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

[Disstevefan1]

Was this posted here yet?

 

[BrianLo]

I wouldn't say that. Just nothing on this scale. it is more of they have to start now in order to complete the timeline and rightfully so, it gets the most attention. It begins with this full general hype reveal confirming the lands.

The Parade, night show and Dreamworks area of studios will be marketing soon. They also don't want to clash too much with all the announcements and reveals for HHN that will be here before you know it.

I guess that’s what I mean. Sometime in the Fall (after HHN launched in August) would have made slightly more marketing sense.

I think the holiday season could be pretty soft for them this year as it is, which is fine, it’s a transient issue.

 

[celluloid]

If you are going to check out EPIC Universe, and Universal gives you discounted second and third days at their other two parks and a very discounted day at Volcano Bay....

You better believe that many will keep their onsite stays at hotels on Universal property, even if they are the type to keep a day to go check out MK at full price.

Hotel stays are where the biggest ROI is at and why this property is opening with three of them in addition to the hotel expanding Universal has done the last decade.

 

[celluloid]

I guess that’s what I mean. Sometime in the Fall (after HHN launched in August) would have made slightly more marketing sense.

I think the holiday season could be pretty soft for them this year as it is, which is fine, it’s a transient issue.

People start booking such big Orlando Vacation plans from far away more than a year in advance. It made sense to start spreading it now.

 

[MrPromey]

It does need contextualization that Avatar was announced at the start of the partnership and nothing really had been done or known to Imagineering. It was an executive level partnership announcement. Anything announced for this D23 (for real, not blue sky fodder) should be at least 18-24 months further along and also less prone to strong partner oversight slowing it down… for better and worse!

The easier Uni analogy for Avatar is Super Nintendo World. Which frankly was announced 10 years in advance of Epic Universe and actually truly announced for Florida 9 years in advance. Not a criticism of either really, but WDW really could and should be constructing projects within 18 of today… if they want to of course. Projects that probably are going to align with Luigi’s mansion or the Zelda/Pokémon projects.

My point with that photo op is it was Disney's real response to Wizarding World after they realized their previously intended attempt at the potter-swatter wasn't going to cut it and then they didn't actually open anything until almost seven years later.

Too little, too late.*

The Universal-Nintendo comparison isn't accurate because it did not take them 10 years to open something as your post implies. They just didn't start with Orlando and they've always been clear about the major marketing moments promoting the current thing (Japan, Hollowood and now Orlando).

They did say it was coming to all three but it's not like they strung people along about the timeline on that and as everyone likes to say for Disney with the Epcot spine " but COVID happened! ", right?

Also, that Avatar photo op wasn't just about a partnership for the parks. It was literally depicting a ground breaking which of course, was a flat out lie because they put those shovels away and then continued to do Legend of the Lion King shows back there for years after clearing away the ferns and dirt they stuck there to snap that pic.

Modern Disney has a well documented record of selling the public on trips today with promises of what's to come years down the road, some day and I don't know how but the snake oil has worked.

I feel like if we're lucky, that'll be how they respond, here. At least it'll be a step in the right direction from today where they don't even do us the courtesy of lying about plans to build something new when they show us the pretty artwork.

Not saying all this to toot Universal's horn for them but really, to point out how little Disney has been actually trying.

Is there any point at which Disney's paying guests stop making excuses for them and start expecting better from them?

*as awesome as one of those attractions is and as great as the place-making it really just wasn't nearly enough. Even today's proposed changes to AK are about replacements - not actual needed expansion.

 

[surfsupdon]

I cannot wait to explore a new theme park. I know the crowds will be nuts but it looks so great!

 

[gerarar]

My son is 8 and 5-8 was fun for height requirements hitting bigger and bigger things and now he is tall enough for any coaster or ride height requirement out there. Have a blast! (side note, my dad used to he he bled blue and white, WE ARE)

April will be our first WDW trip with our son. He's absolutely obsessed with animals so AK will be the highlight. He's tall enough for most everything WDW has to offer, but there could be a fear factor of some things. A couple more years and Universal will be a trip on its own and I can't wait.

Penn State!

Just commenting to say that this was the last place I would've expected a We Are! chant..


Thank You!

...

You're Welcome!

 

[surfsupdon]

Also GREAT DAY for news….now announce the triumphant return of Running Universal!

 

[MrPromey]

....

But those who say that it's OK if it has two disjointed settings should also give a pass to other parks when they also have disjointed settings in one 'themed land.'

Adventureland should make the head spin of anyone paying attention if they're worried about things being disjointed and I'll never forgive them if they ever screw that land up!*


*unless we're talking about getting rid of Flying carpets. I'll call in sick for that protest.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I don’t think they care as much as we think they do. Pretty sure they knew what was coming and what EU was going to look like. Disney will probably announce something for WDW this year at the Expo just enough to satisfy those who think WDW needs something new because of EU.

Disney doesn't care. Period. Under Iger, they truly believe they are invincible in Orlando. If they cared, they would have things already under construction for opening in mid-2025 to early 2026 as a counter.

 

[MrPromey]

Strange none of the Moana JoW splash pad crew have started gloating about Astronimica splash pad.

To be fair, it would be a whole lot funner if that was the big thing to come out of five years of construction, here.

 

[MisterPenguin]

There was an order to it. But don't take my word for it, how about from the Imagineers? From 'The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom':

View attachment 765925

This is getting off topic, but that is PR tripe. It only works if you keep looking left as you walk down Frontierland and don't look inside past any of the facades as you ignore that a Mississippi Riverboat is constantly with you breaking any sort of geographical or chronological progression for anyone who knows history or geography. "Several different design motifs" is code for "an amalgam of loosely related stuff." Made worse by the addition of Splash.

But, we're getting off topic.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Looks good! It's not going to sway our Orlando vacation plans (Disney will always come first) but I'm excited to check out something actually new in town next year.

I feel similar, I think WDW will always be our primary reason for visiting Florida, however, it wasn’t many years ago we’d spend all 6 park days of our FL trip at WDW (2 days each at MK and EP), our last trip we spent 4 days at WDW and 2 at Uni, I expect our next trip will be 4/2 again with USF/IOA sharing a day and Epic getting its own day… but HS is at serious risk of being dropped which would make it 3 days at WDW and either 3 at Uni, or 2 at Uni and 1 at Seaworld.

I can’t imagine a FL trip where we don’t spend a day at MK, EP, and AK but the “screen“ park that we used to have no interest in has now cut into our vacation more than I ever dreamed it could, and Seaworld is now on our radar.

 

[Alanzo]

Seems like 90% IP and most of it IP I could give or take. The Mario Movie was such a heartless fan service-y cash grab that finally made Mario shirts as common as Marvel shirts that the appeal of Nintendoland sank in my own esteem.

But I'll definitely go one day!

 

[MrPromey]

...

We get three major dark rides(I see this as someone who is not a fan of the Mario Kart Ride) three major coasters and a list of supporting attractions and shows of various scale. I think it is a solid start to a brand new park, that more specifically, expands the resort. I think that is what makes it a Disney slayer in a business sense in terms of what is offered. Even in the announcement, I found it interesting that it was in script to say that this makes Universal Orlando a week long oriented destination.

To me, that part in bold was my major takeaway, too.

There's been debate here back and forth if this gate would make Universal a full tourist destination in and of itself and this line jumped right out at me - Universal is making it crystal clear that's how they see themselves with this expansion.

I don't think they've ever really pretended to be anything more than an add-on or part of a combination of experiences in the Central Florida area before now but I don't believe that line was a mistake - they plan to present themselves as not just an add-on but clearly as an alternative option to Disney in the years to come.

While I don't see them dethroning Disney anytime in the foreseeable future, this could be enough to threaten Disney's current way of doing business in Florida.

... and that could really suck for TDO and all the other parts of the company relying on the wild profits delivered from the "experiences" division but it'd be great for fans of either/both resorts.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

To me, that part in bold was my major takeaway, too.

There's been debate here back and forth if this gate would make Universal a full tourist destination in and of itself and this line jumped right out at me - Universal is making it crystal clear that's how they see themselves with this expansion.

I don't think they've ever really pretended to be anything more than an add-on or part of a combination of experiences in the Central Florida area before now but I don't believe that line was a mistake - they plan to present themselves as not just an add-on but clearly as an alternative option to Disney in the years to come.

While I don't see them dethroning Disney anytime in the foreseeable future, this could be enough to threaten Disney's current way of doing business in Florida.

... and that could really suck for TDO and all the other parts of the company relying on the wild profits delivered from the "experiences" division but it'd be a great for fans of either/both resorts.

I can see this working for them longterm and tend to believe the market is able to grow to support a significant amount of people staying and spending most of their time at Universal and another group doing the same at WDW.

The one thing that I think both Disney and Universal have lost sight of is that WDW initially built its appeal on having a variety of options. That was kind of the genius of WDW: each park was different enough that you felt like you were missing out on a unique experience if you didn't go to one of them.

I'm less convinced by the model of multiple more or less interchangeable theme parks as a basis for a week-long vacation destination. Disney is lucky because before they moved in that direction the company built parks like Epcot and DAK that worked their way into the popular imagination in their own right, even if they're increasingly converging in practice under the IP mandate. They also used to build themed resorts that were a destination in their own right. For Universal, I just wonder how much the pitch of Epic Universe in addition to Islands of Adventure is going to change how people see Universal as a more complete resort experience rather than just understanding it as new things to see.

 

[celluloid]

Just commenting to say that this was the last place I would've expected a We Are! chant..


Thank You!

...

You're Welcome!

Not to derail it but I had to start one after seeing the user's pride. My dad and I went to central FL theme parks together from my birth to young adulthood, and he passed away. He was from PA originally and always wore his hat and struck up conversations when appropriate. I love that you see so much when I see it in the theme parks becuase it keeps me feeling like he is around, he left me that one.

 

[gerarar]

Not to derail it but I had to start one after seeing the user's pride. My dad and I went to central FL theme parks together from my birth to young adulthood, and he passed away. He was from PA originally and always wore his hat and struck up conversations when appropriate. I love that you see so much when I see it in the theme parks becuase it keeps me feeling like he is around, he left me that one.

That's a lovely memory.

On my recent trip last October, it was raining one of the days when I was at MK. I of course wore my PSU poncho. I must've gotten like four We Are chants during the 2 hour rain storm. Caught me off guard at first but it ended up being a memorable exchange everytime since people around us were in shock or had no clue what was going on lol

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

I'm less convinced by the model of multiple more or less interchangeable theme parks as a basis for a week-long vacation destination. Disney is lucky because before they moved in that direction the company built parks like Epcot and DAK that worked their way into the popular imagination in their own right, even if they're increasingly converging in practice under the IP mandate. They also used to build themed resorts that were a destination in their own right.

For Universal, I just wonder how much the pitch of Epic Universe in addition to Islands of Adventure is going to change how people see Universal as a more complete resort experience rather than just understanding it as new things to see.

Very interesting .. as for Disney I prefer the use to approach, I really think the creation of new theme park's building like that ended due to the economical downfall of Euro Disney upon opening... hence parks like Westcot, Disney America's, DisneySea(US) version etc Disney's Grand Californian may be the last most thematic deluxe resort in that Disney style of the 90s!

 

[Disneyfan_76]

I think the How to Train Your Dragon and the Dark Universe lands will be a bit under the radar now, but will end up being incredible lands. I love the constant layering, and variety of rides in both lands. I think the IP is not a problem for both. It's more what they are going to do with it. Think of it more like Vikings and Dragon land and Halloween land.
As far as Universal Hotels go, we stayed for a week at the Portofino last trip and a week at the Poly. The Portofino put the Disney hotel to shame. Not only was it almost half the price, but the quality, theming, staff, basically everything were so much better than Disney. Plus, the Portofino room came with 'free' express pass tickets for the park. Our next trip I am planning on only staying at Universal or other non-Disney property, even if we end up going over to Disney for a day or so.
This new park looks great. My kids are already bugging me to go after seeing the new commercial.