From the promise of dragon encounters on the Isle of Berk to whispers of classic monster chills in the Dark Universe land, our latest episode is a treasure trove of speculation and insider info that will have your imagination doing somersaults. We're peeling back the curtain on the most anticipated attractions, dissecting site plans and permits, and even indulging in a bit of healthy debate over what could be lurking around the corner in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World.
Have you ever dreamed of controlling a dragon or marveled at the potential of Universal's latest animatronic wizardry? Well, you're in fantastic company as we share our excitement for the cutting-edge experiences awaiting us at Epic Universe. Get the scoop on the latest developments from the Isle of Berk to the dark corners where Universal's classic monsters dwell. We consider the spellbinding possibilities of meet-and-greets with full-sized puppet dragons and ponder whether Universal might just eclipse Disney with their technological marvels.
Wrap up your adventure by peering into the grandeur of the in-park Helios Grand resort, and let's muse over the fresh resort experiences like the Stella Nova and Terra Luna coming to Universal Studios. Our journey through Epic Universe is brimming with curiosity and wonder, and we're counting on you to join us in keeping the spirit of exploration thriving. So, grab your favorite theme park aficionado, press play, and let's embark on this epic theme park odyssey together!
Sources
Epic Universe Office announcement Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4u83ncMjuE&t=5s
Universal Studios: https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/epic-universe/worlds/celestial-park
Orlando Park Stop: https://orlandoparkstop.com/
From the promise of dragon encounters on the Isle of Berk to whispers of classic monster chills in the Dark Universe land, our latest episode is a treasure trove of speculation and insider info that will have your imagination doing somersaults. We're peeling back the curtain on the most anticipated attractions, dissecting site plans and permits, and even indulging in a bit of healthy debate over what could be lurking around the corner in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World.
Have you ever dreamed of controlling a dragon or marveled at the potential of Universal's latest animatronic wizardry? Well, you're in fantastic company as we share our excitement for the cutting-edge experiences awaiting us at Epic Universe. Get the scoop on the latest developments from the Isle of Berk to the dark corners where Universal's classic monsters dwell. We consider the spellbinding possibilities of meet-and-greets with full-sized puppet dragons and ponder whether Universal might just eclipse Disney with their technological marvels.
Wrap up your adventure by peering into the grandeur of the in-park Helios Grand resort, and let's muse over the fresh resort experiences like the Stella Nova and Terra Luna coming to Universal Studios. Our journey through Epic Universe is brimming with curiosity and wonder, and we're counting on you to join us in keeping the spirit of exploration thriving. So, grab your favorite theme park aficionado, press play, and let's embark on this epic theme park odyssey together!
Sources
Epic Universe Office announcement Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4u83ncMjuE&t=5s
Universal Studios: https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/epic-universe/worlds/celestial-park
Orlando Park Stop: https://orlandoparkstop.com/
Hi guys, there it is. Oh God. It's been a minute since we sat down. It's been a minute.
Dustin:It's been a crazy minute and I hear your dumbass got your cup back.
Ashley:I got my cup back and then I almost lost my cup again, but I got her back. So we're good. The cup Like the magical cup that you got a couple weeks ago when we lost it.
Dustin:The magical cup, the cup that would have made my experience at Jurassic World much better, is back. Did you get the cup, or did you?
Ashley:have to buy another drink. I had to buy another drink Gasp.
Dustin:Gasp.
Ashley:Yes, which? Is still delicious Love her.
Dustin:And then you had the cup.
Ashley:Then I had the cup Again. And then what?
Dustin:Then I lost her. You did lose her, no.
Ashley:You almost lost it Correct, and then you got it back. Yeah, jesus Christ.
Dustin:Yeah, my life's pretty chaotic. Don't go to the theme parks with me, guys. I'm real fun. Yeah, we went today and, like you, got us all like sick on poutine and stuck on cat in the hat.
Ashley:Yes, I did.
Dustin:That was fun, though I'm still sad that it didn't like break down when we were doing the spinning part.
Ashley:I wanted to be evacked off of it so bad. No, you heard it.
Dustin:Mom doesn't like feet on the carpet.
Ashley:Listen, I don't care. My mom would have been shot at the shan. It would have been perfectly fine having me put my feet on that carpet.
Dustin:That carpet was dirty.
Ashley:I know it was gross. How's Bruce? She's doing great, that's good. She's doing real good. She's checking out her water fountain Heck, yeah Her new old water fountain. Oh God, she's painting the ass.
Dustin:She is her mother's daughter.
Ashley:She really is, though she's a spinning image. That's why she came out of me. Hey, how's Lucy?
Dustin:She's good. My dryer, my tiny little compact mini dryer, is absolutely amazing. I love her.
Dustin:However, her little the lint filter is kind of hard to get to and I didn't realize that I hadn't been cleaning it and I didn't think it was going to be a problem. Nah, she was clogged. It was a problem she got real clogged the other day, but I cleaned it all out and she's doing good. I love that for you. She's powering on and I love it, and my clothes feel nice and soft and wonderful and I love it, they look less dog-hairy and I love that for you.
Ashley:You know what? I've mistaken that with you.
Dustin:I would like to call you something that I am a good Christian woman. That is week two for a still magnolias quote.
Ashley:Shout out to you Is that it? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a good Christian woman, hey, but anyways, welcome to episode five of Unplugged.
Dustin:Grab a cocktail.
Ashley:Or a mocktail. While we plug Orlando in living color.
Dustin:Hey there, guys, and welcome back to another episode. I'm so excited to talk to you guys today. So for today's episode, we are going to be delving into the city beautiful, part two, which is something that we told you guys that we were going to be doing, and we plan for it, and now we are.
Ashley:I'm so sorry, but we can't. We can't talk about city beautiful. Instead, we have to talk about the news that just hit all of our social media. I think it even made the actual newspaper. This is a big deal. This is everywhere. The internet is talking about this. We need to talk about it.
Dustin:The world is talking about it. The world, literally, is talking about it. What?
Ashley:are they talking about?
Dustin:They're talking about Epic Epic universe.
Ashley:Guys, instead of talking about city beautiful, which I know is a very interesting episode, and part two is coming to you next week we decided instead that this episode is going to be a deep dive into the news updates, all of it, all the conspiracy theories, all the speculation and the actual facts about Epic universe. So sit tight, hang out with us and let's get deep diving.
Dustin:Along with that. That does mean that we are going to postpone by one week our weekly session regarding our chapter follow-up on the book what Mother Won't Tell Me Correct. So we will pick up on that next week with the city beautiful, part two. But in the meantime we are going to discuss Epic universe and the announcements that just came out. Now, before we jump in, I do just want to say that the information for today's episode was obtained from Universal Parks and Destinations, wikipedia, orlando Park Shop, orlando Park Stop and Site Plans. We will work to link as much as we can of this information down below in the description box. So you guys are welcome to do your own investigations and and or speculate with us.
Dustin:Yes, and without further ado, we are going to jump into the first things first, the marvels of Celestial Park. All right, guys. So we are going to jump right on in into the first area of this new park that Universal has officially confirmed, celestial Park. So this is going to be the main area of the park. As soon as you come through the main gate, which, according to Molly Murphy, the president of Universal Creative, we are going to be referring to as the Kronos. Once you enter through the Kronos, you'll be in Celestial Park, which, in my opinion, is kind of like steampunk meets fairy tale meets outer space, just meets pure elegance.
Ashley:It's beautiful, I agree.
Dustin:So there's a lot of attractions in this area, which is really, really nice. So, ashley, why don't you tell us about the first one?
Ashley:Oh, I'm so excited for this. So Starfall Racer is a high thrill race that's across the cosmos on Starfall Racers. It's a breathtaking dual launch coaster that's going to reach incredible speeds of up to 62 miles per hour. You're going to board a comet and a rocket to the furthest reaches of the stars, at heights up to 133 feet, along with a with 1,000 feet of track. My, that's going to be a long, long ride.
Dustin:So 133 feet tall at its highest point and 5,000 feet of track, that's a pretty decent roller coaster, I think.
Ashley:Absolutely. You're going to race along an inverted crisscross, known as the Celestial Spin, and a dazzling display of blazing colors and pretty good music. It has a minimum height require. Oh, I'm dying over here.
Dustin:Kind of me Hydrate. Minimum height requirement of 48 inches tall. I think that's what you were trying to say.
Ashley:It definitely was. It is going to be a high thrill attraction, so it probably will come with a couple of wording signs, and then it also is going to have child swap available, which is great. And you know what I'm really excited to kind of give to everybody. What A fast fact. With no external track lighting, at night the full illuminated ride vehicles will appear as comets shooting across the night sky above the Celestial Park.
Dustin:Oh, the night rides on that are going to be so good. I cannot wait for those night rides.
Ashley:I'm really excited. I'm really really excited.
Dustin:So up next in Celestial Park we have the kid-friendly Constellation Carousel where guests can climb aboard an imaginative carousel where the cosmic energy of the universe enables the guests to ride the constellations themselves. Guest carriages include Celestial Lions, Dragons, Peacocks and more. Each carriage will turn 360 degrees while lifting riders up to six feet in the air, with music and color dazzling your senses as you whirl and twirl together across the Milky Way. Oh, I'm definitely going to ride a dragon.
Ashley:I.
Dustin:Yeah, I think dragon sounds fun. Maybe a peacock? Ooh. Now, there is no minimum height requirement for this attraction. Guests under 48 inches will need to be accompanied by a supervising companion. Hand-held infants are not permitted. And the epic fast fact for this attraction is the ceiling of the Constellation. Carousel is a star tracker featuring a rotating Celestial star pattern with a center mesmerizer creating a ribbon cone effect while you ride. That's so cool.
Dustin:And then just next to it is going to be Astronomica, which is so it's going to be literally just off from the main walkway. Okay, and it's water jets that come up out of the ground.
Ashley:Yeah, I saw pictures.
Dustin:So people or children they'll be able to play with the water jets as they come up. I haven't heard anything about it being like interactive or anything more, like a just a small splash pad area. But it's not a small splash pad, it's a huge area and it's gorgeous.
Ashley:Oh, that's going to be so good, but you don't really excited about my favorite part of theme parks all the food. So Atlantic is going to be their first full service dining restaurant. That got announced. It's going to across the Shimming Waters of the Neptune Pool in Celestial Park. Atlantic is an undersea culinary fantasy. Inside glass walls reminisce an enormous Victorian Aquarium where starfish dwell peacefully with the serene, illuminating fish that swim above you. So it's literally going to be you sitting down and everything's going to be over your head while you dine. Oh yeah.
Dustin:I don't think it's not real fish, though I think it's from the concept art that I've seen. It's not real fish. Leave it to universal.
Ashley:This is true Now you're going to indulge in exceptional seafood and steaks, and you could potentially or enjoy a cocktail at the lively Aquaria Bar. Maybe they'll even have some cocktails or two. Now, the menu details are coming soon and as soon as I know, I'll let you know. Or should I say we? It's going to be me. It's going to be me, sorry. And then alcohol beverages will be available, obviously with a valid ID.
Dustin:Now, not too far from that you're going to have the Nintendo Superstar Store where you can get apparel, sundries, toys, souvenirs, collectibles, gifts, jewelry the whole nine yards of what we're used to seeing in the universal stores shortly after you come through the main entrance of the parks. So you can get a lot of information after you come through the main entrance of the parks. But gaming fans are definitely going to be able to find something to level up. They're fun at the Nintendo Superstar Store in Celestial Park. So inside there'll be toys, apparel and other colorful keepsake souvenirs based on characters from the Super Nintendo World and more. So I'm really excited to see that I've seen Princess Peach has been like. Her statue is in the building and everything so like it'll be a nice universal.
Ashley:There's going to be.
Dustin:Chachkis. You can purchase Chachkis to take home.
Ashley:Boom hey can I tell them about this one too, oh?
Ashley:but I like this one, yeah, but I really, really excited about it. Can I do it? There's also going to be another restaurant that could announce the Blue Dragon Pan Asian Restaurant, which is another full service, and this one looks so good. It sounds so good and I want to be the first person there. Now you're going to take a culinary journey across Asia where the Blue Dragon Pan Asian Restaurant in Universal Epic is going to allow you to step inside a bustling courtyard where it's always evening under the glowing of the Lethriel Langer. Thank you, I think, athernal, athernal.
Ashley:Come here Earth E-T-H-E-R-E-A-L.
Dustin:Athernal.
Ashley:Did I say correctly, right there, that word.
Dustin:Atherial.
Ashley:Oh, we're fired. I don't know, but Universal's going to show us when this opens. So you're going to enjoy authentic Pan Asian cuisine as dazzling neon dragons chase across the walls or curl up with a cocktail at the tiger bar. So menu details, as soon as they come, will let you know. And, of course, alcohol beverages for the guests with valid IDs will be served. I cannot wait. And also, what are you most excited for?
Dustin:I think I'm excited for Pan Asia, but I think one of the things that I'm super excited for is the fact that Universal seems to be putting all of their full service restaurants in Celestial Park, because, as we'll discuss later, we have a lot to go on on our theories and stuff as what's happening inside the lands, but all the lands seem to all be getting their own version of upscale quick service restaurants. I love that.
Dustin:So it seems that all of our fine dining is going to be held in Celestial Park and, based off of what we have seen with their executive chefs in the past and with City Walk and other places and the menus, that they're coming, out with and the gluten free foods and the this and the that. I'm really excited to see how Universal is going to do this Because, based solely on this concept art of just Pan Asia Celestial Park that we have seen and what has been confirmed, we're turning theme parks upside down.
Dustin:We're shaking it up and we're completely changing how people go and use a day to day theme park experience.
Ashley:No, I don't disagree. But you know what I think? It's because Universal it's creating an epic park. We're going to make a running tag here on how many times Ashley's going to use that as a a running joke.
Dustin:Hold on. Are we ready for this? We're going to hear this in our ears, so let's hear this Aetherial. Aetherial is how you say it, and the definition is extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world. No, I trusted you, but I needed the definition. One audience member helped us say it, but I needed the definition.
Ashley:Thanks, buddy, you're the best.
Dustin:Aetherial. I like that word.
Ashley:This is why we should always, always, always record in front of a live studio audience.
Dustin:Yeah, but yeah, so pretty much basically.
Ashley:I think I'm more excited, though, for the Atlantic restaurant, because that whole vibe of like fish going over me seafood and the city.
Dustin:I don't think they're real fish. If you look at the concept art, they look like sculptures. Listen until Universal has me sitting down in that They've already confirmed this area.
Ashley:Yes, but they haven't shown me that it's not real fish.
Dustin:Yes, they have the concept art. It's literally statues. Look up right now, pull it up on the Google, on the YouTubes, because if we're giving these people, this information has to be correct.
Ashley:Looking for a new podcast host. Anybody interested?
Dustin:One of the things that just based on the concept art. So you guys can actually go to Universal's website now and you can take a virtual tour through Celestial Park. You can see what we've got going on Neptune's pool, all the water elements, the Kronos, the main gate. All of these things have been confirmed and just looking at this area alone, it looks like we are getting something that Disney has yet to produce anywhere. So I'm super excited to see this, but unfortunately this is all that Universal has confirmed. It confirmed that and it confirmed the lands, so we know that we are getting how to Train your Dragon Isle of Burke. We're getting Dark Universe, dark Universe. We're getting Dark Universe. We're getting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, ministry of Magic.
Ashley:Going to be my favorite land.
Dustin:We're getting Super Nintendo. World Universal has officially announced the name of the in-park resort, which is the Helios Grand Resort.
Dustin:Gosh, that's so beautiful, which we will discuss more about that as time goes on, but that is about all that Universal gave us this last week. They said we're going to confirm the names of all these lands because you can see it in the construction photos and everything, but that's all we're going to tell you. So Ashley and I wanted to do a little more. But what did you find out, ashley? What did you find out about the restaurant?
Ashley:I mean not much, I'm still looking, Honestly. Actually, I just found a photo of the Dark Universe. They released what it looks like when you first walk into the land.
Dustin:And I'm really loving that archway. The portal.
Ashley:The portal yes, that looks terrifying.
Dustin:Okay, great, we'll get there in a minute. So did you find anything out about the fishies?
Ashley:No, but give me a little bit, I'm working on it, alright? Well, we're going to go ahead. Come back to me.
Dustin:We're going to go ahead and move forward into the episode. So one thing I would like to say before we move forward is Ashley and I just want to preface that all the remaining content in this episode is pure speculation from sources on the internet and it should not be taken as pure fact until Comcast, nbc or Universal destinations and experiences makes the formal announcement. We have not interviewed people. We don't know people that work behind the scenes at Universal that can give us all this secret information. This is all stuff that has been taken directly from sources on the internet that you guys can come across with a very easy thing, and then Ashley and I are going to give our input on some of the stuff that we think may be happening as well.
Ashley:Okay, I found it. What you find? They look like gold statues, however there is. It looks like a full on aquarium around you when you're sitting down. Oh I believe. So it looks like it's two levels. So you're going to walk in and it looks like there's level one and then there's another level that goes up to like a second part of it.
Dustin:It's giant glass windows over the lake.
Ashley:Hang on, I'll show you.
Dustin:Show me.
Ashley:Look, you see these stairs. There's stairs, and those people are walking on the stairs.
Dustin:That's not a second level, that's just a platform in the restaurant. But that's what I'm saying. That's like Helios Grand.
Ashley:You're going to eat down here, and then there's a platform to walk up to, because this is restaurant. This is the whole floor. Look, there's stairs on the side, it wraps around.
Dustin:Maybe that's the bar.
Ashley:I don't know but, I'm thinking there's going to be fish.
Dustin:But hey, are you ready to go? Are you ready to go to the Isle of Burke? Yeah, I really am All right. Let's do it, all right, guys? So one of the first things that we are going to discuss in these new lands is going to be soaring with dragons how to train your dragon, burke Island.
Dustin:So, for those of you that are not familiar, how to train your dragon is an animated fantasy film that follows the story of a young Viking named Hiccup, who lives in the village of Burke.
Dustin:Now, burke is constantly under the attack of dragons and Hiccup, despite being the son of the chief, is considered an outsider due to his lack of physical muscles. He ain't got no muscles. So one day, hiccup goes and manages to shoot down a night fury, which is a mysterious and elusive dragon, with a device that he's created. However, when he finds the injured dragon in the forest, he can't bring himself to kill it. Instead, hiccup names the dragon Toothless and begins to form a unique bond with him. As Hiccup spends more time with Toothless, he learns about dragon behavior and discovers that they are not mindless, destructive creatures that everyone believes them to be. Hiccup uses this knowledge to help train dragons and change the perspectives on his fellow Vikings. Now the film explores themes of friendship, acceptance and understanding, as Hiccup and Toothless work together to bridge the gap between humans and dragons, ultimately leading to a climax where the village faces a greater threat that can only be overcome through unity. How to train your dragon is a heartwarming and visually stunning tale of adventure and self discovery.
Ashley:I really like those movies. They're so good.
Dustin:I saw the first one. I know that and I haven't seen anything past that, but it was from what I can remember. It was a decent little good movie and I think that this is a good one for Universal to expand upon. So I did a little researching and I found some site plans online, as well as some other folks that had gone through and have been looking at permits and things and so pretty much so tell me what we're getting.
Dustin:So, according to site plans, the portal to this land looks to be like a towering, you know rocks, grassy, you know kind of islandy, and then at the top of it there's going to be a building that resembles the construction of the types of buildings that we see on the Isle of Burke, and what we think is the symbol or logo of the Burke Island people.
Dustin:Once you go inside, you're going to be greeted by a large lagoon directly in front of you, full of water, a couple boats, the statues that are very prominent from the movies, with these like bamboo-esque looking boardwalks that go off to the left and the right of the land, and if we go off to the left which is, I think, the direction that I have this down in, there's a play area that they're going to have. I didn't do a whole lot of research on the play area, because the play area is a play area is a play area is a play area, unless it's camp Jurassic at Islands of Adventure, because then that thing is just amazing. Just past that, we're going to have a skyfly ride, which is a ride built by Gershlauer. Now, this is the same manufacturer that went on to build like Mystery Mine at Dollywood and Fire Chaser Express at Dollywood. They do areas, they do flat rides and this is the one that's like. It looks like little airplane wings and then you have the chair.
Ashley:Yeah, I'm looking at a picture of it right now.
Dustin:Yeah, and it's got the arm. That's so weird. So people's best guess is that this is a simulation on dragon training and how to handle your dragon. So there's a lever attached to the seat where a rider can decide whether they want to go completely upside down, spin around, you can do as many barrel rolls while soaring in a circle as you want, or as many as you can handle, or you can be like some of our other friends who don't like upside down things and just never go upside down and then to go on from that area.
Ashley:We are getting a steel launch roller coaster by Intamin. Now. Intamin is the same one that has built Velocicoster and, my personal favorite, hagrid's Motor, magical Creature Motor Bike Adventure.
Dustin:There you go.
Ashley:By goodness, that's a mouthful.
Dustin:Yeah.
Ashley:Now, which are well known, very enjoyable family coasters Now with a similar concept to Flight of the Hippograph at Islands of Adventure. Many have speculated that this is the next step to your dragon training. It's dissimilar flying on a dragon Now. According to site plans, in the bird's eye view pictures this attraction will feature multiple launches, just like the one at Hagrid's. Now most of the ride appears to take place outdoors, but plans call for a few small show buildings. It is possible that these interior sections could be for short show scenes.
Dustin:Now I saw something the other day where one of these like outdoor buildings the track goes right through, but there's a full room off to the side and people are thinking that maybe we're going to see a toothless and hiccup animatronic halfway through the ride.
Ashley:Oh my gosh, can you imagine? Okay, wait, if these are the same people that did Hagrid's, that means Hagrid. We see him a full size Hagrid in the Hagrid ride. Can you imagine a full size, toothless.
Dustin:So don't hate me for this.
Ashley:Like a Kong full size, toothless.
Dustin:Don't hate me for this.
Ashley:I'm going to. I can feel it.
Dustin:But I did right before we started recording. I was looking at something and I didn't write it down, but it is believed that with this new park, Universal will be using new animatronics.
Ashley:Stop.
Dustin:Which are going to have more fluid, like motions, projection, mapping faces, and it's a company I can't remember the name of it, but it's a company that Universal has never used before. I hear that it's and this may potentially just be in the ministry of magic attraction in the new Harry Potter land, which we'll get to later, but I have seen that that is something that is potentially happening. Happening with this new park is new companies and new technology.
Ashley:Wow, that's really good, I know. I think it's great that Universal is kind of stepping outside their comfort zone, because they're making us step outside our comfort zone.
Dustin:And then, just past that attraction, we're going to have an interactive boat ride which we believe is going to be built by Mack rides. Now, this is similar to like river battle at Dollywood or Tom and Huck's River Blast at Silver Dollar City in Branson, missouri. It's a very slow, flat ride. There's no rapids, there's no heels, it's just flat ground.
Ashley:It's Missouri, not Missouri. No, it's Missouri, please continue.
Dustin:Okay, so pretty much with this attraction, there's going to be water guns attached to the sides of the boat and guestory. They're going to sit on the left or the right side, facing the outsides of the boat, and they'll crank a wheel on the side of the water gun.
Ashley:Guys, I'll picture of this. It looks insane.
Dustin:And now the picture. Yeah, the pictures will make it look a lot cooler than what it really is, but it's kind of. I really don't think I'm going to like this one. But they you can shoot interactive targets. You can shoot guests along the walkways, even though we don't really know if that's going to be available with this particular attraction. It just depends on if Epic Universe sets it up that way, and then a lot of times you'll round the corner and then you can soak people on the other boats. So this is a good thing and a bad thing. Bad thing if you don't like to get super soaked just because this is a slow ride, do not go on it, you're going to get drenched.
Dustin:You get more wet than you do on Dudley Dew Rides. Rips Off Falls.
Ashley:Oh yeah.
Dustin:Because people can just sit there and spray you with a water gun for only 30 seconds before you're out of the firing zone and you still have like four minutes left to the ride.
Ashley:And you know that people are going to be competitive as shit on this thing. Yeah, well the next area that.
Dustin:I'm kind of excited about. I'm really excited though this one. I'm really really really looking forward to.
Ashley:There's going to be an indoor stage show and a meet and greet area. So now, permits have shown that this is a large structure at the southernmost point of this land and it has an indoor theater that holds nearly what is it? A thousand seats. Now, many believe this area will open with a show similar to Untrainable, which opened with Universal Studios Beijing in 2021. Which, if you haven't seen photos from that, definitely go check those out, because that show is very impressive looking. Now, this show will feature live actors, large scale puppetry, moving sets and screen based media.
Dustin:And to clarify, we're saying that Untrainable in Beijing in 2021 features live actors, upscale. We don't know if that is what's going to happen here, but if it's been successful in Beijing, it would just make sense that Universal would copy it here at Epic.
Ashley:Maybe with those cooler or with those people that are upgrading our all of those animatronics. Maybe that's what we're getting to. That'd be really neat. Now, according to set plans, though, there will be a meet and greet area connected to the theater where guests will be able to meet toothless and hiccup, along with other characters from how to Train your Dragon, ipa, or IP IPA. Ipa.
Dustin:How many days is it again?
Ashley:8 45.
Dustin:45.
Ashley:45 days over.
Dustin:So moving on to food and shopping in this area. So just off to the side of that theater, we are going to see a small quick service restaurant. I don't have any details on that particular smaller quick service restaurant.
Ashley:That could be pretty hush-hush.
Dustin:Well, I could have probably found some if I. I think that there's going to be like 64 seats, but I didn't focus on that a whole lot because I wanted to focus more on the great hall restaurant. Now, this is going to be the main centerpiece of this land and it's the main centerpiece of the island.
Ashley:Oh, it's going to be an outdoor quick service.
Dustin:Yeah.
Ashley:Just confirm that it's not going to be indoor. So we're talking about this small one.
Dustin:Yeah, this small one, yes, so okay, let me clarify real quick, going moving forward with all of our lands. So all of the lands will feature one large, upscale quick service which will be indoors, with usually between 200 and 300 seating, and then there will be a secondary quick service restaurant which is going to only fit like 60 people. It's going to be outside and it's not an indoor thing. No I just ran a.
Ashley:Thing according to Park Stop and it says that permits say that the upscale quick service location will have 244 seats. Okay.
Dustin:How crazy is that You're ruining my sentence here.
Ashley:Oh my bad.
Dustin:And that's, and that is actually incorrect.
Ashley:I'm reading it.
Dustin:Okay, so the main centerpiece of the island. So Ashley was confusingly mixing the large, large scale and the small quick service restaurant. This is why it was my bullet to talk about.
Ashley:I'm just going to sit here and look cute guys.
Dustin:So the main centerpiece of the island will likely recreate the popular meeting place for the residents of Burke Island, complete with a large round and tall dining room surrounded by large columns. According to permits, this will be an upscale quick service location, seating 224. So this is the. The great hall is from the movie. It's where they go and they have the big fire pit in the middle. So that is what that is going to look like and I think it's going to be interesting to see how they bring that in. I know that there's been. They have like gas lines and stuff run to it and everything. So this will be pretty cool, Okay.
Ashley:So that's what it looks like. According to Parkstop, it says the outdoor quick service permit says that it will have covered seating area with 204 seats, which will overlook the boat rides.
Dustin:Have you looked at a map? I'm looking at it. Are you looking at the map? Are you reading?
Ashley:No, this is huge. This is a lot bigger than what you think it is.
Dustin:It's quite massive.
Ashley:Well, I think that, and they're- going to have a candy store too?
Dustin:Okay. So I'm interested to see mostly, like with the meet and greet and stuff that they're doing. Do you think that we're gonna see full-size puppets of toothless, like they have in Hollywood? Are we gonna see, like, maybe some kind of new form of technology that's never been unveiled before that makes Disney look like do-do?
Ashley:Tell us how you really feel about Disney.
Dustin:We'll get to that towards the end of this, because I think there's a lot of people have a lot of opinions on Disney right now, with Epic coming out, you have a lot of opinions. I love Disney.
Ashley:No, but I definitely think it's gonna be more realistic. I think, with the idea that Epic has been in the works for how long now they're stepping out of their comfort zone by working with new people that are Creating animatronics, then creating all these life scale things. So I don't think this is gonna be your traditional person inside a puppet, you know, faceless person. I think this is gonna be an entire experience. I think the meet and greet will be something that people will be like oh my gosh, I didn't meet a person inside a body.
Dustin:I met A person in a body.
Ashley:Yeah, I don't know what I mean. Somebody friends with Mickey Mouse?
Dustin:I met a dragon, yeah and I think it is gonna be interesting to see because, like I've said, it's just like with the food that we were talking about a second ago, like I've done research on one end and this is what I got, and then you were able to immediately pull something up and it's completely different. So there's a lot of different speculations and and theories going out on the internet right now. So, again, this is mostly just what Ashley and I are thinks going on here, but but yeah, so that kind of wraps up the Isle of Burke. Are we ready to move on to the next land?
Ashley:my least favorite land, my favorite, let's go, okay.
Dustin:So up next, we are gonna be talking about one of my personal favorite lands that I'm super excited for, and that is going to be the dark universe. So the portal for this land is gonna be made up of rocks, dead trees, vines, and the top of it looks to be like equipment similar to that of Frankenstein's lab. Now, this much we do know for a fact this was confirmed to my universal the name of the land and the portals, but everything after that is going to be full on speculation full on speculation.
Dustin:So for this one the land looks to be themed like a village that was terrorized by real monsters from the actual universal catalog.
Ashley:Now this is like old-school universe monsters. This is not like new HHN, so we're not getting Jack. Mm-hmm. We're getting like Frankenstein Dracula, that kind of guy right. Mm-hmm.
Dustin:This music.
Ashley:I'm really digging it.
Dustin:It's like Climbing up to something.
Ashley:You know what it is, what's happening? It's epic.
Dustin:Oh no, the music is actually getting louder, like it is legitimately actually getting Now. I've now that I've brought it back down. So yeah there is gonna be difficulties there area is gonna be themed to look like a village that was terrorized by those monsters, so we could see something similar to the villages of Frankenstein or Dracula, or this could be a whole new town where all of the monsters resided at one time in history.
Ashley:That would be insane. It'd be really cool. It'd be terrifying.
Dustin:So the area of the park is expected to be built mostly with facades to make the area feel like a real town, similar to how we see the Harry Potter lands at Universal's Islands of Adventures and Hollywood, not Hollywood and studios.
Ashley:Now, according to site plans, though, this area of the park will open as a small portion of the park, featuring two restaurants, a retail store, a roller coaster, an indoor attraction and a drink stand. What did you just do to me?
Dustin:I'm trying to fix our headsets because we're still having headset issues. We really are, that's now they now.
Ashley:I think the coolest part of this, though, is the fact that they site plans show a plot of land at the back Of the park that's labeled for future Expansions and we'll talk more about that in a few minutes. We definitely, definitely will be now. Okay, can I ask the question though?
Dustin:Yes.
Ashley:I kind of want to know, okay, as somebody who you're very big into to Halloween and begin to horror, begin to all of those things. Mm-hmm. What was your first initial thought when they announced this?
Dustin:So when they first initially announced this, my brain went to what they're doing in Las Vegas.
Ashley:What are they doing in Las Vegas? They're doing a Halloween Horror Nights.
Dustin:Oh yeah, yeah, I forgot about this, so that was kind of my thought process, as are they going to do a 24-7 Halloween Horror Nights and we saw them try to do the whole jump scare thing with Skull Island.
Ashley:Yes, when they did that gave it a pretty negative feedback. Yeah, guests didn't like it.
Dustin:So I don't, I definitely don't think this is universal stab at Halloween Horror Nights, especially now that we've taken a look into it and We've seen kind of what's happening in that area. I don't think so.
Ashley:Do you know what I do think, though and this is pure speculation, so obviously I could be completely way off book here but you know, once upon a time HHN was at Islands. Mm-hmm. I'm thinking that this could potentially become HHN headquarters. I.
Dustin:Do not think so, because the plot of land is really really small and even with the expansion it's still gonna be small. And You've got other IPs there, such as Nintendo World, and this park seems to be very family-driven.
Ashley:Absolutely.
Dustin:So maybe, maybe we will see HHN take over the North Campus all together and move into Islands and we'll have an HHN at both parks, and Epic Universe will stay open later in the evening to provide families with a destination. That's not Halloween or horror.
Ashley:Wow, that definitely could be the case. You know what else I'm thinking what? Maybe this will be a nice stepping stone for those that are just dipping their toes into the Halloween world, so like people like myself who, yes, I'm 27 and have just now started watching my first Halloween movie. So I wonder if this is the same concept, that we kind of get to dip our toes in that without feeling that HHN freak out moment.
Dustin:Now, I think this is true because HHN. Because epic universe has already shown a little bit of camp and humor here. So according to early site plans, we saw the large quick service restaurant which was labeled steakhouse and I mean like it's spelled like steak through the heart, not a piece of steak.
Ashley:I think it's so creative. We're doing universal. I know I like that.
Dustin:It's from what, what I've seen, the permits that I have seen. It was for 362 seats and, like I said, it's expected to be an upscale quick service restaurant with the whole order at the counter, set down at the table. Have your food delivered to you, like they do at the leaky culture.
Ashley:Yeah, so I wonder if they also have a new, updated mobile dining system with that too? I'm sure they will. That'd be nice.
Dustin:So the space, from what I've been able to tell, is going to be like very vinhelsing, very ready to fight, with Weapons and supplies filling the empty spaces. So it's gonna feel very tight and comfortable. Not tight and comfortable, it's gonna feel very tight and full, like it is at oh, what is that place? The three broomsticks? Yeah, so it's, there's definitely gonna be theming there. It's gonna look really cool.
Ashley:So I'm excited to see what that is now another quick service area on the other side of the land Featured six about 64 seats, and the plans show a possible windmill from the original Frankenstein film on the outside. Now this area is also expected to contain a bar, which I think will be pretty cool. Oh my gosh, can you imagine the themed cocktails that could come out of this?
Dustin:Oh, that would be really cool.
Ashley:Oh, fingers Gosh, they have back toes now. This area is the interior is filled with gears and mechanical pieces. That over her overhead which may move in this time with the windmill fan outside if it moves it all.
Dustin:I think it would be really neat if it does.
Ashley:Oh gosh, I really hope so now this area may feature a meet and greet of universal monsters, but likely no jump scares like a chinchin as spec, as many have speculated. But once again, only time will tell. Mm-hmm. Gosh, I really hope that's not the case, like because this park seems to be very, very family oriented. I would hate to see a bunch of little kids who have never heard of Frankenstein and never heard of Dracula walk into this place and then immediately be frightened, just like that.
Dustin:I'm sure it's gonna happen. But guess what? There's four other lands that can go to. In my opinion, I mean, but at the same time everything doesn't have to be PC for children at all times. There are three other parks. There's Disney, I think.
Ashley:I think that it'll be good fun you and this hatred for the crotch goblins.
Dustin:I don't, yeah, I, we won't get into that today. So Now this brings us to what's gonna be probably the main attraction that people are talking about. So it's gonna be in the far back of the land. There's a really large building that a lot of people on the internet have called the old manor. I've not been able to confirm if old manor is what this is going to be called officially or not, and it has. Many people have speculated that it has gotten its Inspiration from another very famous piece of architect architecture somewhere else in the world.
Dustin:Now a lot of people are speculating this to be the land's main ride, which is completely indoors. So, according to permits, the attraction is gonna be a kuka arm style dark ride, which is the exact same as forbidden journey, which I personally enjoy that attraction, but I hate the motion sickness that I get from those 3D screens. However, now the ride vehicles on the permits and plans show a much broader viewing range than forbidden journeys, with the seats looking like something out of Dr Frankenstein's Invention instead of this flying bench. So you're not gonna have the bench. You know how it closes over the top of your head and you can't see anything.
Ashley:Yeah, very much feels like I'm enclosed in it.
Dustin:Well, the reason they do that is for when you go into those projection bulbs, the round spheres, and you're watching that video, it's so you can't see out the sides of the screen.
Ashley:You know what I did feel, though, today. That was pretty nice. That helped me to not want to vomit on that. Did you feel the fan above your head?
Dustin:So for the record, we were at the park today and we rode that ride. Yes, I did feel a fan above the head.
Dustin:So I'm thinking that this means that we are not going to be in isolated screen moments, which is good, because that's what a lot of people complain about getting motion sickness and that's that's why I got Gavin today was the fact that we were in those isolated screens, yeah, and it jostles you around in there. So this is what I'm thinking. I'm thinking that we're gonna see a lot more physical sets, maybe some animatronics, and the thing that I thought is the absolute coolest thing that I've seen so far the loading station for this ride is going to feature a Circular load platform instead of a straight line.
Ashley:Wow.
Dustin:And from what I've gathered in research is this means that if it gets to the end of the circle platform and it's ready to like go out onto the track, if it's not been cleared for takeoff, it's not gotten the all clear from the ride operator, it will just continue to circle around in the station again and it will not go out onto the ride. So the the ride operator will be able to get, like guests in wheelchairs, guests with limited mobility, they'll be able to work on that or, let's say, maybe someone gets sick on that particular.
Ashley:I'm scared and doesn't know if they want to ride the ride like it's before they get on that.
Dustin:Yeah, it won't leave the station, it'll able to go in and then the cars behind it will just slow down a little so it stays in the rotation and then the next empty car comes in behind it. So I think that that could be a total game changer, because I know with forbidden Journey they have the issue of if you're not loaded in time and the ride operator hasn't cleared that ride vehicle, it'll shut down the entire ride because it's all just one giant conveyor belt system.
Ashley:I'm really excited for that. But you know what I'm also really excited for? That the plans changed. Yeah, and the early plans. They showed a theater that was placed Across from the manner with some concept art that still was floating around the internet around us showed this. Now, however, in 22 hello 2022.
Dustin:Oh, technical difficulty. She unplugged her headset. She struggled. She's trying to read her computer and keep her mouth next to the microphone at the same time. Computers on my left hand side, like it's on the left, and my mic is was straight at me, so we're just gonna like Quick movement, quick yeah if you're just joining this podcast today because we're talking about Epic Universe, you guys are joining a madhouse of mess.
Ashley:So it's the worst. Please don't judge us too harshly. Okay, and come back for next week. Now, however, in 2022, those plans were replaced by a roller coaster layout. Now both they're speculated to revolve around wolf man. Now this is expected to be a family spinning roller coaster for Mack rides and it's not expected to go upside down.
Dustin:So as the theater was removed and the coaster plans were put in, the Drake stand was also moved to another area in the land, and the Central quote-unquote park area was removed now I think that this was really kind of a bummer for me Because I knew we weren't gonna get back Beetlejuice's graveyard review, but I was hoping that we would see some form of live stage. So, and if you look in the concept art, this was not just a theater, this was like a stadium theater, like it looked huge, do you know what kills me, though?
Ashley:What is universal has two theaters and we they sent dormant. The only time they are used is when they're playing next door to my house and during hhn or no. The other one, over at at suit at islands, is there, I'm not used. The one over there between Comic world and Marvel land, oh.
Dustin:Yeah, I think they have the other one over there by Hagrid's, but those are such awkward spaces for them to do things with, I think because it ones between men and black, and Harry Potter what show are you gonna fit there? It used to be fear factor live, but fear factors, not a TV show anymore, so they're not doing that. And then the other one, like what do you do between to lagoon?
Ashley:and Marvel.
Dustin:I have no clue. I don't know if that was just a concert arena or something, but because where the fear factor building was, that was Bill and Ted from my understanding they still have stuff in there occasionally, like drum, like school choir stuff and things.
Dustin:I don't think anything's happened in there since COVID, but up until COVID I'm pretty sure they were having like clogging competitions and like just these random you know, these random one-off events like how Disney has the children, the show choirs that come out and seeing. I think it was kind of the Same concept.
Ashley:I don't know. I need them to put something in those things or or break it down and put a ride there. Yeah, that'd be what a concept. But I think that's really great, because the plans showed a load building and a section of the attraction called scene 2, which is about halfway Through the ride layout and, to preface, this is going back to that spinning coaster, that we've seen my bad, sorry guys.
Dustin:Now, this is what I'm super excited for and tell me and I got a. I got a good funny joke and a funny story about this. Oh so at the very back of this land is 3.34 acres that has been listed as expansion phase 2 Now that the internet has rumored that this is to be a boat ride based around the creature from the black lagoon.
Ashley:Stop it. Are you going down the same path? I'm thinking.
Dustin:Well, some people believe that this ride was delayed While ride technology was being perfected. So I think stop it that we're. We may see a jaws 2.0 get out of here.
Dustin:And that would make sense, because nothing opened on jaws when it opened. Which leads me to segue into a funny quick story. When I was writing this earlier and I wrote jaws 2.0 and then I wrote because when jaws opened, nothing worked, I was like wait a minute. Oh my god, why didn't they make that joke in Jurassic Park when they did the movie? Because John Hammond makes the joke that when, when Disney opened, nothing worked. And then it hit me Jurassic Park is a universal pictures film, so it was a jab at Disney in a movie.
Ashley:Oh my gosh, I didn't even put you in two together.
Dustin:No, I literally laughed for five minutes today when I found that well yesterday.
Ashley:So do we think that's what's gonna happen here?
Dustin:Um, I don't know. I really hope so, but um I I don't know.
Ashley:As much as I would really like a Creature from the black Lagoon, like I think that'd be kind of spooky, kind of ookey, I think that'd be neat, I Really would, really would just like to see jaws 2.0.
Dustin:Like, just give me that now this land, I think, has been one of the lands that have changed the most In its time. Now, in the early times they called it dark universe before it changed to monsters, and I think the idea I think it was monsters, and now it's dark universe. Is it monsters?
Ashley:in the dark universe. Oh yeah, dark universe now.
Dustin:I think that this was an idea. Basing a land on the Feld cinematic universe seemed To to be let go, so Instead this area has been more designed on a new take of the classic films that pretty much saved universal in the 1930s through the 1950s, which a lot of people don't realize is. These classic monster movies literally saved universal pictures from financial disaster. So I think I think that this land could be universal's love letter to these important characters, and that epic universe Will soon be the only place in the world where you can walk into their world, a world where monsters are real Wow, and hopefully not jump out and eat you, but uh, hey, can we talk about my favorite now?
Dustin:Let's go. Are you ready to travel Back through the portal? We go. Woo.
Ashley:I'm so excited because this is something that I have been wanting for quite a while now, and all Harry Potter fans will probably agree with me we are getting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic. I cannot wait.
Dustin:And it is well overdue because, let me tell you, I've been hearing whispers of a Ministry of Magic attraction. Yes, for probably since before the pandemic, since before Epic was announced, because the rumor was that it was going to go where the Fear Factor Live stage is. Correct. And I think that Halloween Horror Nights was like. No, absolutely not, because we needed that space.
Ashley:I really wish I would have. Maybe I would have gotten sleep during a HHN time. Now, however, you are going to enter the enchanted realm of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which marks the third installment of this franchise, which has been widely noted as the IP that brought life back into the park. Now this is the third Harry Potter park, which is super exciting because it's going to be in a third park.
Dustin:So you go to three of their four parks and you get Harry Potter.
Ashley:How crazy is that going to be? Now you're going to enter into the portal with a large column of the Elder Wand as it's pointed into the sky. Now you're going to immediately walk through Port St Denis.
Dustin:Arch. Port St Denis Arch.
Ashley:St Denis Arch, I'm pretty sure, is how you say that. Now I cannot wait for that. That is going to be so epic to see.
Dustin:And one of the things that I think is wild about it is if you look at the pictures of the construction updates that we're finding online.
Dustin:it is so tight in there, so one thing I don't understand is they keep building all of these Harry Potter places so tight and skinny, and they always seem to be the most popular areas of the park. Now, one thing I do want to say about this before we move further is this was the absolute hardest land for me to find anything on. Universal has been more tight lipped about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic than they have been about any project that I have ever looked at or done research on.
Ashley:I think because they don't want to screw this up and they don't want to put in too many Jesus, because they know that the Harry Potter community will come after them if they don't do it correctly.
Dustin:Now, most recently, we finally got to see permits and project maps of this. Now I have heard speculating, different arguments here. Some people have said that the area will be surrounded around the Fantastic Beasts and where to find them, and that was a very popular theory until Universal last week officially announced that it is called.
Ashley:Ministry of Magic.
Dustin:Well, it's called the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic. Now I have seen a lot of things stating that Fantastic Beasts and where to find them will also be represented, and there will also be tons of Easter eggs, because what that takes place in the 20s originally and Harry Potter takes place in the 80s and 90s.
Ashley:Yeah. So Fantastic Beasts come is the prequel to Harry Potter, so Fantastic Beasts come first, harry Potter comes second. Now you're going to explore the Ministry of Magic and its magical offerings, as it has five retail locations, two restrooms, a theater that sits about 642 people, a very impressive, very exciting I'm ready to see it dark ride and an area for future expansion. So, who knows, maybe we'll get a big old focus there for Fantastic Beasts and where to find them.
Dustin:Yeah, now, I think one of the things that's going to be neat about this area is there's been a lot of speculation on what's going to happen. So, like I said, there's going to be tons of these Easter eggs from both of the franchises, and when you walk into this place you're supposed to be walking into, from what I've understood, is the 1920s Paris.
Ashley:Yes.
Dustin:Or it could potentially be a modern day Paris. We know it's going to be Paris, but we're not 100% sure on the time period.
Ashley:And we should probably preference why it's going to be Paris? Because in the movies the Ministry of Magic is located in Paris.
Dustin:Well, there's different ministries.
Ashley:Correct, but the main one is London.
Dustin:Yes in Paris and so we're going in through Paris and we're going to travel. So I think this part I feel very confident that this is correct, because I've been hearing this for a long time Hi. Rob. So when you start to get in line for the attraction, you're going to travel by flu powder.
Ashley:Oh, can I wait for that?
Dustin:And you're just going to make sure you say the correct name, because you don't want to end up in diagonally.
Ashley:Definitely going to say Diganally.
Dustin:And you travel by flu powder to the London.
Ashley:Yes.
Dustin:Portion of the Ministry of Magic and that's where we're going to see the Ministry of Magic that we came to know towards the end of the film, with a giant statue and a huge area and it's all black and with all that white stuff or all the like, the white trim and everything on it. Yes, and that is where you're going to be getting on to the main attraction.
Ashley:I cannot wait to see that. I want to see how we're going to get flu powder. I want to know how that's going to work. I cannot wait. I want to know if it's going to be a moment where, like, if we screw it up, is that also going to be put in the right? Like, could there be a moment that, like, we say something wrong and it goes, we go somewhere else? Could that be added into the right somehow?
Dustin:I doubt that, but that's actually. That's really cool though.
Ashley:It's going so far.
Dustin:Now there's been a lot of speculation for some time with people thinking that this attraction, when Epic was first announced, there was a patent put in on this new form of elevator technology attraction and a lot of people think that this is what that ride could be. However, recent permits and more rumors that have been seen on the internet is that it's believed that this ride will feature the same motion based 3D dark ride technology from I want to call it MOOG incorporated.
Ashley:I think so.
Dustin:But this is the same company that did Transformers and Spider-Man and, more recently, the Jurassic World attraction in Beijing, so I'm interested to see what we get. Maybe that elevator technology will be a part of the Q system.
Ashley:Oh my gosh.
Dustin:And then the ride itself.
Ashley:So I don't know, but you know, what I'm really excited for is the storyline of this.
Dustin:Do you want to tell them about? So I found one fan theory online. I don't know if it's true, but it sounds epic. Can I do it? Can I do it? Talk about it.
Ashley:What I found is that the ride is still unknown. However, they're claiming they think that this is going to be the returning to the ministry to witness the prosecution of Dolores Umbridge. When things go crazy, we are going to be potentially led into a battle at the Ministry of Magic. Yeah, so it's going to be a scene from the movie.
Dustin:One of the things that I read online was that Harry, Ron and Hermione they're all coming back. Have we confirmed this? Do we know? Okay, so I'm sure they had to be like guys. If you come back and do this, one last ride for us we'll never call you again. Because I don't think. Hermione, excuse me. Emma Watson or Daniel Ratcliffe have both openly said they don't want to do anything.
Ashley:The only one, I think, that said that they would come back is oh God, the entire Harry Potter world is going to come after me, but Ron said he was coming back.
Dustin:And any of the others, come back. Oh my God, we are all. How did I just? Forget his name in real life. I love him. Anywho, I'm going to look it up. Look it up, tom Felton, tom Felton, tom Felton, thank you. Thank you, audience member. We appreciate you.
Ashley:So I think the two of them were the ones that first announced that if anything was coming back for Harry Potter, that they would be a part of it 100%. Let's do it, because both of them were at the opening of Hagrid's when that happened. So I was very, very excited to see that the other two decided Emma and Daniel decided to join.
Dustin:Who plays Neville Longbottom? What's his name in real life, because I just forgot it, but you know he's in Orlando this weekend. He is, yeah. He's at Megacon. Megacon, yeah, and so is Draco's father, matthew Lewis. Matthew Lewis, yeah. So evidently, if this rumor is true, then that means, in the Harry Potter timeline, that this ride takes place in and around the current Correct, which is a sequel.
Ashley:Forbidden Journey comes first and then we're going to pop over to I'm drawing a complete blank Studios. Thank you, no, no, no. We go to Green Guts Hope with the bank situation. And then we pop over to Epic. Well, we pop back over Because Hagrid's really fits anywhere in.
Dustin:Yeah, you can put no, no, no, actually Hagrid's has to fit in the school.
Ashley:Hagrid's fits in the school. Yeah, I think it fits in the school. Hagrid's has to fit in the school.
Dustin:Hagrid's fits in the school, because that's when he's the magical creature's teacher, correct?
Ashley:So you'd have Forbidden Journey, Hagrid's, then Green Guts, and then you would have this attraction which comes all the way afterwards.
Dustin:Yeah, so connected to that same building is going to be that live stage show area that seats about 650. We have literally no information regarding that show. It could be what's going on in there and there's no telling what this potential expansion space could be, because outside of it there is a very large area of space that is available. It's so massive and if you look at the concept art, it looks like they could build a whole new land, because it looks like it goes all the way up to Celestial Park, Because the only thing so it's Harry Potter land trees or well, not really trees, because it's the field and it bumps up against Starfall Racers.
Ashley:Yes, Starfall Racers.
Dustin:So there's a lot of land there potentially that can be done, Lots of things that can happen, but I'm excited to see this. I'm excited to see what they come out with. The Wizarding Worlds at the other two parks have been absolutely fantastic. So I think that there's no telling, especially seeing Celestial Park and seeing what Universal has announced so far, that I think that we will see the biggest, the best and the most technologically advanced Harry Potter universe that we have seen to date at Universal Park.
Ashley:I cannot wait. I'm beyond excited for it, Like I'm ready.
Dustin:Do you know what? I'm also ready for.
Ashley:Oh no, here we go.
Dustin:Are you ready to go into Super Nintendo World?
Ashley:I'm nervous, but yeah, let's go.
Dustin:Alright, I found some good music for this one. Woo. This music just made me so happy, so strange. This fills right up this right here. This is Mario music. This is the 80s, 90s video game music right here, and I love it.
Ashley:It's kind of giving me Mario Kart music.
Dustin:This is the best I could find. So the next thing that we're going to be talking about, I think we owe a lot of thanks to. While I know that for me and you both, Mario is not the world, it's not our absolute favorite thing, no, but without Super Mario talking to your microphone, without Super Mario.
Ashley:That was such an aggressive. No, I'm sorry, it's not that I don't think it's my favorite, but I'm excited to see what they're going to do to this, because I think we owe this part.
Dustin:Yeah, so what Ashley and I were talking about a few before we got started in our research is, super Nintendo World is probably the most highly anticipated addition to the universal genre worldwide, and I think that without Super Nintendo World, I don't think we would have Epic Universe.
Ashley:No, I don't disagree with you. I completely agree. I completely agree. So.
Dustin:Super Nintendo World and Epic Universe will share most similarities with the land from Universal Studios Japan and the other Super Nintendo World location in Hollywood and Singapore. So it's I'm excited for this one. I think this one has the most amount of attractions compared to all the others.
Ashley:Well, I think it's because this one's a little bit bigger than the other ones.
Dustin:I think from what I read, yeah, this is going to be the largest Super Nintendo World of all of them.
Ashley:Well, and it also seems to be the largest at Epic too, because it seems to be kind of like this is the main.
Dustin:No, I think actually how to train your Jaggen. I think Super Nintendo World is actually one of the more smaller ones, but that's because it's built on two levels.
Ashley:Oh yeah, that's true, I forgot about that.
Dustin:Because if you look at the map right now, you have Monsters, which is currently the smallest, and then I think it goes. I think it's Harry Potter. Super Nintendo World is the second smallest. Harry Potter is slightly bigger and has plans to grow even larger, correct. And then Celestial Park is the largest, but that's because it literally goes from the front entrance all the way to the back of the property, to Grand Helios, grand Gosh Helios, grand Grand Helios.
Ashley:Grand Helios. I can not wait to talk about that.
Dustin:So this area features when you first come in. So you're going to go into the pipe.
Ashley:Yeah, you go through like you are part of the video game.
Dustin:And for this one, when you go into the portal you're going to be taken up escalators, so you're entering Super Nintendo World on the second floor.
Ashley:It's kind of like if anybody's ever been to Universal Hollywood, a similar concept, so you would go down into the park like the when Mummy and Jurassic World and all those things kind of concept is, and then a similar concept. We're going back up to Harry Potter.
Dustin:Yeah, but those are long bridges.
Ashley:No, no, no, they're escalators. Full on escalators.
Dustin:Yeah, but oh okay, I haven't been there so I have no, I have no thing, but we're going to see, when you enter into the land, retail and interactive areas. There's going to be one to two restaurants, a Yoshi ride, the Mario Kart dark ride and the Donkey Kong Miniland and Coaster, which I am actually looking forward to the most. So this area, like we said, over Mario Kart.
Dustin:Yeah, I love Donkey Kong and it's new. We'll get into this roller coaster in a minute. You'll understand why I'm so excited. So this place built without limited space, like Japan and Hollywood. So this park is going to feature more open walkways and room to breathe and I think everyone's most excited about that that there's going to be more space to move. It's not going to feel like it when this park opens, because the whole world is going to ascend on South Campus and we're going to be all over Epic and it's going to be Epic, but I think that's an exciting thing.
Ashley:I just hit my mic. I don't think it'll be nearest congested as like Harry Potterland, so I think that'll be pretty nice, I don't know.
Dustin:I think I might have to disagree on that one.
Ashley:I think it's going to be packed. No, no, no. I think that once it calms down, I don't know, we'll see.
Dustin:So this area will also, like I said, it's, going to have that portal and then some of the attractions will differ from that of Japan. So in Japan the main attraction is Mario Kart, koopa's challenge, which the Koopas are Bowser's, like little minions, and here in Orlando the attraction has been known as Bowser's challenge. Yes, and I think it's Bowser's challenge in California as well, I think so.
Dustin:And then, instead of I'm probably going to butcher this Canopo's cafe, our main dining location, according to what we've seen in permits, is going to be Toadstool Cafe, can't wait for that.
Ashley:We can actually pronounce that one. Now you're going to explore Nintendo's themed rides and attractions. With the Toadstool Cafe, we'll have about 344 seats, according to the permits Now. The menu is expected to be similar to that of Hollywood's, with what I think is my personal favorite on that menu would be the Toadstool cheesy garlic nods, a super mushroom soup and the Piranha Plant Caprice. It literally looks so good. Go look at photos.
Dustin:I'll post them and then some of the other stuff on the menu that we've seen have been the Mario Bacon Cheeseburger, the Luigi Pesto Chicken Burger and more items.
Ashley:Now we don't actually know for a fact if we're going to get that, but it Well, because they're telling us it's going to be the same menu or similar to a menu that's in Hollywood, and those are the menu options that Hollywood has.
Dustin:Well, I don't think Universal has officially said it's going to be similar menu items.
Ashley:I think we're all just speculating that it's going to be similar. I hope we get like some sort of peach dessert though.
Dustin:There is, there's a Princess Peach dessert.
Ashley:In Hollywood, I know, but I want us to get one for us. I'm sure we will.
Dustin:She gets her own castle. Of course she gets one.
Ashley:She better get a whole lot of things.
Dustin:Now we're also going to see, like the pit stop, popcorn near the Mario Go Kart ride on the second level.
Ashley:I wonder if we're going to have different flavoring for popcorns.
Ashley:Oh, that'll be interesting, that'd be cute, and Yoshi's Snack, which Yoshi's Snack Island, which is on the lower level near the Yoshi ride. Now, it's unknown if the names of this will be the same or not, but it's definitely something I think that we're all kind of speculating it should be similar to. Now the thing that I'm looking forward to the most is the Bowser's Challenge. Now, it's expected to be the same ride within all versions of Nintendo World, where it combines physical sets, projection, mapping elements, argumentative reality that the only park we know of uses this argumentative reality, augmented Augmented reality.
Ashley:Argumentative reality.
Dustin:You know what it is.
Ashley:My computer screen has a crack in it so that you look like an R Reality of the only park we know of that uses this technology. Now, family um any mover.
Dustin:Yeah, just like the rides at Disney, like Hanon Mansion, those are omnimover attractions. Oh, yeah, they really are.
Ashley:Now. Yoshi's Adventure is expected to remain nearly identical to its Japan counter, where it will take us on a scenic tour over the Mushroom Kingdom, but it's interactive, so you can press colorful egg buttons at the correct time to win a complete task for Captain Toad.
Dustin:And if you look in the art, the overview photos for this, you can actually see these ride vehicles. So this is a fully half indoor, half outdoor omnimover attraction, which I don't think I've ever seen an omnimover attraction also be outside. So this should be interesting. Now the attraction that I'm most excited for is going to be Minecart Madness Donkey Kong Coaster. So this is an attraction that'll be an indoor, outdoor coaster and it features new technology, that Universal Patent called the Boom Coaster.
Ashley:I wonder what that's going to be.
Dustin:Have you not seen it? No, oh, I'm gonna have to show you this. There's actually video. If you get on Twitter, there's a video of this attraction testing in this like random middle of nowhere farm where they built a minivan. Now the design for this has four riders in a Minecart with two rows of two people in each. Now the cart appears to run along a regular track directly in front of you, so you actually see the track in front of you and you're riding on it, okay. And then you round the corner and suddenly the track is all mangled and ripped up and fallen apart and then we are going to jump that track Stop it.
Dustin:We're going to jump over water or whatever. And that's because, in reality, we are gliding along this fake track with a boom arm coming off the side of the Minecart and dropping below that fake track, and there is an actual hidden sideways track underneath that. So this allows the Minecart to appear like it's jumping over gaps and tracks, just like it actually does in the video game. So you're not going to see the track, you're not going to see that boom arm, but you're going to see this fake Donkey Kong track in front of you and then boom, stop it. It's the coolest thing ever.
Ashley:So for more information, Okay, maybe I might be a little bit more excited for this one.
Dustin:So for more information on this, there's like a scene where it shoots you out of the can. You know the barrel where it shoots you out. It's supposed to do that in this ride.
Ashley:Stop, that's funny.
Dustin:So for more information on this specifically, you guys can head over to OrlandoParksDopcom. We'll be sure to try to drop a link below. So I think I'm you know. I said I wasn't like the world's biggest fan of this. However, I grew up on Mario Kart, like Nintendo 64 was in my household, because that's how old I am. I'm. Playstation was not a thing for a while, and so I'm kind of excited for that. I'm looking forward to it.
Ashley:But I didn't play Mario Kart until my family got a Wii, because I did not have a Nintendo 64. Yeah well, but you know what? I'm really excited to talk about all the resorts.
Dustin:Yeah, let's do that for a minute.
Ashley:Yeah, let's do that.
Dustin:So no intro music. Cute, beautiful intro music. I don't know what to play for this.
Ashley:We should just sing something. La, la, la, la, la, la la. Why did that go to Christmas music? I hate us, I don't know. So all right guys.
Dustin:So, as a part of this epic universe and what a lot of people are now calling the South Campus to Universal Studios, we are seeing three new resorts coming online. So the first two resorts that we learned about several months ago and are opening in February of 2025, february 25th of 2025. That's a lot of fives will be the Stella Nova and Terra Luna resorts. Now, both of these resorts are going to be pretty much in the same ballpark range as the endless summer dock side and surf side resorts and or Cabana Bay, which I think Cabana Bay is just a little bit higher than those.
Ashley:You know, I'm really liking that. You know, for me my family always kind of struggled with where we were going to stay for resorts and we always ended up staying like off property. We never, we rarely, rarely stay on a property resort. So I think it's kind of neat that they are kind of going that different economic structure so that way the more value, the more value resorts.
Ashley:But you still get to feel like you are part of everything because it doesn't look like a value. Yeah, so I like that. I'm a big fan of that, so, way to go, universal.
Dustin:Congratulations. Now this these resorts are also another. It's in partnership with Lowe's Hotels Co. Which is the company that has been managing all of the universal resorts since the 90s, except for Hard Rock, I think they still manage it Really. From my understanding, hard Rock Cafe is actually a three way partnership between Universal Parks and Desk and our experiences and destinations, lowe's Hotel Co and Hard Rock itself. So, and that was the second resort, you know that turned 25 this week.
Ashley:Love that Thrupple, so congratulations.
Dustin:But anyways. So back to Stella Nova and Terra Luna. So they're opening before the parks plan to open. There are going to be 750 rooms in each of the resorts.
Ashley:That's going to be huge.
Dustin:And from what I've gathered so far, there is only going to be one room design, whereas Endless Summer features family suites and, who knows, we may see family suites come online later in the year. But I know they're currently renting out these hotel rooms now and you can book your stay. I don't see why they would be renting out a standard room and not renting out the family suites.
Ashley:That would make sense. Hey, do you know how many rooms Daxide and Cersei have?
Dustin:So Surfside Inn Suites, I believe, has about 700 rooms.
Ashley:Okay.
Dustin:And Dockside is the second largest resort on campus next to Cabana Bay. I believe Surfside or Dockside has about or around 1200.
Ashley:Oh, okay, I was just trying to see where it would fall. Like the 750 would fall in between all of those.
Dustin:Yeah, these both. So both of these and the other resort that we're going to talk about in a minute, they're relatively smaller, okay, so then, being relatively smaller makes them fall more in line with Portofino and Endless Summers.
Ashley:It's going to be a little bit like small I wouldn't say small scale, but like cozier homier feeling. Rather than 700 different rooms, 7000 different rooms.
Dustin:Now I have recently also looked online and it appears I don't know if Universal owns the property around Epic Universe, but I have seen probably about a hundred additional acres of land broken up in that area that I've seen labeled as additional resorts for future expansion. So we may see, and I've also actually saw a map that actually has South City walk outside Epic. So I don't know if any of that is going to be true or not. I've not heard anything on it.
Ashley:What speculation.
Dustin:We're going to have another city walk I think that it would be neat to have another place. So if you're staying at South Campus, you don't have to board a bus to go over to the North Campus just to have dinner or something.
Ashley:I really love the fact that we're calling it North and South Campus, like I really think that's neat.
Dustin:I don't think that's a thing. It's just something I've created.
Ashley:Listen, I think we should make it stick. We're going to college at Universal Now. Each of these rooms are going to have two queen beds, two compartments, so three fixture bathrooms. They're going to have a shower or tub, or a combo of each, if you need it. They're going to have one 55-inch flat-screen TV with HD channels and on-demand in-room movies, and obviously fees will apply, so I'm sure we're going to see a lot of peacock push here and then there's also going to be a coffee maker, a mini fridge and in-room safe iron and ironing board, hair dryer, wireless internet, a telephone and voicemail. There's also going to be pack and place upon request and unfortunately there will not be any rollaway beds.
Dustin:Yeah, so these hotel or these resort rooms are going to be pretty on par with what you've seen with Universal resorts. They're going to be about 315 square foot. Like I said, we only have so far the one standard room design. However, universal's been pretty prominent when it comes to even the standard rooms, have two prices. You have a standard view standard room and then you have a pull room or a premium view, like a garden view or something what's the view for this.
Dustin:See, that's what I'm wondering, because I have no clue what it would be, because I don't think the back sides of them par up to the theme park.
Ashley:The only one that actually would get a view would be Grand Helios. We'll get to that.
Dustin:Yeah, so I don't know Now. The expected amenities at this area are expected to be the same as the in the summer resorts. So you're going to have a three meal quick service restaurant. So it's probably going to be that food court style setup where they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, a coffee bar and grab and go, according to the low site but they haven't confirmed whether or not this will be a Starbucks- I would highly doubt it would be anything different, seeing as how Universal does have that contract with Starbucks and Starbucks is in every single low resort.
Dustin:I don't think it's a contract with Starbucks. It's because all of the Starbucks on Universal campuses are franchise.
Ashley:They're owned by.
Dustin:It's the same thing like when you go to a grocery store and there's a Starbucks in the grocery store. That Starbucks is a franchise store owned by that store.
Ashley:So I wonder if, because Starbucks they own that franchise, that are in every single hotel. I wonder if it would shock me that they wouldn't.
Dustin:I mean, it makes sense, unless they're wanting to go with a spaced theme. So, in case you can't tell, these are named after space. So Stella Nova, terra, luna, those are space themed things. So my only thought is, maybe they want to go in a space themed thing and do their own kind of coffee bar, but I don't know. The other thing that they're going to be getting is a pull bar and grill. Now this is where they differ from dock side and surf side. They do not have pull side grills. They have pull side bars, but no food available. So these resorts seem to be that they're going to have bars and Lowe's has said that they'll offer burgers, quesadillas, salads. So this is more like Cabana Bay. If you go to Cabana Bay, they've got a pull side grill where you can order those things and then they will offer the pizza delivery to your room. Press zero on the phone. In your room you can order pizza, boneless wings and dessert suites from like 4pm to midnight. Maybe, I'm not 100% sure.
Ashley:You know what I do like, though. No, you know what I am wondering. I'm wondering if we're going to see any sort of like with dock side and with surf side. We have that, that. Hey, here's the homage to Wet and Wild. So, I wonder if we're going to get some sort of homage here.
Dustin:To what I don't know it was an empty field, wasn't it?
Ashley:I don't know.
Dustin:Maybe we'll get something to space though.
Ashley:Are they going to call it a Apollo cocktail? Are they going to call it like that kind of space? That's what I'm thinking Maybe.
Dustin:An homage to Florida, like an homage to Kennedy Space Center and things like that. That could be interesting.
Ashley:Without obviously like getting in trouble with Kennedy Space Center. Alright.
Dustin:Universal Creative.
Ashley:Loose Creative.
Dustin:The Apollo 13. We want royalties on that one.
Ashley:Yeah, we'll take that one, Thank you.
Dustin:So now I'm excited to move on.
Ashley:This is my favorite one.
Dustin:So I want to preface this with one of the things that made me really excited when I moved to Orlando. I wanted to go to work for this hotel. I've seen concept art of it from the beginning. Yeah, I kind of do. I think it would be really fun to work at this place because it's amazing. So Universal and Loose are doing something that has never been done At least I know, in the US.
Dustin:I'm sure it's may have been done somewhere else in the world, I don't know. But for Orlando especially, this is something that's never been done.
Ashley:It's the first of its kind.
Dustin:So Helios Grand opening in 2025.
Ashley:It does not have a month or a date set, it is not just 2025 is all we know.
Dustin:I imagine it will probably open with the park.
Ashley:I'm thinking maybe later than the park, though.
Dustin:I don't think so, because Helios Grand, when you walk into Epic, when you walk through the Kronos and you look to the back of Celestial Park, you see Helios Grand. It is there.
Ashley:This is such a concept. To me, this is so crazy.
Dustin:Helios Grand will be an in-park resort. Yes, it will, it's going to have about 500 rooms. It's believed that this is named after Helios, the Greek god of the sun. Universal has been known to describe this as a divine escape with dazzling views, so I think that I second this. I second that this is named after the Greek god of the sun and, if not, I am hereby officially dubbing it the Greek god.
Ashley:Wow. Now, this in-park hotel is a combination of carefully planned pro-grammatic.
Dustin:Where Programmatic, programmatic, yeah.
Ashley:Let's go with that Elements with a unique themic story Fematic I'm over you. I'm over you. I'm over words.
Dustin:This is how I know she's getting tired.
Ashley:I am guys, I'm so tired, I'm so sorry. Can you do this, can you?
Dustin:So this in-park hotel is a combination of carefully planned pro-grammatic elements with unique thematic story Story, because I put story in there twice.
Ashley:Listen, you're tired too.
Dustin:That accumulates in a lavish extension of story for guests to the park. I think that when we see more information about this park come out, it's going to be designed in line with Celestial Park.
Ashley:I think it's going to be beautiful. You know, with Inhibition, as a present day, this alternates the universe design. This project was born out of the imaginary of fable, video game worlds and film. As it was set as a backdrop to the park, I cannot wrap my head around the fact that this hotel is literally inside the park.
Dustin:You know what this is.
Ashley:This is like Cinderella's Castle, but an actual hotel.
Dustin:Have you actually seen the internet meme going around right now where people have replaced Cinderella's Castle with Rand Helios at the end of Main Street, usa, but they've blown it up to where you can't see anything else but Helios at the end.
Ashley:It really is. It's a similar concept. So if that's what you were thinking to try to compare those two, that's which obviously every single theme park nerd, theme park enthusiast, theme park employee or employer is going to do that we're going to compare these two parks.
Dustin:And I think, one of the great things, if you've looked at the recent concept art, that I don't know if it was leaked or it was supposed to come out, but there's just this one-of-a-kind hotel. We don't know what the rooms look like, we don't know what the suites look like. We only know that there's 500 of them, correct? We've heard that there's going to be a spectacular outdoor pool and it's rumored that the top floor of the resort is going to be an amenity floor which will include a ballroom and a domed bar, so you'll be able to see the night sky and everything.
Ashley:I cannot wait, I'm ready.
Dustin:I think one of the most exciting things about Epic and this is pure speculation from me and Ashley- this is my favorite. So if you look at the concept art for Epic Universe in Helios Grand, you will see fireworks everywhere. There's fireworks in celestial park. There's fireworks above Helios Grand. There's fireworks in Harry Potter.
Ashley:There's even fireworks in how to Train a Dragon.
Dustin:Yeah, this has led a lot of people to believe that we might actually get fireworks with the south campus and drone shows, so something that happens rarely at the north campus. So this past year for Christmas or New Year's we got fireworks. On New Year's we got a little bit of fireworks.
Dustin:You get a little bit of flare action at the Harry Potter Castle because it's not a loud explosion. But what a lot of people don't realize is right behind the exterior wall of Hagrid's magical creature motorbike adventure is Dr Phillips High School, darn school. Darn new school Now, because there is a school right there and a lot of children in Orlando do a lot of walking to and from school. From my understanding, what I've been told is universal cannot do nightly fireworks like Disney can, because they are in such a residential area.
Ashley:They're also in a school curfew area.
Ashley:So what that means is that most of these kids I say most because obviously this is a parental thing, it's not an enforced thing but most of them tend to go to bed at a decent time, so because of that, they can't have any loud noises, loud banging, anything like that. I hate it. I love the fact that Dr Phillips High School is right behind us, because most of the time all of those kids grow up to want to work for Universal, so I love that. For that. I think that's great, and Universal works with them quite a bit. We do a lot of our grad bash comes out of them, so it's great. I think that's fantastic.
Dustin:However, give me some fireworks.
Ashley:Yeah, so hopefully.
Dustin:I love our water show though I don't want to hate, I'm excited to get it. Well, the water show that we haven't had since.
Ashley:No, no, no, it was there for after COVID.
Dustin:We haven't had it. For what a year A year. Because we didn't have it last year for Halloween Horror Nights.
Ashley:No. And we didn't have it the year before that at a length. Yes, we had it for the year before that because I was still here during that year, so I'm excited to see what that is.
Dustin:So that, guys, that is pretty much our speculation on the lands and what we think is happening there.
Ashley:I mean it's a wrap up our speculation, but it definitely wraps up what we've been told.
Dustin:Yeah, I'm excited to see. I've heard rumors about some things that I'm not going to talk about just yet, but I'm excited to see, I think, that Universal has successfully pulled off a stunt that I think for the first time in the Disney and Universal.
Ashley:Competition.
Dustin:Competition, or friendly fire as I like to call it, because that's what it has been for many years. I think that they finally pulled a trick. I think, they finally pulled a trick out of their hat that is going to make Disney go. What do we do next?
Ashley:I think Disney is sitting there right now at a table going oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. What do we?
Dustin:do Disney doesn't say that. Don't say those words. And that man's name and the same sentence oh, shoot as he's holding a cigarette.
Ashley:Oh shoot, oh shoot, oh shoot. Is that better for you?
Dustin:Yes, good guy, miss Mahler.
Ashley:I honestly, God believe they're quick and in their boots Like they are freaking out right now.
Dustin:Well, a lot of, because this is epic.
Dustin:This is I'm doing it again, guys, this is huge, it is and I think that where Disney has been making improvements, they've been improving upon the areas that they already have, and I think Universal's been doing that too. But Universal is the first one out of the two to pull this out of their hat and say we're going to create a whole new land. It's going to be state of the art, it's going to be something that you all have never seen. It's going to be something that no one has ever seen.
Ashley:But I think Universal needed this. I really do. I mean, don't get me wrong I love the two parks that we have, the three parks I'm sorry because I sometimes forget VB is also there.
Dustin:Volcano Bay.
Ashley:We don't go to Volcano Bay near as much as we should, but it's.
Dustin:Well, I'm also. It is a little chilly right now.
Ashley:It's been freezing so, but Florida freezing. It's been cold.
Dustin:But yeah, I think it's going to be great, no.
Ashley:I really do, I think. I think that Disney is freaking out about this. I think that they don't friend or keep talking, you're fine.
Ashley:Definitely scared the crap out of me. I think that they don't have an idea of how to to reattack this. You know, I think that Universal took a small break here on trying to to upgrade some of the rights that they already had and went. Let's focus on Epic. How do we focus on Epic? Let's do that, let's do that. I think that Disney is focusing on Things that have already been focused on.
Dustin:Yeah, they've been reinventing the spaces that they already have, like and you know don't? I haven't seen the Moana journey of water yet. I'm excited to go see that, I'm looking forward to it, but I've heard it's been fairy lackluster for a lot of people that I know, and I'm getting a head shake from someone right now that just walked in the door and they're like it's okay.
Ashley:I'm getting in a but.
Dustin:I think that Universal is going to do a good job of taking that a lot of the technologies that we've already seen, like I've said, you know, with these ride types, these rides that we're getting, but they're going to reinvent them in ways that we've never seen them used before, or we've never seen them used before here in the US at least.
Ashley:I'm you know what it is. I'm also kind of excited to see that friendly competition go from friendly to hi. We want to be first, yeah.
Dustin:And I think this is going to completely change the economic impact of this, because people could take a week long trip to Disney and now Universal Creative is saying hey, we are now making Universal Studios a seven day long destination, because that's how long it's going to take you to get through our parks and to enjoy everything that we have, and I think that it's absolutely amazing.
Ashley:They're stepping up their game. I think that they are putting themselves in the same running as Disney. If not, maybe one could say putting Disney to the side, having family shoes, universal instead. Because I think, for for my family personally, I grew up a Disney kid. I didn't go to Universal until I was in my twenties. So I was always under the impression my family's always under the impression that Universal was more for that teenage adult kind of vibe. It was not for the little kids, it was not for the families. This park is showing me it's for the families.
Dustin:Yeah, I think there's going to be something for everyone.
Ashley:So I think that this is going to this is going to give Disney a run for the money. I really do. I'm a firm believer in it.
Dustin:Yeah. So, guys, as we continue on and over this next year, through 2024 and then to 2025, I think, as more stuff comes out on Epic Ashland I will definitely jump back and see where our predictions were correct, where our predictions are wrong, and if there's anything new and exciting that's coming out, I'm excited to do that. But we want to thank you guys for taking the time out to listen with us, even though this wasn't the episode that we had originally planned on doing today. So we hope you guys join us back next week as we do officially delve into the city beautiful part to talk about our book.
Ashley:We give you a life update.
Dustin:We talk about all the Are you saying you want to play Dutch Blitz? Oh, okay.
Ashley:We talk about all the things We'll talk, even talk about Dutch.
Dustin:Blitz. We'll talk about Dutch Blitz. We learned to play Dutch Blitz the other day. It'll be great, we'll do some fun stuff with that, but do us a favor like subscribe rate and share the podcast.
Ashley:Hold on, I'm sorry what. Hold on Okay.
Dustin:Do you want to see something really fun and cool? I learned how to talk like a voice actor. All right, are you ready? All right, hold on.
Ashley:Give it to me.
Dustin:Subscribe now.
Ashley:No.
Dustin:No, that wasn't actually me, that was horrible.
Ashley:I know it was absolutely terrifying. You know what it wasn't Epic. And on that note, we would just want to thank you guys for listening and subscribing. Share your podcast with your friends, share your podcast with your family and, most important, share it with your favorite bartender. Can't wait to talk to you guys next week.
Dustin:We want to thank you for staying plugged in with Orlando Unplugged, and I had a couple of questions. If you guys are interested, the audio music that we have today is from Epidemic Sound, which is you can find them online super easy, but they are our official supplier of all of our background audio moving forward, so we're really excited to have this partnership with them Until next week. Goodbye, Bye guys.
Dustin:Subscribe rate share, please share, please share the podcast. And actually I have one more favor to ask. All right, go ahead. If you guys are subscribed on Apple Podcast, do us a favor. Jump over to Spotify. Yes, subscribe there. If you're on our YouTube channel, subscribe there. Please subscribe on all of the platforms. The more people that subscribe, the more people can see us. Don't forget to follow us on our social medias. Do all of those things, please help us. Ashley and I really, really want this to grow and to become something much larger, and we definitely need your all's help for that. So it costs zero dollars to like, subscribe and share and tell your friends to listen. So please do that.
Ashley:Listen, like we always say, share with your family, share with your friends and, most importantly, your favorite bartender, cheers. Thank you.