Universal Orlando welcomes a new era of attraction technology when the epic Universe Theme Park portal is officially open on Thursday mornings.
Central Florida’s first major theme park debut since 1999 was designed with modern features to meet today’s consumer expectations. There are many new techniques on multiple sides. There are times when it is obvious, such as lockers activated by facial recognition, but visitors may not park.
Peter Weischal, director and professor of UCF’s Theme Experience Program, said:
He said the new power-up band, Epic’s super Nintendo world-energized wearable technology, and the latest iteration of Wands for the magic of the land of Harry Potter, are driving that trend.
“It’s definitely a new way to attract guests and make them feel like they have a certain degree of agency for what they’re looking at,” Weishal said.
Epic Universe also has a thematic land called How to Train Dragon Island and Dark Universe. This introduces classic universal characters such as Dracula, Wolfman, and Mummy.
“It’s not easy”
The buzzy attraction within the Dark Universe is named the Monster Un Chains: Frankenstein Experiment. Riders slid through a dark, stormy, revenge-driven storyline, encountering animatronics lurking from multiple directions at a fast pace.
During a preview of the park, Jeff Polk, general manager and executive vice president of the magnificent universe, said:
“There are high-level animated figures that interact directly with the ride vehicle, and they introduce a rather complicated ride system, video and other effects, and they have more other effects than they’ve been combined into one space before,” he said.
“It’s not easy to do that. I can tell you, it’s not easy,” Polk said.
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Orlando theme parks have regularly updated their ride systems and have introduced innovative inventions to new attractions over the years. The epic universe will first open with 21st century technology alone.
UCF’s Weishar refers to Minecart Madness, the epic roller coaster of the Super Nintendo world’s Donkey Con Grand. The ride design creates the illusion of broken rails and carts flying across the gap.
“Like most innovations, it’s the incorporation of some existing technologies combined with some new and different ideas,” says Weishar.
He then labeled Harry Potter in the park and rode a game-changer to the fight for the province. Passengers watch the shaking chase scenes, including the film’s characters and an elaborate lift system.
“You’ve seen fragments of it before, but it wasn’t on its scale, and it was never on its quality,” Weishar said.
“If we continue doing that, we’ll hope to see something of that quality in the future, especially with new vehicles,” he said.
Things will change soon
Dennis Spagel, founder of International Theme Park Services, said development is happening rapidly.
“Technology has risen to a world level of theme parks that we couldn’t imagine even 10 or 15 years ago,” Speigel says. “It allows us to do what we can now attract our guests, and that’s a combination of CGI, AR and VR.”
Mario Kart: Epic’s ride, known as Bowser’s Challenge, debuted at Universal Studios Japan in 2021 and in 2023 at Universal Studios Hollywood in California. The Orlando version is already an upgrade.
“Even in the short time it takes to introduce vehicles in other parks, this version has faster computers, higher resolution, higher frame rates and newer technology,” says Weishar.
Lights and camera action
Epic’s Celestial Park, an introductory area for the new park, features tap water and a lagoon at the foot of the Helios Grand Hotel.
“The park has 7 million independent, color-changing programmable LED lights in the celestial park alone,” Polk said.
“These are things you can see and can’t see,” he said. “Wright’s technology, people don’t think about it, but it’s really complicated.”
There are elaborate wiring and water to consider.
“It’s an amazing thing I’ve never tried before,” Polk said.
Smartphones and mobile ordering are becoming increasingly common in real, non-parking living, and are integrated into a spectacular universe, especially in restaurants. For years, the attraction designers plotted people out of their devices, Weishar said.
“Then they came to realize that people aren’t going to do that now,” he said. “How do you integrate your park experience with the phone you already have in your hand?…Use it to help you understand your next ride.
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Consumer morphing preferences also influenced the designs of several new parks. The Epic ticket booth for on-site purchases is headed to the right, not the standing guard in front of the entrance.
“We’re really trying to push ourselves into the world of mobile tickets,” Polk said.
Ticket areas may be reused.
“The building might be something else,” Polk said. “It’s ultimately about thinking where you want to be in the future. “OK, it’s just carbon what we do because we do today.”
Face the future
Epic uses facial recognition to open lockers and fast lines with the goal of extending these features.
“I don’t think it’s completely there yet, but I think within the next five years, it will start at the front gate and be utilized through the attraction,” Speigel said.
Universal’s goal is to make the attraction “friction-free,” Polk said.
“We’re really focused. To remove friction from the guest experience, you just have to plan at home, get on the internet, get on the phone, come here, come to the gate, get into the park, the technology disappears into the background, and have fun,” Polk said.
Modern technology could change the way parks update or replace existing attractions, Speigel said.
“What we’ve been working on for a long time is evolving our software and plans for software improvements and expansions.
“Let’s leave room for the program we can put there. I think we’ll see it, rather than demolishing the ride or rebuilding new rides,” he said.
And technology could help people chase homes after the park experience, Speigel said.
“Everyone can connect with your park — Disney, Universal, anyone. It also happens through your computer at home,” he said. “I think face recognition is a place where the world is moving forward. I think that will become your fingerprint for tomorrow.”
Experts say they are hoping for bumps along the way.
“Every time you get out of the gate and swing with new technology, there’s always something you didn’t expect or something you have to adapt,” Polk said.
“We see a rapid rise in technology, effectiveness and innovation, but I think it is always there and is always moving forward to create new experiences.
“What’s going to happen, and what’s already happening, is competition. Disney is preparing for a major expansion at Disney World as an answer to some of the things you see in the epic, and Universal hasn’t stopped momentum either,” he said.
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