they close is that I feel their audience is the "late night" crowd anyway. They'd make a killing if at least one of the parks was open to midnight regularly.

Universal "loves" their APs... and yet they can't visit after work cause it closes at 7PM. All I hear are excuses about how UOR is located in a suburb... even though so is Disneyland.

I'm fortunate to be able to visit the parks after work for a nice walk and dinner, but I only do that at WDW, just don't have the time to get to UOR (let alone the food is atrocious, but that's a separate discussion lol)

 

[sedati]

But complaining about a hotel (that is visually breathtaking from the concept art)

Space Casino?

 

[SpectreJordan]

Universal "loves" their APs... and yet they can't visit after work cause it closes at 7PM. All I hear are excuses about how UOR is located in a suburb... even though so is Disneyland.

I'm fortunate to be able to visit the parks after work for a nice walk and dinner, but I only do that at WDW, just don't have the time to get to UOR (let alone the food is atrocious, but that's a separate discussion lol)

I live about 5 minutes from Uni. As long as they're not shooting off tons of fireworks off every night (which I don't think they do anyway), then no one would care. That area is kinda chaotic at all times of day anyway.

 

[MisterPenguin]

IOA (if you believe TEA attendance numbers) is the 2nd most popular in Orlando... but somehow closes at 7PM most nights next month. I know Orlando is experiencing a decline in attendance, but if WDW can justify 9PM+ closures for 3 parks, Universal can too.

Maybe if UO charged as much as WDW, they could.

Or maybe people at WDW tend to spend more for merch and food than UO guests?

There are pros and cons, IMO, to Universal Creative's works; just like, IMO, there are pros and cons to WDI's works.

However, WDW far surpasses UO in operations and service, in my experience. Yes, there are bright spots in UO... but not nearly enough.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Closing the parks early has many people consider staying and having dinner in CityWalk. I think you could argue that if they kept one park open later, you'd get more people going mid-day, after work, still get the dinner crowd leaving one park, and then get a second wave when the later park closes.

The only possible drawback to that would be people cutting back on an additional park day figuring they could get both parks and their heavy-hitter attractions done in one day.

 

[Mike S]

Can’t speak for anyone else but for me it’s very simple.

My love for modern Universal is no where close to the love I have for what was Walt Disney World. That’s why I’m personally harsher on Disney. I know from experience what they can be. The only thing close to that I have for Universal is that I miss Jaws and would rather have Earthquake or Disaster back over F&F. Universal on its own will never give me the feeling Disney used to. The closest they’ll get is when I’m able to see the worlds of Nintendo brought to life and that’s because it’s Nintendo, not Universal.

To put it simply Universal is a collection of popular brands mostly built very well and faithfully. Walt Disney World used to feel like, well, its own world. And it wasn’t just because “Disney” was plastered everywhere. Modern Disney feels more like they’re trying to copy Universal’s model and approach rather than stick to the one that made them huge in the first place.

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

Can’t speak for anyone else but for me it’s very simple.

My love for modern Universal is no where close to the love I have for what was Walt Disney World. That’s why I’m personally harsher on Disney. I know from experience what they can be. The only thing close to that I have for Universal is that I miss Jaws and would rather have Earthquake or Disaster back over F&F. Universal on its own will never give me the feeling Disney used to. The closest they’ll get is when I’m able to see the worlds of Nintendo brought to life and that’s because it’s Nintendo, not Universal.

To put it simply Universal is a collection of popular brands mostly built very well and faithfully. Walt Disney World used to feel like, well, its own world. And it wasn’t just because “Disney” was plastered everywhere. Modern Disney feels more like they’re trying to copy Universal’s model and approach rather than stick to the one that made them huge in the first place.

This.

 

[Andrew25]

Maybe if UO charged as much as WDW, they could.

Or maybe people at WDW tend to spend more for merch and food than UO guests?

Have you seen their prices lately? Outside of table service, both resorts are pretty much on par.

Have you seen the lines and prices for Butterbeer? $8.99 and people still line up in droves.

Will never forget when a father purchased each of their 4 kids a wand for a total of $300+.

 

[JT3000]

Yes, a design decision I find deplorable, but am clearly in the minority so I’ll leave it at that and just be utterly baffled from the sidelines.

Deplorable? That's awfully strong wording to describe a hotel in a theme park, one you haven't even seen yet. I don't like that the hotel is taking up valuable park space, but we're getting into performative outrage territory here.

I've been very adamant/vocal against Universal over the past few months now (you can see some of my brutal comments on Twitter and the InsideUniversal forums), so Universal is on my bad side at the moment. But complaining about a hotel (that is visually breathtaking from the concept art) is a separate issue from entertainment. Universal Creative has matched (or surpassed) the design and quality of Imagineering... yet Universal still operates the parks like a damn regional Six Flags. It's embarrassing as they claim to be a world-class resort and dampens the experience that Universal Creative designed.

But you are right to an extent, Universal gets away with a lot of things that Disney would be crucified over. Universal closes their parks in favor of corporate buyouts regularly at 6-7PM (or just cause they feel like closing early) even though their parks have matched WDW's attendance levels.

Someone's clearly never been to a Six Flags... or even SeaWorld recently. Otherwise you'd realize just how hyperbolic this comparison is.

Universal has always closed relatively early. Why are we acting like this is breaking news? Or that it's indicative of overall poor operations?

Universal "loves" their APs... and yet they can't visit after work cause it closes at 7PM. All I hear are excuses about how UOR is located in a suburb... even though so is Disneyland.

I'm fortunate to be able to visit the parks after work for a nice walk and dinner, but I only do that at WDW, just don't have the time to get to UOR (let alone the food is atrocious, but that's a separate discussion lol)

Disneyland is located in a suburb in an entirely different state, with does things differently and has different demands than Universal's neighbors.

CityWalk's food is atrocious? Really?

Have you seen their prices lately? Outside of table service, both resorts are pretty much on par.

Have you seen the lines and prices for Butterbeer? $8.99 and people still line up in droves.

Will never forget when a father purchased each of their 4 kids a wand for a total of $300+.

Try buying 4 kids their own lightsabers. The wands will look like a bargain.

 

[UNCgolf]

CityWalk's food is atrocious? Really?

CityWalk does have some pretty good food but most of the food in the actual parks is bordering on inedible.

Luckily CityWalk is right outside the entrance of both parks.

 

[JT3000]

CityWalk does have some pretty good food but most of the food in the actual parks is bordering on inedible.

Luckily CityWalk is right outside the entrance of both parks.

I don't eat in the parks anymore. Unlesss you're willing to spend an arm & a leg, you're getting typical "park food," regardless of which park you go to, which will be both substandard and still overpriced. At least there's a convenient alternative at Universal.

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

I don't eat in the parks anymore. Unlesss you're willing to spend an arm & a leg, you're getting typical "park food," regardless of which park you go to, which will be both substandard and still overpriced. At least there's a convenient alternative at Universal.

Last time I was at Universal, I ate one meal inside the parks, because the Harry Potter food is actually pretty good. The rest? At CityWalk. Vivo in particular is good

 

[build_it]

The discussion on the location of the in park hotel is fascinating to me. IMHO they are using the hotel as a backdrop to Centennial Park. I view that the water and fountains are what are going to draw your eye and draw you in, completed by the carrousel and starfall racers. It’s not a castle park and it’s not a Disney park. I think Universal has purposefully made these decisions so their parks aren’t viewed as copies of Disney parks. The Disney park design is a big weenie toward the middle of the park with the spoke radiating from there. That’s not how any of Universals parks feel. If I think of their parks it’s the Universal arch, and specific lands or attractions, it’s not a castle, a tree, a movie theater, or a golf ball.
It’s hard to do something different and it’s not going to please everyone.

 

[UNCgolf]

I don't eat in the parks anymore. Unlesss you're willing to spend an arm & a leg, you're getting typical "park food," regardless of which park you go to, which will be both substandard and still overpriced. At least there's a convenient alternative at Universal.

My point was that the average in-park Disney meal is light years better than what's offered at Universal, and that's not because the average Disney food is anything exceptionally good. It's that what Universal offers is unbelievably bad -- the food in the Simpsons area, e.g., was truly one of the worst things I've ever tried to eat in my life. The in-park stuff at Disney is at least edible and relatively acceptable for the most part; there's some really bad food in-park food at WDW too but it's not as widespread as at Universal.

That said, I personally don't eat much in the parks at Disney either since Disney Springs generally has much better food.

 

[sedati]

Deplorable? That's awfully strong wording to describe a hotel in a theme park, one you haven't even seen yet. I don't like that the hotel is taking up valuable park space, but we're getting into performative outrage territory here.

It’s not about having a hotel linked to a park. It’s not about the land it utilizes. It’s not about how well it is or isn’t designed. It’s about the audacity of its placement. It’s as shameless as putting a towering gift-shop or churro stand as your parks focal point. We call them “castle parks” for a reason. Paris and Tokyo’s remain castle parks despite their hotels. Epic Universe is a “hotel park”. The others skirted a line, Universal boldly crossed it and this park is foundationally and permanently marred by that decision no matter the quality of execution. IMHO

 

[Andrew25]

Someone's clearly never been to a Six Flags... or even SeaWorld recently. Otherwise you'd realize just how hyperbolic this comparison is.

Universal has always closed relatively early. Why are we acting like this is breaking news? Or that it's indicative of overall poor operations?


Disneyland is located in a suburb in an entirely different state, with does things differently and has different demands than Universal's neighbors.

CityWalk's food is atrocious? Really?


Try buying 4 kids their own lightsabers. The wands will look like a bargain.

I'm not saying they're the worst, Six Flags and SeaWorld have them beat, but they are light years away from Disney's quality of service.

Universal has always closed early... when their attendance levels were less than half of what WDW acquired. Since then, IOA has become the 2nd most popular park in Orlando (according to TEA numbers, and I believe it as I visit each resort each week). How Universal continues to operate like in the Pre-Potter days will always be perplexing to me.

Never said CityWalk, but the quality of Antojitos and Cowfish, my usual favorites, has diminished my last few visits, unfortunately.

I see more people purchasing wands than lightsabers, I'm not trying to argue who is selling more. I just want to make the point that Universal isn't the bargain it once was. Prices have matched WDW now, and that's where expectations are for most people.

Also, WDW has far better food and service when it comes to quick service. Sure they both serve the typical tenders and burgers, but WDW has several great QSR options that are far better than anything at UOR. Satu'li, Connections, Docking Bay, Regal Eagle, Harbour House.

Minion Cafe is ok, and Cafe La Bamba seriously challenged WDW service/value when it opened last year, but the quality has dropped heavily over the past few months.

 

[maxairmike]

It’s not about having a hotel linked to a park. It’s not about the land it utilizes. It’s not about how well it is or isn’t designed. It’s about the audacity of its placement. It’s as shameless as putting a towering gift-shop or churro stand as your parks focal point. We call them “castle parks” for a reason. Paris and Tokyo’s remain castle parks despite their hotels. Epic Universe is a “hotel park”. The others skirted a line, Universal boldly crossed it and this park is foundationally and permanently marred by that decision no matter the quality of execution. IMHO

Epic was never meant to be a castle park, though? I don't really get this point. The point of the park is the lands around the outside of the spine, to an even greater extent than Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. That its largest structure is functionally a hotel doesn't mar anything. It's a pleasant space to transit between the actual focus of the park and gather for the nighttime spectacular. There's nothing familiar or (as far as we know) classically iconic and tied to a land that is actually meant to be the "focus" day and night that the hotel building is taking away from. In fact, I would argue that it will work very well as a boundary definition and backdrop to the central fountain during the day as well as at night, in fact far better than another land portal or low elevation landscaped berm, dining, or shop building would have. As long as the building fits with the design language of the rest of the spine buildings, it should be very well done.

 

[celluloid]

It’s not about having a hotel linked to a park. It’s not about the land it utilizes. It’s not about how well it is or isn’t designed. It’s about the audacity of its placement. It’s as shameless as putting a towering gift-shop or churro stand as your parks focal point. We call them “castle parks” for a reason. Paris and Tokyo’s remain castle parks despite their hotels. Epic Universe is a “hotel park”. The others skirted a line, Universal boldly crossed it and this park is foundationally and permanently marred by that decision no matter the quality of execution. IMHO

I think Disneyland Pretty much did that by far and it is well documented The hotel was used as a park enhancer this way..

Disney Sea in person has two hotels that essentially make up the facades and backdrops of two themed lands.

As long às the hotel adds to the park asthetic for day guests, it's great.