Universal's Epic Universe General News & Discussion

[Mad Dog]

Bad day today. There's been four or five, non weather related, attractions down at one time or other ,throughout the day. Some very high stand by times.

 

[Alicia]

Per my friend who is at Epic today and just rode monsters, the preshows currently aren't running. They really seem temperamental depending on the day as there's been reports of them running recently too. Realllllly hoping they are up on Thursday/Friday when I'm there!

Yea I know someone there today too. It’s a shame. Preshows seemed to work for about a week, but down again today.

I presume they’re working on a b-mode for walking monster, as if that goes down they close both preshows. Whereas they have a backup plan for when Vic is down.

 

[Rhian]

When we entered the room after Ygor’s talk there was an audible "awww" from someone behind use when they see the walls around Victoria. There was a happy cheer when Frank showed up and did his thing but it’s clear people really want to see these AAs, and like me want to bring people to show them too.

Having them down more often than not lately puts a damper on the experience. I’m sure they’ll get it sorted but in the meantime it sucks it’s happening.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

It really does suck to hear about the issues, but also kind of feels inevitable? It was to the point where during my first ride I was actually starting to cringe every time a new AA popped up, because my dork brain just kept worrying about how maintenance was gonna keep up.

I wonder if a fix could be reprogramming them to move less. Off the top of my head, first Frankenstein, Phantom, last Frankenstein, and last Dracula are making complex motions and only get the distance between ride vehicles to “rest.”

And then I wonder well would that nerf the experience to the point that it’s just worth it to deal with the occasional breakdown.

It’ll be really interesting to see where it all nets out over time.

 

[jwbitterman]

This is probably old news but people at the park the other day were convinced APs for Epic would be offered after HHN.

 

[GA-MBIT]

I remember there being some pushback when I brought it up, but back around Previews I had a similar fear about how Monsters might age longterm. It's an incredibly impressive attraction, but most of the time I only hear people talk about what animatronics weren't working, as opposed to all the cool ones that were.

Bad day today. There's been four or five, non weather related, attractions down at one time or other ,throughout the day. Some very high stand by times.

Mario World was shut down for multiple hours today due to a Fire Alarm evac.

 

[Jake S]

I've been on record on this board as being in favor of creatives pushing the limits technologically in theme park attractions, however, it stinks that there may be so many core issues during a trip taken fewer than six months after a brand new park opens. I'll be very disappointed if these pre shows aren't working when I'm there at the end of the month.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

As long as it doesn't Yeti and they work on improving uptime then it's all just opening bugs to work out.

 

[Floridaguy34]

a lot of the downtimes have been guest related like on ministry people are not keeping their feet on the floor or stardust racers guests taking shoes off or mario kart people losing items in ride track

 

[Alicia]

I remember there being some pushback when I brought it up, but back around Previews I had a similar fear about how Monsters might age longterm. It's an incredibly impressive attraction, but most of the time I only hear people talk about what animatronics weren't working, as opposed to all the cool ones that were.


Mario World was shut down for multiple hours today due to a Fire Alarm evac.

This isn’t longterm though. This is still working out the bugs opening issues.

 

[Mad Dog]

Everyone clamors for lots of animatronics on new attractions. Makes for nice show, but the big negative is there's going to
be a ton of downtime on the most high end tech AA's. That may be one reason that Disney and Universal don't use them as much
as they did in the past.

 

[Jake S]

but no one is clamoring for the most high-fidelity animatronics we’ve ever seen in every single scene. pirates of the Caribbean still absolutely rips and it has extremely rudimentary figures.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

but no one is clamoring for the most high-fidelity animatronics we’ve ever seen in every single scene. pirates of the Caribbean still absolutely rips and it has extremely rudimentary figures.

Is that because perhaps the Pirates' AAs have been running for decades with known maintenance schedules and quirks known? Do you really think folks wouldn't make fun of the ride if it had 1960s levels AAs? What are you even complaining about!?!?

 

[Mad Dog]

but no one is clamoring for the most high-fidelity animatronics we’ve ever seen in every single scene. pirates of the Caribbean still absolutely rips and it has extremely rudimentary figures.

That's probably the key or sweet spot. Less super high tech AA's and more simple AA's. But it seems the creative teams have abandoned that
formula.....Then there's still those two headless women in that Jack Sparrow scene POC. Over two years already and not fixed.

 

[Tbad556]

but no one is clamoring for the most high-fidelity animatronics we’ve ever seen in every single scene. pirates of the Caribbean still absolutely rips and it has extremely rudimentary figures.

Ehhh. This may be my favorite attraction in the world and I don't think that happens without the shock of how good these animatronics are on a wide scale. I don't think that you get the awe of the Phantom up-close moment without the animatronic being that damn good, for example.

I'd gladly take the attraction having some broken animatronics occasionally in the opening year if it means getting an attraction of this caliber. Jaws was a very notable maintenance & operational disaster for pretty much its whole run, but especially during it's first few years. But damnit, I wouldn't have changed a thing because what a ride. Tech issues happen when you push the boundaries and I'm happy to suffer through them if it means getting something amazing in the end.

 

[kristenabelle]

Very lucky day for my first visit on Labor Day. Great waits (express helped on mine cart in the AM, but everything was pretty much walk on later in the day).

Stardust was racing both times I went on (though audio was down during my nighttime ride), got both preshows on my first MU ride, but we skipped them the second time around later at night. First drac & first wolfie were down, but I am still SO impressed at the size and quality of the animatronics. pretty freaking incredible. And I do think/agree Epic might have the best quick service food around.

Can't wait for December! Hope there's holiday decor/something fun for the season

 

[Mad Dog]

Very lucky day for my first visit on Labor Day. Great waits (express helped on mine cart in the AM, but everything was pretty much walk on later in the day).

Stardust was racing both times I went on (though audio was down during my nighttime ride), got both preshows on my first MU ride, but we skipped them the second time around later at night. First drac & first wolfie were down, but I am still SO impressed at the size and quality of the animatronics. pretty freaking incredible. And I do think/agree Epic might have the best quick service food around.

Can't wait for December! Hope there's holiday decor/something fun for the season

Labor Day was a really sweet spot for attraction time....You are the first, I believe, to bring up Xmas at Epic. I was wondering the same.
Glad you had a great day with some of the best line times since the official opening.

 

[April]

Returning for the first time since opening next week. My friend is bringing me for her first visit. I am hopeful for the dueling on stardust and for the animatronics and preshows on monsters. She’s stayed away from spoilers so I know she will be pleased either way but giving her the full experience would be so great.

 

[Rhian]

Here’s a fun thought exercise: which bothers you more, Stardust not dueling or Monsters with no preshow?

Ehhh. This may be my favorite attraction in the world and I don't think that happens without the shock of how good these animatronics are on a wide scale. I don't think that you get the awe of the Phantom up-close moment without the animatronic being that damn good, for example.

I'd gladly take the attraction having some broken animatronics occasionally in the opening year if it means getting an attraction of this caliber. Jaws was a very notable maintenance & operational disaster for pretty much its whole run, but especially during its first few years. But damnit, I wouldn't have changed a thing because what a ride. Tech issues happen when you push the boundaries and I'm happy to suffer through them if it means getting something amazing in the end.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that while it is a shame the preshows are having issues at the moment, almost everything else on the ride is working fine and has been for a while. I think it’s impressive to have that many AAs functioning at once as often as they are.

 

[LPCaptainDeath]

My Sister is there rn. Said the Monsters pre-shows were both down this morning and the first Dracula animatronic wasn't moving. Everything else was working (which is crazy because it was the LAST Dracula that didn't work for me ANY of the times I went on it last month).

She also said that Stardust was dueling this morning too.