EPIC Universe Preview - March

I mean, I can see one from my house every night though.

But you don’t hear the music, see the projections, or get the whole experience.

Watching it from not Main Street is a feature, not a bug. 🙂

We’re going to have to disagree on that one, as a frequent monorail resort guest I’ve experienced it outside the park a few times, it’s not the same, and that’s even with me getting the music.

I would say it isn't, however, Poly beach and top of Contemporary are probably better than the park.

Top of the World/California Grill is not bad, but the angle is offset. This bothers some people, not others.

I recently watched Happily Ever After from behind the castle, near the "wall" separating Fantasyland from New Fantasyland. That was surprisingly fun! I don't think I would recommend it for a first-timer, but if you've seen the show a few times, it's an interesting perspective. It feels like you are in the middle of it (probably because, in some sense, you are.)

I'm a big fan of watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the boardwalk bridge in front of the big drop on Tiana's. It a nice panoramic view away from the crowd and you still hear the music. The last time we watched from there we practically had the area to ourselves.

Touchdown:

Either there won’t be a giant firework and fountain show in Celestial Park, or it will never be free to enter. You don’t give firework shows away for free.

Im not entirely sure they will have a fireworks show every night, and convinced it is just for their opening. The rest of the time, a fountain show (and maybe drones) will be the nightly send off. Looking at the area around the park, I am not sure where they would even launch fireworks from for a permanent show anyway.

That said, I was skeptical on their idea of making Celestial Park open to all, and for sure thought this would have died on the creative table, but the lands are set up for this already. I don't think they would have spent the money for design and installation at each portal if they were never going to actually do it. In some form, it looks like it will happen eventually. My guess would be that we won't see anything on this until an announcement for an additional park at the Epic site.

Brian Noble:

..it's an interesting perspective. It feels like you are in the middle of it..

If you are there while the wind is blowing south east, go stand in the back corner of Storybook Circus. That is about as close as you can get to the main firing site, and the shells will break overtop of you. Lot's of fun!

So question, when you entire/exit each land, do you have to go thru Celestrial Park? Or can you jump from land to land without having to go back thru Celestial Park?

You have to go through Celestial Park.

Interesting. So basically is like 4-5 different small parks separated by Celestial park.

One might say it’s “Five immersive worlds. One amazing theme park.”

99er:

I don't think they would have spent the money for design and installation at each portal if they were never going to actually do it.

The Celestial Park entertainment probably said the same thing.

Touche. :)

But knowing what was done infrastructure wise for both, a LOT more time and money was spent for the portals than for the entertainment. They fully invested in this idea of freely moving between the lands via this new concept.

Seems like kind of a dumb concept though. You can move around the lands in the other parks, without leaving and returning to them. Not sure how this didn't get cut early in planning.

Yeah, I may be too stuck-in-my-ways, but I'm trying to figure out why I'd prefer the facial-recognition model as a guest. Entering a park is a little annoying, sure, but it doesn't add that much friction.

It just means I can leave my pass at home and my phone in my pocket. I like it a lot more than I thought I would. I can see a scenario at Epic Universe where you could just buy access to one portal.

Jeff:

Not sure how this didn't get cut early in planning.

I guess they liked the results they've had with Super Nintendo World and Diagon Alley. You get that Main Street experience with each portal. It honestly hasn't gotten old walking into Diagon Alley and seeing the dragon every time. Time will tell if it works or not.

Yea. Not a big fan of the funneling concept on paper. One way in one way out. ????

Jeff:

Seems like kind of a dumb concept though. You can move around the lands in the other parks, without leaving and returning to them. Not sure how this didn't get cut early in planning.

It's what happens when you build an entire park around a marketing concept.

eightdotthree:

I can see a scenario at Epic Universe where you could just buy access to one portal.

I have been wondering whether this might be a future ticketing option. Or they could open and close areas at different hours quite easily, or have a special Harry Potter event on a particular evening. Or even close access to a part of the park that is at capacity.

And, for BAU times, it seems annoying to have to keep going back through the hub rather than just wandering through the park.