Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[Tacky3663]

Black lagoon is planned as a innovative boat ride system and bride ride is currently rumored to utilize coaster type of a ride system.

Sooooo…..Mack Rocking Boat….Got it

 

[Tacky3663]

Lot of people think it won’t be Black Lagoon.

I’m sure everyone who wants it to be will hope @simon is right.

I’m ngl, it would be pretty disappointing for them to not have a Creatures boat ride in this park cause it feels like a perfect addition

 

[simon]

Sooooo…..Mack Rocking Boat….Got it

Personally, I’m not sure about this neither.

Universal has been sending patent for technologies and ride system that may use for the ride for dark universe expansion. The ride system and these drawings on patent seems bit different from rocking boat system.

One of the ride system blueprint is hiding a animatronics that can be crawling up inside the front area of the vehicle as well.

Also from my many conversation with creatives and staff members, I don’t remember we’ve been discussing specific ride manufacture or detailed description of type of ride system beside IP will utilizing black lagoon and a the type of ride will be a boat system.

Thats all I know for now and what we can do now is gathering more clues from valid sources and speculate.

Honestly with a pace of universal has been filling recently for expansion and the history of our forum, I think that we’ll gather more clear and detailed infos to figure out the specific ride type and the ip being utilize within year and a half.

 

[Tacky3663]

Personally, I’m not sure about this neither.

Universal has been recently sending patent for technologies and ride system that may use for the ride for dark universe expansion. The ride system and these drawings on patent seems bit different from rocking boat system.

One of the boat ride system blueprint is hiding a animatronics inside the front area of the boat as well.

Also from my many conversation with creatives and staff members, I don’t remember we’ve been discussing specific ride manufacture or detailed description of type of ride system beside IP will utilizing black lagoon and a the type of ride will be a boat system.

Thats all I know for now and what we can do is gathering more clues and speculate.

Honestly with a pace of universal has been filling recently for expansion and the history of our forum, I think that we’ll gather more clear and detailed infos to figure out the specific ride type and the ip being utilize within year and a half.

So wait, you think Intamin (or someone else) could be coming up with some kind of prototype ride that could be similar to the Rocking Boat?

 

[simon]

So wait, you think Intamin (or someone else) could be coming up with some kind of prototype ride that could be similar to the Rocking Boat?

Maybe. These patent has already been filed and may be in developments or likely scraped like many other patent they filed before.
Or they may utilize rocking boat system. I heard it’s been proven to being reliable, which would make universal very interested in.

As of right now, It’s too early to finalize and conclude things in detail. Plans change a lot in development and I’m just happy that the expansion work is happening in a fast pace.

 

[Skipper Justin]

Can I ask? I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything. Why would Universal tell you all these details when they have notoriously been so stingy with details to the point they famously announce things last minute. It just seems so unlikely to me that they would openly talk about active or soon to be active projects. If it is true, that’s amazing.

 

[simon]

Can I ask? I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything. Why would Universal tell you all these details when they have notoriously been so stingy with details to the point they famously announce things last minute. It just seems so unlikely to me that they would openly talk about active or soon to be active projects. If it is true, that’s amazing.

I have already replied to a very similar text years ago in this forum. I would not like to repeat myself again and again so I'll take things shortly. Some of the creatives does visit here, write hints in this forum sometimes and Universal is also known for being engaged with audiences, enjoys giving hints when people ask or tease little things slowly, unlike what the opponent does. This is also what I heard from a conversation I had with them.

Also, when I have met them in person and had a long and genuine conversation about what I study and learn(engineering and architecture), they still had many details in confidential and I didn't ask them in detail for all the respect. But they brought it up a short clues or a chunk of what's coming rather than detailed specifications without I mentioning them. I assume that this is a pretty unique experience I had back then.

Yes, we were talking about architecture and technologies on the themepark industry in depth, but it was primarily based on their previous project and strategies.

Finally, why would I write lies on this forum? I'm a busy individual doing my architecture work. I'm only taking my precious time to share this information sometimes because I like engaging with passionate people here who are very devoted and interested in discussing and speculating about future projects on themed industry. Nothing is beneficial for me to lying about this information.

I recommend you to go back to read my 2025 posts on my profile, come back and see the timing, all these current permits filed in Darkmoor and Harry Potter site with construction activity starting in the Harry Potter expansion area, which I specifically mentioned back in my 2025 post.

 

[Jake S]

 

[Parkscope Joe]

View attachment 29897

I’m riding the out and back hyper that one dude said was replacing Dragon Challenge rn

 

[Killer Klown]

The coaster permits that were thought to be for Pokémon were actually for Hollywood Drift.

Yeah I wasn’t referring to that haha. There is/was other coaster rumors for the land.

 

[simon]

View attachment 29897

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Can't wait for everyone to get excited about a massive indoor coaster, and then get mad that they can see the show building from Werewolf.

 

[Legacy]

Black lagoon is planned as a innovative boat ride system and bride ride is currently rumored to utilize coaster type of a ride system.

Oh… I’m aware of the plans. My post was largely a joke based on a post saying the park needs a water ride but no more coasters.

 

[simon]

Can't wait for everyone to get excited about a massive indoor coaster, and then get mad that they can see the show building from Werewolf.

Oh… I’m aware of the plans. My post was largely a joke based on a post saying the park needs a water ride but no more coasters.

Yeah. Enough with the coasters man. Epic Universe presented the perfect opportunity to broaden their appeal to families, rather than relying solely on their traditional teen and adult audience demographic.

If we assume that they are indeed adding two additional coasters(harry)(dark), this would completely undermine that strategy. Resulting in a heavily unbalanced park that fails to cater to a diverse range of guests and will simply be cemented as another thrill heavy resort and lose some of the family demographic, missing the chance to compete with the true family-friendly balance of a park like Disney's Magic Kingdom.

 

[Imperius]

Yeah. Enough with the coasters man. Epic Universe presented the perfect opportunity to broaden their appeal to families, rather than relying solely on their traditional teen and adult audience demographic.

If we assume that they are indeed adding two additional coasters(harry)(dark), this would completely undermine that strategy. Resulting in a heavily unbalanced park that fails to cater to a diverse range of guests and will simply be cemented as another thrill heavy resort and lose some of the family demographic, missing the chance to compete with the true family-friendly balance of a park like Disney's Magic Kingdom.

This is under the assumption they want to do that. They built a dragons land with no toddler ride in sight. They don’t seem to care about the demographic still.

 

[Mad Dog]

I have already replied to a very similar text years ago in this forum. I would not like to repeat myself again and again so I'll take things shortly. Some of the creatives does visit here, write hints in this forum sometimes and Universal is also known for being engaged with audiences, enjoys giving hints when people ask or tease little things slowly, unlike what the opponent does. This is also what I heard from a conversation I had with them.

Also, when I have met them in person and had a long and genuine conversation about what I study and learn(engineering and architecture), they still had many details in confidential and I didn't ask them in detail for all the respect. But they brought it up a short clues or a chunk of what's coming rather than detailed specifications without I mentioning them. I assume that this is a pretty unique experience I had back then.

Yes, we were talking about architecture and technologies on the themepark industry in depth, but it was primarily based on their previous project and strategies.

Finally, why would I write lies on this forum? I'm a busy individual doing my architecture work. I'm only taking my precious time to share this information sometimes because I like engaging with passionate people here who are very devoted and interested in discussing and speculating about future projects on themed industry. Nothing is beneficial for me to lying about this information.

I recommend you to go back to read my 2025 posts on my profile, come back and see the timing, all these current permits filed in Darkmoor and Harry Potter site with construction activity starting in the Harry Potter expansion area, which I specifically mentioned back in my 2025 post.

Your info has been solid thus far. It's not unusual for Creatives to share hints and info anonymously. Heck, that's where @Teebin got most of his great accurate info and I believe @Hatetofly to Fly got his info in a similar manner. Keep posting. I, for one, appreciate your info.

 

[Legacy]

If Universal *is* trying to lean into a more family friendly demographic, then I believe we would have seen more push for attractions like the Dragon Flight “dish” simulator and some adaptation of the SLoP omnimover. Instead we got an adrenaline-focused flat ride and a spinning coaster replacing a show.

Now, I recognize all the nuances in these decisions. Shows are very high risk, and if Universal wasn’t 100% confident in, a family spinner coaster makes a lot of sense. I don’t personally like it, but I understand it.

But I also think Epic is in a challenging spot where maintenance and capacity issues is forcing them to push at least one “underbaked” expansion (that being where they add something relatively easy that’s likely to draw a lot of positive attention). I don’t think Black Lagoon is that. It’s, from my understanding, conceptually complete in its development and it’s in the finalizing/maximizing phase. What IS an underbaked expansion is an indoor coaster. Balance be damned, coasters are cheap, versatile, and VERY popular. Despite how amazing the Black Lagoon though, it’s higher risk than a coaster would be.

So, the question becomes—where do you add a coaster. Potter has space, needs an attraction, and is largely “safe.” A new Potter attraction will catch attention regardless of how tainted the IP itself may be. OR do you double-down on the surprise of the park, Dark Universe, and plop (another) low-risk coaster beside your breakout ride?

I think that is actually the question. And regardless of what fans (and Creative) wants, it’s upper management that will make that decision.

 

[RGMick77]

Just trying to catch up on the speculation here. Wizarding Paris and Darkmoor are both getting expansion rides and they are both indoor coasters?

If they are building any more coasters, I would at least prefer that they be indoors.

I understand the rush to increase capacity and building rollercoasters is (in theory) a fast and reliable way to do that.

How confident are we that they are both going to be coasters?

 

[Tacky3663]

Just trying to catch up on the speculation here. Wizarding Paris and Darkmoor are both getting expansion rides and they are both indoor coasters?

If they are building any more coasters, I would at least prefer that they be indoors.

I understand the rush to increase capacity and building rollercoasters is (in theory) a fast and reliable way to do that.

How confident are we that they are both going to be coasters?

I personally would love it if they were both like some kind of coaster model….

There’s a certain prototype going up at Six Flags Magic Mountain for next year by Vekoma that would be a perfect fit for a Quidditch style coaster….

Meanwhile, Mack’s Rocking Boat model which is basically the combo of a water ride and roller coaster would be an amazing fit for Creature from the Black Lagoon

 

[simon]

Just trying to catch up on the speculation here. Wizarding Paris and Darkmoor are both getting expansion rides and they are both indoor coasters?

If they are building any more coasters, I would at least prefer that they be indoors.

I understand the rush to increase capacity and building rollercoasters is (in theory) a fast and reliable way to do that.

How confident are we that they are both going to be coasters?

From what I heard from staff members and creatives in person on my last years visit. Their plan was to expand darkmoor with black lagoon ip boat ride and they mentioned that harry potter is in work but didn’t shared much on detail. And two of the construction timeline will intertwine as well.

The permits has been recently filed just as they said and their insight has been reliable. And I personally do not believe new bride coaster rumor because I don’t really know where is this rumor source is originate from and logically doesn’t make any sense.

The development pipeline for a large scale indoor dark ride or coaster generally spans +5 years prior to breaking ground. More than five creatives and staff members confirmed to me in my last years visit that the Creature from the Black Lagoon project was already actively underway. With permits having been filed recently, it is highly likely that the design phase is finalizing and groundwork will commence shortly. A multimillion dollar project simply cannot undergo a drastic change in direction at such a late stage of development.

Dark Universe already suffers from a hastily constructed, visually unappealing filler attraction. Ideally, management has learned from this misstep, as introducing another low quality ride will only severely diminish the value of the area.