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

[JT3000]

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

That's like saying, "Just because we haven't seen aliens that doesn't mean they don't exist." What am I supposed to do with this information? What is its practical application? The post he directed me to mentioned two dining locations and nothing else. We can speculate on all sorts of things potentially happening; I'm more interested in known factors.

 

[JT3000]

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.

I lavish uncritical praise? You don't pay much attention to my posts, do you?

The second Potter ride, along with I suspect just about everything else you're referring to, was already either cancelled or delayed by the time construction started back up (enough time for the Potter plans to temporarily get moved to an entirely different park before their final cancellation.) These things aren't news to a single soul who has been following this project. You're acting like you have some breaking news of "budget imagineering" that's causing the park to be built faster when you're just telling us what we already know and everything is on the same timeline it's been for years.

I'd also like to add that it's far too soon to put everything that was canceled down as a net less or "budget imagineering." It's entirely possible that they wouldn't have been the best use of the space. Did the VR Potter ride actually sound interesting to you? Because it sounded like DisneyQuest to me. Probably why it never got built.

 

[sonoma15]

Zephyr Market and Cassini have not been cut, rather modified, they are starting construction on them right now.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

The cuts and changes may not all be due to budget cuts. (Some I bet were...some may not have been).
That block of buildings and Meteor Burger may have been cut for budget reasons but they also may have been cut because the early plans were to keep the hub open after hours and they would need more eating/dining. If that is not the case anymore, put those on a shelf and reevaluate the space once the park opens and see what they can add there to help.

Potter, like mentioned above, was cut early on but not axed...they had plans to move the plans to Diagon Alley...and then it got axed.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I think as far as the restaurant changes they realized they had too many table service and too many restaurants in general for the needs of the park. So they cut the burger place and changed Cassini and Zepher Market into something else to balance out the offerings.

 

[Andrew25]

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.

Every project goes through a budget review, BUT both somewhat major projects canned were removed not for budgetary reasons, they didn't believe it would be successful. Werewolf Coaster replaced a theater show that probably didn't sit well with the creative team. Potter VR was moved over to USF before realizing it wasn't gonna be good and canceled it altogether.

As of now, the initial concept art is pretty close to what we're getting so far.

I think as far as the restaurant changes they realized they had too many table service and too many restaurants in general for the needs of the park. So they cut the burger place and changed Cassini and Zepher Market into something else to balance out the offerings.

There are staffing issues resort-wide at the moment, so cutting down on QSRs now is much better than leaving them shuttered for half the day like at IOA or some of the WDW parks.

I'm pretty critical of Universal from an ops-perspective (very worried about how they can run 3 parks when they run the 2 current ones like it's the pre-Potter days), but they're creative team has been nothing but stellar recently.

 

[lazyboy97o]

As of now, the initial concept art is pretty close to what we're getting so far.

That is not initial concept art.

 

[Andrew25]

That is not initial concept art.

Obviously, there are hundreds of concept art pieces we will never get a chance to see... but they were never revealed publicly.

We can't judge based on previous concepts not revealed, but once you announce the public version... that's what we expect and is fair to compare/criticize.

TSL got criticized for announcing a land with rockwork throughout, only to then pull it back after. Epic hasn't done that just yet from what we can tell. If all the rock work from HTTYD got canned, a few people here would be blasting Universal.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Every project goes through a budget review, BUT both somewhat major projects canned were removed not for budgetary reasons, they didn't believe it would be successful. Werewolf Coaster replaced a theater show that probably didn't sit well with the creative team.

So... you're just guessing then?

 

[Andrew25]

So... you're just guessing then?

I don't have to guess, it's been reported through outlets that Universal was not fond of the idea.

I love shows, but a show in a monster's land with a semi-serious tone isn't the best fit. Glad at the very least they replaced it with something versus leaving it empty and marked as an expansion pad that won't be used for years.

If anything, the coaster is more expensive than a theater show to build lol

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I don't have to guess, it's been reported through outlets that Universal was not fond of the idea.

I love shows, but a show in a monster's land with a semi-serious tone isn't the best fit. Glad at the very least they replaced it with something versus leaving it empty and marked as an expansion pad that won't be used for years.

If anything, the coaster is more expensive than a theater show to build lol

I don't know, seeing a Young Frankenstein singing Puttin' on the Ritz would get my money.

 

[JT3000]

I don't have to guess, it's been reported through outlets that Universal was not fond of the idea.

I love shows, but a show in a monster's land with a semi-serious tone isn't the best fit. Glad at the very least they replaced it with something versus leaving it empty and marked as an expansion pad that won't be used for years.

If anything, the coaster is more expensive than a theater show to build lol

You can easily do a serious Monsters show. It just has to have more of a HHN tone than a Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue tone. The longest-running show on Broadway was based on one of the characters used by Universal.

 

[trr1]

 

[lazyboy97o]

Obviously, there are hundreds of concept art pieces we will never get a chance to see... but they were never revealed publicly.

We can't judge based on previous concepts not revealed, but once you announce the public version... that's what we expect and is fair to compare/criticize.

TSL got criticized for announcing a land with rockwork throughout, only to then pull it back after. Epic hasn't done that just yet from what we can tell. If all the rock work from HTTYD got canned, a few people here would be blasting Universal.

I’m really supposed to believe that people would be totally cool with Disney building a nearly billion dollar land with just one ride?

 

[TalkToEthan]

If anything, the coaster is more expensive than a theater show to build lol

I’m sure you’re right about a ride’s physical build being more expensive compared to a show……but wouldn’t the show ultimately be more expensive due to specialized performers pay and opportunity costs inherent with a captive audience(I assume your typical show lasts noticeably longer than just about every ride on property………thus, for every 1 minute of showtime there is 1 less potential minute of buying Franken ice cream bars, Mario shoulder buddies and Potter capes )
In summation I bet shows(not the park wide epic closer style shows where audiences readily pop in at will and take out to buy light and glow sticks) in the big picture cost more than rides.

 

[Mike S]

I’m really supposed to believe that people would be totally cool with Disney building a nearly billion dollar land with just one ride?

Is it a billion for just one land? I thought it was established long ago here that Universal’s budgets aren’t anywhere near as crazy and they’re able to do more with less? Like the initial budgets I remember for Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley combined was still less than $1 Billion.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Is it a billion for just one land? I thought it was established long ago here that Universal’s budgets aren’t anywhere near as crazy and they’re able to do more with less? Like the initial budgets I remember for Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley combined was still less than $1 Billion.

Not a full billion just yet, but closer to that than half a billion. Universal’s costs have accelerated rapidly over the past decade, probably worse than Disney considering where they started. They don’t spend as much as Disney but the gap is now quite small. The days of Hogsmeade and Transformers in Orlando are long gone.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I’m really supposed to believe that people would be totally cool with Disney building a nearly billion dollar land with just one ride?

Ummm, yes, one ride, but two "Attractions" if I recall correctly. I don't think given the scope of the new Potter land there will be too many complaints. And it is in addition to what else the park has too offer.

 

[J4546]

I just hope whatever the ride is isn't a disappointment like diagon alley ride is imo. Such a great land with 1 mediocre ride

 

[Mike S]

Ummm, yes, one ride, but two "Attractions" if I recall correctly. I don't think given the scope of the new Potter land there will be too many complaints. And it is in addition to what else the park has too offer.

Bigger scope than Hogsmeade or Diagon?