UPDATED: March 24, 2024
A NEW theme park is opening in Orlando, Florida in 2025: Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe!
Universal has called Epic Universe “its most ambitious theme park yet.” In a recent press release, the company announced, “Epic Universe will present a level of theme park immersion and innovation that is unmatched – transporting guests to expansive worlds featuring more than 50 awe-inspiring attractions, entertainment, dining, and shopping experiences that come together to create an unforgettable adventure that is nothing short of epic.” The company also shared that the addition of Epic Universe will nearly double the size of Universal Orlando Resort!
In January 2024, Universal Orlando revealed details about the five themed lands that will make up Epic Universe: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe.
Celestial Park
Celestial Park will serve as the heart and main hub of Epic Universe. Universal shared that this land “will be the gateway to explore the four additional worlds of Epic Universe.”
According to Universal’s announcement, “Celestial Park puts the ‘park’ back in ‘theme park.’ As soon as guests enter the imaginative world, they’ll embark on a journey of discovery, thrills, and excitement as they wander through lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements.”
When you step into Epic Universe, Celestial Park will provide the grand entrance to the new theme park! You’ll enter underneath the cronos — the large clock tower (as seen in the concept art below).
TWO new rides — Starfall Racers (a dual-launch racing coaster) and Constellation Carousel (the “grand centerpiece” of Celestial Park) will be part of the adventures in this land which connects to the other four lands in the park.
A play area called Astronomica, which is a wet-play area that will double as a compass to the other immersive things you can do in Epic Universe!
Restaurants will include a full-service “surf and turf” restaurant called Atlantic. The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant will present flavors of Asia with authentic Chinese, Japanese, and Thai meals in a full-service fashion.
For quicker meals, you’ll be able to enjoy The Oak & Star Tavern for some tasty barbecue or Pizza Moon for a variety of pizza! And if you’re in the mood for some sweets, don’t forget to swing by Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets.
Celestial Park will also be home to the Nintendo Super Star Store and other retail locations.
We take a deeper dive into all that awaits you in Celestial Park HERE.
Step into Celestial Park HERE!
From Celestial Park, guests can travel “through a set of majestic portals” to visit the other four lands…
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
The NEW Ministry of Magic will be the third Harry Potter-themed land at Universal Orlando!
In this land, “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.”
The intention for Ministry of Magic is to create another chapter of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Here, you’ll explore lore from Fantastic Beasts as well as the British Ministry of Magic.
Click HERE to learn more about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic!
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
Having made its debut at Universal Studios Japan followed by Universal Hollywood, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is coming to Orlando, too!
Universal shares that “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.”
Mark Woodbury, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, calls Super Nintendo World “the most interactive, colorful world we’ve ever created.”
Click HERE to enter SUPER NINTENDO WORLD!
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
According to Universal’s announcement, “Guests can soar with dragons in a colorful world filled with Viking adventures” in How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, “the world’s first dragon-Viking utopia” from the DreamWorks movie franchise.
Universal has shared that Isle of Berk will be “a vibrant world where raucous Vikings and rambunctious dragons live together in hilarious harmony – based on the wildly popular How to Train Your Dragon film franchise.” The storyline of the land takes place between the first and second How To Train Your Dragon movies.
THREE new attractions, three dining locations, a play area, show, and character meet-and-greets will make up this immersive land!
Fly into How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk here!
Dark Universe
The final themed land is Dark Universe…
Dark Universal will draw on Universal’s rich history with horror. Here, visitors will “encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.”
Molly Murphy, President Universal Creative, shared that Dark Universe will be “a world where Universal’s classic monsters are reimagined in an OMINOUS and CHILLING experience.”
Click here to enter Dark Universe… IF YOU DARE!
Universal Helios Grand Hotel
What’s so unique about Universal Helios Grand Hotel? Well, Helios will boast its very own entrance into Epic Universe! It will connect to Celestial Park.
According to Universal, Helios will offer “500 rooms integrated into the park like no other theme park in the world” as well as a Mediterranean feel.
Joining Universal Helios Grand Hotel will be two park-adjacent hotels — Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort by Loews Hotels.
Stella Nova, which is inspired by the cosmos, will open before Epic Universe on January 21st, 2025. Terra Luna is inspired by terrestrial exploration and is Stella Nova’s sister property. It is set to open a month later on February 25th, 2025. Both resorts will come with the usual exclusive theme park benefits like early entry and free transportation to and from Universal’s four theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay, and Universal Epic Universe).
Epic Universe Opening Timeline
And opening date has not yet been announced for Universal’s Epic Universe. In 2022, during a quarterly Comcast investors call, Universal shared that it would be ready “certainly in time for summer 2025.” We’ll keep you posted right here when the opening timeline is confirmed!
Click any of the links below to find the LATEST NEWS about Epic Universe!
It’s so exciting to finally know more about Epic Universe! Stay tuned to DFB, and we’ll let you know about ALL the updates! In the meantime, check out our DFBGuide YouTube video below to see lots of the things you can already explore at Universal Orlando Resort RIGHT NOW!