Epic Universal Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dig into the recent uproar over Epic Universe preview ticket availability—and why Universal quietly opened the gates to everyone. Then they dive into the surprising retirement of Volcano Bay’s TapuTapu system and the fascinating history behind the short-lived Triceratops Encounter at Islands of Adventure. Epic Universe preview tickets go public, frustrating some Annual Passholders What low crowds and Disney discounts might reveal about this summer’s Orlando tourism outlook Universal’s guest survey tactics—and how they’re targeting Disney’s “seamless” brand language Volcano Bay announces the retirement of TapuTapu and a five-month closure for overhaul Universal Hollywood FanFest reactions and Drew Taylor’s tip for avoiding long lines The box office power of Wicked, Despicable Me, and Universal’s 360-degree promo strategy The history of Triceratops Encounter and how a 1960s Easter special led to one of Universal’s biggest animatronic swings Whether you’re here for the latest theme park headlines or the long-forgotten stories behind Universal’s creative gambles, this episode is packed with insights, speculation, and a few dinosaurs along the way. 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. Book Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey share Eric’s full first impressions after visiting Epic Universe—just 27 days before its grand opening. From ride reviews to immersive lands, they explore how Universal’s newest park lives up to the hype. Plus, they discuss Annual Passholder perks, new cosplay merch, and Universal’s latest theme park innovations. Eric shares his thoughts after previewing Epic Universe for the first time New Dungeons & Dragons animatronic debuts at Universal Studios Hollywood, created in partnership with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Passholder perks, merch discounts, and alcohol restrictions tied to the Monster Makeup Experience Fan Fest Nights merch preview includes Star Trek, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, and more Universal’s $2B economic impact for Florida and $11B national impact highlighted by new reports This episode combines park preview excitement, detailed ride analysis, and big-picture context for Universal’s most ambitious project yet. 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. Book Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey continue their deep dive into The Muppets’ surprising relationship with Universal Studios, exploring how Jim Henson’s creations almost found a home with the studio long before Disney. Plus, they cover the latest Universal news and updates. Highlights include: The Muppets & Universal: How The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal were distributed by Universal, and why the studio took a risk on Jim Henson’s boldest project. Jim Henson’s Hollywood Struggles: The challenges Henson faced in getting The Dark Crystal financed and how Universal nearly lost faith in the project. Volcano Bay’s First-Ever Nighttime Event: What to expect from Universal’s new after-hours water park experience. Epic Universe Updates: A first look at Universal’s life-size animatronic dragons appearing at Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk. Harry Potter’s New Wands at Epic Universe: The latest sneak peek at the exclusive wand collection coming to the Ministry of Magic. This episode blends theme park history, Muppet nostalgia, and the latest Universal Studios news. If you're a fan of The Muppets, Universal Studios, or Hollywood what-ifs, this one’s for you! 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. Book Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into the fascinating history of The Muppets and their surprising connection to Universal Studios. Plus, they cover the latest Universal news and updates. Highlights include: The Muppets & Universal: How The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal were distributed by Universal, raising the question—did Universal almost have the theme park rights to the Muppets? Jim Henson’s Battle for Prime Time: How Henson pitched The Muppet Show to major networks before finding unexpected success overseas. Saturday Night Live’s Muppet Experiment: The surprising (and disastrous) attempt to integrate Muppets into early SNL sketches. FanFest at Universal Hollywood: Jim prepares for his upcoming trip to the new fan event, featuring Back to the Future and One Piece meet & greets. Halloween Horror Nights 2024: Universal announces event dates for both Hollywood and Orlando—will M3GAN return for another creepy flash mob? Lou Wasserman Statue Returns: The legendary Universal executive’s statue is back—Jim shares why Wasserman was a key figure in shaping Universal Studios. This episode blends theme park history, pop culture deep dives, and the latest Universal Studios news. If you're a fan of The Muppets, Universal Studios, or theme park what-ifs, this one’s for you! 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. Book Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take a deep dive into the history of How to Train Your Dragon and how it became one of DreamWorks’ most beloved franchises. Plus, they break down all the latest Universal news! First-Time Viewing Experience: Eric shares his reaction to watching How to Train Your Dragon for the first time and how it changed his excitement for Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk. The Making of How to Train Your Dragon: How DreamWorks nearly made a very different version of the film before Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois took over. Dog Man Comes to Universal Orlando: Meet & greets and themed food debut in DreamWorks Land just days after the movie’s release. Dark Universe Updates: BioReconstruct captures street performers inside Darkmoor Village, hinting at the immersive experience ahead. Mardi Gras 2025 Kicks Off: Huge crowds pack into Universal Orlando for opening weekend, with T-Pain headlining the first concert. New Tribute Store – Legends of the Bayou: Universal embraces cryptid lore, with rooms themed to the Moss Man and Grunch Road Monster. Rip Ride Rockit’s Closing Date Announced: The ride will officially shut down on September 20, 2025, with speculation on when demolition will begin. This episode is packed with theme park updates, animation history, and plenty of dragon talk. Whether you’re a longtime How to Train Your Dragon fan or just excited for Epic Universe, this one’s for you! 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. Book Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore Universal’s updates and dive into the rich history of The Munsters. Highlights include: The Munsters’ Origins: How a pitch for an animated series turned into one of TV’s most beloved sitcoms. Wicked’s Box Office Success: Its award potential and the announcement of the new subtitle, For Good. Universal Studios Florida Updates: New entrance music and digital signage enhancing the guest experience. Stella Nova Resort: First impressions of Universal’s sleek, space-themed hotel. Wolfman and Monster Movies: A look at Wolfman’s mixed reviews and its impact on Universal’s monster movie future. Shrek 5 and Minions 3 News: The latest updates on Universal’s animated franchises. This episode is packed with Universal updates, classic monster nostalgia, and exciting insights into upcoming projects! 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. Book Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey tackle a variety of Universal Studios updates and dive into the history of The Munsters. Highlights include: Wildfires and Universal Hollywood’s Closure: How recent California wildfires forced a rare closure of Universal Studios Hollywood, plus ways to support relief efforts. Rock the Universe: A preview of Universal Orlando’s Christian music festival and why it’s a great weekend to visit the parks. The Stella Nova Resort: First impressions of Universal’s newest resort, featuring a sleek space-themed design and unique guest experiences. Skull Island Q&A with Mike West: Insights from the former Imagineer on the design and storytelling behind Reign of Kong. The Munsters Origin Story: How Universal’s iconic sitcom emerged during the 1960s and its connection to the studio’s classic monsters. Whether you’re a fan of Universal’s latest attractions or nostalgic for classic monster lore, this episode has something for everyone! 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. Book Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey howl into the legacy of The Wolfman and explore Universal’s iconic monster history. Plus, they cover a variety of Universal Studios updates and nostalgic gems. Highlights include: The Wolfman’s Legacy: From Lon Chaney Jr.’s classic transformation to Blumhouse’s new reimagining, how the Wolfman defined Universal’s horror legacy. Monster Crossovers: How films like Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman paved the way for today’s cinematic universes. Meet & Greet Updates: Universal Studios Hollywood announces auditions for Back to the Future and Dungeons & Dragons characters for its upcoming FanFest event. The Simpsons Land’s Uncertain Future: What Disney’s recent survey could mean for the beloved Universal attraction. Whether you’re a fan of horror classics, theme park updates, or Universal history, this episode has a little something for everyone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore the fascinating and hilarious story behind Your Studio and You, a parody film created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker before South Park. Highlights include: The Making of Your Studio and You: How Matt and Trey enlisted A-list celebrities like Steven Spielberg, Angela Lansbury, and Michael J. Fox to poke fun at Universal Studios—and even sip Seagram’s wine coolers—without them realizing the full gag. Mardi Gras 2025 at Universal Orlando: Details on the celebration’s floats, global cuisine, and concerts featuring T-Pain, TLC, and more. Give Kids the World Fundraiser: A look at the upcoming universally ’90s-themed event benefiting an incredible cause. Annual Passholder Perks: From exclusive entrances to special Mardi Gras deals, discover what’s new for Universal passholders this year. This episode blends Universal’s latest updates with a humorous dive into its history. If you’re a fan of South Park or theme park lore, you won’t want to miss this one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this first episode of 2025, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey recap Universal’s most exciting moments from the past year, discuss insights from a Universal guest survey, and share bold predictions for the year ahead. Highlights include: Universal’s Guest Survey: Jim and Eric analyze intriguing survey questions about vacation planning, accessibility, and the impact of Universal’s Wicked-themed offerings on guest experiences. Epic Universe Updates: A look back at how Universal kept fans engaged with teasers, construction updates, and marketing ahead of its May 2025 opening. Wicked’s Phenomenal Year: From its box office success to Universal’s creative synergy with theme park experiences. DreamWorks Land in Orlando: How Universal’s new kid-friendly area is already a hit with families. Universal’s Remote Projects: Exploring the potential of the Texas Universal Kids Park and the Las Vegas Haunted House, and how these off-site ventures could shape the future of Universal’s theme park strategy. Jim and Eric also reflect on their first year of podcasting together, share listener questions and insights, and make predictions about Universal’s record-breaking potential in the coming year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices