Theme park fans can take a peek behind the curtain in the new three-part Peacock series, “Epic Rides: Stories from Universal Theme Parks.”
The program parallels the making of Epic Universe, which opened in Orlando in late May, and the history of Universal Parks as a whole, going back to the days of little-known Universal Pictures founder Karl Laemmle and subsequent studio tours.
On the epic side of the series, there’s a bit of false jeopardy as to whether the theme park will open in time. Because we know how it goes. But the show effectively shows that there are a million things to worry about, from wolf fur trimming to frayed trash cans to “Can we get this done in time?”
There are revelations and unusual looks throughout the episode. I’m not saying trade secrets are shared, but surprises unfold that make you think, “Would I say that out loud when the cameras were rolling?” So here are 10 surprisingly candid moments from the “Epic Ride.”
lit
On display during the day will be the Dark Universe, including the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment attraction and its array of animatronics. The viewer gets a peek at the characters in mid-pose or dysfunction, and when they are not moving they appear very dead to the eye. (There is also a shot of animatronics operating inside the warehouse.)
Team members are shown in the rafters of Unchained and discuss timing, lighting, impact, and first impressions. There is no conversation about Barefoot Dracula within earshot.
up in the air
Drama ensues as a drone-powered dragon is scheduled to fly over the park. The problem is that it’s larger than expected, its shape (10-foot wingspan), the weight of the battery pack, and windy conditions. This will lead to a situation where it will be decided whether or not to fly by the opening day.
That’s when I realized I wish the series had been in the style of “The Office” and had reactions to the camera.
During testing, I settled on a quote from Katie Pacitti, executive producer of the Bark Island area: “It’s probably a little harder than you expected.” And for the typical late push issue: “Everything is glitchy at this point.”
below and around
Another mechanical spectacle can be glimpsed beneath the surface of Epic’s Celestial Park attraction, the Constellation Carousel. Admittedly, this merry-go-round is more complex than your average carousel, with multiple circles spinning in both directions and creature-based rides traveling higher than you might expect.
But it’s Florida. We don’t think about the basement.
inside the beast
The stage show “Le Cirque Arcanus” inside Harry Potter’s Wizarding World at the Ministry of Magic has repeatedly attracted attention.
What is unusual is that several mythical beasts are involved. We see team members being trained how to walk inside a giant, awkward doll. You can’t see inside the structure, but that may be overkill. Perhaps not as unpleasant as a headless Mickey Mouse, but some might say this could ruin the magic.
stardust situation
The release of the series has been delayed several times, most recently in September, shortly after a death aboard Epic’s Stardust Racers roller coaster. Although the official reason for the postponement of the Peacock series has not been disclosed, it is interesting to see how this attraction will be handled.
Early on in the series, viewers can see the vehicle, which is quite telegenic, but is not featured in the voiceover. The theme is safe when it changes.
said Steve Tatham, Executive Creative Director, Universal Creative. “Safety is always at the forefront of our minds: the safety of our employees, our own safety, and the safety of our guests.” “Things like this don’t happen if they’re not done safely. That’s why we have people tasked with monitoring safety and can address any safety concerns.”
There are also scenes where they test vehicles, monitor morning dew, and go on “technology rides” with only team members on board.
face time
The episodes feature a number of past and present Universal Orlando employees as well as outsiders. (Note the circa-1990 version by Mark Woodbury, now president and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, Inc.)
It’s not just managers. There are creative types, engineers, mechanics, and designers of all kinds, many of whom have never really faced a corporate camera, not to mention the dozens of regular people who populate the scene. It’s a good blend.
Their words become the narrator of “Epic Ride.” Several stars are in attendance, including Michelle Yeoh, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Vin Diesel, but they aren’t seen much. (Casual fact: As a child, Diesel was influenced by the book “The Story of Ferdinand.”)
pressure points
Some team members have fear in their eyes. Not all, not all the time, but yes, there’s a lot of pressure, and the word “pressure” gets thrown around a lot.
Granted, this is a chosen throughline for the three episodes, so it could be edited to emphasize that hitting the release date is a top priority. After all, this company makes movies, right? I don’t want to believe that they were the magic of filmmaking. I was buying it. (All results are OK. Repeat, repeat.)
Flashback to 1990
To Universal’s credit, past weaknesses have been given airtime. The most memorable was the crowded opening day of the Florida theme park, Universal Studios, on June 7, 1990.
Reflection: “Achieving that goal was a great accomplishment, but we weren’t ready yet,” says John Corfino, vice president of Universal Creative. There’s also news footage of dissatisfied visitors shouting, “Refund! Refund!” Then there were reports that the rides didn’t work on the first day, and on-air comments that the grand opening was a huge failure.
So, where does the pressure mentioned in the previous item come from? Well, there is history.
“It felt like the world’s attention was on us,” said Tom Williams, who will retire as Universal Parks CEO in 2022.
D list
I was surprised at how many D words there were. Disney. It was voiced mostly in a respectful but competitive manner, especially regarding the Michael Eisner era. It made me feel like Disney was/is under Universal’s skin, and I don’t usually feel that way.
Ah, but observations from Jay Stein, the longtime executive who led Universal’s charge into Orlando, are good television. Mr. Stein died last week at the age of 88, so his words may carry more weight now.
jaws jam
Another notable celebrity was Steve Spielberg, a creative consultant for Universal theme parks, who had a scene at a construction site.
Most interesting to me was his explanation of the popularity of the Jaws ride.
“I learned a big lesson when they made the Jaws vehicle, and if the audience really wants to be a part of something and be emotionally involved, they’re going to suspend their disbelief,” Spielberg said in the second episode.
“When that shark comes out of the water and scares people… it’s really fake. It’s really fake, but people come to the ride expecting to be scared, so they overlook the downside of a big steel monster that looks like a great white shark that suddenly comes out of nowhere and scares everyone. They wanted their money’s worth, so they let us get away with it. And they got it with Jaws.”
He was referring to the “Jaws” segment that was added to the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot tour in 1976. But that also applies to the Orlando-based Jaws ride, which closed in 2012 to make room for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
“Epic Ride: The Story of a Universal Theme Park” will debut on the Peacock streaming service on Nov. 17. Universal Orlando and Peacock streaming services are both part of the Comcast family of companies.
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