by Joe Tracy, editor of Theme Park Magazine
Editor’s Note: The park’s full name is Universal Epic Universe. After the first mention, this article simply refers to it as “Epic Universe.”
Universal Orlando Resort’s most ambitious project to date, Universal Epic Universe, will open its gates on May 22, 2025. This eagerly anticipated fourth theme park at Universal Orlando Resort looks to transform Florida’s entertainment landscape with five distinct worlds, innovative attractions, and experiences that set new standards for theme park entertainment.
“This is such a pivotal moment for our destination,” Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, said in a recent press release. “With the addition of this spectacular new theme park, our guests will embark on an unforgettable vacation experience with a week’s worth of thrills that will be nothing short of epic!”
Five Epic Immersive Worlds
Epic Universe introduces five themed worlds that transport guests into realms of magic, fantasy, and adventure. Guests start in Celestial Park and from there can go through magical portals that “transport” them into new adventures.
1. Celestial Park
Celestial Park serves as the central hub of Epic Universe, drawing inspiration from astronomical wonders and cosmic design. The area features expansive gardens, decorative fountains, and astronomy-themed architecture illuminated by celestial lighting effects.
The land’s main attractions include the Stardust Racers roller coaster and the Constellation Carousel, while various seating areas provide spaces for guests to enjoy the park’s atmosphere. As evening approaches, the area transforms through sophisticated lighting technology, creating an illuminated nighttime experience that complements the cosmic theme.
The space connects all four of Epic Universe’s additional themed lands while maintaining its own distinct identity as an immersive environment.
From this hub, guests can explore four additional worlds through themed portals:
2. Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World is split into two areas: Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.
Super Mario Land is themed to the iconic Mushroom Kingdom, featuring vibrant colors, whimsical landscapes, and well-known characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. Rides in this area include Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, an augmented reality racing experience, and Yoshi’s Adventure, a family-friendly omnimover attraction designed for guests of all ages. There are also interactive elements, a gift shop (1-Up Factory) and Toadstool Cafe, a themed restaurant serving dishes inspired by the Mario universe.
Donkey Kong Country recreates the lush jungle world from the popular video game series, complete with dense tropical vegetation, rustic wooden structures, and barrel-themed elements. The area’s signature attraction, Mine Cart Madness, features innovative “boom coaster” technology that creates the illusion of mine carts jumping across breaks in the track. The coaster runs on a hidden track system while a visible false track provides the visual experience of classic Donkey Kong mine cart gameplay. Guests can also explore themed interactive elements throughout the area, meet characters like Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, and discover jungle-themed refreshment stands and merchandise locations.
Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe is significantly larger than its counterpart in Universal Studios Japan.
3. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe combines two distinct settings, beginning in 1920s wizarding Paris before transporting visitors to London’s Ministry of Magic. The Paris section features interactive wand experiences and encounters with magical creatures from the Fantastic Beasts series. The land’s signature attraction, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, uses new ride technology to simulate travel through the Floo Network to reach the British Ministry of Magic. The attraction places guests alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione in an adventure featuring detailed sets and special effects. The area represents Universal’s most technologically advanced interpretation of the Potter franchise to date.
4. How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk recreates the Viking world from DreamWorks Animation’s film series through detailed environmental storytelling. The land features authentically themed elements including Nordic architecture, mountainous terrain, and Viking settlements that capture the atmosphere of the fictional island. Three main attractions anchor the area: Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, a launched family roller coaster simulating dragon flight; Fyre Drill, an interactive boat ride; and Dragon Racer’s Rally, a high-flying attraction. The themed environment includes additional entertainment offerings such as the Viking Training Camp play area and The Untrainable Dragon stage show, expanding the storytelling beyond the rides.
5. Dark Universe
Dark Universe brings Universal’s Classic Monsters to life in a detailed recreation of Darkmoor Village, where Victorian architecture and atmospheric effects create an immersive horror setting. The land’s storyline centers on Victoria Frankenstein, whose attempts to control the legendary monsters lead to supernatural encounters throughout the village. Two signature attractions anchor the area: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, which uses innovative KUKA arm technology to bring guests face-to-face with classic creatures inside Frankenstein Manor, and Curse of the Werewolf, a spinning roller coaster that races through darkened forest landscapes. The gothic atmosphere extends to themed dining locations like Das Stakehaus and The Burning Blade Tavern, completing the land’s horror-themed environment.
Behind the Innovation: Universal Creative’s Role
Universal Creative, the design and development division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, has led the creation of Epic Universe from initial concept through final construction. The division assembled a team of more than 500 professionals, including artists, engineers, designers, and storytellers, to bring the ambitious project to life.
The team developed the park’s unique hub-and-spoke design, which connects five distinct worlds through the central Celestial Park area. This design approach allows for clear storytelling transitions between themed environments while maintaining the park’s cohesive narrative structure.
Universal Creative’s involvement spans every aspect of the park’s development. The division worked with leading ride manufacturers to develop new attraction technologies, including the innovative track system for Mine Cart Madness in Donkey Kong Country and the advanced ride system for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in Dark Universe.
The division’s attention to detail extends beyond attractions to the park’s environmental storytelling. Each land’s architecture, landscaping, and atmospheric elements were designed to create distinct experiences. This comprehensive approach to theming encompasses everything from restaurant concepts to background music, ensuring each area maintains its unique identity.
Universal Creative collaborated with multiple partners throughout development, including Nintendo’s creative team for Super Nintendo World. These partnerships helped ensure authentic representations of popular franchises while pushing forward theme park innovation.
Impact of Epic Universe on Orlando Tourism
The new park represents more than just additional attractions. The 750-acre development includes three new hotels: the luxurious 500-room Universal Helios Grand Hotel within Epic Universe itself, offering guests exclusive park access and spectacular views, as well as the more affordable Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort adjacent to the park. This expanded accommodation capacity caters to a wider range of visitors and further solidifies Orlando’s position as a top tourist destination.
The economic benefits extend throughout the region. Carissa Baker, assistant professor of theme park and attraction management at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, spoke about this recently to Travel Weekly:
“Orlando is already called the theme park capital of the world, but this will be another large, important and unique property. No offense to other destinations, of course, but Orlando will not be beat in this category anytime soon.”
Universal projects Epic Universe will create 14,000 new jobs, including roles in hospitality, entertainment, and operations. It will also contribute billions of dollars to Orlando’s economy. This influx of visitors is expected to benefit not only the resort itself but also local businesses such as restaurants, transportation providers, and retail stores, creating a positive ripple effect throughout the region.
Social Media & Construction
The projected economic and tourism impact of Epic Universe parallels growing public excitement about the park itself. Theme park enthusiasts and potential visitors increasingly engage in online discussions, with social media platforms and fan communities sharing construction updates and anticipating the park’s innovative features. This heightened interest reflects both the economic significance of the project and public anticipation for Universal’s most ambitious theme park development.
Epic Universe maintains a strong presence across social media platforms and industry publications as opening day approaches. Construction updates and speculation about attractions are generating regular engagement on X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, where users frequently share aerial photography and development progress.
Anticipation Grows as Opening Nears
Theme park discussion forums and fan websites demonstrate sustained interest in Universal Epic Universe’s development details. Online communities analyze newly released information about attraction layouts, dining locations, and entertainment offerings.
The buzz has been spreading at conventions too. In 2024 at ComicCon, the Executive Creative director of Universal Creative, Steve Tatum, got fans excited when he talked about the storytelling aspect of the park:
“What we’ve done since 2010 when we opened up the Wizarding World of Harry Potter really has changed the model. So, all of a sudden, instead of going on a two, three, four-minute experience, you are immersed in a single story. We’ve really gone from a short storytelling business into the feature-length storytelling business, and in Epic Universe, this is the first theme park in the entire world that is going to be comprised of exclusively these feature-length stories.”
There’s also a lot of buzz about the technological innovations planned for various attractions, too. This includes the unique roller coaster system for Mine Cart Madness and the advanced ride technology that’s part of Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
The Mine Cart Madness roller coaster in Donkey Kong Country features a patented “boom coaster” system that creates unique visual effects. As mentioned earlier, the coaster operates on a concealed track system, while a visible false track provides the appearance of mine carts jumping across gaps. A specialized boom arm connects the train to the hidden track, enabling this innovative effect.
In Dark Universe, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment utilizes KUKA arm-mounted ride vehicles that allow complex movements through detailed environments. The attraction combines this motion system with advanced animatronics that enable highly dynamic and precise movements as guests travel through recreated scenes inside Frankenstein Manor and throughout Darkmoor Village.
The park’s opening on May 22, 2025, marks a significant milestone for Universal Orlando Resort, transforming it into a destination with four distinct theme parks, eleven hotels, and an array of entertainment options. Universal Epic Universe represents not just an addition to Universal Orlando’s portfolio but potentially a new chapter in theme park development.
Explore More: Videos
Introducing Universal Epic Universe
Introducing The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Super Nintendo World: Portal Teaser
Explore More: Resources
- Website: Universal Epic Universe
- Article: Universal provides Epic detail, stoking excitement for its new park (Travel Weekly)
- Hotel: Universal Helios Grand Hotel
- Hotel: Universal Stella Nova Resort
- Hotel: Universal Terra Luna Resort
- X: bioreconstruct on X
Note: Feature Image of Celestial Park courtesy of @bioreconstruct on X.
About Joe Tracy
Joe Tracy, the creator, and editor of Theme Park Magazine, is a lifetime enthusiast of theme parks and immersive experiences. The publication was launched under his leadership on June 1, 2021, as a manifestation of his deep-seated love for all things themed. Joe has amassed over 20 years of expertise in both traditional print and online publishing.
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