I’m willing to bet that the fact that it is a separate $100+ ticket in addition to the other 2 parks may have had something to do with the less that expected crowds. Throw in, School isn’t out yet. Just my take on the situation.
I don’t know why anyone would complain about small crowds. I would have been so happy. There is a couple ride at Universal Adventure I haven’t gotten to ride cause lines were so long and didn’t have the extra money for express passes. I think this was done deliberately by Universal to make sure people got to enjoy everything without big crowds. The problem was everyone ran to the Harry Potter section and the rest of the park you could literally get right on rides. If I had known that we would have gone for opening day. We was on vacation to Orlando on a Disney and Universal vacation when Harry Potter first opened. It was ridiculous, the line was literally out the park. On the last day we went with 30 minutes before closing and go to ride the ride in Hogwarts. Didn’t get to see anything else until the following trip. Planning at trip for the end of this year beginning of next year to Orlando.
Was there over Thanksgiving last year and Hagrid’s Motorbike did not have Express Pass. Also it was announced that the Ministry of Magic in Epic would not have it either.
Tourism is gone. Vegas is also going to lose big. When people are afraid of getting deported while visiting, that’s going to cause a huge problem. And it’s just begun.
I work in theme parks for a living. It makes perfect sense, especially amidst the decline in people wanting to come to the USA at all at the moment. To address other’s comments – no they didn’t do it on purpose and no it’s not because of the prices. The prices have been well chosen from research.
Yes, I own a vacation rental property in Florida, and I miss my Canadian guests. They’re polite, treat my property respectfully, and take longer vacations. I also had a guest from Germany cancel.
They aren’t coming, mostly because of the political stuff, but some have expressed actual fear about being detained at border security.
Exactly we were planning a family trip with the grandchildren but with everything going on at the border and the anti-Canadain statements we moved our plans to Canadian destinations. My youngest daughter has bought season pass for the last 10 years but refuses to this year for the same reason and she used to go at least 3 times a year.
We all know it’s literally because of the prices.
The fact y’all didn’t even mention it as a possibility is revealing by itself.
Why create a narrative, instead of telling the truth?
They are deliberately controlling size of crowds during initial opening as they gauge capacity and flow of crowds.
It’s standard operating procedure for theme parks.
In case you haven’t heard, the economy is not very good right now. We have an idiot in the white house wreaking havoc on our way of life! Was this really the best time for a “Grand Opening” of any sort? This second quarter will be brutal in financial circles. I realize that this couldn’t be predicted but you at least had to see some of the signs.
It is silly that they don’t share the most important factor (that other outlets are reporting): that universal has sold a relatively small number of tickets to keep the park opening smooth and to learn how to handle crowds. They estimate they are selling less than 25 percent of actual capacity.
I went to preview at epic with my 10 year old son. Great disappointment donkey kong was closed. Monsters ride was down. The mario cart ride middle lane was closed. Then lines were longer. It was a great disappointment. My son enjiyed star dust ride. He went on it 10 times.
Problem was that was the one attraction that everyone chose to get in line for right away. By thst afternoon the wait was only an hour. Everything else BUT that attraction had low wait times all day.
School is not out, yet. In the northern states, especially school doesn’t let out until Mid June. It was smart for Universal to open early creating a great opportunity to both have their big day with all the press and influencers as well as have a few weeks to get out all the kinks. Praise to Brian Gilbeda and the team for not only delivering, but refunding the smaller price of the pass to those who would post the most about it, hence creating this article
I haven’t been following the epic universe news really, but coming from really no information about how the park opening has been, maybe a lot of people are to afraid the crowds would be so big. My family is planning a trip next spring to hopefully have the craze of the park die down a little bit. A trip like this for us is extremely rare and hard so we want to try and make the most of it.
I went there on Saturday. There’s only 11 rides, out of which only 3 are indoors. Since there was lighting in the area they closed all the outdoors ones for 3 hours. We made 2.5. Hrs queue in the Ministry of Magic and a 45 mins one in Bowser’s ride. The rest were between 5-25 mins long queues. Overall it was pretty underwhelming and a bit disappointing.
Oh please. Once it hits actual summer time this place will be booming. I’ve gone to Universal many times, waited in many lines, and was still able to ride everything. It’s way more awesome because it’s geared towards adults and older kids if you want to take them. Universal has another success on their hands.
I just wish everyone who hated America so much would just leave and then America would then be like Epic Universe! it would be fun, adventurous, exciting, cooler, and you wouldn’t have to deal with people that hate themselves….. What a dream!
@Shawn,#1,if there are people who seriously “hate” the country as much as they they do,& actually did move to Canada or France or any other country in the world,it would SERIOUSLY hurt our economy, ESPECIALLY in tourism areas like Orlando & Las Vegas as examples. #2, Can you really blame anybody who’s an American citizen for wanting to move with the idiot in Chief making us look bad between his sending people that he thinks are here illegally to places like El Salvador with no due process, as well as his fight that he’s picking with Ivy League schools like Harvard allowing foreign students to attend their universities,to him thinking he’s as “strong & tough” as a dude like Putin is,when in reality,I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump has never been in a real fight in his life
You have to ask why?
A very large majority of guests come from other countries visiting the US.
Especially Canada.
Foreign travelers are afraid to come to the US because of the aggressive nature of our recent administration towards other countries.
Some fear going through customs and being delayed by hours, even days. Others are boycotting the US because of the destructive nature of this administration’s tariffs.
I don’t think there are enough Florida residents who can afford the cost of the new theme park to pack the park.
How about the fact that 90% of this country is broke as hell and can’t even buy groceries or pay their bills?
Add car payments, insurance, repair bills from cars to major appliances and nobody has $3,000-$10,000 for a trip.
Would I like to go and be several hundreds of miles from my daily misery? Hells yeah I would, but I’m up a financial creek with a swirling tidal pool I’m trying to avoid with no paddle to help me out.
The exact same thing happened at Star Wars Galaxies Edge at Disneyland. The hardcore fans mobbed the park for a few weeks but after that there was a lull because regular folks assumed the park would be packed and stayed away. It’s also a slower time of year for the parks. After Easter and before summer break is always a good time to avoid big crowds. I went to Disneyland last Wednesday and it was a cake walk. In three weeks it will be a nightmare.
Wow, maybe it’s because they limited guests to ensure the best experience during opening? Wow, what a concept not stuffing people in beyond capacity like disney.
I am Canadian and was planning to go to Epic Universe, but cancelled everything and I will go to Europe instead… I might come back to US in 4 years… This is what you get for voting fir an idiot!
This has nothing to do with lack of demand, cost of a daily ticket, or politics. Epic Universe was sold out this weekend. Universal is managing the crowds until they have all the kinks worked out. Kudos to Universal for striving to give all its guests a great experience.
They only made 1/10 tickets available for the first week as part of their soft rollout. Don’t want to have the same disasters that Disney experienced when they opened up the new Star Wars area a few years ago. Smaller crowds leads to better experience while working out bugs in the new tech.
Comments for Epic Universe Issues Refunds Due To Small Crowds Just Days After Grand Opening
Kelly Connerton
I’m willing to bet that the fact that it is a separate $100+ ticket in addition to the other 2 parks may have had something to do with the less that expected crowds. Throw in, School isn’t out yet. Just my take on the situation.
Tay
No fr. I was like are people stupid or what? It’s graduation time. My families not going till July and Im sure the lines will be long then.
Rujek Crost
I don’t know why anyone would complain about small crowds. I would have been so happy. There is a couple ride at Universal Adventure I haven’t gotten to ride cause lines were so long and didn’t have the extra money for express passes. I think this was done deliberately by Universal to make sure people got to enjoy everything without big crowds. The problem was everyone ran to the Harry Potter section and the rest of the park you could literally get right on rides. If I had known that we would have gone for opening day. We was on vacation to Orlando on a Disney and Universal vacation when Harry Potter first opened. It was ridiculous, the line was literally out the park. On the last day we went with 30 minutes before closing and go to ride the ride in Hogwarts. Didn’t get to see anything else until the following trip. Planning at trip for the end of this year beginning of next year to Orlando.
Stewart
Was there over Thanksgiving last year and Hagrid’s Motorbike did not have Express Pass. Also it was announced that the Ministry of Magic in Epic would not have it either.
Lissa
Hagrid’s does have express now.
Mary
Tourism is gone. Vegas is also going to lose big. When people are afraid of getting deported while visiting, that’s going to cause a huge problem. And it’s just begun.
Jeff
lol that makes absolutely no sense. So they’re afraid to come here legally for vacation for fear they would have to leave?
JSL
I work in theme parks for a living. It makes perfect sense, especially amidst the decline in people wanting to come to the USA at all at the moment. To address other’s comments – no they didn’t do it on purpose and no it’s not because of the prices. The prices have been well chosen from research.
Tdaddy
Tds people make me laugh so hard
Ann
Yes, I own a vacation rental property in Florida, and I miss my Canadian guests. They’re polite, treat my property respectfully, and take longer vacations. I also had a guest from Germany cancel.
They aren’t coming, mostly because of the political stuff, but some have expressed actual fear about being detained at border security.
Gordon Ritchie
Exactly we were planning a family trip with the grandchildren but with everything going on at the border and the anti-Canadain statements we moved our plans to Canadian destinations. My youngest daughter has bought season pass for the last 10 years but refuses to this year for the same reason and she used to go at least 3 times a year.
Stewart
There is no anti-Canadian sentiment here in the population. It’s between certain government people.
Tdaddy
Lmao… I was looking 4 someone to blame Trmp
Lmao tds is serious
Denavio
We all know it’s literally because of the prices.
The fact y’all didn’t even mention it as a possibility is revealing by itself.
Why create a narrative, instead of telling the truth?
Sadie
They are deliberately controlling size of crowds during initial opening as they gauge capacity and flow of crowds.
It’s standard operating procedure for theme parks.
Thomas
In case you haven’t heard, the economy is not very good right now. We have an idiot in the white house wreaking havoc on our way of life! Was this really the best time for a “Grand Opening” of any sort? This second quarter will be brutal in financial circles. I realize that this couldn’t be predicted but you at least had to see some of the signs.
Stewart
The idiot left office a few months ago.
Hc labrock
Correct. Trump left a few months ago to play golf and rarely returns
Charles Trachtenberg
The truth
Charles Trachtenberg
Trump is the one who is doing all the tarrifs
David
Yet the park has been sold out every day since opening….
Luke
It is silly that they don’t share the most important factor (that other outlets are reporting): that universal has sold a relatively small number of tickets to keep the park opening smooth and to learn how to handle crowds. They estimate they are selling less than 25 percent of actual capacity.
Grace
I went to preview at epic with my 10 year old son. Great disappointment donkey kong was closed. Monsters ride was down. The mario cart ride middle lane was closed. Then lines were longer. It was a great disappointment. My son enjiyed star dust ride. He went on it 10 times.
KP
Yep I call BS. There was a 5 hour wait for the new Harry Potter ride at one point. You don’t get a 5 hour long line with low crowds.
Paul W
Problem was that was the one attraction that everyone chose to get in line for right away. By thst afternoon the wait was only an hour. Everything else BUT that attraction had low wait times all day.
Db
Going in July. I hope the crowds are easy then too.
Nicholas
School is not out, yet. In the northern states, especially school doesn’t let out until Mid June. It was smart for Universal to open early creating a great opportunity to both have their big day with all the press and influencers as well as have a few weeks to get out all the kinks. Praise to Brian Gilbeda and the team for not only delivering, but refunding the smaller price of the pass to those who would post the most about it, hence creating this article
music4life1821
I haven’t been following the epic universe news really, but coming from really no information about how the park opening has been, maybe a lot of people are to afraid the crowds would be so big. My family is planning a trip next spring to hopefully have the craze of the park die down a little bit. A trip like this for us is extremely rare and hard so we want to try and make the most of it.
Susana
I went there on Saturday. There’s only 11 rides, out of which only 3 are indoors. Since there was lighting in the area they closed all the outdoors ones for 3 hours. We made 2.5. Hrs queue in the Ministry of Magic and a 45 mins one in Bowser’s ride. The rest were between 5-25 mins long queues. Overall it was pretty underwhelming and a bit disappointing.
CMA
Oh please. Once it hits actual summer time this place will be booming. I’ve gone to Universal many times, waited in many lines, and was still able to ride everything. It’s way more awesome because it’s geared towards adults and older kids if you want to take them. Universal has another success on their hands.
Shawn
I just wish everyone who hated America so much would just leave and then America would then be like Epic Universe! it would be fun, adventurous, exciting, cooler, and you wouldn’t have to deal with people that hate themselves….. What a dream!
Travis Weberling
@Shawn,#1,if there are people who seriously “hate” the country as much as they they do,& actually did move to Canada or France or any other country in the world,it would SERIOUSLY hurt our economy, ESPECIALLY in tourism areas like Orlando & Las Vegas as examples. #2, Can you really blame anybody who’s an American citizen for wanting to move with the idiot in Chief making us look bad between his sending people that he thinks are here illegally to places like El Salvador with no due process, as well as his fight that he’s picking with Ivy League schools like Harvard allowing foreign students to attend their universities,to him thinking he’s as “strong & tough” as a dude like Putin is,when in reality,I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump has never been in a real fight in his life
Tdaddy
Exactly!! Don’t understand why these people are so miserable
Pam
No one mentioned that is was almost 100 degrees that day!
Michael
You have to ask why?
A very large majority of guests come from other countries visiting the US.
Especially Canada.
Foreign travelers are afraid to come to the US because of the aggressive nature of our recent administration towards other countries.
Some fear going through customs and being delayed by hours, even days. Others are boycotting the US because of the destructive nature of this administration’s tariffs.
I don’t think there are enough Florida residents who can afford the cost of the new theme park to pack the park.
Shara
Seriously?!?
How about the fact that 90% of this country is broke as hell and can’t even buy groceries or pay their bills?
Add car payments, insurance, repair bills from cars to major appliances and nobody has $3,000-$10,000 for a trip.
Would I like to go and be several hundreds of miles from my daily misery? Hells yeah I would, but I’m up a financial creek with a swirling tidal pool I’m trying to avoid with no paddle to help me out.
How about that fact, author?
Michael
The exact same thing happened at Star Wars Galaxies Edge at Disneyland. The hardcore fans mobbed the park for a few weeks but after that there was a lull because regular folks assumed the park would be packed and stayed away. It’s also a slower time of year for the parks. After Easter and before summer break is always a good time to avoid big crowds. I went to Disneyland last Wednesday and it was a cake walk. In three weeks it will be a nightmare.
Lee
Wow, maybe it’s because they limited guests to ensure the best experience during opening? Wow, what a concept not stuffing people in beyond capacity like disney.
JoeCanada
I am Canadian and was planning to go to Epic Universe, but cancelled everything and I will go to Europe instead… I might come back to US in 4 years… This is what you get for voting fir an idiot!
Ted
No brained. It was over 90 degrees those days!
CT
This has nothing to do with lack of demand, cost of a daily ticket, or politics. Epic Universe was sold out this weekend. Universal is managing the crowds until they have all the kinks worked out. Kudos to Universal for striving to give all its guests a great experience.
Anthony
They specifically said they are limiting the guest cap for the first month, why so much dishonesty here? They announced that months ago.
Mark Degas
They only made 1/10 tickets available for the first week as part of their soft rollout. Don’t want to have the same disasters that Disney experienced when they opened up the new Star Wars area a few years ago. Smaller crowds leads to better experience while working out bugs in the new tech.
Comments are closed.