Universal's Epic Universe General News & Discussion

[HHN Maddux]

Why? More people to test the park with is good!

In that case, raise the capacity for APs! I wouldn't be too upset about this, if it weren't for the fact that it's overlapping with what was previously exclusively AP/hotel-only previews.

 

[Brian G.]

In that case, raise the capacity for APs! I wouldn't be too upset about this, if it weren't for the fact that it's overlapping with what was previously exclusively AP/hotel-only previews.

AP Capacity isn’t selling out, though?

 

[HHN Maddux]

AP Capacity isn’t selling out, though?

Then they could've changed to have AP-exclusive previews to end the 8th like originally planned, then through the 19th could be everyone. I think that would've been a much better move than just having all the AP previews now also be GP.

 

[Tbad556]

S tier park continuing to deploy a D tier rollout.

The general public was always going to get a turn with the preview realistically, AP previews are nowhere near sold out, and they need more bodies for testing, but a little heads up on which dates would be exclusive would’ve been nice. As has been the case with this whole rollout, the communication has been rough/non-existent.

It’s not even just APs getting hit. They played everyone who bought a hotel solely for ticket access for these dates here too. It’s dirty.

 

[Brian G.]

Then they could've changed to have AP-exclusive previews to end the 8th like originally planned, then through the 19th could be everyone. I think that would've been a much better move than just having all the AP previews now also be GP.

But if the demand wasn’t there… why would they accommodate that? I agree ticket roll out has been rough, I just don’t think this is the one of them.

 

[HHN Maddux]

But if the demand wasn’t there… why would they accommodate that? I agree ticket roll out has been rough, I just don’t think this is the one of them.

At the very least then, they really need to communicate better about these rollouts. If they had just said before something along the lines of "at some point previews will become public", then yeah that still wouldn't be great with no specific date, but at least we'd know that it won't all be AP-exclusive.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

At the very least then, they really need to communicate better about these rollouts. If they had just said before something along the lines of "at some point previews will become public", then yeah that still wouldn't be great with no specific date, but at least we'd know that it won't all be AP-exclusive.

I imagine it wasn’t anticipated/part of the plan.

 

[Tbad556]

But if the demand wasn’t there… why would they accommodate that? I agree ticket roll out has been rough, I just don’t think this is the one of them.

My biggest thing is they should’ve been able to determine that demand wasn’t there prior to rolling out the new preview dates. Anyone watching the fanmade ticket availability sites could’ve told them that. Announce it then at the very least.

Continuing to upsell people on hotels and annual passes only to drop the requirement 5 days later is shady.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

AP Capacity isn’t selling out, though?

Lower the price,

 

[HandsomePete]

If they need more people, they should let TMs in for free again.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

In that case, raise the capacity for APs! I wouldn't be too upset about this, if it weren't for the fact that it's overlapping with what was previously exclusively AP/hotel-only previews.

Then they could've changed to have AP-exclusive previews to end the 8th like originally planned, then through the 19th could be everyone. I think that would've been a much better move than just having all the AP previews now also be GP.

Does this actual matter? Honestly when the park is open will any of the preview stuff matter in the end of the da? No. This is why I don’t care and think folks making a big stink aren’t seeing the forest for the trees here. THE PRODUCT ISNT THE PREVIEWS.

 

[Tbad556]

Does this actual matter? Honestly when the park is open will any of the preview stuff matter in the end of the da? No. This is why I don’t care and think folks making a big stink aren’t seeing the forest for the trees here. THE PRODUCT ISNT THE PREVIEWS.

Yes? I mean, I said it in my first post. The product is S tier. The customer service/marketing is bottom of the barrel. A phenomenal product doesn’t make you immune from criticism. Just because the product will be good down the road for future guests, doesn’t excuse the atrocious roll out for current, full price paying guests. Guests paying full price tickets and full price hotels deserve proper communication whether it’s now or ten years from now.

The endless hardcore defense of the resort is dull. I’ll gladly fight in the trenches claiming this is the best park in Orlando, but I’ll also call them out when their guest service is ass.

Guests accepted paying for a hotel or annual pass to get in knowing those were the rules for these dates. They can be mad when they change the rules and let people skip those exuberant charges.

 

[JohnHammondsCane]

Does this actual matter? Honestly when the park is open will any of the preview stuff matter in the end of the da? No. This is why I don’t care and think folks making a big stink aren’t seeing the forest for the trees here. THE PRODUCT ISNT THE PREVIEWS.

When the dates were initially billed as AP Previews, only to open it up to everyone, people are rightfully questioning the rollout method. It all depends if this step coincides with Universal increasing the number of tickets they’ll sell for the remaining days, or if they’re just trying to sell the remaining tickets they’ll already allocated

Clearly, as has been stated ad nauseum on these boards, the low capacity of the previews has made for a great park experience before the crazy crowds on May 22 forward.

 

[Brian G.]

official blurb

Starting today, the general public can purchase tickets to visit Epic Universe and preview the new theme park through May 19.

Epic Universe 1-Day Preview Tickets now available for All Guests

Universal Orlando Resort is now allowing all guests to buy 1-Day preview tickets for Epic Universe prior to the park's official opening. Starting today, the general public can purchase tickets to visit Epic Universe and preview the new theme park through May 19. Tickets start at $144 during th

www.insideuniversal.net

 

[Mad Dog]

Reminds me of the Hollywood Hogsmeade pre opening and then actual opening. Universal kind of botched that too, though on a smaller level (new land as opposed to an entire new park). Universal should have people who are responsible for reviewing the pre hotel/ticket bookings and pre ticket sales to determine an approximate number of guests that will show. This kind of tells me that they may have no idea how many guests are going to show up after the first official opening week.

 

[khelwig88]

For what it's worth, I bought 2 AP preview tickets for Saturday 5/3, which sold out online not long after the tickets went live. When they opened up preview tickets today, 5/3 was showing as available for purchase. They're now unavailable for 5/3 again. I really don't know what that means - if they realized they didn't want to add to the last AP preview weekend, or the newly available tickets sold out that fast. What I do know is I'm bummed, I was hoping for the lower capacity.

 

[Brian G.]

My biggest thing is they should’ve been able to determine that demand wasn’t there prior to rolling out the new preview dates. Anyone watching the fanmade ticket availability sites could’ve told them that. Announce it then at the very least.

Continuing to upsell people on hotels and annual passes only to drop the requirement 5 days later is shady.

I hear ya. IDK what the purpose of last week's extension was if today's news was planned from the beginning, though I still think there would have been angry APs. One thing to keep in mind is that exclusivity was never promised, just first dibs - but I can understand the implication that low crowds come with that.

I have to push back on the "upsell" part. I would argue that people who booked a hotel or bought an AP to be first would have already done so when Preview Tix first dropped. I'm sure there are outliers, but otherwise, I can't imagine this would impact more than a handful of people.

When the dates were initially billed as AP Previews, only to open it up to everyone, people are rightfully questioning the rollout method. It all depends if this step coincides with Universal increasing the number of tickets they’ll sell for the remaining days, or if they’re just trying to sell the remaining tickets they’ll already allocated

Clearly, as has been stated ad nauseum on these boards, the low capacity of the previews has made for a great park experience before the crazy crowds on May 22 forward.

In addition to

 

[JohnHammondsCane]

I hear ya. IDK what the purpose of last week's extension was if today's news was planned from the beginning, though I still think there would have been angry APs. One thing to keep in mind is that exclusivity was never promised, just first dibs - but I can understand the implication that low crowds come with that.

I have to push back on the "upsell" part. I would argue that people who booked a hotel or bought an AP to be first would have already done so when Preview Tix first dropped. I'm sure there are outliers, but otherwise, I can't imagine this would impact more than a handful of people.



In addition to

Man. The Universal Comms team just can't get out of their own way in the ticket rollout of EU. Now, the guessing game of how many more tickets they're selling in addition to the original allotment. SNW capacity was already brutal. I'll be interested to see how the Park Operations do the rest of the week.

Of course, my preview day is 5/4 but trying to get it moved to a weekday as it seems weekdays are a little lighter

 

[Mad Dog]

Well, the ticket rollout communication has been bad since last fall. So, it's kind of par for the course. You'd think with the tremendous amount of money that Universal is spending on marketing to get people to visit Epic, that USO would be more guest friendly formulating and communicating ticketing. Ticketing planning has been tough for locals and AP's, and even tougher for tourists trying to plan around the nearly incoherent pre opening and post opening ticket decisions. But then again, USO's not very guest friendly policies trying to force everyone to use phones for most everything in Epic (most especially food and beverage), and often rude behavior to guests that don't want to, is demonstrative of the lack of concern for the guest experience. The powers to be really need reminded that the guest experience is paramount, not tekkie stuff that makes mgts. job easier. Guest Relations 101. Its especially important in a year that will probably be challenging to theme parks and tourism due to a number of factors. The customer comes first!!!..............Epic seems beautiful with excellent attractions. Mgt. needs to elevate their operations game to meet the expectations of a nicely conceived and built park.

 

[AvoidTIMtation]

With the flood gates finally opening I'll be very interested in the wait times now