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

[JoeCamel]

You know how everyone loves Disney's synergy by remaking their animation features into 'live action'?

Rejoice! Universal/Dreamworks is doing the same with How to Train Your Dragon next Summer. Think of the synergy with the Isle of Berk!!!

‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Teaser Trailer Reveals First Footage From Live-Action Remake

Mason Thames, Nico Parker and Gerard Butler star in Dean DeBlois' feature that hits theaters next year from Universal.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

It's their Lion King

 

[BrianLo]

This is part of the problem. They decided to do both to save a little money. That’s it. If it’s ridiculous for Disney to take so long and just do the same thing then Super Nintendo World is the poster child of that complaint.

Only to be outdone by Universal Beijing; I will never forgive whoever lifted an iterative Hulk to save 2$. They should go to executive jail with whoever thought gluing rock-work to a concrete pond wall constituted well executed theming.

 

[drkarcher22]

Universal released photos from inside the Ministry of Magic ride

BREAKING: First Look Inside the Harry Potter Ministry of Magic Queue & Attraction Coming to Universal Epic Universe

Universal Orlando has shared a first look inside the highly-anticipated Harry Potter Ministry of Magic ride coming to Epic Universe

blogmickey.com

“and the Time Room – which is overflowing with a variety of Time-Turners and unique timekeeping devices.”

This would imply that we would be going into the department of mysteries, the room where the time turners are kept is in the department. They get destroyed in the final battle in Order of the Phoenix. Presumably because the author was tired of people pointing out how pretty much every single plot in the series could be solved with them.

Oh, Fudge doesn’t believe Voldemort is back, well just have him send an Auror back to Little Hangleton at the time Harry says Voldemort returned to check the validity of his claims. Even if they can’t interfere in what happened they’d still have clear proof that he returned and knowledge of his plans and the names of the Death Eaters in his inner circle, but that’s enough overthinking a book.

The ride looks incredible, I love that we’re getting in queue animatronics in multiple rides with Ministry, DK and Monsters. (Along with potentially more depending on how they do the fortune teller for Curse of the Wolf, although I’d assume that will be done with a screen like Bill in the Gringotts line)

 

[ToTBellHop]

It's their Lion King

He does look at that dragon the same way Nala looks at Simba during “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?”

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I still think it’s an excellent ride. Obviously, they could do better 14 years later.

Oh yeah, it’s still very good, especially the physical set dark ride portions. But the “#1 best ride ever” talk didn’t last long.

 

[SplashJacket]

Oh yeah, it’s still very good, especially the physical set dark ride portions. But the “#1 best ride ever” talk didn’t last long.

Look at what opened 15 years after Indy opened and then look at what opened 15 years after FJ opened. Not exactly a similar slate

 

[TalkToEthan]

Could you elaborate on that below as I’m not understanding what you mean—— I must be missing an obvious point you’re making. Thanks thanks

Look at what opened 15 years after Indy opened and then look at what opened 15 years after FJ opened. Not exactly a similar slate

 

[sonoma15]

For like, the first six months. You’d have a hard time finding anyone arguing that in 2015, let alone now.

It's still my third favorite dark ride of all time, right behind Spiderman and Tower of Terror!

 

[UNCgolf]

Forbidden Journey wasn't even the best ride at Islands of Adventure when it opened -- both Spiderman (which I'm also nowhere near as high on as other people) and Jurassic Park River Adventure were (and are) better, at least when maintained and functioning properly.

FJ has more impressive technology for sure, but it doesn't really use it very well.

 

[SplashJacket]

Forbidden Journey wasn't even the best ride at Islands of Adventure when it opened -- both Spiderman (which I'm also nowhere near as high on as other people) and Jurassic Park River Adventure were (and are) better, at least when maintained and functioning properly.

FJ has more impressive technology for sure, but it doesn't really use it very well.

Spider-Man and FJ were both super high on my list when I first experienced them but now they’re no where near the top.

It is interesting that both have fallen so much in comparison to other attractions like Indy or RSR.

Perhaps because both focused more on technology?

I don’t think the Epic premiere attractions will suffer the same fate, but we’ll see

 

[UNCgolf]

Spider-Man and FJ were both super high on my list when I first experienced them but now they’re no where near the top.

It is interesting that both have fallen so much in comparison to other attractions like Indy or RSR.

Perhaps because both focused more on technology?

I don’t think the Epic premiere attractions will suffer the same fate, but we’ll see

I personally think screen heavy attractions suffer from this in general.

It's happened to Flight of Passage for me too -- I still like FoP, but I honestly find NRJ more enjoyable now. I'm sure it varies from person to person, but there's something about being in a physical environment that feels different/less replicable than watching something happen on a screen. Attractions like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Spaceship Earth haven't lost any of their appeal to me compared to ones like FoP and Spiderman.

FJ and Spiderman are both obviously more than just screens (unlike FoP) but they're still a major part of the experience.

 

[SplashJacket]

I personally think screen heavy attractions suffer from this in general.

It's happened to Flight of Passage for me too -- I still like FoP, but I honestly find NRJ more enjoyable now. I'm sure it varies from person to person, but there's something about being in a physical environment that feels different/less replicable than watching something happen on a screen. Attractions like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Spaceship Earth haven't lost any of their appeal to me compared to ones like FoP and Spiderman.

FJ and Spiderman are both obviously more than just screens (unlike FoP) but they're still a major part of the experience.

Yeah, the FJ screen domes have aged really poorly. Also think part of the issue is screens often direct your focus towards some time of specific action or event whereas non-screen scenes have a less focused attention, leading to more diversity of experience and thus increased re-ride ability, because the moments perceived are different each time.

Thankfully, I think Universal realizes this, and thus the premiere dark rides here are done right.

 

[drkarcher22]

Forbidden Journey wasn't even the best ride at Islands of Adventure when it opened -- both Spiderman (which I'm also nowhere near as high on as other people) and Jurassic Park River Adventure were (and are) better, at least when maintained and functioning properly.

FJ has more impressive technology for sure, but it doesn't really use it very well.

River Adventure can get moved back up when they finally get around to fixing all the Dino’s and scenes that just don’t work anymore

 

[JoeCamel]

Forbidden Journey wasn't even the best ride at Islands of Adventure when it opened -- both Spiderman (which I'm also nowhere near as high on as other people) and Jurassic Park River Adventure were (and are) better, at least when maintained and functioning properly.

FJ has more impressive technology for sure, but it doesn't really use it very well.

And Spidey just got another TEA award at IAAPA, amazing for an "old" ride

 

[UNCgolf]

River Adventure can get moved back up when they finally get around to fixing all the Dino’s and scenes that just don’t work anymore

Yeah, that's why I added the "if maintained and functioning properly" disclaimer.

 

[BrianLo]

I didn't know they were making a live action How to train your Dragon. Certainly fortuitous timing.