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

[SpectreJordan]

I probably won't be fully content with the state of the park until the expansion pads get filled in. It's just one of those things I can't ignore. That's a lot of unused space.

Not sure where there was a debate on bigger lands vs. smaller ones, but the obvious advantage of having a larger land is having more experiences. Does this guarantee the land will be better? No, but more content is typically a good thing versus having less content.

What's better than a beautiful backdrop? Attractions. Attractions with nice facades.

We shouldn't expect them to open with everything imaginable. That means they don't have any potential for the future; they're boxed in with what they have outside of rethemes.

What they're opening with seems like a fantastic lineup for the start of the park. Universal just has to actually use those expansion pads eventually, unlike Disney.

 

[Twirlnhurl]

I know this post is a couple months old but I'm just lurking this thread.

I think the Universal monsters are so entrenched in pop culture that they don't need relevant movies to make this land work. The Halloween holiday's helped make them a permanent part of American culture. Everyone knows who Dracula, Frankenstein & the Wolfman are even if they've never seen a movie with them in it. I'm even speaking from experience since I've never seen any of those films before last October.

Of course, the rides still need to be good to support an entire land. But the same could be said for any IP... besides Diagon Alley.

I agree completely. The Universal Monsters may be a specific IP that isn't necessarily popular, but they are based on several public domain IPs that have a very large cultural weight. Very few bad rides with popular IPs are successful (Fast and Furious), while plenty of good rides with unpopular IPs are very successful (Splash Mountain, Tron, Skull Island Reign of Kong).

 

[WDWFREAK53]

View attachment 739265

This looks like newer art but the theater is still in the Monsters section.

 

[MisterPenguin]

This looks like newer art but the theater is still in the Monsters section.

On themeparx, it's labeled as "early concept." It was scraped from the architect's website gallery.

https://www.themeparx.com/universal-epic-universe/?page=1

 

[WDWFREAK53]

On themeparx, it's labeled as "early concept." It was scraped from the architect's website gallery.

https://www.themeparx.com/universal-epic-universe/?page=1

Gotcha. I thought it was newer art due to the space-themed building off of the hub being removed.

 

[celluloid]

The space where the theater was has become an expansion pad, at least when I was last in the know of the plans in 2021.
At one point, a pitch for an open air theater show became an indoor one, an expansion pad that would feature things used in Bourne Stuntacular as that show was a prototype for a few elements of Epic Universe.

 

[Andrew25]

The space where the theater was has become an expansion pad, at least when I was last in the know of the plans in 2021.
At one point, a pitch for an open air theater show became an indoor one, an expansion pad that would feature things used in Bourne Stuntacular as that show was a prototype for a few elements of Epic Universe.

The theater space is now being used by the new Werewolf spinning coaster. There's another expansion pad at the back of the land.

 

[celluloid]

The theater space is now being used by the new Werewolf spinning coaster. There's another expansion pad at the back of the land.

I was going to say, that werewolf spinning coaster is tiny compared to the amphitheater expansion pad.

My biggest concern for this park will be the same struggle IOA had in its early years. What rides are there for the grandkid to grandparents to do together? Low height requirements, tame thrill dark ride.

We know some flats are coming. We don't know what the height requirement is for the Monsters project but it is a spin off of the Van Helsing concept that was pitched when that movie could have been a hit, and become Forbidden Journey later. So unless it is a lot tamer with enveloped ride vehicles it will probably have a near 40 inch minimum or more height requirement. Hopefully the Potter and Monster Dark Ride provide more quadrant hitting situations.

The recent flats that have been added are also quite intense.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I was going to say, that werewolf spinning coaster is tiny compared to the amphitheater expansion pad.

My biggest concern for this park will be the same struggle IOA had in its early years. What rides are there for the grandkid to grandparents to do together? Low height requirements, tame thrill dark ride.

We know some flats are coming. We don't know what the height requirement is for the Monsters project but it is a spin off of the Van Helsing concept that was pitched when that movie could have been a hit, and become Forbidden Journey later. So unless it is a lot tamer with enveloped ride vehicles it will probably have a near 40 inch minimum or more height requirement. Hopefully the Potter and Monster Dark Ride provide more quadrant hitting situations.

The recent flats that have been added are also quite intense.

Carousel, Yoshi, Boat Ride, MarioKart, and even the flying flat ride is only as intense as you make it.

 

[celluloid]

Carousel, Yoshi, Boat Ride, MarioKart, and even the flying flat ride is only as intense as you make it.

Yoshi and Mario Kart both have the same height requirements as Japan. Japan's are even typically more lenient but as of now they are the same. Yoshi is fairly low but not zero. There will be plenty of two and three year olds turned away. Mario Kart won't be available for anyone under 40 inches.

Flying Flat ride will still have the intensity of height and height requirement. This puts it as the same issue IOA had when it first opened, but slightly worse as there were more options for no height requirement rides when IOA first opened with Seuss but there is a reason that Flying Unicorn and Storm Force Accelatron were the first additions to the park.

So we have the Carousel and boat ride.

It is not a deal breaker, but when three year olds pay the admission gate price and same as the adult annual pass price, it will need more for the fams.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Yoshi and Mario Kart both have the same height requirements as Japan. Japan's are even typically more lenient but as of now they are the same. Yoshi is fairly low but not zero. There will be plenty of two and three year olds turned away. Mario Kart won't be available for anyone under 40 inches.

Flying Flat ride will still have the intensity of height and height requirement. This puts it as the same issue IOA had when it first opened, but slightly worse as there were more options for no height requirement rides when IOA first opened with Seuss but there is a reason that Flying Unicorn and Storm Force Accelatron were the first additions to the park.

So we have the Carousel and boat ride.

It is not a deal breaker, but when three year olds pay the admission gate price and same as the adult annual pass price, it will need more for the fams.

Which puts it right up there with Hollywood Studios.
I do agree that there needs to be more but this is a pretty solid lineup for Day 1.
I think where this park differs is that each land will be an attraction...with play areas, splash pads, and interactive elements.

Personally, when my kids were 3, they enjoyed the play areas more than the rides.

 

[celluloid]

Which puts it right up there with Hollywood Studios.
I do agree that there needs to be more but this is a pretty solid lineup for Day 1.
I think where this park differs is that each land will be an attraction...with play areas, splash pads, and interactive elements.

Personally, when my kids were 3, they enjoyed the play areas more than the rides.

For sure I am looking forward to Epic immensely, the IOA problem is just what I wanted to point out.
Hollywood Studios of current...close but still offers more accessability than what is currently known about Epic Universe. Runaway Railway is an E ticket with no height requirement. Then you have the themed venue shows with no height requirements that I don't see EPIC having yet. (Muppets) and Toy Story Mania, while I am not a fan, is dark ride experience with no height limitations and light on thrill. Then there is Alien Swirling Saucers, as a flat ride.

Hollywood Studios of old/MGM Studios offered more for the no height requirement as well as having the playground factor.

You bring up a good point. Are there a lot of known play areas yet? Mario in Japan was kind of a let down to us in that regard. A lot of potential for interactivity but every interactive point required a power up band and a small queue for it.


Just to clarify, the boat ride we speak of is How to Train your Dragon right? a family boat ride with Creature from the Black Lagoon and catacombs was once a part of Dark Universe, almost like a Pavilion piece.


Ironically of it all. Universal Studios Florida opened with no height requirements on any ride except for ET Adventure. Which was the lowest(and none if you got the spaceship seat that was once a thing) Now ET Adventure is the lowest height requirement in the park.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

For sure I am looking forward to Epic immensely, the IOA problem is just what I wanted to point out.
Hollywood Studios of current...close but still offers more accessability than what is currently known about Epic Universe. Runaway Railway is an E ticket with no height requirement. Then you have the themed venue shows with no height requirements that I don't see EPIC having yet. (Muppets) and Toy Story Mania, while I am not a fan, is dark ride experience with no height limitations and light on thrill. Then there is Alien Swirling Saucers, as a flat ride.

Hollywood Studios of old/MGM Studios offered more for the no height requirement as well as having the playground factor.

You bring up a good point. Are there a lot of known play areas yet? Mario in Japan was kind of a let down to us in that regard. A lot of potential for interactivity but every interactive point required a power up band and a small queue for it.


Just to clarify, the boat ride we speak of is How to Train your Dragon right? a family boat ride with Creature from the Black Lagoon and catacombs was once a part of Dark Universe, almost like a Pavilion piece.


Ironically of it all. Universal Studios Florida opened with no height requirements on any ride except for ET Adventure. Which was the lowest(and none if you got the spaceship seat that was once a thing) Now ET Adventure is the lowest height requirement in the park.

I'm just going off of Rumors by Alicia Stella who seems to be very much on top of this park's development. It appears that a splash pad of sorts is being constructed in the hub. A play area in How to Train Your Dragon (Yes, that's the boat I was talking about). SuperNintendo has the interactive power ups (and I believe Donkey Kong area will as well). I'm sure there will be more wand stations throughout the new Harry Potter section as well.

 

[Andrew25]

Also forgetting two theaters being built, nighttime show, and possibly some streetmosphere (since Universal still believes in that!)

 

[sedati]

View attachment 739266

Is it a theme park or just the most epically convoluted porte cochere ever conceived for a hotel?

 

[Rush]

Epic Universe will have a healthy amount of offerings for the whole family. Beyond the family rides which make up the majority of the selection, there's two stage shows, an insane amount of interactivity at SNW in addition to at least 8 mini-attractions, and lastly the new generation wands at Potter.

 

[celluloid]

Epic Universe will have a healthy amount of offerings for the whole family. Beyond the family rides which make up the majority of the selection, there's two stage shows, an insane amount of interactivity at SNW in addition to at least 8 mini-attractions, and lastly the new generation wands at Potter.

Just to note, there is a good amount of interactivity in SNS if it is akin to Japan or Hollywood's. They are all requiring the Power up Band Purchas of 20-30 dollars a person to do. You are not even allowed into the Bowser one unless everyone in your party has the band. I don't think that is fair to call it a set of mini attractions in the park when it is an upgraded paid for experience. Unless you count the things in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge as that. I don't.

I am stoked for EPIC Universe, but there are the flaw concerns.

What family rides section allows kids under age 4 on many attractions? Super Nintendo's Mario Kart has a height requirement of 42 inches in Japan. 40 in Hollywood, so we can presume that may happen in FL too. For reference, that is the same ride height requirement as Spiderman or Transformers.

Most kids will be four years old before they can ride Mario Kart with their families. It is not a Fantasyland, Adventureland or even Frontierland situation.

Yoshi has a low height requirement 0f 36 inches which for reference is two inches taller of a height requirement than ET Adventure.

Universal Studios Florida has most of their attractions at 40 inches with one 42 inch and two of their major coaster thrills at 48 and 51 inches. One 34 inch Height Requirement and one no height requirement ride as well as a moving walkway no height requirement ride and one motion simulator with stationary seating.

You can half count Hogwarts Express if you want.

Islands of Adventure runs from 36 inches for seven rides that a kid at 36 inches can experience with their family.

You can half count Hogwarts here as well if you want too.

Epic Universe could have that number, but we have not seen it yet.

So far. Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are more family friendly than what we know for EPIC Universe. That was my point that the park is likely to have to work on that in time the way IOA did.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Just to note, there is a good amount of interactivity in SNS if it is akin to Japan or Hollywood's. They are all requiring the Power up Band Purchas of 20-30 dollars a person to do. You are not even allowed into the Bowser one unless everyone in your party has the band. I don't think that is fair to call it a set of mini attractions in the park when it is an upgraded paid for experience. Unless you count the things in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge as that. I don't.

I am stoked for EPIC Universe, but there are the flaw concerns.

What family rides section allows kids under age 4 on many attractions? Super Nintendo's Mario Kart has a height requirement of 42 inches in Japan. 40 in Hollywood, so we can presume that may happen in FL too. For reference, that is the same ride height requirement as Spiderman or Transformers.

Most kids will be four years old before they can ride Mario Kart with their families. It is not a Fantasyland, Adventureland or even Frontierland situation.

Yoshi has a low height requirement 0f 36 inches which for reference is two inches taller of a height requirement than ET Adventure.

Universal Studios Florida has most of their attractions at 40 inches with one 42 inch and two of their major coaster thrills at 48 and 51 inches. One 34 inch Height Requirement and one no height requirement ride as well as a moving walkway no height requirement ride and one motion simulator with stationary seating.

You can half count Hogwarts Express if you want.

Islands of Adventure runs from 36 inches for seven rides that a kid at 36 inches can experience with their family.

You can half count Hogwarts here as well if you want too.

Epic Universe could have that number, but we have not seen it yet.

So far. Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are more family friendly than what we know for EPIC Universe. That was my point that the park is likely to have to work on that in time the way IOA did.

Universal has never actively courted the stroller brigade, but they do provide some things for toddlers to do.

HTTYD will have a stage show, a playground, and M&Gs. The Hub has the carousel and a Splash Pad. SNW has Yoshi and a playground in Donky Kong. There is a stage show in Potter (may be too intense for toddlers, we will see when it opens). I don't think there is anything for toddlers in Monster Land.

 

[celluloid]

Universal has never actively courted the stroller brigade, but they do provide some things for toddlers to do.

HTTYD will have a stage show, a playground, and M&Gs. The Hub has the carousel and a Splash Pad. SNW has Yoshi and a playground in Donky Kong. There is a stage show in Potter (may be too intense for toddlers, we will see when it opens). I don't think there is anything for toddlers in Monster Land.

Not quite true. Targeted? Debatable, A chunk of opening day had what kids at the time enjoyed, but all attractions always included them. Remember the early 90s had attractions at Universal that were directly or indirectly tied into things kids loved of the time. Fivel(show but later play area) Ghostbusters and Back to the Future had cartoon tie ins and kids loved those properties and attractions as much and in some cases more than the parents. popularity because of that and HB had a generation of kids watching the same toons that young to old knew. All of this complimented with not just rides that every age and height could experience, but two large stunt shows and an Animal show.

Universal from 1990 to 1999 no rides had height requirements except for Back to the Future which came in 1991. The material was sometimes natural disaster or daring, but the choice was there and many, millions of kids, including this guy typing rode them all. Besides Back to the Future to come in 1991 and the non motion seating was an option for Funtastic World since opening day. Everyone could ride everything.

Donkey Kong playground could be a lot of fun.

The recent additions of Minions and Kid Zone revamped with more to do shows the need for Universal leaning into families experiencing things together again as a void that needs filled.

IOA has had some of the best theme park playgrounds, walk throughs and special effects shows anywhere both in scale and scope, and it struggled with this and its only new (and rushed after the park was only open a year) attractions as its only expansion for years were ones to fill that void. Storm Force Accelatron and Flying Unicorn. And this was back when Cat in The Hat had zero height requirement but was more intense.(accident litigation changed that)

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Not quite true. Targeted? Debatable, A chunk of opening day had what kids at the time enjoyed, but all attractions always included them. Remember the early 90s had attractions at Universal that were directly or indirectly tied into things kids loved of the time. Fivel(show but later play area) Ghostbusters and Back to the Future had cartoon tie ins and kids loved those properties and attractions as much and in some cases more than the parents. popularity because of that and HB had a generation of kids watching the same toons that young to old knew. All of this complimented with not just rides that every age and height could experience, but two large stunt shows and an Animal show.

Universal from 1990 to 1999 no rides had height requirements except for Back to the Future which came in 1991. The material was sometimes natural disaster or daring, but the choice was there and many, millions of kids, including this guy typing rode them all. Besides Back to the Future to come in 1991 and the non motion seating was an option for Funtastic World since opening day. Everyone could ride everything.

Donkey Kong playground could be a lot of fun.

The recent additions of Minions and Kid Zone revamped with more to do shows the need for Universal leaning into families experiencing things together again as a void that needs filled.

IOA has had some of the best theme park playgrounds, walk throughs and special effects shows anywhere both in scale and scope, and it struggled with this and its only new (and rushed after the park was only open a year) attractions as its only expansion for years were ones to fill that void. Storm Force Accelatron and Flying Unicorn. And this was back when Cat in The Hat had zero height requirement but was more intense.(accident litigation changed that)

I will say one thing that's a positive about it. Unlike Disney, Universal is not just one big stroller parking lot and traffic jam.