While most of the attention in the theme park business goes to Disney, over the last several years Universal Parks and Resorts has spent a lot of time and money to build a strong theme park presence of its own. Universal has several different themed entertainment projects in various stages of development, but the biggest and most exciting of them is Epic Universe, the massive third theme park set to become part of the Universal Orlando Resort.
Over the last several months Universal Orlando Resort has been revealing what will be included in each land of the new park. While there are still a few questions left to answer, we now know everything that will be inside Epic Universe as far as what theme each land will have, and what attractions each land will contain. Here's a rundown of everything that's been confirmed so far.
When Will Epic Universe Open?
Building an entirely new theme park is no simple task. It was always going to take time. When a global pandemic hit just as construction got underway, things stalled out, and for a hot minute, we thought the entire Epic Universe project might get scrapped. Luckily construction did restart and Epic Universe is eyeing a summer 2025 opening.
When in 2025 Epic Universe will open is unknown, but we can make some educated assumptions. Both of the last two Universal Orlando park openings, the Volcano Bay water park and the Islands of Adventure theme park, opened in May, and the summer vacation season is something the new theme park won't want to miss. It seems likely that if Epic Universe opens any later than that, it will only be because of unavoidable delays. It's possible, if everything goes according to, or ahead of, schedule that the park could open earlier in 2025. Certainly Universal will want to open it as soon as possible to start recouping that investment.
Celestial Gardens
The most exciting part of Epic Universe may be the land that isn't part of a major movie franchise. Celestial Gardens will be the land all guests walk into as they enter Epic Universe. This park will use the classic hub and spoke design pioneered by Disneyland, with different portals leading off from Celestial Gardens into the other lands of the park.
But unlike most theme park entrances, Celestial Gardens won’t just be filled with snack and gift shops, it will also have attractions of its very own. Starfall Racers will be the park’s marquee thrill ride, a dual launch coaster that will fly at 62 mph down 5,000 feet of track. It will also include an inverted crisscross of the two racing vehicles.
A second attraction in this land called Constellation Carousel, will have guests flying and spinning through the air. It appears to be a traditional carousel taken to a new level by using multiple rotating platforms, as well as the ability to move vertically. Astronomica is a wet play area full of fountains that will help guests cool off in the heat.
Celestial Gardens will also have plenty of places to eat. Atlantic will be a full-service restaurant set inside a Victorian aquarium. The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant will combine Chinese, Japanese and Thai in a full-service restaurant. The Oak and Star Tavern will offer barbecue. Pizza Moon provides pizza, and Moonship Chocolates and Celestial Sweets will offer confections to satisfy your sweet tooth. Finally, the Nintendo Super Star Store will offer additional merchandise from Super Nintendo World.
One very unique thing about Celestial Gardens that has been rumored, but not yet confirmed, is that the land might, either permanently or at certain times, see Celestial Gardens open to the general public, with only the other lands requiring tickets.
Super Nintendo World
Before most of Epic Universe had ever been discussed, the one land that we knew was coming to the new park was Super Nintendo World. Nintendo and Universal signed a deal to bring Nintendo-themed attractions to Universal Parks several years ago and what was initially expected to be part of an expansion to one of the existing parks is instead going to be the centerpiece of the new one.
Officially revealed in May 2024, Epic Universe's Super Nintendo World will open with all of the attractions that we've seen at the other Universal parks so far. It will include the Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge ride, just like its sister park Universal Studios Hollywood. However, it will also include the Yoshi Omnimover ride that you'll find at Universal Studios Japan. And while Japan is getting the new Donkey Kong: Mine Cart Madness roller coaster as part of a phase two expansion, Epic Universe will have that ride on day one.
How To Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk
Nintendo will be a huge addition to Universal's new park, but Universal has a lot of its own brands and franchises that you can be sure it's going to want to spotlight inside the parks, the synergy between theme parks and movies, and one's ability to promote the other, is one of the main reasons these places even exist. As such, one of the new lands coming to Epic Universe is reported to be one based on the popular Dreamworks Animation franchise How to Train Your Dragon.
In How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, attractions in the land include a Sky Fly flat ride and the Hiccup’s Wing Gliders family roller coaster. Fyre Drille will see riders will attack other ride vehicles with water cannons. A live stage show, based on a show that already exists at Universal Bejing Resort will also appear. Dining locations include Berk's Mead Hall.
Dark Universe
Long before the MCU, Universal basically invented the cinematic universe concept with its roster of classic monsters, like Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Mummy, and The Wolfman. And while the attempt to make a Dark Universe failed in theaters, that name is being reused for the home of Universal’s Monsters at Epic Universe
Epic Universe's Dark Universe will start with The Burning Blade Tavern, inside a windmill covered in fire effects, will be located near the land’s entrance. The land will also include the Curse of the Werewolf spinning roller coaster and a dark ride that will include all of Universal’s monster characters, called Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. One interesting item that has been confirmed by Universal is that the Dr. Frankenstein in this land is not named Victor, but Victoria.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has lands in both of the other Universal theme parks, so it would be conspicuous by its absence if it wasn't here too. This version of the Wizarding World will be a bit different, as it will take combined inspiration from both the original Harry Potter films and the more recent Fantastic Beasts series.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic will blend a 1920s Paris aesthetic from Fantastic Beasts, with the Ministry of Magic from the main franchise. Currently, there are two major attractions rumored for the land. Battle at the Ministry of Magic is a large-scale dark ride, the largest in Epic Universe, that sees guests traveling through the British Ministry in a story set following the events of the Deathly Hallows films. The second is a large theater hosting the Circus Arcanus, the Wizarding circus as seen in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Epic Universe Hotels
But if you’re going to Epic Universe, you’ll need a place to stay. There are already some great Universal Orlando Resort hotels, the Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites opened most recently, but with the new theme park will come at least three new hotels, and one of them is looking quite special.
The names of two new Universal Orlando hotels were leaked in 2023 but have since been confirmed. The Universal Stella Nova and Universal Terra Luna Resorts are currently under construction adjacent to the Epic Universe park. Stella Nova is set to open in January 2025 and Terra Luna will follow in February. Both locations will have restaurants, pools, and other traditional amenities, and offer early admission to the theme parks. Both are also fairly affordable, with rates in Universal’s “Value” category.
The marquee hotel, however, will be the Universal Helios Grand Hotel. The resort will be located inside Epic Universe, giving guests amazing views of the park, and a dedicated entrance for guests into the Celestial Gardens area..
It’s been years since the U.S. has seen a major new theme park opening, so Epic Universe is very exciting for a lot of reasons. We’ll keep updating you on what’s new with Epic Universe as details are revealed.
