Skip to main content

How EPIC Universe will change Theme Parks FOREVER....

Universal Orlando's newest park is currently in its Passholder Preview period, meaning UOAP members got a peek at this amazing park, and oh boy it's already looking fantastic. But Epic Universe is more than just a new theme park, it's the future of the themed entertainment industry... So let's break down what makes Epic so, well, EPIC!



A Unique yet familiar Layout

Before we take a look at the park's layout, a layout is super important in the world of themed entertainment, and Epic Universe did something quite unique. As you can see in my drawing below, the park is shaped like a figure 8. The lands or worlds are located at the edges of said figure 8. And Epic Universe did something special here because each world is completely separate from the other just like Disneyland in 1955, before it expanded. At the entrance of each world is a portal, marking the entrance or gateway into each land. This design is both revolutionary and impressive.

Art by Eduardo C.Z all rights reserved (Share with attribution ;) )


Never Before Seen Worlds

But the fun doesn't stop there, each world of Epic Universe is special in some regard. We see new experiences never before explored, like classical monsters and Fantastic Beasts. The How to Train Your Dragon world is quite impressive as well, and while Super Nintendo World is already present in 2 other resorts, and will continue to expand with a new area in Singapore, this version at Epic Universe also deserves praise. But Universal Creative did a great job here because each world feels different and similar at the same time. You see the layout of each world allows for full immersion and incredible attention to detail, but they all come together really well.



Incredible Attention to Detail

But perhaps the most impressive world of Epic Universe is its signature land, Celestial Park. Celestial Park has a layout similar to a World's Fair, with the impressive towering Helios Grand serving as a focal point. Celestial Park is filled with incredible attention to detail. Take for instance the main stores near the entrance portal (named Chronos). Each store here is unique. My favorite is Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets. Here we have 2 original characters: Maya of the Skies and the beloved Captain Cacao. Once you enter the store you will find this giant airship balloon-looking thingy, but my favorite detail is the Team Member door — we have this tiny door for Captain Cacao himself...


World-Class Attractions

Of course no theme park is complete without, well, attractions — and Epic Universe is filled with incredible E-Ticket attractions. While I won't get too much into spoilers, I do have to say these rides are world-class. Here are a few highlights: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment — yes, I know, long name — is a KUKA arm-type ride with some impressive animatronics; Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is an action-packed dark ride where you face off against one of the worst villains of all time: Dolores Umbridge... I know, scary! Along the way there are some awesome supporting attractions and shows, like Le Cirque Arcanus, Untrainable Dragon, and Hiccup's Wing Gliders...

Why Epic Universe is Revolutionary

While Epic Universe might not be the #1 theme park in the world (Tokyo DisneySea is still number one for me), I think its accomplishments should be acknowledged. Epic Universe is the "Disneyland Paris of Universal" — incredible attention to detail at every location, the 'plussing' of everything, and most of all, revolutionary design. Epic Universe is an evolution in the world of themed entertainment, and I cannot wait to see what's next for the industry...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tokyo Disney's MEGA expansion

  Tokyo DisneySea is gearing up to open Fantasy Springs, its massive expansion that will transform Disney's best park forever! Since Tokyo DisneySea's opening in 2001, it was meant to be a more adult version of Tokyo Disneyland. However, today, they are planning to add a massive expansion perfect for the whole family. Fantasy Springs full view. Credit: Disney But what is Fantasy Springs all about? Well, Fantasy Springs will include mini-lands themed to Tangled, Frozen, and Peter Pan! It will even include a hotel. So, in addition to Hotel MiraCosta, Tokyo DisneySea will have two hotels inside the park. Indiana Jones on the left and Sinbad on the right. Credit: Google Earth & Airbus You will enter this land between Sandbar's Storybook Voyage and Indiana Jones (Lost River Delta) and then pass under a bridge that hides a service road. Restaurant on the left and Boat ride on the right. Credit: Disney Let's start with the Tangled mini-land: Rapunzel's Forest. This ...
Post a Comment
Read more

PortAventura Put Up for Sale: Is Universal Coming Back?

Breaking News! Spanish newspaper Cinco Días has revealed that KKR and Investindustrial have put the resort up for sale for about €1,000 million. Do you have some money to spare? If you were not aware, Universal used to own PortAventura back in the day. The park opened in 1995, with The Tussauds Group owning 40.0% of the park, La Caixa having 33.2%, Anheuser-Busch having 19.9%, and FECSA having 6.7%. In 1998, Universal bought the majority shares in the park, rebranding it as Universal's PortAventura. However, in 2004, NBCUniversal (Universal Studios' parent) sold all interest in PortAventura. The park is currently (but not for too long, apparently) owned by KKR and Investindustrial and operated by the latter. The question everyone wants an answer to is: Will Universal come back to Europe? We don't have an answer as of now. Next week, Universal's parent company, Comcast, will be participating in the BofA Securities Investor Conference. We don't want you to use this ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Guide

    Hong Kong Disneyland has been entertaining guests since 2005 and now features three awesome hotels, but which one should you choose? Well, in this guide, I will provide an in-depth look to see what suits you best. Main Lobby (credit: Disney) Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Similar to the Grand Floridian and Disneyland Hotel (Paris), this accommodation offers the mix of Disney and Victorian architecture. Featuring a topiary maze and an awesome pool, there are three options of rooms ranging from Standard to sea view. Yes, all of Hong Kong Disneyland's hotels have a view of the endless sea. This hotel is also an amenity dream, offering tennis courts and even a little playground. What can you find at this hotel, though? Enchanted Garden Restaurant (credit: Disney) There is Walt's Cafe, Crystal Lotus, and the Enchanted Garden restaurant. So you can see there are many dining options to fill your stomach. The large windows give a lot of sunlight to the elegant lobby. I recommend ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Disney unveils a NEW hotel in Shanghai...

  Get ready, Disney fans, as a new hotel is on its way to Shanghai Disneyland, and I haven't seen anyone talking about this, at least on major news sites like WDWNT. So, let's take a closer look at this new Art Nouveau hotel! During the opening of Zootopia , Josh D’amaro took the stage with concept art for this project, credit to 吃喝玩乐在上海 for the image. We were able to obtain this information from Xue Bingbing: “Regarding the future plans for the Shanghai Disney Resort, Dai Mingzhe said that Disney is currently planning to build the third resort hotel. On the day of the opening ceremony, the concept image of the third resort hotel was also released.” Shanghai Disney Resort already offers the Toy Story Hotel and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel , so we are excited about what's in store. Keep in mind that SHDL has major expansion plans, so keep your eyes open, as we might see a new land (with a roller coaster) and even a second gate in the future (all based on zoning, planning a...
1 comment
Read more

New Vekoma Boomerang coming to the US

  Calling all coaster enthusiasts and theme park fans! Vekoma is making a splash in the US (again) with a new coaster coming to Six Flags Great Adventure. It's a new boomerang , so don't worry; it might not be as bad! Credit: Six Flags To celebrate the anniversary of Six Flags Great Adventure, the park will introduce a new coaster manufactured by Vekoma in 2024: Flash: Vertical Velocity will be North America's First Vekoma Super Boomerang! Unfortunately, as you can tell by the name, this will be another DC-themed attraction, following the trend of naming rides after new movies that weren't big box office successes, like Batman: The Chiller. In typical Six Flags fashion, we can expect minimal theming, despite the company's recent efforts to improve the theme park experience. It's a missed opportunity, considering the potential of a land themed to a DC character. Now, back to Flash: Vertical Velocity , as the park describes it: "Race to the sky with the Fas...
Post a Comment
Read more