Epic Universe is the lowest rated theme park in Orlando

[thelookingglass]

Finally made it back and I will say that the park did not feel like unorganized chaos like it did this summer, which was nice. The day was pretty chill, but I do have to point something out here - a shocking amount of "bad show" elements:

The "game" froze halfway through on Mario Kart
No sound on Mine Cart Madness
Lots of stuff in Nintendo already not moving
No sound on one train of Stardust Racers and barely audible on the other
Literally half of the animatronics in Monsters Unchained were not working
Animatronics out in Ministry of Magic
Lots of little things are already looking beat up

I really hope they understand this: The park is NOT strong enough unless all the attractions are performing as good as they can possibly look. I realize effects go out, but it was noticeably a lot, way more than I ever really notice at USF/IOA. Those parks also have much more solid attraction lineups.

 

[mergatroid]

Finally made it back and I will say that the park did not feel like unorganized chaos like it did this summer, which was nice. The day was pretty chill, but I do have to point something out here - a shocking amount of "bad show" elements:

The "game" froze halfway through on Mario Kart
No sound on Mine Cart Madness
Lots of stuff in Nintendo already not moving
No sound on one train of Stardust Racers and barely audible on the other
Literally half of the animatronics in Monsters Unchained were not working
Animatronics out in Ministry of Magic
Lots of little things are already looking beat up

I really hope they understand this: The park is NOT strong enough unless all the attractions are performing as good as they can possibly look. I realize effects go out, but it was noticeably a lot, way more than I ever really notice at USF/IOA. Those parks also have much more solid attraction lineups.

I'm very surprised about all this, did you mention it to guest services?

 

[tommyhawkins]

Finally made it back and I will say that the park did not feel like unorganized chaos like it did this summer, which was nice. The day was pretty chill, but I do have to point something out here - a shocking amount of "bad show" elements:

The "game" froze halfway through on Mario Kart
No sound on Mine Cart Madness
Lots of stuff in Nintendo already not moving
No sound on one train of Stardust Racers and barely audible on the other
Literally half of the animatronics in Monsters Unchained were not working
Animatronics out in Ministry of Magic
Lots of little things are already looking beat up

I really hope they understand this: The park is NOT strong enough unless all the attractions are performing as good as they can possibly look. I realize effects go out, but it was noticeably a lot, way more than I ever really notice at USF/IOA. Those parks also have much more solid attraction lineups.

Sounds like the park needs to stay open later and definitely doesn't need more maintenance time

 

[thelookingglass]

I'm very surprised about all this, did you mention it to guest services?

No, but that doesn't actually get the issues fixed. You typically get an apology and maybe some form of compensation. Pointing these things out online is probably more effective in getting them to fix things.

Sounds like the park needs to stay open later and definitely doesn't need more maintenance time

Yeah, something's up here. USF/IOA are typically pretty good with their ride show quality. However, Epic Universe is way better at night and should strive to give guests a decent amount of night time in the park. Right now during winter there's plenty of night, so it could probably close earlier. During the summer though it should open later rather than close later.

 

[mkt]

No, but that doesn't actually get the issues fixed. You typically get an apology and maybe some form of compensation. Pointing these things out online is probably more effective in getting them to fix things.

I've got to disagree.

Those issues are sent to the appropriate teams for investigation.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

If Disney had built the exact same type of park, with same attractions and capacity issues, would Disney fans have given it a first year pass or judged it even more harshly?

Secondly, if universal had actually opened Epic Universe in Texas, a brand new location and we're building from zero, would they be judged less harshly?

I feel a lot of Disney fans would give it a first year pass because I notice a double standard by some that are Disney fans.

Epic Universe in Texas would be judged just as harsh or even worse. I am saying possibly worse because Epic Universe is not exactly strong in the shade department and Texas gets even hotter than Florida during the summer. Also Epic has a lot of outdoor attractions, but not enough water attractions for a state like Texas.

 

[thelookingglass]

I've got to disagree.

Those issues are sent to the appropriate teams for investigation.

Yeah, but it's just as likely that it gets ignored until enough people complain. When you post these things online in places that come up in searches about the parks, it draws public attention to the issues and causes more people to take notice and speak up.

 

[mkt]

Yeah, but it's just as likely that it gets ignored until enough people complain. When you post these things online in places that come up in searches about the parks, it draws public attention to the issues and causes more people to take notice and speak up.

When you post it in a public message board, that gives the parks plausible deniability that they "didn't know"

Additionally, I've seen the emails go out. While one may not be taken seriously - except for major shortcomings/dangerous instances - once a few appear, they tend to take action.

 

[thelookingglass]

When you post it in a public message board, that gives the parks plausible deniability that they "didn't know"

Additionally, I've seen the emails go out. While one may not be taken seriously - except for major shortcomings/dangerous instances - once a few appear, they tend to take action.

And more will appear if more people are tipped off to look for it. Therefore I think doing both is beneficial.

 

[tommyhawkins]

I feel a lot of Disney fans would give it a first year pass because I notice a double standard by some that are Disney fans.

Epic Universe in Texas would be judged just as harsh or even worse. I am saying possibly worse because Epic Universe is not exactly strong in the shade department and Texas gets even hotter than Florida during the summer. Also Epic has a lot of outdoor attractions, but not enough water attractions for a state like Texas.

I was talking about the concept of an Epic sized park opening in texas not the exact same design, the point being if the park opened in a brand new location they would be starting from scratch with staffing and institutional knowledge - the assumption has been that because its florida and they have two other parks starting a brand new park would somehow be easier. When the institutional knowledge of Epic and all the attractions it contains is still at zero - I would even argue that staffing this park in Orlando is probably hardly given the affordable housing crisis - even if you offer competitive pay its useless if you cant move to orlando and find a place to live.

Im not completely giving Uni a pass on this one though. They had a solution with Catchlight Crossings, thats only just going vertical now, phase 1 at least should have been ready a year ago. theres only so much you can blame on the pandemic

 

[BrianLo]

A few questions cross my mind, I promise they're not loaded to make any kind of point:

If Disney had built the exact same type of park, with same attractions and capacity issues, would Disney fans have given it a first year pass or judged it even more harshly?

Secondly, if universal had actually opened Epic Universe in Texas, a brand new location and we're building from zero, would they be judged less harshly?

Negative feedback almost exclusively has to do with lack of capacity, in my opinion. Everything else is nitpicking the weeds if you are already upset you could barely do anything. I think those of us visiting on the lower capacity Fall days all felt quite positively on the product.

So it would be received even more poorly for Disney, as they’d have very little trouble finding 10M people a year to go through a new gate, which is far worse than what Universal has been seeing. Texas would be the opposite, since it would be brand new there wouldn’t be an existing user base and it could more slowly grow into itself.

 

[Pizza Moon]

Its issues are the lines; everyone wants to do everything because it's all new.

Otherwise, it's the only park that has not only the quality but the scale of theming that Tokyo DisneySea has in America, and it has the best opening day line-up of any park ever.

After Potter, dropping a Luigi's Mansion Mystic Point-style mini-land, complete with an indoor shop and restaurant, would really fix this problem.

<insert, but, but, but AK, but EPCOT, but....>

 

[Tom Morrow]

Its issues are the lines; everyone wants to do everything because it's all new.

This is a huge oversimplification of the many issues that Epic does have. For instance, the park, overall, isn't actually seeing huge crowds. But they did not build enough rides with high capacity.

Otherwise, it's the only park that has not only the quality but the scale of theming that Tokyo DisneySea has in America, and it has the best opening day line-up of any park ever.

I'm sorry, but no. I'm not one of those people saying the park is awful or anything. I like it and it does do some things awesomely. I did want it to be like Tokyo DisneySea. They marketed it it would be that. But it is not that. The park as a whole is a very mixed bag effort. 50% the park is immersive on the level of Disney's best. The other 50% is full of janky sightlines of backstage and unsightly views that are far worse than anything you will find at WDW. Best park opening lineup ever? The park has just three legitimately great rides (Stardust, Monsters, Ministry). The rest are yielding mixed responses because they are not top tier experiences.

I would say that USF and IOA had a stronger lineup at opening than Epic.

<insert, but, but, but AK, but EPCOT, but....>

Well, yep. DAK is a more immersive theme park than Epic Universe.

 

[DonniePeverley]

They haven't capitlalised on worldwide hype due to these middling reviews.

Some of which can be negated by simply opening longer to address the ques.

 

[DKampy]

Well, yep. DAK is a more immersive theme park than Epic Universe.

DAK is the best themed park in Orlando…even when they add IP it fits in with the theme….see pandora…. Admittedly I am nervous about the new Zootopia attraction in that regard…. Have not experienced that attraction….but at least you can skip that… and never lose that immersion as the Tree of Life is still as it’s always been

 

[Andrew C]

DAK is the best themed park in Orlando…even when they add IP it fits in with the theme….see pandora…. Admittedly I am nervous about the new Zootopia attraction in that regard…. Have not experienced that attraction….but at least you can skip that… and never lose that immersion as the Tree of Life is still as it’s always been

Still a half day park. And a 2 hour park upon opening. Theme is on point though. Or was.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

Well, yep. DAK is a more immersive theme park than Epic Universe.

DAK rightfully deserves its great theming reputation in Florida, but I have a bad feeling about that park.

The question there is how much longer will DAK has better theming than Epic Universe considering DAK is already is starting to be past its peak in theming. The fact is Joe Rhode is gone as a Disney Imagineer and Disney upper management is taking advantage of that. Disney's upper Management wants IP in theme parks even if the IP doesn't belong in the Park.

Indiana Jones in DAK from a IP standpoint doesn't make sense. Zootopia as an IP really doesn't fit in Animal Kingdom either depending on who you talk to. You and I know Disney upper Management is capable of shoehorning IPS where they don't belong.

Also it seems like Disney upper management wants DAK to move a different direction than it was under Rhode. An example of this is a rumor of DAK's Petting Zoo closing for a Bluey Experience according website that shall not be named.

 

[DKampy]

Still a half day park. And a 2 hour park upon opening. Theme is on point though. Or was.

I disagree… depends on the person….it’s my wife’s and I favorite park…. We can spend all day…. But part of the reason we love it…. It’s the one park we feel the ability to slow down a bit… it is a very relaxing park to us.. every other park it seems we are just running from point a to point b

 

[Jon81uk]

Still a half day park. And a 2 hour park upon opening. Theme is on point though. Or was.

I spent about ten hours at Animal Kingdom a few months ago and that was with short wait times for most things. If you actually do all the shows and attractions it really isn't a half-day. Would be like saying Magic Kingdom is a half-day park because you only want to ride Big Thunder and Space Mountain.
Animal Kingdom does need to bring back an evening show though.

Also it seems like Disney upper management wants DAK to move a different direction than it was under Rhode. An example of this is a rumor of DAK's Petting Zoo closing for a Bluey Experience according website that shall not be named.

Is the petting zoo closing? I thought the character meet was going inside the building and its the drawing class that is closing (because Hollywood Studios is re-opening the drawing class).

 

[Andrew C]

I spent about ten hours at Animal Kingdom a few months ago and that was with short wait times for most things. If you actually do all the shows and attractions it really isn't a half-day. Would be like saying Magic Kingdom is a half-day park because you only want to ride Big Thunder and Space Mountain.
Animal Kingdom does need to bring back an evening show though.

I love AK. I think it’s the most beautiful park in the US and always enjoy my time there. But you’re an outlier.