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

[Sir_Cliff]

What is known is Macy's and other retailers are closing. Many will come back but some won't. Many Bars and Restaurants are going to fail. The government can help some but not all of these businesses. These are the facts. Many small business owners are great and still paying their employees most if not all their salaries. How long can they do that is questionable. The Macy's story said they would compensate their employees but that does notvmeam their full bnb pay. Virgin asked their employees to volunteer for unpaid leave. Face it people are going to hurt. They will not take expensive vacation to Orlando until they fully recover. I hate to see my investment account and see how much I have lost on paper. I am making cut backs. I may cut out one or two trips a year and rent out some DVC points. Life will go on but with less spending, thus hurting the economy even more.

I really don't understand why people aren't grasping how serious this situation is and the risk that it could stretch on for months and take out major companies. It would be strange and probably irresponsible for Universal to plow on with a massive new investment right now as revenues come to a halt while the substantial fixed costs involved with operating the parks and resorts continue. It may turn out that this all blows over in a matter of weeks and the company is fine. We could, though, be looking at many months of closure and reopening amidst a devastated economy. It's fine to say they should just keep building and how they fund it is not our problem, but I hope for both Universal and Disney's sake they are considering how they would survive a worst case scenario rather than just closing their eyes and hoping for the best.

 

[seascape]

I really don't understand why people aren't grasping how serious this situation is and the risk that it could stretch on for months and take out major companies. It would be strange and probably irresponsible for Universal to plow on with a massive new investment right now as revenues come to a halt while the substantial fixed costs involved with operating the parks and resorts continue. It may turn out that this all blows over in a matter of weeks and the company is fine. We could, though, be looking at many months of closure and reopening amidst a devastated economy. It's fine to say they should just keep building and how they fund it is not our problem, but I hope for both Universal and Disney's sake they are considering how they would survive a worst case scenario rather than just closing their eyes and hoping for the best.

I know how serious this is. I have been ranting that we need to help each other and not worry about a new park. To me, any company that spends money on unnecessary things like a new park should not be bailed out. I am fundamentally against bailing out either of these two giant Entertainment companies. However, if they were to buy any of the 3 regional themepark companies with the condition no one loses their job, I think the government should give them a low interest load to buy Cedar Fair, Seaworld or Six Flags. We need to save jobs. We need to save communities. Only when this disaster is over can we figure out what new expansion are needed.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I know how serious this is. I have been ranting that we need to help each other and not worry about a new park. To me, any company that spends money on unnecessary things like a new park should not be bailed out. I am fundamentally against bailing out either of these two giant Entertainment companies. However, if they were to buy any of the 3 regional themepark companies with the condition no one loses their job, I think the government should give them a low interest load to buy Cedar Fair, Seaworld or Six Flags. We need to save jobs. We need to save communities. Only when this disaster is over can we figure out what new expansion are needed.

You’re not saving jobs if you’re firing a bunch of people.

 

[lebeau]

I know how serious this is. I have been ranting that we need to help each other and not worry about a new park. To me, any company that spends money on unnecessary things like a new park should not be bailed out. I am fundamentally against bailing out either of these two giant Entertainment companies. However, if they were to buy any of the 3 regional themepark companies with the condition no one loses their job, I think the government should give them a low interest load to buy Cedar Fair, Seaworld or Six Flags. We need to save jobs. We need to save communities. Only when this disaster is over can we figure out what new expansion are needed.

I agree with this much. You have been ranting. That much is certain.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I agree with this much. You have been ranting. That much is certain.

From the beginning he has not wanted this park to happen. Every time it was mentioned as a great boost for Universal he downplayed it as costly and insignificant. Then he insisted the 2023 opening was nothing but fanboy delusion. Now it’s nonsense about saving jobs and righteous indignation if the park continues. But maybe hundreds to thousands of people in Orlando, not to mention many more around the world, will all lose there jobs and he can happily gloat about it.

 

[lebeau]

From the beginning he has not wanted this park to happen. Every time it was mentioned as a great boost for Universal he downplayed it as costly and insignificant. Then he insisted the 2023 opening was nothing but fanboy delusion. Now it’s nonsense about saving jobs and righteous indignation if the park continues. But maybe hundreds to thousands of people in Orlando, not to mention many more around the world, will all lose there jobs and he can happily gloat about it.

I can speculate as well as anyone. With the Fed rate being slashed to near zero, corporations have more incentive than ever to borrow money. There are counter-arguments to be made. But I am not going to make them because that would be pointless.

I took accounting, business management, finance and econ classes in college. Doesn't mean I can look at a financial statement and tell you how a global pandemic is going to impact Universal's long-term expansion plans. Neither can anyone else who posts here. @seascape is making it very clear he's not an expert on the subject.

<eyes the ignore button...>

 

[seascape]

From the beginning he has not wanted this park to happen. Every time it was mentioned as a great boost for Universal he downplayed it as costly and insignificant. Then he insisted the 2023 opening was nothing but fanboy delusion. Now it’s nonsense about saving jobs and righteous indignation if the park continues. But maybe hundreds to thousands of people in Orlando, not to mention many more around the world, will all lose there jobs and he can happily gloat about it.

I was never against this park. I did say I thought it wouldn't be ready until 2024. I thought that because the I4 project is so far behind schedule and the bridges needed to be built over I4. I also thought it would not increase Universal's attendance by 50% to equal the current per park attendance. However, I did want it built for the benefit of Orlando. I also think it was rather foolish of Universal to brag that when the park opens they will start pay at $15.00 an hour when starting pay at Disney will be higher and so will Universal's. I also said the design, making each land igor business convention use was a mistake. I regret that because of Covid19 and the fact businesses will be cutting unnecessary travel permanently that I am right on that one. It will hurt Disney too. I will admit I don't like Comcast but for you to say I am glad that the park is being delayed is uncalled for. Plus, ever since Covid19 hit the US, I have been calling for helping existing Cast Members and Team Members. They are the ones that matter. Also if anyone carrs at all about those working for the companies that design rides, they would want the money being spent by Disney and Universal to expand their parks to be used to save the regional parks. It is the rides at the regional parks that allow the companies to stay in business so they can build the more expensive rides at Disney and Universal.

One more thing. I never said it would not help Universal. But I did say it would not hurt Disney. It was the Universal fans who said it would take customers away from Disney and I gave reasons why that view was wrong. I really do hope both companies survives because the economy is going to take a major hit. Keep this in mind, companies set up Divisions as separate corporations so if one Division goes under and into bankruptcy it does not take the entire company down with it. In otherwords if WDW went broke the Walt Disney Company would go on. Just like if Universal's parks went under it would not take Comcasts down.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I can speculate as well as anyone. With the Fed rate being slashed to near zero, corporations have more incentive than ever to borrow money. There are counter-arguments to be made. But I am not going to make them because that would be pointless.

I took accounting, business management, finance and econ classes in college. Doesn't mean I can look at a financial statement and tell you how a global pandemic is going to impact Universal's long-term expansion plans. Neither can anyone else who posts here. @seascape is making it very clear he's not an expert on the subject.

<eyes the ignore button...>

It’s not just borrowing. Construction projects become a go to for economic stimulus but this one nearing the start of major construction is somehow immoral.

 

[seascape]

You just don’t care about the hundreds of current Universal employees you desperately want to see fired.

I care about the thousands of team members. I have said that over and over again. I feel sory for those who work for third party contractors but put my priority on the direct employees. Plus they are the low pay individuals that need the most help. As for the engineers working for ride construction companies, unless the regional parks survive they will lose their jobs anyway.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I care about the thousands of team members. I have said that over and over again. I feel sory for those wjo work for third party contractors but put my priority on the direct employees. Plus they are the low pay individuals that need the most help. As for the engineers working for ride construction companies, unles the regional parks survive they will lose their jobs anyway.

There are hundreds of direct, NBCUniversal and Universal Orlando Resort employees working on Epic Universe.

 

[seascape]

There are hundreds of direct, NBCUniversal and Universal Orlando Resort employees working on Epic Universe.

And they can work on something else. Beijing is not going to be cut. The company needs the Chinese box office more than they need US themeparks. That is not an insult because Disney looks a the Chinese market the same way. I have taken the same stand on Disney threads on making cuts to WDW. They have to and it's the right thing to do. I would rather have Disney save jobs in Orlando by buying Seaworld than do anything else at this time. Then if needed buy Ceder Fair or Six Flags. I care about saving jobs first.

 

[lazyboy97o]

And they can work on something else. Beijing is not going to be cut. The company needs the Chinese box office more than they need US themeparks. That is not an insult because Disney looks a the Chinese market the same way. I have taken the same stand on Disney threads on making cuts to WDW. They have to and it's the right thing to do. I would rather have Disney save jobs in Orlando by buying Seaworld than do anything else at this time. Then if needed buy Ceder Fair or Six Flags. I care about saving jobs first.

Many of them were working on Universal Studios Beijing. They’re not because that work is done. They’re full time employment for the next several years is Epic Universe and you want them to lose that. It doesn’t matter whatever nonsense scenario is you keep pushing, you want a bunch of people to be fired and it is that simple.

 

[seascape]

Many of them were working on Universal Studios Beijing. They’re not because that work is done. They’re full time employment for the next several years is Epic Universe and you want them to lose that. It doesn’t matter whatever nonsense scenario is you keep pushing, you want a bunch of people to be fired and it is that simple.

Okay, you win if you can actually tell me where Universal is going to get the 6 billion from. They can't borrow that much more after buying Sky and having to invest in their cable, internet and wireless systems. I can show you where they lost much more than that just this year.

 

[seascape]

I’m not concerned about where they get financing. I’m not oblivious to the fact that people may lose their jobs in an economic downturn. My problem is you rooting for people to be fired because you clearly don’t like a project and trying to wrap it up in claims of moral superiority and “saving jobs.”

As a Disney Stockholder I know the losses as a result of paying Cast Members willl lower the value of my shares. So I am putting my money where my mouth is. I want Disney to make lots of money. I also own shares in the 3 regional themepark chains and want them to survive but would gladly give the ownership to either Disney or Universal if they would save the employees. I consider that doing the right thing. I am not better than anyone else but I am able to survive this because I always saved and lived a reasonable life. I was brought up to help others and if my losing some money accomplishes that it is a good thing but it does not make me a better person. Only God can do that. I know I am far from perfect, just ask my wife.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I know how serious this is. I have been ranting that we need to help each other and not worry about a new park. To me, any company that spends money on unnecessary things like a new park should not be bailed out. I am fundamentally against bailing out either of these two giant Entertainment companies. However, if they were to buy any of the 3 regional themepark companies with the condition no one loses their job, I think the government should give them a low interest load to buy Cedar Fair, Seaworld or Six Flags. We need to save jobs. We need to save communities. Only when this disaster is over can we figure out what new expansion are needed.

I know you recognise the seriousness, and I'm generally in agreement with everything you've been saying. Where I don't agree is that they should buy Cedar Fair, Seaworld, or Six Flags. To me that honestly doesn't make any sense from Disney's point of view: why would they want a bunch of lower-quality, less successful parks to deal with when they have 5 major park and resort complexes around the world to bring back online with massive investments in the pipeline? I think the best thing they can do is to make sure SDL, HKDL, DLRP, DLR, and WDW come out of it strongly so the surrounding businesses and communities can rebuild. I think that's a big enough task for any company to take on.

 

[Rob562]

Here in Boston the mayor has ordered a stop on all construction projects as part of the push for social-distancing. (I don't know the specifics, but I presume there are some exceptions to allow an orderly shutdown of projects that can't just be safely walked away from on a moment's notice)

It may only be a matter of time before more cities and states follow suit.

-Rob

 

[Josh Hendy]

Probably tons of design, engineering and project planning can be done online by people working from home.

It looks like most of the site prep that can be done by solo bulldozer and backhoe operators has already been done. But if small teams are allowed if they keep distance between each other, maybe some other prep work could be done such as surveying, staking, and preparing the ground for laying paths and building footings.

Possibly pouring concrete for paths and building footings is too labor intensive what with all the raking, troweling etc. and proper distance couldn't be maintained. Just guessing. Same with steel work I assume.

That's assuming they can even afford to and want to keep it going.

 

[JoeCamel]

Probably tons of design, engineering and project planning can be done online by people working from home.

It looks like most of the site prep that can be done by solo bulldozer and backhoe operators has already been done. But if small teams are allowed if they keep distance between each other, maybe some other prep work could be done such as surveying, staking, and preparing the ground for laying paths and building footings.

Possibly pouring concrete for paths and building footings is too labor intensive what with all the raking, troweling etc. and proper distance couldn't be maintained. Just guessing. Same with steel work I assume.

That's assuming they can even afford to and want to keep it going.

Did you see the pic of the pipe staged to go in the ground? There is a ton of drainage work still to come here.

 

[trr1]

I think they will scale back some of the parks opening day item maybe even postpone the hotel if need be

 

[Josh Hendy]

Did you see the pic of the pipe staged to go in the ground? There is a ton of drainage work still to come here.

And that reminds me what about the Jurassic Park coaster lying on the ground in pieces? I'm sure it can sit there for weeks but at some point I assume it'll have to be stored somewhere dry or else get assembled and painted.