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

[MisterPenguin]

Anyone know what this wall is for? Looks like the start of a building, but placement seems odd as it’s directly in front of the portal? View attachment 746427

There's a bunch of buildings between the Potter Portal and the hub circular pools...

 

[build_it]

There's a bunch of buildings between the Potter Portal and the hub circular pools...

View attachment 746439

Gotcha. I guess there was some speculation that some of the central projects were eliminated or put on hold. Happy to see that’s not the case!

 

[ToTBellHop]

Why would there be entry gates into WWoHP? I thought you needed paid admission to enter any of the park.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Why would there be entry gates into WWoHP? I thought you needed paid admission to enter any of the park.

All of the lands are isolated with a single primary entry/exit defined by a portal that takes you to the land.

 

[Mike S]

Aerial look at the portal of Super Nintendo World.Nearby buildings are getting theming. They are believed to be Nintendo shop and cafe, outside of the land, and in the central corridor of Epic Universe.
View attachment 746375

A separate Nintendo store just outside the land? Color me intrigued. I wonder if it’ll be like the store in New York but I would think something like that would fit better in CityWalk.

 

[ToTBellHop]

All of the lands are isolated with a single primary entry/exit defined by a portal that takes you to the land.

I understand that, but facial recognition was mentioned at that portal. I thought that would only be at the park entrance.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

There's a bunch of buildings between the Potter Portal and the hub circular pools...

View attachment 746439

According to permits (per Alicia), that table service was cut and replaced by a quick service. But what they are building there doesn't match those newer plans either. Personally, I am hoping it's a wine bar version of Duff Gardens. "Celestial Gardens Winery".

Meteor Buger, (the space themed building to the right in that pic) was also cut, although the restrooms survived.

A separate Nintendo store just outside the land? Color me intrigued. I wonder if it’ll be like the store in New York but I would think something like that would fit better in CityWalk.

It is for when Super Nintendo World is inaccessible, ie: closed to capacity, corporate buy-out, or after park hours when the hub is still open for dining and shopping.

 

[Mike S]

It is for when Super Nintendo World is inaccessible, ie: closed to capacity, corporate buy-out, or after park hours when the hub is still open for dining and shopping.

Will it not be open outside of those situations???

 

[Andrew25]

The "open hub" concept seems to have died off, but the new Facial Rec tech they're implementing is a great way to limit capacity at some of the lands by blocking the entrance and allowing guests to visit other areas of the park without waiting in a queue.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I understand that, but facial recognition was mentioned at that portal. I thought that would only be at the park entrance.

New wands

 

[rd805]

It's unreal how quickly these teams are making THINGS happen. So impressed with Uni.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It's unreal how quickly these teams are making THINGS happen. So impressed with Uni.

Indeed. Things go quicker when you start cutting things out.

 

[JT3000]

Indeed. Things go quicker when you start cutting things out.

Such as?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Such as?

Did you not read the post six posts back?

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Will it not be open outside of those situations???

It will be open all the time.

 

[Mike S]

It will be open all the time.

Will it be a normal merch store or like the store in New York?

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Will it be a normal merch store or like the store in New York?

I have no idea. Just that it is Nintendo.

 

[JT3000]

Did you not read the post six posts back?

So a couple dining locations were cut. You made it sound like there were significant cuts all over the park. That is not enough to have a major effect on the park's buildout.

 

[MisterPenguin]

So a couple dining locations were cut. You made it sound like there were significant cuts all over the park. That is not enough to have a major effect on the park's buildout.

The real point is that you haven't been paying attention to the whole build and just lavish uncritical praise.

Again, I want EU to be good and succeed.

But it has gone through the "budget imagineering" that Disney projects have gone through. A bunch of buildings and projects have been deferred to a 'phase 2,' including a second Potter ride. It's been talked about in the Theme Park Stop videos posted in this thread.

 

[lazyboy97o]

So a couple dining locations were cut. You made it sound like there were significant cuts all over the park. That is not enough to have a major effect on the park's buildout.

Just because they’re not known doesn’t mean they haven’t happened.