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

[celluloid]

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.

They have always had better stroller parking areas than Disney, who not only has more population of strollers, higher attendance and retrofitted stroller spots.

This was well designed right down to Hogwarts Express, you can actually fold the strollers up and Team Members will place them themselves into their own car on the train.

Another great aspect of Universal, that I hope continues, is how they do rider Swap. You have the option to wait in the queue and switch in the room for the rest of your party and child to ride again, or you could wait outside of the attraction.

Your child not tall enough or guest who is not able to ride for whatever reason can still enjoy the queue and as much atmosphere as possible with the entire family.

At Disney, my kids can't always see the inside of the things in the queue line that the attractions that they could get a kick out of.

 

[ToTBellHop]

There’s a reason we didn’t start routinely going to Universal until the kids were 5. Thankfully (for me and for Universal and their cash flow), humans spend more time over age 5 than under.

 

[My95cobras]

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 is not Disney. The one time fee for the band is like the wand. Not pay 20 per ride to skip a line.

 

[MisterPenguin]

universal is not Disney. The one time fee for the band is like the wand. Not pay 20 per ride to skip a line.

Yeah, Universal is completely different. They charge 4-6 times more to skip the line!!

And they charge the cost of a wand for Potterland effects.

And they charge a hopper fee if you want to ride the Express.

And they charge for a band for the Nintendo world effects.

Nothing like Disney.

 

[Rush]

They charge 4-6 times more to skip the line!!

That's not true at all

 

[celluloid]

universal is not Disney. The one time fee for the band is like the wand. Not pay 20 per ride to skip a line.

It is still reasonable to want interactivity in lands without an upcharge. And it is still in fact that every person in your party must have the band to experience the Bowser battle. A family of four that gets to be near 100 bucks.

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

It is still reasonable to want interactivity in lands without an upcharge. And it is still in fact that every person in your party must have the band to experience the Bowser battle. A family of four that gets to be near 100 bucks.

This is not true. We went to Mario Land in Hollywood and only my son had a band. My wife and I were still able to participate in the Bowser Jr. mini game.

 

[celluloid]

This is not true. We went to Mario Land in Hollywood and only my son had a band. My wife and I were still able to participate in the Bowser Jr. mini game.

Interesting. It must have changed. According to many posts about Hollywood, it seems with kids it used to be one parent per band when crowd levels have been lower. It is cool that you both got to go in with just your son having one. In Japan it was far more strict. Good that it is changing. Good to hear. It is a shame that one must be required rather than having a few options of interactivity that are not band based. In Japan, this felt a bit Galaxy's Edge in that regard. Not quite as expensive, but I was not going to drop the extra money with how they had it set up there. We will wait for EPIC if we ever decide to do it and my son was more interested in having the money for a novelty Jaws hat and toy.

It would be great if the Bowser Jr challenge was built with multiple rooms that could increase efficiency and have the more lenient version of the policy

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Yeah, Universal is completely different. They charge 4-6 times more to skip the line!!

And they charge the cost of a wand for Potterland effects.

And they charge a hopper fee if you want to ride the Express.

And they charge for a band for the Nintendo world effects.

Nothing like Disney.

Unless you stay in a "Deluxe" which is complimentary. (Right...nothing like Disney)

Wand effects is no different than Disney selling packs of cards to enjoy an additional experience in the Magic Kingdom.
You mean the Immersive transportation that brings you to another full theme park to continue your experience/adventure?
Charging for a band in Nintendo for effects is different than charging for a band for Galaxy's Edge effects...how?

Anybody can spin it for or against either. Let's just all agree that both do everything to squeeze every cent they can out of you while you are there.

 

[Andrew25]

Anybody can spin it for or against either. Let's just all agree that both do everything to squeeze every cent they can out of you while you are there.

Yes, both parks are greedy and will do anything for that last cent in your wallet.

With that said, at least Universal is actually doing stuff for guest improvement, while Disney keeps cutting away things.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Anybody can spin it for or against either. Let's just all agree that both do everything to squeeze every cent they can out of you while you are there.

Yes, which was my point against a "Universal doesn't squeeze you like Disney does" post.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Yes, which was my point against a "Universal doesn't squeeze you like Disney does" post.

Agreed.

Maybe the way Universal does it makes it feel more palatable?
Express Pass is a huge expense...but you buy once and then you enjoy your day with it. With Lightning Lanes, it feels like you're paying extra for each individual ride on top of paying at the gate (if using Individual Lightning Lanes).
Sure, you need a hopper pass to ride Hogwart's Express...but, unlike Disney, you're getting something extra with that hopper pass (an exclusive attraction).
Same with the Freestyle cups. These work better than the Disney refillables. To me, I need to hydrate more often at the parks than at my resort so only allowing refills at the resort is a pain. Not to mention, if I fill up on my way out of the resort, then I'm lugging a useless mug around the park with me.

I'm not trying to justify these methods...just trying to get into the psyche of why it seems like Universal is doing it in way that almost makes it seem "worth it."

 

[Rich Brownn]

That's not true at all

Correct. Beacause with LL you can only ride once!

 

[JoeCamel]

Agreed.

Maybe the way Universal does it makes it feel more palatable?
Express Pass is a huge expense...but you buy once and then you enjoy your day with it. With Lightning Lanes, it feels like you're paying extra for each individual ride on top of paying at the gate (if using Individual Lightning Lanes).
Sure, you need a hopper pass to ride Hogwart's Express...but, unlike Disney, you're getting something extra with that hopper pass (an exclusive attraction).
Same with the Freestyle cups. These work better than the Disney refillables. To me, I need to hydrate more often at the parks than at my resort so only allowing refills at the resort is a pain. Not to mention, if I fill up on my way out of the resort, then I'm lugging a useless mug around the park with me.

I'm not trying to justify these methods...just trying to get into the psyche of why it seems like Universal is doing it in way that almost makes it seem "worth it."

Yes, I said it 10 years ago, Universal makes me want to give them my money (value) Disney makes me feel like Bob's hand is in my pocket. Bob is not a builder, Universal is and rewards loyalty.

 

[Rush]

Correct. Beacause with LL you can only ride once!

And you don't have to book a date to ride in advance as well.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

And you don't have to book a date to ride in advance as well.

Lightning Lane is all day-of now as well.

 

[celluloid]

Unless you stay in a "Deluxe" which is complimentary. (Right...nothing like Disney)

Wand effects is no different than Disney selling packs of cards to enjoy an additional experience in the Magic Kingdom.
You mean the Immersive transportation that brings you to another full theme park to continue your experience/adventure?
Charging for a band in Nintendo for effects is different than charging for a band for Galaxy's Edge effects...how?

Anybody can spin it for or against either. Let's just all agree that both do everything to squeeze every cent they can out of you while you are there.

Chiming back in.
The only reason I brought up the Nintendo band situation is it has the same issue Galaxy's Edge has. Anything that a child under 40 inches could actually enjoy while we were there in Japan out of Mario Land was an upcharge. At least they had Yoshi but that ride was...not a home run and a longer wait than Mario. More interactivity and the DK area hopefully balances that out. California did a great thing by managing the ride height 38 inches but I still think that is too high for what the ride does and I wish R&D would have gotten it to a Kong Skull Island or ET height requirement of 34-36. But still better than 40.

Yes, they are all in the same profit goal. Galaxy's Edge I would argue in a way is even worse.

Universal's Express is monumentally better value than Disney's. Genie Plus even at its cheaper price points schedules you and limits you.

Express has way more value as it is as you wish and has unlimited options.

 

[SpectreJordan]

universal is not Disney. The one time fee for the band is like the wand. Not pay 20 per ride to skip a line.

Yeah, they just charge like $150 per person to skip the lines....

 

[JT3000]

Yeah, they just charge like $150 per person to skip the lines....

Just skip more than 7 lines.

 

[trr1]

bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct

In this aerial photo of the Donkey Kong roller coaster in Epic Universe:1 Recent excavation2 Rainwater accumulation in a water feature. Mine cars will splash through this area.3 Recently cast circular concrete pad

Aerial look at the entrance of Epic Universe. Although from this viewpoint it's the exit.Frame for security and admission at top.Columns so far for the gateway at center.In foreground is excavation for a water feature.

Aerial look across a construction of a water feature just past the entrance of Epic Universe.Also seen at arrow is casting of a concrete wall for the gateway into the park.

Arrow in this aerial photo at a covered mine car in the Donkey Kong roller coaster construction in Epic Universe.

Aerial overview of the entrance plaza of Epic Universe. A water feature at top center.Columns of the gateway at center.Frames for security and admissions in foreground.

Aerial photo of concrete pour of a wall in the gateway entrance to Epic Universe.

Framing at center of this aerial is security and admission into Epic Universe. At right is admission sales.

Aerial overview of the entrance of Epic Universe. Construction transportation bus at top center is in the actual bus loop for the park.

Aerial overview of the entrance to Epic Universe.Ticking at far right, and connected framing is for security and park admissions.At center are columns for the gateway.Excavation for a water feature

Aerial overview of the Donkey Kong roller coaster in Epic Universe.

Aerial look at an outdoor portion of the Donkey Kong roller coaster in Epic Universe. At center is a water feature that mine cars will splash through.Arrow at left at a covered mine car on the track.