Answering Your Questions about Universal Epic Universe

Okay, after several years of playing coy, Universal Orlando Resort has finally gotten serious.

Park officials recently confirmed many of the details that loyal UniversalParksBlog readers have known for years.

As our own Kristin Sabol has described, Universal Studios has revealed details about Epic Universe.

I know that you have questions, and I’ll do my best to explain what’s happening.

So, I’ll be answering your questions about Universal Epic Universe while reminding you that you’d still like to be surprised about some stuff.

What’s Epic Universe?

This question trended earlier in the week in the wake of Universal’s big – some might say epic – announcement.

While many of us have pored over every detail of the park for years now, some theme park fans just heard about it for the first time.

If you’re in that group, let’s walk before we can run.

In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will open its third theme park, although they’d say four because they count the Volcano Bay water park.

This new park won’t reside in the same location as the other three. Universal has acquired new land in the area.

Epic Universe will reside about three miles away from Universal Studios Florida.

More importantly, this new park represents the first creation of its scale in Central Florida since Disney opened Animal Kingdom in 1998.

Yes, that was more than a quarter-century ago. So, Epic Universe should redefine the modern theme park experience.

As I’ve discussed, the new location represents the final stage of Universal’s plan to extend tourist vacations at the parks.

What’s Available at Epic Universe?

This theme park will include five themed lands, one of which is the hangout hub.

Specifically, as Madison Owens describes in detail here, Epic Universe will include:

• Dark Universe
• How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk
• Super Nintendo World
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
• Celestial Park

Celestial Park is the name for the hub section. As the name implies, it’s a gathering area.

Epic Universe has been designed from the ground up as a more experiential park full of hangout spots.

That’s the modern trend in theme park design, but the park will still employ the conventional hub-and-spokes approach.

Theme park fans have been using that design since Disneyland opened in 1955.

Adopting a different design would be akin to reinventing the theme park wheel…by ditching its hub and spokes.

Epic Universe’s conceit is that you’ll travel via connecting portals to the other lands. So, it’s kinda like a set of Stargates.

One will lead to the land of gothic monsters from classic Universal Pictures films.

Another will become the third iteration of Super Nintendo World…but the first on the East Coast!

Then, we have a family-friendly land based on the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, which is wildly popular.

Finally, we have the third version of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.

This one will marry classic elements of Paris and London.

Has Universal Studios Confirmed Any Rides?

I can finally answer yes to this question!

Longtime readers know that we were already calling out Epic Universe attractions during the early days of the pandemic.

Sadly, Universal couldn’t make any forward progress during that time frame, but the overwhelming majority of our reports proved accurate.

For starters, Starfall Racers did turn out to be the official name of the dueling roller coaster near the center of the park.

We first discussed this roller coaster last April. Similarly, Constellation Carousel is now confirmed!

A carousel and a roller coaster don’t require much by way of explanation, but you can click the links for additional details.

Epic Universe will also include rides based on Mario Kart, Yoshi’s Adventure, and Donkey Kong Country in Super Nintendo World.

Dark Universe will host a Dr. Victoria Frankenstein ride and a werewolf-themed roller coaster.

At Berk, you’ll find another roller coaster, a boat ride, and a sky flyer.

Finally, the big attraction at the Ministry of Magic is…a battle at the Ministry of Magic. Makes sense, right?

So, we’re obviously talking about a ton of new rides here, many of which are bona fide E-ticket attractions.

Quick Question: Will Harry Potter Move to Epic Universe?

These quick questions are more straightforward than normal because they’re ones that friends have asked me this week.

So, I know that the story has entered the public consciousness. But these answers will be more basic than usual.

In the case of Harry Potter, nothing is moving. Universal will merely add more Wizarding World content instead.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will remain at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

Now, we’ll add the new Ministry of Magic content including the Place Cachée section I mentioned all the way back in 2020.

In other words, everything you know and love like Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures will stay where it was.

Universal is adding entirely new attractions and Potter-themed locations at Epic Universe.

The Hogwarts Express is wildly unlikely to connect the old parks with the new one, though. That would be a looooong ride.

Is This Park Geared toward Children?

When Universal Studios Florida opened, it offered fans an opportunity to “ride the movies.”

In the decades that followed, this park developed a reputation as the adult alternative to the more child-friendly Walt Disney World.

Events like Mardi Gras and Halloween Horror Nights cater toward fun-hungry adults in search of a good time.

However, parts of Universal theme parks have always prioritized families and children.

Themed lands like the former Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, Toon Lagoon, and Seuss Landing existed for this purpose.

Currently, Universal is revamping KidZone into DreamWorks Land, which will also provide a family-friendly hangout area.

At Epic Universe, Berk and Super Nintendo Land will do the same, although adults will love them as well.

The only Universal theme park wholly designed for children is the upcoming Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.

Is Dark Universe a Permanent Halloween Horror Nights?

Kinda.

Universal Studios has licensed a full-time Halloween Horror Nights installation at Area15/Area16 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dark Universe isn’t quite that, but it’ll share some similar themes.

One of the staples of the annual HHN event is a House based on Universal’s Classic Monsters.

We’re talking about the Wolfman, Dr. Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, and so forth.

These characters will gain a permanent home at Epic Universe.

Specifically, Universal will emphasize Dr. Victoria Frankenstein as an avant-garde (don’t say mad) scientist.

Some of her works will go awry, leading to unintentionally horrific hijinks. Also, her castle will be integral to the theming here.

If you’re wondering about the name, Universal Studios has tried to reinvent its Classic Monsters franchise several times.

In 2014, Dracula Untold debuted in theaters and promptly struggled.

Universal had lined up a series of stars like Tom Cruise to anchor other projects like a reboot of The Mummy.

None of those films did well, but Universal has kept trying.

In 2023 alone, two Dark Universe titles came out in theaters: Renfield and The Last Voyage of the Demeter.

Both titles bombed, but Universal keeps trying. Operating an entire themed land based on the premise could help.

Still, you should expect Dark Universe to sell the dynamic merchandise, food, and beverages you love at HHN.

Quick Question: Is Epic Universal More Disney in Style?

That’s an impossible question to answer prior to the park’s opening. We won’t know until we’re roaming the lands.

Still, a cursory glance at Universal’s introductory video emphasizes some similarities.

For more than 60 years now, Disney has been synonymous with highly themed immersive entertainment.

Universal got into the game for the first time with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, although it’d tried for years before then.

For whatever reason, audiences hadn’t loved the early days of Islands of Adventure the way they should have.

Perhaps customers weren’t ready for Universal to change its style overnight.

With Epic Universe, the loving detail is readily apparent in the footage.

This IS one of the most carefully crafted immersive theme parks ever built.

Whether you’d describe that sort of park as Disney-esque is up to you.

From the Universal perspective, park design has definitely leveled up with Epic Universe.

We’ve probably never seen anything like this. For that reason alone, you’ll want to plan a Universal visit in 2025!

Speak with an agent from Let’s Adventure Travel at the link below to schedule your trip for year one of Epic Universe!

 

 

 

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Feature Photo: Universal Studios