Universal's Epic Universe General News & Discussion

[AvoidTIMtation]

I won't lie, it wasn't till SNW opened in Hollywood that I found out that people actually cared about sightlines. I've been going to theme parks my whole and I've never really cared lmao

USH gets unfairly criticized for this IMO because of its location and since it wasn't originally built with "immersive theme park" in mind

 

[Steptwice]

I’m sure it’s no coincidence that Helios is visible from some parts of Dark Universe and I imagine Stardust Racers is partly visible from within Dragons—and those are the two in-house properties owned by Comcast.

Nintendo and Potter seemed to have gone through greater lengths to eliminate any evidence of the outside world. But the downside to that are things like flat corrugated jungle cut out flat walls around Donkey Kong. (Although that never bothered me at Dragon Challenge/Hagrid, so no big deal.) Potter thematically works out well cause they just build the city streets extra tall to block out the world, similar to Diagon.

I think the park has a good mix of styles so that not all areas are walled off gardens, because that would start to feel isolating/one note to me.

Personally, I like a *little* leakage between theme park lands, so I’m not one to complain unless it’s really taking me out.

At least we’ve moved on from visible show building talk.

So Ive never been a big “showbuilding” “sight-line” person( although they should always be hidden) , and Alicia I respect you to the most degree ! But sometimes I feel Universal creative is purposefully trolling us. The way they never cared to cover the FJ building in O and Hollywood when they had pletny of chances. And the way they left the Monster building this far in production to just now be colored or textured ! They knew what they were doing and they ultimately realized , “whoa these building are clearly showing through “ !

 

[Alicia]

And the way they left the Monster building this far in production to just now be colored or textured ! They knew what they were doing and they ultimately realized , “whoa these building are clearly showing through “ !

low priority on the construction punch list I presume. Making sure the ride inside is working likely top priority.

But did feel like they were messing with us lol

 

[TheCodeMan95]

The only area of universal That has total immersion is Diagon Alley. All the other lands including hogsmede have sight line issues. Mostly due to how IOA is designed.

Either way I don’t care.

People seem more upset about this than being able to stand on the back patio of Three Broomsticks and being 15 feet away from a Jurassic World roller coaster.

Sightline issues typically don't bother me, unless it's something blatant like the "Grade D/F" examples. But really, like @Neo handled beautifully - even the most immersive lands in the world break immersion. Ever been in Diagon Alley when they opened the big doors next to the Hopping Pot?

I think the Helios/Dark Universe thing might bother me more if it was towering over the entire land. Being "visible" from "one area" of the land means absolutely nothing lol

 

[GAcoaster]

Even the most immersive parks and attractions will have the illusion broken if you’re looking for it. Think about things like emergency exit signs on dark rides— necessary and required, but often spoil the illusion in an attraction. There’s no way to make everything completely immersive practically.

Epic related, new signs for the I-Drive District are up on Universal Blvd. I assume these will be on the edges of their “special tax district” for Epic.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Even the most immersive parks and attractions will have the illusion broken if you’re looking for it. Think about things like emergency exit signs on dark rides— necessary and required, but often spoil the illusion in an attraction. There’s no way to make everything completely immersive practically.

There's a difference between an emergency exit sign that 'bleeds' into the background and a giant hotel over a medieval village.

Epic related, new signs for the I-Drive District are up on Universal Blvd. I assume these will be on the edges of their “special tax district” for Epic.

Nice, I've been driving around the area for "Epic Universe this way" signs, but nothing just yet.

I'm hoping after Epic is complete, Universal can focus on trying to work with the city/county to beautify the area between the two campuses.

 

[Jones14]

Even the most immersive parks and attractions will have the illusion broken if you’re looking for it. Think about things like emergency exit signs on dark rides— necessary and required, but often spoil the illusion in an attraction. There’s no way to make everything completely immersive practically.

Agreed, and mileage is gonna vary on what breaks the illusion for you. I found myself enjoying the views from Celestial into the other lands, which necessitates some bleed in the other direction.

Overall, I think it came down to each land’s project team and the decisions they made; it’s clear that Potter’s team was bullish on no outside intrusions, but Stardust is so consistently visible from Berk that it feels like the team wanted it considered as part of the skyline.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

There's a difference between an emergency exit sign that 'bleeds' into the background and a giant hotel over a medieval village.

But is that what this is? The hotel isn't towering over the land lol

 

[Brian G.]

But is that what this is? The hotel isn't towering over the land lol

Yeah - let's pump the brakes a bit with the hyperbole here. Jones said they saw it from one area and went "wish they had found a way to block that somehow”.

 

[Alicia]

The hotel is a weenie. For better or worse, I can see Cinderella Castle from “certain angles” in some lands too. Like I said, it’s not like a giant show building cube always visible from World Showcase or something. It’s a pretty building meant to be seen from within the park, and sometimes it will be.

Now I wonder how well the backstage side of Oak & Star looks personally from Dark Universe. To me that’s the sort of thing I’m curious about.

 

[saint.piss]

This is the 3rd page we've been talking about sightlines... for a park that isn't even fully done yet. Come on y'all. There's gotta be more interesting things to talk about at this point lol

 

[TheCodeMan95]

This is the 3rd page we've been talking about sightlines... for a park that isn't even fully done yet. Come on y'all. There's gotta be more interesting things to talk about at this point lol

Not gonna lie, this has been somewhat entertaining to read for me lol

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

This is the 3rd page we've been talking about sightlines... for a park that isn't even fully done yet. Come on y'all. There's gotta be more interesting things to talk about at this point lol

Yeah, like where's the nicest bathroom?!

 

[Brian G.]

Yeah, like where's the nicest bathroom?!

I’ve heard a lot of chatter about the Dark Universe bathrooms lol

 

[DrStarlander]

I’ve heard a lot of chatter about the Dark Universe bathrooms lol

Please tell me you can't see the Helios from inside the bathroom! (I'm just kidding, I promise!)

 

[saint.piss]

I’ve heard a lot of chatter about the Dark Universe bathrooms lol

Watch out though, I keep hearing the Invisible man is a huge peeping tom.

 

[Alicia]

I’ve heard a lot of chatter about the Dark Universe bathrooms lol

Yea, cause it's the land with the least of them!

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Please tell me we'll be getting scented bathrooms like in IOA

 

[belloq87]

Not gonna lie, this has been somewhat entertaining to read for me lol

I think this has been a very fruitful discussion to know where everybody stands in terms of what gradation of thematic cohesion they're looking for from a new, "game-changing" theme park.

Seeing the hotel from inside the park wouldn't/won't bother me. Seeing the unthemed backsides of buildings from the hotel probably would... but I'm never gonna be in there anyway!

This is the 3rd page we've been talking about sightlines... for a park that isn't even fully done yet. Come on y'all. There's gotta be more interesting things to talk about at this point lol

With people already experiencing the park and offering spoiler reports, the list of available subjects for those of us who are spoiler-averse is dwindling!

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Watch out though, I keep hearing the Invisible man is a huge peeping tom.

Probably still a more respectful bathroom denizen that some of the other people I've met in theme park bathrooms.