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

[Stripes]

For you, maybe.

Mediocre and bad production quality takes me out of the story.

Depending on how bad it is, absolutely.

Ideally, there’s great production quality and great story.

 

[TalkToEthan]

. To me, it’s going to get repetitive if the ride is: Dracula’s coming to get you! Oh, and he’s set Wolfman after you too! And here’s the Creature! He’s gonna get you!

I was thinking the exact same thing…….but too scared to bring it up here today because I didn’t want to rain on an exciting parade.

Yes, I hope the Monsters story has some meaning——something that will move us——and won’t just be a barrage of sophisticated AA’s trying to get us

That was my second grievance with Spider-Man years back: the ride is one arch villain after another taking a shot at us, showing off their special powers. While the effects were groundbreaking for the day the story was weak.

 

[MrPromey]

There’s a difference between a show’s production quality and quality of its story.

Mediocre production quality can be overlooked when there’s a great story. Great production quality can’t save a mediocre story.

In the case of Haunted, who even cares about the masks on pistons? Keep 'em, remove 'em, replace them with tiny little pop-up Disney+ signs - I think it would be hard to ruin this ride.*

The Dementors are a single part of a really big and immersive ride but they do stick out a little more.

The Fish... There's just no getting around those.

*Note to Disney leadership: Please don't consider that a challenge.. or an idea.

 

[MisterPenguin]

The Dementors are a single part of a really big and immersive ride but they do stick out a little more.

I get it!!

 

[Disneyhead'71]

They look absolutely incredible. The Dracula and Wolfman jumpscare animations look like they’ll be especially effective considering how the kuka vehicles can get real up close and personal. And walking Frankenstein should be a show stopper.


Boom. Just nailed immediately why so many new Disney animatronics are technically impressive but not realistic or thematically

Tiana for example is sitting or standing in a neutral position in all of her appearances in TBA. There’s literally no dynamic action anytime she’s around, so she just has to wave her arms around like no human would ever do just to remind you that it is a very technically impressive figure.

Kylo Ren has the same problem at the end of RotR. Everyone says it looks so silly because his starting position is a flat footed un-athletic pose. What should be an exhilarating moment when the wall collapses is made silly because he remains in that weird feet close together and knees locked pose.

I have said for years that they look like they are conducting an orchestra. And now I can't un-see it.

And as far as this ride. Those wanting to see these AAs in action should buckle up, this is not a Disney attraction.

 

[sedati]

Excited, but I was also excited about the Hagrid animatronic, the Kong shaman, and Imhotep, all of which looked great in promo but not so great in person. Kong himself definitely impresses and Jurassic Shanghai looks to have incredible animatronics. Looking forward to finding out.

 

[JT3000]

In the case of Haunted, who even cares about the masks on pistons? Keep 'em, remove 'em, replace them with tiny little pop-up Disney+ signs - I think it would be hard to ruin this ride.*

*Note to Disney leadership: Please don't consider that a challenge.. or an idea.

They're already trying their best.

 

[Scuttle]

Agreed. They are well done but that amount of movement on the Shaman is still untouched IMO.
I'll add that Kong (due to it's shear size) and the raptors in the Velocicoaster queue are some of Unis best.

If Frankenstein is actually walking the Shaman will be an embarrassment compared.

 

[splah]

I was thinking the exact same thing…….but too scared to bring it up here today because I didn’t want to rain on an exciting parade.

Yes, I hope the Monsters story has some meaning——something that will move us——and won’t just be a barrage of sophisticated AA’s trying to get us

That was my second grievance with Spider-Man years back: the ride is one arch villain after another taking a shot at us, showing off their special powers. While the effects were groundbreaking for the day the story was weak.

I'm trying to think of other scenes where the monster wouldn't be trying to get us, given the context of the ride. Variety is the spice of life though

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I'm trying to think of other scenes where the monster wouldn't be trying to get us, given the context of the ride. Variety is the spice of life though

You can have scenes that aren't trying to be jump scares just for the sake of jump scares. You can show them wreaking havoc within the manor. (Kind of like in Dinosaur when the Alioramus is eating a dino...it's an impressive sight, but it's not directly "coming at you." It's just a nice show scene).

(Although, with the KUKA arm and looking at the Creature animatronic, I could see it flipping us face down over the water and him popping up at us...which would be a pretty awesome experience)

 

[andre85]

If Frankenstein is actually walking the Shaman will be an embarrassment compared.

I don't see why it would embarrass the shamen in any way; both animatronics seem to be well suited for what they were thematically built to do.

 

[tissandtully]

Arguably Reign of Kong is in permanent b-mode. No outdoor section or 3D glasses.

That's so disappointing, almost worse than the Yeti.

 

[tissandtully]

The tech in the Tiana AAs is very advanced but the animation is lackluster. Not the animators fault though. The story is weak and the animatronics lack purpose.

I’m expecting the Walt Disney AA to impress, and I assume it will be ready before Epic opens.

The scariness of the Monster AAs give them power. I think the emotions invoked by the Walt AA will give it a similarly powerful effect.

Can't wait for the Walt AA to take a swipe at me

 

[tissandtully]

The Imagineers have been getting their inspiration lately from 70's/80's Hanna Barbera rather than Disney animation, it would seem.

"We paid for all the arm servos, we're using all the arm servos!"

 

[UNCgolf]

In the case of Haunted, who even cares about the masks on pistons? Keep 'em, remove 'em, replace them with tiny little pop-up Disney+ signs - I think it would be hard to ruin this ride.*

The Dementors are a single part of a really big and immersive ride but they do stick out a little more.

The Fish... There's just no getting around those.

*Note to Disney leadership: Please don't consider that a challenge.. or an idea.

The broom flight simulation parts are what drag Forbidden Journey down and turn into a not great attraction for me. I'm not sure I even noticed the dementors were just on a stick because those parts of the ride were so, so much better/more interesting than the bad and boring simulator parts.

 

[trr1]

Universal Epic Universe News Mega Update — MONSTERS ANIMATRONICS, CAROUSEL SEATING, & NEW PERMITS​

NEW VIDEO! Epic Universe's opening date announced, Monsters Unchained animatronics revealed, Constellation Carousel seating installed, and new permits in this massive update!

 

[danlb_2000]

A positive step would be if they last longer than the Yeti…I’m sure UNI realizes that…we shall see if their B mode is better or worse than Disney’s…
As ASIA sang, “Only Time Will Tell”…

With 14 of them in the ride it's possible they won't even need a b-mode. Depending on how the ride story plays out they may be able to remove one for maintenance without really impacting the ride experience.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Universal Epic Universe News Mega Update — MONSTERS ANIMATRONICS, CAROUSEL SEATING, & NEW PERMITS​

NEW VIDEO! Epic Universe's opening date announced, Monsters Unchained animatronics revealed, Constellation Carousel seating installed, and new permits in this massive update!

In this video they explained Monsters Unchained will have 15 AAs total. 14 on the ride, one in the preshow.

 

[TalkToEthan]

Monsters Unchained will have 15 AAs total. 14 on the ride, one in the preshow.

Cosmic Rewind has absolutely nothing; but we do get videos, important transmissions and a hologram——how cool is that!!!

 

[Moth]

Universal has shared a new look at some of the animated figures in Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment:

If the Gill Man is ever gone I am the first suspect.