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Epic Universe Officially Opens: Live Coverage, Celebrity Sightings, and the Ghost of Universal Escape (Ep. 52)
Manage episode 484303318 series 2468040
Jim Hill and Eric Hersey celebrate the long-awaited grand opening of Universal’s Epic Universe. They recap the TODAY Show broadcast, blue carpet livestream, celebrity sightings, and first-day feedback from guests inside the park.
Then, they flash back to Universal’s last major theme park debut - Islands of Adventure in 1999 - and the infamous branding misfire that nearly doomed it: Universal Studios Escape.
Coverage breakdown of Epic Universe’s grand opening, from live broadcasts to opening portal ceremonies
Celebrity sightings include Shigeru Miyamoto, Danny Elfman, Warwick Davis, Tony Baxter, and Cody Rhodes
Ygor and the monsters steal the spotlight - again -on national TV
Early first-day reviews highlight light crowds, limited medallion merch, and a rough start for Battle at the Ministry
Jim shares the wild history of Universal’s 1999 park expansion, including Seagram’s chaotic E-Zone plans and the “Universal Studios Escape” branding blunder
How Islands of Adventure overcame early stumbles to become a flagship park - and how Epic Universe is already avoiding those same mistakes
With one park officially launched and another history lesson unpacked, this episode celebrates the present while learning from the past.
Support Our Sponsor: Be Our Guest Vacations
Planning your next Universal vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1243 episodes
Manage episode 484303318 series 2468040
Jim Hill and Eric Hersey celebrate the long-awaited grand opening of Universal’s Epic Universe. They recap the TODAY Show broadcast, blue carpet livestream, celebrity sightings, and first-day feedback from guests inside the park.
Then, they flash back to Universal’s last major theme park debut - Islands of Adventure in 1999 - and the infamous branding misfire that nearly doomed it: Universal Studios Escape.
Coverage breakdown of Epic Universe’s grand opening, from live broadcasts to opening portal ceremonies
Celebrity sightings include Shigeru Miyamoto, Danny Elfman, Warwick Davis, Tony Baxter, and Cody Rhodes
Ygor and the monsters steal the spotlight - again -on national TV
Early first-day reviews highlight light crowds, limited medallion merch, and a rough start for Battle at the Ministry
Jim shares the wild history of Universal’s 1999 park expansion, including Seagram’s chaotic E-Zone plans and the “Universal Studios Escape” branding blunder
How Islands of Adventure overcame early stumbles to become a flagship park - and how Epic Universe is already avoiding those same mistakes
With one park officially launched and another history lesson unpacked, this episode celebrates the present while learning from the past.
Support Our Sponsor: Be Our Guest Vacations
Planning your next Universal vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1243 episodes
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