Epic Universe: A Disney Fan’s Honest Reaction
Epic Universe is finally here—Universal’s massive, $7 billion theme park expansion. It’s all part of a strategy to take Disney World’s crown. But did they actually deliver?
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This is a huge deal – the first new theme park in the United States in 25 years. So I have an Epic-sized episode for you. I spent a full day exploring Universal Orlando’s brand-new expansion from the perspective of a lifelong Disney fan.
In this video, I break down the good, the bad, and everything surprising about Epic Universe, sharing my honest reactions to the rides, food, and immersive lands.
Did Universal succeed at targeting Disney’s audience, or is Epic Universe just overhyped? Here’s what every Disney fan needs to know before their next trip to Orlando.
Have you been to Epic Universe? Let me know what you think in the comments
🔎 Time Stamps:
0:00 – Epic Universe: Should Disney be worried?
0:50 – Why Epic Universe is a huge deal
1:59 – Universal’s Strategy to Dethrone Disney
2:36 – What to expect from this episode
3:15 – Chapter 1: The Basics of Epic Universe
14:23 – Chapter 2: My Epic Universe Experience
15:37 – Celestial Park Impressions
16:37 – Epic Universe’s Big Rain Problem
17:36 – Dark Universe and Monsters Unchained
19:23 – Problems Arise in Berk
20:00 – Lunch at Pizza Moon
22:13 – The best Tiki Drink at Epic Universe?
22:39 – More Attractions in Isle of Berk and Dark Universe
23:21 – Celestiki Bar Impressions
24:08 – Finally Dry in Super Nintendo World
26:33 – Hiccups Winged Gliders: Best Family Coaster in Orlando?
27:07 – Riding Stardust Racers as a Coaster Wimp
29:17 – Dinner at Atlantic: Worth the Splurge?
31:50 – Ministry of Magic
33:12 – Epic Universe at Night
34:24 – Chapter 3: What I Love About Epic Universe
37:03 – Chapter 4: 7 Epic Problems
41:43 – Chapter 5: Should Disney Be Worried?
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30 Comments
I am so done with paying more for less and less quality. Disney has disrespected the fans which made them so profitable. We now have an alternative in Epic Universe and I can not wait to stick to Iger.
Universal isn't ever going to overtake disney with epic. But it will offer more options and competition for theme park goers. And competition is good for business and will force disney to do better.
Disney have been middling to mediocre for years, Galaxy's Edge is laughably bad and points to the fact their creativity died with Pandora.
I've watched A LOT about Epic, and while it seems like a great addition to Universal, some of the areas and rides looked to be of incredible theming and quality, and others seemed to have run out of cash. Hopefully in the coming years that will change with updates or expansions, but honestly, we were at Studios 2 years ago and that's where any real money needs to go as that park is ROUGH.
I think all of the people who design these parks need to live in Orlando during the summer as they design them. Make them sit out in the Florida summer weather – scorching sun and tropical storms – all within an hour of each other. Maybe then they would design an appropriate theme park. The rides look great – but this was not designed for Florida.
5 hour wait times not looking promising. As a local we’ll find a good time to go. But imagine vacations from aboard and you have 2 days
You hit the nail on the head with the fact that Disney is much more littles friendly. When my kids were younger, it was the place to be. They could pretty much ride everything and then what they couldn't ride we'd do the child swap. Now that our youngest is 9, and oldest 18, Universal makes a lot more sense, as Disney's 'thrill' rides are few and far between, and also many are dated. Disney's problem is that they seem content to swap out nostalgia for soulless IP: namely what they did with Splash Mountain, Maelstrom, Great Movie Ride, and will be doing with Rivers of America/Tom Sawyer island, Muppets, and Dinosaur. Then they dumped a bunch into Star Wars and Avatar, with varying results – including closing a resort shortly after it opened. In the meantime, the parks outside of Magic Kingdom have been largely vacant and/or under construction, but with little of substance to show for it. So, essentially, they are punishing those that had nostalgia for those classic rides and disappointing those that love the IP, but are underwhelmed by the new experiences. Also, their theme parks like Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom are seemingly losing sight of the themes they are supposed to have. Avatar looked forest-y, so they put it in…Animal Kingdom? Epcot's educational and World theme matches up perfectly with…..Guardians of the Galaxy? Universal, on the other hand, has had a much higher success rate in implementing attractions for their IPs, and Epic Universe is how you can build a park with many, separate, themes.
Disney had the opportunity to kind of pump the brakes and look at expansion vs. demolition, but it looks like they are more interested in pumping out more and more IP. Cars, Monsters Inc, etc. It's a lack of imagination, IMHO, from the company that once lived by it.
Another thing I've liked about Epic (from what I've seen on Youtube): more interaction with people in character to add to the theming. I think Disney's decision to cut out a lot of that at their parks has ruined the magic and the experience. Parks need to double down on that kind of thing to differentiate themselves from the rest. I can't imagine hiring performers can be that much of a tax on their bottom lines, but it always seems like one of the first things to go.
Pizza Moon is more "Georges Méliès made a pizza shop".
I love how thrill ride lovers say this will take everyone away from Disney… Not everyone likes thrill rides. It’s not even just about tiny kids, or elderly people… Some people have bad backs or other health concerns, some people like me, are chickens whose thrill tolerance tops out at the little drop on Pirates of the Caribbean. I went to see the other 2 Universal Parks once because I love Harry Potter, and wanted to see that IP brought to life, (couldn’t ride any of those rides though)… and I’m sure I’ll cough up the $$ to go to Epic one time for the same reason. But there are plenty of people who will be staying loyal to WDW, believe me, because it’s SO accessible to all levels of park-goers.
Hyperhyped from the beginning…..and opened already outdated…time will say
Lmao Universal is and will never be a competitor to Disney. Their rabid fanbase need to cope and seethe at the EPIC FAIL of Epic Universe. Disney parks rule baby 🤟🤟🤟
Full disclosure – I have not been to Epic. But from your video and others, I have questions about the sightlines. Yes, I know people have been beating the issue to death online. But in all honesty, one of the things that's so great about the existing Harry Potter areas is the immersion. The feeling of being "somewhere else" because all you see and hear is the land you're in. But it sure seems like much of Epic has views of the same hotel. What's the point of even having lands, if you can look up and see that hotel or a rollercoaster from another land? Disney largely has done a good job of hiding that their parks are built in a very flat place. Epic appears to have ignored the issue of sightlines altogether.
Disney World continues to increase prices, remove perks, has long wait times, overall quality reduction and overcrowding. As other Disney ventures fail like streaming and movie flops Disney looks more to the parks for revenue. Prices will increase. Disney is trying to catch up with the Cars attraction at the Magic Kingdom, Monsters at Hollywood Studios and South America’s Animal Kingdom. Despite protestations that these will be unique Disneyland will still have a better Cars Land and Indiana Jones ride. Disneyland relies on locals and AP’s while Disney World brings tourists from around the world. Disneyland gets better things because of who they cater to Magic Kingdom often does not. Look at character interactions at Disneyland. The blow Disney World out of the water. A lot of people are not happy with many of the business decisions Disney is making. Disney has lost a lot of Imagineers to Universal and Abi Dhabi will take more of them away from working on domestic parks. Universal will never take the center stage as the most visited theme park or the primary Orlando destination but Epic Universal will definitely take a bite out of attendance. As for me if I want to visit a Disney park again I’ll go the California or Tokyo. I’m over Disney World.
If universal wants to have a chance to beat Disney, they need 3 things: 1) a lot more rides without height requirements 2) a lot more indoor rides 3) amazing fireworks and parades
Epic Universe is going to be like every other park with only 11 rides – people will see the nearby park with 20 and probably see it as a better value
Honestly Disney is still far superior…..but won't last long and not because of Universal but Disney themselves. Destroying rivers of America for a cars ride is beyond stupid. no matter how cool the ride looks ( which I think looks incredible ) could have been build in Hollywood studios why destroy classics.
I liked Epic but I agree that it’s not a Disney killer. That being said, Disney has the WORST timing ever. What are they thinking shutting down about a third of Magic Kingdom and a large amount of HS just after their competition opens a new park?! I get that Disney is responding but what they are responding with and the timing of it is absolutely horrible and could end up causing more damage to them than Epic ever could on its own.
It's more of an Epcot competitor than the whole entire Disney
Epic will not do 10 million annual attendance this decade. It doesn’t have the ride capacity.
To do 10 million you have to avg 27k visitors day. When attendance hits 15k the avg wait time in the park is an hour +. The popular rides avg is 90+.
So they have 2 parks that can handle that volume of people and a 3rd that is the draw but can’t. If you thought Disney’s reservation system was complicated, buckle up.
Disney hasn’t built a park like epic because while it’s beautiful it falls short in function. The number one challenge with operating a theme park is crowd control. Epic’s crowd control is an epic failure and will take a decade to sort out. Meanwhile Disney is expanding its parks with 4 new lands.
Thank you!!!!!!!🐆🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐩🐩🐩🐩🐩🐖🐴😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😂😂😂😃😃😄😄😗😗😗
Disney completely lost us. We were a DVC family for years — poured thousands into what we thought was going to be a lifetime of magic for our kids. But the magic is gone. Prices skyrocketed, experiences got watered down, and the cast members? Most of them look burnt out, overworked, and stripped of the joy that used to define a Disney trip. It feels cold now… corporate… empty.
We’re a family of four with two kids under 10, and after one trip to Universal, we were floored. It was like waking up. The energy, the staff, the RIDES — everything felt alive. VelociCoaster had my heart racing, Hagrid’s blew our minds, and even the little things — like mobile ordering that actually works or team members who seem genuinely happy — made a huge difference.
We sold our DVC. We’re done. Universal gave us back that spark we thought was gone forever. We’re proud to call ourselves a Universal family now.
The major threat to Disney is…Disney.
Disney has way bigger problems than a new little theme park down the road…. Disney’s problem is Disney.
Stella and Tera are actually in the moderate category
I live in Cali and I’m just happy they have almost no 3d rides
A few points you made that were clear and concise compared to other vlogers : Disney can worry about how easy it is to experience Epic, no reservations and easy express pass, two although nothing can replace Disney classic tales this time Epic may have found a comparison that families may convert to , How to Train Your Dragon, and Nintendo, not to mention Harry Potter and classic monsters. It is truly easier to attend and now has the element of passing down a parent memory to their child. Yes , it doesn’t have what Disney has for the “littles” but it has definitely progressed . The stage shows are not to be forgotten and now competes with that Disney Magic. Any families that have been frustrated with all of Disney’s cuts in the extra magic and price increases for less magic will find this park refreshing with none to little offense . You have done a great job addressing “should Disney be worried ?” Thanks for your time and interspersed comparisons and views . Very well balanced. Thank you
16:55-Dragon rally racers 😂😂
went to disney last year but for the price of disney and universal we are travelling abroad instead of spending money at the parks
If Universal loads Epic Universe up with a bunch of rides for all sizes and ages and at the same level of detail as the rest of the park, it could really put a dent into WDW….bit I also have a 2 year old and felt there really isn’t much for the little ones or older people or people with medical conditions. Personally, my top 3 parks in Orlando are: Magic Kingdom, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe.
The secondary Disney parks really need to up their ride counts and quality.