Epic Universe Expansion Speculation

[PerceptiveCoot]

Part of Celestial Park's appeal is it's serene atmosphere. Adding more flat rides would be a total vibe shift. Plus, the last thing the park needs is more low capacity outdoors attractions. Like...

I think they could preserve that so long as they created little alcoves for the rides, maybe around some trees that, oh wait.

 

[Tacky3663]

I’m wondering if another major thrill coaster (on the line of Stardust Racers) or two could be in the future plans for Epic Universe….

 

[mainejeff]

I feel like Epic needs an indoor coaster and an indoor boat ride.

 

[Tacky3663]

I feel like Epic needs an indoor coaster and an indoor boat ride.

They could probably be getting both relatively soon

Harry Potter & Creatures

 

[simon]

I feel like Epic needs an indoor coaster and an indoor boat ride.

Both will most likely happen before 2030.

 

[kingcooger]

Frankly, I'm not actually sure where a flat ride could even fit within Celestial Park. It's weirdly built to feel both empty and pushed to its' bounds. The only empty plots in it to my knowledge are either too tiny even for a Storm Force, or have been earmarked for other ideas like the Potter gift shop.

Maybe the only proper chance for actual Celestial Park flat rides will come with the inevitable pathway between Potter and Stardust towards the additional Portal lands. Should they choose to push those Portals back behind Stardust and Broom Coaster a bit, then there is a decent amount of space around there to work with.

@tommyhawkins has addressed these concerns on his sub stack. Read down to the Celestial Park: The Biggest Land with the least amount of growth space:

Celestial Park Flats

 

[AustinT]

Can we fit bumper cars or a Himalaya or something in the Mexican/Italian restaurant?

I don't know how they can even fix Celestial Park. It's this massive, open land, yet so boxed in by the little space they did give themselves for any additions. It feels so empty in many spots, but there's not much viable space to add anything substantial. The only real options are low capacity, low cost flat rides that cheapen the land and make it feel more like a traveling carnival IMO. That empty restaurant space isn't large enough or set up well for a queue plus indoor ride. The only real space they had for a tiny little dark ride is now being used by a flex space building 99% of guests will never see the inside of.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

I don't know how they can even fix Celestial Park. It's this massive, open land, yet so boxed in by the little space they did give themselves for any additions. It feels so empty in many spots, but there's not much viable space to add anything substantial. The only real options are low capacity, low cost flat rides that cheapen the land and make it feel more like a traveling carnival IMO. That empty restaurant space isn't large enough or set up well for a queue plus indoor ride. The only real space they had for a tiny little dark ride is now being used by a flex space building 99% of guests will never see the inside of.

Honestly, I really like Celestial Park! It's like if someone built a Vegas resort themed to Luna Park, which is very much my vibe.

I think even just 1 more small attraction would solidify its position as one of the best entrance lands in the world. Even if it wasn't a ride, the empty restaurant shell could hold some small diversion like a shooting gallery or a collection of carnival games. That might sound chintzy, but I think it could be nice if done with the same level of thematic care as Pizza Moon. A stylized children's play area like the Alice one going into DHS could be cool too.

They could also carve out space from one of the expansion plots that are being held for new worlds. I'd love to see another coaster on the level of Stardust Racers go into the land at someday after they get more indoor attractions online, but I'm probably in the minority on that.

 

[AustinT]

I think even just 1 more small attraction would solidify its position as one of the best entrance lands in the world. Even if it wasn't a ride, the empty restaurant shell could hold some small diversion like a shooting gallery or a collection of carnival games. That might sound chintzy, but I think it could be nice if done with the same level of thematic care as Pizza Moon. A stylized children's play area like the Alice one going into DHS could be cool too.

I may be in the minority because I really strongly dislike Celestial Park. I think it's just a massive missed opportunity with minimal theming, no clear identity, and yet it spans from the front all the way to the back of the park. I don't think it can be considered an 'entrance land' since it's occupies all of the space in Epic that's outside of the four other worlds. Port of Entry is a well themed entrance land with a clear identity throughout every aspect of it's design.

Perhaps a slightly themed indoor play area like the one going to DHS would be a nice addition and another way to escape the sun. The obvious theme would be Captain Cacao but again that darn flex space took up what would have been the logical spot for more Captain Cacao stuff

They could also carve out space from one of the expansion plots that are being held for new worlds. I'd love to see another coaster

This park definitely doesn't need more coasters especially if the next two additions to Dark Universe and Potter are also coasters. The shapes and locations of these expansion plots are so awkward that any substantial CP addition would make the entrances to new worlds even further removed or hidden from the center of the park.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

I may be in the minority because I really strongly dislike Celestial Park. I think it's just a massive missed opportunity with minimal theming, no clear identity, and yet it spans from the front all the way to the back of the park. I don't think it can be considered an 'entrance land' since it's occupies all of the space in Epic that's outside of the four other worlds. Port of Entry is a well themed entrance land with a clear identity throughout every aspect of it's design.

I understand the critique, but I like that they tried something a little different, something in between a modern entrance land and a traditional amusement park Midway.

This park definitely doesn't need more coasters especially if the next two additions to Dark Universe and Potter are also coasters. The shapes and locations of these expansion plots are so awkward that any substantial CP addition would make the entrances to new worlds even further removed or hidden from the center of the park.

I know it would make the park unbalanced, but Universal's in a very special era with their coasters in the past ten years (I haven't ridden Flying Dinosaur, but given what the thoosies say, I think it's fair to start the timeline there). In another decade, UOR could be the premier coaster destination in the country.

I get why folks don't want that, but I just noticed that @Tacky3663 suggested this same thing above, so there are at least two of us! And at a certain point I do wonder-- are coasters Universal's core competency? What other type of ride have they delivered with such consistent quality?

 

[AustinT]

I get they tried something different and unique from the other areas, but it doesn't work or feel like a fleshed out, themed land at all. That ugly concrete curb at the edge of the water throughout is hideous and breaks that immersion of being in a natural park. Then aside from the restaurant buildings that are mostly nice looking enough (not counting Meteor), the structures are just so plain with so much bare concrete, in addition to the super wide open concrete walkways. From the entrance to Atlantic is mostly fine aside from that ugly water's edge, but everything from that point to the back of the park is rough looking. Much more 'man-made concrete environment with better landscaping' than 'themed park where citizens called Celestians live and travel through'.

The park absolutely doesn't need more coasters though. It'll have 7 after the two new additions in Dark Universe and Potter.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

I get they tried something different and unique from the other areas, but it doesn't work or feel like a fleshed out, themed land at all. That ugly concrete curb at the edge of the water throughout is hideous and breaks that immersion of being in a natural park. Then aside from the restaurant buildings that are mostly nice looking enough (not counting Meteor), the structures are just so plain with so much bare concrete, in addition to the super wide open concrete walkways. From the entrance to Atlantic is mostly fine aside from that ugly water's edge, but everything from that point to the back of the park is rough looking. Much more 'man-made concrete environment with better landscaping' than 'themed park where citizens called Celestians live and travel through'.

The park absolutely doesn't need more coasters though. It'll have 7 after the two new additions in Dark Universe and Potter.

I'll agree with you on this: while I appreciate Celestial Park as a man-made environment, the whole Celestian thing does not play for me at all.

As for the coaster count-- Cedar Point has 18! There's as many ways to make a coaster as their are stars in the celestial sky! I'll stop being annoying about this now...