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.

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