Universal Orlando previews Isle of Berk at Epic Universe

At this point I'm not sure that there's much we didn't already know about this particular land. Thus these official reveals don't have a lot of new info, but seeing the animations is very cool. Actually, I don't think there's much about this whole park that is still yet to be "known". The Potter ride specifics (ride system) I think is the last true "reveal" left. Which is a testament to just how much Social Media has sleuthed out now.

I think this land (and Super Nintendo World) will be the most kineticly impressive areas. I have no interest in SNW outside of the Donkey Kong coaster, but that's due to my age bracket. While HtTYD is also not my jam, I can not argue with what I'm seeing here. The immersion looks great and true to the source material. It certainly looks like it's the one area that will appeal to the widest age range. (Sounding like that guy, but I do worry about capacity on the Dragon Racer's Rally and Fyre Drill attractions).

I'm eager to see this park open. The flux capacitor on the back of the Mack Rides coaster is just perfect.

I'm excited for it all, but at the same time, unless I get invited to some thing, not gonna rush out to see it all. That's the biggest thing that's changed with age... I can be excited to see something, but I don't have to be "first."

That said, I'll be "first" in a cabana on Disney's new island. You can see where my priorities lie these days.

I am right there with you on not having to be first. I'm so hyped about Epic Universe, but if there's one thing that's true about me in middle age, it's that I hate large crowds. Hopefully Epic Universe sees the same lulls that Universal does throughout the year.

I will say, these promo videos makes me wish I worked on the creative side of a park. I know the goal is to exude enthusiasm, but man!

Yeah, I'll get there when I get there. I daresay I'll do a Florida trip at some point in the next few years but I'm not going to plan it around Epic Universe.

The one argument about being there FIRST, is that the stuff will be dumbed down over the first few months.

I had the privilege to be at IOA on one of the early Technical Rehearsal days. Not a flex, just got lucky. There were tons of things that that were built to the creative team's exact specs, (dreams/whimsy/fancy, whatever you want to call it). Unfortunately there was a ton of stuff that quickly fell victim to the unwashed masses, and never got replaced. By this I mean the "photos" that used to hang in the photo lab section of the Spiderman Queue, the stickers on the doors of Doctor Doom's Fear Fall, and a host of other ornamentation that was dreamed up, but sadly was within arm's reach. Other things eventually got value engineered out, (e.g. "Island specific" napkins at F&B outlets in each land), as budgets eventually got tightened.

I'm not complaining about the napkins, just pointing out that being one of the first to visit does have some value. As it will never look as "epic" as it will when it first opens.

Unless my AP gets me a preview, or one of my friends working on the project invite me to their preview, I will be enjoying Studios and IOA while the crowds are at Epic. Although Jeff's idea isn't a bad one either.

Unless Universal offers a deal again, my pass will expire 01/2025. I won’t be back until October (for my required yearly HHN trip) hopefully by then some kinks are worked out, people have published a POA on how to do the rides, and the new AP structure is set.

Do you think existing passes will work at Epic? I am curious if they will have an ad-on or limit uses for the first year.

My wife and I have 2 nights booked at 1 of the 2 cheaper hotels for now. We will likely book a night at the expensive hotel for the experience.

That’s another fear I have, and why I would want to wait after Epic opens to buy one.

Jeff: you’re closer to the ground than most of us. Are you seeing (or hearing at least) that summer 2024 is going to be lighter than normal for Universal? I’m not asking you to predict crowd sizes, just is there already an expectation that people are holding off for Epic?

Anecdotally, one person I asked who should know says they expect it to be as busy as usual, if not more. I don't think the "GP" even knows this is coming, which is to say I asked people at work during our stand-up this morning, and they don't know anything about it.

Which tracks. The amount of people in my circle down here in Florida who have talked to me about or sent me videos of the most recent TTD2 testing has far outnumbered the amount of my friends back in Ohio talking to me about Epic opening up.