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Universal Epic Universe - New Florida Theme Park

An aerial update from Bioreconstruct:

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Water has been added to the fountain areas in Celestial Park, and there's a lot more vegetation being added across the park. The roof on the Celestial Carousel is also being worked on.

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The entrance Chronos tower is continuing to grow, plenty more landscaping around the entrance plaza, and targets have been added to the Fyre Drill ride.

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The main dome on top of the Grand Helios Hotel is being worked on to match the style of the others.

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The absolutely HUGE show building for the Battle at the Ministry ride, complete with work on one of the extended queue line sections.

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An aerial overview of Stardust Racers. There's also a crain element installed so that individual cars can be removed from the maintenance bay:
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Finally, a look at the show building for Monsters Unchained:
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I can't even begin to wrap my head around the logistics of managing a project of this scale, it's fantastic to be able to watch it grow and take shape. The filled-in lakes/fountains really help show the scale of the whole thing. It's going to be bloomin' marvelous once completed. Then we hopefully get to watch the whole thing happen again in ol Blighty!
 
Danny said:
An aerial update from Bioreconstruct:

1719221024556.png
Water has been added to the fountain areas in Celestial Park, and there's a lot more vegetation being added across the park. The roof on the Celestial Carousel is also being worked on.

1719221164935.png

The entrance Chronos tower is continuing to grow, plenty more landscaping around the entrance plaza, and targets have been added to the Fyre Drill ride.

1719221480825.png

The main dome on top of the Grand Helios Hotel is being worked on to match the style of the others.

1719221692224.png
1719221740548.png

The absolutely HUGE show building for the Battle at the Ministry ride, complete with work on one of the extended queue line sections.

1719222238562.png

An aerial overview of Stardust Racers. There's also a crain element installed so that individual cars can be removed from the maintenance bay:
1719222312029.png

Finally, a look at the show building for Monsters Unchained:
1719222365110.png
Click to expand...
Hadn't realised to know how much of the view from some Helios rooms is almost seeing a show building. Realistically most of the view will be the pool on one side and the multistorey car parking on the other, but still the sides of those showbuildings will be in sight from the end rooms.
 
jon81uk said:
Hadn't realised to know how much of the view from some Helios rooms is almost seeing a show building. Realistically most of the view will be the pool on one side and the multistorey car parking on the other, but still the sides of those showbuildings will be in sight from the end rooms.
Click to expand...
I think once the bulk of the landscaping/water features are done in front of the hotel, that should detract mostly from the show building. I'd have also thought those rooms should be cheaper than the park-facing views?

Also, another photo I missed but wanted to share:

1719227746682.png

The Chronos tower from the ground level. The yellow brackets are very much temporary and of course it's wildly unfinished, but it's looking great!
 
Danny said:
I think once the bulk of the landscaping/water features are done in front of the hotel, that should detract mostly from the show building. I'd have also thought those rooms should be cheaper than the park-facing views?
Click to expand...
I'd be almost certain there will be at least three different room categories (park view, pool view, standard (parking) view). As you say it probably will look better once the pool and landscaping is done. I'd just never considered how close the showbuildings are to the hotel until seeing those pics.
 
Danny said:
I think once the bulk of the landscaping/water features are done in front of the hotel, that should detract mostly from the show building. I'd have also thought those rooms should be cheaper than the park-facing views?

Also, another photo I missed but wanted to share:

1719227746682.png

The Chronos tower from the ground level. The yellow brackets are very much temporary and of course it's wildly unfinished, but it's looking great!
Click to expand...
That photo is like a jolt of theming-related dopamine shot right into the brain. As the younguns say, I stan.
 
Initial guidance about their plans for tickets has been sent to travel agents this week. They will not be selling any single day tickets initially and to get a ticket you will need to purchase a multi day ticket for the 3 parks and all tickets will only allow 1 day access to epic universe.. For American tickets you will need to purchase a minimum of a 3 day ticket which will allow 1 visit to epic universe (no park hoping). The other days can be used at the existing parks. Park hopping and volcano bay access etc can be added as per the current rules.

For Uk guests their will be an new explorer pass that gives the same benefits as the current pass (14 days unlimited access to the two existing parks and volcano bay and will include 1 day access to Epic Universe). The explorer pass without the 1 day epic universe access will still also be available (cheaper than the 1 inc the days access to epic)

They said this is how they will initially manage attendance and crowds in 2025 and will adjust and add single day tickets when operations allow.
 
Maelstrom said:
For Uk guests their will be an new explorer pass that gives the same benefits as the current pass (14 days unlimited access to the two existing parks and volcano bay and will include 1 day access to Epic Universe). The explorer pass without the 1 day epic universe access will still also be available (cheaper than the 1 inc the days access to epic)
Click to expand...
Ugh, I’d read about the one visits with a three day pass American ticket but was optimistic we’d get a better deal. We were thinking of staying at the new Helios hotel but if we only get one entry to Epic Universe then there isn’t much point, might as well be over by the other parks
 
The helios hotel may get different ticket options as it is expected to priced at the very top end and more expensive than the current universal premium hotels ie £600+ per night
 
Maelstrom said:
The helios hotel may get different ticket options as it is expected to priced at the very top end and more expensive than the current universal premium hotels ie £600+ per night
Click to expand...
Apparently it won’t give express pass to the existing parks though so there will have to be something to justify pricing it higher than the three which do give free express.
 
Interested to see the dark ride, rumours have suggested it is Universal's answer to Rise of the Resistance. The show building is massive.
 
Alastair said:
I can understand why they've gone for the French Fantastic Beasts look for the "above-ground" element (so much London elsewhere), but it is a bit jarring that you then enter into the British Ministry.
Click to expand...
Suppose the Floo network is an easy solution there

I wonder what other main area they could’ve used for the land?

Apart from Hogwarts, the village and Diagon, there’s not really anything too stand out from either film series?
 
If they wanted an indoor land the Ministry could have been a whole land in itself, with the ride being just the Department of Mystery. That could be an option for Universal GB.

Mixed bag for me this one. I actually love the setting, as it promises what the Fantastic Beasts films failed to deliver; exploring more of the bizarre and mystical creatures in this world. The circus style show looks interesting and the area feels like an expansion on the world.

Bit weird having to jump locations by Floo network but I don't hate it. Again just an unfortunate side effect of anchoring the land around a franchise that didn't work.

However I'm not a fan of the story for the ministry ride. That's the bit to me that doesn't make sense. Umbridge is on trial but escapes (Zootopia Hot Pursuit says hi) and tries to bring back Voldemort. I thought the books were very clear on death being final and resurrections have consequences. Also I think Umbridge as a character works best because she's not a death eater, just a nasty character who takes advantage of the power she has.
I think I'd have preferred them to set it during the final book when she's still in charge but at her most twisted. Forcing the guests to hide in the Department of Mystery to try and avoid being sentenced.
 
Tim said:
If they wanted an indoor land the Ministry could have been a whole land in itself, with the ride being just the Department of Mystery. That could be an option for Universal GB.

Mixed bag for me this one. I actually love the setting, as it promises what the Fantastic Beasts films failed to deliver; exploring more of the bizarre and mystical creatures in this world. The circus style show looks interesting and the area feels like an expansion on the world.

Bit weird having to jump locations by Floo network but I don't hate it. Again just an unfortunate side effect of anchoring the land around a franchise that didn't work.

However I'm not a fan of the story for the ministry ride. That's the bit to me that doesn't make sense. Umbridge is on trial but escapes (Zootopia Hot Pursuit says hi) and tries to bring back Voldemort. I thought the books were very clear on death being final and resurrections have consequences. Also I think Umbridge as a character works best because she's not a death eater, just a nasty character who takes advantage of the power she has.
I think I'd have preferred them to set it during the final book when she's still in charge but at her most twisted. Forcing the guests to hide in the Department of Mystery to try and avoid being sentenced.
Click to expand...
I think the Cursed Child play has a huge plot point about using time turners to go back and bring Voldemort back to power doesn’t it?

I wonder if the plot of the ride will follow a similar idea involving her trying to steal time turners from the time turner room at the ministry mentioned in the books.

The use of time travel in the Potter universe since Cursed Child is really all over the place. It was only a solid plot point in the third novel really (that the time travel you do has already affected your present anyway)
 
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Tim said:
If they wanted an indoor land the Ministry could have been a whole land in itself, with the ride being just the Department of Mystery. That could be an option for Universal GB.

Mixed bag for me this one. I actually love the setting, as it promises what the Fantastic Beasts films failed to deliver; exploring more of the bizarre and mystical creatures in this world. The circus style show looks interesting and the area feels like an expansion on the world.

Bit weird having to jump locations by Floo network but I don't hate it. Again just an unfortunate side effect of anchoring the land around a franchise that didn't work.

However I'm not a fan of the story for the ministry ride. That's the bit to me that doesn't make sense. Umbridge is on trial but escapes (Zootopia Hot Pursuit says hi) and tries to bring back Voldemort. I thought the books were very clear on death being final and resurrections have consequences. Also I think Umbridge as a character works best because she's not a death eater, just a nasty character who takes advantage of the power she has.
I think I'd have preferred them to set it during the final book when she's still in charge but at her most twisted. Forcing the guests to hide in the Department of Mystery to try and avoid being sentenced.
Click to expand...

It says she’s trying to bring back the ‘time of Voldemort’ not necessarily the wizard himself.

If they’re able to pull it off it’s going to be absolutely stunning, let’s be honest.
 
Now that all the lands are announced, I’m looking forward to hear an opening date - All that’s left to speculate is what comes next!

I can see :

- Nintendo getting an expansion

This could potentially be done with a Luigi’s Mansion dark ride to take the role of a family scare (this has been rumoured)

- Dark Universe water ride

Another rumoured phase 2 attraction, this would be based on Creature from the Black Lagoon

- Wicked / Oz

Depending on the success of the 2 movies, this could be a great option that has a timeless basis in the Wizard of Oz, with the relevant visuals of what could be a hugely successful Universal property

- Shrek / Far Far Away / Puss in Boots / Dreamworks franchises

While Shrek is partially represented in Dreamworks land, an immersive area could be a great way to introduce a family area to Epic. Far Far Away has been done convincingly in Asia, but they could go for a more fairytale forest to include multiple Dreamworks IPs

And finally, if they aren’t saving it for USGB

Lord of the Rings

There are so many possibilities, what’s wild is that with EU there’s no “headline” ride, every ride would be a star in any other park
 
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