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

[MisterPenguin]

I can’t imagine Disney management making an admission like that.

DCA 1.0
Superstar Limo
Figment 2.0
Splash Mountain

 

[Casper Gutman]

DCA 1.0
Superstar Limo
Figment 2.0
Splash Mountain

Post the quotes, please, so we know exactly what you're referring to.

DCA and Limo were clearly acknowledged as mistakes by Disney's choice to redesign them, but did the executive team that installed them ever publicly state they were errors, or did that come from a later regime, one well-known for subtly denigrating their predecessors?

Figment is a story we've heard second-hand from... someone? Not sure who.

Splash Mountain is an ENTIRELY different situation.

 

[Andrew25]

A monster's land with Bavarian theming, rockwork, creepy decor will be well done. Look at what Universal does with HHN and its tribute stores... now imagine that throughout an entire land.

HTTYD will be a spectacular land, even with the IP being somewhat relevant.

Monsters is an original land, even though it's somewhat tied to an "IP."

 

[OG Runner]

Post the quotes, please, so we know exactly what you're referring to.

DCA and Limo were clearly acknowledged as mistakes by Disney's choice to redesign them, but did the executive team that installed them ever publicly state they were errors, or did that come from a later regime, one well-known for subtly denigrating their predecessors?

Figment is a story we've heard second-hand from... someone? Not sure who.

Splash Mountain is an ENTIRELY different situation.

So how about you admitting you were wrong. You are provided evidence contrary to your statement and instead
of admitting your error, you are going to try and contradict the examples? You stated the execs said FF was a mistake,
why haven't they done anything to correct it? I first rode it in May of 2019 and it is exactly the same today as it was
then, including the boring, meaningless preshows.

 

[matt9112]

A monster's land with Bavarian theming, rockwork, creepy decor will be well done. Look at what Universal does with HHN and its tribute stores... now imagine that throughout an entire land.

HTTYD will be a spectacular land, even with the IP being somewhat relevant.

Monsters is an original land, even though it's somewhat tied to an "IP."

Yeah i think monsters land legitimately lends itself great to a park. Its not like the mummy or Frankenstein are going to be plastered everywhere. The village will hopefully feel like a small irie town and such. Great opportunity for some good beer choices too!

 

[trr1]

I don't believe anyone here has suggested that using the Monsters IP will automatically make it a good land. We all have our own expectations, based more on our attachment to each respective IP than anything else, because other than Nintendo we don't know how any of it will look. That said, I don't really get the pessimism.

What was being discussed is the relevance of the Monsters IP, which shouldn't be in doubt. No, some of the more recent monster reboots have not done well, largely because they were bad or uninspired films, but this land is not based on those. As far as I'm aware, it's based entirely on the classic films that were huge successes and propelled these characters into the public consciousness.

just imagne if HHN moved to this park in 10 years

 

[lazyboy97o]

just imagne if HHN moved to this park in 10 years

I don’t think they will unless they aggressively build out additional lands and add appropriate facilities. Wizarding World has limitations from Warner Bros. and Rowling. Nintendo probably has restrictions too. How to Train Your Dragon is very kid focused so it seems like it would be odd. Maybe they could do a special after hours event and add to the walkthrough for just the Monsters land.

 

[JT3000]

Please read before you defend. (attack)

I read just fine, thanks. You clearly suggested the Monsters IP was lacking relevance simply because of its age (which you didn't even get right.) There's no other logical way to interpret that, unless you're saying you purposely made an illogical post? Either way my reading comprehension is certainly not the problem here. Defend your own statement, don't attack me for reading it.

 

[tommyhawkins]

just imagne if HHN moved to this park in 10 years

HHN is the ultimate black box event, because of the sound stages at USF. Epic won't have any of this...and if you can't build the mazes/houses then you don't have an event. There is or course opportunity for significant expansion at USF which I believe will happen sooner rather than later which might mean the entire even gets bigger in scale for HHN

 

[matt9112]

just imagne if HHN moved to this park in 10 years

HHNs success is ironically due to the lack of success of the daytime parks... think about when HHN was created. They have alot of areas to put houses in that serve little to no other purpose year round. You wouldn't build a brand new park with random extra warehouses. I doubt HHN ever goes here. It will make more money without it.

 

[Casper Gutman]

HHNs success is ironically due to the lack of success of the daytime parks... think about when HHN was created. They have alot of areas to put houses in that serve little to no other purpose year round. You wouldn't build a brand new park with random extra warehouses. I doubt HHN ever goes here. It will make more money without it.

HHN is due more to Uni’s status as a (very occasionally) working studio. It has huge amounts of usually empty sound stage space to fill with mazes. The only EPCOT-style in-park un- or underutilized theme park space HHN used recently was the second Shrek theatre - everything else was soundstage, warehouse, or custom-built to hold HHN houses. With Shrek’s recent closure, even that space is becoming intentionally HHN specific, with the new Minions attraction designed to share space with HHN. In the past, overflow queues for Earthquake and Jaws did house mazes, but even then the sound stages quickly became the key to the event.

This is kind of splitting hairs, of course - you’re correct that the Studio’s unique properties will keep HHN there and away from EU. If anything, we might see a second, cheaper, non-house-reliant, more family-friendly event pop up at EU or IOA.

If you really want to get weird and historical about it, HHN’s creation has a lot to do with Howard the Duck bombing!

 

[trr1]

HHNs success is ironically due to the lack of success of the daytime parks... think about when HHN was created. They have alot of areas to put houses in that serve little to no other purpose year round. You wouldn't build a brand new park with random extra warehouses. I doubt HHN ever goes here. It will make more money without it.

I was thinking There are at least 2 expansion plots that could each house 2,3 or 4 houses and the big hub area for scare zones don't you think?

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I was thinking There are at least 2 expansion plots that could each house 2,3 or 4 houses and the big hub area for scare zones don't you think?

They could move HHNs to EU, and build dedicated facilities for it. They're not going to. HHNs is USF's signature event.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Well, two of the lands lend themselves to HHN...

 

[Casper Gutman]

They could move HHNs to EU, and build dedicated facilities for it. They're not going to. HHNs is USF's signature event.

After EU opens, Universal will have one park with significant amounts of room for events and expansion, and that will be the Studios. Much of the back-of-house stuff is moving to the new site. I'd expect a lot of building to take place at the Studios fairly quickly, and as part of that I'd expect the infrastructure for HHN to become more formalized and entrenched.

 

[Poseidon Quest]

Sorry but one of the "new" lands for Epic Universe is Monsters. All based on Monsters featured in movies from the 1950s and 1960s
and you are talking relevancy? I am looking forward to Epic Universe but arguing the relevancy of the attractions isn't going to do it.

The majority of Monsters films are from the 20s and 30s and still remain culturally relevant. Perhaps people don't really watch those films, but Universal's films have come to define popular depictions of those particular stories. I would hazard to say that Epcot's new attractions will age in the same way that Herbie the Lovebug and The Mighty Ducks did at the All-Star Movies. I like the campiness and the obscurity of those properties, but I doubt most people staying there connect with them.

There's also a case to make that Universal and Disney approach IP differently. Disney fails to understand that part of drawing people in just isn't the name, but the quality of the attractions has to match. We've seen a whole slate of lazy and mediocre attractions use their IP as a crutch. Frozen Ever After, Toy Story Land, Pixar Pier, Avengers Campus, Cars Road Trip, Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, etc. Even Galaxy's Edge would probably be perceived as underwhelming if it weren't for Rise of the Resistance, and even then I don't think it'll age well once the shininess wears off for most people.

In contrast, what Rohde and his team were able to achieve with Pandora was a fluke for Disney. The well thought-out nature of the land and its incorporation into the themes of Animal Kingdom has surpassed the mediocrity of the film it's based upon. Had anyone else tackled it, I believe it may have been a flop.

Universal has also shown a strong understanding of how quality surpasses IP. The Secret Life of Pets is reportedly not a great film (I haven't seen it), but the attraction is superb. The same applies with the new Jurassic World attractions in Hollywood, Beijing and the Velocicoaster. The attraction quality comes first, and the IP comes second. You can bring in the plebs with brand name, but they won't return if the experience is a waste of their time. Jurassic World was fine, and Fallen Kingdom was an out-right poor film, but even I would be in favor of the River Adventure getting the Jurassic World treatment based on how well it was executed in Hollywood.

Finally, the true testament of attraction quality over IP lies with the Bourne Stuntacular. Bourne isn't particularly relevant, yet the show is still technically impressive and outstanding. There's not a lot of buzz for it (which I believe has to do with it quietly debuting during the pandemic), but it's a pretty popular show every time I go to experience it.

If Universal continues on its trend of exceptional attractions post-Fast and Furious, then I do believe that Disney will find itself in serious trouble.

 

[OG Runner]

The majority of Monsters films are from the 20s and 30s and still remain culturally relevant. Perhaps people don't really watch those films, but Universal's films have come to define popular depictions of those particular stories. I would hazard to say that Epcot's new attractions will age in the same way that Herbie the Lovebug and The Mighty Ducks did at the All-Star Movies. I like the campiness and the obscurity of those properties, but I doubt most people staying there connect with them.

There's also a case to make that Universal and Disney approach IP differently. Disney fails to understand that part of drawing people in just isn't the name, but the quality of the attractions has to match. We've seen a whole slate of lazy and mediocre attractions use their IP as a crutch. Frozen Ever After, Toy Story Land, Pixar Pier, Avengers Campus, Cars Road Trip, Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, etc. Even Galaxy's Edge would probably be perceived as underwhelming if it weren't for Rise of the Resistance, and even then I don't think it'll age well once the shininess wears off for most people.

In contrast, what Rohde and his team were able to achieve with Pandora was a fluke for Disney. The well thought-out nature of the land and its incorporation into the themes of Animal Kingdom has surpassed the mediocrity of the film it's based upon. Had anyone else tackled it, I believe it may have been a flop.

Universal has also shown a strong understanding of how quality surpasses IP. The Secret Life of Pets is reportedly not a great film (I haven't seen it), but the attraction is superb. The same applies with the new Jurassic World attractions in Hollywood, Beijing and the Velocicoaster. The attraction quality comes first, and the IP comes second. You can bring in the plebs with brand name, but they won't return if the experience is a waste of their time. Jurassic World was fine, and Fallen Kingdom was an out-right poor film, but even I would be in favor of the River Adventure getting the Jurassic World treatment based on how well it was executed in Hollywood.

Finally, the true testament of attraction quality over IP lies with the Bourne Stuntacular. Bourne isn't particularly relevant, yet the show is still technically impressive and outstanding. There's not a lot of buzz for it (which I believe has to do with it quietly debuting during the pandemic), but it's a pretty popular show every time I go to experience it.

If Universal continues on its trend of exceptional attractions post-Fast and Furious, then I do believe that Disney will find itself in serious trouble.

So do you just keep cutting and pasting the same response? You realize there is a section of the Universal parks based on old
print cartoons? How relevant is Dagwood? How about Barney & Woody Woodpecker? Keep cutting and pasting and shoveling.

 

[Poseidon Quest]

So do you just keep cutting and pasting the same response? You realize there is a section of the Universal parks based on old
print cartoons? How relevant is Dagwood? How about Barney & Woody Woodpecker? Keep cutting and pasting and shoveling.

Cutting and pasting?

You mean using numerous examples to back up what I'm saying?

Using Toon Lagoon as an example doesn't negate what I've said. Universal 23 years ago had a different set of priorities and is still better themed than most newer Disney lands. Barney is gone and Woody Woodpecker is likely to go with it in the next few years. Again, Universal was quite different 20+ years ago when they were looking to add more kid-friendly attractions in their one Florida park.

 

[Casper Gutman]

So do you just keep cutting and pasting the same response? You realize there is a section of the Universal parks based on old
print cartoons? How relevant is Dagwood? How about Barney & Woody Woodpecker? Keep cutting and pasting and shoveling.

If you’re comparing the cultural relevance of Dagwood to that of the Universal Monsters, it’s safe to say you don’t have the firmest grasp on pop culture.

Maybe it would help if you restated the central point you are arguing.

 

[JoeCamel]

HHN is due more to Uni’s status as a (very occasionally) working studio. It has huge amounts of usually empty sound stage space to fill with mazes. The only EPCOT-style in-park un- or underutilized theme park space HHN used recently was the second Shrek theatre - everything else was soundstage, warehouse, or custom-built to hold HHN houses. With Shrek’s recent closure, even that space is becoming intentionally HHN specific, with the new Minions attraction designed to share space with HHN. In the past, overflow queues for Earthquake and Jaws did house mazes, but even then the sound stages quickly became the key to the event.

This is kind of splitting hairs, of course - you’re correct that the Studio’s unique properties will keep HHN there and away from EU. If anything, we might see a second, cheaper, non-house-reliant, more family-friendly event pop up at EU or IOA.

If you really want to get weird and historical about it, HHN’s creation has a lot to do with Howard the Duck bombing!

They are pretty good at horrah makeup too