Universal's Epic Universe Wish List & Speculation

[Casper Gutman]

I do wish monsters had another pair of food/retail buildings to flesh out the land and create a main square/ cross walk. I suspect we may feel the replacement of the live show building with a big coaster queue. But mainly I’m just really happy we’re getting a monsters land at all, and hopefully the ol’ Creature shows up in his expansion pad soon.

A question from the confused - do we know of any restaurants on the Dragon/ Wizard side of the core area? Everything seems to be on the Nintendo/ Monsters side. Or maybe I’m turned around.

 

[Alicia]

A question from the confused - do we know of any restaurants on the Dragon/ Wizard side of the core area? Everything seems to be on the Nintendo/ Monsters side. Or maybe I’m turned around.

There’s a food court quick service location postponed till 2026 for the right side of the hub. And outdoor markets with seating replaced a full service location above that. Otherwise, yea, most of the hub dining is on the left to start.

 

[Magic-Man]

There’s a food court quick service location postponed till 2026 for the right side of the hub. And outdoor markets with seating replaced a full service location above that. Otherwise, yea, most of the hub dining is on the left to start.

This park definitely seems to have an abundance of restaurants from the start, so this is probably a good thing. We have Toadstool Cafe, the Stakehouse and the Windmill, two restaurants inside Paris, the Great Hall, three restaurants in the hub, and this isn't even including food stands like Yoshi's Snack Island and Starbucks. More restaurants aren't really needed at this time.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Not to mention one way in, one way out.

Kino Loy's favorite theme park.

 

[Loki]

This park definitely seems to have an abundance of restaurants from the start, so this is probably a good thing. We have Toadstool Cafe, the Stakehouse and the Windmill, two restaurants inside Paris, the Great Hall, three restaurants in the hub, and this isn't even including food stands like Yoshi's Snack Island and Starbucks. More restaurants aren't really needed at this time.

Agreed. And when you look at the existing parks (Uni and WDW) you see that they can't currently keep all of their current food service locations open all the time (i.e. Green Eggs & Ham). A good but short selection of food service locations with the opening of the park will help Universal in the long term. They will see what's popular, what areas need more, etc. Plus it's a good marketing strategy. Think of it as food service "expansions". A new restaurant generates buzz and renewed interest a year or so down the road. Sprinkle those in between land expansions for continuous hype and free media attention.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Agreed. And when you look at the existing parks (Uni and WDW) you see that they can't currently keep all of their current food service locations open all the time (i.e. Green Eggs & Ham). A good but short selection of food service locations with the opening of the park will help Universal in the long term. They will see what's popular, what areas need more, etc. Plus it's a good marketing strategy. Think of it as food service "expansions". A new restaurant generates buzz and renewed interest a year or so down the road. Sprinkle those in between land expansions for continuous hype and free media attention.

I think the decision is more staffing/demand related. They realized after IOA they overbuilt the quick service offerings, and even today with record attendance, several of the QSRs have reduced staffing/hours.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

From Theme Park Stop/@Alicia, their new podcast episode is out--with the gatherings that somehow, Open Hub returned (though it seems to be under new circumstances).

Alongside this, it seems facial recognition technology may be getting implemented overall, and could see testing occur in the near future at the current parks.

 

[paintervision]

I think the decision is more staffing/demand related. They realized after IOA they overbuilt the quick service offerings, and even today with record attendance, several of the QSRs have reduced staffing/hours.

May have something to do with all the restaurants in CityWalk. EU doesn't have this luxury... yet?

Personally, I think cutting three large F&B outlets from the plans is a little daft. At least the one next to Berk is really going to make the park feel lobsided, unless they have a lot of carts.

 

[Alicia]

May have something to do with all the restaurants in CityWalk. EU doesn't have this luxury... yet?

Personally, I think cutting three large F&B outlets from the plans is a little daft. At least the one next to Berk is really going to make the park feel lobsided, unless they have a lot of carts.

There’s like 12 permanent food kiosks in the hub, especially on the right.

 

[Mad Dog]

Food is something that is easy to add, if needed. Or just do a food festival with added kiosks if the demand warrants.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

If they're still closing parks at 6, I'm sure it makes sense. Use those extra hours to make the park still work for you even if the rides are off.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

I don’t think the lands would fully close until the night show. The lands will just need you to pay for a ticket to enter after 6/7 pm.

 

[belloq87]

Potential confirmation here that the Monsters coaster is going to involve Maleva, the fortune teller played by the great Maria Ouspenskaya in THE WOLF MAN... although if this land is set in modern day, she should be long dead.


Also, a question for @Alicia if you're willing (or able!) to answer: do the permits yet indicate any planned theming for the backside of the restaurant building at the top of this screengrab from your video?

The side(s) of the retail building facing it seem as though they're being themed to some degree, which implies to me that guests will be walking back there, so I'm hoping there's some plan intended for it.

 

[Alicia]

Potential confirmation here that the Monsters coaster is going to involve Maleva, the fortune teller played by the great Maria Ouspenskaya in THE WOLF MAN... although if this land is set in modern day, she should be long dead.


Also, a question for @Alicia if you're willing (or able!) to answer: do the permits yet indicate any planned theming for the backside of the restaurant building at the top of this screengrab from your video?

The side(s) of the retail building facing it seem as though they're being themed to some degree, which implies to me that guests will be walking back there, so I'm hoping there's some plan intended for it.

I’m not too worried about timetables and whatnot. Monsters are timeless, and the village is made up anyway, so they can rewrite whatever they want and have a character be timeless if they want.

And no clue on the backside of the retail, but I assume it’ll be themed or covered in trees or both.

 

[Killer Klown]

Potential confirmation here that the Monsters coaster is going to involve Maleva, the fortune teller played by the great Maria Ouspenskaya in THE WOLF MAN... although if this land is set in modern day, she should be long dead.


Also, a question for @Alicia if you're willing (or able!) to answer: do the permits yet indicate any planned theming for the backside of the restaurant building at the top of this screengrab from your video?

The side(s) of the retail building facing it seem as though they're being themed to some degree, which implies to me that guests will be walking back there, so I'm hoping there's some plan intended for it.

Gimmie a Wolfman AA in the barn and we’re golden!

 

[HHN Maddux]

Gimmie a Wolfman AA in the barn and we’re golden!

If we don't, at least we'll probably get one in Monsters Unleashed!

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

She's a fortune teller, doesn't she by definition transcend time?

 

[GAcoaster]

Potential confirmation here that the Monsters coaster is going to involve Maleva, the fortune teller played by the great Maria Ouspenskaya in THE WOLF MAN... although if this land is set in modern day, she should be long dead.


Also, a question for @Alicia if you're willing (or able!) to answer: do the permits yet indicate any planned theming for the backside of the restaurant building at the top of this screengrab from your video?

The side(s) of the retail building facing it seem as though they're being themed to some degree, which implies to me that guests will be walking back there, so I'm hoping there's some plan intended for it.

My guess is that may be a fire access road behind there so there will be screening/fencing between Monsters and that building. They have to have access roads to the hub in the event of fire or other emergency, and you can see them taking shape pretty much between each land. I'd guess there's a map somewhere with them on it.

 

[belloq87]

My guess is that may be a fire access road behind there so there will be screening/fencing between Monsters and that building. They have to have access roads to the hub in the event of fire or other emergency, and you can see them taking shape pretty much between each land. I'd guess there's a map somewhere with them on it.

Whatever the case may be, I hope that anything the guests can see when walking over on that side of the retail building is thematically appropriate and doesn't break the immersion.

Again, that's also assuming guests will be able to walk on that side of the retail building, but I don't know why that structure would (seemingly) be themed on all sides if some of it will be backstage.

 

[Alicia]

Whatever the case may be, I hope that anything the guests can see when walking over on that side of the retail building is thematically appropriate and doesn't break the immersion.

Again, that's also assuming guests will be able to walk on that side of the retail building, but I don't know why that structure would (seemingly) be themed on all sides if some of it will be backstage.

Considering the coaster passes by it, even if there wasn’t a pathway, they’d be theming it towards that section of the ride anyway.

There’s a lot of prefab themed elements and false walls still missing from both the retail and dining structures yet that I do know about, so we still got a ways to go.