If we thought we were already super-excited for the imminent debut of the fabulous Epic Universe, in the words of the song, “We ain’t seen nothing yet.” There is more in store – MUCH more.
With the official opening now little more than six weeks away, we have had another week absolutely packed with hints and insights, previews and new elements. For the first time, we have been given a major look at what to expect from the park’s live entertainment, and it looks like being – you guessed it – just Epic.
The week started with the opening of the second on-site hotel for the new park, the Terra Luna Resort. After we featured the ground-breaking Stella Nova Resort back in January, it was the turn of its sister resort to take the spotlight with a razzamatazz inaugural event and its first guests.
There are certainly a lot of similarities with the two hotels, as there is with Universal’s Surfside Inn and Dockside Inn Value resorts, most notably the sleek, bright, almost futuristic style and the line-up of amenities, from the signature Café and Market to the vast and inviting pool deck, complete with hot tub, games and poolside movies, plus its attendant Bar and Grill.
Like Stella Nova, Terra Luna boasts 750 identical rooms, most with two queen beds, and the whole vibe is clean and fresh. Stella remains slightly closer to Epic Universe (barely a 10-minute walk), but otherwise they are essentially the same resort, just with different décor. And, like all Universal hotels, they both offer early entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Volcano Bay water park an hour before regular guests.
When it comes to the details – and previews – of the park itself, though, we have been short of information about the Epic Entertainment in store once the gates open for the first time on May 22.
We’ve been able to list the five Lands that make up the park, most of the main rides (including some stupendous coasters in each of Celestial Park, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Super Nintendo World) and the dining highlights we can expect to savour, as well as the stunning level of detail we will be immersed in.
But, for the first time, Universal has been talking at length about the live shows and other street entertainment we can expect to enjoy, thanks to Kathrynn DiGenova, the Senior Producer for parkwide entertainment for Epic, who appeared on this week’s edition of the Discover Universal Podcast. And the discussion made for some amazing insights into both the big production shows that will be a major part of the line-up and the smaller-scale “streetmosphere” encounters that we’ll see. So let’s pass on what DiGenova revealed in the 40-minute podcast, as there are some really significant elements to anticipate.
Looking first at the two Headline Shows, these should have maximum effect as they are being touted with “Broadway quality” production values, and plenty of creative flair.
First up is Le Cirque Arcanus, set in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, where a tent-like venue will lead visitors into an ever-increasing queue and pre-show area before arriving in the massive “tent” that is the circus-style theatre.
“We’re in Wizarding Paris, in La Place Cachée, which is an international wizarding hub,” explained DiGenova. “Le Cirque Arcanus is incredible. I’ve had the pleasure of working on a lot of entertainment for our parks and resorts, and I can truly say this is a gem among them, something we have never done before.”
This ground-breaking show will include aerial performers, puppetry and major set changes, in addition to a series of circus acts that include elements of magic and wizardry. “It is going to really change how you see theme park shows,” added DiGenova.
The How to Train Your Dragon land will be the setting for the other major stage production, The Untrainable Dragon. In this live show featuring stirring music and the classic Dragon characters Hiccup, Gobber and Astrid, a new dragon shows up and the Vikings believe they may have met their match with the wild creature. The undoubted highlight of the performance, though, is likely to be the moment Toothless flies directly over the audience – something that promises to be totally breathtaking.
The most keenly anticipated moment for visitors to this land, though, is likely to be the chance to recreate the moment when Hiccup gets to touch Toothless or the first time and forms the lasting bond between boy and dragon, while we can also expect to meet Astrid and Stormfly, plus Ruffnut, Tuffnut and Gobber. In fact, this will feature “dragons around every corner of that land,” according to DiGenova.
And then there will be the other Live Entertainment, a series of more personal street performers and characters who add to the immersive nature of the lands and keep things in the style and theme of each one.
One such will be in the Wizarding World with a student from the French-based Beauxbatons Academy of Magic with two “international exchange students” from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. They are carrying the Monster Book of Monsters and will provide a glimpse of what’s inside the famed tome, which is sure to thrill most Potter fans.
Another unique encounter will be outside the French Ministry of Magic in the Place de Furstemberg, where an Auror is questioning guests about why they want to enter the Ministry (which sounds a bit like the Shrunken Head on the Knight Bus in the Wizarding World in Universal Studios), while there will also be a character meeting with glamorous French wand-maker Cosme Acajor, as well as face-to-face interactions with some of the talking portraits we’ve seen in the other Wizarding Worlds and a bunch of street musicians, including Plume the Puffskein.
And then there is the all-out character-fest of Nintendo World, with each of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach, Toad and Donkey Kong, while Dark Universe will add a more sinister edge to the meet-and-greets, with the likes of Frankenstein’s Monster, the Bride of Frankenstein and the all-new character of Dr Victoria Frankenstein (with her inevitable assistant, Ygor). DiGenova hinted that we can expect to see another classic, larger-than-life “monster” in the form of The Invisible Man, although she didn’t explain how we will “see” him! This sinister land will also feature a roving violinist and his story-telling of the mysterious village of Darkmoor, as well as a group called The Hounds, who will tell tales of encounters with the monsters.
For the all-new land of Celestial Park, Epic’s hub area, there will be more specially created characters roaming the land, as well as on the Hemisphere Stage, where actors and singers will relate their travels through the different portals to the other lands. In all, says DiGenova, there are 30-plus pieces of live entertainment waiting to be experienced, all telling different aspects of the Epic Universe story.
Once again, it all adds up to another exciting facet of a theme park that promises to be like no other, and we can’t wait for May 22!
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