My95cobras
Well-Known Member
I guess it stings a bit…. I mean, imagine waiting 5 years for a fountain and a cafeteria style room, reminiscent of my high school.
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Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Opens May 22 2025
- Thread starter Bob Harlem
- Start date
I guess it stings a bit…. I mean, imagine waiting 5 years for a fountain and a cafeteria style room, reminiscent of my high school.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Until you said fountain, I thought you were talking the EPCOT distruc.... er I mean, renovation.
We were not lucky enough to get a fountain as part of the EPCOT renovation.
But they did TEAR DOWN a beauty of a fountain. RIP fountain of nations.
My95cobras
Well-Known Member
I mean…. the Moana area is kind of a fountain.
TalkToEthan
Well-Known Member
That thought did cross my mind…… but then I’m thinking Uni would have had a different team on it who would have prepared a much stronger base to deal with the forces at play. Also, a slower neck turn would not create the same problems as a swiping arm, right?
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
The problem with the yeti isn’t the base. Universal also has its own rules about overhead moving show action equipment and maintenance access.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Which should be taken as good news. It suggests things are either back on track or they decided to throw resources at the park to make sure it is open by then.
But I know, people were looking at pictures with visible change and convincing themselves that it was waaaay ahead of schedule.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
Not to mention it has a 60' wing span, is 80' long, and is 5 stories off the ground in hurricane alley.
Not ideal conditions for a super expensive animatronic.
I look at this Summer Not-Summer thing in one of two ways:
1. Bad internal messaging: They removed the "Summer" because it was indeed going to beat Summer, but someone didn't get the memo, OR...
2. Maybe they became realistic about delivering 11 rides all working flawlessly on time. I haven't mentioned the problems of the challenges of getting new rides reliably operational (e.g., the problems Hagrid's had, or TBA). I'm not here to kick bees' nest. But there needs to be some realism versus the unbridled enthusiasm and hype.
As I've said before, I hope EU is successful. But I'm fully aware of missteps that both Disney and Universal have made that could make getting there... difficult. If they want to beat Summer, they only have 9 months to finish the buildings, build the rides, and make sure they're all operationally reliable. Each of those steps can be a handful of months to accomplish.
Most of the rides are already well into construction. Some are already testing, which will go a long way towards making sure they're ready.
rd805
Well-Known Member
I'm less concerned on the rides, and more concerned with the trees & area. I know they usually "bring in" plants, but the concrete, painting, and areas all need to kick into gear.
Andrew25
Well-Known Member
I'm leaning towards the podcast team not getting the memo. These things are recorded/planned in advance... so I'd have to imagine someone forgot to update the graphics.
Universal has the worst internal communications in the theme park industry. They just announced today a scare zone for HHN that was previously leaked on the internal team member site & had started construction with visible signage.
On trees, I was worried about it initially, but Universal has been planting on a steady pace. The Monsters area already has a few mature trees in place, so not that worried.
Celestial Park seems to be the most behind due to all the heavy construction vehicles still required to come in/out of the area.. but concrete is already underway in some parts so it should all shape up quickly over these next few months. Wouldn't be surprised to see all of the concrete laid out by the end of the year. For Celestial Park landscape, they pretty much have to wait into the concrete is set in to get rid of the dirt and start laying down actual gardens.
Also, this park is using pre-fab, so any theming elements can be plopped in overnight. Not worried about the park's scenic design just yet. Tech issues/delays are to be expected though
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Opening early isn’t really the sort of thing that calls for subtly and quietly changing your messaging. It is more something you want people to know. And even if you’re uncertain and don’t want to over promise then extended previews aren’t a negative either.
Why? That sort of stuff is relatively easy to put in place. It isn’t being controlled by complex ride and show control systems.
rd805
Well-Known Member
I feel like a lot of the inner-workings of the attractions themselves are mostly done. I'm probably way off, but with the coasters at least testing already - i have a gut feeling that some of the dark rides are already pretty far along too. Again, maybe I'm off.
Rich Brownn
Well-Known Member
One of my former co-workers told me she'd been assign to T&A (Test and Adjust you dirty minded people - lol) for one of the dark rides (she wouldn't tell me which one) so at least one ride is already functional.
Even the 'tea cup' ride with no RVs yet? Or the water ride in HTTYD that doesn't have water in it?
WDWFREAK53
Well-Known Member
"basically"
999th Happy Haunt
Well-Known Member
Which do you think will be superior? From what I understand these will both be “best in the world” contenders.
sonoma15
Well-Known Member
Idk about the carousel, but they definitely tested the water ride because at one point it was filled with water.