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

[Sir_Cliff]

I think this looks... pretty good? I like that this park seems to have a lot of lagoons, as I always feel like water elements aide a lot in parks feeling more organic. The kinetic movement everywhere is nice too. From the flythrough though I feel like there are a bit too many little huts/kiosks/stands that still make it look very definitively "standard theme park design".

That's very much my feeling.

What's most impressive about this (and all of Epic Universe) for me is the amount of attractions it will have on opening day. Disney seems to struggle to get more than two attractions into a major new land these days.

On the other hand, it does look like a lot of theming around souped-up amusement park rides like roller coasters more than an attempt to create a believable themed environment. Many of us have been sceptical of the "backstory" of Slinky Dog Dash as a justification for an exposed roller coaster in the middle of that land, but the explanation for this coaster seems pretty much on the same level. I will also say that looking at this and saying "eat your heart out, Galaxy's Edge" seems a little weird to me as there's not exactly a Rise of the Resistance among the attraction line-up; they all seem pretty standard attractions with HTTYD theming applied.

Still, it looks pretty good, has lots to do, and I'm sure will be fun for kids and fans of the movies.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Alright let's settle down now lol


Obviously subjective, but the general consensus is that DAK is a half-day park with a number of experiences available while Epic Universe provides more experiences.

More non-ride experiences than two musical stage shows, a 4D show, two major animal trails, and a handful of minor animal trails?

(And alas, I wish it had a evening show back.)

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

I will also say that looking at this and saying "eat your heart out, Galaxy's Edge" seems a little weird to me as there's not exactly a Rise of the Resistance among the attraction line-up; they all seem pretty standard attractions with HTTYD theming applied.

That’s out of context. I was talking about the lack of kinetic energy in that land vs this one. They are obviously two different lands with two different “vibes” (more non world-class rides vs less world-class rides), but isn’t it generally agreed upon that Galaxy’s Edge lacks kinetics?

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

I was not excited for the HTTYD land but this video did the trick. It looks beautiful. Cannot wait for this to open next year.

 

[HauntedPirate]

You know what’s missing from this announcement? “Immersive.” “Storytelling.” “Unique”. And a few other words that Disney overuses. It’s… refreshing.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

You know what’s missing from this announcement? “Immersive.” “Storytelling.” “Unique”. And a few other words that Disney overuses. It’s… refreshing.

Really? I feel the enthusiasm in this announcement (which I don't have any problem with) would be greeted with much mockery on here if it was from Disney announcing a new land based on one of their films.

 

[ToTBellHop]

You know what’s missing from this announcement? “Immersive.” “Storytelling.” “Unique”. And a few other words that Disney overuses. It’s… refreshing.

The word “immersive” occurs in the first 10 seconds of the trailer.

You didn’t include it but “adventure” is at 2:30. Can’t leave out that overused buzzword.

“Immersive” again around 5:10 in case you forgot.

Experience you’ll never forget? Check.
Larger than life? Of course.

It’s filled with the same marketing fluff as Disney uses. At least the actual land looks fantastic.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Yeah I was gonna say, the video was packed to the brim with standard theme park announcement lingo and buzzwords. It's exactly what Disney would have released to a T. Or what you'll get in presentations at IAAPA. I know why they do it this way of course, but after seeing enough of these over the years it just becomes white noise to me.

 

[JT3000]

In the last decade they have opened:
New Fantasyland (technically 2013 but Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was 2014)
Pandora
Toy Story Land
Galaxy's Edge
Runaway Railway
Ratatouille
Cosmic Rewind
Tron
(honorable mention) Moana

But you're right they've done "nothing" since they're not currently doing anything, even though they'll still be one theme park, one water park, and a ton of resort hotels ahead when all is said and done.

So Disney should just stand pat and not do anything until Universal builds a fourth park, another water park, and a ton of hotels? Otherwise I don't see the relevance of any of this.

 

[Tom Morrow]

So Disney should just stand pat and not do anything until Universal builds a fourth park, another water park, and a ton of hotels? Otherwise I don't see the relevance of any of this.

So they should build a 5th park right now because Universal might build a 4th park in another decade?

The point is I'm trying to dispel the myth I keep hearing from every theme park nerd everywhere that Disney is playing "catch up" to Universal and has since Potter. They don't technically need to do anything! They're still number one and they're still going to be ahead in both attendance and number of parks when Epic opens. They don't need to do anything at all and they have been "doing stuff" for the last several years.

 

[JT3000]

So they should build a 5th park right now because Universal might build a 4th park in another decade?

The point is I'm trying to dispel the myth I keep hearing from every theme park nerd everywhere that Disney is playing "catch up" to Universal and has since Potter. They don't technically need to do anything! They're still number one and they're still going to be ahead in both attendance and number of parks when Epic opens. They don't need to do anything at all and they have been "doing stuff" for the last several years.

I didn't say they should build a 5th park, but they certainly need to be building out the ones they already have. Disney will still have an entire park more than Universal, but what do you think would happen if we actually counted the number of attractions at each resort? I suspect that would paint a less rosy picture. Just because Disney is "ahead" in the amount of stuff they have, however you choose to gauge that, it doesn't mean they can be complacent (especially with the recent, relatively widespread backlash against them as a company, but I won't get into all that.) So yes, they technically need to do continue doing things.

 

[BrianLo]

DAK is my favorite park, but calling it a full day park at the same level of MK/Epcot is a bit of a stretch.

I wouldn’t define Epcot and MK as one day parks though. They are both multi-day.

But DAK needs to become a multi-day park so that people who cut out certain attraction types out still find enough to do to consider it at least a ‘full day’ park.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I wouldn’t define Epcot and MK as one day parks though. They are both multi-day.

But DAK needs to become a multi-day park so that people who cut out certain attraction types out still find enough to do to consider it at least a ‘full day’ park.

DAK right now also suffers from what others have criticized Epic for, a disproportionate number of attractions being thrill rides with a height requirement.

Assuming Encanto is not that, it will help, but retheming Dinosaur won't.

 

[BrianLo]

DAK right now also suffers from what others have criticized Epic for, a disproportionate number of attractions being thrill rides with a height requirement.

Assuming Encanto is not that, it will help, but retheming Dinosaur won't.

Fingers crossed for a third thing - and a night show.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I didn't say they should build a 5th park, but they certainly need to be building out the ones they already have. Disney will still have an entire park more than Universal, but what do you think would happen if we actually counted the number of attractions at each resort? I suspect that would paint a less rosy picture. Just because Disney is "ahead" in the amount of stuff they have, however you choose to gauge that, it doesn't mean they can be complacent (especially with the recent, relatively widespread backlash against them as a company, but I won't get into all that.) So yes, they technically need to do continue doing things.

Disney couldn't "respond" to EU in the past 5 years because they didn't have the money to do so after:

• buying Fox
• buying out Hulu
• going 'all in' on streaming.

Both Bobs made it very very abundantly clear that streaming was the whole company's first priority (and buying Fox and Hulu was part of that). More important than their theatrical releases. More important than the parks.

It wasn't complacency.

Linear/cable TV was going to go bye-byes, and that was a huge chunk of Disney's profits. Switch to streaming or die. And so they did.

Meanwhile, Comcast invested in another gate... and... how's Peacock doing? How's NBC's ad revenue?

Disney *chose* not to "respond to EU" not out of malpractice, but for the sake of the whole company so that their TV division's profits didn't turn to dust. And by the end of this fiscal year, as their guidance promised, their streaming will be turning a profit. And that profit along with no longer having to pour investment into streaming will finance the $60B parks and experience boom to come.

 

[DCBaker]

 

[MisterPenguin]

So the HTTYD coaster has a "oh no, something gone wrong" story line.

 

[JT3000]

Disney couldn't "respond" to EU in the past 5 years because they didn't have the money to do so after:

• buying Fox
• buying out Hulu
• going 'all in' on streaming.

Both Bobs made it very very abundantly clear that streaming was the whole company's first priority (and buying Fox and Hulu was part of that). More important that their theatrical releases. More important than the parks.

It wasn't complacency.

Linear/cable TV was going to go bye-byes, and that was a huge chunk of Disney's profits. Switch to streaming or die. And so they did.

Meanwhile, Comcast invested in another gate... and... how's Peacock doing? How's NBC's ad revenue?

Disney *chose* not to "respond to EU" not out of malpractice, but for the sake of the whole company so that their TV division's profits didn't turn to dust. And by the end of this fiscal year, as their guidance promised, their streaming will be turning a profit. And that profit along with no longer having to pour investment into streaming will finance the $60B parks and experience boom to come.

I'm not really sure why you're basically bragging about Disney's streaming on a website dedicated to theme parks, but just for the hell of it, let's take a look at those numbers...

Hmm, not leading the pack by any means, even with multiple services under their tent, but still looks okay I guess. But wait, what's this?

Well, that certainly doesn't bode well for a company that loves to price gouge on (at least!) an annual basis, now does it?

 

[UNCgolf]

Prime Video's numbers are kind of meaningless -- the vast majority of Prime Video subscribers are subscribers because it's automatically included with Amazon Prime, not because they care about Prime Video specifically.

Some percentage of that number would subscribe to Prime Video if it was a separate service, but huge swathes would not. It certainly wouldn't have anywhere near 200 million users.

 

[HauntedPirate]

The word “immersive” occurs in the first 10 seconds of the trailer.

You didn’t include it but “adventure” is at 2:30. Can’t leave out that overused buzzword.

“Immersive” again around 5:10 in case you forgot.

Experience you’ll never forget? Check.
Larger than life? Of course.

It’s filled with the same marketing fluff as Disney uses. At least the actual land looks fantastic.

I didn’t watch the video. Ain’t no one got time for that.