10 Reasons to Visit Universal's Epic Universe
10 Reasons to Visit Universal's Epic Universe
Get ready for an epic vacation! Step into an other-worldly theme park imagined and brought to life by Universal Orlando.
Epic Universe is Universal’s fourth theme park, joining Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and its highly acclaimed water park, Volcano Bay.
This new park brings more Universal-owned properties into its theme parks and expands upon those that fans already love, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Once Epic Universe opens to the public on May 22, 2025, it will top the list of fun things to do in Orlando without question, as theme park fans flock to see all the new and exciting restaurants, shops, shows and attractions.
Visitors to The City Beautiful looking for relaxing things to do in Orlando might have to look elsewhere as people arrive in droves looking to experience the latest theme park to come to Central Florida.
What is Universal’s Epic Universe?
Universal’s Epic Universe is the culmination of years of behind-the-scenes work by artists and engineers who came together to transport guests into an immersive and unique entertainment experience.
Epic Universe is different from Universal Orlando’s other parks in the sense that it is not connected to Universal’s other three parks. Guests will arrive directly at Epic Universe, located behind Orlando’s Icon Park, on East Sand Lake Road, and about 15 minutes away from the original Universal Orlando Resort. Surface-level, ground parking will be available to guests.
The other three parks are accessed by parking garages, after which guests walk through Universal CityWalk to get to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. To connect all four parks, including Epic Universe, complimentary bus transportation will take guests where they need to go.
Experiencing all the Universal Orlando theme parks are some of the best things to do near Westgate Palace Resort if you’re looking to stay nearby. Plus, take advantage of the resort's free shuttle to and from Universal Studios.
So, are you ready to see the exciting things Epic Universe will bring to Central Florida’s theme park landscape?! Are you excited to visit? It’s sure to be, well, epic of course!
1 | Universal’s Major New Theme Park | Epic Universe is Central Florida’s first major theme park since Universal opened Islands of Adventure in 1999. Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened one year earlier in 1998.
Theme parks fans who love visiting Orlando’s world-class attractions year after year have been calling for another theme park gate to open at either Disney or Universal, and it seems Universal answered the call.
Epic Universe was announced back in August 2019, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, construction was delayed in 2020. Work resumed in March 2021. And now, after multiple announcements involving the lands and experiences coming to the new park, we know Epic Universe will open on May 22, 2025!
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2 | Epic Universe’s Unique Concept | Epic Universe is comprised of five different worlds, all connected through Celestial Park.
What Universal calls a “Chronos” will serve as the entrance to Epic Universe and allow guests to enter Celestial Park. From there, the story goes that the Chronos harnesses the energy of the universe and powers all of Celestial Park, which in turn, allows portals to open to other worlds.
Once in Celestial Park, four portals – which are tall, statuesque icons describing each themed land – will tower above guests and welcome them as they make their way around the park. Each portal that guests walk through will isolate each land, making them fully immersive.
The four portals are Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk.
3 | Celestial Park | Universal describes Celestial Park as “a world between worlds, where everything begins and ends.” Celestial Park is the first land guests will encounter upon entering Epic Universe. It opens up to the four other portals, or themed lands.
Celestial Park will house restaurants and retail spaces, as well as an open nature concept for guests to connect with their surroundings and each other. Universal said it wanted to put the “park” back into theme parks and avoid a lot of harsh concrete structures and asphalt streets like it has in Universal Studios.
According to the Discover Universal Blog, “Celestial Park is the center of an ever-evolving universe that, throughout centuries, people – artists, musicians, explorers, adventurers, inventors – have visited for inspiration and connection, and maybe left a little piece of them behind.”
Read on to discover what brand-new attractions and restaurants you’ll find in Celestial Park.
4 | Super Nintendo World | Shrink down to the size of Mario, Luigi and all their friends inside the Mushroom Kingdom while visiting Super Nintendo World. The themed land first opened at Universal Japan in 2021 and came stateside to Universal Hollywood in 2023.
The land is brightly colored, lively with interactive challenges and animated with piranha plants, mushrooms and other well-known characters from the franchise.
Upon entering the land at existing Super Nintendo Worlds, guests say they feel like they’re in the game while collecting coins on their power-up bands, not to mention meeting characters like Princess Peach and Toad!
Super Nintendo World is expected to open with the virtual Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride, already in Japan and Hollywood, along with two other rides. We’ll talk about those later in this article.
5 | Dark Universe | Let’s face it, Universal does horror well. And when Epic Universe opens, horror will be year-round, delighting fans across the world!
This section of the park is an area devoted to Universal’s classic monsters, like Frankenstein, Dracula and Wolf Man, set inside the fictional village of Darkmoor. In this town, you’ll find monsters and monster hunters, so beware!
Universal’s official description of Dark Universe is, “From the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to a shadowy landscape where monsters roam, Dark Universe is a world of myth and mystery.”
Dark Universe is one of the brand-new park’s most highly anticipated lands because it will be the first of its kind for Universal, and it’s something fans have been asking for for years.
The main attraction will be Monster’s Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. We’ll talk about that ride a little later in this article, along with a spinning roller coaster themed to Wolf Man and innovative dining experiences horror fans will be sure to love.
6 | The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic | Wands at the ready! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is themed around 1920s Paris, France, from the Fantastic Beasts films and the 1990s British Ministry of Magic from the original Harry Potter series.
Epic Universe’s Wizarding World will connect all three Wizarding Worlds from the other two parks. This way, in order to experience all three wizarding lands, you’ll have to visit all three parks – a smart move by Universal.
Besides brand-new shops, cafès and restaurants, the main attractions for this land will be Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry and Le Cirque Arcanus, a Fantastic Beasts show mixed with live performers, puppetry and special effects. Keep reading for more details about Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry later in this article.
7 | How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk | If you’ve ever wanted to experience flying on the back of a dragon, this immersive land with show you how.
Inspired by the How to Train Your Dragon film franchise, this land will allow guests to enter the village of Berk, where Vikings and dragons coexist.
The team behind the project describes it as an “awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping moment,” as the massive scale of the land welcomes guests as they enter.
Once inside, get ready to fully experience iconic locations from the films, including Gobber’s Forge, Hiccup’s House and the dragon racing bleachers. With four new attractions, including a family-friendly roller coaster, the Isle of Berk is said to be a vibrant and exhilarating hotspot inside Epic Universe.
A boating and target practice attraction, as well as an epic stage show help round out the long list of entertainment options inside this land. Keep reading for more details on the land’s most-anticipated rides.
8 | Delicious New Restaurants & Eateries | Amazing new restaurants, eateries and grab-and-go spots will span across Epic Universe and it themed lands.
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Celestial Park
Inside Celestial Park, two beautiful restaurants will greet guests, the Atlantic and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant.
Concept art of the Atlantic shows what looks like a Victorian-era, larger-than-life glass aquarium where guests will dine on surf and turf options, as well as other delectable cuisine.
As for the Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, artistic renderings show electric, neon dragons that snake the interior of the dining room. Universal says guests will dine under constellations as lanterns burn bright in a “beautiful indoor courtyard” setting. The menu will consist of dishes and flavors from China, Southeast Asia and Japan.
Celestial Park is also said to be home to a BBQ eatery called the Oak & Star Tavern, as well as a pizza shop named Pizza Moon and a dessert shop named Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets.
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Dark Universe
Over in Dark Universe, guests will get to dine inside The Burning Blade Tavern, which will feature a windmill set on fire atop the restaurant. While inside, hang out with Darkmoor’s monster hunters and nosh on burgers, wings, bratwurst and pretzels.
Another restaurant in Darkmoor will be Das Stakehaus, a mysterious eatery where guests will be surrounded by vampire artifacts and artwork.
The story here is that vampire familiars, or humans under the control of vampires, run the restaurant, which is built over the ruins of some ancient catacombs. You never know what or who you might find lurking in the shadows. After all, you don’t want to end up on the menu – or do you?
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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you’ll find Café L’air De La Sirenè, a French-inspired café where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Universal says aspiring Vikings and dragon riders can fuel up at the land’s main dining location, Mead Hall. The hall will serve up hearty meals, including meats and fish, and unique alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, like ciders and ales.
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Super Nintendo World
The main dining location for Super Nintendo World will be Toadstool Café, featuring specialty sandwiches, burgers, pastas, soups, drinks and desserts – all themed to your favorite Super Mario characters.
9 | Amazing New Rides & Attractions | The rides coming to Epic Universe will no doubt be out of this world!
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Celestial Park
Some new rides and experiences coming to Celestial Park will be Constellation Carousel and the highly-anticipated Stardust Racers roller coaster.
Universal says Constellation Carousel will whirl guests both young and old across the Milky Way and the constellations. This beautifully domed carousel will play ethereal music and dazzle every rider. Universal says guests will board celestial lions, dragons and peacocks as they spin 360 degrees and get lifted up to as much as six feet in the air.
Stardust Racers is a dueling coaster in Celestial Park that will serve as a focal point for all of Epic Universe.
Universal describes the coaster on its website, saying, “Share a race across the cosmos on Stardust Racers, a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph. Board a comet and rocket to the furthest reaches of the stars, at heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track. Race along an inverted crisscross, known as the "Celestial Spin," in a dazzling display of blazing colors and ethereal music.”
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Super Nintendo World
Next up are three new rides in Super Nintendo World, a virtual reality go-kart ride based off of Mario Kart; a Yoshi omni-mover ride, similar to Disney’s Haunted Mansion or People Mover; and a Donkey Kong mine cart roller coaster.
Since we already mentioned Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge in this article, let’s talk about Yoshi’s Adventure.
This family-friendly ride will take guests on a tour of the Mushroom Kingdom, while riding multi-colored versions of Yoshi. The game is a replica of the ride at Universal Japan and will take riders on a search for glowing Yoshi eggs as they weave along Super Nintendo World’s vibrant landscapes.
Next up, Donkey Kong! It’s a not only a ride inside Epic Universe, it’s also a mini land inside the Super Nintendo area.
Mine-Cart Madness, a family-friendly roller coaster, will feature both indoor and outdoor segments, during which guests aboard a runaway mine cart will appear to jump over gaps in the track – just like in the game!
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How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Over in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, two of the land’s biggest attractions are called Hiccup's Wing Gliders and Dragon Racer's Rally.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is a family-friendly coaster where guests take a ride on Hiccup’s “winged flying machine that launches aspiring Dragon Riders into the air, swooping and soaring and encountering Hiccup and Toothless along the way,” according to Universal.
Dragon Racer’s Rally is full of high-flying fun, allowing aspiring dragon riders to “practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on a Viking-made dragon-riding trainer,” Universal said. Guests can think of this ride as a swinging arm-like contraption that will twist and turn in the air.
The last ride in the land with be called Fyre Drill. This attraction is an interactive boat ride where teams of Vikings compete to soak each other, so plan on getting wet!
Guests will also be treated to The Untrainable Dragon, an exciting new stage show featuring all the beloved characters of the How to Train Your Dragon films, plus a soaring Toothless puppet that you’ll just have to see to believe.
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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
In addition to interactive wand experiences in the other parks, Epic Universe’s Wizarding World will feature an exciting new ride called Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
Universal describes the ride as guests traveling “by Métro-Floo from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic where Dolores Umbridge is about to stand trial.” Those attending the trial will board a lift, or an elevator in the U.S., and join “Harry, Ron and Hermione as you journey deep into the Ministry’s many departments.”
Of course, things will most likely go wrong, and you’ll encounter some unexpected guests along the way. Harry Potter fans can’t stop talking about this attraction. The anticipation is definitely high for this ride!
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Dark Universe
Of course everyone is talking about Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment inside Dark Universe. Horror fans are salivating over the thought of this attraction.
And when Universal released teaser video and images of the animatronics inside the ride, including a nine-foot Frankenstein, the hype only grew stronger.
The storyline for this epic attraction is, “Dr. Victoria Frankenstein continues the work of her ancestors deep below the family estate. A demonstration of her experiments to control monsters goes awry when Dracula leads a revolt of enraged monsters, including The Wolf Man, The Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon and more,” according to Universal’s website.
A second attraction inside Dark Universe’s village of Darkmoor is a spinning roller coaster called Curse of the Werewolf. Universal says riders will spin and weave as they journey through the woods trying to get away from a pack of werewolves. Concept art for the ride shows an impressively terrifying werewolf figure somewhere in the ride, so beware!
One thing is for sure, Epic Universe will feature exciting new ride and show technology that will be sure to wow guests for years to come.
10 | Make it an Epic Vacation | Come for Epic Universe and stay for all there is to see and do at Universal Orlando! Visit Universal’s other theme parks, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay. You can also visit Universal CityWalk for diverse dining options and entertainment.
Epic Universe is just a few miles southeast of the existing Universal Orlando Resort, so ride the movies and feel the thrills across Universal Orlando’s entire collection of theme parks. Make it an epic getaway!
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Are You Visiting Epic Universe?
Epic Universe will most definitely not be one of the non-touristy things to do in Orlando, but it will provide endless entertainment to millions of guests year after year.
From the park’s concept to the lands, attractions and rides within, guests are eager with anticipation to set foot inside Epic Universe.
Plus, rumor has it, there's some space for expansion that Universal is already thinking about. And we can't wait for it!
With Universal’s past experience in the theme park realm, it’s safe to say Epic Universe is already a hit among fans.
For more travel guides, visit our Westgate Travel Resorts Blog.
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* Westgate Resorts is in no way affiliated with the attractions featured in this article. Items or places listed are current as of the publishing date of this article. Please call or visit the respective website for the most up-to-date offerings and details.
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