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Universal Epic Universe - New Florida Theme Park

Benjsh said:
Yeah the fancy dress thing is pretty weird to me.

We went to the Harry Potter Studios Tour a few years back and we saw this woman standing alone dressed as Prof McGonagall and her outfit didn't look like one she got off Amazon let's put it that way. Looked expensive and the real deal so we just naturally assumed she was a team member and maybe a meet n greet kind of thing......we assumed wrong. She was a woman in her late 20's possibly early 30's who was there alone dressed up as her favourite character.

I don't think I will ever get that kind of dedication.
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I'm fairly sure Disney parks don't allow adults in fancy dress for this very reason.
 
Benjsh said:
Yeah the fancy dress thing is pretty weird to me.

We went to the Harry Potter Studios Tour a few years back and we saw this woman standing alone dressed as Prof McGonagall and her outfit didn't look like one she got off Amazon let's put it that way. Looked expensive and the real deal so we just naturally assumed she was a team member and maybe a meet n greet kind of thing......we assumed wrong. She was a woman in her late 20's possibly early 30's who was there alone dressed up as her favourite character.

I don't think I will ever get that kind of dedication.
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I can see why doing it with a group of friends might be a laugh but but yourself might be a bit.. odd
 
We've bit the bullet and just booked a second day at Epic now. Absolutely no way we're getting it all done in one day after watching Shaun's vlog last night. Took him most of the day to get everything done and the crowds were incredibly light given it was a preview day compared to what it will be like when we go. It's only money afterall. Hahaha!
 
Donkey Kong seems like it could potentially be a problematic one in terms of queues; only 4 per car and 15-20 second dispatches, apparently, which leads to a throughput comfortably under 1,000pph. For a headline attraction in a brand new Universal theme park, that seems like a low capacity.

I think Disney had the right idea with Primeval Whirl; for something with that sort of capacity, building 2 would alleviate the issue. Admittedly, I’m unsure how practical that would have been here, but it would have alleviated the potential capacity issue.
 
Matt N said:
Donkey Kong seems like it could potentially be a problematic one in terms of queues; only 4 per car and 15-20 second dispatches, apparently, which leads to a throughput comfortably under 1,000pph. For a headline attraction in a brand new Universal theme park, that seems like a low capacity.

I think Disney had the right idea with Primeval Whirl; for something with that sort of capacity, building 2 would alleviate the issue. Admittedly, I’m unsure how practical that would have been here, but it would have alleviated the potential capacity issue.
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Yeah we're aiming for getting this one done during early hours and probably won't bother riding it again tbh. Heard it's nothing that special anyway.
 
Donkey Kong (plus dragon racer rally and Battle of the Minestry) are all excluded in express atleast. There is a single rider queue on Donkey Kong.

Harry Potter ride queue is apparently capable of holding a 7th queue! Also even during the previews hearing many people are unable to get a VQ ticket, although Shawn managed to get 6 rides over 3 days. I imagine it’s going to be hard getting one once the park has opened.

Park hours from opening on 22nd may have been released up until the end of May- 9am-9pm (8 am early entry for inside guests). Similar hours to the existing parks in Summer (us normally open until 9 and IOA 9/10pm in summer.
 
Maelstrom said:
Donkey Kong (plus dragon racer rally and Battle of the Minestry) are all excluded in express atleast. There is a single rider queue on Donkey Kong.

Harry Potter ride queue is apparently capable of holding a 7th queue! Also even during the previews hearing many people are unable to get a VQ ticket, although Shawn managed to get 6 rides over 3 days. I imagine it’s going to be hard getting one once the park has opened.

Park hours from opening on 22nd may have been released up until the end of May- 9am-9pm (8 am early entry for inside guests). Similar hours to the existing parks in Summer (us normally open until 9 and IOA 9/10pm in summer.
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Will they still be running a virtual queue come end of August?

Sounds like they haven't got even half of the crafts signed off yet so might be why they are using this system. I'd imagine once they have 15+ in operation the VQ will no longer be necessary.
 
Benjsh said:
Will they still be running a virtual queue come end of August?

Sounds like they haven't got even half of the crafts signed off yet so might be why they are using this system. I'd imagine once they have 15+ in operation the VQ will no longer be necessary.
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Hopefully they get the ride sorted and the VQ ends so not in place for August. While previous new HP rides attracted huge queues on opening, the advantage hear is it’s not just onenew ride opening but a whole park which should help spread some of the crowds out and not everyone heading to the new ride.

Not A fan of VQ and am glad that Disney has dropped all its VQ and while I got them ok last visit I ,.would rather be able to ride Tron and guardians as and when not having to make sure I am trying to grab a spot bang on 7am and having no control when I actually have to ride it. Plus if want to go again the same day you can.
 
Seems like the final 2-3 weeks of the Annual Pass Previews at Epic Universe they will be letting in anyone in who wants to go now subject to availability. You don't need an annual pass or be a Universal hotel guest.

Doesn't sound like the uptake from passholders has been quite what they were expecting maybe? Can't say I'm overly surprised though. People fork out hundreds on those passes and they they asked them for 121 dollars additional per day at Epic. Seems a bit of a rip off to me.
 
I think many expected pass holders to get free previews. I get that they are charging from opening, because the passes that they have purchased are either for 2 parks (US and IOA) or the three park (Inc volcano bay) so the pricing and tickets purchased don’t include epic universe which pass holders knew when purchasing.

However I would have expected them to have done a free pass holder preview or much more heavily discounted. Capacity for previews though remains very limited currently at 6k from 22nd may capacity will increase to 35k I believe.
 
If I was a passholder and had managed to enjoy the park in its current restricted capacity and managed to get on every ride multiple times, I don’t think I’d ever want to go back once it’s opened properly and there’s 10 times the people there!
 
I think they will cap it at 30k for the first few months whilst not everything is running smoothly yet. As soon as HP: Battle of the Ministry is working as it should do and without the need for a VQ then i think we will see the limit lifted.

When the park is eventually at 50k+ a day I genuinely don't see it being a particularly enjoyable day out. Some of the queues and rides are simply not going to be able to handle that amount of people.
 
Suppose some pass holders who eagerly bought tickets for opening day and after just can't afford to pay for more tickets during the preview period.

At least if you go after 22nd may and Battle at the Ministry, and Monsters Unchained breakdown you may be able to get something at guest services. Whilst currently it's just 'technical rehearsals.'

Suppose as well for people who booked holidays a number of years out it potentially means they can visit the park now instead of just missing it by a matter of weeks.
 
How is Japan so much worse, not just in the example above but in general? Do they have far higher capacities, are their ops terrible, do they just like joining long queues? Japan is high up my bucket list of countries to visit but can’t say the thought of going to their theme parks fills me with any excitement!
 
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