Disney's theme park business competitor Universal Orlando unveils first detailed look at Universal Epic Universe

Jan 30, 2024 in "Universal Orlando Resort"

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Universal Epic Universe concept art

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Posted: Tuesday January 30, 2024 8:51am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Universal Orlando Resort has unveiled its first official glimpse into its fourth Florida theme park - Universal Epic Universe, set to open in Summer 2025.

Universal Epic Universe – Bird’s-Eye View map

Today we get a first look at Celestial Park – the heart of Universal Epic Universe and the first world guests will encounter at the new theme park. More details about Universal Epic Universe – including the debut of an interactive preview center at Universal CityWalk later this year that will offer a sneak peek at the new theme park – will be revealed in the months ahead.

CELESTIAL PARK

As soon as guests enter the imaginative world, they'll embark on a journey through lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by 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 a roller coaster adventure, dine, shop, and more.

Universal Epic Universe - Front Gate

PORTALS TO OTHER EXTRAORDINARY WORLDS

Plus, Celestial Park will be the gateway to explore the four additional worlds of Epic Universe. Through a set of 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 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 iconic British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.

Universal Epic Universe - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic Portal

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, where 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.

Universal Epic Universe - SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ Portal

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, where guests can soar with dragons in a colorful world filled with Viking adventures based on the wildly popular How to Train Your Dragon film franchise.

Universal Epic Universe - How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk Portal

Dark Universe, where guests encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.

Universal Epic Universe - Dark Universe Portal

CELESTIAL PARK ATTRACTIONS AND EXPERIENCES

Universal Epic Universe - Attractions

Here are additional details about some of the other experiences at 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.

Universal Epic Universe - Celestial Park - Starfall Racers

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.

Universal Epic Universe - Celestial Park - Constellation Carousel

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.

An array of unique dining experiences ranging from full-service restaurants to quick-service locations that offer something for every palate, including Atlantic – a full-service "surf and turf" restaurant set inside a Victorian aquarium complete with captivating views of Celestial Park; and 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. Additional "must-eat" locations within Celestial Park include 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.

Universal Epic Universe - Celestial Park - The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant

Detailed retail locations, including the Nintendo Super Star Store, where guests can shop an assortment of merchandise themed to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD; Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, where guests can satisfy their cravings with a unique selection of sweet treats, and more.

Universal Epic Universe - Celestial Park - Nintendo Super Star Store - Interior

Entertainment, including various fountain shows throughout Celestial Park's seven acres of water 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.

And located inside Epic Universe at the end of Celestial Park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, designed to transport guests to a world where the heavens and earth unite – complete with 500 rooms, one-of-a-kind views and its very own dedicated entrance into the theme park.

Stay tuned for more Universal Epic Universe details in the coming months.

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Moth1 hour ago

Well, this at least attests to the versatility of Potter as a brand at least, someone like me, who doesn't care about the franchise is interested because of the Beast stuff, and someone who doesn't care about the beasts has the Ministry ride. I think that's pretty cool at least.

MisterPenguin1 hour ago

They do indeed insist upon themselves.

Stripes3 hours ago

I’ve read the Potter books beginning to end about 10 times. Paris does nothing for me. Fantastic Beasts does nothing for me. The Ministry ride is the one thing I’m excited for. My only concerns are the reliability and the repetitiveness of the same tiles on every single wall. I don’t know who the vendor was for the Ministry tile but they made a fortune off this project.

BringMeTheHoriz3 hours ago

While the Chronos is the icon of the park, Helios is a focal point.

Moth3 hours ago

The films never hooked me into, it just wasn't a franchise I could ever get into. I am mildly excited for the circus show because I love me some cute fantasy critters though.

sedati3 hours ago

Well, I won’t pull up all the old posts disavowing my claim that this mediocre monstrosity of a hotel would serve as Icon/weenie/centerpiece/focal-point//heart of this new park, but they were insistent and abundant.

JoeCamel3 hours ago

Maybe that's the difference, I've never read the books but the films and Williams' score was plenty to hook me. Personally I think JKR told the story of WW2 through classic good and evil tropes but it was well done.

Moth3 hours ago

Well, if we're all gonna die, I have one secret I have to confess. I did not care for the British wizard books. Anyways, I hope this park kicks Disney into gear and next D23 shows a commitment to deeper funding put into Florida parks. And that Berk is fun. Did y'all see the new photos Bio posted today of Berk? I didn't think it was possible for me to get more excited for it.

Stripes3 hours ago

That hotel…not a fan. Reminds me of Riviera. An imposing box that’s unsettlingly asymmetric and ugly with a little bit of lipstick on top.

jrhwdw4 hours ago

sedati4 hours ago

Eh? I'd love it if it were perfect (though who was really expecting "perfect"). I had been rooting for this project and following it from the moment the land acquisition was announced (the first time they acquired it). I love Universal and have been going since it opened. My fear with this park is that while I don't doubt it will be successful and fun, there could be many bad takeaways from that success just as there could be good. Nit-picking Universal on the same level as Disney should be taken as praise for what they've achieved. Sea World and Six Flags being spared such a critical eye is not a compliment.

Rich Brownn23 hours ago

According to the synopsis we are helping Harry, Ron and Hermione track down Umbridge, so I'd assume the characters will be in the ride.

BringMeTheHoriz1 day ago

Roughness is a function of wheel maintenance and for a coaster this new nothing to do with the track itself. I’ve had rough rides and smooth rides in the same day on Stardust. If you’re having a rough ride then you just got unlucky and caught a car that will probably get a wheel replacement that night. As far as it being a Six Flags attraction, even in its simplicity I can’t recall a Six Flags coaster anywhere having the level of detail you’ll see on Stardust’s trains, the crispy on-board audio they have, or the impressive interlocking and dueling elements they have. Also weird that we’re just throwing in a comparison to an oil funded pet project literally 7,402 miles from Epic, but I’m sure for all their money the Saudis have at least figured out the sightline issues for their massive coaster in a way Universal couldn’t. All of this recent conversation, including the past 20 pages of sightline complaints, comes off as very FOTPBTAMTADPFTNSM to me (IYKYK but for the uninitiated that’s ’Fear Of This Park Being Talked About More Than Any Disney Park For The Next Six Months’). That said, I also recognize that my posts in this thread are starting to sound like I’m going off the Universal fanboi deep end, which to an extent is true. I’ll help you breathe a sigh of relief: Epic is not perfect. But Universal is taking the first multi-billion dollar theme park gamble in the U.S. in 25 years, through difficult times to boot, and that’s gotta be worth something. I’m proud to work for this company, and I’m so so appreciative that our leadership team has trusted us and given us so much time to preview this park. It’s a once in a lifetime event, and for anyone that’s had even a small sliver of involvement in getting those gates open it’s given them a strong sense of pride. Epic will be the topic of discussion for the industry this year, but eventually everything will go back to normal. Disney has been and will continue to be the standard bearer, but without Universal Disney would have no reason to improve. If you live or vacation in Central Florida you should always root for the best new parks, lands, and attractions regardless if it’s Universal, Disney, Seaworld, or Fun Spot (I jest) putting them in. It makes everyone else have to be better. Maybe that’s an argument for better sightlines after all. And just so you don’t think I’ve lost all my marbles and snorted all the new floo powder: I prefer Velocicoaster to Stardust.