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

[Andrew25]

Hopefully there's some good theming to make up for the short ride duration.

I hope you like trees and dirt lol

 

[ToTBellHop]

I hope you like trees and dirt lol

And a werewolf with a pole sticking in its butt a la Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure?

 

[JoeCamel]

And a werewolf with a pole sticking in its butt a la Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure?

Think they make him look like Michael J Fox?

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Curse of the Werewolf coaster testing.

Hopefully there's some good theming to make up for the short ride duration.

To be fair, it does look like it's missing two launches. We don't see it leave the station so it could've already gone through the barn, and back through the barn before the video started. Still, it's a short ride.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Looks like a nice 'family coaster.'

But, could there be more than one train out at a time? It's throughput looks to be really low.

Also: Odd that the video is sped up.

 

[Andrew25]

Looks like a nice 'family coaster.'

But, could there be more than one train out at a time? It's throughput looks to be really low.

Also: Odd that the video is sped up.

Throughput will be very low as it'll probably only have 1 train in the actual portion of the ride with 2 additional trains in the station.

This is essentially a "beefed up" version of Hippogriff that happens to spin lol

Not a bad addition to the park, better than nothing, but nothing substantial.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Looks like a nice 'family coaster.'

But, could there be more than one train out at a time? It's throughput looks to be really low.

Also: Odd that the video is sped up.

Let’s hope it can accommodate a second train or we are looking at perhaps 400 guests per hour? Oof. I presume it’ll have 2 trains, but even with that…600 guests per hour perhaps? And let’s hope the spinning doesn’t make it a “family coaster” with a 48” height requirement.

 

[ToTBellHop]

From overhead shots, I’m getting the impression the splash battle ride will be more “shoot water at this target” than “spray strangers”. Pity. Hitting strangers with water is cathartic. I could spend 3 hours on the Kali exit bridge.

 

[sonoma15]

From overhead shots, I’m getting the impression the splash battle ride will be more “shoot water at this target” than “spray strangers”. Pity. Hitting strangers with water is cathartic. I could spend 3 hours on the Kali exit bridge.

It'll be a mix of both like River Battle at Dollywood was, I think there will also be water guns off ride for people to shoot too.

 

[JT3000]

Given the small scale of the Wolfman coaster, I do wonder what convinced them to scrap an entire theater show and replace it with what essentially amounts to a glorified kiddie coaster. That doesn't seem to be a fair trade-off.

 

[Andrew25]

Let’s hope it can accommodate a second train or we are looking at perhaps 400 guests per hour? Oof. I presume it’ll have 2 trains, but even with that…600 guests per hour perhaps? And let’s hope the spinning doesn’t make it a “family coaster” with a 48” height requirement.

Theoretically, it looks like dispatches will be in the ~60 sec range so around 1.2K riders an hour

 

[UNCgolf]

Given the small scale of the Wolfman coaster, I do wonder what convinced them to scrap an entire theater show and replace it with what essentially amounts to a glorified kiddie coaster. That doesn't seem to be a fair trade-off.

Costs? I'm just speculating, but running and maintaining that coaster has to be significantly cheaper than a full theater show.

 

[Andrew25]

Costs? I'm just speculating, but running and maintaining that coaster has to be significantly cheaper than a full theater show.

Or the show got cut cause maybe they thought it wouldn't be good? Still have two theater shows, so the park won't be devoid of shows.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Given the small scale of the Wolfman coaster, I do wonder what convinced them to scrap an entire theater show and replace it with what essentially amounts to a glorified kiddie coaster. That doesn't seem to be a fair trade-off.

As people are wont to say for Disney parks, smaller C-Ticket rides and children's rides are needed to round out a park.

But, if it has a low capacity and there aren't also a bunch of these type of rides for this demographic.... long waits.

 

[UNCgolf]

Or the show got cut cause maybe they thought it wouldn't be good? Still have two theater shows, so the park won't be devoid of shows.

Could be some of both. If you don't think the show is going to be especially popular/good, then it definitely makes sense to eliminate the extra cost to have one.

My comment wasn't intended as an attack; just a possible reason if they were looking at overall budgets/operating costs.

 

[Poseidon Quest]

Given the small scale of the Wolfman coaster, I do wonder what convinced them to scrap an entire theater show and replace it with what essentially amounts to a glorified kiddie coaster. That doesn't seem to be a fair trade-off.

I believe Alicia Stella may have mentioned that the technology needed to pull off the show was not working out. I don't know for sure if she said that, but I heard it somewhere, so I'm assuming it was her.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Two words: Development Hell

 

[trr1]

bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct

Aerial overview of Dark Universe. Classic Universal Monsters land in Epic Universe.

Aerial look at the manor fronting the featured attraction in Dark Universe at Epic Universe. Purple exterior board recently added for the side towers.

Aerial photo of what seems to be the entire Dark Universe construction team gathering for a meeting at Epic Universe.

Aerial photo of the stone walls at front of the featured attraction in Dark Universe. The wall tops are lined with stones on edge.

Aerial photo of areas near the featured attraction in Dark Universe. At left is scaffolding for theming supports of a Back of House gate.

Aerial photo of the entry ramp of the featured attraction in Dark Universe.1 Peaks being added at the entrance gateway2 There's a slope, as if there will be water or it will be themed as a dry moat.3 Seems like attachments at the doorway for additional theming.

Aerial look at development of the overflow queue of the Dark Universe featured attraction. Many trees recently added.Arrow at pallets of stones that will be lined up on edges, as theming along top of the queue perimeter wall. Similar theming is at ramp in front of the manor.

Aerial look at the overflow queue of the featured attraction in Dark Universe. Many recently-added trees. Scaffolding at the square at the left wall is for theming a crypt.

Aerial look at construction of the manor in Dark Universe. Purple exterior board recently added for the side towers.At left is current exterior of a a quick service restaurant.

Aerial look at the manor fronting the featured attraction in Dark Universe at Epic Universe.Purple exterior board recently added for the side towers.

 

[trr1]

bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct

Aerial photo of areas in Dark Universe between The Burning Blade Tavern and the manor fronting the featured attraction in the land. At bottom center is a barn over the mid-course launch of the Curse of the Werewolf roller coaster.

Aerial look at areas near The Burning Blade Tavern in Dark Universe. Recently added plywood is under the outdoor seating roof.

Aerial overview of The Burning Blade Tavern in Dark Universe. Zoom in, seems like the mechanism for rotating the windmill blades is installed in the tower. At right is a recently added walkway and landscaping near roofed outdoor seating.

Aerial photo of developments in Dark Universe. Top left is recently added steel frame for a likely service building in Back of House.
Top right is the windmill tower of The Burning Blade Tavern. At bottom is the Curse of the Werewolf roller coaster, with a train in the station.

Best aerial look I have this flight of a Curse of the Werewolf roller coaster car in the station. In Dark Universe.

Aerial photo of steel frame recently raised for a likely service building in Back of House of Dark Universe.The Burning Blade Tavern windmill tower at left.

Aerial overview of Dark Universe. Classic Universal Monsters land in Epic Universe.

Aerial overview of Dark Universe. Top right is excavation for the in-park resort's pool.

Aerial photo of the portal of Dark Universe.Nearby is one of several octagonal shaped structures in development at the entrance and through the central corridor of Epic Universe.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Theoretically, it looks like dispatches will be in the ~60 sec range so around 1.2K riders an hour

Let’s hope they can actually dispatch that quickly. The hippogriff coaster line crawls and is simpler to load. But perhaps Express is the issue there?

Coaster aside, it looks like the rest of this land will be visually stunning.