The Looming Concerns About Epic Universe? | Epic Universe Update

[@CLIFFLIX]

Universal,..you need to be "careful" on this. "IF" you "know" an attraction will NOT be ready on opening day,..(like Harry Potter),...you need to NEED to tell people right now. People are spending alot of money on tickets and flying there from all over the country. You need to put any attraction that is "expected" not be ready on notice to these people today. It's OK if it's not ready,...but only if you TELL people in advance. If people want a refund, you need to give that to them now....long before opening day.

[@capthemagic]

Agreed

[@meganashlea]

100% agree with you!

[@vamoscruceros]

@@CLIFFLIX I don't think they would have announced an opening date if they thought major parts of the park were not going to be ready. Still a lot that can happen in six months, though.

[@CLIFFLIX]

@@vamoscruceros - I think you are right but I have heard rumors that the Harry Potter "ride" itself might not be ready in time. I think Universal is under ENORMOUS pressure to get this park on-line and making money right at the beginning of the summer theme-park season. They have dumped a gaZillion dollars into this and they NEEEEED to start getting that money back ASAP. Hopefully 100% of this park will be fully operational on opening day.

[@jeandavidnau8314]

Absolutely

[@stephanievitale-ur1vo]

I also feel that it’s not all about the rides, there is immersion there too

[@Wilkins325]

This is ultimately what they are trying to do with the whole portal system. You are encouraged to enter one of the lands and really immerse yourself into everything each one has to offer rather than run from ride to ride all over the place.

[@metallicnole4514]

That's true, but in that first year people are gonna prioritize getting on the rides

[@davidpurvee9225]

The intangible at Epic is all of the interactive areas and walk around challenges. They aren't counted as an actual attraction, but a TON of people will be pulled away from attraction lines to play with power bands, wizard wands, and baby dragons (haven't heard of any interactive devices for Monsters but it could happen there too)!

[@capthemagic]

Very valid point

[@davidpurvee9225]

​@capthemagic , my wife and I have talked about wanting to spend a day just admiring the fountains and flowers and nature park setting... those points said, this park will be busy, I'm sure!

[@vamoscruceros]

@@davidpurvee9225 Agree. Universal has been citing 50 experiences in their marketing. The interactive experiences in Super Nintendo World and Ministry of Magic will be popular, not to mention very profitable with all of the wand and power-up band sales. Don't forget about the character meet-and-greet opportunities, especially in Isle of Berk and Dark Universe.

[@CassDahlem]

My only opening day concern is people not having opening day expectations. 😅

[@capthemagic]

Which we both know most people wont have lol

[@tepobori]

I’m a bit concerned about Universal’s comparison of HS capacity with EU. It seems like attraction ideas is overlooking some important factors. I understand that there are valid concerns about the operational efficiency of EU, but I really hope Universal will make every effort to ensure that this park is as polished and ready for opening day as possible. It’s their flagship park, and they can’t afford to deliver an unfinished product.

[@ducktails1695]

It'll have its issues on opening day. This park is slightly behind in certain areas. The park is supposed to be finished by the end of the year and I'm not confident that's gonna happen.

[@capthemagic]

I believe they will, like I said in the video as well, they will have a long time to test our these rides and then even more testing with soft openings as well

[@metallicnole4514]

If they have revolutionary new ride systems, there is the possibility of numerous ride closures

[@capthemagic]

Very possible

[@mimikyueevee6917]

This is in regard to the DK ride, But I think Universal is going to be watching the wait times in Japan very closely. This will let them know what to aspect in the Florida park.

[@capthemagic]

Ya, I would also assume they know the ride capacity of it but I’m sure that will be a great test run of sorts for Epic as well

[@JD-ef1jb]

For me the biggest concern is staffing. No matter how good a ride is, if the staff suck, the overall ride experience and park experience will suck. Then my second concern is how many people they let into the park before they say its full. But hopefully they will use AP previews and soft opens to figure that out before opening day.

[@samplautz5586]

We know one thing for certain… Battle at the Ministry is going to have problems for the first year. It’s the most technically advanced ride they’ve ever built. The last time they said that, they built hagrids and that took a year to get right

[@moutaim]

I'm gonna say one thing: rain season

[@bcarterpj]

He also does not bring up bad weather as Universal is known for stopping outside rides as soon as rain hits and most of these rides are outside for Epic. So bad weather could mean the park gets behind the whole day

[@OrcBaneScape]

Audio was much better this time around! Great video. Been enjoying your content a lot lately!

[@capthemagic]

Good to hear. Using some new software so tweaking it a bit as I go along

[@yankeesusa1]

He brings up good points but but if Hollywood studios is about the same amount of rides, i think it's pretty easy to get an idea of crowds.

[@vamoscruceros]

As far as capacity, is Universal trying to challenge Magic Kingdom and Disneyland for the attendance crown? If so the capacity would need to be at least 60,000 guests/day.

[@davidpurvee9225]

I think that's an ultimate goal, but not sure if they are swinging for that to start. They still have several expansion pads at Epic that will help increase capacity to those levels.

[@capthemagic]

I would like to know the capacity as well. Magic Kingdom is 107 acres so Epic is similar in size but MK has a TON of attractions that allows them to have a high capacity

[@MissMyMusicAddiction]

@@vamoscruceros i think MK is 80+k - at least it was back when CM's seemed to know what the capacity of the parks were

[@metallicnole4514]

I can't see epic taking the top spot from MK. But it could take the #5 spot from islands or the #3 spot from the universal park in asia

[@DrStarlander]

I think to challenge MK they would need to have many more "tuck in" attractions that are smaller and shorter, but that guests will still queue up for 20-30 minutes for (like Fantasyland rides) and smaller shows (like Country Bears and Tiki Room). It's hard to see how they can physically fit these in because the park is so tightly packed, but I think that's the key to how Disney's "castle parks" reach those massive attendance numbers.

[@metallicnole4514]

The comparison to hollywood studios makes sense. Not saying they are exactly the same. But there isn't a ton of capacity in epic in its first year. So I'm expecting wait times to be atrocious. Even without express pass clogging lines, I expect numerous rides with hagrid's level wait times.

[@meganashlea]

I’m hoping we might be able to score a spot with a passholder preview. Just need all the planets to line up first lol. We did soft opening day for Legoland NY and gave a lot of feedback on our way out. Going back a few months later we could see them implementing some of the suggestions (more shade/benches was a big one). I think Universal would be even quicker to fix any hiccups that arise during the soft opening. My son (13) and nephew (10) absolutely LOVE Hagrids and are willing to wait 2+ hours (without phones) to ride.

[@stephanievitale-ur1vo]

I want to go so bad to Epic but I don’t have the money now. 😭

[@techpappee]

@9:09 Universal announced on askEpic about express passes for EU... Q: Are there Express Pass products available for Universal Epic Universe? A: Express Passes for Universal Epic Universe will be launched at a later date before the park opens. More details will be announced closer to the launch of these products. It looks like Express Passes will be offered. Personally I believe if you've booked a premium stay you should *at least* be offered discounted EP's. Considering it's one of the perks/selling points for paying more $$ for your stay. Included Express unlimited for staying in one of their 'premium' resorts shouldn't end for the new park. I mean come on, that's bootie.

[@yankeesusa1]

If you go on opening day and expect things to be all working your in for a huge surprise. It's a brand new theme park with new tech. Things will go wrong. But can it be worse than Disney?? I mean look at Tiana and the so called Epcot upgrades?

[@capthemagic]

Very true, like I said I always tend to hope for the best but expect maybe not the worst but things to happen lol

[@clpotter121]

Weather could be a concern. A lot of stuff outdoors. Florida is the lightning capital of the world.

[@JP-1990]

Dark Universe will probably be awesome in the rain.

[@capthemagic]

Living in Florida, it does rain but it’s typically in quick spurts and if there is lighting in the area they will shut down outdoor attractions but open them back up quickly

[@fanta104]

theres plenty of indoor attractions tho if it does rain. Mario Kart, Ministry, Monsters as well as the two shows.

[@metallicnole4514]

That's the same problem islands has since most of the rides are outdoors

[@MissMyMusicAddiction]

12:17 so...an average day in the virtual queue at gideons, or the last day of splash mountain...

[@capthemagic]

LOL

[@coolyo9084]

Universal has said there will be Express pass option day 1 of Epic Universe. Details later. I guess that could change. It seems odd to offer day 1

[@remyd8767]

I feel like Celestial part of the park needs another ride or two. I'm afraid there isn't much to do in the middle of the park if you're not either a coaster fan or a merry go round fan.

[@capthemagic]

There is also a ton of food and shopping areas as part of that area as well though. It serves as the central hub and a land with a few rides is sorta the way I look at it

[@remyd8767]

@@capthemagic yah i hope there is enough to keep people occupied in the middle. Again, i do hope they end up putting another major attraction in the middle that is themed to the Celestial theme as part of some future update. Maybe a parade will keep it busy too.

[@fanta104]

Epic is opening with express

[@robertmalone1826]

In my opinion, this video is just Clickbait and got you to click on it. The comparison he makes is kind of comparable to universal but if you look at the express pass versus lightning Lane and the wait times and how efficient they move, universal blows them out of the water so I expect things to run smoother than they otherwise could. universal is a much better run park than Disney right now. Just look at Tiana’s bayou adventure whatever

[@dcupp1212]

Wow that’s a lot of pessimism. A lot of ifs. If the construction is too loud this may wake up a massive amounts of ants that will plague the park guests. 🤦‍♂️ Dude is just looking for things to be unhappy about. There is a thing such as being a realist, but this ain’t it.

[@danielmorley3690]

The looming concern I have is the fascist you are soon to have as president.