Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[tony67]

it makes sense but also doesn't. not everyone lives in Orlando or the USA. And I need AP's anyway so will be purchasing them, just can't have them validated.
Oh well, guess I'm left waiting for the 1 day tickets.

Yeah this is always a frustration with the AP. I can buy it but its not activated so I cant book anything in advance of my stay when I will activate it.
So in the past I could not get discounted HHN tickets and tours or book the Mardi Gras flout.
I could not even join the Facebook group back in the day when I actually used Facebook.

I can sort of see why they do this - but its still annoying.

 

[tony67]

Waiting until 2030 so Universal can work the bugs out is pretty bad advice.

Yeah - its not like its Disney or something...

 

[fatmanatee]

Waiting until 2030 so Universal can work the bugs out is pretty bad advice.

The 3-5 years is bc wendlle can’t make it back sooner (lives in Australia, I think). They’re here for a long trip in May, with the Universal portion happening before EU opens, and then that’s it for 3-5 years. They were trying to figure out a way to make it back for one day opening weekend but it’s going to be messy.

 

[tony67]

The 3-5 years is bc wendlle can’t make it back sooner (lives in Australia, I think). They’re here for a long trip in May, with the Universal portion happening before EU opens, and then that’s it for 3-5 years. They were trying to figure out a way to make it back for one day opening weekend but it’s going to be messy.

Ahh.. Well the other thing to watch for @wendlle will be soft opening days.

Cant plan for them = especially since the AP is not active - but if you are there in May and have an AP there is a good chance you can try for that. Someone I was watching on you tube mentioned they did soft opening for IOA and it was like 1/3 the price. I'd go to guest services in the park the day you get there and check to see if there are any options - especially if you are there for two weeks. It's not a guarantee but Id be trying it if I were there.

Just be sure to use the guest services inside the park - not the one outside the park.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Yeah - its not like its Disney or something...

Lol, tell that to Fast and the Furious, Jurassic Park River Adventure, etc... Universal isn't in any rush to fix things, either

 

[Minnie1222]

Hmm, I wonder how this will affect my plan to buy single day EU tix. We had 4 day tix that we upgraded to seasonal AP's on our last day, and we upgraded as we were leaving, meaning we didn't actually use them to enter the park. They expire the end of May though. I wonder if I'll be able to actually buy the EU tix.

Please try on 10/24 and let us know the outcome. Your passes should be validated since they're linked to activated tickets.

I was looking to buy an AP for a young relative so he would be eligible for tickets on 10/24. According to the TM, this kid would have to fly to Orlando and scan in at the park before 10/24.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Lol, tell that to Fast and the Furious, Jurassic Park River Adventure, etc... Universal isn't in any rush to fix things, either

I don't think Dudley Do Right has been repainted since it opened back in the 90s. It looks that bad.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

We had 4 day tix that we upgraded to seasonal AP's on our last day, and we upgraded as we were leaving, meaning we didn't actually use them to enter the park.

You have a valid activated AP - you have the physical card, it has an expiration date. When you upgraded to the AP, it was post dated back to the first day you entered the parks on your tickets. Effectively, you entered the parks using your AP. You will be fine to buy your EU ticket.

 

[jzhang678]

How do soft openings work for AP? Do tickets need to be purchased?

 

[tony67]

How do soft openings work for AP? Do tickets need to be purchased?

No idea - just saw mention of it buried on the Universal site.

Until they provide the specific info its all just speculation.

Although I had an AP back then I was not around for soft opening of IOA so no idea how it worked - one of the streams mentioned that it was about 1/3 that cost so that is all we really have to go on.

My assumption is there may be opportunities to sign up with an AP in advance - similar to Mardi Gras and AP appreciation nights - but probably not all that far in advance - and you have to have an active AP.
Other than that - maybe if you are stay at one of the hotels there may be options for a soft open.
Nothing I'd bank on though. Just something I'd look for if I happened to be their anyway.

 

[tony67]

I don't think Dudley Do Right has been repainted since it opened back in the 90s. It looks that bad.

Tron paint is already chipping...

 

[Smugpugmug]

Tron paint is already chipping...

Okay? They both look bad.

 

[wendlle]

Ahh.. Well the other thing to watch for @wendlle will be soft opening days.

Cant plan for them = especially since the AP is not active - but if you are there in May and have an AP there is a good chance you can try for that. Someone I was watching on you tube mentioned they did soft opening for IOA and it was like 1/3 the price. I'd go to guest services in the park the day you get there and check to see if there are any options - especially if you are there for two weeks. It's not a guarantee but Id be trying it if I were there.

Just be sure to use the guest services inside the park - not the one outside the park.

No idea - just saw mention of it buried on the Universal site.

Until they provide the specific info its all just speculation.

Although I had an AP back then I was not around for soft opening of IOA so no idea how it worked - one of the streams mentioned that it was about 1/3 that cost so that is all we really have to go on.

My assumption is there may be opportunities to sign up with an AP in advance - similar to Mardi Gras and AP appreciation nights - but probably not all that far in advance - and you have to have an active AP.
Other than that - maybe if you are stay at one of the hotels there may be options for a soft open.
Nothing I'd bank on though. Just something I'd look for if I happened to be their anyway.

I had thought about soft openings. I'm thinking of getting AP's for all 4 of us. I was going to get the UK 14 day tickets, but I think AP's will be better, they aren't much more expensive and we don't have to worry about going 14 consecutive days - we can use them as we please.
Our two weeks is onsite at Universal, 3-7 at RPH and then 7-16 at Surfside, that combined with the AP's hopefully one of those could get us in if they do a soft opening. If not I'm just going to have to keep waiting for them to drop the 1 day tickets closer to opening date and hope for the best.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Waiting until 2030 so Universal can work the bugs out is pretty bad advice.

I was trying to make @wendlle feel better about possibly missing opening day, and mentioned 3-5 years because they said if they missed Epic Universe this trip, it would be 3-5 years before the next trip. There was a potential advantage to missing opening day. Something that doesn't work on opening day will probably work fine 3-5 years. I did not mean it will take 3 years or longer to fix any opening day glitches.

Yes Disney owns Marvel - but Universe has the theme park rights for the eastern US. I don't see Universal giving that up for free.
Whatever Universal pays is what they negotiated with Marvel back when they were broke so I don't think its much - and its pretty much forever - but they are selling all that merch that puts money in Disney's pockets.
As long as Universal keeps up Super Hero Island Disney is very limited in what they can do in the Orlando parks.
I'm sure they would like to get that back.

This is very true. I would add that even if Universal is not paying much for the Marvel rights, what they are paying for the rights at this point is going to Disney.

don't know how accurate this is but its basically what I've heard over the years: East of the Mississippi, Universal controls any character, side-character, and villains considered part of the Avengers, X-Men, Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, and Fantastic Four "families", sand some other rights like comic book likeness of characters existing before 1994. They also control the theme park license to the word "Marvel" nationwide.

I think this is pretty accurate. Also, any characters that are in SuperHero Island at Universal, cannot be used at WDW, but they can be used in Disneyland.

Simpsons is a whole different thing - that has to be renegotiated and Disney wont make it easy. I also don't think its worthwhile anymore - its a cool land and all - but I wont miss it.

Same here. I went, I enjoyed it, I had fun there, but I would not be absolutely heartbroken or upset if Universal decided not to renegotiate the license, let it expire, and do something completely different.

 

[wdwrule]

WDWNT reports that during NYCC, it was announced that the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment queue will feature jumpscares. It’s unknown if that means scare actors or features within the queue.
https://wdwnt.com/2024/10/monsters-unchained-jumpscares-at-epic-universe/

 

[greeneyedchick]

Ahh.. Well the other thing to watch for @wendlle will be soft opening days.

Cant plan for them = especially since the AP is not active - but if you are there in May and have an AP there is a good chance you can try for that. Someone I was watching on you tube mentioned they did soft opening for IOA and it was like 1/3 the price. I'd go to guest services in the park the day you get there and check to see if there are any options - especially if you are there for two weeks. It's not a guarantee but Id be trying it if I were there.

Just be sure to use the guest services inside the park - not the one outside the park.

Do you know the best way to find out about soft opening days? I live about 20 minutes away and would certainly be willing to show up last minute if I could get into EU for the soft opening.

 

[New Mouse]

WDWNT reports that during NYCC, it was announced that the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment queue will feature jumpscares. It’s unknown if that means scare actors or features within the queue.
https://wdwnt.com/2024/10/monsters-unchained-jumpscares-at-epic-universe/

This failed rather quickly with Kong. Surprised they think it works here.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

This failed rather quickly with Kong. Surprised they think it works here.

I thought it was going with Kong until Covid?
Regardless, the Monsters ride is specifically touted as scary. Why shouldn't the queue have scares?

 

[New Mouse]

I thought it was going with Kong until Covid?
Regardless, the Monsters ride is specifically touted as scary. Why shouldn't the queue have scares?

Because queues move too slowly its not a moving line like HHN.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Because queues move too slowly its not a moving line like HHN.

...So? That's why the Kong queue allowed the scare actor to pop up in different places. Plus the darkness helps. Presumably the Monsters queue will also be dark & spooky.