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

[networkpro]

They will sell the cable operation

That's not exactly a business I'd want to be in right now as the budgetary paradigm that supports it is rapidly changing from selling packaged sets of channels to more of an ISP with a costly physical plant to maintain. That as well as the needed upgrade from docsis 3.x to 4.

 

[JoeCamel]

That's not exactly a business I'd want to be in right now as the budgetary paradigm that supports it is rapidly changing from selling packaged sets of channels to more of an ISP with a costly physical plant to maintain. That as well as the needed upgrade from docsis 3.x to 4.

Could I interest you in some legacy broadcast ops then?

 

[andre85]

Can we at least wait until the part of DAK that resembles a parking lot has actually been replaced before dumping heaps of hyperbole onto it

I stand by what I said, even with the parking lot. I don't see how it's at all hyperbolic to say AK is one of the very best in class when it comes to theme (and I would have still said this even pre-Pandora!)

 

[networkpro]

Could I interest you in some legacy broadcast ops then?

Both them and the mouse have that problem.

 

[TalkToEthan]

What do you mean by “fronts?”

Front entrance?

Fronts in this context means the outside of buildings or “mountains” that are created as large set pieces to tell a story as opposed to service or warehouse structures ‘behind the scenes’. ((And I would never call the huge Cosmic Rewind box building a “front” because even though it’s readily visible it is not intended to be seen as proven by its “go away” paint scheme.))
…..Set pieces like the vine covered floating mountains and main mountain scape (but not the actual rides Navi and Flight), bathroom bunker…..all the structures we see as we walk around the outdoors of Pandora

For instance if I were talking about the fronts on Main St it’s all of the themed out architecture we see while walking the street. Thus, inside shops and eateries have nothing to do with frontage.

Some fronts offer more or less 360 degree themed views like Grizzly River Mountain at DCA, Mt Prometheus and Cinderella Castle.

So I’m standing by what I said earlier that I fully expect Epic fronts to be—on “an inch per inch, pound for pound basis”—-just as good as Disney Sea.

 

[rd805]

I’ve heard through the grapevine that Super Nintendo World may be fast-tracking an expansion to open a year or so after Epic Universe opens.

I tend to see it happening pretty dang quickly too -- they know they'll need another family ride (or even just a ride in general) to meet demand. Within one a year of opening though -- probably not. Maybe they could start construction May26, for an opening the following year (again, if its prioritized over Zelda, Pokemon, etc).

 

[Stripes]

Fronts in this context means the outside of buildings or “mountains” that are created as large set pieces to tell a story as opposed to service or warehouse structures ‘behind the scenes’. ((And I would never call the huge Cosmic Rewind box building a “front” because even though it’s readily visible it is not intended to be seen as proven by its “go away” paint scheme.))
…..Set pieces like the vine covered floating mountains and main mountain scape (but not the actual rides Navi and Flight), bathroom bunker…..all the structures we see as we walk around the outdoors of Pandora

For instance if I were talking about the fronts on Main St it’s all of the themed out architecture we see while walking the street. Thus, inside shops and eateries have nothing to do with frontage.

Some fronts offer more or less 360 degree themed views like Grizzly River Mountain at DCA, Mt Prometheus and Cinderella Castle.

So I’m standing by what I said earlier that I fully expect Epic fronts to be—on “an inch per inch, pound for pound basis”—-just as good as Disney Sea.

Ah, I think the word you are looking for is facade.

So I’m standing by what I said earlier that I fully expect Epic fronts to be—on “an inch per inch, pound for pound basis”—-just as good as Disney Sea.

I‘ll have to disagree with you there. See below.

Donkey Kong Country using a painted flat throughout the land.

HTTYD theater will be using a painted flat.

IMO, even the best facades at Epic Universe do not look like they measure up to the Disneysea standard.

 

[Andrew25]

IMO, even the best facades at Epic Universe do not look like they measure up to the Disneysea standard.

I think land by land

SNW - The Mushroom Kingdom area will be well built and hide most (if not all) of the surrounding area. Donkey Kong might have some visual intrusions from on ride due to lack of a significant berm on the northern side. Over the years the bamboo should do a decent job at covering things though.

Dark Universe - The monsters building might suffer from the same issues that plague Forbidden Journey. Impressive facade/views, but a show building sticking out.

Ministry of Magic - Will be very immersive ala Diagon Alley. No issues here outside of some of the buildings being seen from the hub.

HTTYD - Unfortunately will suffer from unthemed buildings (like the theater) or partially themed buildings (Mead Hall's backside) along with visual intrusions from Starfall due to no significant berm between it and the land itself.

I say this as someone who doesn't think seeing other lands from an other area is bad, but rather have issue with lack or cheap attempts at theming.

 

[Stripes]

I think land by land

SNW - The Mushroom Kingdom area will be well built and hide most (if not all) of the surrounding area. Donkey Kong might have some visual intrusions from on ride due to lack of a significant berm on the northern side. Over the years the bamboo should do a decent job at covering things though.

Dark Universe - The monsters building might suffer from the same issues that plague Forbidden Journey. Impressive facade/views, but a show building sticking out.

Ministry of Magic - Will be very immersive ala Diagon Alley. No issues here outside of some of the buildings being seen from the hub.

HTTYD - Unfortunately will suffer from unthemed buildings (like the theater) or partially themed buildings (Mead Hall's backside) along with visual intrusions from Starfall due to no significant berm between it and the land itself.

I say this as someone who doesn't think seeing other lands from an other area is bad, but rather have issue with lack or cheap attempts at theming.

I’m not saying there won’t be fantastic theming. I’m just not seeing Disneysea quality.

 

[jrhwdw]

I’m not saying there won’t be fantastic theming. I’m just not seeing Disneysea quality.

USJ quality?

 

[TalkToEthan]

Ah, I think the word you are looking for is facade.

I’m not looking for that word at all—— I routinely use it interchangeably with “front”
as proven by my #7094:

///As for fronts, strictly talking facades here….…///

 

[TalkToEthan]

IMO, even the best facades at Epic Universe do not look like they measure up to the Disneysea standard.

I bet Darkmore and Paris Ministry Magic fronts/facades will be at that level; and Nintendo and Dragon will have multiple Disney Sea caliber photo shots and visual WOW’s.

Celestial park’s visuals is harder to foresee; it could come out stellar or lackluster.

You do make a solid claim about painted flats———no argument there.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

For instance if I were talking about the fronts on Main St it’s all of the themed out architecture we see while walking the street. Thus, inside shops and eateries have nothing to do with frontage.

Would they be the middles/middleage?

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I bet Darkmore and Paris Ministry Magic fronts/facades will be at that level; and Nintendo and Dragon will have multiple Disney Sea caliber photo shots and visual WOW’s.

Celestial park’s visuals is harder to foresee; it could come out stellar or lackluster.

You do make a solid claim about painted flats———no argument there.

I think the painted flats work fine for Nintendo...as the background to most of the original games were just flat looking backgrounds.

 

[OG Runner]

To be fair, there are still buildings & utilities easily visible throughout Hagrid's... both onboard and offride.

As for HTTYD coaster, as of right the backside of Mead Hall will be quite easily seen on the ride, similar to how you see a few BoH buildings on Slinky Dog. It's just for a few seconds, not the end of the world, but it's annoying they couldn't add more scenery to block (like the giant fence).

I do think this park will offer the strongest collection of rides, but thematically it's far from the level of Animal Kingdom or DisneySea.

I totally agree, but Universal coasters tend to be outside metal coasters with the theming being an afterthought.
The Hulk coast is green. Really what additional theming does it have?

 

[disneydaft]

New TV commercial. Not sure if posted already.

 

[BrianLo]

USJ quality?

Much, much better than USJ quality. In most regards.

USJ has the worst sight line intrusions of both Disney and Universal's portfolios. There's literally a highway hovering over it on one side. Towering hotels on the other. The entirety of Flying Dinosaur feels shoved backstage. Aimless long corridors to their offshoot lands. Barely passable studios with half backstage queuing structures.

As for theming, their Hollywood facades have been converted to a disparate outlet mall of Hello kitty, Mario and Despicable me spillover. There's no attempt at coherence there.

Though USJ has a great lineup of rides and is much less phoned in than Beijing. But we need to normalize that this park is the same age as Disney Sea, it doesn't really have the poor master planning excuse.

Epic is going to be Universal's absolute best foot forward by a long mile. I think what most people struggle against is the realization that most of Universal of the 2000’s is sub par. So this represents finally a step into Disney quality; outside of their flashes of sheer brilliance propped up by outside forces like Miyamoto, WB, JK Rowling, etc. etc. Or I guess I should say general consistency and quality control.

 

[BrianLo]

PS I'm always coming off terribly curmudgeonly sounding regarding Uni, but I am incredibly looking forward to experiencing Epic.



So... I'm timing a max theoretical capacity on Donkey Kong of 800pp/h. There also seem to be infrequent vehicle gaps, which is disturbing. Just to point out this attraction is not operationally thought through.

I might blame Nintendo on this one. Whom I adore and think the attraction is going to be quirky AND super fun AND actually fully capture the spirit of what its trying to recreate... AND have scary nightmare lines.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

So... I'm timing a max theoretical capacity on Donkey Kong of 800pp/h. There also seem to be infrequent vehicle gaps, which is disturbing. Just to point out this attraction is not operationally thought through.

Don’t forget that the ride is novel tech and was delayed for almost a year! Surely that won’t present any further issues down the road…

 

[Andrew25]

PS I'm always coming off terribly curmudgeonly sounding regarding Uni, but I am incredibly looking forward to experiencing Epic.



So... I'm timing a max theoretical capacity on Donkey Kong of 800pp/h. There also seem to be infrequent vehicle gaps, which is disturbing. Just to point out this attraction is not operationally thought through.

I might blame Nintendo on this one. Whom I adore and think the attraction is going to be quirky AND super fun AND actually fully capture the spirit of what its trying to recreate... AND have scary nightmare lines.

Yes, this is the one ride that worries me about Epic. It has a ridicously low throughput. VelociCoaster's capacity is double this yet this one more undoubetbly be more popular due to IP and being more family-friendly. I hope the interval rates go down, but I doubt it. It's already at a 15-sec interval rate and that's probably the fastest.