Oh boy, oh boy, we have another theme park on our hands. Universal Orlando Resort is set to open its new park, Epic Universe, on May 22, 2025. It’s one thing to talk about new rides, new restaurants, and even new lands. But an entirely new THEME PARK?! A theme park that no one has stepped foot in before? Every nook and cranny is unexplored, every bench is not broken in, and every trash can is in PRISTINE condition?? This is what dreams are made of.
Epic Universe promises to be, pardon the phrase, truly epic. It’s going to be epic for several reasons, not the least of which is its massive size, an impressive array of themed lands, and what will surely be a heart-pounding list of rides and attractions. I’m also hoping for an expansion of Halloween Horror Nights, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. For now, let’s dive into Universal’s recent announcements regarding the details of Epic Universe and what we know so far!
What is Universal Epic Universe?
In the simplest of terms, Universal Epic Universe is a theme park. More to the point, it is Universal Orlando’s third theme park – fourth if you include its water park Volcano Bay. Epic Universe will feature five themed worlds (we’ll cover them in a sec), adding up to over fifty attractions and experiences for guests to enjoy. It will officially open on May 22, 2025. The first phase of tickets go on sale October 22, 2024.
Here’s a look at an earlier concept rendering of the park layout:
And here is a more recent rendering:
Those are the one-sheet facts, but once the park is open, Epic Universe is sure to be much more than that. Those five worlds are sure to tug at many a heartstring, with most of them deeply rooted in beloved intellectual property.
Once completed, Universal Orlando will nearly double in size. Along with Volcano Bay, City Walk, and eight (soon to be nine) hotels, Epic Universe will be a “tremendous addition,” according to Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations and Experiences. He adds, “Universal Epic Universe changes everything you thought you knew about Universal Orlando Resort.”
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CELESTIAL PARK
As guests pass under a structure known as the Chronos and enter Epic Universe, they are greeted by the first of five distinct lands: Celestial Park. The heart of Epic Universe, Celestial Park acts as the hub in the classic hub-and-spoke model of theme park design. This land “puts ‘park’ back into ‘theme park’ by offering quintessential attractions, shopping, and dining.
Celestial Park is the land we learned about the most at first, with Universal unveiling the names of the three attractions that will call this world home. There is an innovative carousel-style ride called Constellation Carousel…
…an interactive dancing fountain attraction called Astronomica, and a dual-launch roller coaster called Stardust Racers.
This coaster climbs up to speeds of 62 miles per hour and reaches a max height of 133 feet. It sounds like just the right amount of thrill for guests, young and old. When it’s time to grab a bite to eat in Celestial Park, guests will have a couple of different options. The table-service restaurant in this land will be called Atlantic and will feature a surf-and-turf-inspired menu.
You can also check out the Blue Dragon-Pan Asian Restaurant!
As the entrance and exit to Epic Universe, Celestial Park would not be complete without shopping. Be sure to pick up those Mario essentials in the Nintendo Super Star Store.
Beyond Celestial Park lies four uniquely designed portals that will bring guests into the other four lands throughout Epic Universe.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – ISLE OF BERK
The fifth and final world, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, promises “the ultimate wish fulfillment of flying dragons.” Based on the popular book and animated film franchise How to Train Your Dragon, guests will be able to have their own Viking adventures featuring – you guessed it – dragons.
The land takes pace between the second and third installments in the “How to Train Your Dragon” film franchise. This is know as a time of harmony between humans and dragons — and expect to see plenty of dragons during your visit.
As Katy Pacitti, Assistant Director and Executive Producer at Universal Creative shared in Universal’s video announcement for Isle of Berk, “Everything had to be viking sized.” The land encompasses 15.5 acres with a total of 162,500 square feet of rock work, four major attractions, dining, shopping, and more.
Dragon Racer’s Rally is a ride where everyone can fly together, with the option to add even more thrill as you see fit. You get to control your individual “dragon” and can spin upside down in order to create an experience “as mild or as wild as you want.”
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders will be a family coaster (minimum height requirement will be 40″) where riders can test out Hiccup’s latest flying contraption.
Fyre Drill will be a competition-style boat battle ride with various mechanical targets guests will need to hit throughout their journey. As Ryan Paul, Ride Show and Engineering Manager for Universal Creative warns in Universal’s video announcement for the land, “you will probably get soaked.”
Junior Vikings can play in Viking Training Camp, a dynamic and interactive playscape. This attraction will include a Toothless-themed teeter-totter, a Viking agility course, baby Gronckle dragon climbers, and more.
Then there is The Untrainable Dragon. This stage show is the land’s “Broadway-level production” direct from Universal Beijing Resort. In the show, Toothless will soar above the audience (perhaps you’ve seen the viral videos on social media from the Beijing production!). Pack your tissues.
Fans of the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise can finally live out their wildest dreams of coming face to face with Toothless in a new character meet-and-greet experience.
Mead Hall, the land’s quick-service dining location, will have a viking-approved menu featuring meat, fish, sandwiches, and desserts. Alcoholic mead, ciders, and ales, along with non-alcoholic beverages, will also be available here. There will be two additional dining spots in the land: a second quick-service dining location called Spit Fyre Grill, and Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel, a food stand with quick bites.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
Jump through the portal that resembles a green Warp Pipe, and you find yourself in the world of Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. The next land we’ll be discussing is none other than Super Nintendo World!
Fans have been able to watch as this land opened in Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood in 2023. Super Nintendo World in Epic Universe appears to promise much of the same in terms of attractions, dining, and shopping.
Epic Universe will, of course, put its own unique spin on this land, combining elements of the existing Super Nintendo Worlds. This Super Nintendo World will be divided into two sections: Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.
SUPER MARIO LAND
When guests first enter Super Nintendo World, they will be greeted by Super Mario Land. This section is most similar to what guests can experience over at Universal Studios Hollywood. This land will feature many of the same attractions, including:
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, which employs augmented reality and projection mapping to create a one-of-its-kind attraction. There aren’t too many things I can say I’m a pro at, but Mario Kart is one of those things. So you’ll definitely catch me in line for this ride once Epic Universe opens.
Yoshi’s Adventure is a family ride that offers sweeping views of Super Nintendo World while guests “travel through Mushroom Kingdom landscapes in search of glowing eggs.” This ride will be making its U.S. debut at Epic Universe!
Toadstool Cafe is the flagship dining location in Super Nintendo World. Many of the menu items will be brought over from Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan, including Mario and Luigi-themed burgers, Super Mushroom Soup, Piranha Plant Caprese, and Fire Flower Spaghetti and Meatballs.
We can’t forget about character meet-and-greets! Super Mario Land will be home to several character interactions, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad.
There will be additional dining opportunities in Super Mario Land, including Yoshi’s Snack Island and Turbo Boost Treats. Souvenirs can be found at 1-UP Factory and Mario Motors.
DONKEY KONG COUNTRY
One level up from Super Mario Land is Donkey Kong Country! This separate and uniquely designed section of Super Nintendo World will bring guests into the lush tropical world of Donkey Kong.
The hallmark attraction here is Mine-Cart Madness, a family coaster that will feature state-of-the-art technology to make it seem as though you are actually on a runaway mine cart, seemingly jumping over gaps in the track and all! And as Andrew Padua, Creative Director at Universal Creative highlights in Universal’s video unveiling of Super Nintendo World, Mine-Cart Madness will have “zero screens.”
Donkey Kong Country will also have dining and shopping opportunities, or as Universal says, a “tropical menu and merchandise offerings in the middle of the jungle.” More details on this will be revealed in the coming months.
What else can guests expect in Super Nintendo World? Power-Up Bands are coming to Universal Orlando! The interactive wearable tech allows guests to “enhance their play throughout Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.” With the Power-Up Bands, you interact with the physical world around you to collect digital stamps, earn digital keys that unlock various aspects of Super Nintendo World, and more. Leaderboard screens found around Super Nintendo World will show how you rank compared to other guests that day.
Power-Up Bands, along with the innovative technology found in the attractions and experiences, positions Super Nintendo World to be the “future of immersive experiences,” according to Padua.
DARK UNIVERSE
Universal Orlando Resort has always paid homage to Universal’s classic monsters, like Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman. Whether it’s a Halloween Horror Nights theme or a permanent gift shop in Universal Studios Florida, guests can find ways to embrace their inner monsters while visiting the parks. But now, with Epic Universe, that will be dialed up to a 10 with Dark Universe.
According to Chief Creative Officer of Universal Creative Brian Robinson, “Everything you’ve ever wanted to experience with monsters is in this world.” In the initial unveiling, it appears as though an ominous, foreboding ride will be housed in a structure resembling Dracula’s castle. As more details were revealed by Universal, one thing is clear: as Peter Carsillo, Senior Creative Director at Universal Creative explains, “It’s the place that you’ve been waiting for for almost 100 years.”
Dark Universe brings guests through an electrifying portal and into the world of Darkmoor, a place where all of the classic Universal Monsters stories have actually taken place and the monsters are 100% real. Dark Universe is being designed in a way that makes the classic horror characters approachable no matter what your preferred level of thrill might be!
Guests will be able to come face-to-face with these monsters in a Meet the Monsters character experience. Characters will roam Dark Universe for eery encounters, including Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s Monster, the Bride of Frankenstein, Victoria Frankenstein’s servant, Ygor, The Invisible Man (I cannot WAIT to see what a character meet-and-greet experience is like with him), as well as “an eccentric monster hunter, and a talented musician who regales guests with songs and tales of the classic Universal Monsters stories.”
Guests can even transform into a monster themselves at the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience. Here, guests of all ages can become their favorite monster with the help of face paint and elaborate temporary tattoos.
Dark Universe will feature two rides. The first is a spinning family coaster called Curse of the Werewolf, inspired by the classic Universal film The Wolf Man. On this attraction, guests learn that “they bear the mark of the werewolf,” and they must “venture into the forest – racing to escape the werewolves before they become one themselves.”
If you know me, you’ll know that I have my sights set on conquering Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. This seems to be a dark ride in every sense of the phrase! Billed as “Universal Orlando’s most terrifying attraction yet,” Monsters Unchained tells the story of Victoria Frankenstein, a scientist who wants to restore some good into the family name of Frankenstein. When her plans go awry and Dracula unleashes all of the classic monsters you can think of, guests are thrust into the darkness to escape them.
According to the Universal Orlando creative team, when you experience Monsters Unchained, “you’re going to see things that defy what you know of as a theme park attraction.” Carsillo explains that Monsters Unchained features “the most technologically advance animated figures that have ever been built.” In total, the attraction will boast fourteen state-of-the-art audio-animatronics, including this Frankenstein figure seen in the ride’s pre-show. This is a WALKING animatronic, standing tall at nine feet and weighing over 800 pounds.
Once on the ride, you’ll encounter even more monsters that are far too life-like for my taste! Seriously, this ride is going to keep me up at night. Guests will “come within inches” of The Wolf Man which, again, is going a bit too far above and beyond. Cut to me crying on this ride.
If that weren’t enough, Gregory Hall, Assistant Director of Creative Design at Universal Creative, shares, “We literally use every technology I can possibly think of. And then we realized, we needed to invent new technology.” He goes on to explain that guests will actually feel the characters breathing down their neck on this attraction.
I’m gonna pause things right here to say…I am the world’s biggest wimp when it comes to scary rides. Truly. I still close my eyes on Forbidden Journey. But you better believe I will be SEATED for Monsters Unchained when Epic Universe opens. And when I’ve earned my badge of honor for riding it, I’m heading straight to the tavern for a consolation beverage! That is, The Burning Blade Tavern, where guests can enjoy burgers, wings, bratwurst, pretzels and specialty beverages.
Hungry for more? Dark Universe will also be home to Das Stakehaus, “a dining hall run by vampire ‘familiars.'” Here, guests can dine on kebabs, burgers, sandwiches and more.
For dessert, I’m heading straight to De Lacey’s Cottage. This snacks stand will be home to ice cream, twisted taters and CINNAMON BREAD. That’s right, cinnamon bread is coming to Universal Orlando (if you’ve ever been to Dollywood or Silver Dollar City, you’ll know how big of a deal this is!). When it’s time to pick up a souvenir, head to Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities for commemorative Dark Universe merchandise.
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER – MINISTRY OF MAGIC
The third chapter in the saga that is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando arrives at Epic Universe as the Ministry of Magic.
This land will feature two identities: 1920s Paris, as seen in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, as well as the British Ministry of Magic from the classic Harry Potter books and films.
As guests enter the land, they will be transported from a Muggle park in Paris to “Place Cachée,” a bustling French market in the Wizarding World. Think Paris with its sidewalk cafes, shops, and artisans.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic is “the largest thing” Universal has built, with structures towering above any other building we’ve seen thus far in Harry Potter’s universe.
The hallmark attraction at Place Cachée is Le Cirque Arcanus, the first-ever full-scale indoor show in Wizarding World.
The show will feature acrobatics and aerialists, puppetry, and of course, magic via brilliant special effects. According to Universal, “The show follows Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase – where Demiguise, Diricawl, Mooncalves and more reside – to try and bring the failing Le Cirque Arcanus back to its former glory.”
Stepping away from Place Cachée for just a moment, we have to talk about the headliner ride found in Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic. First, guests have to find themselves at the British Ministry of Magic featured in the ‘Harry Potter’ films. To get there, you’ll travel by Métro-Floo, “a unique mode of wizarding transit inspired by the iconic Floo Network seen in the films.” If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling via Floo Network, now is your chance!
Universal released images of what the inside of the Ministry of Magic will look like, and I must say, the attention to detail is insane. Here’s what it will look like compared to the concept art above — I’d say it’s pretty darn close to the same!
Once at the Ministry, you’ll experience Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, a ride featuring “first-of-its-kind ride technology.” Like other Harry Potter attractions around Universal Orlando, the queue will be equally immersive.
The ride finds guests after the fall of Voldemort, with Dolores Umbridge on trial for her involvement with the Dark Lord. As Umbridge attempts to escape, you’ll board what looks like an elevator from Tower of Terror, but, like, plused times one thousand.
Here’s a first glimpse at the elevator-esque ride vehicle:
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic will be home to several dining experiences. The main eatery is back in Place Cachée, called Café L’Air De La Sirène.
Other eateries include Le Gobelet Noir, found in the “shadowy corners of Place Cachée,” where you’ll enjoy a selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts.
For a refreshing beverage, head to either Bar Moonshine, where “American witches and wizards can enjoy a taste of home” with beer, wine, and cocktails, or Bièraubeurre Cart, because no Wizarding World is complete without a Butterbeer cart. A huge draw of Wizarding World is the unique shopping, and Ministry of Magic will have plenty of opportunities for grabbing those one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
You’ll be able to purchase a wand at Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique, the premier Parisan wand shop.
With your new wand, you’ll be able to interact with the land in the same ways you can at Hogsmede and Diagon Alley.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel
If your 2025 trip to Universal is centered around Epic Universe, it sure sounds like you will want to book your stay at Universal Helios Grand Hotel. The brand-new hotel that sits up against Epic Universe will have 500 rooms and will open alongside the theme park on May 22, 2025. As described in Universal’s announcement, this hotel will be “integrated into the park like no other theme park.” According to a press release from Universal, Helios Grand Hotel is considered to be located inside Epic Universe.
The hotel features “modern yet casual Mediterranean design elements.”
Helios Grand Hotel will be a destination in and of itself, with plenty of dining and recreation options for guests to enjoy during their stay. Some of its dining options will feature sweeping views of Epic Universe (catch me sitting here with a drink in hand!).
Here’s a look at a concept rendering for one of the guest rooms at Helios Grand Hotel:
In addition to the standard guest rooms and suites, the hotel will feature a select number of Kids’ Suites themed to How To Train Your Dragon.
But Universal Helios Grand Hotel is not the only new hotel opening in preparation for Epic Universe. Universal Orlando will also add Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort on January 21 and February 25, 2025, respectively. That will bring Universal’s grand total of hotel offerings to 11 by the time Epic Universal and Helios Grand Hotel open.
What Else is Coming to Universal Orlando in 2024 and 2025?
Beyond Epic Universe, more brand-new offerings are on deck for Universal Orlando in 2024 and 2025. Universal Studios Florida opened DreamWorks Land on June 14, 2024, featuring characters from films like Shrek, Trolls, Gabby’s Dollhouse, and Kung-Fu Panda. This new land comes right at the heels of the recently completed Minion Land, also found in Universal Studios Florida.
Universal Studios Florida will also be home to two new entertainment experiences in the summer of 2024: Mega Movie Parade, the largest daytime parade to date at Universal Orlando Resort, and CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular. CineSational will play on select nights starting June 14 around Universal Studios Florida Lagoon.
Over at Islands of Adventure, a new Hogwarts Castle show will play on select nights in the summer of 2024. The show, called Hogwarts Always, will bring guests through a year at Hogwarts in a brilliant display of lights and projection mapping.
Can’t get enough of Epic Universe and want to check things out for yourself before it opens? An interactive preview center is currently on display at Universal City Walk.
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Hi!
Good piece!