Let's play being head of Universal Creative...

[OrlLover]

If I was Universal I would…

• Start a huge renovation project across USF and IOA DLP style.
• Close every ride and give them a huge refurbishment in phases.
• Others that are closing like Rip Ride Rocket I would leave alone and the Simpsons I would fix broken effects for the time being.
• Revamp all the menus at every restaurant with poor reviews.
• Plus up existing theming throughout various areas that I can.
• Rebuild the iconic arch at USF and it has a different color when finished.

Now for new things…

• Replace the Simpsons with Pokemon. I mean demolish every thing and start from scratch to get as much as possible.
• Demolish one of the empty stages and build Sing Live.
• Replace Rip Ride Rocket with a Ghostbusters walkthrough attraction. Yes I know it’s gonna be an another coaster but a man can dream.
• Add a dark ride to Dreamworks Land.
• Build Wicked in the previous Lost Continent area. Zelda should go to Epic in my opinion.
• Im mixed on this but I think a slight retheme of Toon Lagoon to SpongeBob would be cool.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I know the park hasn't officially opened just yet, but it's fun to speculate on the future. Let me be clear, Epic Universe is a solid theme park. With that said, it's not perfect and there's a few things that need to be prioritized. (Number/Ideas on the map/image below are not in order). Obviously, USF improvement should be prioritized.

Significant Priority:

• Additional Dark Universe Capacity - the land unfortunately does not have enough attractions or experiences compared to the other ones. I'd quickly fill in the area between Werewolf and the existing Darkmoor village with some sort of interactive experience. Whether a catacomb walkthrough or special effects driven area.
• Shade Structure at Celestial Park - labeled 3 below, there's an entertainment stage that unfortunately requires guests to be out at the sun to enjoy. I'd add a a structure here similar to Constellation Carousel's to provide shelter.

Moderate Priority:

• Additional Family-Friendly experiences - the park is very family-friendly in theme, but it really only has a handful of decent attractions that the entire family can experience together without fear of motion sickness or getting wet (Yoshi Adventure, Mario Kart*, Cirque Arcanus, Constellation Carousel, The Untrainable Dragon). While I'd love for a 2nd Monsters Dark Ride personally, I think either a family-friendly experience should be added to either Potter's expansion pad or HTTYD (ideas below) before a monsters dark ride.
• Waveswinger at Celestial Park - this isn't a significant priority, but there's a perfect plot at #2 that a wave swinger can fit in perfectly. I'd like the idea of it being themed/dedicated to John Williams' classic scores that change each ride cycle.
• Harry Potter store - something fascinating about Epic Universe is that there isn't the traditional assortment of generic Universal merchandise at the gift shops throughout Epic. Likely, this will change over time and you'll see them slowly replace some of the Epic IPs with standard UOR merch, and they'll likely dedicate a larger area to Potter here (or an entirely different store concept).

The proposed timeline below is just Blue Sky & ambitious. I actually don't think they need to add a new portal anytime soon, I'd rather they flesh out each of them first.

 

[DrStarlander]

I know the park hasn't officially opened just yet, but it's fun to speculate on the future. Let me be clear, Epic Universe is a solid theme park. With that said, it's not perfect and there's a few things that need to be prioritized. (Number/Ideas on the map/image below are not in order). Obviously, USF improvement should be prioritized.

Significant Priority:

• Additional Dark Universe Capacity - the land unfortunately does not have enough attractions or experiences compared to the other ones. I'd quickly fill in the area between Werewolf and the existing Darkmoor village with some sort of interactive experience. Whether a catacomb walkthrough or special effects driven area.
• Shade Structure at Celestial Park - labeled 3 below, there's an entertainment stage that unfortunately requires guests to be out at the sun to enjoy. I'd add a a structure here similar to Constellation Carousel's to provide shelter.

Moderate Priority:

• Additional Family-Friendly experiences - the park is very family-friendly in theme, but it really only has a handful of decent attractions that the entire family can experience together without fear of motion sickness or getting wet (Yoshi Adventure, Mario Kart*, Cirque Arcanus, Constellation Carousel, The Untrainable Dragon). While I'd love for a 2nd Monsters Dark Ride personally, I think either a family-friendly experience should be added to either Potter's expansion pad or HTTYD (ideas below) before a monsters dark ride.
• Waveswinger at Celestial Park - this isn't a significant priority, but there's a perfect plot at #2 that a wave swinger can fit in perfectly. I'd like the idea of it being themed/dedicated to John Williams' classic scores that change each ride cycle.
• Harry Potter store - something fascinating about Epic Universe is that there isn't the traditional assortment of generic Universal merchandise at the gift shops throughout Epic. Likely, this will change over time and you'll see them slowly replace some of the Epic IPs with standard UOR merch, and they'll likely dedicate a larger area to Potter here (or an entirely different store concept).

The proposed timeline below is just Blue Sky & ambitious. I actually don't think they need to add a new portal anytime soon, I'd rather they flesh out each of them first.

View attachment 26125

Nice job! As far as another Wizarding World attraction, the flying coach they take from New York in Fantastic Beasts would be a cool inspiration for a scaled-up Peter Pan's Flight style attraction, where you fly from Paris to New York and elsewhere. Since the students from Beauxbatons fly to the Triwizard Tournament in a flying coach, this must be a very French way of magical travel, since it's seen in both movie series, both in the 1920s and 1990s...so a nice way to blur the lines between Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts.

Since they don't need another intense ride, maybe the story is we're joining the students from Beauxbatons on a school trip to New York and a storm creates some low-intensity "peril" by pushing us off-course, causing us to fly over 1920s London along the way.

The exit could drop us out in a new 1920s New York street extension at a NYC Ministry of Magic. (Then, this world would have all three Ministry of Magics seen on film).

Most of all, what I would want is for Universal Creative to resist the temptation to use screens and try to achieve a simulation of reality. Rather, I'd love for the ride to have an old-school charm (like Peter Pan's Flight or it's a small word, etc.) and to have forced perspective models of Paris, New York, etc. that we would fly over...with a whimsical, charming, creative direction. Maybe use blacklights/Wildfire paints for a classic dark ride feel. They could take inspiration from Golden Books and Mary Blair and the original Harry Potter book cover illustrations to create an imaginative, stylistic look.

 

[StarTrekGeek]

2026 or 2027: Replace Rockit with either a Ghostbusters or BTTF themed coaster (instead of F&F). Around this time period, close down Lost Continent to begin work on Hyrule.

2027: Begin construction in Epic Universe for a Wicked land. Open a dark ride in the Dreamworks area.

2028: Open “Legend of Zelda: The Realm of Hyrule” at IOA replacing the Lost Continent. The Sinbad area can become Hyrule Castle Town or Kakariko Village and showcase cultures from the other lands like Gerudo, Rito, Zora, Goron, or even the Sheikah, with small entertaining shows/interactions. There would also be a meet-and-greet with Link and Princess Zelda. Sinbad is replaced with Hyrule Castle where a major attraction will be built involving the Zonai vehicles and riders will have to help Link stop Ganondorf (rough draft). Poseidon’s Fury is replaced by a temple themed attraction, perhaps that old boat ride hybrid concept from a while back. Mythos is remodeled to the Great Deku Tree and the servers are Koroks, with the menu being mostly the same with a Zelda-themed twist. Visitors, or “Hylian tourists,” can buy a fairy ocarina that can allow you to unlock mini shrines and rack up achievements (similar to Power-Up Bands). If you rack up enough achievements, a mini game similar to Bowser Jr Shadow Showdown becomes available to you (haven’t thought of the story yet, but this is a rough draft lol). Additionally, throughout this new land, references to many Zelda games are found.

Also 2028: Close down Springfield once the Simpsons contract expires and begin transforming it into Pokémon.

2029: Open “The World of Wicked,” a new land in Epic Universe using the plot between Stardust and Paris/Ministry. I would have guests enter the Emerald City and this land signature ride is a highly themed Vekoma FLY coaster, similar to Phantasialand’s but with dark ride sections, centered around Defying Gravity. There would be a second attraction to complement Epic Universe’s incredible attraction balance, just not sure if it would be a dark ride or a show. And you would meet various characters from Wicked like Elphaba, Glinda, or even the Wizard himself.

2030: Open “Pokémon City,” replacing Springfield. The Simpsons Ride would be demolished completely while Kang/Kodos would relocate somewhere else like Dreamworks Land or Minion Land. Animal Actors would also be replaced by a Pokémon stage show, perhaps involving a Pokémon lab - it would be similar to Cirque Arcanus with its use of puppets, and its theme would be an introduction to many Pokémon types. Like the other Nintendo lands, guests, or “Pokémon trainers,” would have the option to buy an interactive tool that allows you to catch Pokémon, and if you capture 6, you can enter a gym battle (again, similar to Bowser Jr Shadow Showdown) - and depending on how many gym leaders you faced, the difficulty can increase! The main ride is an E-Ticket dark ride involving a tour of the Pokémon wilderness but all of a sudden Team Rocket comes in capturing Pokémon against their will - and you have to stop them. Think of it like a Pokémon themed Kilimanjaro, but indoors (rough draft, but it can be worked from there). There would also be a large sit down Asian fusion restaurant with a Pokémon-themed twist.

As for smaller enhancements, I would revamp every restaurant with lower reviews, prioritizing higher quality and in some cases thematic food. Think like Circus McGurkis or Mel’s. Additionally, I would add some kind of interactive feature throughout the parks.

 

[DrStarlander]

Following up on some of the ideas included by @UniversalRBLX, plus others, it does look like a Wave Swinger could fit where suggested. The manufacturer calls for a 21 meter diameter area and based on what I can tell from Atlantic (~30m diameter) there is space. It may want to be on an elevated platform with a shady queue underneath.

I also think a 13,000 sq. ft. Fantasyland-style dark ride could fit adjacent to Pizza Moon (for comparison, Peter Pan's Flight at Disneyland is just over 9,000 sq. ft.).


In Dark Universe, a couple of enhancements could include an outdoor stage performance area where some of the backstage parking lot is. While smaller than the show they were exploring, it could be a comparable area to the performance area in Celestial Park, with a Mystics camp feel (shaded with canopies), and be a great place for Dark Universe theatrical storytelling.

A walk-through catacomb experience with jump scares would fit in nicely between Curse of the Werewolf and Darkmoor, and satisfy horror fans that want some "do you dare?" level scares.

I also think a new "final scene" for Curse of the Werewolf, flipped to the other side of the track for more space, and with an elongated entrance to allow low-light-level control, could really boost this attraction's value for a modest investment.


Finally, for Ministry of Magic. Here's a possible layout on an area that includes a flying carriage dark ride (journey from Paris to NYC), with a 1920s wizarding Times Square street/plaza. Forced perspective buildings at the top-rear of the show building would create the illusion of a full NYC skyline. An exit gift shop and NYC diner (burgers, shakes, sundaes) would fill out this world extension. A discreet tunnel passage would lead back into Wizarding Paris.


And for how this Times Square could look, here's some reference images:

 

[HHN Maddux]

Some subtle changes to make Monsters Unchained a much more frightening attraction that pushes the limit more like AE did (spoilers ahead!):

Spoiler

• Just all around make it darker, but thankfully we know this is very likely on the way!
  
  
• Hunchback himself doesn't need to be a full animatronic, but at least have the figure dip down a bit as if he's about to fall out of the bell onto your vehicle.
  
  
• In the short sequence with the HHN statues before Creature, not only have the statues creep forward a bit as if slowly coming to life, but mess around with the audio and sensory more! Brides whispering in your ear and maybe even feel one breathing down your neck.
  
  
• First Wolfman animatronic, make it more obvious he's spitting out blood at you, shadow projection right before of him going to town on the body that's in front of him (which I only just recently noticed in one of the POVs).
  
  
• Let the lunging Wolfy get closer!!!
  
  
• The candles that surround the Mummy coffin, have each row light up one-by-one before the coffin opens. Some rumbling in the seat like the snakes are writhing about on your RV as well.
  
  
• "Do you fear the dark, my friends?", have this scene be almost pitch-black, the only light being the almost hellish sight behind that Dracula animatronic, then things get much brighter when the Monster lights up that first bride, making that moment much more cinematic and hit a lot harder.
  
  
• More bride figures in that final sequence. They don't even have to be actually moving, just more there like the original A-mode dementor sequence to make it feel like you're being closed in on by the entire hoard.
  
  
• For the flying Drac, some wind blowing on you from above for the flapping of the little wings he has.

 

[TheGentTrent]

Some subtle changes to make Monsters Unchained a much more frightening attraction that pushes the limit more like AE did (spoilers ahead!):

Spoiler

• Some rumbling in the seat like the snakes are writhing about on your RV as well.

No. Too scary!

 

[Noah_12]

A new part to a park of a Game Of Thrones theme? As one attraction could be part of Westeros. As Game of Thrones being a world wide favorite series imagine how much this may produce. Including this section of attention can vary to adults liking too people would go crazy for a game of thrones reality especially in a universal park or better fit islands of adventure

 

[Steptwice]

A new part to a park of a Game Of Thrones theme? As one attraction could be part of Westeros. As Game of Thrones being a world wide favorite series imagine how much this may produce. Including this section of attention can vary to adults liking too people would go crazy for a game of thrones reality especially in a universal park or better fit islands of adventure

As much as I love GoT and its in my top 3 shows of all time, I feel it wouldnt translate well into the themepark world. Too vulgar, gory and sexual. Doesnt have much fantasy appeal for a theme park IMO

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I have a very "out there" Blue Sky that got my attention after looking at Horror Unleashed... potentially at CityWalk's upper level?

Just to be clear, this is very blue sky and likely never to happen. I'm only considering this since CityWalk's upper level isn't the most exciting place and doesn't really offer much. So... what if the upper level got taken over by Horror Unleashed?

This will require the closure of Dead Coconut Club, Bob Marley, Fat Tuesday's, Rising Star and Pat O'Brien's and escape rooms (currently a 2.7 rating on Google). Dead Coconut Club will be the new entrance, with access closed off by Antojitos and the waterfall stage. Hot Dog Hall of Flame will close and tie to Antojitos, providing better quality food and somewhat of a unified theme. Current Epic Universe Preview Center converted to a quick service place.

I originally didn't think it could fit here (Unleashed is 110,000 sq. ft.), but it's surprisingly very close at about ~85K sq. ft. (rough estimate including 2nd floor of some venues). The outdoor walkways will be covered/enclosed with themed zones and walkways.

There will be 3 haunted houses (there might be space for a 4th), 3 themed zones, 2 potential entertainment acts, two retail spots, two lounges and two food outlets.


Summarized by zone...

Carver's Farm - themed similarly to Wicked Growth

• H1) Haunted House occupying the Bob Marley space
• L1) Bar themed to
• R1) Retail Space with Unleashed merch & HHN merch

Carnival of Carnage - Jack's home away from Halloween Horror Nights

• S1) Circus tent with performances
• S2) Music performances
• L2) Bar themed to Chance (could be replaced by additional House space)
• F1) Quick Service
• R2) Retail

Warehouse 13 - abandoned warehouse where unknown horrors are stored

• H2) Haunted House occupying the BTTF escape room area (there's additional space behind a wall that could be utilize)
• H3) Haunted House occupying the JP Escape room (and partially the first floor)
• F2) Snack stand themed to whatever IP is at the event

Realistically, will we ever see Universal improve the upper level with improved dining and retail? I can't imagine their happy with it. Rising Star does ok business, but there's so much they can do up here with fresh concepts and experiences.

 

[Jake S]

This will require the closure of Dead Coconut Club

this is where you lost me

 

[UniversalRBLX]

this is where you lost me

It'll remain a public space, but will be rethemed to a more traditional Halloween bar. Acts as a teaser for what lies ahead.

 

[Brian G.]

this is where you lost me

Lost me at closing Bob Marley.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Lost me at closing Bob Marley.

Beat me to it!

The day Marley goes I may genuinely shed a tear

 

[RFRees]

I have a very "out there" Blue Sky that got my attention after looking at Horror Unleashed... potentially at CityWalk's upper level?

Just to be clear, this is very blue sky and likely never to happen. I'm only considering this since CityWalk's upper level isn't the most exciting place and doesn't really offer much. So... what if the upper level got taken over by Horror Unleashed?

This will require the closure of Dead Coconut Club, Bob Marley, Fat Tuesday's, Rising Star and Pat O'Brien's and escape rooms (currently a 2.7 rating on Google). Dead Coconut Club will be the new entrance, with access closed off by Antojitos and the waterfall stage. Hot Dog Hall of Flame will close and tie to Antojitos, providing better quality food and somewhat of a unified theme. Current Epic Universe Preview Center converted to a quick service place.

I originally didn't think it could fit here (Unleashed is 110,000 sq. ft.), but it's surprisingly very close at about ~85K sq. ft. (rough estimate including 2nd floor of some venues). The outdoor walkways will be covered/enclosed with themed zones and walkways.

There will be 3 haunted houses (there might be space for a 4th), 3 themed zones, 2 potential entertainment acts, two retail spots, two lounges and two food outlets.


Summarized by zone...

Carver's Farm - themed similarly to Wicked Growth

• H1) Haunted House occupying the Bob Marley space
• L1) Bar themed to
• R1) Retail Space with Unleashed merch & HHN merch

Carnival of Carnage - Jack's home away from Halloween Horror Nights

• S1) Circus tent with performances
• S2) Music performances
• L2) Bar themed to Chance (could be replaced by additional House space)
• F1) Quick Service
• R2) Retail

Warehouse 13 - abandoned warehouse where unknown horrors are stored

• H2) Haunted House occupying the BTTF escape room area (there's additional space behind a wall that could be utilize)
• H3) Haunted House occupying the JP Escape room (and partially the first floor)
• F2) Snack stand themed to whatever IP is at the event

View attachment 26977


Realistically, will we ever see Universal improve the upper level with improved dining and retail? I can't imagine their happy with it. Rising Star does ok business, but there's so much they can do up here with fresh concepts and experiences.

I like the concept and the detail. The major issue I see is that it would cannibalize their regular HHN attendance.