Epic Universe News & Planning Thread

Universal Orlando Resort
262

Holy crap!

I mean, there could be some kind of Spring Break / Presidents Day reason but this makes a certain amount of sense.

Counterpoint: seems like if they really wanted to be sneaky though they would wait to raise prices until like the night before the announcement of the opening date.

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263

Prices at hotels are often higher on Feb. 14. But to stay higher is curious.

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264

It seems that ALL Universal hotels jump dramatically on Feb. 14, 2025. Which would seem expected in the first weeks/months after opening.

Good counterpoint. But since you can book 18 months ahead, people will be booking anyway for early summer 2025 in anticipation of the opening. And Universal knows that, and will surely up the rates.

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265

Soo are we gonna place bets on soft openings-

Winner closest without going over gets a butterbeer…

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266

Probably the losers will end up getting butterbeer as well. :laughing:

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267

If you look at the end of February or early March, you can see options for both Stella Nova and Terra Luna

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268

2025??

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269

Yeah, booking opened last week.

It was always expected that the sister hotels would open before the park.

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270

Thanks :slightly_smiling_face:

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271

I am booked for Mardi Gras starting in February - so yeah I am getting a butter beer anyway :yum:

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272

Some price checks for comparison

Friday 2/7/25

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Thursday 2/13/25

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Friday 2/14/25

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Friday 2/28/25, which is normally a lower rate time

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273

LOL Epic Universe is NOT opening February 14, 2025. Y’all, come on.

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Epic opening date?
274

Rain On Parade GIFs | Tenor

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275

When do you think it will open?

276

Universal has said it will open in the summer of 2025.

I’m expecting limited phased previews to begin in April or May for TMs and special guests. Probably be open for Memorial Day weekend with a Grand Opening in June. Not for nothing but the 35th anniversary of the resort is June 7, 2025…

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Epic opening date?
277

This makes total sense & a perfect timeline for summer. Wouldn’t this be a cool coincidence?!!?

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279

Some info from Alicia Stella

  • Expect official Epic U news/announcements in January from Universal
  • The Epic Universe Preview Center is expected to open in June (Former Legacy store in CW)
  • Tickets will go on sale late summer 2024
  • Team Member and AP Previews are planned for “early 2025” (may not have a soft opening)
  • Universal is not expected to offer AP upgrades to Epic when the park opens to help manage capacity
  • Celestial Park (hub) is expected to open to non ticket holders for dining/shopping every evening
  • The Express lanes are not expected to be open until well after grand opening (Helios will not have EP included initially)
  • The first expansion (WWOHP Great Hall) may open already in 2026
  • The next expansion may be a Luigi’s Mansion mini-land
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280

Like, even for the IoA and US??
Seems like if your paying for a premium hotel it should be included, even if the new park isn’t opening with EP lanes to begin with.

281

Probably not because that would take more capacity if the Helios guests would be able to jump to the old parks. They would have to adjust something like sell less Express passes.

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