Epic Universe Ticketing Info, Advice, & Speculation

[DrStarlander]

I still think it's funny that opening day DAK of all things, without Kali River Rapids or Everest or Pandora or Dinorama, took significant attendance away from 90s era Magic Kingdom. What the hell did people even do with most of their day? Sun bathe?

I went in 1999 and had a great time. My best memory was sitting at that outdoor bar in the Africa area in the warm sun with a cold beer...felt totally immersive. But, yeah, I guess you could say I was sunbathing!

 

[Jake S]

No offense to my Volcano Bay fanatics and maniacs, but no one in 2017 or now really plans a “Volcano Bay” vacation.

There are DOZENS of us!

 

[ReelJustice]

We've seen multiple fumbled launches from universal and Disney I'd say universal wants to control a narrative that is often uncontrollable.

Big searching for a solution to a problem that they could only dream of existing energy. There is just no evidence that crowds would be an issue, other than wishful thinking. Especially when tickets are tied to dates.

 

[rhino4evr]

People are going to be attracted to the new shiny thing no matter what. Trying to come up with a pricing strategy that limits choices and forces you to do something you don’t want to, is not a winning strategy.

You are better off adjusting your budgets accordingly , last I checked a $1 spent at Epic is still a $1 given to UOR. So while the other parks will lose money at first , overall they will likely make more money at Epic to overcome any short fall.

 

[pheneix]

*waves from the old timer section*

The Epic Universe ticket sales situation is kinda dire. It is a mess of UO’s own making. It can be fixed. Easily! But not with heads buried in sand.

A few years from now this park will be firing on all cylinders and the fiasco will be forgotten. But this summer? Buckle up buckeroos.

 

[GA-MBIT]

I've been pretty patient with this stuff myself, but looking back now, that initial ticket drop in October feels like ages ago. It's really crazy just how close we are to the opening date, and we don't really even have tickets widely available yet. It's less than 90 days away now. The Superbowl has come and gone. What's going on?

If I'm asking this kinda stuff; a hyperfan local / former TM; I can only imagine how my uncle in Slidell, Louisiana is taking it in. Who knows when he'll be down to check out the park. It probably won't be anytime in the first 8 months, certainly, and it's worth noting he definitely won't be going to USF or IoA without Epic either.

I exist around a lot of theme park-adjacent circles, and I've heard a lot of people say "Yeah, I'm really excited for Super Mario and Dragons and the Monster ride, but I'm probably not gonna be able to go for a solid year or more. Too expensive; I don't wanna deal with the crowds; etc." I wonder how prevalent this sentiment is among the GP.

This park is unprecedented in a lot of ways. I don't think anyone knows what to expect going into this opening season. We have guesses, based on what's happened before; Hagrids, SW:GE, Universal Escape, DAK, Volcano Bay; maybe it'll play out exactly like any of those, but each one is so incredibly different from what's happening with Epic that I'm not all that confident in any of those comparisons.

 

[MartyMcFly]

This park is unprecedented in a lot of ways. I don't think anyone knows what to expect going into this opening season. We have guesses, based on what's happened before; Hagrids, SW:GE, Universal Escape, DAK, Volcano Bay; maybe it'll play out exactly like any of those, but each one is so incredibly different from what's happening with Epic that I'm not all that confident in any of those comparisons.

Seems like a lot of people in this forum do know what to expect, seems like a lot of people on this forum have degrees in pricing optimisation and strategy.

Somewhere, a Universal Senior Pricing Strategist with a master's in Spreadsheet wizardry just ran a simulation that told them selling tickets later = more profit, less problems etc and now we’re all arguing about it like we have MBAs in Theme Park Economics or we've sat on the board of directors.

This is barely an issue... This park is likely going to be here for 50-100 years. This is a drop in the bucket.

 

[GAcoaster]

I really think everyone is overthinking the whole process. Single day tickets are coming. We are just under three months out from opening. That's plenty of time.

I get people want to make plans, and if you REALLY want to go to opening day/week/etc. there is a way now if it really means that much to you.

They will have no problem filling the park to whatever capacity level they choose whether single day tickets go on sale today or morning of the day it opens.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

This is barely an issue... This park is likely going to be here for 50-100 years. This is a drop in the bucket.

No one is saying that this will ultimately end in Epic's failure, we're just discussing why Universal is waiting such a long time to release tickets and the possible impacts of continuing to delay this year's success. UDE as an entire organization is being invested heavily, and a problem at Epic will cause a domino effect throughout the entire organization (ala Disneyland Paris).

Their plan after all could be to emulate SWGE's opening at Disneyland to deter overcrowding, who knows. But Universal will be opening 3 hotels with 2,000 rooms combined, that's a lot of people to draw in.

I really think everyone is overthinking the whole process. Single day tickets are coming. We are just under three months out from opening. That's plenty of time.

Enough time for locals & FL residents sure. But if you need to plan a long-distance road trip or flight, it's getting expensive and more difficult to plan around work. A flight for a family of 4 is ~$1K+, tickets are ~$1K+, etc.,

It's just easier to skip Epic until next year and choose a more "locked in" travel destination this year. I know UOR has the fantastic option to get your refund entirely if you cancel before, but that doesn't cover an airline ticket and all the other necessities a family needs to check off before traveling (prepping luggage, side excursions, airport transportation, etc.).

They will have no problem filling the park to whatever capacity level they choose whether single day tickets go on sale today or morning of the day it opens.

This is a very risky strategy. Epic will attract people... but will it attract people at the price point Universal wants?

 

[pheneix]

Seems like a lot of people in this forum do know what to expect, seems like a lot of people on this forum have degrees in pricing optimisation and strategy.

Somewhere, a Universal Senior Pricing Strategist with a master's in Spreadsheet wizardry just ran a simulation that told them selling tickets later = more profit, less problems etc and now we’re all arguing about it like we have MBAs in Theme Park Economics or we've sat on the board of directors.

This is barely an issue... This park is likely going to be here for 50-100 years. This is a drop in the bucket.

Speaking here purely as a hypothetical:

That spreadsheet guy probably getting laid off this month.

 

[ReelJustice]

as an entire organization is being invested heavily, and a problem at Epic will cause a domino effect throughout the entire organization (ala Disneyland Paris).

Yeah, I’m not worried about EU long term, I’m worried about the HRRR replacement, Pokemon, Zelda, and Luigi.

Mild concern about HHN.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Speaking here purely as a hypothetical:

That spreadsheet guy probably getting laid off this month.

I work with spreadsheets all day and spend all my work days with people like this, and I can tell you that the executives are more to blame to sticking to a plan that would generate high profits without considering the human element. The MBA can offer multiple scenarios in their work, but it's up to the executive to strategize and then change course when needed to. The problem is that they don't want to change course when things happen, so they end up wrecking the ship in chase of a "perfect" business strategy.

Yeah, I’m not worried about EU long term, I’m worried about the HRRR replacement, Pokemon, Zelda, and Luigi.

Mild concern about HHN.

Agree - I think Epic will be fine from it's content, but Universal seems to be chasing a business strategy that I don't agree with. (I want to be proven wrong). I am, like you, more worried about HHN's quality this year (I think it peaked in 2019, sorry - I mean overall quality, there has been great stuff since but the overall package has suffered a bit) and how Epic will impact the resort overall long-term.

 

[Brian G.]

A big issue of this discussion is we're missing a ton of data on what population is waiting for the multi-days and if they are canceling/waiting/etc. Despite the optics of it all, we're the nerds who make up a small fraction of the crowds. Universal has come out and stated those tickets are coming, so we're not that much in the dark.

 

[Alicia]

A big issue of this discussion is we're missing a ton of data on what population is waiting for the multi-days and if they are canceling/waiting/etc. Despite the optics of it all, we're the nerds who make up a small fraction of the crowds. Universal has come out and stated those tickets are coming, so we're not that much in the dark.

The wording in the latest press release tells me it won't be for weeks I am guessing.

Additional ticket options for Universal Epic Universe – including Single-Day Tickets for the general public – will go on sale in the weeks ahead.​

 

[Jake S]

I think this is a guest-unfriendly strategy, which I find quite frustrating (and I think it's fine to voice personal frustration!) But like I've said before, I'd need to see a lot more data before I come in with a strong opinion on whether or not it will ultimately be successful based on whatever parameters Universal has drawn up.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

A big issue of this discussion is we're missing a ton of data on what population is waiting for the multi-days and if they are canceling/waiting/etc. Despite the optics of it all, we're the nerds who make up a small fraction of the crowds. Universal has come out and stated those tickets are coming, so we're not that much in the dark.

Yes they've told us additional products will be sold... but when?

For APs, we know of AP previews... but when? Is it free or separate admission? Do we purchase a 1-day post-official opening or do I save my money for a preview ticket instead? Will I have to wake up at 5AM on a random Thursday again to purchase?

For those planning significant trips that require planning hotels, transportation, coordinating days off, etc., it's starting to get late (and pricey).

The wording in the latest press release tells me it won't be for weeks I am guessing.

Additional ticket options for Universal Epic Universe – including Single-Day Tickets for the general public – will go on sale in the weeks ahead.​

Alicia beat me to it, but somebody planning a vacation to Universal/Orlando versus another destination (like the competitive cruising market) can't wait much longer.

I'm sure with all this fuss tickets will release this week, but I'm sure people have waited long enough and made other plans.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

A big issue of this discussion is we're missing a ton of data on what population is waiting for the multi-days and if they are canceling/waiting/etc. Despite the optics of it all, we're the nerds who make up a small fraction of the crowds. Universal has come out and stated those tickets are coming, so we're not that much in the dark.

We’re all fans not professionals and experts.

 

[Alicia]

Again, anecdotal, but the concern I hear from "normal people" outside of our sphere that it's too confusing so they'll just wait till it's been open a year and has normal tickets.

And that's probably how a lot of normal people approach new theme parks and rides. I know someone who only just now is planning a trip to do Hagrid's. Maybe those people are smart? (At least by then the rides will work.)

 

[Brian G.]

I think this is a guest-unfriendly strategy, which I find quite frustrating (and I think it's fine to voice personal frustration!) But like I've said before, I'd need to see a lot more data before I come in with a strong opinion on whether or not it will ultimately be successful based on whatever parameters Universal has drawn up.

basically, this.

I have a hard time believing if Universal is seeing slow/problematic sales and saying “yeah - let’s hold steady”

 

[GAcoaster]

Once again, if you REALLY want a ticket, you can buy it now as a multi-day ticket package. If you’re a passholder you can buy one now. They’ve made a calculated decision here. I understand you may think it’s a miscalculation, but they apparently don’t or they would have panicked and put single day tickets on sale by now. The numbers they’re seeing must be meeting expectations or they would have changed course.

The whole point of building the third/(fourth) park is to sell a week long Universal vacation, not an add on day for Epic on your Disney trip. They are focused on getting people to do multiple days in all parks. Those one offs are a lower priority.