Epic Universe... Animatronics?

Epic Universe

So far, epic Universe has had wonderful reviews. This park was meant to be a leap forward in immersive design, and it has delivered a lot of that. Reviews have been positive, and guests seem to be flocking to the new park. Often described as the first major park to open in the United States in 25 years (sorry, Hard Rock Park), it's getting the attention it deaerves. The part of this park that has really caught my eye is the animatronics.

That may seem like a shock to many of you. For years, Universal has been described as the company that uses screens instead of building physical rides. Yet here we are, watching them build amazing animatronics. 

The first ones to catch my eye were the figures for How to Train Your Dragon. There's a full meet and greet with some of the cutest figures. These figures are reminiscent of Boston Dynamics's robotic dogs.


There are dragons that fly over the themed land. These Dragon Drones look amazing in the sky.


But it's not just the ambiance characters that make it so great. There are also animatronics in the rides. Monsters Unleashed has 14 different figures - all incredible. They have some amazing moments there, so we won't share any pictures here.

This is definitely a shift for Universal. Add to this figures like the Piranha Plants at super Nintendo World, and you can tell that Universal is leaning into more physical props. The screens aren't gone, but they are blended with beautiful animatronics. There are figures scattered throughout the lands and the rides, and it makes the worlds feel more lived in. I won't say where they're all at, because many people haven't been able to visit yet, and I don't want to ruin the surprise of finding a new. But it's a big improvement on the immersive worlds that Parks have been making in recent years.

The company is aiming to grow a steam party business in Florida, and Epic Universe will help it to turn into a destination on par with Walt Disney World.

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