Universal's Epic Universe General News & Discussion

[Jake S]

I keep reading this, but honestly if that was the plan, then they really did not understand what makes Rise such an amazing experience. It's not about the ride itself (which is great too) but the amazing thing about rise is that it's a whole experience. Yes, the queue in Ministry is impressive, but it's more of a walk through while the story for rise starts at the first pre-show. What then follows is a sequence of queue/pre-show elements which many would consider the ride already, while again, Ministry is just a walk through the ministry without any significant story building elements.

I think it's more meant as an ambition to build the best theme park ride in the world (or at least a ride in the conversation). I don't know if I've seen that attributed to anyone at Universal, but if that was their ambition ... well, it's not even the best ride in the park.

 

[Mad Dog]

I keep reading this, but honestly if that was the plan, then they really did not understand what makes Rise such an amazing experience. It's not about the ride itself (which is great too) but the amazing thing about rise is that it's a whole experience. Yes, the queue in Ministry is impressive, but it's more of a walk through while the story for rise starts at the first pre-show. What then follows is a sequence of queue/pre-show elements which many would consider the ride already, while again, Ministry is just a walk through the ministry without any significant story building elements.

I agree. It's nothing like the RotR effect. Rise is an experience with its whole actually stronger than any of its individual parts. I actually feel like its three or four 'experiences', all following one another in perfect story and cohesion. I even love the last segment, the actual ride, and I thought I'd never ride its equal anywhere. But Monsters amazed me. It's the only actual ride section that I consider as good, if not better, than that final segment of RotR.

Ministry, while OK, definitely did not come close to the RotR experience sequence and doesn't belong in the conversation. Actually, the Ministry entrance tunnels and rotunda queue is more impressive than the Ministry ride itself, in my opinion. And, once you leave the rotunda, the remainder of the Ministry queue is not all that impressive. It gets kind of tedious.

 

[Timchat2]

3) Outside the hard-core online fandom, classic monster houses at HHN just do alright in terms of draw (even when a strong contender for house of the year). If HHN ticket-buyers aren't that enthralled with the IP, it's a lot to ask of gen pop tourists.

It would be really interesting to hear what "normie" guest satisfaction scores have been like for Monsters Unchained. The queue length can only tell us so much.

 

[Mad Dog]

It would be really interesting to hear what "normie" guest satisfaction scores have been like for Monsters Unchained. The queue length can only tell us so much.

Yes, that would be interesting....The other day the Epic FB Group post asked which was the better attraction, Monsters or Ministry. There were around 200 replies. I scrolled down, and I'd guess, without actually counting, that about 90% answered Monsters.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I still think APs aren't coming anytime soon. Until there is vast improvement in throughput

Until guests won't buy single day (or multi day) tickets just to go to Epic then Universal won't add UOAP. They love having higher per guest spend and I imagine Disney is looking on with envy.

 

[DOOMBOT]

Worth noting that Monsters and Yoshi are the first two attractions at Epic to hit one million riders each. That speaks to some amount of guest demand, as that was being questioned on previous pages.

No clue on how accurate these claims are, but I have heard murmurs from my UDX attractions friends that upper-level managers are being told that the park will be open at max capacity by the end of the year. That is, whether the park can handle it or not. It's hovered around <24,000, 28,000 max over 2025. We'll see how it goes in reality. Despite a lack of tangible evidence, I can certainly imagine there's a strong desire from executives to get Epic open to as many people as it can, as soon as it can. They wanna see that ROI, especially as pockets get tigher due to ... uh, yknow. Reasons.

 

[Mad Dog]

Worth noting that Monsters and Yoshi are the first two attractions at Epic to hit one million riders each. That speaks to some amount of guest demand, as that was being questioned on previous pages.

No clue on how accurate these claims are, but I have heard murmurs from my UDX attractions friends that upper-level managers are being told that the park will be open at max capacity by the end of the year. That is, whether the park can handle it or not. It's hovered around <24,000, 28,000 max over 2025. We'll see how it goes in reality. Despite a lack of tangible evidence, I can certainly imagine there's a strong desire from executives to get Epic open to as many people as it can, as soon as it can. They wanna see that ROI, especially as pockets get tigher due to ... uh, yknow. Reasons.

I'm surprised they've kept the brakes on this long. Certainly they never expected they would have to. I'd imagine the Orlando execs are on the hot seat. Fix it or we'll find someone who can do it better is probably the mantra. As I've said before, big corporations only have so much patience. Chop chop if you don't succeed, whether it's your fault or not. Comcast is not a benevolent non profit organization. If I'm an Epic Exec.....I'll say it again....rent,
don't buy.

Often, in business, results are all that matter. The hard truth.

 

[JohnHammondsCane]

Until guests won't buy single day (or multi day) tickets just to go to Epic then Universal won't add UOAP. They love having higher per guest spend and I imagine Disney is looking on with envy.

Makes sense to me, even if I hate it as a UOAP. Why buy the milk when you get the cow for free.

I've been to Epic twice and I love the park. Hell, my wife says it's her favorite (mainly for Pizza Moon and Frosty Moon LOL), but buying 4 tickets each time we want to go is a heavy lift. But like you said, if the Execs are good with it, no reason for them to change course!