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

[Epcot81Fan]

Watching people twist themselves into a pretzel trying to simultaneously defend the embarrassment of the Epcot "remodel" while criticizing this enormous, highly themed project is just hilarious to experience.

 

[Andrew25]

…..obviously hung over from arguing Disney(Star Wars) vs Universal(Potter) in another thread, no?


as indicated by picking something so inconsequential(wand and butter beer) on a grand reveal instead of focusing on the Potter main E ticket and general land theme.

If you pay attention to any of the other land reveals, very little detail is revealed in order to prevent spoilers. These attractions are highly story-driven, and showcasing too much of it will ruin the awe of it.

They discussed Butterbeer & Wands because that is a significant part of the Wizarding World experience. It's been nearly 15 years since Hogsmeade first opened and there's still a consistent line of guests wanting to try Butterbeer again and again.

 

[Epcot81Fan]

It's been nearly 15 years since Hogsmeade first opened and there's still a consistent line of guests wanting to try Butterbeer again and again.

Kind of like the "Star Wars" blue milk! Oh, wait....

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yeah, I am so excited for this theme park but the video of the new HP land just does not hit the same. I bet if they had a time machine they would not have themed the new land to Fantastic beasts at all. Aren't they set before Potter? So how are you going into the flu network and then seeing Umbridge? I don't know it just looks...meh. People want to be transported into the world of Harry Potter but I am not sure that FB is a world people are really clamoring to visit, if most even know it at all.

Time travel canonically exists in the Wizard World.

One thing to remember is that this land was already deep in design when people started to turn on Fantastic Beasts with the second film. They couldn’t throw all of it away so they did what they could to salvage it.

That’s not really accurate. Even very early concepts included multiple times and places.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Star Tours is not real. It is a ride on a movie set.

Only at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That element isn’t present at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland or Disneyland Paris.

Why wasn't Pokemon considered for this new park, I get it that it was rumored for Studios for a while, but Pokemon is way more beloved than this overrated franchise that has its author getting recent backlash and with good reason

My guess is because EU was already years into planning when they got the Pokémon rights. Also, if Pokemon was to come to EU potter still would've happened. It would've gone into a different plot of land.

There was a time when Pokémon would have opened at Universal Studios Florida before Epic Universe opened with Super Nintendo Land.

Maybe someone can establish otherwise, but I thought this attraction was quite literally planned for and subsequently lifted out of the Fear Factor plot. Epic is in part made up of cancelled expansions for USF.

This ride has gone through radically redesigns just for this park. Any lifting of the concept was just very, very vague generalities.

 

[ThemeParkTraveller]

Another strong contender for best theme park land (along with Dark Universe) for me, especially when they add a second attraction in the future. I assume the next attraction will be focused on Newt?

 

[Rich Brownn]

It's unfortunate the land is based on the Wizarding World movies, which petered out and whose design was closer to the real world than the original films, which really felt like another world.

The attraction looks impressive enough. I assume they got Imelda back to play Umbridge but anyone else will just be stock footage? Kind of hard to do a ride still focused on Harry Potter after the actors have aged out and/or moved on.

CGI and voice actors, just like Gringotts

 

[trr1]

As someone who only knew about Paris and Ministry of Magic being involved... I am IMPRESSED.

This land looks stunning! Full scale 1920's Paris?! Heck yes I want to go there!

Enter the floo network? HECK YES I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THAT!!


Enter the full scale MoM Atrium?? AHHHHH

Get on a multidirectional Elevator like in the movies, which appears to behave very similarly and gives fans a dream come true, because we've all always wanted to enter one of those elevators?? FOR THE TRIALS OF THE VILE HATED UMBRIDGE?! (I am now dead)

is the Floo Network in 1920's Paris also used for time travel to present-day MOM for the Trial?

 

[Rich Brownn]

Yeah, I am so excited for this theme park but the video of the new HP land just does not hit the same. I bet if they had a time machine they would not have themed the new land to Fantastic beasts at all. Aren't they set before Potter? So how are you going into the flu network and then seeing Umbridge? I don't know it just looks...meh. People want to be transported into the world of Harry Potter but I am not sure that FB is a world people are really clamoring to visit, if most even know it at all.

I'd imagine a time turner is involved, since thats the icon above the portal to the land

 

[Rich Brownn]

Hogsmead at IOA must be set no later than 1997 (the year Dumbledore dies) given that he is present in Forbidden Journey

Diagon Alley at Uni Orlando theoretically is set in early May 1998 (the year Deathly Hallows is set) given the events that take place in Escape from Gringotts)

Yet the two lands have a train that connects them that would seem to imply that they take place at the same time (which they cannot)

Ministry of Magic is set no earlier than late May 1998 so we already know that it isn't the same timeline as the other two lands... it really sets the lands to be visited in chronological order from IOA, to UOR, to EU to create the full "trilogy" as they described it. The rest of Wizarding Paris can be exactly the same as it is in Fantastic Beasts so long as they include none of the FB characters. There is no reason to assume that many of the shops and such seen in Fantastic Beasts wouldn't still be around 70-80 years later (Olivander's itself is believe is over 1600 years old by the time of the events of Harry Potter). Someone already posted that Eddie Redmayne would reprise his role, but I guess they could always have him appearing in a portrait or as a ghost or something and still keep the timeline (at least of the EU land) consistent... though honestly, if they included Newt in the "flesh", only the biggest fans would question/complain...

The correct (and only response according to out 8-hour Potter training class) when someone asks what time this area takes place in is ... "The Wizarding World Is Timeless"

 

[Epcot81Fan]

The correct (and only response according to out 8-hour Potter training class) when someone asks what time this area takes place in is ... "The Wizarding World Is Timeless"

Better than Disney’s training for Batuu:

“Everybody’s least favorite of all.”

 

[rd805]

the biggest complaint everyone has with Galaxy's Edge is that it is stuck in a timeline, and not one that people enjoy being stuck in.

This does the opposite, and people are complaining about continuity issues? STOP. This is the best of both worlds! We get an awesome new land style, with fun creatures, and then a callback to the one place HP fan's wanted most.

 

[Fox&Hound]

the biggest complaint everyone has with Galaxy's Edge is that it is stuck in a timeline, and not one that people enjoy being stuck in.

This does the opposite, and people are complaining about continuity issues? STOP. This is the best of both worlds! We get an awesome new land style, with fun creatures, and then a callback to the one place HP fan's wanted most.

That is a fair point. DIS should definitely loosen the reins on Star Wars land's strict timeline.

 

[lazyboy97o]

is the Floo Network in 1920's Paris also used for time travel to present-day MOM for the Trial?

Correct. The Floo Network is how you go from 1920s Paris to 1990s London.

 

[TalkToEthan]

the biggest complaint everyone has with Galaxy's Edge is that it is stuck in a timeline,

That’s the biggest complaint?

I figured the biggest complaints would be:

No traditional highly recognizable characters like Vader and yoda

No familiar settings like Hoth, Endor, capitol Coruscant or Tatooine

Cutbacks to original features

Physical separation of Star Tours and Tattooyou

 

[Disney Analyst]

the biggest complaint everyone has with Galaxy's Edge is that it is stuck in a timeline, and not one that people enjoy being stuck in.

This does the opposite, and people are complaining about continuity issues? STOP. This is the best of both worlds! We get an awesome new land style, with fun creatures, and then a callback to the one place HP fan's wanted most.

I do have to agree.

This gives us the best of the newer films. Gorgeous Paris setting, all the critters, and then takes us to the timeline we all want to experience for the big ride.

Works for me. It is magic, after all.

 

[bwr827]

Well, in this case, the new shop is surrounded by a land focused on movies that even the most ardent Potter fans can't enjoy.

My kids love the Fantastic Beasts movies, and are big Harry Potter fans. I like the first FB movie.

This new land looks awesome.

 

[bwr827]

No, because there's only one. Not a duplicate in another WDW park. Thats my entire point. Has nothing to do with the attractions.

The selling point is 'here's this thing that you can already do somewhere else'.

A cool new version with different aesthetics.

 

[bwr827]

The new land looks great but is there really only one ride?

A second one is phase 2. Which will be a massive new draw because people love the Potter stuff.

 

[bwr827]

Why wasn't Pokemon considered for this new park, I get it that it was rumored for Studios for a while, but Pokemon is way more beloved than this overrated franchise that has its author getting recent backlash and with good reason

Good question about Pokémon, although not as a replacement for their golden goose.

Overrated franchise, lol.