Universal EPIC Universe Plans Memorial Day Weekend 2025 Opening, Creating New Rivalry with Disney World

Oct 15, 2024 in "Universal Orlando Resort"

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Universal Epic Universe concept art

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Posted: Tuesday October 15, 2024 11:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

According to our sources, Universal EPIC Universe is now projected to officially open on Memorial Day Weekend 2025.

Although no official opening or preview dates have been announced, the highly anticipated theme park, which will be Universal Orlando Resort's largest expansion to date, is expected to begin offering previews in the months leading up to the late May 2025 grand opening.

Universal Epic Universe - Front Gate

The preview period is anticipated to last for a couple of months, providing guests with a first look at select attractions and areas of the new park. While details on which specific lands will be included in these early previews remain under wraps, it's clear that Universal aims to build excitement ahead of the Memorial Day launch.

Universal Epic Universe – Bird’s-Eye View map

EPIC Universe is set to bring intense competition to Walt Disney World as Universal continues to expand its offerings in the Orlando theme park landscape. With lands including Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon, and Dark Universe, EPIC Universe is expected to deliver immersive experiences that rival Disney's established parks. This new addition will challenge Disney's position as the dominant theme park destination in Orlando, with Universal aiming to capture more of the region's tourism market, especially amongst families with teens.

WWOHP World Overview

Stay tuned for more updates as the opening of EPIC Universe approaches.

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BrianLo6 hours ago

I didn't know they were making a live action How to train your Dragon. Certainly fortuitous timing.

UNCgolf11 hours ago

Yeah, that's why I added the "if maintained and functioning properly" disclaimer.

JoeCamel11 hours ago

And Spidey just got another TEA award at IAAPA, amazing for an "old" ride

drkarcher2212 hours ago

River Adventure can get moved back up when they finally get around to fixing all the Dino’s and scenes that just don’t work anymore

SplashJacket14 hours ago

Yeah, the FJ screen domes have aged really poorly. Also think part of the issue is screens often direct your focus towards some time of specific action or event whereas non-screen scenes have a less focused attention, leading to more diversity of experience and thus increased re-ride ability, because the moments perceived are different each time. Thankfully, I think Universal realizes this, and thus the premiere dark rides here are done right.

UNCgolf14 hours ago

I personally think screen heavy attractions suffer from this in general. It's happened to Flight of Passage for me too -- I still like FoP, but I honestly find NRJ more enjoyable now. I'm sure it varies from person to person, but there's something about being in a physical environment that feels different/less replicable than watching something happen on a screen. Attractions like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Spaceship Earth haven't lost any of their appeal to me compared to ones like FoP and Spiderman. FJ and Spiderman are both obviously more than just screens (unlike FoP) but they're still a major part of the experience.

SplashJacket15 hours ago

Spider-Man and FJ were both super high on my list when I first experienced them but now they’re no where near the top. It is interesting that both have fallen so much in comparison to other attractions like Indy or RSR. Perhaps because both focused more on technology? I don’t think the Epic premiere attractions will suffer the same fate, but we’ll see

UNCgolf15 hours ago

Forbidden Journey wasn't even the best ride at Islands of Adventure when it opened -- both Spiderman (which I'm also nowhere near as high on as other people) and Jurassic Park River Adventure were (and are) better, at least when maintained and functioning properly. FJ has more impressive technology for sure, but it doesn't really use it very well.

sonoma1517 hours ago

It's still my third favorite dark ride of all time, right behind Spiderman and Tower of Terror!

TalkToEthan22 hours ago

Could you elaborate on that below as I’m not understanding what you mean—— I must be missing an obvious point you’re making. Thanks thanks

SplashJacket1 day ago

Look at what opened 15 years after Indy opened and then look at what opened 15 years after FJ opened. Not exactly a similar slate

DarkMetroid5671 day ago

Oh yeah, it’s still very good, especially the physical set dark ride portions. But the “#1 best ride ever” talk didn’t last long.

ToTBellHop1 day ago

He does look at that dragon the same way Nala looks at Simba during “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?”

drkarcher221 day ago

“and the Time Room – which is overflowing with a variety of Time-Turners and unique timekeeping devices.” This would imply that we would be going into the department of mysteries, the room where the time turners are kept is in the department. They get destroyed in the final battle in Order of the Phoenix. Presumably because the author was tired of people pointing out how pretty much every single plot in the series could be solved with them. Oh, Fudge doesn’t believe Voldemort is back, well just have him send an Auror back to Little Hangleton at the time Harry says Voldemort returned to check the validity of his claims. Even if they can’t interfere in what happened they’d still have clear proof that he returned and knowledge of his plans and the names of the Death Eaters in his inner circle, but that’s enough overthinking a book. The ride looks incredible, I love that we’re getting in queue animatronics in multiple rides with Ministry, DK and Monsters. (Along with potentially more depending on how they do the fortune teller for Curse of the Wolf, although I’d assume that will be done with a screen like Bill in the Gringotts line)