Universal Epic Universe

Universal Epic Universe is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, United States. It opened on May 22, 2025, as the third theme park and fourth park overall to open at Universal Orlando. The park was part of a larger development and features five themed areas: Celestial Park, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.

Construction began as early as August 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the expected completion date. Details surrounding the park's themed areas and attractions were initially vague, and Super Nintendo World was the last themed land to be officially confirmed in early 2023. Headlining attractions include the motion-based dark rides ''Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry'' and ''Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment'', a dual-tracked racing roller coaster called Stardust Racers, and an augmented reality dark ride called ''Mario Kart'': Bowser's Challenge.

History

On August 1, 2019, NBCUniversal announced that it was building a new theme park at Universal Orlando named Universal's Epic Universe. Chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts at the time, Tom Williams, released a statement labeling Epic Universe the "most immersive and innovative theme park" the company had ever created. Comcast and NBCUniversal officials expected the new park to create 14,000 additional jobs, and Governor Ron DeSantis shared positive feedback in a public statement.

Concept art released by Universal during the official announcement in August 2019 left details purposely vague. Many franchises were rumored to appear in the park, including lands dedicated to ''How to Train Your Dragon'', ''Fantastic Beasts'', Universal Classic Monsters, and the Nintendo franchises ''Super Mario'' and ''Donkey Kong''. In January 2020, the presence of Super Nintendo World in the park was confirmed by multiple Comcast executives. Epic Universe's version of Super Nintendo World was officially announced in February 2023, with CEO Mark Woodbury calling it the "worst-kept secret in history".

The initial opening was scheduled for 2023, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction, which had begun as early as August 2019, was halted in July 2020. It later resumed in March 2021, and NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell announced the following year that the park would open by summer 2025. This was also confirmed by the resort's official Twitter account. On May5, 2022, Universal offered of land near the site where Epic Universe was being built for a Brightline rail route commuter station.

On March8, 2023, Universal Parks & Resorts CEO Mark Woodbury announced the rebranding of the division to Universal Destinations & Experiences. The name for the park was slightly adjusted from Universal's Epic Universe to Universal Epic Universe. A modified logo was unveiled, which removed the apostrophe and letter "s" from the design. An official unveiling of Celestial Park and an overall layout of Epic Universe was released in a press release on January 30, 2024.

Epic Universe experienced minor damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024, and construction was only briefly paused in preparation for the storm. On October17, 2024, Universal revealed the park's grand opening date of May22, 2025, approximately two weeks before Universal Orlando's 35th anniversary. Tickets for the park were initially only offered as part of a multiday ticket purchase or with the purchase of a vacation package, beginning on October 17, 2024. Single-day tickets became available for annual passholders the following week, as well as reservations for the new Helios Grand Hotel.

The first previews for employees began on March1, 2025. Early entry for pass holders and Universal hotel guests began on April 17. Also the same month, a replica of Epic Universe's portal Chronos is being featured in a national tour to promote the park until June 2025 in select US cities. On May 21, 2025, a celebrity and executive preview event was held at the park in celebration of opening day. The park officially opened to all guests as planned the following day.

Areas and attractions

Epic Universe uses a hub-and-spoke layout, consisting of four themed lands branching off a central hub called Celestial Park, with each land featuring a uniquely-themed gateway. The themed lands, in clockwise order from entry, are Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe (themed to Universal Classic Monsters), The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, and ''How to Train Your Dragon'': Isle of Berk. Each themed area has its aesthetics reflected in the food and cutlery at restaurants, ambient music, staff uniforms, and infrastructure. Entryways to each different land, featuring themed portals with digital LED signage, radiate out from Celestial Park.

Epic Universe utilizes facial recognition technology instead of tickets for entry, lockers, and express lanes for rides.

Celestial Park

The hub of the park is Celestial Park, a garden with walkways, fountains, and ponds featuring design motifs based on astrology, which connects the other four areas together. Celestial Park is a crossroads for interdimensional travel powered by the Chronos, a tower that serves as the park's icon and entrance gateway. The area features two rides: the Constellation Carousel, a celestial-themed carousel flat ride similar to the SeaGlass Carousel in New York, and Stardust Racers, a dual-tracked launched roller coaster manufactured by Mack Rides. Celestial Park also contains the Helios Grand Hotel (operated by Loews) and several notable dining locations, including an underwater-themed seafood restaurant encased in glass called Atlantic, and the Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant. There are also four walk-up bars and concierge booths in this area, as well as smaller restaurants including Frosty Moon, Meteor Astropub, The Oak & Star Tavern, and Pizza Moon.

Seven million individually-controllable embedded LEDs are installed within the Celestial Park area, and Universal plans to operate fireworks and light shows.

Dark Universe

Home to the Universal Classic Monsters and intended as a modern-day follow-up to the classic era of the films, Dark Universe is set in the dreary Darkmoor Village. The area's backstory focuses on Dr.Victoria Frankenstein, the great-great-great granddaughter of Henry Frankenstein, a character that appeared in ''Frankenstein'' (1931) and ''Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935). Victoria has assembled together various creatures for experimentation, including Frankenstein’s monster and Count Dracula, but they break free and terrorize Darkmoor Village. The "Dark Universe" name is revival of Universal's canceled franchise of the same name that had been intended to serve as a reboot of Universal Monsters but abandoned following the failure of ''The Mummy'' (2017).

In late 2021, patents were filed for a new motion-based dark ride, which features elements similar to the technology used on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This was later revealed to be Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, a dark ride using KUKA arm technology. Another featured ride will be Curse of the Werewolf, a launched spinning coaster manufactured by Mack Rides themed after the character Maleva and her Guild of Mystics from the film '' The Wolf Man'' (1941). Notable dining options include Das Stakehaus, a vampire-themed steakhouse that features no garlic; The Burning Blade Tavern, a themed bar; and De Lacey's Cottage.

In June 2024, it was announced that Danny Elfman was set to compose the music for the land.

''How to Train Your Dragon'': Isle of Berk

''How to Train Your Dragon'': Isle of Berk is themed to the ''How to Train Your Dragon'' franchise, and is set between the second and third films. The area is the largest of the four IP-based lands in the park, and it features three rides: Hiccup's Wing Gliders, a launched roller coaster manufactured by Intamin, Dragon Racer's Rally, a pair of Gerstlauer Sky Fly rides, and Fyre Drill, an interactive boat ride manufactured by Mack Rides. There is also a children's play area called the Viking Training camp, as well as large free-flying dragon drones.

The area's notable dining options include Mead Hall, Spit Fyre Grill, and Hooligan's Grog & Gruel. Mead Hall will serve "Yaknog", a themed drink made of malted chocolate, cinnamon, and whipped cream.

Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World is themed to various Nintendo-owned franchises, with a primary focus on the ''Mario'' franchise. Its entrance from Celestial Park is themed as a Warp Pipe that appears in many of the ''Mario'' series video games. Unlike the ones in Hollywood and Japan, it includes escalators. Like the version of the land constructed in Universal Studios Japan, it includes Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, an augmented reality racing simulator based on the ''Mario Kart'' series, as well as Yoshi's Adventure, an omnimover attraction themed to the character Yoshi from the ''Mario'' franchise. The area also features an additional section themed to the ''Donkey Kong Country'' franchise, which includes Mine-Cart Madness, a new type of roller coaster patented as the "Boom Coaster". The coaster is designed with a false track that trains move over while being attached to a hidden track underneath, allowing the track's design to implement gaps that create the illusion the trains are jumping over missing portions of track.

The land is divided into two sections: Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country. Notable dining options include Toadstool Cafe, which serves American cuisine, and Yoshi's Snack Land.

A "Power-Up Band" for sale allows customers to explore the area and collect digital coins.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic

The Ministry of Magic themed area is set in Paris during the 1920s, primarily drawing inspiration from the ''Fantastic Beasts'' prequel film series with scenes, characters, and creatures from the film franchise. The area's main attraction, ''Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry'', is an elevator-themed dark ride that features a simulation of Floo Network fireplaces transporting park guests further forward in time to the British Ministry of Magic in 1990s London, as depicted in the ''Harry Potter'' film series. The ride is set shortly after Voldemort's defeat in the final film, as Dolores Umbridge (played by Imelda Staunton) is put on trial and attempts to escape. Harry, Ron, Hermione and a house-elf named Higgledy join the chase to capture Umbridge, while guests riding on "omnidirectional lifts" are dodging Death Eaters and other creatures along the way.

Early speculation surfaced that a stage show attraction based on Circus Arcanus, the name of a circus depicted in '' Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'', as well as a dark ride were both under construction for Ministry of Magic. A marketing teaser on Twitter in late July 2024 indicated that further details about the themed land would be released on July 31, 2024. Additional promotional details were released as anticipated, confirming the earlier speculation. The stage show attraction was revealed as Le Cirque Arcanus, which is a full-scale theatre experience located in Place Cachée and features live performers, puppetry, and special effects. There are also a variety of shops, dining, and other experiences to match the wizarding theme. Wands sold at the park feature lights and haptic vibrations, and interact with items throughout the area.

Eateries include Bar Moonshine, Café L'air De La Sirène, and Le Gobelet Noir.

English actor Eddie Redmayne reprised his role as Newt Scamander, a character from ''Fantastic Beasts'', in newly-filmed scenes that are featured throughout the Ministry of Magic area.

Possible expansions

Industry insiders have suggested that phase two of the park's expansion would begin soon after Epic Universe debuted, with potential attractions for Super Nintendo World revolving around the ''Luigi's Mansion'' franchise, as well as a ''Legend of Zelda''-themed land. Universal Destinations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury stated in a ''New York Times'' interview that they are also considering the addition of attractions themed to Universal's successful two-part film adaptation of the musical ''Wicked''.

Location and infrastructure

The Universal Epic Universe theme park campus is located several miles southeast of the existing Universal Orlando Resort. The larger site, situated south of Sand Lake Road and east of Universal Boulevard, began construction in 2021 that added new infrastructure including a $315-million, extension of Kirkman Road to connect with Universal Boulevard. An elevated circular interchange was added at Sand Lake Road to facilitate traffic into Epic Universe, and dedicated bus lanes along with "bicycle/pedestrian facilities" were among the changes. The median for buses is reserved for Universal's fleet of electric buses to transport park guests. Construction was expected to be completed by late 2024.

While the other Universal Orlando parks have parking garages, Epic Universe features an open-air parking lot which is located on the southeast end of the site. Permits suggested that a ground-level moving walkway would be built through the parking lot.

References

{{Theme Parks of Florida

Amusement parks in Orlando, Florida
Tourist attractions in Greater Orlando
2025 establishments in Florida
Compositions by Danny Elfman