[🌎 Universal GB] General Discussion

[John_P]

Really hope Universal mark the official beginning of the build in January with some more official artwork.

Getting fed up of people posting AI slop in every Universal GB group that pops up on Facebook.

 

[Bowser]

Does anyone know or recall the timeline of Epic for a possible comparison of how things could play out in terms of reveals?

How long did it take from construction to opening (i gather it had Covid delays)?
How soon were rides and themes revealed?

 

[Dave]

Does anyone know or recall the timeline of Epic for a possible comparison of how things could play out in terms of reveals?

How long did it take from construction to opening (i gather it had Covid delays)?
How soon were rides and themes revealed?

Construction techniques and standards are very different in America to Europe, it won’t be comparable.

 

[jon81uk]

Really hope Universal mark the official beginning of the build in January with some more official artwork.

Getting fed up of people posting AI slop in every Universal GB group that pops up on Facebook.

Does anyone know or recall the timeline of Epic for a possible comparison of how things could play out in terms of reveals?

How long did it take from construction to opening (i gather it had Covid delays)?
How soon were rides and themes revealed?

There will be very little officially released on it, Universal work very differently to Disney and don't normally announce much or even provide concept art until very close to opening.

The official confirmations for attractions at Epic came out in January to August 2024 (they revealed one land at a time), about a year before opening. Prior to that I think there was just one or two official pieces of concept art and some confirmations of some of the lands in 2023.

Therefore don't expect much other than the exisiting concept art until 1-2 years before opening.

 

[xtpower]

Really hope Universal mark the official beginning of the build in January with some more official artwork.

Getting fed up of people posting AI slop in every Universal GB group that pops up on Facebook.

The We Are Universal Studios Great Britain group is absolutely swamped with AI slop right now. It's gotten beyond a joke, I don't wanna have to scroll past a dozen AI slop posts just to get to updates and actual discussion.

 

[Benjsh]

I feel the same way about AI in general as I do when they started whacking VR goggles on beloved theme park attractions.

Just stop it NOW!!!!! Turn it off.

 

[BarryZola]

Our governments have failed us again by not putting a pause on this Ai thing before having a serious grown up conversation about its rollout to the public. That's been my belief for a couple of years and I'll keep banging the drum. The cons have always looked to outweigh the pros.

 

[SuperMuscleMan]

Two day visits will only happen when the park starts to expand. That said I'd be looking to do a two night stay with one day on the park so I can make the most of City Walk. I also live further North so a day trip isn't realistic. Not everyone lives in the South East

Even from deepest Sussex / Kent it's not exactly a fun journey. I've just come back past the park and its and a 3+ hour journey and the roads were behaving! The M25 is often more of a hell hole and that journey can easily be 5+ hours. And forget an easy train ride. You still have to change fight to get across the cesspit that is London.

 

[Matt.GC]

I was merely poking fun. After all in one of his posts he called it a 'imaginary park' and launched into a very sarcastic version of it, referencing Nigel Farage and a dark ride diving into the 'depraved depths of our country'. I think if someone goes to those lengths (even humourously) to say something is not happening, he can take a little ribbing when it turns out it pretty much is.

That's cool, I have no problem with it. Ribbing accepted, it's all good fun.

It's quite obvious that some comments were not to be taken seriously, but also important to note the context in which some were made. I think I have mostly been vindicated with much of the tongue and cheek stuff owing to the current state of the nation would you not say?

I cannot predict the future, and if you do in fact do a deep dive into the history, you'll see that I've always questioned the business motives and have been determined to find out reasons. This is all started based on rumours, albeit strong, and looked unlikely to be true in my eyes as I could not see any logical reason for doing this. Among a plethora of excitement based on nothing more than pure emotion, I always cast doubt on whether this could, or should happen. I stick by that and you can see that threaded in to numerous posts, including yours further up he page.

It's unlikely it will be T-shirt weather tomorrow at the start of a British winter, but it's not the fault of the Met Office for pointing out that such an occurrence makes no meteorological sense, neither does it vindicate the finger crossers should such an event actually occur (although for the second Christmas in a row, a customer did ask for charcoal for a barbeque today, necessitating a trawl through cases of Factor 50 and water pistols in the warehouse in order to meet their needs).

In your search through the archives, please note that I repeatedly and consistently never ever denied the rumours, but I did constant challenge the logic being used by others. I will fully admit to finding it unlikely, and I was still confused as to why before I looked deeper into it. I have repeatedly stated, and will continue to state, that my pessimism was based on it making no business sense to me. I have been fully vindicated in this as you will see continued absurd arguments against that are based on nothing more than hope, desire, dreams, and logic that remains as flawed as the day it was posted.

Some of these include playing down the challenges of the UK economy, asking why we can't "have nice things", justifying an very risky mutli-£billion investment because of Harry Potter, and my personal favourite (and annoyingly persistent, despite a simple and quick Google search proving otherwise) - the complete misunderstanding of basic Market Forces theories (the "competition" and Merlin "up their game" absurdities that keep being repeated).

If One were to step back, park the excitement, and take a cursory glance over this investment, it still looks as absurd as the day the rumours were broken. You'll also see that I was so intrigued as to why on earth they would do this that I committed myself to exploring it.

Which I did do, and found it fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable. And no, before anyone posts anything silly, it's far more nuanced than Harry Potter, a global media conglomerate somehow feeling sorry for the UK for not having "nice things", and this silly Merlin "Monopoly", "competition", and "upping their game" narrative that keeps getting repeated. I would elaborate but I doubt anyone would be interested (it's mostly about historical Entry Modes of Universal and their competitors for anyone who is interested).

I was sceptical and doubted it would ever happen. But at least my reasoning was based on intrigue rather than seeking emotional self-reinforcement. Hence why, as you rightly noted, I poked a bit of fun at some of the absurd things wing said.

Ignorance meant that my turn on the crystal ball was wrong, and the clear ignorance of many others who lucked out when they gave it a good old rub proved more satisfactory. But I admit it was my own ignorance, and I would challenge everyone else to read back and do the same. A clock is right twice per day and all that.

There is no offence taken by the way, I enjoyed this post and I'm glad I've had a chance to explain my thoughts. You're right, I do deserve a good old roasting, so feel free (the long periods of silence won't be due to offense, it's just because I'm snowed under. I miss you guys on here). I thought the Nigal Farage ride was a jolly good idea. I visualised it in my head and everything!