Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[Tereglith]

Creature boat ride just seems like such a perfect fit, I really hope it happens. "Atmospheric indoor boat ride" is a niche that WDW has filled like five times over; it's about time Universal got one.

I also wonder if they might consider a permanent haunt to zhuzh up DU's offerings without using up a ton of land. If there's lessons learned from the Vegas haunt about how to operate a permanent HHN-style house with minimal staffing, maybe that could transfer over to making a viable permanent walkthrough attraction at DU? Especially since out in Hollywood they seem to be experimenting with "HHN style walkthroughs but less scary" for Fan Fest Nights, so the intensity level could be modulated down from HHN standards to match the rest of the land if that was a concern.

 

[saint.piss]

I've been to Epic 3 times now, this park does NOT need more rollercoasters lmao. There's enough of them in this park... give me more dark rides, a boat ride, whatever! Maybe even a simulator ala Flight of Passage/Soarin.

 

[MistaDee]

Creature boat ride just seems like such a perfect fit, I really hope it happens. "Atmospheric indoor boat ride" is a niche that WDW has filled like five times over; it's about time Universal got one.

I also wonder if they might consider a permanent haunt to zhuzh up DU's offerings without using up a ton of land. If there's lessons learned from the Vegas haunt about how to operate a permanent HHN-style house with minimal staffing, maybe that could transfer over to making a viable permanent walkthrough attraction at DU? Especially since out in Hollywood they seem to be experimenting with "HHN style walkthroughs but less scary" for Fan Fest Nights, so the intensity level could be modulated down from HHN standards to match the rest of the land if that was a concern.

Something that would be somewhere in between Knockturn Alley, a permanent scare zone and a HHN walkthrough would be a really awesome addition to Dark Universe.

 

[Ryuniversal]

Something that would be somewhere in between Knockturn Alley, a permanent scare zone and a HHN walkthrough would be a really awesome addition to Dark Universe.

I feel like u should keep hhn separate from epic

 

[MistaDee]

I feel like u should keep hhn separate from epic

I'm not suggesting that? I'm saying a hybrid space that feels like Knockturn alley but with walkthrough elements that can be scarier if you wanna venture down those alleys

 

[Ryuniversal]

I'm not suggesting that? I'm saying a hybrid space that feels like Knockturn alley but with walkthrough elements that can be scarier if you wanna venture down those alleys

Oh got u makes more sense now

 

[jarmor]

Personally, I don't think Darkmoor is "small". Even if they do add another attraction, I don't think it will expand the footprint of the paths

 

[Steptwice]

Personally, I don't think Darkmoor is "small". Even if they do add another attraction, I don't think it will expand the footprint of the paths

Well the building that would house a new ride in the expanison plot could have an indoor section with walking paths, a restaurant, etc

 

[Alicia]

Well the building that would house a new ride in the expanison plot could have an indoor section with walking paths, a restaurant, etc

I don’t think a building in the back expansion for the land is *that* big. It’s also a skinny long expansion space.

 

[moth]

I've been to Epic 3 times now, this park does NOT need more rollercoasters lmao. There's enough of them in this park... give me more dark rides, a boat ride, whatever! Maybe even a simulator ala Flight of Passage/Soarin.

Hi, would you like to hear about our Lord and Savior Toothless the Dragon?

 

[saint.piss]

Hi, would you like to hear about our Lord and Savior Toothless the Dragon?

That's why I said that lol. A flight simulator attraction in Isle Of Berk would be perfect

The expansions I would do:

Isle Of Berk: Dragon flight simulator ride
Dark Universe: Creature boat ride, more shops and a restaurant
HP: idk what they should expand this land with. Seems good as it is.
SNW: Luigi’s Mansion. Add more mini games and explorable areas. Maybe another restaurant and some food stands. Make the Luigi’s Mansion ride a mix of Haunted Mansion and MiB.
Celestial Park: a dark themed to the backstory of this land. Maybe even base it on Captain Cacao and Maya the Explorer.

 

[Ryuniversal]

Soo let’s goo through the canceled stuff the original potter attraction the dark universe show and the dragon indoor ride it’s that everything?

 

[mccgavin]

Soo let’s goo through the canceled stuff the original potter attraction the dark universe show and the dragon indoor ride it’s that everything?

There were rumors that an indoor attraction was at one point was planned for Dragons, but I don't think it ever got far enough to be considered "cancelled". If it was ever actually proposed, it didn't properly start development like the Wolfman show or Potter VR.

It's likely a lot of different ride concepts were considered before the attraction line-up was finalized for the park.

 

[DrStarlander]

I don’t think a building in the back expansion for the land is *that* big. It’s also a skinny long expansion space.

Alicia is right, it's definitely a tricky, skinny space. What gives my hope is that it's about 2.8 acres. Acreage-wise that's nearly the same as New Orleans Square at Disneyland in terms of Pirates of the Caribbean, Blue Bayou, and other shops and restaurants comprising the network of alleys to explore...plus Club 33 and Dream Suite above (they really packed things in back then!).

What I'm hoping for is not only a boat ride attraction but some always-night (and air conditioned) interior place-making, such as a ramshackle Amazon river dock with canteen, exploratory-supplies retail, and scientist-outpost queue for the Creature From the Black Lagoon theme.

Anyway, just dreaming!

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Alicia is right, it's definitely a tricky, skinny space. What gives my hope is that it's about 2.8 acres. Acreage-wise that's nearly the same as New Orleans Square at Disneyland in terms of Pirates of the Caribbean, Blue Bayou, and other shops and restaurants comprising the network of alleys to explore...plus Club 33 and Dream Suite above (they really packed things in back then!).

What I'm hoping for is not only a boat ride attraction but some always-night (and air conditioned) interior place-making, such as a ramshackle Amazon river dock with canteen, exploratory-supplies retail, and scientist-outpost queue for the Creature From the Black Lagoon theme.

Anyway, just dreaming!

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Yup - if they go multi-level, it will help pack things a lot.

 

[DrStarlander]

Yup - if they go multi-level, it will help pack things a lot.

Agreed. What could be great is something like this, using the Pandora show building as an example. The bottom 40-feet would be the always-night indoor space (F&B, retail, queue) and the top 40-feet would be the attraction, plus a carve out for lift and splash down between levels.

The lift could be themed like you are caught up in a tropical storm surge, maybe elevator-style rather than incline (the splash down could be multiple smaller or shallower-angle drops if it wants more of a dark ride feel, less thrills).

I think if the theme of a CFtBL boat ride is going through the jungle, a tight, dark claustrophobic feel and diminished show-space height is perfect -- more Splash Mountain/Tiana in interior scale than the grandiose PotC. So, 40-feet would be plenty.

Same for the always-night area. I'm thinking more jungle (Rainforest Cafe-esque) with foliage overhead rather than wide-open night skies high above as in Blue Bayou. So, again, 40 feet is perfect.

 

[MistaDee]

Agreed. What could be great is something like this, using the Pandora show building as an example. The bottom 40-feet would be the always-night indoor space (F&B, retail, queue) and the top 40-feet would be the attraction, plus a carve out for lift and splash down between levels.

The lift could be themed like you are caught up in a tropical storm surge, maybe elevator-style rather than incline (the splash down could be multiple smaller or shallower-angle drops if it wants more of a dark ride feel, less thrills).

I think if the theme of a CFtBL boat ride is going through the jungle, a tight, dark claustrophobic feel and diminished show-space height is perfect -- more Splash Mountain/Tiana in interior scale than the grandiose PotC. So, 40-feet would be plenty.

Same for the always-night area. I'm thinking more jungle (Rainforest Cafe-esque) with foliage overhead rather than wide-open night skies high above as in Blue Bayou. So, again, 40 feet is perfect.
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Having some height towards the back of the land would also help Darkmoor feel more contained and immersive, without being able to see out into the non-park areas.

I guess the best theme for the big showbuilding would be rockwork cliffs and forest? Then they'd have to decide if the swamp inside would be european swampy or if we've been transported to the Amazon jungle

 

[Wesker69]

If there's lessons learned from the Vegas haunt about how to operate a permanent HHN-style house with minimal staffing, maybe that could transfer over to making a viable permanent walkthrough attraction at DU? Especially since out in Hollywood they seem to be experimenting with "HHN style walkthroughs but less scary" for Fan Fest Nights, so the intensity level could be modulated down from HHN standards to match the rest of the land if that was a concern

Okay. Hold up... wow. Gotta correct you on this paragraph.

Permanent HHN-style walk-throughs have been a thing for YEARS at USH long before the new Vegas haunt became a reality. So Universal is fully aware how to operate year-round haunts. Also they're not "experimenting" with FanFest for walk-throughs, they're just applying what they already know to non-horror IPs.

USH History 2001-2020:
The Mummy Returns: Chamber of Doom, Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula, Universal's House of Horrors, TWD Attraction

Dark Universe could add one, but it needs rides more (honestly a well themed drop tower/flat ride could work, in addition to CFTBL boat tours)