Universal Unveils New Details For Universal Epic Universe
Universal shares its first official look at its highly-anticipated Epic Universe theme park that will feature immersive lands themed around Universal Classic Monsters, Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon, and Nintendo.
Universal Epic Universe is opening in 2025, and it looks to be Universal’s most ambitious theme park yet. Epic Universe will feature five immersive lands and it will transport guests to expansive worlds. Epic Universe will feature attractions, entertainment, dining, and shopping experiences. It will be Universal Orlando’s third theme park and it’s set to make Universal a weeklong vacation destination.
Universal unveiled new details about Celestial Park, which will act as the elaborate hub for Epic Universe.
Celestial Park
How do you explain Celestial Park? I think Universal Destinations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury said it best, “Celestial Park puts the “park” back in “theme park.”
The park will feature acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways, and strolling pathways. 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.
Celestial Park will also feature various attractions and experiences such as Starfall Racers, a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests rocketing through the skies aboard comets in a race to see who’s the fastest of them all. Reaching speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track, Starfall Racers will be Epic Universe’s most thrilling coaster experience with unique maneuvers such as the “Celestial Spin,” in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air — creating an “out-of-this-world” adrenaline rush.
Constellation Carousel will be the grand centerpiece of Celestial Park. Explorers of all ages will take a fantastical whirl aboard constellations that glide forward, backward — and even make 360-degree rotations — through the milky way in a choreographed dance of music and starlight.
Astronomica, an interactive wet-play area that also doubles as a giant compass rose to the many wonders of Epic Universe, featuring crystal blue fountains that spring to life and dance around guests.
There will also be plenty of unique dining experiences ranging from full-service restaurants to quick-service locations that offer something for every palate, including Atlantic — a full-service “surf and turf” restaurant set inside a Victorian aquarium complete with captivating views of Celestial Park; and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant — where diners take a culinary journey across Asia as they enjoy authentic Chinese, Japanese and Thai fare in this full-service restaurant accented with neon dragons and ethereal lanterns.
Additional dining locations within Celestial Park include The Oak & Star Tavern, where guests can enjoy savory barbecue, Pizza Moon, which will serve up a tasty menu featuring a variety of pizzas, and more. Celestial Park will also feature Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, where guests can satisfy their cravings with a unique selection of sweet treats, and more.
The Nintendo Super Star Store will also be a part of Celestial Park. Guests will be able to buy all the Super Nintendo World merch inside this store.
Celestial Park will also feature plenty of exciting entertainment including fountain shows throughout Celestial Park’s seven acres of water. The water fountains will sway and dance and even reach heights up to 135 feet in the air while synchronized to music and interactive lighting from day to night.
Portals to Extraordinary Worlds
Celestial Park will be the gateway to explore the four additional worlds of Epic Universe. Through a set of majestic portals that capture the imagination and creativity of each world, guests will embark on a transformative experience as they journey from Celestial Park to:
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic
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 land is expected to have a dark ride and a theater attraction plus shopping and dining.
Super Nintendo World
Guests will enter the iconic green warp 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. The Orlando version of Super Nintendo World will feature a Mario Kart attraction, a Yoshi attraction, and a Donkey Kong minecart roller coaster.
How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk
Guests can soar with dragons in a colorful world filled with Viking adventures based on the wildly popular How to Train Your Dragon film franchise. The land is expected to have a stage show, a boat ride, and a roller coaster.
Dark Universe
Guests encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery. The land will feature a roller coaster and a theater attraction. It will also feature some themed dining locations as well.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel
Located inside Epic Universe at the end of Celestial Park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, designed to transport guests to a world where the heavens and earth unite — complete with 500 rooms, one-of-a-kind views, and its very own dedicated entrance into the theme park.
Epic Universe is Universal Destinations & Experiences’ latest development to integrate energy efficiency and sustainable construction practices.
More details about Universal Epic Universe — including the debut of an interactive preview center at Universal CityWalk later this year that will offer a sneak peek at the new theme park — will be revealed in the months ahead.
Be sure to continue to follow Boardwalk Times for more coverage of Univeral Destinations & Experiences.
Support Boardwalk Times on Ko-Fi.
Support Boardwalk Times by visiting Boardwalk Store:
If you like this article. Subscribe to our free newsletter Boardwalk Times: Stories from the Seashore, a monthly dose of Disney, its businesses, and the wider themed entertainment industry including Universal Parks & Resorts.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
