Universal Orlando Resort (USF, IOA, Epic) Discussion Thread

[teacherkim]

On 6/21/2024 at 8:39 AM, thepoint4life23 said:

Budgeting for the land is less my concern as people not understand what the ride is and little kids getting scared and cry and they yell at universal and they tame it down. 

Oh man I hope that doesn't happen but I get your point. Hopefully, Universal will have clear signage and warnings that it is scary and combined with the fact that Universal tends to be somewhat less little kid oriented than the mouse down the street, that prevents the issue. Fingers crossed.

[Nrthwnd]

^ ...Yeah, and still there will be idiot parents ignoring all the warnings about the ride, and take Junior on it.

And remember: one complaint is worth a thousand compliments, right? One complaint always seems to negate positive comments, I've seen.

I hope Universal sticks to their (pardon) guns, and take no shit from such parents.

[KBrylczyk]

I guess we can just hope there's some extreme motion in the ride that forces a 60" height requirement.  Problem solved.

[teacherkim]

18 hours ago, KBrylczyk said:

I guess we can just hope there's some extreme motion in the ride that forces a 60" height requirement.  Problem solved.

Whoa there. Let's not get crazy, I'm 56 years old but only about 60" and a half (maybe 61" with my shoes on) I don't want to cut it too close  

[thepoint4life23]

I look at this as Forbidden Journey meets Alien Encounter but you know made with modern day Tech. We all Know how Alien Encounter ended granted this was ahead of its time and not sure why Disney do this in the first place lol. 

[Nrthwnd]

And now, after that great video on Dark Universe ......  IMhO, Universal has beaten Disney, for the All-Villains Park/Land/etc. concept. So will Disney (finally) ante up and put their own Villains Land together (question mark HERE; Im having one of those days, here)

 

[CaptainUnknown]

^Depending on what rumor you believe, that's part of the next major expansion for Magic Kingdom. I'm just worried they wouldn't really commit to it. Just imagine an entire dark ride themed around Night on Bald Mountain. Hell, there was zero mention of Dr. Facilier in Tiana's Bayou Adventure. But at the same time, how awesome would a new-gen  Vekoma flyer would be themed around Maleficent?

 

Back on topic, very excited for Dark Universe. Probably the land I'm most excited for at the park. At the moment, I'm aiming to visit in 2027--gives them time to work out some kinks and a bit of the newness/#FIRST to wear off.

[A.J.]

Universal has released new details on the third Harry Potter land at the Universal Orlando resort - the Ministry of Magic, at Epic Universe!

https://media.universalparksusa.com/press-releases/universal-orlando-resort-unveils-new-details-about-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-ministry-of-magic/

In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will debut its third captivating installment of its wildly popular Harry Potter-themed lands with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic – one of five worlds coming to Universal Epic Universe in 2025. Set in wizarding Paris from Warner Bros. Pictures Fantastic Beasts films and the British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter film series, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic features an awe-inspiring collection of experiences that includes fantastical dining, whimsical retail, spellbinding entertainment and the most ambitious, groundbreaking ride Universal has ever created.

Developed by the award-winning Universal Creative team and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic builds upon the global phenomenon that began in 2010 with the debut of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure and continued with the 2014 launch of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Next year, the bar for theme park entertainment will be raised once again with the addition of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic – creating an exciting trilogy of wizarding adventures across Universal Orlando.

MAGICAL CREATURES AND THE MINISTRY AWAIT…

Beyond the world’s ornate portal, guests will first journey from a Muggle park in Paris into the breathtaking spectacle of 1920’s Place Cachée – a hidden, bustling shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance. Here, wizards and non-magiques alike will be enamored with the majestic grandeur and enchanting ambiance of the city as they cast dazzling spells throughout the magical streets using interactive wands, encounter fantastic beasts at a traveling circus, and – for the first time ever within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – travel across countries and time to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo for a thrilling adventure set inside the iconic British Ministry of Magic.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will feature the unmatched levels of immersion and attention to detail fans have come to expect from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Below is a look at the exciting new wonders waiting to be discovered in this spectacular new world:

•  Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry – With its unique combination of massive environments, powerful storytelling and first-of-its-kind ride technology, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry builds upon the historic theme park innovation Universal is known for – and will be one of its most impressive attractions to date. The adventure begins when guests travel by Métro-Floo – a unique mode of wizarding transit inspired by the iconic Floo Network seen in the films – to journey from wizarding Paris to the British Ministry of Magic for the long-awaited trial of the infamous Dolores Umbridge. Upon arrival, guests will enter the Ministry’s jaw-dropping grand atrium and venture through other departments before boarding magical, omnidirectional lifts to watch the trial take place…until Umbridge attempts to escape. Guests then join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and a house-elf named Higgledy in a thrilling chase that will propel them up, down, forward, backward, sideways and more throughout the Ministry as they try to capture Umbridge – all while dodging attacks from Death Eaters, rampaging creatures and more along the way.

•  Le Cirque Arcanus – For the first time ever in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, guests will enjoy a live, full-scale theatre experience in the heart of the land with Le Cirque Arcanus. This spectacular show features live performers and aerialists, amazing puppetry, brilliant special effects and more to take guests on a whirlwind journey where they’ll encounter fantastic beasts like never before. The show follows Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase – where Demiguise, Diricawl, Mooncalves and more reside – to try and bring the failing Le Cirque Arcanus back to its former glory. It’s then up to circus employee Gwenlyn to rescue these creatures before they end up in Skender’s greedy hands forever.

•  Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique – Guests can shop some of the world’s finest wands designed by esteemed artisan wandmaker, Cosme Acajor, in the premier Parisian wand shop, Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique. In addition to popular imports from Ollivanders, visitors will find a selection of exquisite wands packaged in unique three-sided boxes – each containing a list of locations throughout the wizarding world where guests can practice casting spells.

•  Inspiring Wand Magic – As guests explore the streets of wizarding Paris, they can use their interactive wands to create magical experiences as they cast spells at various locations, interact with fantastic beasts such as Nifflers, Bowtruckles and a Demiguise, and engage with enchanted objects in many of the storefront windows plus other areas throughout the marvelous Place Cachée.

•  Captivating Entertainment – While exploring the streets of Place Cachée, guests will also encounter other visitors, officials and residents from the wizarding world, including exchange students from the Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry, an Auror from the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France who roams inquiring of suspicious characters, talking portraits of delightful wizards who engage with locals about the happenings in Place Cachée, and more.

Guests can also enjoy delicious international fare and shop for souvenirs and merchandise during their visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at highly-themed dining and retail locations, including:

•  Café L’Air De La Sirène – A wonder of French architecture adorned with fabulous carved marble and details of fantastic beasts hidden in the tile and mosaic designs, Café L’air De La Sirène is a charming café where guests can delight in French sandwiches, plats du jour and desserts.

•  Le Gobelet Noir – In the shadowy corners of Place Cachée is a mysterious timeworn auberge, where international Dark witches and wizards gather to escape the prying eyes of the Paris Ministry and have a hearty meal over hushed conversation. Menu offerings include starters such as soups and salads as well as a variety of entrées and desserts.

•  Bar Moonshine – American witches and wizards can enjoy a taste of home at Bar Moonshine, where they’ll find exclusive beers, wines and cocktails served amid U.S. Quidditch team pennants and other items of wizarding Americana.

•  Bièraubeurre Cart – No visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is complete without Butterbeer! Guests can stop by the Bièraubeurre cart during their visit to Place Cachée for a frosty, delicious mug of the fan-favorite beverage.

•  Guests can also shop for wizarding gear and memorabilia in Les Galeries Mirifiques, satisfy their sweet tooth at the French confectionary shop, K. Rammelle, or make a stop for Ministry of Magic-inspired items at the Métro-Floo gift shop, Tour En Floo.

[KBrylczyk]

Yet another "Hey, can I copy your homework?  I'll change it up a little so they don't know!" approach for a Harry Potter land; a large gift shop with food and one ride.  At least this time there's a legit show to see, I guess.

Can anyone explain why they're still going full-bore into Potter?  I enjoyed the HP books and movies but Fantastic Beasts has been, largely, a failure of the brand, not to mention JK Rowling's ongoing public image issues.  It seems a bit strange to me that they're so fixated on this one IP when they have such a diverse portfolio to pull from for the parks.  Do we really need a Potter variant in every park?  I'm sure the ride will be fun but good gracious, variety is the spice of life.

[Zand]

I mean, ~20% of the people in the parks are dressed in robes any given day. The wand shops and other HP merchandise stores print money. They are by far the most crowded areas of both their parks on any given day. Why wouldn't they incorporate it into the new park? Using Fantastic Beasts might be a bit of a gamble, but it's kind of moot when many people (myself included) are interested to see how insane the Ministry looks.

Let's be honest, without Harry Potter Universal would not be directly competing with Disney as they are about to be with the new park.

[teacherkim]

 

On 8/1/2024 at 12:09 PM, KBrylczyk said:

Yet another "Hey, can I copy your homework?  I'll change it up a little so they don't know!" approach for a Harry Potter land; a large gift shop with food and one ride.  At least this time there's a legit show to see, I guess.

Can anyone explain why they're still going full-bore into Potter?  I enjoyed the HP books and movies but Fantastic Beasts has been, largely, a failure of the brand, not to mention JK Rowling's ongoing public image issues.  It seems a bit strange to me that they're so fixated on this one IP when they have such a diverse portfolio to pull from for the parks.  Do we really need a Potter variant in every park?  I'm sure the ride will be fun but good gracious, variety is the spice of life.

As stated those lands are the most popular, by far, of all the areas of both parks and at the risk of stirring up intense debate, which I really don't want to do. Truly. Let's just say that I think most people can (or perhaps choose to is the better word) separate the artist from the art. In other words J.K.'s opinions and however you feel about them and I strongly suggest we not get into that here, just not the right forum, don't change the quality of her work and the world she created before those views were known. Besides, right or wrong, a lot of people just don't care about her personal views. Just being honest. With the new Max reboot series in the works I don't see the popularity dying out. 

[thepoint4life23]

When Universal first put in the Harry potter land the parks were not so great finical spot . Harry Potter land in a way saved Universal and is part of the reason that we get Epic in the first place. 

I agree it looks a lot like the other lands. but the show should be pretty cool.

[Nrthwnd]

12 hours ago, thepoint4life23 said:

When Universal first put in the Harry potter land the parks were not so great finical spot . Harry Potter land in a way saved Universal and is part of the reason that we get Epic in the first place. 

I agree it looks a lot like the other lands. but the show (and ride) should be pretty cool.

[Hilltopper39]

When the new Potterland was jsut rumored I was pretty skeptical about anything related to Fantastic Beasts just because of how poorly received those films seem to be, but this announcement video has me a little bit more optomistic about the land. I'm not a Potter fan at all, I've seen the original movies, never seen Fantastic Beasts, never read the books, not really a fan of the franchise but enjoy the theme park lands. The land looks nice, as long as the ride is good and the show is fun then it should be mostly fine? 

I guess my one criticism is maybe that the two existing Potter lands are a little bit more "iconic" and recognizable from the films? Even if you never seen the movies Diagon Alley is a pretty funky space visually, and Hogsmeads is kind of the same thing with the towering gables and twisted chimneys. The new Paris section in Epic looks nice but also just kind of looks like some normal ass city streets, not as much fun and whimsy to it I suppose, but that's a pretty minimum criticism.

 

One thing  I do find to be interesting with Epic is the shows they're offering. The Potter show, the How to Train Your Dragon show, the roaming live entertainment in Monsters land that ha been advertised, whatever they do with the night time entertainment and the fountain show. I've heard great things about the new Bourne stunt show, but before that I feel like live entertainment maybe has never been Universal's strength? I mean there is an empty theatre in each park as we speak. I guess the new nighttime show at Studios is getting pretty good reviews but that's also after several versions in the past that were not great. So it's interesting that live entertainment seems like it's going to be a fairly significant aspect of the opening day offerings when again their past in that area has maybe not been the best (and when other parks around the world are cutting those offerings like crazy).

[Hilltopper39]

Has anyone been to Horror Nights this year yet? I don't know why but it just feels like there is zero buzz or excitement about the event this year. Outside of like the first night I don't think I've seen anyone talking about it. 

[PKI Jizzman]

1 hour ago, Hilltopper39 said:

Has anyone been to Horror Nights this year yet? I don't know why but it just feels like there is zero buzz or excitement about the event this year. Outside of like the first night I don't think I've seen anyone talking about it. 

Hey I actually remembered my password to log in!

I think there's less 'buzz' because a lot of fans had pre set expectations about Five Nights at Freddy's or bust, Quiet Place confused people, and Insidious is a very hot/cold franchise. 

 

How is it this year? Another great HHN! The tribute store has a post apocalyptical NY vibe and lots of hints about Batricia - maybe she will get her own house next year.

Food and bev - Lots of fun tasty snacks. The Eggs In The Further, Red Door savory hand pie, rocks from hell (cheesy jalapeno dough bites),  and the stay puft smores are all great. Some lines are just too long to tolerate so I haven't eaten there too much. Mixed drinks are prevalent and made to order for the most part. I think Ghoul Juice is still pre mixed. There's a great Oktoberfest on draft. 

Nightmare Fuel is one again an elite show. The Dead Coco Club in city walk has awesome 80s vibes. Go on Fri/Sat to see talent and actors in the crowd!

Sinister and Surreal are interesting characters - The Blumhouse scare zone is pretty weak. I'm shocked there's not a dance stage for Megan. It's mostly all a fun photo op. The medieval zone has the most going on with the stage and many 'vendors'. 

Quiet Place - Absolutely loved it and I'm not a big fan of the movies. The monsters are massive and the sets are elaborate as you'd expect. The use of bodies of water in this one freaks me out. One of the best HHN mazes personally.

Monstrous - I believe a copy of USH's and it's great. Honestly this one was the goriest/creepiest in my opinion, especially when you take the time to read about what the monsters are. 

Insidious - Not a fan of the movies, but lives up to the hype as one of the scariest HHN mazes. It's dark. It's long. You get up close to the demons in tight quarters. Soooo good.

Triplets - Only have had one run through it and thought it was fine. Kinda like the Strangers.

Ghostbusters - Fun, some really cool use of technology, but I only had one run on a preview night when all of the key monsters were missing. Need to go through again to give a proper review.

Major Sweets - Excellent, packed with talent, lots of moving parts in scenes and some interactive buttons you can press. Definitely one of the most fun and goofy while also being pretty gross haha. This one seems to have the most downtime, I believe due to lots of moving pieces in the house. 

Goblins - This is a new tent in the newer cul-de-sac behind MIB next to Bloodlines. This is another fun goofy house and you will see persnickity goblins of all shapes and sizes. I feel like this house really plays with scale up and down. Some really cool set pieces! But not my favorite.

Bloodlines - This one reminds me of Exorcist last year in how it relies on attacking guests with 2 or 3 monsters at a time, so it is often you may miss some key scares. It's a very good house when you get to see everything but you also may get unlucky.

Slaughterhouse - Ridiculously fun and it feels like it goes on forever despite in the smaller tent. There's stripper mummies in this house and we need more stripper mummies in our life LOL

Museum - Nothing too outstanding, but I do think the glowing lava like rock throughout the house is really coool. It's all about the Rotting Stone corrupting every area of a natural museum so you will see historic locations and different monsters correlating with them. 

 

We've got a lot of original houses this year and I feel like express lines haven't been as long as they were last year. Wait times haven't been too crazy but we're just getting to the middle of September. 

Stay and scream is free and the best way to get a big jump on crowds - we did Major Sweets at 5:45pm open, waited 20 minutes for museum, and then hit Goblins/Bloodlines with minimal waits. 

See you in the fog!

[tndank]

They need a new show for HHN. Current show isn't all that great and gets worse each year. 

Houses are ok this year. I thought Ghostbusters could have been much better. Too short and not much going on in it.

Quiet Place house was great and looked beautiful.

Insidious is also good and goes about scares a bit differently than the others. 

Slaughter Cinema was also good. I liked the Candy house, too. 

Scare zones....most are not good. Blum is especially awful. Torture Fair was basically the only good one. 

That's all that stood out to me thus far. 

I'm doing SeaWorld and Busch events this weekend. 

[bert425]

long time no see online, Jizzman! 

[Hilltopper39]

17 hours ago, PKI Jizzman said:

Hey I actually remembered my password to log in!

I think there's less 'buzz' because a lot of fans had pre set expectations about Five Nights at Freddy's or bust, Quiet Place confused people, and Insidious is a very hot/cold franchise. 

 

How is it this year? Another great HHN! The tribute store has a post apocalyptical NY vibe and lots of hints about Batricia - maybe she will get her own house next year.

Good to here from you on here again. I'm hoping to get down there for a night this year sometime and am looking forward to it for sure, the event is always a lot of fun and I have a great time but this year like I said the excitement maybe just doesn't seem the same. You could be right about the IP houses being a bit less exciting this year but I feel like it's maybe more so that the event has just been gong on for so long, and has become kind of predictable in that you know what to expect. I mean the houses are always fantastic looking and fun, but they're pretty similar every year. It's not a bad thing, just that 30+ years later maybe it's a little harder to really get excited for the average fan.

 

I appreciate the reviews, I always enjoy the original houses more than the IP based ones so sounds like a good year for that. I have heard that crowds seems to be a bit down this year. Personally I've been with Express Pass in the past couple of years when it was still so crowded that we were waiting 20-30 minutes with the express pass and I think that kind of turned me off to the event a little bit. It is like $100+ for a ticket on most weekends, a ticket and express is close to $400 for some Saturday's, so now maybe it finally has gotten to a price point where the crowds have stabilized a bit and it's a better overall experience.

[teacherkim]

On 9/12/2024 at 2:58 PM, PKI Jizzman said:

Hey I actually remembered my password to log in!

I think there's less 'buzz' because a lot of fans had pre set expectations about Five Nights at Freddy's or bust, Quiet Place confused people, and Insidious is a very hot/cold franchise. 

 

How is it this year? Another great HHN! The tribute store has a post apocalyptical NY vibe and lots of hints about Batricia - maybe she will get her own house next year.

Food and bev - Lots of fun tasty snacks. The Eggs In The Further, Red Door savory hand pie, rocks from hell (cheesy jalapeno dough bites),  and the stay puft smores are all great. Some lines are just too long to tolerate so I haven't eaten there too much. Mixed drinks are prevalent and made to order for the most part. I think Ghoul Juice is still pre mixed. There's a great Oktoberfest on draft. 

Nightmare Fuel is one again an elite show. The Dead Coco Club in city walk has awesome 80s vibes. Go on Fri/Sat to see talent and actors in the crowd!

Sinister and Surreal are interesting characters - The Blumhouse scare zone is pretty weak. I'm shocked there's not a dance stage for Megan. It's mostly all a fun photo op. The medieval zone has the most going on with the stage and many 'vendors'. 

Quiet Place - Absolutely loved it and I'm not a big fan of the movies. The monsters are massive and the sets are elaborate as you'd expect. The use of bodies of water in this one freaks me out. One of the best HHN mazes personally.

Monstrous - I believe a copy of USH's and it's great. Honestly this one was the goriest/creepiest in my opinion, especially when you take the time to read about what the monsters are. 

Insidious - Not a fan of the movies, but lives up to the hype as one of the scariest HHN mazes. It's dark. It's long. You get up close to the demons in tight quarters. Soooo good.

Triplets - Only have had one run through it and thought it was fine. Kinda like the Strangers.

Ghostbusters - Fun, some really cool use of technology, but I only had one run on a preview night when all of the key monsters were missing. Need to go through again to give a proper review.

Major Sweets - Excellent, packed with talent, lots of moving parts in scenes and some interactive buttons you can press. Definitely one of the most fun and goofy while also being pretty gross haha. This one seems to have the most downtime, I believe due to lots of moving pieces in the house. 

Goblins - This is a new tent in the newer cul-de-sac behind MIB next to Bloodlines. This is another fun goofy house and you will see persnickity goblins of all shapes and sizes. I feel like this house really plays with scale up and down. Some really cool set pieces! But not my favorite.

Bloodlines - This one reminds me of Exorcist last year in how it relies on attacking guests with 2 or 3 monsters at a time, so it is often you may miss some key scares. It's a very good house when you get to see everything but you also may get unlucky.

Slaughterhouse - Ridiculously fun and it feels like it goes on forever despite in the smaller tent. There's stripper mummies in this house and we need more stripper mummies in our life LOL

Museum - Nothing too outstanding, but I do think the glowing lava like rock throughout the house is really coool. It's all about the Rotting Stone corrupting every area of a natural museum so you will see historic locations and different monsters correlating with them. 

 

We've got a lot of original houses this year and I feel like express lines haven't been as long as they were last year. Wait times haven't been too crazy but we're just getting to the middle of September. 

Stay and scream is free and the best way to get a big jump on crowds - we did Major Sweets at 5:45pm open, waited 20 minutes for museum, and then hit Goblins/Bloodlines with minimal waits. 

See you in the fog!

Great to see your post! We did HHN in 2019 and are planning on hitting it next year when we come to get our visit to Epic. Figure late Sept/early Oct will be better crowds, some kinks worked out at the new gate, and we get HHN as a bonus. We're going to force Bert to come with us 

[A.J.]

Universal has announced that Epic Universe will be opening on May 22nd, 2025!

https://media.universalparksusa.com/press-releases/universal-epic-universe-officially-opens-on-may-22-2025/

The countdown to Epic has officially begun! Universal Orlando Resort’s highly anticipated fourth theme park – Universal Epic Universe – will officially open on May 22, 2025, unlocking the portals to five astounding worlds that will bring to life extraordinary adventures that go beyond guests’ wildest imaginations.

Universal Epic Universe is the most ambitious theme park Universal Destinations and Experiences has ever created and will be the next gamechanger for theme park entertainment. With a total of more than 50 incredible experiences that range from groundbreaking attractions to breathtaking entertainment to incredibly themed dining and shopping and so much more, Epic Universe will present a level of theme park immersion and innovation that is unmatched across five themed worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe. And anchoring the park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel – a majestic 500-room property that will offer one-of-a-kind views of the park and feature its very own dedicated entrance into Epic Universe for hotel guests (valid theme park admission required).

The opening of Epic Universe will transform Universal Orlando Resort into a weeklong vacation destination comprised of four theme parks that are home to the most innovative theme park experiences ever created, 11 spectacular hotels that are destinations unto themselves, and more – forever changing the landscape of the award-winning destination.

“This is such a pivotal moment for our destination, and we’re thrilled to welcome guests to Epic Universe next year,” said Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort. “With the addition of this spectacular new theme park, our guests will embark on an unforgettable vacation experience with a week’s worth of thrills that will be nothing short of epic! Our Universe will never be the same.”  

SELECT MULTI-DAY TICKETS AND PACKAGES GO ON SALE NEXT WEEK, WITH MORE ON THE WAY SOON

Next week, guests can begin planning an epic 2025 vacation to Universal Orlando to experience the entire destination as the first phase of ticket products and packages that include access to Universal Epic Universe will go on sale. Specific products launching in this first phase include:

A variety of multi-day tickets and vacation packages that include three, four or five days of admission to Universal’s theme parks – including one day admission to Epic Universe. These products will go on sale on Tuesday, October 22.

Reservations for Universal Helios Grand Hotel will open on Tuesday, October 22 for stays beginning May 22, 2025.

Annual Passholders have the exclusive opportunity to purchase single-day tickets to Universal Epic Universe before they go on sale to the general public. Passholders can take advantage of this priority opportunity beginning Thursday, October 24.

[Zand]

Some notes from a fun week at Universal!

Sunday night we rushed over from the airport in order to ride Spiderman before it closes for refurb. Love that ride. Luckily we still had time for one more ride before closing and decided it was as good of a time as any to finally get a night ride on Hagrid! A posted 90 minute line ended up being closer to 50 which was nice. This ride is amazing at night. It almost should've been built as an indoor coaster because I feel like the darkness really accentuates a lot of aspects of the theming.

Monday was a pretty typical IOA day for me. It's probably my favorite park I've ever been to and other than Velocicoaster, my other favorite activity is watching people get destroyed by that high pressure waterfall on Popeyes right by the footbridge down to the lagoon. I could stand there for hours. 

Tuesday at Studios I don't have much to report other than I had a really weird ride on ET. The cars started stacking right at the "Welcome Home You Have Arrived" dude. And the rest of the way the cars would pull forward like 30 feet at a time and then come to a jarring stop. Very strange.

Thursday night we had a fun night with @coasterbill at HHN (preceded by a great Velocicoaster night ride). This was the first time I've ever done Halloween mazes outside of SFNE or Lake Compounce, and what a difference. The level of detail put into the sets was just incredible. The thing I didn't like is that they just conga-line everyone through each maze. I can see why, as the lines are insane and I can't imagine how long they would be if everyone went through in small groups. In 5 hours we were able to do 3 houses plus Gringotts, Mummy, and Rockit from the singles lines. Very busy, but overall a really fun event. 

Also on Thursday I snagged tickets for Epic Universe on my birthday (which will be the 2nd week the park is open). Really excited to see it for the first time.

[Nrthwnd]

A new video that Universal has released, shows a few of the the AA figures for the "Monsters Unchained" attraction.

But I noticed at :35 of the video, the Wolfman is in a crouched position, looking down and taking a swipe at ....?

It made me think that this AA is for the "Curse of The Werewolf" spinning coaster, in that barn where the back-and-forth goes through it twice. I forget the name of that coaster element. Sorry. But in the barn, it would be at the end of it, where the train is shot back through it and up into that banked curve,

IMhO.

[BobloLives]

Those animatronics look pretty amazing! Didn't it look like Frankenstein's Monster was "walking" at one point? Also, and I may be completely wrong, it seems like the Monsters land is really focused around the castle as the "HQ" for the baddies. Dracula seems to have his own restaurant, the Stakehouse, run by vampires (familiars?) Maybe something similar with Curse of the Werewolf -- it's related to the Unchained storyline perhaps?

Anyway, this is by far the portal I want to explore the most.