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!

 

[Mad Dog]

I've come to the conclusion that the best way to 'ENJOY' a day at Epic is to go in with the mindset that you don't need to ride Ministry or DK Mine Ride. Long waits and anxiety associated with both attractions is the main things that ruin a visit. Ride the other stuff that isn't broken down and you'll leave the park with a smile on your face, most of the time. If by chance either DK or Ministry drops below 40 minutes at the end of the night....well...that's a 'Bonus'.

 

[theuberguberman]

Definitely makes me nervous if they plan on going to max capacity (I'm not sure how much higher that is than what they're rolling with currently, to be fair). We went in October for two days. One day with express, the second without. The day without, the shortest line most of the day was Constellation Carousel with a 40 minute wait (and the line jumping for a carousel was crazy lol). We were there from breakfast until closing and I think we managed to squeeze in 6 rides (didn't do Ministry, but one of the 6 rides was DK), which wasn't too bad, but for a 12 hour day, that's kinda rough. Though maybe I'm just getting spoiled with how low waits have been at USO lol

 

[Mad Dog]

Definitely makes me nervous if they plan on going to max capacity (I'm not sure how much higher that is than what they're rolling with currently, to be fair). We went in October for two days. One day with express, the second without. The day without, the shortest line most of the day was Constellation Carousel with a 40 minute wait (and the line jumping for a carousel was crazy lol). We were there from breakfast until closing and I think we managed to squeeze in 6 rides (didn't do Ministry, but one of the 6 rides was DK), which wasn't too bad, but for a 12 hour day, that's kinda rough. Though maybe I'm just getting spoiled with how low waits have been at USO lol

The numbers bandied about by decent sources have been a max. of apx. 25,000 or so since they opened. Those same sources have used numbers ranging between 35,000 to 45,000 for what Universal deems the actual max. capacity of Epic. That's a pretty high number for what's there. A lot depends how easy they'll make for purchasing tickets. Even with the somewhat low 25,000 max. capacity in place, daily attendance was often just in the mid to high teens. But, of course, that was with a somewhat restrictive ticket purchase policy.

 

[Midnight Detective]

Hi! Quick question and I think this is the place to ask

Has there been any difference in crowds since its February? Not in an grand sense but I'm a local and have been going back and forth on going right now vs just sometime before Summer hits?

 

[Mad Dog]

Hi! Quick question and I think this is the place to ask

Has there been any difference in crowds since its February? Not in an grand sense but I'm a local and have been going back and forth on going right now vs just sometime before Summer hits?

The only real comparison is stand by times in the app. They've been about the same as any other non holiday week daily stand by times, except for those freezing cold days when lots of outdoor rides had significant shut down times. They're still capping the attendance levels at this point in time so the only real difference is if 17,000 guests show up or 25,000 show up. This weekend, and following days, will probably be at the busy day level, even Sunday, since Presidents Holiday week has become quite busy for both WDW and Universal.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Hi! Quick question and I think this is the place to ask

Has there been any difference in crowds since its February? Not in an grand sense but I'm a local and have been going back and forth on going right now vs just sometime before Summer hits?

Adding onto what MD said, go during the last week of the month or mid-May.

 

[Midnight Detective]

The only real comparison is stand by times in the app. They've been about the same as any other non holiday week daily stand by times, except for those freezing cold days when lots of outdoor rides had significant shut down times. They're still capping the attendance levels at this point in time so the only real difference is if 17,000 guests show up or 25,000 show up. This weekend, and following days, will probably be at the busy day level, even Sunday, since Presidents Holiday week has become quite busy for both WDW and Universal.

Adding onto what MD said, go during the last week of the month or mid-May.

Thank you both so much - I appreciate it!

 

[Hatetofly]

Universal in many ways has matched and even surpassed Disney in several aspects of a product for consumers, but man in terms of operational performance Disney is still light years ahead of Universal. How is it we’re in some cases 12-18 months into ride testing and even commissioning and still having this many issues.

I ask anyone to randomly opening the Disney and Universal app. Yesterday I checked both at random times and the top 3 longest waits in Orlando were at Epic and Epic had more ride closures at one time of the day than all 4 Disney parks combined. That’s pathetic.

 

[dxwwf3]

Does anyone know why there appears to be a change in the EPA policy at Epic Universe? I thought of the entire month of February they were changing the policy to include select attractions from WWOHP, Berk, and SNW?

 

[Brian G.]

Does anyone know why there appears to be a change in the EPA policy at Epic Universe? I thought of the entire month of February they were changing the policy to include select attractions from WWOHP, Berk, and SNW?

Guessing ops issues.

 

[Mad Dog]

Universal in many ways has matched and even surpassed Disney in several aspects of a product for consumers, but man in terms of operational performance Disney is still light years ahead of Universal. How is it we’re in some cases 12-18 months into ride testing and even commissioning and still having this many issues.

I ask anyone to randomly opening the Disney and Universal app. Yesterday I checked both at random times and the top 3 longest waits in Orlando were at Epic and Epic had more ride closures at one time of the day than all 4 Disney parks combined. That’s pathetic.

Epic operational issues being as bad as they were 6 months ago is really troubling. For a while it seemed they were improving downtime, and then they hit a wall. And one thing I've noticed while checking line times most every day is that if there's a high number of breakdowns early, then it seems to multiply all day long. Whereas, if there's a fairly smooth opening, then the entire day goes fairly well. As I've 'guessed' before, I'm thinking they went cheap on qualified maintenance and computer fix people and just don't have enough crews and people to handle the park. And, operationally, word is that the park has been understaffed since opening and it seems doubtful they ever corrected it. I really wonder how long Comcast will tolerate this from the present Epic leadership, regardless if it's their fault or just the result of the ride manufacturers ineptitude....What really shouts out to me is how often the cloned Mario Kart and Yoshii continue to have high downturn times. Those attraction issues should have been sorted out years ago.

 

[Hatetofly]

Epic operational issues being as bad as they were 6 months ago is really troubling. For a while it seemed they were improving downtime, and then they hit a wall. And one thing I've noticed while checking line times most every day is that if there's a high number of breakdowns early, then it seems to multiply all day long. Whereas, if there's a fairly smooth opening, then the entire day goes fairly well. As I've 'guessed' before, I'm thinking they went cheap on qualified maintenance and computer fix people and just don't have enough crews and people to handle the park. And, operationally, word is that the park has been understaffed since opening and it seems doubtful they ever corrected it. I really wonder how long Comcast will tolerate this from the present Epic leadership, regardless if it's their fault or just the result of the ride manufacturers ineptitude....What really shouts out to me is how often the cloned Mario Kart and Yoshii continue to have high downturn times. Those attraction issues should have been sorted out years ago.

This is where Disney is indeed light years ahead of Universal. Universal has certain candidates they look for or want where as Disney is more focused on best candidate possible.

Disney also is much more invested into internal training and growth. Their training programs are world class with numerous companies right here in Orlando ie Universal, Advent Health, even the Orlando Magic all copying Disneys training playbooks.

What your seeing at Epic is what happens when your more focused financially on building new attractions than the resources required to maintain them. Disney invests massive capital every year into not only the maintenance itself but building a bench of qualified technicians who will have had years of training and experience before even being able to work on complex systems and attractions.