12 Things You Absolutely Need To Know Before You Visit The Epic Universe Theme Park – SlashFilm

Epic Universe is Common Studios’ latest theme park, and it raises the bar in nearly each method. Each leap ahead from the previous 25 years of themed leisure know-how and design is on full show throughout this park, from its excessive-tech sights to its eager consideration to element and immersion. I referred to as it a recreation changer in my preliminary ideas from the preview occasion /Movie attended, and I stand by that. 

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However with the park now formally open to the general public, it is time to get into the nitty-gritty. It is time to speak store. Practicalities. How does one really method and discover and correctly tour this huge new park, and its 5 worlds? New methods will arrive because the park evolves and grows within the coming months and years, however proper now, there are some suggestions you completely have to know that may make your go to simpler and extra handy, and in some instances, considerably much less demanding. 

Listed below are the 12 belongings you completely have to know earlier than you go to Epic Universe. 

Epic Universe does not make the most of the basic “hub and spoke” design popularized by Disney theme parks, nor does it have interaction within the form of natural sprawl seen in lots of Six Flags and Cedar Truthful parks. As an alternative, every distinctive land inside the park is entered by way of a singular portal, which exist alongside the perimeters of a large central land referred to as Celestial Park (extra on that in a second). This implies there may be a method in and a method out of every land, which permits them to really feel completely immersive. Once you’re in Darkish Universe or Tremendous Nintendo World, you are in them. It is a full little pocket dimension of a theme park land, absolutely explorable and completely contained.

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Nonetheless, this additionally means you’ll be able to’t simply pop over from one land to a different. By absolutely embracing whole immersion, Epic Universe does not allow you to rapidly jaunt from Isle of Berk to Wizarding Paris. You want to totally exit a land by way of its portal and return to Celestial Park to entry one other land through its personal portal. These used to Disney’s myriad of shortcuts, or those that have carved out distinctive paths by way of their very own native parks, might want to shake off that mindset as they get their bearings in Epic Universe.

Whereas many of the lands at Epic Universe are impressed by particular franchises, the central sprawl of Celestial Park is wholly unique. It is a land of whimsical area fantasy, the place intrepid explorers collect to dine, store, and put together for journeys to distant dimensions and realities. It is pretty. It is also large, and since this can be a younger park, does not have a lot in the way in which of bushes and shade. And due to the above-talked about portal design for the lands, you will be criss-crossing Celestial Park loads as you discover Epic Universe, and you have to be prepared for this.

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Epic Universe could also be a transportive expertise, but it surely’s nonetheless a theme park in central Florida. It may be scorching, and you are going to be strolling loads, and it is simple to think about many guests forgetting to hydrate and relaxation as they trek backwards and forwards throughout Celestial Park of their mad sprint to see and do all the things the park has to supply. Do not underestimate the scale of Celestial Park, do not forget to hydrate, and do not be afraid to duck into a store or restaurant to catch some air-con or some shade. Severely. Do not be that individual whose trip will get interrupted by simply preventable warmth stroke.

Epic Universe might be essentially the most excessive tech theme park ever constructed, and that extends past the journey know-how. The new Harry Potter land builds upon the tech launched in different Common parks, permitting guests to work together with their setting utilizing magic wands (i.e., faux wands with RFID chips). Tremendous Nintendo World makes use of “Energy-Up Bands” to let guests work together with the world, and interact in every kind of cute mini-video games. It is all very cool stuff.

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Nonetheless, throughout our preview journey to Epic Universe, we discovered ourselves struggling to get our gadgets arrange and able to go. Whereas it is simple to chalk this as much as rising pains (which can very nicely be completely mounted by the point you go to the park), I would extremely advocate that you just acquire your desires or Energy-Up Bands earlier than you enter the park, and get all of them arrange and able to go in your resort room the evening earlier than you go to. The final thing you need to do in a park this visually gorgeous is have your nostril buried in a smartphone app when you attempt to get your new wand to work. Cope with any potential tech complications from the air conditioned consolation of one other area, and fear about having enjoyable once you’re really within the park.

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One of many downsides to any new theme park is that it merely will not be as fleshed out as a park that has had years to develop. At opening, Epic Universe has 11 sights, fewer than your common main park, however nonetheless loads to fill a whole day (or two). Nonetheless, do not let probably lengthy strains discourage you. Common has continued the advantageous artwork of queue design throughout Epic Universe, and ready in line really feels downright mandatory in a couple of of the headliner sights.

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The queue line for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment sprawls by way of the gothic, eerie Frankenstein property, the place work, statues, and compelling movies fill you in on the journey’s surprisingly expansive backstory. And the road for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry is an expertise unto itself, recreating the Ministry of Magic from the movies with such exacting element that you’re going to really feel such as you’ve been actually transported to a different world. (Every room additionally provides ample quantity of story element to raised put together you for the journey itself.) And whereas not as heavy on narrative, the road for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem is so stuffed with lovely easter eggs and pleasant particulars that it virtually calls for that you just spend a while in it no less than as soon as.

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Naturally, how lengthy is too lengthy is one thing you and your fellow guests want to find out for yourselves. However Epic Universe definitely makes the wait simpler.

Tremendous Nintendo World is sensory overload, and it is simple to think about stepping by way of Peach’s fortress and staring out throughout the Mushroom Kingdom together with your jaw hanging open, questioning “How’d they pull this off?” I can think about it as a result of it occurred to me.

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One of many keys to the land’s sense of scale and immersion is its verticality. The land is taller and deeper than you’d think about. You search for and also you look down and you’re feeling actually surrounded by creatures and objects borrowed straight from a few of the biggest video video games of all time.

Nonetheless, this verticality means stairs. Numerous stairs. For those who’re in a position-bodied, be ready to hike up and down stairs to get to the place you have to go. For others, there are elevators out there in key areas all through the land. Both method, simply be ready to make the journey up and down as usually as you journey ahead and again.

There are quite a lot of locations to eat at Epic Universe, a lot in order that we had been by no means going to pattern all of them throughout our preview day on the park. Nonetheless, the meals and drinks we did have had been very tasty, and infrequently distinctive in comparison with typical theme park fare. The sheer selection — starting from pizza to seafood to barbecue to large bread cones stuffed with macaroni and cheese — was pretty astonishing.

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Does your group need to sit down and settle in for a correct dinner? How a few sooner fast service meal so you will get again to exploring the park? Or heck, are you the one who merely desires to seize a pretzel on the go as a result of nothing can cease you as soon as you’ve got began shifting? All of those are choices are Epic Universe, and lots of of them are housed in areas and buildings whose theming rivals the rides themselves. Some people are going to need the gothic, creepy Das Stakehaus in Darkish Universe, however extra timid diners might favor the Mead Corridor in Isle of Berk.

Do your self a favor and take a look at the complete scope of the eating choices at Epic Universe earlier than you arrive, and make a plan. Every restaurant actually has one thing distinctive to supply, and you must select the one that’s best for you.

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One of many nice theme park fears for many individuals is braving an extended line, lastly boarding a journey automobile, and realizing they do not match for one motive or one other. It is an anxiousness shared by tall and heavy theme park aficionados alike, and one which Epic Universe tries to mitigate as a lot as potential.

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Each main journey at Epic Universe has an accessible check seat close to the road entrance, and all of them are simple to make the most of. You sit, pull the check restraint down, and see if the close by mild glows inexperienced. In that case, you are good to go. A number of sights, like Monsters Unchained, have a number of seat sizes to raised accommodate completely different physique varieties.

Throughout my time at Epic Universe, I used to be in a position to journey all the things with out concern regardless of my 6′ 4″ peak, broad shoulders, and intestine. Basically, the journey restraints at Epic Universe appear extra forgiving than different Common Parks, which have developed a repute amongst bigger guests. Nonetheless, anybody with any issues by any means can and will reap the benefits of the testing seats as wanted.

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Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment makes use of the identical KUKA arm journey system as Common’s personal Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. And if that latter journey made you queasy and has you second-guessing a visit by way of Frankenstein manor, you must strongly rethink.

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Monsters Unchained is a wild journey, but it surely’s additionally a easy one, feeling far much less herky-jerky than Forbidden Journey. In any case, Common has had over a decade to refine and excellent the journey know-how right here. Extra importantly, the display screen-primarily based simulator parts of Forbidden Journey usually are not current in Monsters Unchained, which solely makes use of screens for background results and places the principle concentrate on sensible units and animatronics. The result’s a journey that will use a virtually equivalent journey automobile, however will end in far fewer upset stomachs and bouts of dizziness.

Do not let a nasty time on one other journey utterly spook you with regards to attempting Monsters Unchained.

The Stardust Racers curler coaster is among the most intense and thrilling theme park sights on the market, and both one of many dueling coaster’s two tracks will ship coronary heart-pounding thrills. I imply that actually, too: My FitBit gave me comparable stats whereas on this coaster to once I ran a half-marathon.

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However in the event you’re solely in a position to journey one aspect of the coaster, and also you need to guarantee the most effective and most unusual expertise potential, be sure to head towards the appropriate observe. The left observe is nice, and you will have an exquisite time, however the appropriate aspect has a bit extra peak and an extra inversion that gives the best of the journey’s many simulated “shut calls” as the 2 coaster trains spiral round each other.

There are many full-on, correct, costumed character meet-and-greets throughout Epic Universe, from the Toothless and Hiccup in Isle of Berk to the Igor and Frankenstein’s monster in Darkish Universe to the Mario characters in Tremendous Nintendo World. However one sudden delight I found throughout my time on the park was that loads of different park staff members had been enjoying alongside, too.

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From staff members enthusiastically referring to guests as “Vikings” in Isle of Berk to the downright pleasant cashier who actually performed the a part of a beleaguered worker of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein as she rang up my buy, I used to be persistently amused and impressed by the extra texture equipped by so many staff. I’d count on this stage of efficiency and enthusiasm from the walkaround characters, however this additional layer of spice introduced a smile to my face greater than as soon as.

Granted, I do not assume everybody ought to be required to totally work together with each single worker as a “character” (hey, introverts), however I sincerely hope different guests to Epic Universe reply as I did, and respect the additional effort. If sufficient of us play alongside and reward this sort of play, the park will stay a lot extra particular for the foreseeable future.

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It’s normal for main theme park rides to require guests to retailer their unfastened gadgets in a locker earlier than boarding the automobile, and Epic Universe is attempting to make it simpler than ever. Constructing upon the system in place on the VelociCoaster attraction at Islands of Journey, the extra intense Epic Universe rides make the most of a singular (and 100% free) locker system that’s concurrently essentially the most handy I’ve ever seen and likewise one that may trigger some minor complications because the crowds get used to them.

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The lockers usually are not on the entrance of the journey, however as an alternative deep within the queue, usually proper earlier than the ultimate stretch of the road earlier than you board. You method the financial institution of lockers, let an automatic system take an image of your face, after which retailer your belongings within the locker that mechanically opens for you. In your method out, the exit path will take you to the bottom of those self same lockers, the place the digital camera will acknowledge your face and open the locker so that you can retrieve your stuff. No problem. No backtracking. And in addition no good pictures, as a result of belief me, nobody will ever look good in these locker photos, so simply put your face within the heart of the body and hope for the most effective.

One you have got it down, it is an ideal system. However the first time you attempt it (and there’ll at all times be somebody within the room doing it for his or her first time), there will likely be hiccups. Of us not fairly understanding the place the digital camera is. Of us not understanding that there is a digital camera. Of us crowding across the first financial institution of lockers quite than naturally shifting right down to the following digital camera. And by “people,” I imply me.

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So give your self some grace as you be taught the locker system! But in addition perceive that after you already know the drill, it is so simple as may be.

For those who’re the form of one that visits theme parks for the vibes, Epic Universe has you lined. Every land is so detailed, so stuffed with hidden touches, potential character interactions, and discoverable nooks and crannies that it is simple to think about simply spending time there, vibing between rides.

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So when you ought to prioritize getting on the rides which are most essential to you, attempt to carve out a while to only, nicely, be on the park. Attempt to observe down and say hey to the assorted dragons hidden all through Isle of Berk. Scour the partitions and home windows of the brilliantly realized Darkish Universe to seek out every kind of creepy subplots. Wander, and get misplaced in, the streets of Wizarding Paris with its many alleyways and retailers and eating experiences. It is easy to image many guests pounding the pavement as quick as they will as they tour the park, however do your self a favor and simply discover a place to sit down or stand and take all of it in. If theme parks are finally in regards to the expertise of simply present in a designed area, Epic Universe is the brand new excessive watermark.

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