Universal's Epic Universe General News & Discussion

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

End of an era

I thought of this today when watching the video, I have absolutely loved your music choice for each land and I’m sad I won’t be hearing them as often anymore!

 

[saint.piss]

End of an era

I mean it won't be completely over y'know. You'll be reporting on the EU expansions I'm sure so it's just the beginning of a new era

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

I bought the 3-day because I knew I wanted to be at EU at opening. I would not have purchased more than one day at IOA otherwise.

I did the same thing, because i knew i wanted 2 days of USF/IOA, so the 1 day EU package made sense; But now my nails have been bitten down to the nubs waiting for them to release single day tickets so i can lock in that 2nd day of EU on the same trip!

I think we'll get tickets relatively soon (probably in the next few days), but it is quite shocking to see such a limited number of options available at the moment.

With the amount of hotel rooms they need to fill to meet Comcast's expectations/investments, it's odd to see them delay additional ticket offerings.

I know Universal's status quo is to wait until the last minute, but we're nearing the 100 day mark now.

There's some serious competition in the travel/vacation space this year with Royal Caribbean and other Cruises offering some great packages. (There's an RCL ad that passively mocks the parks, specifically Disney).

Not sounding the alarm, it's just odd.

As someone who works in the industry, i can attest to the amount of sales i've had to push off for later because the GA doesn't understand why they can't JUST get tickets to the new park yet vs. the amount of sales we've had for other operators based purely on that same frustration that they can't lock in things as soon as they'd like. I have an entire follow-up list based on people who JUST want to go to Epic but didn't like Universal's bundled package concept. I really do hope it's as close as you think it is, cause i don't think it is and it's literally affecting my job/sales performance. lol

 

[Mad Dog]

I think we'll get tickets relatively soon (probably in the next few days), but it is quite shocking to see such a limited number of options available at the moment.

With the amount of hotel rooms they need to fill to meet Comcast's expectations/investments, it's odd to see them delay additional ticket offerings.

I know Universal's status quo is to wait until the last minute, but we're nearing the 100 day mark now.

There's some serious competition in the travel/vacation space this year with Royal Caribbean and other Cruises offering some great packages. (There's an RCL ad that passively mocks the parks, specifically Disney).

Not sounding the alarm, it's just odd.

Yes. Having AP discount rates for most of the on site hotel dates for the rest of the year says a lot. They used to be pretty stingy, and short term advance, for the hotels.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I did the same thing, because i knew i wanted 2 days of USF/IOA, so the 1 day EU package made sense; But now my nails have been bitten down to the nubs waiting for them to release single day tickets so i can lock in that 2nd day of EU on the same trip!

We’re in the same boat then! But if I do get my second day I may have to kiss both days of my 3 day ticket goodbye, as I have a trial that got rescheduled not too long after Epic’s opening.

As someone who works in the industry, i can attest to the amount of sales i've had to push off for later because the GA doesn't understand why they can't JUST get tickets to the new park yet vs. the amount of sales we've had for other operators based purely on that same frustration that they can't lock in things as soon as they'd like. I have an entire follow-up list based on people who JUST want to go to Epic but didn't like Universal's bundled package concept. I really do hope it's as close as you think it is, cause i don't think it is and it's literally affecting my job/sales performance. lol

Oh god, that sucks I’m sorry! But yeah — as it stands, my hunch is the longer they wait the quieter I think this summer might be.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

We’re in the same boat then! But if I do get my second day I may have to kiss both days of my 3 day ticket goodbye, as I have a trial that got rescheduled not too long after Epic’s opening.

Oh god, that sucks I’m sorry! But yeah — as it stands, my hunch is the longer they wait the quieter I think this summer might be.

That certainly adds fuel to the fire alongside those who think "2025 is gonna be packed, i'll wait to go next year" pointing toward 2026 maybe being even nuttier!

 

[rhino4evr]

My guess is the assumed Super Bowl ad is going to be an unofficial launch date for single tickets. I am only going to be at UOR for 2 days next October , and I never do a park the same day as HHN. So I only need 1 day. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way. If they sold a 2 day ticket I may still bit though …

 

[fryoj]

Wouldn't it be something if they've sold enough packages for the first week to not need to sell single tickets for those days.

 

[Jake S]

Wouldn't it be something if they've sold enough packages for the first week to not need to sell single tickets for those days.

I think the opposite is true: It would be something if they don't sell enough packages in that first week. They've currently not sold out a single day (as best I can tell from the ticket page). I don't necessarily think that's a problem, but it does suggest demand is not so high as to overcome the artificial barrier they put in place.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Non marketing major here. Buy one of the very first ad spots at the Super Bowl selling vacation packages and go from there. It’s their largest audience so far. Keep it up thru SNL 50 next week then sell single days.

 

[saint.piss]

I heard something similar just a few minutes ago from a friend of mine... hmm. Not the exact same, but he said that they're possibly going to have Celestial Park operate the same as CityWalk during the slow seasons so guests can shop and eat. Interesting to think about.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I feel like this would be a major liability and logistical issue. It's one thing if you do it while you're in a fixed building, but an entire park? I dunno.

What about a land with one entry/exit?

 

[rhino4evr]

Non marketing major here. Buy one of the very first ad spots at the Super Bowl selling vacation packages and go from there. It’s their largest audience so far. Keep it up thru SNL 50 next week then sell single days.

No, the Super Bowl is a mass market audience, and the mass market doesn’t want to buy vacation packages just to visit the park for 1 day.

I heard something similar just a few minutes ago from a friend of mine... hmm. Not the exact same, but he said that they're possibly going to have Celestial Park operate the same as CityWalk during the slow seasons so guests can shop and eat. Interesting to think about.

Been saying this since the beginning . The hub is too large and has giant restaurants . It also is located right next to 3 hotels… people will want to eat near the park, not take a bus back to city walk. Otherwise … the hotels will be swamped with dinner reservations / long lines at quick service.

 

[HHN Maddux]

I heard something similar just a few minutes ago from a friend of mine... hmm. Not the exact same, but he said that they're possibly going to have Celestial Park operate the same as CityWalk during the slow seasons so guests can shop and eat. Interesting to think about.

I wouldn't take HoH seriously. They're notoriously unreliable and have fully admitted in the past they take their info from what's said on Discord and forums.

 

[saint.piss]

I wouldn't take HoH seriously. They're notoriously unreliable and have fully admitted in the past they take their info from what's said on Discord and forums.

I know. But I only shared it because it's similar to what my friend heard.

 

[Clive]

What about a land with one entry/exit?

Still a logistical nightmare. People aren't used to not having their phones in a theme park setting. Families will need to coordinate when they split up, even within a land (not everyone's spry enough to go on Monsters Unchained, etc.)

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Still a logistical nightmare. People aren't used to not having their phones in a theme park setting. Families will need to coordinate when they split up, even within a land (not everyone's spry enough to go on Monsters Unchained, etc.)

I was thinking more along the lines of "TMs and limited guests" not "whole families" but I see your points.

 

[Acandrews12]

but we're nearing the 100 day mark now.

I wonder if that’s the plan. Single day and gen pop tickets at the 100 day mark. Which is next week, right? 2/11 I believe.

I heard something similar just a few minutes ago from a friend of mine... hmm. Not the exact same, but he said that they're possibly going to have Celestial Park operate the same as CityWalk during the slow seasons so guests can shop and eat. Interesting to think about.

Would definitely be interesting. So would people need a ticket to ride Stardust Racers and Constellation Carousel or would they be “free” attractions in the hub?

 

[Mad Dog]

Universal has to be careful they don't overplay their hand and, by doing limits too long, not get the crowds at Epic they expect. IOA and Studios will be partly cannibalized by Epic during slow/moderate season weekdays no matter what they do, in my opinion, and they're going to have to face that reality. Universal has a large dependence on locals, and short of HHN nights, they'll be spending some of those IOA/Studios days at Epic in 2025 instead of the other two. There's only so much money available. Even WDW, with a crazed fan base, is having attendance issues the past couple years. Just let people purchase as they want and let the results play out. If not enough guests show up at IOA and Studios, they'll just have to create events/new attractions/price cuts that'll entice people to come to those parks.

 

[rhino4evr]

Since the current parks are right next to each other and even have a ride that acts as transportation between them, universal is going to finally face some of the attendance challenges that Disney does when it comes to multiple parks across a decent distance.
Will epic become their “magic kingdom” ? Probably; at least for the first few years. I could imagine increasing single day ticket prices just for epic will be a similar way to make more money , and potentially encourage visitors to buy multi park passes and visit other parks.