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

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

Nah, it'd totally have been the redeveloped Epcot - right where that new statue is.

The funny thing is, I kind of get that New York worlds fair of what it may have looked like today.

 

[MrPromey]

Trust one thing - Shovels moving dirt.

Yeah but are we talking about this:

or the real work?

 

[ToTBellHop]

To be frank... no one cares. We just spent the past few years on this forum discussing ad nauseam how WDW poorly locked itself into a very specific timeline for SWGE.

Not saying it's not odd that it'll be a Paris land with a UK ride... but who cares? As long as the quality is great, I can care less about continuity.

Harry Potter fans will care. And the WWoHP largely saved Universal Orlando because its ravenous fanbase were satisfied.

What was the best selling video game in the USA in 2023 and why?

 

[MrPromey]

Yeah but are we talking about this:

or the real work?

... Just sayin' Disney's announcement on this was in 2011 and they started construction in, what was it? 2014?

 

[JAN J]

Good luck explaining that. There’s a lot of magic in the Wizarding World, but not that kind of time travel.

There's the time-turner (which gives you 5 hours). And then a better version was created that gave them unlimited time. As long as it looks well done and is entertaining our minds will fil in the gaps

 

[danlb_2000]

Who else will be there day 1?

I'm already in line.

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

There's the time-turner (which gives you 5 hours). And then a better version was created that gave them unlimited time. As long as it looks well done and is entertaining our minds will fil in the gaps

I noticed a time turner built into the portal to the HP land, above the arch. It'll definitely be incorporated somehow.

I believe time turners can only go back in time, so perhaps the idea is that entering the portal takes us back to the 1920s, and there will be another one at the exit to the Ministry ride? It would be cool if this one spins; it would add some kinetic energy during the day.

 

[celluloid]

Maybe it's the Disney fan, but it feels like Universal is trying to underpromise and overdeliver here - which is the opposite of our friends down the road. Not to say Universal hasn't done the same on other projects. But, the messaging here felt like it came from a theme park operator. It wasn't "cutting edge", "never seen before", etc. Beyond a few buzzwords, the announcement felt like genuine excitement from people who are fans of the parks. I can't say I've felt that about Disney projects where it feels more like corporate artists pitching something for the masses vs. something they actually enjoy themselves. That's part of why I think this feels so great (albeit, maybe more "refreshing" than "unexpected" - to your point).

Yes, even though polished there is a lot of genuine nature there. Notice that when Mark Woodbury got to the juice of the lands, they shared it with other big wigs and heads of the design process. It had some of the team sharing the reveal.

It was not just a parks president delivering the buzzword and information without much substance.

Mark Woodbury has so much creative background with the resort of course, and he is the kind of guy you want in charge. It is a good situation compared to those who come up with upcharge events.

 

[ToTBellHop]

There's the time-turner (which gives you 5 hours). And then a better version was created that gave them unlimited time. As long as it looks well done and is entertaining our minds will fil in the gaps

An issue this land will have is that they didn’t pick an iconic HP setting like the first two lands. You will randomly be in Paris which no one connects with the Wizarding World, exploring shops no one has always dreamed of visiting. So the land has none of what made the first two lands runaway successes. They seem to have realized this by having the MoM ride, since the Ministry is an iconic setting. My fear is that we will end up with a random land leading to the ride that should’ve been added to USF.

It will be unfortunate if we end up with three WWoHP lands where each is weaker than the previous one.

Grindelwald should really be the land’s antagonist. There’s no precedent for jumping forward 70 years with a Time Turner.

 

[MisterPenguin]

One question: Will I be able to bring in my peanut butter and jelly sandwich into the park?

 

[celluloid]

An issue this land will have is that they didn’t pick an iconic HP setting like the first two lands. You will randomly be in Paris which no one connects with the Wizarding World, exploring shops no one has always dreamed of visiting. So the land has none of what made the first two lands runaway successes. They seem to have realized this by having the MoM ride, since the Ministry is an iconic setting. My fear is that we will end up with a random land leading to the ride that should’ve been added to USF.

It will be unfortunate if we end up with three WWoHP lands where each is weaker than the previous one.

Grindelwald should really be the land’s antagonist.

I see it as a strength. Paris allows for different food and atmosphere. We have two lands of UK based foods and atmosphere. Paris will provide its own charm. By now the parks have proven to fans they can make immersive lands that don't always exactly mimic the locations(hogsmeade opened with this concept that allowed for amalgamation)

 

[ToTBellHop]

One question: Will I be able to bring in my peanut butter and jelly sandwich into the park?

No. Also, no penguins.

 

[HauntedPirate]

One question: Will I be able to bring in my peanut butter and jelly sandwich into the park?

Only if you’re a Universal AP holder.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Not much here we didn't already know.

Celestial Park sounds very Epcot.

Indeed. The New EPCOT Hub has become a park in the traditional sense of a park. It seems like Celestial Park will be of a similar vein.

Maybe this will be an impetus to bring back plans for an EPCOT Entrance Hotel!

 

[ToTBellHop]

I see it as a strength. Paris allows for different food and atmosphere. We have two lands of UK based foods and atmosphere. Paris will provide its own charm. By now the parks have proven to fans they can make immersive lands that don't always exactly mimic the locations(hogsmeade opened with this concept that allowed for amalgamation)

I thought the purpose of an IP land was to allow guests to enter a land they’ve always dreamed of visiting. I am confident no one has dreamed of visiting the Paris magical community. Beauxbatons would be better if we insist on selling something Universal claims is croqué monsieur.

They are literally calling it WWoHP: Ministry of Magic. They admit no one wants to visit magical Paris.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I know they prefer to bury their heads in the sand but Disney HAVE to come out guns blazing at D23 this year.

Villians land beyond thunder mountain and South America expansion of AK has to be fully confirmed with detail to break ground in 2025.

On the latest Disney Dish, @lentesta seemed to imply that DAK may have moved to the back burner in favor of a DHS and/or EPCOT addition. It's puzzling, because all four parks realistically need many things.

 

[MisterPenguin]

No. Also, no penguins.

Just you wait until they use a pad for a Pokemon World!!!

 

[RSoxNo1]

Yeah but are we talking about this:

or the real work?

Hey, they photoshopped Bruce Vaughn and Tom Staggs back in!

 

[ToTBellHop]

On the latest Disney Dish, @lentesta seemed to imply that DAK may have moved to the back burner in favor of a DHS and/or EPCOT addition. It's puzzling, because all four parks realistically need many things.

WDI must need time to determine how to turn Dinosaur into a Wish ride. Haven’t you always wanted to meet the animals of the city of Rosas?

 

[RSoxNo1]

I noticed a time turner built into the portal to the HP land, above the arch. It'll definitely be incorporated somehow.
View attachment 765910
I believe time turners can only go back in time, so perhaps the idea is that entering the portal takes us back to the 1920s, and there will be another one at the exit to the Ministry ride? It would be cool if this one spins; it would add some kinetic energy during the day.

Yeah, there are easily in universe tropes that wouldn't be too big of a leap to combine the two timelines.