Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[fatmanatee]

Queueing at a non-early entry ride might not be such a bad idea, depending on how they handle this stuff. Of course this is another situation where we have no idea what will happen until they open. But if you're faced with 2+ hour waits at some rides, you might be able to shave some of that time off by taking advantage of early entry, or at least get a jump-start to your day.

Does feel sort of weird that they're only doing EE for one land's rides (plus Stardust).

 

[Lewisc]

That only works if you have two days at Epic, though. Otherwise, you'll miss the DK ride that's also not covered by the pass. Bleh.

Do one really early and the other shortly before they close the line for the night.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Does feel sort of weird that they're only doing EE for one land's rides (plus Stardust).

Why? That's what they do at Studios & Islands too.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Does feel sort of weird that they're only doing EE for one land's rides (plus Stardust).

Doesn't to me because that's how it has been for a long time with existing parks; Wizarding World of Harry Potter being what qualified. With IOA they added in VelociCoaster but otherwise the only EE attractions are in HP lands.

 

[fatmanatee]

Why? That's what they do at Studios & Islands too.

Because it's not as enciting a feature as it could be, particularly for a new park.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

They don't need early entry to entice visitors, but it does help encourage people to stay on site. It's a perk.

Why spread out all the staff through the whole park earlier, when just as many people will utilize the perk in one section with 1/6 the staff?

 

[fatmanatee]

They don't need early entry to entice visitors, but it does help encourage people to stay on site. It's a perk.

Why spread out all the staff through the whole park earlier, when just as many people will utilize the perk in one section with 1/6 the staff?

I guess I'm coming at this from the perspective of someone who hasn't stayed at Universal but has done early entry elsewhere and thinks it would be nice to have more options. If you're content with a more limited benefit then that's cool.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

They don't need early entry to entice visitors, but it does help encourage people to stay on site. It's a perk.

And it's a whole hour. It's a great perk and I'm not sure what people are wanting instead of it, like you really don't want them to give you a jump start inside the park?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I guess I'm coming at this from the perspective of someone who hasn't stayed at Universal but has done early entry elsewhere and thinks it would be nice to have more options. If you're content with a more limited benefit then that's cool.

Are you planning on staying onsite at Universal? It's an hour ahead of time (more generous than Disney has been for years). I've only ever stayed onsite at Universal in 2022 (though I know we plan on doing so in the future) with previous trips off site and have never felt it was a limited perk for on-site. I'm surprised they even included an attraction not in one land but am happy they are doing so. I don't know what you're trying to compare it to to see it as limiting

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Cedar Point's early entry is also only limited rides/area. I think it's even limited in Magic Kingdom? And SeaWorld doesn't even open all their rides at official opening, the ones in the back open later.

I guess it's just normal to me.

 

[Lewisc]

Early Entry at Disney Seas varies, at least 5 minutes is all you're promised

 

[Kwami]

Why? That's what they do at Studios & Islands too.

Will those parks even have early entry once Epic early entry starts? The website isn't clear on that.

 

[fatmanatee]

Are you planning on staying onsite at Universal? It's an hour ahead of time (more generous than Disney has been for years). I've only ever stayed onsite at Universal in 2022 (though I know we plan on doing so in the future) with previous trips off site and have never felt it was a limited perk for on-site. I'm surprised they even included an attraction not in one land but am happy they are doing so. I don't know what you're trying to compare it to to see it as limiting

Put it this way: I think I'd probably trade the full hour of early entry for a half hour with more options. SNW isn't as high priority for me so it would have been nice to have Monsters on the list, or even HP, I think those would take precedent if they were options. As it stands, if I stay on-site there's a good chance I'd use EE as a chance to get a jump on the Monsters line but I guess it depends on how things are handled with that.

Cedar Point's early entry is also only limited rides/area. I think it's even limited in Magic Kingdom? And SeaWorld doesn't even open all their rides at official opening, the ones in the back open later.

I guess it's just normal to me.

I've done it for Epcot and HS, more times with HS, so that's my point of reference. Usually for HS it's going right to Slinky and by the time that's done you can get to something else nearby before the regular opening crowds get in, other people go to GE or pair Tower and RnRC.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Will those parks even have early entry once Epic early entry starts? The website isn't clear on that.

They have Islands listed as early entry at the end of May.

Frankly I would have been shocked if they took it away from the other parks, at least while Epic is a one-day ticket park.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Put it this way: I think I'd probably trade the full hour of early entry for a half hour with more options. SNW isn't as high priority for me so it would have been nice to have Monsters on the list, or even HP, I think those would take precedent if they were options. As it stands, if I stay on-site there's a good chance I'd use EE as a chance to get a jump on the Monsters line but I guess it depends on how things are handled with that.

I've done it for Epcot and HS, more times with HS, so that's my point of reference. Usually for HS it's going right to Slinky and by the time that's done you can get to something else nearby before the regular opening crowds get in, other people go to GE or pair Tower and RnRC.

I figured it was Disney no snark intended but I guessed it in my mind. I think you might be misremembering how limiting Disney could be. Frankly I would find attractions that were just flat out not open like 7DMT which annoyed us as that was the attraction that of course I would want during morning extra magic hours when they had that but at MK it's only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland open and less than half the park is available to you. That's not even getting into it when Disney would sell Early Morning Magic events that would not allow for extra magic hours in the morning of DHS and MK on the days they would operate. What Disney decided to do was chop the benefit in the morning in half but allow for all parks to have it rather than a rotational basis, I found that actually limiting as it really doesn't afford much to get done after you're walking to get to X attraction, at least with an hour I'd have an opportunity to do more after that attraction depending on when we got inside but it's a personal opinion.

I think this is a personal thing because for you personally the exact area open is not as high of interest to you but please don't attribute that to the actual perk itself being limiting as you put it.

Universal has been operating early entry this way for a very long time.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Early Entry at Disney Seas varies, at least 5 minutes is all you're promised

That's not fully accurate. Happy Entry is 15 mins ahead (which can actually be super crucial there but to those of us in the States probably comes across as why even give it). In practice they start it when they feel like it so it can be earlier than 15 mins. We were in the parks more than 15 mins before official park opening in October as a regular guest and absolutely hotel guests were in there before that.

But the 5 mins isn't a thing yet. That's due to construction around DisneySea and doesn't start until September. What I think is up in the air is if that will last all the way until the expected construction end date of 2029. But at TDR the applicable hotels can move around, sometimes being allowed for X hotel for several months then for several months not, then back again.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

They have Islands listed as early entry at the end of May.

Frankly I would have been shocked if they took it away from the other parks, at least while Epic is a one-day ticket park.

I think it is still something they'll want to keep as there's that geographical separation between the main parks and Epic. If you want to keep someone onsite for their entirety of the stay that's going to help out and IMO since they've maintained it to just be really HP (with exception to VelociCoaster at IOA) they don't have to reinvent the way they staff, handle the crowds, etc in order to keep it going. As is mostly it's one park or the other for the bulk of the time IIRC (usually IOA). Plus it helps spread out the crowds which would still be the case even when Epic allows for unfettered access.

 

[GhostHost24]

I think it is still something they'll want to keep as there's that geographical separation between the main parks and Epic. If you want to keep someone onsite for their entirety of the stay that's going to help out and IMO since they've maintained it to just be really HP (with exception to VelociCoaster at IOA) they don't have to reinvent the way they staff, handle the crowds, etc in order to keep it going. As is mostly it's one park or the other for the bulk of the time IIRC (usually IOA). Plus it helps spread out the crowds which would still be the case even when Epic allows for unfettered access.

This was my thought as well.

 

[wendlle]

I'm in a few FB groups for Universal Orlando and UOAP's.
The entitlement in these groups is astounding! I am actually surprised so many people are either angry or just shocked that Epic isn't included in their AP now, or why they can't get AP benefits for Epic.

Their AP isn't for epic! so why would anyone expect to get perks at the park?
I have over the years on and off gotten UOAP because it works better for me to get hotel discounts by having one AP in our party, I never in a million years would have expected to get an AP perk at the new park when it's not even listed on my AP that I purchased.

 

[GhostHost24]

I'm in a few FB groups for Universal Orlando and UOAP's.
The entitlement in these groups is astounding! I am actually surprised so many people are either angry or just shocked that Epic isn't included in their AP now, or why they can't get AP benefits for Epic.

Their AP isn't for epic! so why would anyone expect to get perks at the park?
I have over the years on and off gotten UOAP because it works better for me to get hotel discounts by having one AP in our party, I never in a million years would have expected to get an AP perk at the new park when it's not even listed on my AP that I purchased.

Your first mistake was reading Facebook groups