Universal's Epic Universe Construction Thread

[shiekra38]

I remember when people thought the Ebola outbreak would cause issues with Diagon's launch.

Universal and Disney opened huge expansions right before tourism crashed in 2001
The parks just turned off their fire effects during high gas prices of 2004/5
They built Wizarding World in the midst of the great recession of 2008
They built a JW expansion during Covid
They're building EU during a rocky economic time

There's always *something*

It's almost as if the market will eventually recover and there's historical evidence to suggest so

Unless Comcast plans on paying for everything with Bitcoin or Beanie Babies, I think we'll be ok lol

 

[Paulio]

This to me is the most exciting stage of construction tbh, the forming of what will become our memories for a lifetime is slowly coming together!

This. While everyone is so hyped for Super Nintendo World, I'm interested to see what Universal Monsters has to offer, since the area based upon that has never been done before.

 

[belloq87]

This. While everyone is so hyped for Super Nintendo World, I'm interested to see what Universal Monsters has to offer, since the area based upon that has never been done before.

By far, it's the land I'm most anticipating. The potential is all there for something really special.

 

[Paulio]

By far, it's the land I'm most anticipating. The potential is all there for something really special.

I wonder what's going to be in Frankenstein's Castle dark ride attraction. Just hoping it will be a much better Scooby-Doo ride from Australia's Warner Bros. Movie World and include every other Universal Monster in the ride as well.

 

[Tobias]

I wonder what's going to be in Frankenstein's Castle dark ride attraction.

While not officially confirmed, everything is pointing to a Kuka arm dark ride. And if going off the permits filed for the vehicles, there could be a bigger focus on practical sets/effects since the vehicles aren't forcing you to look forward like FJ's.

 

[OrlLover]

The thing is, the awesome surge in visitors we see at Universal are mainly from locals and the surrounding states.
National travel is rising and international traveling is very slowly rising but currently last in line. If ww3 or a pandemic doesn't arise I'm sure that growth will be constant.

Yea I saw someone post something that said 70% of WDW visitors were locals or from like 300 miles away. That’s crazy to considering a lot of people and myself consider that a tourist heavy park versus DL.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

It's possible but I think Universal is in a much stronger position now than when Hogsmeade opened. It's totally possible we still get a 2024 attraction (DC to Hagrid was 22 months or so).

River Adventure conversion?

 

[Brian G.]

I do just wanna remind everyone that this is the construction thread, and we’d like to keep the topic solely dedicated to those updates. Please take general discussion to the general thread. Thanks!

 

[Rhian]

The foundation of the center ride (carousel?) is starting off less round than I imagined. Are they not going to go all around with the steel piling? The pink circle is what I assume is the general footprint of the ride/structure.

It's early but I guessing the yellow circle might be the control center/system for the fountain?

 

[tommyhawkins]

View attachment 16529

The foundation of the center ride (carousel?) is starting off less round than I imagined. Are they not going to go all around with the steel piling? The pink circle is what I assume is the general footprint of the ride/structure.

It's early but I guessing the yellow circle might be the control center/system for the fountain?

sheet piling on the site arent necessarily shape forming they are holding back dirt in order to be able to work. they appear to be getting utilities into the show building. I will be posting some overlays for the Hub later on twitter so you will be able to see it clearer then, but the circular shape of the building is not where most would assume it is.

As for the yellow circle, i was also assume that since theyre currently working at basement level this is for power/water from plantroom for pumps as on the plans this area is just bleachers

 

[Rhian]

Thanks! I'm probably more fascinated by what's going on there than anyone else so I appreciate the response. It's minuscule compared to whats going on everywhere else but for some reason I like this spot. lol

 

[tommyhawkins]

Thanks! I'm probably more fascinated by what's going on there than anyone else so I appreciate the response. It's minuscule compared to whats going on everywhere else but for some reason I like this spot. lol

You should be able to see what I was talking about in those two tweets. Hope this helps

 

[Disneyhead]

 

[ParkRumors]

Looks like the Intamin track for the P903 coaster has finally made it to the site!

EDIT: After seeing some comparison photos, I agree with the others that this looks more like Mack track! Whoops!



EDIT AGAIN: After looking at even more photos, I'm back to thinking this is Intamin. I can't find a single Mack coaster (spinner, launch, hyper) where the support column continues through the spine of the track. Meanwhile, that seems to be the standard for Intimin's triangle track across several models (LSM launch, family launch, mega-lite).

Enjoy these hastily thrown together comparisons!

New Track:

Intamin:

Mack:

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

P903 coaster

Ah, of course, the P903 coaster. I'd put P903 above Stargate and below Battlestar Galatica in my ranking of late 90s early 00s sci fi television.

 

[Alicia]

Ah, of course, the P903 coaster. I'd put P903 above Stargate and below Battlestar Galatica in my ranking of late 90s early 00s sci fi television.

How to Train Your Dragon.

Looks like the Intamin track for the P903 coaster has finally made it to the site!

EDIT: After seeing some comparison photos, I agree with the others that this looks more like Mack track! Whoops!



EDIT AGAIN: After looking at even more photos, I'm back to thinking this is Intamin. I can't find a single Mack coaster (spinner, launch, hyper) where the support column continues through the spine of the track. Meanwhile, that seems to be the standard for Intimin's triangle track across several models (LSM launch, family launch, mega-lite).

Enjoy these hastily thrown together comparisons!

New Track:

Intamin:

Mack:

Intamin was my first guess, mainly based on shipping report dates, and track color. But it’s hard for me to tell based on track style since they are so similar nowadays. Thanks for your post, it helps!

 

[Alicia]

Track, glorious track!

This is located in the empty lot across from the new park's parking lot. Currently I believe this lot is only zoned for portable offices and trailers, and it's close to Dragons, so not a bad place to stash this for now.

 

[Tyc00n96]

You can see work going on in the area set aside for the Monsters coaster at the top.

 

[belloq87]

I'm not sure if this belongs in this thread or one of the others, but it's a good summary of where things currently stand from @Alicia ...


I still wish Universal had pulled the trigger on the rumored Creature from the Black Lagoon boat ride for the Monster land instead of another coaster, but I'm obviously not in charge!

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Those coaster footers look more like a sewer system.