Universal Epic Universe


Universal Epic Universe is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, United States. It opened to the public on May 22, 2025. Epic Universe is the third theme park, and fourth overall, to open at Universal Orlando Resort. The park is part of a larger development located a few miles south of the other parks. It 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 expected completion date was later delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Details surrounding the park's themed areas and attractions were initially vague, with Super Nintendo World as the last of the themed lands to be officially announced in 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. Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts at the time, released a statement labeling Epic Universe the "most immersive and innovative theme park" the company had ever created. Officials anticipated the new park's state and local economic contribution would be significant, including the hiring of an additional 14,000 employees and nearly doubling tax revenue generated by the resort. Governor Ron DeSantis shared positive feedback in a public statement.
Concept art released by Universal during the official announcement left details purposely vague. It was widely speculated that the various lands within Epic Universe would be based on franchises such as How to Train Your Dragon, Fantastic Beasts, Universal Classic Monsters, and several Nintendo properties including Super Mario and Donkey Kong. Comcast executives confirmed the addition of Super Nintendo World in January 2020, although official confirmation didn't occur until February 2023. CEO Mark Woodbury would later call it the "worst-kept secret in history".
Construction began as early as August 2019, and the park's scheduled opening was originally slated for 2023. This timeframe was later pushed to 2025, at least in part due to pauses in construction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction had halted from July 2020 to March 2021. In May 2022, Universal donated of land near Epic Universe toward the Brightline rail route corridor project that was underway.
Universal Parks & Resorts was rebranded as Universal Destinations & Experiences in March 2023, alongside the park’s name being changed from Universal's Epic Universe to Universal Epic Universe – the possessive "s" in the name was removed. A new logo was released concurrently, featuring a starry backdrop inside the compass, as well as larger text and a simplified golden compass design. Celestial Park was unveiled in a press release on January 30, 2024, which is the first world guests encounter when entering the park. The unveiling included a map detailing the overall layout of Epic Universe.
There was a brief pause in construction after Epic Universe experienced minor damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Later that month, Universal confirmed the park's grand opening date of May22, 2025, approximately two weeks before Universal Orlando's 35th anniversary. Tickets went on sale following the announcement, but they were initially only offered as part of a multiday ticket purchase or with the purchase of a vacation package. 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, and eventually, this was extended to the general public. During this time, there was limited availability of certain attractions and experiences. Also the same month, a replica of Epic Universe's portal Chronos was being featured in a national tour of select US cities to promote the park through June 2025. A celebrity and executive preview event was held the day before the grand opening, and the park officially opened to the public as planned on May 22, 2025.

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, 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 themed as 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 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.
AttractionYear openedManufacturerDescriptionPhoto
Astronomica2025Kids' splash pad play area
Constellation Carousel2025Carousel
Stardust Racers2025Mack RidesDueling launch coaster

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 and Bride of Frankenstein. Victoria has assembled together various creatures for experimentation, including Frankenstein's monster and Count Dracula, but they break free and terrorize the brave volunteers inside the catacombs underneath Frankenstein's manor. 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 was abandoned following the poor box office performance of The Mummy.
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 is Curse of the Werewolf, a launched spinning coaster manufactured by Mack Rides themed after the gypsy character Maleva and her Guild of Mystics from the film The Wolf Man. Notable dining options include Das Stakehaus, a vampire-themed steakhouse; 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.
AttractionYear openedManufacturerDescription
Curse of the Werewolf2025Mack RidesA spinning roller coaster based on the film The Wolf Man.
Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience2025A makeup shop in the former lab of Dr. Pretorius that gives guests an opportunity to become their own monster.
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment2025A KUKA arm dark ride featuring the Universal Monsters.

''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.
AttractionYear openedManufacturerDescription
Dragon Racer's Rally2025GerstlauerA Sky Fly flat ride themed to dragon racing.
Fyre Drill2025Mack RidesInteractive Boat Ride
Hiccup's Wing Gliders2025IntaminA launch family roller coaster themed to dragon training.
The Untrainable Dragon2025A How to Train Your Dragon-themed stage show. Vikings in the dragon sanctuary are having problems with handling a specific dragon, so they call on Hiccup to deploy his training methods to get the dragon in line.
Viking Training Camp2025Play area with a variety of activities.