Wizarding World Epic Universe - ParkStop Podcast 

This land may have the most complex ride in the park, but hopefully that means it’ll also be most impressive!

Imagine just being a random passerby driving by the park and seeing a legitimate dragon flying through the air.

One thing that I haven't seen discussed much about this land is how it has a broader appeal beyond its IP. France (Paris specifically) is one of the top travel destinations for US tourists, and I don't doubt that people will enjoy this area simply for its architecture, dining, and theming. In the same vein as World Showcase at Epcot being popular because it allows you to "travel" to other countries, I'm sure there will be plenty of people who don't care about the IP of the land and just enjoy it for the French/Parisian theming.

That was unironically one of the worst mistakes in the Fantastic Beasts films, moreso in the sequels. They have all of this immaculate worldbuilding and they hardly EVER slow down to show it! It's beyond frustrating. That's why I'm happy they'll be putting it to some good use here.

Got to hear this early on Patreon, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I’m listening to it again 😏

I don’t get why people are saying Potter isn’t ready and doesn’t work. I know people who currently work in the park and the ride has been cycling. I’ve even seen video footage. The sets and stuff are not complete, but Universal is going to do whatever it takes to get everything running day one. I can’t wait till the park opens…but it’s going to need expansions asap.

I love that Alicia was almost spot on with referring to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). I listen and watch these podcasts multiple times because they are just so fun and informative. I also loved that Theme Park 101 gave a major shot out to Alicia for his advance tour of Epic Universe. We are all wishing "Universal Destinations & Experiences" the best so we can experience the best. (Vikingsss and dragonsssss. Vikingsss and dragonsssss. Vikingsss and dragonsssss.)

If Universal actually manages to pull off flying dragons at Epic Universe (and not just at the grand opening ceremony or media previews), then they will have officially exceeded Disney in all respects. Disney promised flying spaceships over Galaxy's Edge, and they even had a couple X-Wing hover at the Florida grand opening, but they never did it again. 😢

Everything is brighter than the movie because Place Cache is all dressed up for France hosting the Quidditch Cup, of course :) Hope some of the "stained glass" in Mermaid Song Cafe moves, like in the prefect's bathroom.

i think the ride being based on the og story makes up for the land being set in fantastic beasts since it’s the primary reason people will go to the land and it’ll likely be one of the best universal rides to date

This attraction is going to be amazing. Just like The Amazing Adventures Of Spiderman when it debuted in 1999, this will be the latest generation for Universal creative and will stun guests. I can’t wait.

"I have a long drive, 30mins" Cries in 12 hour drive away.

I'm almost just refusing to believe this is in 1920s Paris and firmly standing in my delulu that it's like that "90s" to now that the rest of the Potter lands stick to. Thus, the different signage, etc.

I wouldn’t say it’s “theme parky”, but rather “magical”. Makes it feel more Wizarding World.

Don't worry guys, the Wizarding World fans are excited for all of this. You two can just stick to the other four lands and be happy.

Hey guys, when should we expect the next EPIC construction progress video?

47:47 I think it as 14 seats. Front row has 3x 2 seats and the back row 2 extra seats where the 2 openings are in the front row and entrance.

Always makes my day :) 🎉

Nice, a shout out to Gojira 🤘

I might be alone in this but I don't see the need to do daily fireworks. It's such a waste of money. It's so incredibly expensive. I honestly think Universal doesn't need it.

Wizarding Paris looks amazing… but what are these movies you keep referring to? 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️ Also, Alicia, to solve your French problem, just record the proper pronunciation from Google Translate. It would be hilarious to have you speaking and then a computer voice says the French words. 😂😂😂

Great podcast! Always love your content. I still think its a missed opportunity to have a second ride at opening.....even if its not an E- Ticket attractions. Something like a family rollercoaster or something chasing Niffler around as he is stealing everything in a compact layout.....nothing complex but fun and gets you laughing. Exit has a pet shop and jewelry shop. Save the 2nd phase for something more impressive. At least keeping something in the location and Fantastic Beasts is met other than the show.

Just wanted to say, I probably will never visit these parks that you talk about living at the other side of the world. But I love your videos and podcasts so much. The enthousiasm and realism and humour are great 👌 thank you for your hard work!

Since Voldemort split his soul into seven parts, I’d surmise that a time turner wouldn’t necessarily bring him back. To ensure Voldemort would eventually rise to power, Umbridge would ultimately have to go back in time and prevent Lilly and James from ever conceiving Harry in the first place. Umbridge would also have to prevent Neville’s parents as well, just to be sure the prophecy doesn’t get fulfilled. Of course, Umbridge would have to have been privy to the prophecy in the first place. Also Umbridge would be taking a huge gamble that Voldemort would even offer her a position of power or even know to what degree Voldemort would chose to do with his power. There are too many uncertainties that Umbridge should probably just go back in time and simply refuse the offer of taking a position at Hogwarts in the first place. Thus avoiding that whole Centaur incident completely. Of course this could ultimately be reserved for the attraction’s B-Mode.

I want a great hall restaurant 🙏 Like be our guest but great hall. It’s the most iconic set that’s in every hp film! I hope they add it to phase 2 of epic universe

I genuinely can't wait to go with my family just to hear my mom make a go at pronouncing all the french names in this area.

Something that popped in my head after watching this is that they are building 2 show theaters in this park. But they have not had shows in either of IOA’s theaters for years. Theaters are crowd eaters taking hundreds of guest out of lines. Why hasn’t Universal Creative done something with either or the Fear Factor theater.

I really want to sit in the Ministry office with a lunch and just sit and people watch looking out the windows. It would have been cool if that was a restaurant. It's weird to me that the Yoshi ride has a height requirement because it seems like the Peoplemover. I'd think that would be a family friendly ride. But I'm glad that there are some family friendly options.

Did you see the new podcast universal Orlando released on RU-vid? They talked new details about celestial park. Things like the Atlantic restaurant the fish you will see are fake. And at sunset they will have a light show represent the god if sun passing the torch to the god if night. And how the carousel goes 6ft up

The stuntspectacular is incredible. I do not think being similar to it is a bad thing. It's the greatest thing going

At Tissere people are pointing at the posted menu.....maybe phase 2???

They should have just extended in universal and put the British ministry there it would make much more sense. But I get it fantastic beasts wasn’t successful enough to stand on its own.. or atleast it’s a chance to make it stand by itself.

I’m in the camp of the timeline break completely ruins the immersion for me. Universal Creative dropped the ball on this one unfortunately 😢

Not only did we see the Rise canons we rode EE in a soft opening. We saw the real Yetl !!

The spring and summer will be mobbed. We are planning a fall trip to Epic Universe during the weekdays, so HOPEFULLY we will have a good experience after the mobs die down and they get the kinks worked out. Our second plan is to save Dark Universe until last and do that starting at dusk, (which will be earlier by the fall). Cross our fingers!

Wasn’t one of the old rumors that you would enter the French Ministry of Magic and then take the Floo Network to the British Ministry of Magic from there? If it was part of the original plan, then I guess they reworked it to just taking the Metrofloo. It would be cool if they did something with the French Ministry for a potential expansion, though . You can still see the entrance to it, at least.

I feel like the excited kid starting to watch this video thinking this land was gonna be so cool and then being instantly shot down by the cool kids 😂

16:40 discourages you from taking out lightsabers? I've never seen or experienced that and I was a passholder living in Orlando for 2 years. When/how is that a thing?

You guys had some funny commentary, great video, and thanks for the extra tidbits, facts, and rumors.

If I can't walk through this land eating an entire baguette I just bought from a patisserie, slathered with European butter, I am bringing my own baguette from home.

@23:17 I let out the "Frenchest" no of my life. I want a baguette, not a WAND 🤦‍♀️ I'm a silly creature,I just want carbs! If Universal is trying to Epcot a France pavilion, I want baguettes and brie, and so so sooo much wine. This is area is last on my list to visit and have been least excited about.

I got some sq footage estimates off google earth so take this with a grain of salt but my guess is that the building for the Battle at the Ministry is about 153,000 sq ft. For comparison, Rise is about 116,000 sq ft, Monsters Unchained 53,000, Gringotts 80,000 sq ft, Revenge of the Mummy 75,000 sq ft, and Forbidden Journey 53,000 sq ft.

I have a million-dollar question: did they cut the Erumpent? 😞

Will they eventually open the Great Hall restaurant?

People who play Hogwarts Legacy know those animals very well 😄

so while the murals do make it feel like "Diagon Ally 2" ... they also make it NOT feel like the real world. Pretty sure the 2nd victory outweighs the first loss here. ... also, it's very heavily Parisian themed paintings, which is awesome.

So house elf lore check, ownership of elves is passed down the family line, as evidenced by Kreacher and Sirius. So theoretically Higgeldy should pass to Umbridge’s next of kin. IIRC shes a pure blood so it has to have gone to some cousin or some such.

19:36 Alberge is like an Ye-olde Inn

It’s fun that they’re going with French names. Try these: Cafe L - air de la sir - ren Le gob - lay new - r Beer Ohh Burr

Hopefully the ticket rumors are mostly unfounded, due to only partial info. We also hope that everything opens on time. It's not too far away, but they still have quite a while until opening. Great podcast, as always.

Now that we're in a position where Universal has announced all the lands, surely we are getting closer to them announcing the opening date. Would they be petty enough to troll Disney and drop that info during D23? Because i would be that petty.

Universal japan is about to step on one of the d23 days with donkey Kong japan reveal

I want them to do Helios Grand preview next! I'm worried about the "galaxys edge" of magical Paris. A land never mentioned in the books or 8 movies. They show Paris in Fantastic beasts but I cant identify any shop or restaurant in like I could in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. I think it's a decent gamble. And two time lines is also not what I had in mind. Hopefully Newt is an old man. Looks like they built Diagon Alley 10 years too early. Tough to say that.

Do we know if BatM will feature a freefall drop similar to the escape pod sequence on RotR? And if so, will it be a larger drop than that ride (maybe 30 feet or so?) achieved by a combination of a drop track & the vertical motion ride platform, with additional special effects to make it appear as if you’re falling hundreds of feet down an elevator shaft?

Do we still believe UOAP will get to preview Epic next yr before officially opening? I'm debating getting a pass while on sale 😅😅😅

I have a theory that the time is explained by Umbridge stealing a time turner and escaping somehow….but you’re probably right they wont explain it lol

I mean im excited regardless. But ministry should have been done at Fear Factor. I had the idea with my friends that it would have been so cool if they did the Quidditch world cup from the Goblet of Fire. its already a festive atmosphere I think it would have been so amazing of a land . This connection to a failed movie series makes this so jarring but its here so we got what we got. Theres always hope for my idea at the UK land "crosses fingers"

I feel like that ride is going to have the longest wait times ever the ride systems seems like slow riders per hour especially with only 12 person cars.

Are the drone dragons only for you can train your dragon? Do they have drone dragons for Harry Potter?

do you see this ride breaking down so much to where as it will be down for a few days possibly weeks for opening?!, because this do seem like a very hard task to keep consistently the ride working all day.

Disneyland Hong Kong already has zootopia as a trackless ride. They just need to make space in Animal Kingdom and it could be done and fit much better in the park than what they have planned right now. Also I'm ready for the Epic Universe experience of sitting in line for hours just to ride Ministry. My favorite memory from Diagon alley year one was waiting 3-4 hours in line only for my dad to upset after it finished saying to me "We waited 3 hours to ride a 3 minute ride!?".

Nous 🇫🇷 appreciate votre Effort, and full honesty that it is not perfect and that's all that matter's! Trying to pronounce with effort is much appreciated and passionately real than someone just saying I can't say this! Keep up the light hearted laughs! ❤

Your Updates are so well produced and enjoyable to listen to as you do them alone. The podcast videos when the other person joins are a lot less fun. He’s got a negative tone here and there and fixates on things. Like every and any opportunity to say in one way or another that Monsters will be superior. Yeah, everyone agrees. Everyone in that back heard ya too. He’s distracting.

Am I the only one that enjoyed all the FB films? 😅🐸

I assume the LED domes won’t be as big as the Las Vegas sphere interior, but if they’re the largest after that they could still be very impressive. What I originally hoped for from Cosmic Rewind

I hope I get to see you guys or at least one of you in a few days!

A portal can go anywhere far away. Why cannot a portal go to any time?

19:30 Auberge [ow-behrzhe] is an inn.

This is very cool

So in all reality, is there gonna be an initial price you pay and have access to all the universe? Or are we having to pay indivually for each universe. I live in sarasota, and planning to be a pass holder, but I'm asking for people who are non passholders

Petition to get Gojira for Harry Potter land opening ceremony🤘

Gojira in the land would be a great addition sir

Why am I awake so early? Must’ve sensed a new podcast

OK, hear me out. Travelling faster than light makes you slow down in time and you arrive in your future. The floo network makes instantaneous travel possible, but it still has to account for the effects of time dilation (Einstein was a wizard). The farther you travel via floo powder, the greater the time dilation, possibly exponentially. Travelling from The Burrow to Diagon Alley is a short trip, so not much time dilation. But you enter the floo in 1920's Paris and end up in London in the late 1990's. #HeadCannon

When will we be able to book? I need to plan and I want to go early

I know it is ridiculous and silly but I love a theme park hotel - I really do. Have I been saving for Helios? Yes, yes I have.

Unlike Star Wars, we do already have a couple of classic, popular Harry Potter areas in the parks. I think it's okay to be a little riskier with the new one if they can follow through with making it immersive. The one thing I don't like off the bat is that it looks like 3 dead ends. How will the crowds move?

There is no time discrepancy for me in the Wizarding World land. The area of the city represented existed after Fantastic Beast's time therefore, you are in the same time period when you enter the floo network to go to the Ministry of Magic.

screw you guys for bringing up the working cannons, I will never be able to see them work

Realistically if people are saying they dont care about the park because of a timeline that exists entirely in fantasy they should maybe reconsider whether they're caring too much. What choice would they have to make another wizarding world location that is already in-universe?

i love you theme park stop.

Some of the magical creatures from the Fantastic Beasts films, are in the mobile game Hogwarts Mystery

The tables and chairs in the dark majic restaurant look.... uncomfortable and not cool

sirene = see REN as in 'See Ren (& Stimpy) " L'air = lair just as in "thief's lair" no hiccup separates L' and air.

Fantastic Beasts is my favorite. The main characters have better chemistry and personalities than the kids did on the movie. Never read the books so I don’t have any emotional boosts to be attached to the characters beyond the screen…. Sorry not sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️

Alicia, any rumor on a potential D23 Expo style conference for Universal Parks anytime in the future??? Even a small scale one?

Fluent French speaker here, I can voice over all the French names if you wanna contract my services lmao

Annie was/is the Universal person for WDW News Today's Universal Channel - Universal News Today, but she hasn't had any videos for them for a bit... so... 🤷‍♀ Love your videos/commentary!

"Sometimes the little ones are the loudest" oh no she didn't !!!

Alicia also just had a kid as well and can't wait to choose universal over disneyyyyy lolol and I just worked for the mouse opppp lol hhhehe but living for these updates my reward after 2 years some point postpartum when it opens were goiiingg to epic universseee can't wait

Alicia complaining about the direction of Crimes of Grindlewald is really funny because who has time for coverage when you've got two and a half hours of exposition to get through I have a very special hatred in my heart for Fantastic Beasts

22:13 [bee-air ow burr]

auberge=Inn

Amazing. But I'm so ready for EU to be done so we can finally get to Zelda and more stuff for Hollywood!

Confusing "shill" with "sponsored"

Is there any reason to believe that this land isn't just Wizarding Paris in the modern era? Wizarding Paris still existed during while all the Potter shenanigans were taking place.

Play Hogwarts legacy. All the animals are there.

Do only terrible people in the Wizarding World have house elves? 🤔

Cafe L air de la sirene, i think i did that pretty well.......no you didnt but we still love you LOL

The magic beasts are all in Hogwarts legacy game. Probably pulling in the success or that