Universal Orlando Resort Made HUGE Announcements About the 'Isle of Berk,' Coming to Epic Universe
Universal Orlando Resort is opening a new, fourth theme park, called Universal's Epic Universe. The center of Epic Universe will be Celestial Park, which will offer portals to four different themed lands.
The expansion will double the size of the original theme park, making way for "50 awe-inspiring attraction, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences," Universal said in a press release.
In this article, you'll learn: what the plans are for Universal's Epic Universe, what the Epic Universe park map looks like, when Epic Universe is expected to open and what rides and attractions have been announced.
Families traveling to central Florida have no shortage when it comes to exciting theme park news, but for the past year all eyes have been on Universal, which has been slowly doling out information about the opening of an all-new, fourth theme park at Universal Orlando Resort, called Universal’s Epic Universe.
“Our vision for Epic Universe is historic,” Tom Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Universal Parks & Resorts, said in a statement to Good Housekeeping. “It will build on everything we have done and become the most immersive and innovative theme park we have ever created.”
So, what's going to be included in Epic Universe, and when can they take my money so I can go on all the rides?
The opening date for Universal's Epic Universe is still a ways off.
Like everything else, you can blame this on COVID-19. Universal had to pause construction in July 2020 due to the pandemic. Work resumed in March 2021, but it still needed time to ramp back up to full speed, since they had to re-staff all the projects again.
So understandably, Universal has yet to announce a firm opening date. But it's a good bet it won't be that far off. All of the announcements from Universal have been remarkably consistent, all saying that Epic Universe is on track for an opening date for some time in 2025. Initial press releases indicated it would open in the summer, but now all official communications just say 2025. The rumor mill says that suggests the park could be opening earlier rather than later. (Oh please, oh please.)
What will the Epic Universe park map look like?
On January 30, Universal released a preliminary map that outlined the structure of the park. The center of the new map will be Celestial Park, a central shopping, dining and attraction area that also has portals to the four additional worlds.
Celestial Park is set to be a destination in and of itself. Universal said in a press release that it'll let guests explore "lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements." There will be fountain shows with state-of-the-art lighting effects, along with shops and new restaurants, like the The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, Atlantic (surf and turn inside an aquarium), The Oak & Star Tavern (for barbecue) and Pizza Moon.
Celestial park will have its own rides, too. The centerpiece will be the Constellation Carousel, which has horses and other mythical beings that rotate 360 degrees as they orbit. Astronmica will have get-wet attractions that will serve visitors well in the Florida heat. And, for thrill-seekers, there will be Starfall Racers, a dual-launch coaster that has vehicles criss-crossing and reaching speeds of up to 62 mph.
But when it's time to leave Celestial Park, portals will take guests to four other lands.
Vikings will roam in a land dedicated to How to Train Your Dragon.
Vikings, dragon-riders and fans of mead: Rejoice! On March 28, Universal released detailed information about a second land in its park, called How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk. (You can even take an animated video tour.) And it's got a lot going on.
The most thrilling attraction here will be Hiccup's Wing Gliders, which is described as being a "family thrill coaster." The ride will give visitors the impression that they're soaring alongside Hiccup and Toothless — getting an excellent view of Berk from above in the process. And since the top speed is just 45 mph, riders will get to enjoy the view.
That's not the only ride in the land: Fyre Drill is a boat ride where riders try to hit targets with water cannons (under the direction of Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut), and Dragon Racer's Rally takes riders high in the air, where they can do acrobatic tricks on their dragons while controlling how wild the ride is.
In addition, there's a "The Untrainable Dragon" live show, a Viking Training Camp climbing area for little ones, Hiccup and Toothless meet-and-greets, and a variety of eateries where guests can enjoy meat, mead and other treats.
Universal Studios Orlando will finally get its own Super Nintendo World.
Universal Studios Hollywood has had its own Super Nintendo World since early in 2023. Universal Studios Japan has had one for even longer. Now, Orlando gets to catch up.
Universal hasn't announced the exact rides and attractions going into Super Nintendo World, so we don't yet know if it'll be the same mix of rides and mini-games as in the Hollywood version. It's a good bet that it'll have a Mario Kart-themed ride, since that's the one attraction that's been consistent at every Super Nintendo World that's opened so far.
Apart from Mario Kart he announcement states that guests will "discover a new way to play as they step into the worlds of beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong," which suggests that it might get even more than the Hollywood version, which doesn't have a Donkey Kong Country area like the one that's been announced for Universal Studios Japan. In addition, Japan has a mild, Yoshi-themed ride good for the littler ones that could also be a possibility for Orlando.
Fans who want to bring home some of the magic will be please to know that there will be a Nintendo Super Star Store, so if you need that star-shaped popcorn bucket, it will be yours.
Of course there will be more Harry Potter.
Universal Orlando Resort already has two The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-themed lands — Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley — but two good turns deserve another.
This time, they're going for the Ministry of Magic. The twist: While the other two parks mostly take their cues from the eight Harry Potter movies, this one adds in design elements from the Fantastic Beasts series as well, including hints of "1920s wizarding Paris."
What Universal hasn't announced officially is what that means for rides. Mostly, rumors swirl that the big attraction in the land will be inspired by the battle at the Ministry.
Dark Universe will celebrate the iconic Universal Monsters.
Universal has a longstanding history with horror. First, there are the celebrated Universal Monsters: Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and so on. Then, there are also the Universal Horror Nights, which leave room for more modern monsters like Chucky or the demons from The Exorcist.
Once Epic Universe opens, fans won't have to wait for the Universal Horror Nights in the fall to experience these thrills and chills. In 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," Universal says in a press release. This is going to be a land where guests will have to gin up their courage before they even think about heading to the thrill rides.
And you can stay there, too.
Too much to do in one day? Never want to leave? Adjacent to the Celestial Park area is the majestic Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which overlooks the park. It'll have 500 rooms and even its own dedicated entrance — or should we call it a portal?
Two other hotels: Loews Universal Stella Nova Resort and Loews Universal Terra Luna Resort, said to be just minutes from Epic Universe, are already taking reservations for early 2025.
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