Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[hertamaniac]

Totally agree!

Can you imagine if they use this space as part of HHN in the future? I would buy a ticket.

 

[PrincessV]

Very generous?

Free tickets and Express because 7 rides were down for the 2.5 hours they were in the park? Unless I’ve missed something in the 5 times I read that blurb, that feels very generous to me! I can’t imagine expecting any compensation for that situation, let alone free tickets plus Express. How many rides did they expect to ride in only 2.5 hours, I wonder?

 

[disney-inspired]

Maybe my bar is placed extremely low, but this is just wild to me. They only spent 2.5 hours in a park where 6 rides were working and wanted compensation?? They weren’t willing to stay longer than that to do more? Surely I’m missing something here, because what they received seems VERY generous to me.

I just don't get people complaining about technical issues when the park hasn't officially opened yet - these things are expected for a new park.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I just don't get people complaining about technical issues when the park hasn't officially opened yet - these things are expected for a new park.

What do you consider the cutoff for grounds to complain?

We're not talking about one or two rides closed all day or others having a bit of downtime throughout the day. Stuff like opening with 0 rides running for 25min is not "expected" (0 out of 4 early entry rides is pretty terrible). "Nothing's running & no lands open, but you can walk around Celestial Park" isn't "expected." Stuff like literally no coasters available for 4+ hour stretch, and then exceptionally spotty availability for only two coasters. Stuff like having only 4 rides available (if not weather related).

Some issues are expected. But you don't pay full price to go to a Universal park to ride a carousel. Either a majority of stuff should be working, or they need to charge a lot less.

On one hand, if people call it quits early, they "didn't give it a chance." On the other, someone stays most of the day but still is majorly unsuccessful, they "enjoyed the park for the day anyways."

There are 7 major rides. If you spend 12hrs in the park and can only get on 2, is that to be expected?

 

[schumigirl]

What do you consider the cutoff for grounds to complain?

We're not talking about one or two rides closed all day or others having a bit of downtime throughout the day. Stuff like opening with 0 rides running for 25min is not "expected" (0 out of 4 early entry rides is pretty terrible). "Nothing's running & no lands open, but you can walk around Celestial Park" isn't "expected." Stuff like literally no coasters available for 4+ hour stretch, and then exceptionally spotty availability for only two coasters. Stuff like having only 4 rides available (if not weather related).

Some issues are expected. But you don't pay full price to go to a Universal park to ride a carousel. Either a majority of stuff should be working, or they need to charge a lot less.

On one hand, if people call it quits early, they "didn't give it a chance." On the other, someone stays most of the day but still is majorly unsuccessful, they "enjoyed the park for the day anyways."

There are 7 major rides. If you spend 12hrs in the park and can only get on 2, is that to be expected?

I do think they should have charged less to enter during this time period considering how many rides went down and so on, absolutely, it should have been a reduced cost for sure.

However, there were signs everywhere letting everyone know it was a Technical Rehearsal, on that basis we bought tickets hoping to ride something but we realised we may not ride anything, and I think on that set of expectations we went in with the right attitude. Heck we didn`t even bother with Nintendo as it has zero interest for us and didn`t spend a lot of time in the dragon part apart from doing the main coaster which we loved!!! Hope you got to get on that while you were there

We went in at around 11.15 and stayed till park close, with some time in Helios to enjoy the bar and restaurant as it was so hot.

We did get to ride several rides, but at the same time we would have been happy enough to just wander around for the day, not saying that will suit everyone, but for us it was fine.

The complaints we saw were plentiful and people yelling at TM`s was shocking to see, completely unacceptable, I`m always amazed at how rude people can be and forget it`s really not the TM`s fault.

We`ll go back in September, again, just doing Potter and Monsters as that`s all we`re interested in.

 

[glamdring269]

The definition of technical rehearsal/difficulties is where it seems the ambiguity exists. To me, if I’m paying $150 to visit, technical rehearsal means that’s a ride might be down from time to time throughout the day. It shouldn’t mean that I’m rolling the dice that half of the rides could be down the majority of the day. I’m still debating if I want to buy a ticket for tomorrow. One would think that’s their last real chance to get everything right before the big day so it should be a pretty safe day…

Speaking of which, it’s somewhat concerning that we’re this close to opening day and they’re still having all of these problems. It’s going to be interesting to see how people react if a lot of rides are down pretty frequently later this week.

 

[imbelle]

Just be careful if you get any of the black food.... It's the gift that keeps on giving in surprisingly colorful ways.

Yep, vivid emerald-teal for days!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

people yelling at TM`s was shocking to see, completely unacceptable, I`m always amazed at how rude people can be and forget it`s really not the TM`s fault.

Agreed this is totally unacceptable.
Some people forget that A) Universal/TMs don't actually want things to go badly and/or B) that GS TM has nothing to do with operations.
I saw GS lines but didn't hear anyone yelling, at least.

Speaking of which, it’s somewhat concerning that we’re this close to opening day and they’re still having all of these problems.

Overall the ride reliability seems much less than the earlier previews. You'd think that a week from opening, they'd be closer to ready.

 

[tony67]

I've already covered my opinions on this , so feel free to skip.

Anyway they had "technical previews" with small crowds initially sold to just passholders.
Even when they opened it to pretty much everyone I was not all that put off - disappointed but hopeful - but when I got there it was very crowded for all 5 days I was in the parks. It was not at all what I signed up for so... I did not spend $600 for myself so I could come back here and complain. (far more than 600 since you have flights, room, overpriced food and an AP - but that's on me)
BTW - Universal can say they did not sell it that way - but they knew and shut off comments the day before the announced general preview ticket sales - so they knew it was a bad choice and that passholders would not be happy.

There was a discount but not a great discount - not worth most of the park being down, and pretty much since they opened wide there have been a lot of issues. Stardust down for days, Wolfman down for days, Minecart down for days, Ministry down for days or at very low capacity. Sometimes if Minecart was closed for a day they would just say startdust was delayed even though it had already been down a half day before and was down for two days and they knew it was not coming back. Fyre drill has been down for a fair amount of time. Winged gliders has been down quite a bit. Many technical elements were down in shows as well. Out of 5 days I'd say one was a fair day - not a great day - but a fair day.

Most would probably not be all that put off by this if the ticket was priced to match the possible issues, it really was not. We have also covered that before.

That said Universal has been very responsive with giving refunds and comp days. They know its bad - but yeah 2.5 hours might be a bit soon - but maybe they only had half a day or some such. Maybe they knew that one or two rides would not be coming back at all. Maybe they had seen exactly what was happening every other day that week. Maybe they just came up and started yelling at the GS people so they really are not going to help you. We don't know all the details around it - but I will say I think Universal has handled things well in park to deal with this. They have been fair and I can't complain too much.

I am very concerned once the park truly opens though - because its not ready and I doubt it will be ready.
Yes other parks have opened with issues, but this is not the same.
Its 2025 and everything is blasted across social media - immediately.

I think what makes it worse is the way Universal priced it - again you only get one day with your multi day ticket - so 3 4 or 5 day ticket you get 1 day at Epic. Everyone else has to buy a 1 day ticket for every day they want to go.
The tickets for AP holders are not all that cheap - I think they should have been priced differently since you cant get an AP with Epic - so if I have an AP and Epic is having a bad day I can go to the other parks but I have lost my Epic day.

If I went to AK and it was a bad day and I had a multiday hopper ticket I could go to one of the other parks at least and go back to AK another morning.
IF rides were down there were still Animals and other things to do - there is not enough of that at Epic yet and I only get 1 day.

In this case Universal has you sort of stuck. I understand why they did the 1 day thing - but its just adds to the pressure and stress.
I would not be surprised in come July the 3 day tickets becomes 3 days 3 parks and not 1 day Epic.

In the end one of the reason I dumped Disney a long time ago and started going to Universal was the lack of stress- and now they are adding that stress factor.

 

[tony67]

Agreed this is totally unacceptable.
Some people forget that A) Universal/TMs don't actually want things to go badly and/or B) that GS TM has nothing to do with operations.
I saw GS lines but didn't hear anyone yelling, at least.


Overall the ride reliability seems much less than the earlier previews. You'd think that a week from opening, they'd be closer to ready.

Yeah 100% agree on both these points.

I think when you are nice to the folks at GS they are sort of surprised - they are just taking a beating all day every day and its not going to get better.

The ride reliability - I totally agree - they should have slowly phased in larger and larger crowds instead of just opening it wide.
They needed to stress test - but again - don't charge us a premium price to use us as test subjects.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

didn`t spend a lot of time in the dragon part apart from doing the main coaster which we loved!!! Hope you got to get on that while you were there

Sadly no, we got on 0 coasters. Only Stardust & Wing-Gliders opened at all on our day, both kept coming up but going down quickly. Wing-Gliders opened for the first time at 1:44pm (9am park open). We got in the line at the end of the night with posted 85min wait but we were still really far back when they announced a "delay" so we bailed. At one point we were 20' from the Stardust entrance when it became delayed.

I don't think it was particularly crowded and I think the park could handle pretty big crowds... if the rides & shows were mostly functioning. If so many rides are going to be down so long, they needed to limit tickets more.

 

[tony67]

Still debating on calling and canceling my tickets for next Saturday.

I am still regretting not getting a refund after two days my my two unused days - or not moving them to October.

I had very little time in OA and US and even gave up the one day I planned for that to get a comp day at Epic.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Some issues are expected. But you don't pay full price to go to a Universal park to ride a carousel. Either a majority of stuff should be working, or they need to charge a lot less.

Truth I think a decent amount of people just thought about being able to be in Epic and be one if the first irrespective of anything else so when they got there and things starting happening they forgot about the reasoning for them even being able to be there in the first place before opening.

But I do understand the pricing aspect I just don't think it really matters in the end. Human nature it'd be easy to say  now this or that about what it should be priced at or what discount or refund someone feels is appropriate but it tends to not really matter. Let's say a ticket was $100 for easiness someone walks in rides down "I should get half off, ticket was priced too high" okay let's say it was $50 ticket same likely scenario guest feels it should be half off. Ticket is $25 people might be more inclined to say it should have been free. Point being no matter the price if it isn't meeting their expectations whatever price they paid whatever it is is highly likely to be too much. Our perceptions after the fact instead of point of sale review of the costs. It'd make for a great psychological study.

I do agree about ride reliability this late into the game but will attempt to see it as half full not half empty and hope they weren't just too ambitious about the exact opening date being set to be around Memorial Day.

 

[hertamaniac]

I think there will be operational challenges come opening day. I fully expect all technical TMs to be present with all hands-on deck. I venture to say that if/when an attraction falters, it will be remedied much sooner than experienced during the previews.

I was open and honest when I spoke to guest services. I explained the wonderful experiences I had in some cases as well as some rather unfortunate ones. I am so thankful they not only listened but addressed my concern(s) with compensation. I see no need to disclose what was provided but suffice it to say that I felt they went way above and beyond what I expected. There is no doubt in my mind that Universal really wants this park to succeed in all facets.

 

[PrincessV]

I thought it was nuts to charge full price for previews from the start, and while I felt I got every penny of value out of the cost on my day, I still think it’s nuts, and I remain surprised that they’ve gotten SO many people to pay a steep price to be their QC testers! I keep thinking about how different this is from anything I’ve seen over the last few decades of new parks, rides, and lands opening and I’m really curious to see how things play out once it’s officially open. Will things run more smoothly than they have this week? Will BatM open as Standby or VQ? Will VQ be in effect for the portals? Will UO still give compensation on bad days? Just how long will folks wait for the various rides - could we see 10-hour lines like Hagrid’s had, or are we in a new era in which neither guests nor parks think that’s a positive? I’m excited to see it go down… from the comfort of my own home.

 

[tony67]

go down… from the comfort of my own home

Yeah - I had been planning to go to opening since they day they announced it - I did not even plan to ride anything - just wanted to experience it.

Now, I am so glad I did not get those tickets - especially since its sounds like most of the grand opening activates will be the two days before for media events etc.. There may be some things Id assume but not what I thought it would be.
Regardless - yeah Ill watch some live streams of it no doubt.

Something else I will be watching closely is the Comcast stock - I am not currently in it but I am thinking if things are not great and there is a lot of negative press we could see it take a short term hit. Comcast themselves seems to be doing pretty well (I don't know how - I hate them as an internet provider but have no other options) but I am watching for a short term overreaction.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Will UO still give compensation on bad days?

Does Disney give refunds when power outages occur knocking out large entire chunks of the parks? That's not actually as rare as I would have thought it was though the general public only hears about it when it makes the news the DIS is always on top of it when that happens.

When we were at Disneyland in 2019 the app crashed making MaxPass unusable and they shut off the ability to purchase MaxPass something around 10am maybe 11am. I'm not sure if people were given refunds but probably if they asked, it wasn't an automatic thing by any means. My phone would only pull up the ability to make ADRs, my husband's phone couldn't do that but could actually use MaxPass and the other person we were with their app completely was unusable. We limped through the day but didn't even consider asking for a refund. Our MaxPass was purchased separately each day but our friend had purchased their ticket directly with the MaxPass at the lower price (it had just increased and we paid the higher amount but had the flexibility to add it each day rather than having to pay for it for all days up front).

 

[hertamaniac]

Something else I will be watching closely is the Comcast stock - I am not currently in it but I am thinking if things are not great and there is a lot of negative press we could see it take a short term hit. Comcast themselves seems to be doing pretty well (I don't know how - I hate them as an internet provider but have no other options) but I am watching for a short term overreaction.

Conversely, I'll keep scoping the DIS ticker symbol as well. The needle may move upward should the PR for Comcast be negative.

 

[disneyseniors]

The Kuka arm is no joke, Forbidden Journey was a one and done for me.

I feel the same way about that ride. I did a one and done on it too. That kind of jerking around on the Kuka arm wasn't something that I like. I am going to do the Monsters ride even though it has a version of the Kuka arm. At least I will go in knowing about this. I wouldn't want to miss that ride even if it is a little jerky.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I feel the same way about that ride. I did a one and done on it too. That kind of jerking around on the Kuka arm wasn't something that I like. I am going to do the Monsters ride even though it has a version of the Kuka arm. At least I will go in knowing about this. I wouldn't want to miss that ride even if it is a little jerky.

I'm counting it out for me but I still want to know how others handle it if for no other reason than to use it as a comparison to how other ride's intensity could be