Universal's Epic Universe General News & Discussion

[Jake S]

I think a few things are true:

-Universal needs bodies to adequately test its park

-Marketing needs access to the park to create promotional material that isn’t the weird CGI we’ve seen in commercials so far

-Guests are not compelled to pay $150 to attend a park during technical rehearsals

-Universal opened itself up for criticism by charging what is essentially full price for a technical rehearsal

-Universal could have navigated these complications better, particularly around scheduling media shoots and the like

In the end, Epic Universe is a land of contrasts

 

[rhino4evr]

I think opening ministry to a broken virtual queue system hasn’t helped things. I would imagine the ride will still be virtual on grand opening , but I guess we will see.

 

[TaylorMade]

I think opening ministry to a broken virtual queue system hasn’t helped things. I would imagine the ride will still be virtual on grand opening , but I guess we will see.

I think the word "broken" sums things up pretty good. I remember when ROTR first opened. I never had difficulty getting a virtual queue. It seemed like you would get a VQ spot over 90% of the time as long as you knew what you were doing. With Ministry, it seems like you just have to get real lucky. Either they are running on super low capacity or the VQ system they are using is just strait garbage.

 

[Alicia]

I can assure you if they closed the next two weeks and charged full price May 22nd on, there would also be ride delays, closures, and unforeseen issues once the park is filled with guests again.

Charging full price now doesn’t change the outcome to waiting to charge full price in two weeks.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

Previews should’ve simply been $100. They clearly want to charge a premium. That is less, can still make money on, and allows guests to spend the other $50 on merch or dinner. $100 for early access to the entire Epic Universe park, rides operating or not, feels fair to me.

 

[OrlLover]

Guys I feel like we are beating a dead horse with this preview debacle.

It’s getting closer and closer to opening at this point so these will be behind us soon.

As long as everything is working the first week I think Universal will be fine. Nothing is a sure thing or without issues.

 

[Jake S]

Charging full price now doesn’t change the outcome to waiting to charge full price in two weeks.

But it absolutely changes how people feel about what they’ve experienced during previews. I think that matters a lot for an expensive experience.

 

[Brian G.]

But it absolutely changes how people feel about what they’ve experienced during previews. I think that matters a lot for an expensive experience.

To an extent. The family of 4 coming in from Kentucky has my sympathy but those of us on the boards/online/etc should know better by now. (Barring extreme examples, of course)

 

[Mad Dog]

knowingly....previews....softs.....no way I was spending almost full prices (actually more than full since Universal had 2 for 1 days almost all the time the past couple years). I'll see the park in November....All my comments are as an unaffected observer who is glad they're patient....and still at home...comfortably. ....and...as I've said in a number of my posts, I think Epic will open well, and Universal has progressed further than I expected by May 1st., except for Ministry.

 

[Jake S]

To an extent. The family of 4 coming in from Kentucky has my sympathy but those of us on the boards/online/etc should know better by now. (Barring extreme examples, of course)

But I’m not talking about how we feel about the people plunking down the money to go. I’m talking about how those guests feel about the experience and, as a result, how they feel about Universal. I don’t necessarily feel badly for people with the money to enjoy a luxury experience, but I do think it should matter to Universal how people feel about the money they’ve spent.

I also don’t think “well they should have known better!” is a great play in this business; at least, not from Universal’s perspective. It matters that guests love the brand; that’s why they’re willing to fork over all that money.

 

[Brian G.]

But I’m not talking about how we feel about the people plunking down the money to go. I’m talking about how those guests feel about the experience and, as a result, how they feel about Universal. I don’t necessarily feel badly for people with the money to enjoy a luxury experience, but I do think it should matter to Universal how people feel about the money they’ve spent.

I also don’t think “well they should have known better!” is a great play in this business; at least, not from Universal’s perspective. It matters that guests love the brand; that’s why they’re willing to fork over all that money.

That's what I'm referring to as well.

If you had a bad experience, no matter what, you have every right to share your frustrations with Universal, and giving comp tix for visitors the last few days shows Universal cares about that experience, too.

But at the end of the day, the price is the price. Once you hit submit, the "tech rehearsal" part doesn't automatically disappear because Universal decided to charge a higher premium. We know better. The random family from Kentucky is more in the dark than we heathens. I would recommend that anyone planning a vacation around a technical rehearsal not do that for that very reason.

Yes, it still should've been cheaper, but even when previews were free, we had many similar complaints. (Again, barring extreme examples)

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

The lesson here is don’t spend full ticket prices on previews. If you don’t spend it, they won’t charge it.

 

[OLSinFLA]

Looks like today was a good day - everything but werewolf was up

 

[saint.piss]

Looks like today was a good day - everything but werewolf was up

Going tomorrow for my birthday, hopefully its a decent day tomorrow as well

 

[Alicia]

If this were Disney they would have charged $300 and call it EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK PREVIEW and people would pay it.

EDIT:

Example, and this was just one land in a park. My point being, previews are special, and while we talk about them being useful for ops and testing, they’re also fleeting and limited and once the park is open will never exist again. This is a special first look. How am I the only one that was expecting them to cost more??

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I’ve also wondered how forthcoming Universal is being about the rehearsal aspect — it feels like the “technical rehearsal” verbiage is only seen inside the park itself. Buying tickets online gives you what I feel is gentler language:

“During this Preview period, we’re putting the final touches in place and rehearsing, so some attractions and experiences may not be available.”

Anyone who bought tickets in the resorts, do you recall what the TMs told you about the rehearsal aspect?

 

[Alicia]

I’ve also wondered how forthcoming Universal is being about the rehearsal aspect — it feels like the “technical rehearsal” verbiage is only seen inside the park itself. Buying tickets online gives you what I feel is gentler language:

“During this Preview period, we’re putting the final touches in place and rehearsing, so some attractions and experiences may not be available.”

Anyone who bought tickets in the resorts, do you recall what the TMs told you about the rehearsal aspect?

Calling it a “preview” implies not full experience in my mind. Preview means not full.

A few weeks ago we didn’t think Ministry would even open with the park, so putting that ride aside, anyone who had a bad day this week and went to guest services (or even called the next day) was granted refunds, or ticket replacements, no questions asked. That to me is how they would have treated it if it were just any other bad day at the existing parks. And they didn’t have to do it.

I don’t think this is as bad as Twitter and forums would have you believe.

This isn’t June 1990, yet. And the park was in pretty good shape today. But even if it wasn’t, just ask for a refund.

I think we just like to talk.

 

[itsdesireestone]

I have an idea

 

[ladiesman217]

I have an idea

Let's hear it.

 

[itsdesireestone]

Let's hear it.

Thread 'Epic Universe Hollywood(Concept)'

Yesterday at 7:37 PM

I have an idea. What if we bring Epic Universe to Hollywood. You’re probably wondering where would it go. Instead of a park it would be a land.


It would go right here. Universal wouldn’t have a problem demolishing these soundstages since they’ve been rebuilt. It would work like fantasy springs where there would be 2 acre lands for each movie.

Lands:

Oz

Rides:
Wicked:Elphaba’s Flight
4D Theatre


Restaurant:
Munchkin Morsels

Store:
Emerald City Emporium

Hawkins

Rides:

Stranger Things:Journey to the Upside Down
Hawkins Lab Walkthrough

Restaurant:
Scoops Ahoy

Store...

• itsdesireestone