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

[freediverdude]

Well I did it. I purchased an Epic 1 day passholder ticket for June 26th, and booked 2 nights at Aventura. They had a passholder $142 rate there, as opposed to around $250 I think they wanted for Stella Nova during June? I would have liked Stella Nova, but that's too much for a value resort. I'll keep looking though, at least for now I have a ticket and place to stay.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Well I did it. I purchased an Epic 1 day passholder ticket for June 26th, and booked 2 nights at Aventura. They had a passholder $142 rate there, as opposed to around $250 I think they wanted for Stella Nova during June? I would have liked Stella Nova, but that's too much for a value resort. I'll keep looking though, at least for now I have a ticket and place to stay.

The difference is Stella Nova is within walking distance from the brand new park.

 

[freediverdude]

The difference is Stella Nova is within walking distance from the brand new park.

Yes, but any other month isn't going for that much money, not anywhere near. Maybe I'll stay there eventually, I don't know, but yeah the gouging leaves a bad taste.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Yes, but any other month isn't going for that much money, not anywhere near. Maybe I'll stay there eventually, I don't know, but yeah the gouging leaves a bad taste.

The delight of "dynamic pricing". Apparently, Stella Nova is popular the first month the new park is open.

 

[Agent H]

Fountains are cool generally. But still nothing in America surpasses the Bellagio fountains for me.

Just a little weird. I’ve been seeing people bring up fountains in a lot of other threads lately.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

Just a little weird. I’ve been seeing people bring up fountains in a lot of other threads lately.

Probably just a combo of (1) the fountain being more of a weenie for Epic than the actual weenie and (2) this forum will be bitter about Fountain of Nations for the foreseeable future

 

[Disney Analyst]

I’m really baffled by what seems to be the consensus understanding/definition of the word “park” around here when referring to Celestial Park’s landscaping. It seems to me what most of you want and expected is a near literal forest, and I never got that impression from the concept art and videos. I always had the impression of more artificial “natural” spaces that are open and lined instead of filled. More like Millennium Park, or similar city parks that aren’t as plush/lush in total tree cover. I think once the trees have a few years to mature it will fit that kind of idea more clearly. Considering the base utility of the spaces and paths I’m not seeing a problem, though that might change once I’m actually able to experience the space in person.

I expected this mossy, green, mystical park vibe.

I don’t see it looking like this, but maybe more is to come.

 

[Andrew C]

Probably just a combo of (1) the fountain being more of a weenie for Epic than the actual weenie and (2) this forum will be bitter about Fountain of Nations for the foreseeable future

They are good at adding a bit of kinetic energy to a space.

 

[mkt]

Why are people so obsessed with fountains lately?

They want one to act as a bidet for their inflated sense of self-importance

 

[freediverdude]

And apparently only the first month, lol.

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

Well I did it. I purchased an Epic 1 day passholder ticket for June 26th, and booked 2 nights at Aventura. They had a passholder $142 rate there, as opposed to around $250 I think they wanted for Stella Nova during June? I would have liked Stella Nova, but that's too much for a value resort. I'll keep looking though, at least for now I have a ticket and place to stay.

Did I miss something? Are they selling 1-day tickets to Epic?

 

[Misted Compass]

Did I miss something? Are they selling 1-day tickets to Epic?

Only for annual passholders

 

[DCBaker]

Aerial views of lighting testing via bioreconstruct:

 

[maxairmike]

I expected this mossy, green, mystical park vibe.

I don’t see it looking like this, but maybe more is to come.

View attachment 847602

I suspect the planted areas will look a little more solidly green as the smaller shrubs grow in unless they’re heavier in trimming things back. Personally I think it looks great already, but clearly my expectations were very different from most in here regarding landscaping.

 

[MisterPenguin]

If anything would serve to give Epcot (or anywhere at WDW) some fountain envy, this image might just do it...

View attachment 847586

The fountain and lighting FX look great.

However... the height of the main fountain and the misting effect around the edge of the pond.... give a light breeze and some folk are getting heavily misted. Don't know how long they'll keep that effect on.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I suspect the planted areas will look a little more solidly green as the smaller shrubs grow in unless they’re heavier in trimming things back. Personally I think it looks great already, but clearly my expectations were very different from most in here regarding landscaping.

I think most of the commentary is related to expectations. Personally, the images we're seeing don't especially stand out to me as disappointing because it looks more or less how I thought it would from all the initial concept art: an outdoor dining and retail district with a big hotel tower at one end.

People maybe went a little overboard in imaging what this area would be in line with all the other commentary about Epic Universe being essentially a new standard for theme park design. In the case of this land, the fountains and vegetation were always going to be doing the heavy lifting as there's not that much else to it and people latched onto the phrase about "putting the park back into theme park" from Uni's promo videos. I imagine it is going to be a pleasant and have plenty to recommend it, but if you were thinking Tokyo DisneySea was going to get a run for its money you might be a little underwhelmed.