Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[disney-inspired]

It's not that bad, I visited last year and it was a lot of fun. You get an early look at Super Nintendo World and I think the tour is a must. The rest of the attractions are pretty solid IMO, you get Hogsmeade, Simpsons (for now), Mummy, Jurassic World, Waterworld, Secret Life of Pets. New coaster in a couple of years, and I assume Simpsons will be replaced by something fresh after that. Obviously you don't plan a vacation around it in the same way you do for an Orlando trip but it's a good way to spend a day if you're out there, have friends who have APs and they enjoy visiting regularly. Complaint about the layout is fair though, it's a bit awkward but I guess that's what happens when you squeeze a theme park into a studio like this.

That's been my thoughts towards it as well. Haven't been but looks like a decent park, just not enough special or unique to specifically draw me out there to it. But feels like a greatest hits type park with a few unique attractions like the tram tour, Waterworld, SLoP, and Jurassic world version of the river adventure. Plus the new F&F coaster going up now. Not sure if all of those will stay unique but for now give some different experiences along with other fan favorites. I won't go out to Hollywood specifically for it but if I plan a trip out there I might take a day at the park.

My criticism was purely on the layout of the park. Everything is of course smaller because of the limited space.
One thing I will say is I'm glad they still have the tram tour.

 

[maverik85]

Yea the layout seems interesting to say the least. I have heard a lot of negative about the setup with the upper and lower lots and how long it can take to go between them.

 

[disney-inspired]

Yea the layout seems interesting to say the least. I have heard a lot of negative about the setup with the upper and lower lots and how long it can take to go between them.

It's terrible if you use an ECV during HHN. For some reason they shut off the elevators that connects the lots and make you take a small handicap bus between the two. it takes forever because there is only room for one bus on the back roads. It made zero sense to me.
The following year, I brought my cane and decided to take a lot of breaks to avoid getting an ecv/wheelchair.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

The rest of the attractions are pretty solid IMO, you get Hogsmeade, Simpsons (for now), Mummy, Jurassic World, Waterworld, Secret Life of Pets.

Hollywood’s Mummy isn’t as good as Orlando’s.

 

[wabbott]

New Details Revealed: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic | Back To Hogwarts

 

[kbelle8995]

This looks like the Harry Potter version of Tower of Terror. Maybe I'm wrong but it sure looks like it. Wait and see for more info

I will ride it once and see how it goes. Glad it's Imelda Staunton, she is a fabulous actress and so good as Umbridge.

 

[georgina]

The queue looks cool. While I have read the books and seen the movies, I haven’t gone beyond that, so portraits of past ministers of magic won’t be as meaningful to me, nor will a tribute to dead aurors. I happen to love ToT, so if it is like that, good by me.

 

[maverik85]

This looks like the Harry Potter version of Tower of Terror. Maybe I'm wrong but it sure looks like it. Wait and see for more info

I will ride it once and see how it goes. Glad it's Imelda Staunton, she is a fabulous actress and so good as Umbridge.

The seating area seems like it will be a similar setup to Tot (though from concept art there seems to only be two rows and not three). However, the overall ride system should be more like Spider-Man and Transformers. The elevator car is on a motion based cart like the SCOOP vehicles and will move throughout the building. There is just a scissor lift type element that will allow it to raise and lower as well. I would not expect any actual big drops, but it can do small ones, which when paired with theming and set design could give the illusion of a bigger drop. Spider-Man pulls off the sensation or rising and falling alright without ever leaving the floor, so combine that with 5-10 feet of vertical motion and it could feel like a multistory movement.

 

[kbelle8995]

The seating area seems like it will be a similar setup to Tot (though from concept art there seems to only be two rows and not three). However, the overall ride system should be more like Spider-Man and Transformers. The elevator car is on a motion based cart like the SCOOP vehicles and will move throughout the building. There is just a scissor lift type element that will allow it to raise and lower as well. I would not expect any actual big drops, but it can do small ones, which when paired with theming and set design could give the illusion of a bigger drop. Spider-Man pulls off the sensation or rising and falling alright without ever leaving the floor, so combine that with 5-10 feet of vertical motion and it could feel like a multistory movement.

Thank you. I had forgotten that. I can handle Spider Man and even really enjoy it

 

[Lashed34]

Seems that Express lanes and single rider lanes are being added to all ride queues as signage has started going up. Maybe Express won't be used when the park opens, but it will definitely be available at some point. Or maybe Helios customers will automatically get it from day one??? Not long hopefully before pricing and pass information is revealed.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

it will definitely be available at some point.

I think that was expected, at least from my comments it was about Day 1 vs their current way of handling it which is waiting for a certain time afterwards.

They may try to do something totally different with Epic Universe which is what I've been wondering all along but building an attraction from the get go with the capabilities to do Express Pass or Single Rider or both is just smart. It's why the Disney parks struggle on some of their older attractions where the queues weren't built with that in mind. One of my fav attractions for how Universal does their queues is MIB because they separate people nice and neat throughout the queue all the way to the loading area of the ride. Not sure what they will do with Epic Universe though.

 

[GhostHost24]

Seems that Express lanes and single rider lanes are being added to all ride queues as signage has started going up. Maybe Express won't be used when the park opens, but it will definitely be available at some point. Or maybe Helios customers will automatically get it from day one??? Not long hopefully before pricing and pass information is revealed.

Having it vs not having it all was never the discussion. Just how long. Just like Hagrids has a express lane but still not used yet

 

[kbelle8995]

For several years after the opening of the Harry potter sections, The rides did not have express pass available. So it wouldn't surprise me if they did the same thing with Epic Universe

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

My guess is that initially nothing will have EP, then the smaller rides will and it'll be a long time before the most popular rides get it. But we'll see! I can wait

 

[tony67]

Its also possible they will have paid express as I am sure its very profitable

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

For several years after the opening of the Harry potter sections, The rides did not have express pass available. So it wouldn't surprise me if they did the same thing with Epic Universe

Yeah actually it was just about 7 years for Forbidden Journey (which opened first). They randomly added EP to the 3 attractions in summer of 2017. Hagrid's however is about 5 years presently speaking without EP if you subtract the several months of pandemic closure although it's hard to use this time completely since it had operated quite a lot under pandemic-era related conditions.

ETA: conversely VelociCoaster operated without EP for about 3 months shy of 2 years.

 

[asgur5]

Lots of young kids in that artwork. Ride clearly isn't going to be all that scary

Epic universe is clearly going after the disney market.

 

[tony67]

Lots of young kids in that artwork. Ride clearly isn't going to be all that scary

Epic universe is clearly going after the disney market.

Not sure which ride you are discussing - I assume Harry Potter?

No doubt they are going after the Disney Market - Disney is already attracting those folks to Orlando so take advantage of it.
Back in the day Radio Shack used to build stores near a McDonalds - because McDonalds already did the research for locations.

They seem to be doing a pretty good job even without Epic - I never saw so many baby carriages (and scooters) at US as I did this trip - Minions and DreamWorks is already drawing them in. If they add Pokémon and Zelda it will bring in even more.

That said - they have a wide range of rides at Epic for both Family's and Adults.
For the most part the Coasters do seem tame compared to Velocicoaster or Hulk - but they still look good.
I think they said the WolfMan one will be the scariest (not in thrills but in theme) they have ever done and we will see if the spinning cars are as good as GoG.

I would prefer it to be more Adult, but they want the big money from families not solo travelers.

 

[asgur5]

My one worry with epic is its aimed too much at younger kids.

 

[greeneyedchick]

My one worry with epic is its aimed too much at younger kids.

It would be nice if they aimed it at non-thrill seekers. I'm an adult with a bad back so a lot of coasters are rough simulators are out for me. I would love 2 or 3 dark rides that could be enjoyed by kids and adults.