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

BrianLo

BrianLo

Well-Known Member
DarkMetroid567 said:
It really does look like they took lessons from the Bellagio, Wynn, and Caesars. As a Vegas native, it’ll feel like home, at least!
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I’m trying not to be too biting, because then I just sound like I hate it. I hate Universal Beijing, this is generally quite fine. When the blueprint is Vegas, they did a good job of it.

With some years of tree growth I’ll like it even more.
 
UNCgolf

UNCgolf

Well-Known Member
BrianLo said:
As far as Pottet goes - The HBO series will probably reignite it even more. I’d still love to see an additional attraction in either studios or Epic, but we’ve probably hit peak saturation now.
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I think they've basically run of out HP settings to build, too... other than the obvious in Hogwarts, which would be an even bigger draw than any of the current lands.

It would be much harder to pull off, though.


As for Celestial Park -- I think the concept art looked nicer than the actual built version, although some of that is probably just because the landscaping needs to mature.
 
UNCgolf

UNCgolf

Well-Known Member
Sorcerer Mickey said:
Parents and children can have fun together on a playground.

Who goes to Disney? Families with kids where the parents grew up going to Disney. Families with kids who have never been to Disney and would like to go so everyone can have a good time. Adults who were kids that grew up with Disney.

I don't have the numbers, but I highly doubt there is a sizable portion of Disney visitors who are just adults who never went as kids and have no prior attachment to the parks.

I'm not knocking adults who enjoy Disney World or theme parks in general. But the main goal of the parks is to appeal to children or the child inside us adults.

@UNCgolf said it's a bad idea to gear entire lands towards children. Fantasyland? Toy Story Land? Mickey's Toontown? Dr. Seussland? Super Nintendo World?
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I'm not sure any of those are aimed solely at children -- maybe Toontown and Seussland, but certainly not Fantasyland, Toy Story Land, or Super Nintendo World. I also don't think having a smaller area aimed at kids is inherently a bad thing, but you don't really want a major percentage of the park in that category (if you're trying to have broad appeal, that is).

Disney has generally been pretty clear that their goal is to appeal to everyone, so that people without kids can still have fun; there's not much at Disney that's only designed only for children.

Legoland is a better example of something that's specifically aimed at children and children only.
 
Sir_Cliff

Sir_Cliff

Well-Known Member
UNCgolf said:
As for Celestial Park -- I think the concept art looked nicer than the actual built version, although some of that is probably just because the landscaping needs to mature.
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I tend to think the boosters for this park ultimately haven't done Uni many favours by over-hyping it as a new standard for themed entertainment and unquestionably accepting all of the company's PR. I'm sure Celestial Park will look better when the vegetation grows in, but it always looked a little like a less elaborate Disney Springs-type retail and dining venue to me and I never quite got people swooning over the line about "putting the park back into theme park!"

From the looks of it, the park overall will have a lot to recommend it and some real high points that compete with and potentially surpass the best that's in Orlando currently for many people. The hyperbole versus the reality, though, reminds me a little of Volcano Bay which was supposed to be next-level theming for a water park such that it was actually a whole new theme park. I think it ended up being successful, but it certainly wasn't genre re-defining and I think the Disney water parks still feature better theming.
 
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BrianLo

BrianLo

Well-Known Member
Sir_Cliff said:
The hyperbole versus the reality, though, reminds me a little of Volcano Bay which was supposed to be next-level theming for a water park such that it was actually a whole new theme park. I think it ended up being successful, but it certainly wasn't genre re-defining and I think the Disney water parks still feature better theming.
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Definitely this. They invite some of it onto themselves. You’ll never grow up if you simultaneously cannot act like the competition down the street doesn’t dictate your every move, but at the same time not recognize what they’ve already done.

Fortunately from the NYT article, they finally got back to reality; “We want people to think of us first,” he said. The Universal Orlando Resort currently includes two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure), a shopping and dining district, and a water park called Volcano Bay.”
 
Stripes

Stripes

Premium Member
TalkToEthan said:
He *confirms* Monsters is the best attraction at Epic and maybe even best in the world.

……..which implies a first hand certification. I know I wouldn’t certify a ride’s greatness unless I personally rode it.
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On another site one of the moderators seemed to cast doubt as to whether Drew had rode the attraction or was relaying the review of a trusted friend/source.
 
999th Happy Haunt

999th Happy Haunt

Well-Known Member
BrianLo said:
View attachment 847230

Here’s one thing they’ll definitely never learn.
Gluing rocks to concrete doesn’t make it classy guys.

Brief hot take - in the end this is not the pinnacle of themed design as touted. At least the hub.
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I have bad news

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