Four years after revealing its next park to the public, Universal Destinations & Experiences unveiled the first official sneak peek at Universal Epic Universe, its secret project in Orlando.
Mark Woodbury, president and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, shared the opening date and more details about the newest member of Universal Orlando Resort via a multimedia campaign that included a press release and videos on social media.
The campaign clarified the theme park’s central concept and describes its areas in development, which include Super Nintendo World, a third land based on the Harry Potter books, the isle of Berk from How to Train Your Dragon, and a land focused on Universal Monsters.
“The challenge became what can we do next,” Woodbury said regarding the concept behind Universal Epic Universe. “[We asked the fans] and the answer was pretty compelling.” ‘Give us more of your great storytelling, more of the immersive environments, and do it in the most visceral manner possible.'”
Celestial Park, Prelude to Universal Epic Universe
The reveal focused mainly on Universal Epic Universe’s central hub, since it best encompasses the new park’s theme. Celestial Park represents a futuristic utopia with its own attractions that also houses portals to the different “worlds” connected within this Epic Universe.
The Chronos, the park entrance, “transports” you to Celestial Park and its various points of interest. These include the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, decorated green areas, fountains, shops, restaurants, as well as three exclusive attractions.
The first, Astronomica, incorporates interactive water features. Next up, Constellation Carrousel combines a traditional carousel with astronomy elements. Finally, Starfall Racers consists of a 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) air race between two crisscrossing roller coasters.
Super Nintendo World
Celestial Park’s most colorful portal takes you to the one world we know plenty about among all the ones announced. Super Nintendo World promises to transport you to the Mushroom Kingdom of Nintendo video game fame, where you can interact with characters like Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong.
Not much was revealed about the content within Universal Epic Universe’s worlds. However, we have a good idea of what to expect in this specific area since versions of it already exist in Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan.
You enter those Super Nintendo Worlds through a green pipe into a park with interactive environmental elements pulled from the Mario games. There you can ride on Yoshi’s Adventure or compete in Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, an augmented reality racing simulator.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Universal Epic Universe will expand the Wizarding World with a third area dedicated to Harry Potter fans. Universal Orlando Resort already has Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure.
This new world is focused on the Ministry of Magic, the body that regulates all magical beings in the boy wizard’s universe. All we know about this expansion is that it will blend the modern British Ministry as described in the original books with the magical 1920’s Paris as portrayed in the Fantastic Beasts trilogy.
We have but one expectation related to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. The Hogwarts Express connects the Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade areas for visitors to Universal Resort Orlando with one-day multi-park passes. Finding a way to intertwine transportation between all three Harry Potter lands would be a complex, but amazing feat.
Other Universal Epic Universe Features
Another world to explore will be How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, which promises flights riding Toothless and his dragon friends, as well as Viking adventures inspired by the DreamWorks Animation franchise.
Finally, visitors to Universal Epic Universe will also travel to the Dark Universe, a world of myth and mystery inhabited by the results of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s experiments, updated versions of cinema’s Universal Monsters.
As previously reported, Universal Epic Universe will double Universal’s current total area in the state of Florida. We expect it to brilliantly complement the rest of Universal Resort Orlando, which includes Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay, Universal CityWalk and related hotels.
Universal Epic Universe will open in Orlando, Florida, United States by 2025.
