Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[PrincessV]

Mead Hall both days we were there was also pretty empty, but it's one large room as far as I could tell versus the setup of Le Gobelet Noir.

I tried Mead Hall one of my days, but it was at peak meal hour and PACKED with a wait to get in! I hope to get there eventually.

I recall seeing something a few months back that they had no seats at the various bars - for example Oak & Star had a bar area with seats - they were there during previews - but then Universal removed them.

I know they took the seats out at several places years ago - like the Back Water bar in IOA.

They still have seats in Finnigan's - although they do take them out for HHN.

Anyway - what is the status of this now in Epic?

My choice is to sit outside at the cafe in the HP area - you can mobile order a beer and people watch.

I was only indoors at the QS side of Oak & Star, so IDK about the indoor bar section. But there were lots of tables and chairs at the outdoor walk-up bar there.

 

[Krisshay13]

sorry if this has been discussed...I'm late to the party & trying to read up.

For Early Entry....."IF" they open BatM early, are they allowing everyone in or just hotel guests?

Like this morning, park opens 10:00, EE 9:00.......I just took a look & BatM has 75 min wait @ 9:15.

 

[MIChessGuy]

From what I have read elsewhere, all park guests are being allowed to queue at MoM whether or not they are early entry guests. If this is still true, it makes early entry of no value for that attraction. I had thought that MoM commonly started operations around 09.30, but if wait times are accessible at 09.15, maybe it's even earlier.

 

[Krisshay13]

Thanks.....that's what I'm thinking. Darn, I wish they would just let hotel guest in if it did open before normal time. We don't go until the weekend before Thanksgiving so, who knows if something might change.
I am glad we probably won't be doing Virtual Ticket......I suck at getting those...LOL.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

We were at Epic today. MoM and Minecart madness both had wait times posted during early admission. No clue what that was about as we were at Mario Kart. IMO, Isle of Berk and SNW should be the two early admission lands…hardly anyone went to dark universe first thing, and Monsters unchained was a walk on almost all day…

We had a great time. Only two issues that’ll make me think twice before coming back… 1) they need more indoor rides. A large chunk of the park shuts down for inclement weather. 2) probably won’t return until all my kids are >40” tall. Just not enough for my little littles to do.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Monsters unchained was a walk on

I don’t understand this. It’s a great ride. Every other attraction in the park can be posting 60-180 minute waits, and Monsters will be a posted 15. I know the 48 inch requirement has some impact, but I don’t understand how this ride isn’t more popular.

 

[Maleficent85]

I don’t understand this. It’s a great ride. Every other attraction in the park can be posting 60-180 minute waits, and Monsters will be a posted 15. I know the 48 inch requirement has some impact, but I don’t understand how this ride isn’t more popular.

I think it probably has a higher capacity and may be less prone to have breakdowns. The 48 inch requirement probably has something to do with it as well.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

How are they merging the guests coming from Helios with the group being walked to HP from the front gate at Early Entry?

 

[tony67]

hardly anyone went to dark universe first thing, and Monsters unchained was a walk on almost all day…

Yeah - I really don't see it as a good early entry area.

Was the pre-show running when you were at Monsters Unchained? I had heard it was down and they are waiting on a part to fix it.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Yeah - I really don't see it as a good early entry area.

Was the pre-show running when you were at Monsters Unchained? I had heard it was down and they are waiting on a part to fix it.

Yup pre-show was running. Incredible queue

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I don’t understand this. It’s a great ride. Every other attraction in the park can be posting 60-180 minute waits, and Monsters will be a posted 15. I know the 48 inch requirement has some impact, but I don’t understand how this ride isn’t more popular.

It is indeed - the way it flings you around is amazing haha. It’s also intensely dark.

 

[GhostHost24]

I don’t understand this. It’s a great ride. Every other attraction in the park can be posting 60-180 minute waits, and Monsters will be a posted 15. I know the 48 inch requirement has some impact, but I don’t understand how this ride isn’t more popular.

I think it was already mentioned, but they have an insane capacity. They are the first ride at epic to reach a million riders. It's just so efficient

 

[PrincessV]

I think it probably has a higher capacity and may be less prone to have breakdowns.

This. Monsters is super reliable (not that show elements don’t break down, but they just throw a curtain over them or run it with the element not working - the ride system self, though, seems nearly unbreakable), AND super high capacity. It can churn through a ton of people in a short time, unlike anything else in the park.

 

[tony67]

This. Monsters is super reliable (not that show elements don’t break down, but they just throw a curtain over them or run it with the element not working - the ride system self, though, seems nearly unbreakable), AND super high capacity. It can churn through a ton of people in a short time, unlike anything else in the park.

Yeah - no doubt some things are switched to B mode or not running - but with so many elements its not always obvious that something is missing which is a big help.

I expected it to be much more problematic after seeing all the issues with the animatronics over at Bayou Adventure - not to mention the new Walt animatronic - but having so many does help disguise any issues.

 

[djmeredith]

How are they merging the guests coming from Helios with the group being walked to HP from the front gate at Early Entry?

Both entrances are a free for all, so you would merge before/in front of the portal. The front gate crowd might even beat you to the portal entrance. The front entrance people beat us to SNW and I was literally the third person into the park from the Helios line. They apparently let the front gate people into the actual park before official EE and hold them inside the park. That appears to have negated any benefit of the Helios entrance for EE/RD. I think they should let Helios guests in 15 mins before the front gate. I was not hapapy that I paid that premium but the front gate crowd was closer to SNW at actual rope drop.

 

[MIChessGuy]

They apparently let the front gate people into the actual park before official EE and hold them inside the park. That appears to have negated any benefit of the Helios entrance for EE/RD. I think they should let Helios guests in 15 mins before the front gate. I was not hapapy that I paid that premium but the front gate crowd was closer to SNW at actual rope drop.

An update to the Unofficial Guide states that early entrants are being allowed in about ten minutes before the official early entry time. If that is happening only at the front gate, it would appear those folks are several minutes ahead of the early entrants coming from Helios. I agree that this does not seem appropriate and needs to be corrected.

 

[GhostHost24]

For as much as Helios cost it's amazing how there's no real benefit to staying there.

I thought for sure they'd at least let them in 15 min to earlier or something

 

[tony67]

For as much as Helios cost it's amazing how there's no real benefit to staying there.

I thought for sure they'd at least let them in 15 min to earlier or something

Yeah - its seems like you are paying for the view for the most part.

I've heard the rooms are nothing special - better off at Stella Nova or Terra Luna - more than one person has said the rooms are about the same.

Yeah its nice to be able to walk in and out of the park during the day - but I just don't think its worth it.

For the money I'd always choose one of the hotels that include express for IOA and UO.