Universal’s Epic Universe Park in Orlando: Themed Lands, Ride Info, Concept Art & Details
Universal Orlando Resort has unveiled Epic Universe, and it looks like a gamechanger. The new theme park will feature more than 50 rides, entertainment, and other experiences in 5 lands. This previews everything we know about the blockbuster expansion in Florida, with tons of concept art, details about the attractions, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences, and much more.
An expansion of 750 acres, Epic Universe is Universal Orlando Resort’s third theme park, just down the road from Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, as well as Volcano Bay Water Park. The new theme park campus will essentially double Universal Orlando Resort’s existing footprint.
As a quick recap, Epic Universe was first announced in Summer 2019 with a piece of aerial concept art showing the contours of the theme park, adjacent entertainment district and hotel. Not many details beyond that, its location south of the existing Universal Orlando complex, and the economic impact were revealed at that time.
Along with pretty much everything else in Central Florida, plans were paused in Spring 2020. Given where the world was at the time and the grim prospects for the recovery of travel and tourism, there was speculation (including by us!) that Epic Universe wouldn’t happen. At least, not anytime soon and maybe not as originally announced.
We were very happy to be proven wrong less than a year later, as Universal announced that development of Epic Universe would resume immediately, with the project gradually scaling up again before reaching full-speed as Universal restaffs for the project. And did it ever reach full-speed quickly.
It seems like every week new aerial photos come out showing the progress of Epic Universe, and the theme park looks really far along. While there’s obviously still a lot to be done a year out, some areas are having finishing touches installed and rides being tested. All of which makes us wonder whether it’s purposeful that Universal has dropped the “by Summer” line from the 2025 opening in this announcement. But that’s another bit of speculation for another day.
According to Universal, Epic Universe will present a level of theme park immersion and innovation that is unmatched – transporting guests to expansive worlds featuring more than 50 awe-inspiring attraction, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences that come together to create an unforgettable adventure that is nothing short of epic.
The company has also confidently asserted that the addition of Universal Orlando’s fourth* theme park will also transform the award-winning resort into a weeklong vacation destination filled with the most compelling experiences imaginable. (*Universal counts Volcano Bay as a theme park; we think it’s properly considered a water park. That is, unless you also want to say Walt Disney World has 6 theme parks; they do not.)
Epic Universe invites guests to explore five vibrant worlds filled with extraordinary and culturally relevant adventures that go beyond their wildest imaginations. Let’s explore the lands, starting with Epic Universe’s entry point and central plaza…
Celestial Park: At the heart of the park and the first world guests will encounter is Celestial Park, which has been dubbed the “Cosmic Nexus of Universal Epic Universe.” With acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways and strolling pathways, Celestial Park will put the “park” back in “theme park.”
As soon as guests enter the imaginative world, they’ll embark on a journey of discovery, thrills and excitement as they wander through lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements. Here, guests can relax while taking in the sights and sounds around them, board a shooting comet for an exhilarating roller coaster adventure, dine on delectable cuisine, shop exclusive merchandise to commemorate their visit and more.
Plus, Celestial Park will be the gateway to explore the four additional worlds of Epic Universe – each bringing to life extraordinary adventures that go beyond guests’ wildest imaginations. Through a set of majestic portals that capture the imagination and creativity of each world, guests will embark on a transformative experience as they journey from Celestial Park to the rest of Epic Universe’s themed lands.
Here are additional details about some of the other wonders guests can enjoy while exploring Celestial Park:
Starfall Racers – a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests rocketing through the skies aboard comets in a race to see who’s the fastest of them all. Reaching speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track, Starfall Racers will be Epic Universe’s most thrilling coaster experience with unique maneuvers such as the “Celestial Spin,” in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air – creating an “out-of-this-world” adrenaline rush.
Constellation Carousel – the grand centerpiece of Celestial Park. Here, explorers of all ages will take a fantastical whirl aboard constellations that glide forward, backward – and even make 360-degree rotations – through the milky way in a choreographed dance of music and starlight.
Astronomica – an interactive wet-play area that also doubles as a giant compass rose to the many wonders of Epic Universe, featuring crystal blue fountains that spring to life and dance around guests.
Celestial Park will also be home to unique dining experiences ranging from full-service restaurants to quick-service locations that offer something for every palate:
Atlantic – a full-service “surf and turf” restaurant set inside a Victorian aquarium complete with captivating views of Celestial Park.
The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant – where diners take a culinary journey across Asia as they enjoy authentic Chinese, Japanese and Thai fare in this full-service restaurant accented with neon dragons and ethereal lanterns.
The Oak & Star Tavern – where guests can enjoy savory barbecue.
Pizza Moon – which will serve up a tasty menu featuring a variety of pizzas, and more.
Celestial Park will also feature incredibly detailed retail locations, including the following:
Nintendo Super Star Store – where guests can shop an assortment of merchandise themed to the land featuring Mario, Donkey Kong, and friends.
Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets – where guests can satisfy their cravings with a unique selection of sweet treats, and more.
Plenty of exciting entertainment, including various fountain shows throughout Celestial Park’s seven acres, where a multitude of fountains sway, dance – and even reach heights up to 135 feet in the air – to music and interactive lighting from day to night.
Celestial Park will also be the gateway to explore the four additional lands of Epic Universe through a set of majestic portals.
Super Nintendo World: Guests will enter the iconic green pipe and discover a new way to play as they step into the worlds of beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong. You’ll experience a new way to play, with everything from minigames to Mario Kart to Donkey Kong Country and the new Mine Cart Madness ride.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Where guests will discover a different era of the wizarding world in an all-new land that blends 1920s wizarding Paris from Warner Bros. Pictures’ Fantastic Beasts films with the 1990s British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Take to the skies and soar with dragons as you explore the colorful Viking village at the heart of Berk. Take part in wild boat battles, feast like a Viking and more in this colorful world filled with Viking adventures based on the wildly popular How to Train Your Dragon film franchise.
Dark Universe: From the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to a shadowy landscape where curious creations roam, Dark Universe is a world of myth and mystery. Dark Universe is Universal’s classic monsters, reimagined.
Adding to the experience at Epic Universe will be three new Universal hotels, including sister properties, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort, and the majestic Universal Helios Grand Hotel – which is located inside of the Epic Universe theme park in Celestial Park.
In addition to raising the bar for theme park innovation, Epic Universe theme park is just the start for Universal Destinations & Experiences. The division is also introducing new park concepts to new people, in new markets and on new platforms, recently breaking ground on two new concepts.
The first is Universal Kids Resort theme park and hotel under construction Frisco, Texas. Then there’s the Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, Nevada. These are two smaller-scale projects, but they’re indicative of innovative ways that Universal is attempting to enter the attractions market without tentpole tourist destinations. Beyond that, there’s the proposed Universal Studios Great Britain.
Turning to commentary, I am absolutely blown away. Unlike a lot of other theme park fans, I’ve tried to keep my expectations in check with Epic Universe. Although the themed lands have been an open secret since 2019–and at least two of them are blockbuster additions that will be huge draws–we haven’t known much else about the park.
One of my big concerns has been the stated budget for Epic Universe, which I now can only assume is much higher than previously revealed. (It has to be. Not only have labor costs risen, but in order to go full steam ahead on this project, they’re likely paying a premium.) Another has been that in Universal’s rush to open other attractions and experiences, attention to detail has sometimes been scattershot.
Epic Universe looks every bit the gamechanger that Universal is promising, featuring lands on par with Disney’s best as well as themed design and placemaking in the central plaza that reminds me of a cross between Shanghai Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.
Beyond just how gorgeous Celestial Park looks, I really like the concept of the portals and the way it allows disparate concepts to be brought together in the same theme park. The lands selected for Epic Universe have something-for-everyone appeal, with everything from the kid-friendly How to Train Your Dragon franchise to all-ages Super Nintendo World to more adult-oriented Dark Universe.
Assuming the rides are selected with just as much thoughtfulness–and highly credible rumors already indicate that they have been–Epic Universe should be the park that finally puts to rest Universal’s reputation as excluding kids, adults with motion sickness, or grandparents. There will be thrill rides and screen-based attractions, to be sure, but there will also be plenty offering all-ages appeal. That’s huge, and increasingly important as more tourists take multi-generational trips.
It may seem like a minor thing, or ‘celebrity’ endorsement to help sell the project, but I also really like that Steven Spielberg is serving as Creative Consultant on Epic Universe. As the video below mentions, it was Spielberg’s idea to ‘ride the movies,’and he was heavily involved with the conception of Universal Studios Florida prior to that park’s 1990 opening. (It’s been rumored for years that Spielberg is the “protector” of E.T. Adventure, solely saving it from bulldozers.)
“Epic Universe is built on an amazing concept: the idea that you can go into a world through a portal and you come out in a world you never could dream of–you can experience it. I think it’s going to just feed the imagination of so many people of all ages,” said Spielberg. I think you could see the director’s fingerprints on the original Universal Studios Florida, and it would be great if Universal Creative married its bleeding edge technology with more sentimentality and emotion. A formula that Spielberg has perfected in moviemaking!
Speaking of which, this ‘formula’ is present in the “trailer” that Universal released for Epic Universe alongside this announcement, which we’d highly recommend watching:
If Universal sticks the landing on Epic Universe, it will fulfill the company’s goal of transforming Universal Orlando Resort into a bona fide vacation destination. That was seemingly a throw-away line in the press release about Celestial Park and the themed lands, but at the end of the day, that’s what this is about.
Universal wants to capture a bigger slice of the pie when it comes to tourists, getting guests to stay on-site in its hotels and purchase packages or multi-day tickets to its parks, rather than visit for “The Harry Potter Park” as a diversion from Disney.
Although this is a Disney blog first and foremost (see URL), we don’t want to fixate too much on the business side or Walt Disney World angle of Epic Universe joining the Florida theme park landscape. For one thing, because we’ve already done a decent amount of that recently in Is Universal “Beating” Disney?
All I will say is that this reveal of Epic Universe is certainly further proof that Comcast is more aggressive than Disney in actual action. Whereas the latter is doing blue sky daydreaming about nebulous future plans to double investment in theme parks to $60 billion over the next decade, Comcast is taking concrete next steps. Disney is talking; Universal is doing.
Obviously, a lot still remains to be seen, but this big first look at Universal’s Epic Universe is really, really impressive and exciting. It has me looking forward to the new theme park even more, and learning about what’s inside each themed land (well, maybe minus Super Nintendo World, which is pretty much a known quantity–and an excellent one!).
I also can’t wait to step foot inside Epic Universe, which is only a little (?) over a year away from its previously-stated “by Summer 2025” (?) opening date. It’s not often you get to experience a brand-new theme park…and Epic Universe truly looks like something special.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of Universal’s Epic Universe? Thoughts on the look and atmosphere of Celestial Park or any of the other concept art? Excited for Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe/Classic Monsters, or the How to Train Your Dragon lands and/or attractions? Think Epic Universe will be a third gate that’s a worthy addition to Universal Orlando Resort…and potentially on par with Disney’s best lands? Expect Disney to “respond” with a big announcement of its own at the 2024 D23 Expo? Any questions? We love hearing from readers, so please share any other thoughts or questions you have in the comments below!
I don’t want to say Disney is in “trouble” because we all know they’re not. But this part is ridiculous. Not only did they pick fabulous IPs, they picked things people have been asking Disney for for years. A villains land? Disney could’ve done that a long time ago. And I’ll be willing to bet the dragon ride in HTTYD is similar to Flight of Passage. Yes, Disney will come out with something to fight back…but the Communicore in EPCOT is not going to rival Celestial Park. I think Disney has waited too long and depended too much on status quo. Yes, they have plans. But so does Universal. It’s not like they’re going to be like “here’s Epic Universe we’re done now”. I’m super excited to see this and already know I will make whatever plans I have to in order to be there next year. Which very possibly includes taking a couple years off from Disney. I’ve been a Disney World fan my whole life and despite my love for Harry Potter, Universal has always been 2nd place. But I’m a little jaded after my last two trips to Disney and Epic Universe is totally a breath of fresh air. I definitely think Disney had better pay attention (and I am 100% sure they are).
I hate this new format for your blog. Too many ads – makes it impossible to read. Unless it changes – I don’t think that I can look at your stuff any more which makes me sad. While I am typing this a new ad is popping up all the time!!!
Yes, and when you view it on a mobile device (phone or tablet), the ads cause the page to constantly reload. Tom, we love what you do, but maybe it’s time to start investing a little time/money on the user experience of your blog?
I would love to join this conversation but I have to go to work.
Thankfully, that is not the case with a laptop. Trying to read it on the phone earlier was driving me crazy, but with the laptop, not only didn’t have the issue with the ads, but the pics and videos for this article really need to be seen in a bigger format than a phone to be appreciated!
Solution is easy… use DuckDuckGo. No more pop-up ads. You’re welcome.
This Universe Park will be hard to swallow for Disney, no matter what. But today, technology shows exponential growth (cfr. Elon Musk and his SpaceX, NeuraLink with their wireless brain chip, mind-blowing superior AI), I think by the day Disney opens Tropical Americas or all-new land behind Big Thunder, EU attractions will be outdated. From a technological point of view, a couple of years is an eternity nowadays! Fact. Disney must use that to their advantage and deliver even more advanced attractions without losing their roots.
You’re not serious surely? Outdated rides because they’re building now? I mean really, even if the tech isn’t as good as the Disney rides of the future (which currently there are no public plans for), they can be updated, changed, added to. That’s a terrible reason to defend Disney here I think. On top of this, let’s not forget, Haunted Mansion (Disneyland) is 55 years old and still remains as one of the best and most beloved rides ever. Space Mountain, Big Thunder, Pirates etc. All hardly technical marvels now, but still command crowds and are fantastic.
Time is money and it appears that Universal has spent both wisely to get this entire project together so quickly.
Cannot wait to stay there and see everything they have created. Truly interested in spending some time there.
Tom…have you heard anything about whether this park will solve the longstanding problem with accessibility for guests with mobility issues? Disney wins this segment of the theme park crowd continuously. My wife has mobility issues and while we have UO Passes, she doesn’t enjoy going because she cannot enjoy most of the attractions. We go to Disney all the time and there is nothing she cannot ride.
It’s brilliant; just like Walt Disney took the four popular themes of his animated fantasies, Westerns and their take on the frontier, True Life Adventures, and the science fiction worlds of tomorrow, Universal has taken four of its biggest properties and is creating unique, unified lands for each, surrounded by a Victorian influenced corridor and hub! Specifically, I think Nintendoland is better off as being focused on Mario properties with additional worlds being separate.) Universal Monstertown is going to have a chance to be built from the ground up, incorporating whatever of the past films they want without having to focus on a new hit property; I do wonder how well they’ll balance the adult horror and the pre-teen spooky of monster movies. Pottersville speaks for itself, and my nieces grew up with How I Trained My Dragon, the first film of the series of movies/shorts/tv shows had enough world building for a packed Square of attractions/restaurants/gift shops.
Finally, LOOK AT THOSE EMPTY PADS FOR GROWTH! Armchair Universal Creatives, have at it.
I love the article, concept trailer, and comments! The Celestial area is BEAUTIFUL. That’s going to be as iconic as Space Mountain and the castle are in promotional materials at night. If they nail an amazing water fountain “show” in front of Helios, this is going to be a really gorgeous experience, full of atmosphere. The portals are excellent designs, too, and don’t get me started on the Monsters area. I have been salivating over Alicia’s videos and the rumored Frankenstein windmill attraction and possible restaurant.
Relating to your earlier commentary a few days ago, we’re DVC, and I have a feeling we’ll be doing a big family trip staying at WDW but Ubering every day over to Epic in 2025.
Now if Universal would sell a Helios DVC wing with special early/late entry and HHN perks and parties, please, take all our money! That’s my husband’s biggest desire — to be staying IN the park.
Oh, side note, the How to Train a Dragon franchise area really good movies! They all hold up, and the sidekicks are pretty funny — especially the horny twin girl warrior, LOL. I think it’s maybe the second or third movie she gets some good scenes. Completely flies over the kids’ heads, but it’s good.
IDK how and when Epic will shake things up at WDW, but competition is great. I just recently got a VERY lengthy questionnaire from both Universal AND Disney. Universal had a bunch of questions relating to length-of-stay future promotions that may be interesting, and Disney had a lot about guest satisfaction and ability to get on rides during our FARTs/MLK weekend trip. News flash, it wasn’t good, and I happily expressed my disgust with Genie+ and refusal to buy it. I may be spitting in the wind, but it is my opinion. We love our DVC, but the cost/value in the parks seems to be dwindling too much. We canceled our Thanksgiving trip for family reasons, but now I think I’ll just save our points for a big DVC/Epic trip in 2025 and skip WDW. We already let our APs lapse.
Cheers to Epic and the beautiful, cohesive themed design. This is a theme park, not a jumble of IP and rides and kiosks all over. And that restaurant/aquarium! If they nail that and keep quality up, holy cow. That’s going to be BOG/CRT for years to come. Throw in King Triton mythology, winner-winner seafood dinner!
“I may be spitting in the wind, but it is my opinion.”
I don’t think you are–they know they have a big problem there, and are working to improve it. Not doing enough (or fast enough) if you ask me, but awareness exists and an effort is being made. Doubt it results in the return of free FastPass, but if Epic Universe is a big enough hit and draws enough on-site guests to Universal, who knows.
The game changers here are Harry Potter and Nintendo. Those two franchises rival anything Disney does. Having both in one park sets the stage for what could be Universal’s strongest theme park, and one that is legitimately on par with anything Disney has in Florida.
Yep. And I strongly suspect Universal will move quickly and follow the Potter playbook with Nintendo, adding it to the existing gates to give fans a reason to visit all of them, not just Epic Universe.
I really hope there are rides for all the family. Rides that people can ride without getting sick. I have wanted to go to Universal Florida for a long time but the price with what our family can ride is just not worth it. Hope they full fill their promise that this is park for the whole family.
What surprised me the most about the announcement trailer was how much it resembled Disney’s marketing styles. It leaned heavily on legacy and nostalgia, focusing more on the “why we are building it” than the “what are we building”, which is the one trick that held Disney together through the otherwise lackluster Disney 100 Celebration. Universal learned it so well and so fast, and used it so effectively in this trailer that moments of it resembled the best of Dinsey’s marketing products.
I never got into the Universal franchise, get physically sick on thrill rides, and generally dislike the single-IP immersive lands, so I could spend 7+ days easy at WDW while visiting both Universal theme parks in one day and still run out of things to do by early afternoon. So Epic Universe, especially after learning the unfamiliar (to me) IP featured, never interested me quite as much. But seeing how Universal is absorbing and using the best from its competitor (leaning on family, storytelling, legacy), while Disney hasn’t even fully mastered how to build good single-IP immersive lands, shows the ambition in the former and the lack thereof in the latter. I still don’t think I would prioritize Universal over Disney, but would definitely consider adding it back on the list for my next trips; even if I can’t enjoy the thrill rides, I would like to be in a park that’s filled with ambitions and life.
I also thought that was interesting (and smart!) about the announcement trailer. It’s almost like Steven Spielberg directed that, too!
Tom, your comment that “Disney is talking, Universal is doing” is spot on. It’s taken Disney longer to remodel Epcot than it’s taking Universal to build an entirely new theme park!
I think that Disney’s upper management is convinced that the “Disney Magic” is so strong that it doesn’t matter what Universal does that they don’t. Well, the problem with that line of thinking is that the Disney magic has taken a huge blow with all of the takeaways and added costs. Yes, there is that core of Disney fanatics that will accept whatever is done, good or bad, and keep coming. But I believe that enough long time loyal guests are leaving, and enough new guests won’t become long term guests, that over time (albeit maybe a long time!) the drop in attendance will force management to look at the rapidly declining guest experience.
Based on your description, Epic Universe will truly be epic. If they can combine that with an excellent guest experience, perhaps adding some perks for on site guests, then Disney is going to be in trouble. Especially since they’re unable to execute changes in a timely manner.
I think there will be only two ways for Disney to offset what will surely be a drop in attendance, especially with on site guests. (1) heavily discount resort prices and tone down other price increases, or (2) bring back the Disney bubble for on site guests: Magic Express, free fast passes and magic bands, luggage handling, resort airline check in. THAT’S what will bring back the lost long time loyal customers.
IIRC from another map, there’s also room for expansion in each of the lands. I remember hearing (maybe it was wishful thinking) about being able to add at least a Creature From The Black Lagoon ride in Dark Universe. The gauntlet has been thrown down, let’s hope Disney rises to the challenge within the next 2 to 4 years.
I’ve mentioned here before that Disney should try to emulate the SeaGlass Carousel in NYC (a totally innovative style of carousel). It looks like the Constellation Carousel mentioned above may contain some elements of this concept (which has some similarities to the ride system of Alien Swirling Saucers or Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree).
But I just did a little digging around to find schematic drawings and it looks like Constellation Carousel is EXACTLY what the Mary Poppins attraction once proposed for Epcot should have been (but with Edwardian London theming). Missed opportunity for WDW.