EPIC Universe Preview - March

A couple of friends from Universal Creative invited me to their teams preview of EPIC last week and figured some here might have an interest in hearing about my visit.

On this particular visit, everything was operating except for Battle at the Ministry. However a few rides were missed due to weather, those being Curse of the Werewolf, Stardust Racers, and Donkey Kong, . Everything was in technical rehearsal so not everything went according to plan. There were only about 5,000 people in the park so I can’t comment to wait times, busyness, etc. The food was also free for us so I know nothing about prices, but the food was delicious!

The park is definitely well done in regards to design. I was curious how the layout would work and if the portal concept would function well and from what I saw, I think this concept is really neat. I was worried that having a one way in, one way out would be a nightmare on busy days but the portals are a lot larger than I had expected. Next to each portal is a bypass that blends in so it is not obvious, but is there in case they need to route people through on busy days, or more so what I expect to be the exit when they require facial recognition to get into the lands. The blending of theme from the portal into each land is executed well, and inside each portal are LED panels that wrap around from one side to the other, and has video content playing that “transports” you into the land.

I have never seen How to Train Your Dragon but that didn’t stop me from having a good time in that land. Very well themed, lots of stuff to look at and experience. We got to see “The Untrainable Dragon” show which was a nice show but not something I would go back to see over and over. The theater is large, uses great technology, but the story line of the show is kinda meh. The only ride in the land I rode was Hiccup’s Wing Gliders and this was a lot of fun. Very well themed, nice pacing, and had some decent airtime for a small coaster. I am also loving that so many coasters these days are using short, multiple launches throughout the ride instead of one big launch at the beginning. On the way out we met Toothless which, for not knowing the movie, was pretty cool.

The Wizarding World was the only land that did not have its main attraction operating but we did walk the queue of Battle at the Ministry and I was very impressed. Not being a Harry Potter fan, I am always fascinated that I can immerse myself into something I know nothing about. The show sets for this queue are massive and some of the best scenic work I have seen. I was excited for Le Cirque Arcanus, the only other “large” show in the park and it was great up until something technical did not operate properly. The show never recovered and since it was the last show of the day, I never got to see how it finished.

Least favorite land was Super Nintendo World, but I don’t really have a reason for that. I am a fan of the original games but for some reason, I was not overly thrilled for the land. I did not get to ride Donkey Kong due to weather in the area but did experience Mario Kart. It was ok, not much to write home about here. Same concept of any other 3D shooter ride, but the way you participate is unique with the goggles being how you see objects and where you look controls your “gun”. But much like real Mario Kart, there was so much going on and it was a bit overwhelming. The rest of the land is very cool and colorful but all I could think about was how often they are going to have to be painting to keep it looking vibrant. Something Universal doesn’t really do too well.

What I was looking forward to most was Dark Universe and this was hands down my favorite land. Being a horror fan, this land was executed very well. It is a small land in regard to pathways so it will certainly be tight to navigate on a busy day, and I would bet this is one of the first lands that may close due to capacity. The actors they had were spot on with their characters. Meeting the Bride of Frankenstein was a cool experience, as she had her character down to a science. Monsters Unchained is your typical Kuka Arm attraction, but nothing about the ride experience is typical. This was my favorite ride of the park and is top notch from start to finish. The first time we rode it, the ride did shut down and we had to be evacuated which took about an hour overall. I certainly didn’t hate seeing some of the building from a behind the scenes perspective. Thankfully we got the chance to ride again and completed it all. If you have been on Forbidden Journey at IOA, it is a similar ride experience, but Monsters is much better. The show sets were huge and the level of detail was nuts for how little of it you might see as you swing by. The animatronics were massive, and you felt very close to them, and they move so quickly. I was so impressed with this attraction and felt such a pride for my friends and their hard work.

Each land while somewhat large, had some of the smallest pathways I have experienced in a theme park. So I do worry that on even a moderately busy day, it will feel very crowded. The least themed land, Celestial Park, is the largest and has the most space in it for walking around. You’ll find lots of shops, a Starbucks, places to eat, etc. The fountain area is cool, the carousel is huge, and the place will have some nice shade once the trees grow up. You can definitely tell they rage planted everything in the park. When they eventually open Celestial Park as a "City Walk" area, I think it will work well but it will still be interesting to see it function. There is more to this area to see but I didn’t have time due to weather, but I will be back next week for a visit and plan to check more out.

Overall, the park is great and I would prefer it over IOA any day. I am for sure excited to see it expand and grow into its own over the next few years. It certainly is not a $150 a day park in my opinion though, as it will be difficult to do a lot on a busy day, so I am curious to see what people think once paying guests start coming.

If you’ve read this far and I didn’t cover something you want to know, ask away. I am not one to do ‘Trip Reports’ so I apologize if this was a waste of your time lol.

Sounds great! Those opening week crowds should be fun! Anyone going?

Is any Kuka robot ride really "typical?" I don't think there are very many!

I very much look forward to this park, but honestly I don't know when we'll actually get there. The funny thing is, I certainly have a network of people who could get me in, but for better or worse (likely worse), parks just haven't been a priority. We'll get there eventually, I'm sure.

My goal is to try and get there in the November-December timeframe. I want to let them get the bugs worked out and also don't want my first visit to be during swamp ass season where half the day could be washed out in an afternoon thunderstorm.

That was my thinking, along with seeing the park dressed for Christmas and enjoying more time after sundown in Dark Universe, so I got a ticket for December when they went on sale.

Jeff:

Is any Kuka robot ride really "typical?" I don't think there are very many!

To be honest, I have no clue how many are out there but I was also thinking of all the single/double seat VR versions as well. Really I was trying to say that I think they finally got it right with how you can use a Kuka arm, where it blends perfectly with show set, effects, and the storyline vs. a dialed up program that just wants to push the ride to the limits.

I'd be surprised if they have all the kinks worked out by Nov/Dec of this year. I'm waiting until the park is open a good 12-18 months, at least.

Have they announced anything about express pass at Epic yet?

Aside from Potter, I was actually surprised that everything else was up and seemed to be running most of the day. I would imagine they are currently running everything in an almost 24/7 operation to get cycles through.

As for Express... There are rides that do have it although I was not taking note of which do and do not.

I’ll be buying an AP in late October, will do Epic in October and December this year, can’t wait.

Danimales:

Have they announced anything about express pass at Epic yet?

Yeah, they're selling them now - one shot on most rides, excluding a few particularly low capacity.

Went back today and spent more time enjoying the atmosphere over rides. The park really is beautiful and full of little corners to have a seat and people watch. The area around the central fountain is nice to just relax and listen to the fountain perform. Still very hard to find shade though, and there are little to no trees in the main HUB area where most of the seating is at.

While I know they still have over a month to go, I am still kinda shocked at the amount of small things that still need to get done. There are a LOT that are tagged, still needing paint, or just parts missing. Sadly I think many will go unchecked until well after opening. And I totally get it, I do, as this is the line of work I am in and as I type this, am in the same boat with another large theme park project. My task list is longer than a CVS receipt, but the fact that so many are obvious while guests are actually filling the park daily now is kinda crazy. This limits the amount of time you have to work on items, and it will get even worse when they go into evening previews.

On not so great news, I found out yesterday that all of the Celestial Park entertainment has been cut, gone for good. Months of installs, rehearsals, and previews are all for nothing now. The casts still waiting to find out if they will be let go in the coming days. I assumed some of the atmo entertainment would be cut after the opening month, or maybe even at the end of summer but I was shocked that it has already begun.

That's odd. Budget cuts before they even open?

The overhead photos of the place imply that there aren't a lot of (any?) mature trees on the property, which is something that I appreciate about Disney, which uses "adult" trees in new areas. Some common areas of Epic remind me of new areas to Cedar Flags parks in the first few years.

Odd for sure, especially considering everything is already installed/bought and paid for. It is just operational cost at this point, which should already have a budget through a certain date.

Trees are definitely young, and very short in most cases near pathways. Other areas the trees were nowhere near the edge of the pathway so even when they do mature, they will provide no shade. I understand they rage planted in most areas but you can see where horticulture was part of the creative, and other areas where it was not. The middle of the park is certainly going to be hot, and blinding if you don't have sunglasses, at midday.

What’s about trees in the Monster part of the park? Seems that would be the area you would want larger , mature trees in for spooky character.

That area is probably the best when it comes to horticulture but still no large trees to provide shade, or cover walkways. There are more mature trees in that area but still smaller than I would have expected for the land. In a few years, that whole area will look great!

99er:

I expect to be the exit when they require facial recognition to get into the lands

Wdym by facial recognition to get into lands?

https://www.clickorlando.co...ooks-like/

Celestial Park will eventually become open to the public/hotel guests similar to City Walk. To get into each portal, they will use facial recognition to pass in and out.

I've never understood why they want to do that. If you want to go to City Walk, go to City Walk. There's a bus for that!

I'm going to bet it never happens.

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.