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

[Earlie the Pearlie]

The quality of the attractions and lands will be amazing... the one thing I question and the final "step" is in-park operations. Universal isn't the best, still stuck in the regional park mindset, hoping this year and next they can improve.

Universal Creative has matched Imagineering, every other department... not so much.

Tough, but fair. I will say that I have had some excellent interactions with team members on the level of Disney, but Disney is still more generally consistent.

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

There’s only one E ticket isn’t there? They mentioned three experiences- carousel (“like you’ve never seen before” - ie: themed to constellations), splash pad and a coaster.

But fair enough. I guess it’s just they hyped it so much - an entrance “like no other theme park”. Epcot has Spaceship Earth - I think that’s more stunning personally.

International Gateway is an entrance too like no other...enter the world passport!

 

[tomast]

The quality of the attractions and lands will be amazing... the one thing I question and the final "step" is in-park operations. Universal isn't the best, still stuck in the regional park mindset, hoping this year and next they can improve.

Universal Creative has matched Imagineering, every other department... not so much.

The Mario Kart ride seems too slow, similar to Ratatouille, a big miss for such a good IP.

I am afraid universal is really good right now at theeming lands and building themed coasters (Velocicoaster, Hagrid, even the old ones like Mummy, rockit, and Hulk) but it is lacking the ability to build a good non coaster ride.
For what I see from EPIC we have a cool DK coaster, a Warewolf coaster, a Dueling shooting star coaster and maybe a How to train your dragon coaster? All of those sound cool but what about the other rides?? Will them be Fast and Furious, Jimmy falon???


And please Universal update that ugly Animatronic of a Unicorn in Hagrid's Coaster..

 

[celluloid]

The Mario Kart ride seems too show, similar to Ratatouille, a big miss for such a good IP.

I am afraid universal is really good right now at theeming lands and building themed coasters (Velocicoaster, Hagrid, even the old ones like Mummy, rockit, and Hulk) but it is lacking the ability to build a good non coaster ride.
For what I see from EPIC we have a cool DK coaster, a Warewolf coaster, a Dueling shooting star coaster and maybe a How to train your dragon coaster? All of those sound cool but what about the other rides?? Will them be Fast and Furious, Jimmy falon???


And please Universal update that ugly Animatronic of a Unicorn in Hagrid's Coaster..

Monsters main attraction and Potter's should be ones that please you with a few other surprises.

 

[tomast]

Aside from that, kind of wished they would have built an area themed to Shrek's Far Far Away instead of an area based on a spin-off of a beloved movie franchise like Fantastic Beasts where the third movie flopped like crazy, yeah, I know Shrek isn't the biggest animated franchise anymore(especially with Shrek the Third(and to some, Shrek Forever After) being a cinematic afterthought to moviegoers) and the Dragons series was the more constant of the DreamWorks bunch, but that franchise suddenly had a resurgence lately thanks to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish being a hit with pretty much everyone.

At Universal Singapur they got Far far away

 

[WDWFREAK53]

The Mario Kart ride seems too slow, similar to Ratatouille, a big miss for such a good IP.

I am afraid universal is really good right now at theeming lands and building themed coasters (Velocicoaster, Hagrid, even the old ones like Mummy, rockit, and Hulk) but it is lacking the ability to build a good non coaster ride.
For what I see from EPIC we have a cool DK coaster, a Warewolf coaster, a Dueling shooting star coaster and maybe a How to train your dragon coaster? All of those sound cool but what about the other rides?? Will them be Fast and Furious, Jimmy falon???


And please Universal update that ugly Animatronic of a Unicorn in Hagrid's Coaster..

Are you saying that Spider-Man isn't a good ride?

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

At Universal Singapur they got Far far away
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And inside is Shrek 4D. Which is an… interesting choice

 

[wdwfan4ver]

Who else will be there day 1?

Not me. I am planning to be at Epic Universe next year, but it will be sometime after the grand opening.

 

[jamos140]

I know that nobody knows anything about an actual opening date. I have travel credits expiring July 2025. Are you guys anticipating an early 2025 opening or something like late Spring?

 

[donsullivan]

I know that nobody knows anything about an actual opening date. I have travel credits expiring July 2025. Are you guys anticipating an early 2025 opening or something like late Spring?

While Universal may have a target, they will not know the date until they see that construction is on track to complete and they feel confident the attractions will be fully ready for operation. They’ve got some pretty bad battle scars from announcing opening dates too early and the attraction not being ready on opening. You will not likely see them talk about an opening date until at least summer- likely later.

 

[jamos140]

While Universal may have a target, they will not know the date until they see that construction is on track to complete and they feel confident the attractions will be fully ready for operation. They’ve got some pretty bad battle scars from announcing opening dates too early and the attraction not being ready on opening. You will not likely see them talk about an opening date until at least summer- likely later.

Makes sense. I'm just anxious that they the park will open right before our credits expire and it will be a zoo and impossible to enjoy a visit due to crowds.

Hopeful that there is a few months of things being open to calm down a little. Clearly it will still be very busy because it's the 1st year and summer.

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

My big question is actually who reallly came up with the "park" back to theme park which announcement and concept art came first Epcot, DisneySea or Epic and also what is by the resort hotel within inside of the park one of it's first kind...says Epic.

I think perhaps they want to throw it out there that while the US domestic Disney have not what Tokyo is getting, the draw will be the US audience will have it with Universal. The Fantasy Spring's park back to a park looks will be more epic than definitely what Epcot turned out having!

Others are responding that Paris, Tokyo DisneySea, and DCA have already introduced the hotel within inside the park reality... so unless Helios features a detail that will be completely unique the statement looks like to me first of it's kind for Florida and that I think is a statement of itself toward by Walt Disney World the one you'd think has it all..

 

[TalkToEthan]

Others are responding that Paris, Tokyo DisneySea, and DCA have already introduced the hotel within inside the park

I don’t fully associate Paris Dl Hotel as being literally inside the park. When I walked in the park the hotel looked to rest on the perimeter /border.

Mira Costa I can verify first hand that it has a substantial amount of hotel space inside Disney Sea.

Whoever said Grand Californian is inside DCA is mistaken——it is not inside. Super close, yes, but not in the park.(((unless some boundaries have changed since 2014 when I stayed there)))

 

[Andrew25]

Epic will have 3 major dark rides

• Mario Kart
• Monsters
• Ministry (their "answer" to Rise)

Epic will have 4 coasters with various intensity levels:

• Starfall - the "extreme" coaster
• Donkey Kong - family-thrill, akin to something like a mix of Hagrid/Space Mountain
• Werewolf - family, a "beefed up" version of Hippogriff
• HTTYD Coaster - family, basically Slinky Dog... but with actual rock work lol

2 stage shows, a nighttime spectacular, and probably street entertainment since Universal still believes in that somewhat.

That isn't taking into account all the flats and interactive experiences the park will have. Don't get me wrong, I would love if Epic had 1 more "classic" relaxing dark ride, but let's not pretend this park is skimping out on attractions.

 

[TalkingHead]

Epic will have 3 major dark rides

• Mario Kart
• Monsters
• Ministry (their "answer" to Rise)

Epic will have 4 coasters with various intensity levels:

• Starfall - the "extreme" coaster
• Donkey Kong - family-thrill, akin to something like a mix of Hagrid/Space Mountain
• Werewolf - family, a "beefed up" version of Hippogriff
• HTTYD Coaster - family, basically Slinky Dog... but with actual rock work lol

2 stage shows, a nighttime spectacular, and probably street entertainment since Universal still believes in that somewhat.

That isn't taking into account all the flats and interactive experiences the park will have. Don't get me wrong, I would love if Epic had 1 more "classic" relaxing dark ride, but let's not pretend this park is skimping out on attractions.

Looks more and more like this is a reboot of IOA. Hope the two new rides are jawdroppers because otherwise it’s a bit of a conservative lineup.

 

[danlb_2000]

Looks more and more like this is a reboot of IOA. Hope the two new rides are jawdroppers because otherwise it’s a bit of a conservative lineup.

Here is the full list of rides, not bad opening day lineup.

Land	Name	Type
How to Train Your Dragon	Coaster	Coaster
Super Nintendo	Donkey Kong	Coaster
Universal Monsters	Family Coaster	Coaster
Hub	Starfall Racers	Coaster
Super Nintendo	Yoshi	Dark Ride
Super Nintendo	Mario Cart	Dark Ride
Universal Monsters	Kuka Arm ride	Dark Ride
Harry Potter	Dark Ride	Dark Ride
How to Train Your Dragon	Sky Fly	Flat Ride
Hub	Constellation Carousel	Flat Ride
How to Train Your Dragon	Interactive Boat Ride	Water Ride

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

I don’t fully associate Paris Dl Hotel as being literally inside the park. When I walked in the park the hotel looked to rest on the perimeter /border.

Mira Costa I can verify first hand that it has a substantial amount of hotel space inside Disney Sea.

Whoever said Grand Californian is inside DCA is mistaken——it is not inside. Super close, yes, but not in the park.(((unless some boundaries have changed since 2014 when I stayed there)))

I agree, suppose they mean first of it's kind from Universal since everything Tokyo DisneySea is from another division Oriental Company and not to do with Universal.

For Universal even if Epic Universe comes close to DisneySea there's no question it's the first of it's kind by Universal in The US, and truly the first in Florida! First in Florida is a Game Changer...no comparison to WDW

 

[TalkToEthan]

Hope the two new rides are jawdroppers because otherwise it’s a bit of a conservative lineup.

If Epic runs the risk of opening with a “conservative lineup” how would you have described Animal Kingdom’s abysmal 2 pump ride offering(Countdown to Extinction and Safari) and MGM’s embarrassing 3 ride offering(Star Tours, Movie Ride and Catastrophe Canyon)?

 

[donsullivan]

Some people have no concept of how colossally expensive it is to build something of this scale in today’s world. At some point, you have to put a cap on the ideas, make sure you have a good balance, set a budget, and get the thing built and opened. You can then learn from guest and operations feedback and maybe pull some of the ideas you put in the drawers earlier out, adjust them, and maybe move them forward. But you have to get to the point where it’s generating revenue first.

And hope you don’t have a pandemic and massive global supply chain issues messing with your schedule and budget along the way

 

[TalkingHead]

If Epic runs the risk of opening with a “conservative lineup” how would you have described Animal Kingdom’s abysmal 2 pump ride offering(Countdown to Extinction and Safari) and MGM’s embarrassing 3 ride offering(Star Tours, Movie Ride and Catastrophe Canyon)?

Nobody is disputing those parks opened with lame and undercooked lineups. But that doesn’t mean adding a handful of half-themed 60s-90s coasters would’ve fixed those parks.