EPIC UNIVERSE: Disney Killer or Theme Park Dud?

 EPIC UNIVERSE: Disney Killer or Theme Park Dud?

It is common belief amongst Theme Park Scholars, and Journalists and Sceptics that Epic Universe Universals 3rd theme park will be a massive success for the Theme Park Industry in particular for Disney. Many on the internet suspect and have labeled it “the Disney Killer” however I pose the question: Is it Really? 

For months, I have been taking in the newest video on Universal Epic Universe, and have been intently waiting for this new park to open in May of this year, and while it is promising to be the most immersive theme park experience in the Orlando area, I think of what differentiates Universal Studios Orlando Resort(UO)from the Walt Disney World Resort(WDW).

As a native Floridian, I frequented Disney and Universal plenty of times throughout my childhood. For many of us our first interaction with a land specific themed to a single IP franchise was Jurassic Park at Universal’s Islands of Adventure(IOA), followed soon after by the Hogsmeade at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter(also at IOA) it wasn’t until this opened at Universal that Disney began focusing on the development of single IP themed lands such as Pandora: the World of Avatar, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land and the future expansions of Villains Land, and Cars Land(coming to Magic Kingdom). Prior to Islands of Adventure Theme Park Lands were more similar to Magic Kingdom, where rides some with somewithout IP were positioned into lands themed around genre(Adventure, Western, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy to name a few). While both Theme Park Super powers have their own strengths they also have their own weaknesses, that I have noticed over my 20+ years of visiting and experiencing these Theme Parks. 

Is Epic Universe for Thrill seekers only?

UO, while it may have the market cornered in terms of thrill rides, they seem to miss the mark on Dark Rides, where as Disney Parks, Excel at the creation of Dark Rides. When looking at the Map of Epic Universe and all the Rides they have planned, it came to my attention that, almost every ride in this park minus Yoshi’s Adventure all exist in the realm of Thrill rides, where as Disney’s lands always consist of a mixture of Flat, Simulator or Dark ride attractions as well as their thrill rides. This lack of Dark Rides and Family focus, could be the downfall of Epic Universe if it is seen as a Roller Coaster Park, for Teens over a Family Vacation Destination.

Theme Park Foodie

Where UO has many varieties of Food and Beverage around the Park, Disney’s Food has always been better. When I go to Universal, I find food items that excite me that I always want to try, however 1 in 3 items I always find myself regretting after eating it. Be it an oversalted, Cheese Burger from Wimpy’s(when it’s even open) or the Cold nearly frozen taste of the Green Eggs and Ham Tots(when its open as well) my experience with some Universal Food Items is sub par to say the least(At least Harry Potter and the Simpsons has good food). Disney on the other hand, is more exciting, when I eat at Disney, no matter what I get 9 in 10 food items sit well with me and are delicious to have over and over again. Items such as the Pickle Milk Shake at The Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, the Outpost Puff(which has changed) or the combination of the Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse and Metkayina mousse at Satu’li Canteen in Pandora,to even the Mickey Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Sandwiches have a consistency of being quality for the price, and have the possibility to return one to a nostalgic time of childhood 9/10 times. While Universal does have Mythos the rewarded best food in a theme park for sometime. I don’t know when that award was given as Spice Road Table at Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion has similar offerings and I personally Enjoy Be Our Guest, Chefs De France or Le Cellier at any restaurant in any theme park anyday.

This leave’s Universal with a Challenge, to address prior to its opening. Will this food live up to the quality and consistent taste of items like ButterBeer and the foods at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, or will it be like Duff Beer or Wimpy’s where 2 of 3 times it's not quite the same as the last time you had it. When it comes to Epic Universe I am most excited to try the food in every land, most importantly Das Steak Haus, and the Cafe’s in both Super Nintendo land and the Wizarding World Expansion.

Cast VS Team

Moving onto another topic, the topic of Cast Members vs Universal team Members. I have no complaints over either, however, Cast Members have a quality to their costuming and traditions to uphold that in recent days has become more lax, and less strict. When it comes to these Employees of these two Theme Parks, they all do a great job, and while some Cast at Disney are low quality, some Universal team members are of the attitude of these Low Quality cast members. Universal has the opportunity to change this but won’t tackle this issue the way that Disney can and Disney has the opportunity to get rid of these low Quality cast and reward those who excel at the work that they do, to compete with Epic Universe.  

Crowd Controls

Something that some of you may notice and others may not is the way by which the two company’s control crowds. Disney excels in making even the most claustrophobic space seem wide, and I get less claustrophobic at Disney as compared to some spots in Universal. It is also this way at controlling crowds that I hear most complaints about. Yes the fire breathing Dragon atop Gringotts is cool, but this fire effect, is annoying to guests aswell. It seems everytime I am in Diagon Alley, everyone and their mother stands within the main iconic street in front of Gringotts holding their cell phones up to record the Dragon, regardless of the time of day to watch it breath fire, however this happens every 10 minutes, and my criticism is and has been since it opened. Remove the Dragon to control the traffic within this space. The shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade as well are also very cramped spaces, while I know J.K. Rowling had a hand in these aesthetic choices, all shops in Universal across both parks and City walk appear to be this crowded(except for Islands of Adventure Trading Company and the Tribute Stores for some reason) while disney only seems to have this issue with The Emporium on Main Street and World of Disney in Disney Springs. My hope is that in this new park Universal takes into account the space needed for people to be comfortable in these parks, not only in shops but when walking from point A to Point B, you currently any day of the week cannot make it to gringotts from the leaky cauldron without stopping eleven times, due to these crowds on any given day, and will get there faster if you go right past Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes or left cutting through Knock-turn Alley( which guests still think is a Cave, and the lights need to brightened in certain spots, where it is too dark to see anything in front of you.)

Conclusion

While I am excited to visit Epic Universe in the coming months/years, I wouldn’t say it’s a Disney Killer just yet, due to these small fixable issues,as both Parks have their own strengths, but in order to be a Disney Killer Universal will need to fix where they fail and Disney will need to continue to exceed expectations where Universal does falter.