Universal Epic Universe is the theme park resort's biggest bang yet in
Florida
[April 21, 2025]
By MIKE SCHNEIDER
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — From Harry Potter to Super Mario Bros. to
Frankenstein's monster, Universal Orlando Resort is pulling out all the
pop culture stops at its newest and largest theme park in Florida.
With five distinctively-themed sections and a 500-room hotel, the
multibillion-dollar Universal Epic Universe is slated to open to the
public on May 22, just in time for the start of summer, when the Orlando
area's theme parks are usually jammed with families and young park-goers
fresh out of school.
It's the first major, traditional theme park to open in Florida since
1999, when Universal Islands of Adventure debuted, though Universal
opened a themed Orlando water park, Volcano Bay, in 2017. The addition
of Epic Universe brings the total number of parks at the Florida resort
to four, including Universal Studios.
The opening also raises the stakes in Universal's competition with
crosstown rival Walt Disney World for a greater share of Orlando's
annual influx of 74 million tourists.
Universal officials also describe Epic Universe as the company's most
technologically advanced theme park. For example, it uses a facial
recognition system for ride express lines.
Universal's owner, Comcast NBCUniversal, also announced plans this month
for its first Universal-branded theme park and resort in Europe, at a
location north of London. A year-round horror entertainment experience
in Las Vegas should open later this year and a family-oriented theme
park is slated to open next year in a Dallas suburb.
Epic Universe is making its big bang, with single-day tickets starting
at $139 for adults and increasing to $199 during peak periods, just as
the Trump administration stirs up economic uncertainty.
U.S. tariff announcements threaten to limit the desire of some Americans
to spend on vacations. And the rough treatment that some U.S. visitors
have experienced on arrival, as well as a boycott of the United States
by some Canadians, are raising fears that international tourists will
stay away.
Tax receipts show Orlando's tourist economy was booming last year, with
Orange County collecting a record $359 million in tourist taxes.
Here's a look at Epic Universe's different sections.
Celestial Park
Celestial Park is the hub in the spoke-like design of Epic Universe,
connecting the other “worlds.”
The astronomically-themed section is the only one with original
characters not based on pre-existing intellectual property. Centered
around a football field-sized water fountain and filled with abundant,
colorful flowers, it's an oasis of calm between the sensory overload of
the four sections.
That's not to say excitement can't be found in Celestial Park, which is
home to a 133-foot (40.5-meter) high dual launching roller coaster,
Stardust Racers, and an enormous carousel.
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The Universal Helios Grand Hotel overlooking Celestial Park at Epic
Universe Theme Park is seen at Universal Resort Orlando Thursday,
April 10, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
 Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World is the definition of sensory overload, from its
bright primary colors that scream “Look at me!” to the loudness of
the steel-drum-thumping syncopated calypso music.
It has two levels — rare for theme parks — and creates a completely
immersive experience since nothing outside Super Nintendo World can
be seen beyond the towering walls of Peach's Castle and Mt.
Beanpole. There is an augmented reality dark ride, a kid-friendly,
slow-moving omni-mover ride and a Donkey Kong-themed coaster.
Character performers dressed as Mario and Luigi greet members of the
crowd in a roped-off area.
Dark Universe
Dark Universe is a throwback to Frankenstein's monster, Dracula and
the Invisible Man movies that launched Universal's career in horror
franchises.
Visitors enter through a recreated central European village that has
a storyline about vampires inhabiting the ground underneath. There
is a dark ride through Frankenstein's castle, a family-friendly
coaster based on the werewolf legend and a tavern topped by a
windmill with blades engulfed by flames every few minutes.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Ministry of Magic
This is the third installment of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
attractions that turbocharged the Florida resort into a genuine
challenger to Disney World's dominance.
The arched doorways, wrought-iron balconies and cobblestoned streets
make visitors feel like they have parachuted into the Fantastic
Beasts films set in 1920s Paris. The land's highlight is the Battle
at the Ministry's omnidirectional lift ride, whose green-tiled,
faux-gold-plated atrium is on a scale reminiscent of New York's
Grand Central Terminal.
How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berke
Next-generation animatronic dragons are the stars in this section,
based on the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise.
Anchored by a lagoon at its center with Viking statues, the
Viking-inspired land has a coaster, a boat ride and meet-and-greets
with the surprisingly agile dragons, these aren't your father's
animatronics.
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