Dark Universe - Reviews, Photos & Media

[saint.piss]

Sadly wasn't able to ride Unchained today (going back next week so hopefully I'll be able to ride it then!) but did ride Curse of the Werewolf. I didn't expect much from that ride but honestly, I really loved it! It's like if Flight of the Hippogriff and Cosmic Rewind had a baby. So so so fun. Definitely one I'll ride multiple times if the wait time isn't too bad. That ending mannequin though... not as bad as people are saying but damn lmao. Not up to the typical Universal standard gotta say. As for the actual land itself, it's so cool! The set design/overall atmosphere feels so much like an hhn house. I can't wait to actually experience it at night time it's so good

 

[GAcoaster]

Fan art of Captain Cacao in a chair from Das Stakehaus

 

[Ryuniversal]

Fan art of Captain Cacao in a chair from Das Stakehaus

Ok this is really cool and really well done

 

[GAcoaster]

Ok this is really cool and really well done

I love that stuff is already resonating with fans to this degree. It’s a good sign that they really hit the mark that people are connecting like this.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

To provide a fair review of Dark Universe, I will split this review into "what is there" and "what should have been done".

Positives

• The portal walkup is well done, really sets the mood well (one issue I see is people making a beeline through the exit instead, hoping they can station a TM in the morning there during daily ops in the morning rush to make sure guests enter the right way.)
• Darkmoor, the village - absolutely well done. Atmosphere, music, effects, everything is done to the highest standard. Sight of the manor at the end is beautiful
• Das Stakehaus - easily my favorite atmosphere of any quick service in an Orlando park... but the food was quite bland. Hoping they can touch up on the items soon (Monocane & the Stake Fries were greata tho). Loved the outdoor patio, which apparently is being labeled the "kids area"... and it's questionably even scarier than the inside.
• Monsters Unchained - absolutely loved it
• Burning Blade - loved the exterior, interior is going to be a pain to maneuver through.

Curse of the Werewolf

• Curse of the Werewolf is an odd ball. Understandably, it was pushed through later than most projects, but it's an odd mix of good & bad. The queue, station and thematic work is great (albeit the "finale"). The attraction does not have great capacity. Things can change, but it appears they are waiting for the train to fully return to the station before dispatching the next train. Odd, since you could theoretically launch the next train once the previous train passes the swing launch. Might just be a tech rehearsal thing, but they were running 3 trains. The attraction is surprisingly more intense than expected, even though its status in the land is comparable to that of Hippogriff.
• I'm not a fan of what this ride did aesthetically to the rest of the land, so that's where this ride throws me off. If it was placed differently with more rockwork/foliage between it and the manor, I would be ok with it.

Sightlines

• Helios Visibility -in the village portion of the land, the hotel is not visible. However, once you step into the plaza in front of the manor and the remainder of the land it is very visible. I'm not anti Helios, but it's a heck of a contrast between a bright Mediterranean-inspired hotel and the dark foreboding land below.
• Not entirely against seeing other park areas, but it's an odd clash between the two. I care more about hiding showbuilding/back of house areas, which they did a fantastic job on at this land.

 

[Brian G.]

 

[Tbad556]

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[AustinT]

View attachment 25914

From everything I've seen and heard, this attraction marquee looks to be about the only good thing this attraction provides to the land. Seems like a low capacity, eye sore with an almost inexcusably bad final scene. My one hope is that the inevitable low guest ratings for this ride in the highly rated area overall push UC to get the ball rolling on the Creature boat ride sooner rather than later.

 

[Brian G.]

From everything I've seen and heard, this attraction marquee looks to be about the only good thing this attraction provides to the land. Seems like a low capacity, eye sore with an almost inexcusably bad final scene. My one hope is that the inevitable low guest ratings for this ride in the highly rated area overall push UC to get the ball rolling on the Creature boat ride sooner rather than later.

The ride itself is fun, and I think a lot of people will agree with that.

The netting isn't as distracting when you're in the land - but yes, I hope the netting and finale scene are short-term solutions.

But the ride belongs.

 

[saint.piss]

Personally I really loved CotW. The theming is so so (the queue/entrance is great tho) but the actual coaster? So awesome. Like I said awhile back in my review, its basically a combo of Flight of the Hippogriff and Cosmic Rewind. I'm glad we got it instead of that show they were planning

 

[GAcoaster]

 

[GAcoaster]

Igor is just all over social media as the breakout star of Dark Universe:

 

[WarriorOfLight]

Lots of night time footage starting to appear online proving my belief that this world is gonna be best experienced at night. I'm gonna make it the last world I visit whenever I get to go my first time.

 

[Magic-Man]

Lots of night time footage starting to appear online proving my belief that this world is gonna be best experienced at night. I'm gonna make it the last world I visit whenever I get to go my first time.

Hell, this entire park looks like it might be the be nighttime park in the world! It's awe inspiring. I hope they do late night events.

 

[HHN Maddux]

Personally I really loved CotW. The theming is so so (the queue/entrance is great tho) but the actual coaster? So awesome. Like I said awhile back in my review, its basically a combo of Flight of the Hippogriff and Cosmic Rewind. I'm glad we got it instead of that show they were planning

That show is definitely the biggest 'what if?' of the park, and all the more-so since we still know little-to-nothing about what it would've been!

 

[Mad Dog]

That show is definitely the biggest 'what if?' of the park, and all the more-so since we still know little-to-nothing about what it would've been!

I don't believe they ever got to the point where they settled on the content.

 

[Jake S]

I don't believe they ever got to the point where they settled on the content.

my sense is their inability to settle on content is why it never went into production. did they have ideas? i think so. did they end up not loving those ideas? that’s my sense.

 

[Wesker69]

I don't believe they ever got to the point where they settled on the content.

It was RHPS, but with the Universal Monsters as the cast in each role.

 

[Fidds]

Curse of the warewolf is the most fun coaster in the park and you cant convince me otherwise.

 

[Ryuniversal]

we are finding out who the voice actors are for monster unchained