Universal Orlando Resort has made an interesting operational change at its yet-to-open Epic Universe theme park before the park has even opened to the general public. According to BlogMickey.com sources, all character/performer entertainment has been cut from the Celestial Park section of the new theme park. The change is an interesting one, and it appears that Universal is either going back to the drawing board, or simply opening Celestial Park without any performers. Here’s the latest.
Universal Cuts Entertainment from Celestial Park at Epic Universe
Universal Epic Universe is currently operating Team Member previews. The previews are an early opportunity for Universal operations to get some guests into the park to simulate normal operating conditions ahead of the May 22nd grand opening. During the previews, attractions are open (mostly), shows and character meet and greets are available, and dining options are open.
Of course, being a technical rehearsal, some things are expected to not work yet, but by and large, the theme park is open and operating. One element that Universal has touted during early marketing pushes is “nearly 30” entertainment offerings at Epic Universe.
While there are certainly entertainment offerings in each of the four perimeter lands, the topic of this article is concerned with Celestial Park, the central park at Epic Universe that connects the four portals to the IP lands.
With Celestial Park being outside of any specific IP, Universal was able to create its own backstory for this centralized land. This world between worlds is a (soon-to-be) lush park where guests could find a number of entertainment offerings before the recent cuts.
As described by Universal Creative Sr. Show Producer Kathrynn DiGenova, Celestial Park was going to feature unique characters who were described as “lived-in Celestial-type characters”. DiGenova then goes on to describe the entertainment venues, starting with the Hemisphere Stage.
Hemisphere Stage
At the Hemisphere Stage, guests could encounter travelers who have been through each of the different portals to the themed lands. These travelers brought back with them the sights and sounds of the portals. The entertainment offering was described as a musical moment created from the sights and sounds of their travels. The travelers would also describe their experiences in each portal – maybe talking about flying dragons or a world filled with monsters.
Sound Collector
Another character described by DiGenova is that of the Sound Collector. This character collected sounds to create energy with the guests in a highly interactive experience.
Other characters were said to have existed within Celestial Park, but they have all been cut, according to rumors. The question is: why?
Some reports are claiming budget cuts, while others are citing quality or a lack of interest in the entertainment from early Team Member previews. Some performers have taken to social media to discuss being let go by Universal, which would suggest that new entertainment will not be replacing the cut offerings.
While Universal Orlando has not responded to a request for comment, recent Team Member previews have not included any entertainment in Celestial Park beyond fountain show moments. The Hemisphere Stage area has reportedly been barricaded off in recent days.
It is disheartening to see Universal Orlando cutting back on entertainment before Epic Universe even opens. Other lands have entertainment offerings such as musicians and roaming characters in Dark Universe, characters and interactive experiences in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a number of characters in the How to Train Your Dragon land, and meet and greets in Super Nintendo World.
Entertainment breathes life into any corner of a theme park, and cutting back on entertainment in an IP-less central park area with so much backstory and lore seems like a mistake. The best case scenario is that Universal saw something that simply didn’t work and is going back to the drawing board to create something else for Celestial Park that will be available by the time Epic Universe opens to the public on May 22nd. The worst-case scenario is that this cut in entertainment for Celestial Park is maintained through opening day, and there are unused, purpose-built sections of Universal’s brand new park when it looks to make a grand opening to the world.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com for not only the latest Disney Parks news, but also news, photos, and info from great offerings Outside the Bubble!
