Universal's Epic Universe Wish List & Speculation

[OrlLover]

When we talk about cut it's always "removed or swapped with something downsized". The new coaster will likely cost more and handle more people in a day than the theater show and play area. Is that a cut? And remember, we're talking about the imagined (literally, it's all in your heads) version of this land vs unspecified and unannounced rumors for this land. I might as well be comparing 2025 Thanksgiving and 2025 Christmas at this point. I thought I knew a lot about this land and park, then I keep finding out newer and cooler things. We just gotta cool the jets with the defeatism.

I may have been jumping to conclusions with my earlier post. Being super pessimistic is not the usual tone I take when referring to the theme parks.

I’m truly hoping for the best with the final outcome of the land. Yea they did replace the show with a ride however is it going to be bare bones ?

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

I have to preface what I'm about to say by pointing out that the land is years away from opening, we don't know everything yet, and things can change.

That said, what kind of disappoints me about what we appear to be getting from the Monsters land is that I was hoping Universal would be taking the Potter approach: literally recreate environments from the movies. That's what they're doing with Nintendo (games instead of movies, in that case) and Berk. They want to put you in places you recognize, with characters that are immediately identifiable.

With Monsters, though, it seems like they're reconceptualizing the IP. So instead of actually walking directly into places from DRACULA or FRANKENSTEIN or THE WOLF MAN, we're going to be getting a land and attractions that are suggested by the characters, but are not directly recreating anything from the movies. Some amount of creative license was always going to be necessary to get a bunch of the Monsters together in the same story, but the modern setting, the newly-invented main character for the E-ticket, the idea of the town embracing being a tourist trap, the outdoor coaster (which will obviously run during the daytime, making its proposed Wolf Man theme kind of nonsensical)... none of that screams to me "You're finally getting the Monsters land you always dreamed of!"

Did I have unfair expectations for the land, given that I've been a fan of the Monsters since I was a kid in the early 1990s and collected all the VHS tapes? Probably! But my feelings are what they are. I hope the area turns out well.



If the coaster were going to be, essentially, "contained" by facades (even while still technically being "outdoor"), I think that would be much better. Both for the coaster itself and for the surrounding area.

It def sounds like you would've preferred the GMR-style ride that was conceptualized, not that there's anything wrong with that!

 

[Casper Gutman]

For the record, I've never thought of the show-to-coaster change as a "cut" but rather as a swap driven largely by the fact that coasters are safe and easy. It seems like a timid move. It also doesn't seem like the move of a resort that realizes it needs a lot more attractions that lack height restrictions.

True, the show might have been garbage. But even if the small bare coaster is good, it's still something I'll ride once and then skip on most subsequent trips. Maybe I'd have skipped the show after one viewing, too - or maybe not.

Anyway, it's quite a minor issue. I still think EU looks spectacular.

 

[Henny]

I'm a huge fan of shows, but i think it's fair to say that most rides, especially coasters, lend themselves to reridability, whereas shows are generally a one-off for each trip. With that said, I'm still cautious of their decision to add an outdoors coaster, and one that supposedly stretches to the center of the land. That sort of kinetic energy is sure to affect the atmosphere of the area, and I'm not sure if the general theme of this land needs that. It's definitely a creative risk that I want to wait and see before passing judgement, but it does raise valid concerns.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

I'm a huge fan of shows, but i think it's fair to say that most rides, especially coasters, lend themselves to reridability, whereas shows are generally a one-off for each trip. With that said, I'm still cautious of their decision to add an outdoors coaster, and one that supposedly stretches to the center of the land. That sort of kinetic energy is sure to affect the atmosphere of the area, and I'm not sure if the general theme of this land needs that. It's definitely a creative risk that I want to wait and see before passing judgement, but it does raise valid concerns.

My second favorite "attractions" at both DAK and USF, and debatably Epcot, are non-rides (Maharajah, HMUS, and maybe any single country--possibly Germany?).

 

[Henny]

My second favorite "attractions" at both DAK and USF, and debatably Epcot, are non-rides (Maharajah, HMUS, and maybe any single country--possibly Germany?).

Walkthroughs and pavilions are different than shows. You can explore, take in the scenery and enjoy the atmosphere more times than sitting and witnessing the same plot multiple times.

Edit: HMUS also happens to be a highlight in most of my USF trips due to it's interactivity and because I'm a huge fan of movie special effects make-up.

 

[belloq87]

It def sounds like you would've preferred the GMR-style ride that was conceptualized, not that there's anything wrong with that!

As a standalone in USF, I probably would have really enjoyed that. Too meta for a whole Monsters land, though, I think.

My ideal land would probably have incorporated several geographic areas, rather than just Frankenstein village, so that you could build both Dracula’s castle...

and Frankenstein’s laboratory...

To me, as a fan, these are the Hogsmeade/Diagon Alley "I want to step into these locations" equivalents for the Monsters.

 

[quinnmac000]

As a standalone in USF, I probably would have really enjoyed that. Too meta for a whole Monsters land, though, I think.

My ideal land would probably have incorporated several geographic areas, rather than just Frankenstein village, so that you could build both Dracula’s castle...

and Frankenstein’s laboratory...

To me, as a fan, these are the Hogsmeade/Diagon Alley "I want to step into these locations" equivalents for the Monsters.

I definitely share your mindset on this but at the same time....Dracula takes place in Hungary (which was part of Translyvania at the time) and London, Frankenstein and Bride in Germany, Wolfman in Scotland, Mummy technically takes place in London, Creature of Black Lagoon in Brazil, Invisible Man in the states, and if they wanted to add the b cuts like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Quasimodo, and Phantom they would have to add France which also is what they are doing for Potter.

What I would've done was broken the land into 4 areas flower pattern (Stem and three pedals): Germany/Translyvania (middle petal), France/ UK/Scotland (Stem), Amazon (right petal), and North America (Left Petal)....additionally I would have made it entirely indoors with the exception of Amazon and the United States as they are the only Universal film areas which take place mostly in daytime.

dual spin coaster in UK/Scotland one themed to jekyll and hyde, the other the wolfman.
Add in the original Phantom of the Opera attraction that was developed but was too elaborate/expensive at the time in France.

Germany/Translyvania Monster E-ticket with two villages acting as the surrounding area and the table service

Amazon for the Creature of the black Lagoon attraction.

North America: Alien encounteresque Invisible Man show (as he actually has the highest death count)...cheesy disney style omnimover through B-list films like Jungle Girl, It came from outer space, etc.

 

[Cup_Of_Coffee]

As a standalone in USF, I probably would have really enjoyed that. Too meta for a whole Monsters land, though, I think.

My ideal land would probably have incorporated several geographic areas, rather than just Frankenstein village, so that you could build both Dracula’s castle...

and Frankenstein’s laboratory...

To me, as a fan, these are the Hogsmeade/Diagon Alley "I want to step into these locations" equivalents for the Monsters.

No reason we can’t get Frankie’s lab, though…

 

[belloq87]

I definitely share your mindset on this but at the same time....Dracula takes place in Hungary (which was part of Translyvania at the time) and London, Frankenstein and Bride in Germany, Wolfman in Scotland, Mummy technically takes place in London, Creature of Black Lagoon in Brazil, Invisible Man in the states, and if they wanted to add the b cuts like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Quasimodo, and Phantom they would have to add France which also is what they are doing for Potter.

What I would've done was broken the land into 4 areas flower pattern (Stem and three pedals): Germany/Translyvania (middle petal), France/ UK/Scotland (Stem), Amazon (right petal), and North America (Left Petal)....additionally I would have made it entirely indoors with the exception of Amazon and the United States as they are the only Universal film areas which take place mostly in daytime.

dual spin coaster in UK/Scotland one themed to jekyll and hyde, the other the wolfman.
Add in the original Phantom of the Opera attraction that was developed but was too elaborate/expensive at the time in France.

Germany/Translyvania Monster E-ticket with two villages acting as the surrounding area and the table service

Amazon for the Creature of the black Lagoon attraction.

North America: Alien encounteresque Invisible Man show (as he actually has the highest death count)...cheesy disney style omnimover through B-list films like Jungle Girl, It came from outer space, etc.

That's certainly ambitious!

No reason we can’t get Frankie’s lab, though…

One can hope, though with the ride supposedly taking place inside Frankenstein manor (which is not where the laboratory was, at least in FRANKENSTEIN and BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN), I'm not convinced we're going to get that set recreated. I would be perfectly thrilled if that lab is built inside there without any explanation, as most guests won't have any idea it's in the wrong place.

 

[Alicia]

I would be perfectly thrilled if that lab is built inside there without any explanation, as most guests won't have any idea it's in the wrong place.

:grin:

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

As a standalone in USF, I probably would have really enjoyed that. Too meta for a whole Monsters land, though, I think.

My ideal land would probably have incorporated several geographic areas, rather than just Frankenstein village, so that you could build both Dracula’s castle...

and Frankenstein’s laboratory...

To me, as a fan, these are the Hogsmeade/Diagon Alley "I want to step into these locations" equivalents for the Monsters.

Which would have been easily accomplished in the GMR ride. But building a whole land, I'll take the coherent story.

 

[DodgsonHere]

:grin:

Wonder if it will be in the queue or on the ride (or both).

 

[Loki]

Wonder if it will be in the queue or on the ride (or both).

That's one thing I love about this theme park renaissance we are living in. The queues have become as much as part of the ride as the ride itself.

 

[Cygnus]

That's one thing I love about this theme park renaissance we are living in. The queues have become as much as part of the ride as the ride itself.

From the queue art I've seen for Monsters you will be very impressed:jawdrop:

 

[Legacy]

I think the fans just have a different expectation from what they want from the Monsters versus what Universal wants to present to the general public—which is something more kinetic than stolid. Nothing about the classic movies really sells to modern audiences. We see it in the HHN houses (high-energy, rapid movement). We see it in the ride system (Kuka-Coaster). They are taking century-old slow-burns and amping them up for modern audiences. Canon be damned.

 

[tielo]

To stop all the imaginary "facts" and then treating it as real to defecate on it, here is the real thing we are going to get, it's build offsite and it will be a quick install.

 

[belloq87]

I think the fans just have a different expectation from what they want from the Monsters versus what Universal wants to present to the general public—which is something more kinetic than stolid. Nothing about the classic movies really sells to modern audiences. We see it in the HHN houses (high-energy, rapid movement). We see it in the ride system (Kuka-Coaster). They are taking century-old slow-burns and amping them up for modern audiences. Canon be damned.

It's not even particularly about canon in a narrative sense. We've already acknowledged it would take some amount of invention to get a bunch of the characters together in one story.

It's much more about wanting to see some very specific things brought to life in physical space with the same level of fidelity, care, and attention to detail as the Wizarding World lands.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I think the fans just have a different expectation from what they want from the Monsters versus what Universal wants to present to the general public—which is something more kinetic than stolid. Nothing about the classic movies really sells to modern audiences. We see it in the HHN houses (high-energy, rapid movement). We see it in the ride system (Kuka-Coaster). They are taking century-old slow-burns and amping them up for modern audiences. Canon be damned.

I don't think anyone expects tremendous faithfulness to the 1930s original and I REALLY don't think there's much concern for any kind of franchise-wide canon. I expect some knowing winks and a tone much closer to grim grinning ghosts then anything Tod Browning directed (although, to be fair, the tone I just described isn't that far from something James Whale would have directed!) Heck, when I rue the lost show, what I'm picturing is a more polished, more spectacular version of the Beetlejuice show at the Studios. Its a balancing act to be sure, but I trust Universal. That said...

A tonal clash isn't why I'm leery of a small naked coaster. I'm leery of a small naked coaster because they're generally not that interesting or unique and because I think Universal needs to move away from them (not entirely, of course) and towards more all-ages dark rides.

Tone, even a more subdued one, as an emphasis in theme park attractions absolutely can work. The first third of the greatest theme park ride ever built, Disneyland's Pirates, is all about establishing a mournful, foreboding tone - a "slow-burn" leading into the chaos of the second third. In fact, many of Disney's best rides focus much more on modulating tone then they do on narrative. Even at this year's HHN, the best house, hands down, was one that emphasized tone above all else. So while I don't expect it, some portion of the ride spent building a more traditional tone before exploding into action would not be unprecedented or undesirable.

Finally, SOMETHING about the classic movies really sells to modern audiences, because Universal is increasingly making them central to its identity, sells piles of merchandise based off the original 30s and 40s versions, and is dedicating a fourth of the new park to them. This isn't Francis the Talking Mule or Ma and Pa Kettle - this is the very rare Universal property that has continued to appeal to audiences for close to a century. Some combination of elements within the IPs keeps them relevant to a significant population. Maintaining those elements while expanding the appeal to a general audience is Uni's challenge.

 

[DodgsonHere]

I think the fans just have a different expectation from what they want from the Monsters versus what Universal wants to present to the general public—which is something more kinetic than stolid. Nothing about the classic movies really sells to modern audiences. We see it in the HHN houses (high-energy, rapid movement). We see it in the ride system (Kuka-Coaster). They are taking century-old slow-burns and amping them up for modern audiences. Canon be damned.

Fine by me. I would love an attraction with a creepy slow burn queue, preshow, and ride beginning, with a sudden explosion of energy. I feel like that would satisfy fans and public.