Universal's Epic Universe: A Comprehensive Guide

Universal's Epic Universe: A Comprehensive Guide

Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort's fourth theme park, is scheduled to open on May 22, 2025. This highly anticipated park, located near Orlando's Icon Park, will feature five distinct lands and three new hotels.

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The Five Lands of Epic Universe:

• Celestial Park: This land will be the central hub of Epic Universe, connecting all the other lands and featuring celestial-themed designs.

  • Attractions:

    • Stardust Racers: A dual-launch racing roller coaster that reaches speeds of up to 62 mph and a height of 133 feet.

    • Constellation Carousel: An unusual carousel where riders spin on constellations that move forward, backward, and in 360-degree turns.

    • Astronomica: An interactive splash zone shaped like a compass rose with dancing fountains.

  • Dining:

    • Atlantic: A full-service surf and turf restaurant with views of Celestial Park, housed in a Victorian-style aquarium.

    • The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant: A full-service restaurant featuring Chinese, Japanese, and Thai cuisine.

    • The Oak & Star Tavern: Offers savory barbecue.

    • Pizza Moon: Serves a variety of pizzas and other items.

  • Shopping:

    • Nintendo Super Star Store: A central store for Nintendo merchandise.

    • Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets: A whimsical sweets shop.

• Super Nintendo World: Bringing the world of Nintendo to life, this land will feature areas inspired by Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart, and Yoshi. Two specific areas will be The Mushroom Kingdom and Donkey Kong Country.

  • Attractions:

    • Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge: An augmented reality experience that puts guests in a Mario Kart race against characters from the franchise.

    • Yoshi's Adventure: An omnimover ride that takes guests on a gentle journey through scenes inspired by Yoshi's Island.

    • Mine-Cart Madness: A roller coaster inspired by the Donkey Kong series, simulating a mine cart adventure with a "trackless" effect.

  • Dining:

    • Toadstool Cafe: Features dishes inspired by the world of Super Mario.

    • Yoshi’s Snack Island: A walk-up location with treats, snacks, and beverages.

    • Turbo Boost Treats: Another walk-up location for treats, snacks, and beverages.

  • Shopping:

    • 1-UP Factory: Offers souvenirs, apparel, toys, and more inspired by Super Mario characters.

    • Mario Motors: Another location for Super Mario merchandise.

  • Character Meet and Greets: Guests can meet Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad.

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: This land will transport guests to the British Ministry of Magic, offering a new perspective on the Harry Potter world.

  • Attractions:

    • Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry: A state-of-the-art dark ride that puts guests in the heart of the battle at the Ministry of Magic.

    • Le Cirque Arcanus: A live stage show inspired by the "Fantastic Beasts" series, featuring magical creatures and dazzling performances.

  • Interactive Wand Experiences: Explore the streets of wizarding Paris and discover new wand interactions.

  • Dining:

    • Le Gobelet Noir: Offers soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.

    • Cafe L’air De La Sirene: A French cafe serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

    • Bar Moonshine: A Parisian-themed bar.

  • Shopping:

    • Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magiques: Features a selection of exclusively French wands.

    • Bièraubuerre: Sells the iconic Butterbeer with a French name.

• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Inspired by the "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise, this land will recreate the Viking village of Berk.

  • Attractions:

    • Hiccup’s Wing Gliders: A multi-launch roller coaster simulating flight alongside dragons.

    • Dragon Racer’s Rally: A dual Sky Fly attraction that lets guests control their dragon flight.

    • Fyre Drill: A boat ride adventure where guests encounter dragon species and Viking lore.

    • The Untrainable Dragon: A live stage show featuring Hiccup, Toothless, and other characters.

    • Viking Training Camp: An interactive play area for young Vikings.

  • Character Meet and Greet: Meet Toothless, Hiccup, and other Viking friends at Haddock Paddock.

  • Dining:

    • Spit Fyre Grill: Features entrees with a dragon-cooking theme.

    • Meade Hall: An eatery serving fish, sandwiches, mead, and more in a gathering hall setting.

• Dark Universe: This land will immerse guests in the world of Universal's Classic Monsters, including Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula, and the Wolfman.

  • Attractions:

    • Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment: A dark ride where guests witness the Monster's creation and encounter the creature.

    • Curse of the Werewolf: A spinning coaster that takes guests on a high-speed chase through cursed woods.

    • The Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience : For an additional cost, guests can transform into monsters with makeup and special effects.

  • Character Meet and Greets: Guests can meet Frankenstein and his Bride, Ygor, the Invisible Man, and more.

  • Dining:

    • The Burning Blade Tavern: A burning mill-themed tavern serving drinks, burgers, wings, and other tavern food.

    • Das Stakehaus: A vampire-themed restaurant with savory meals.

Epic Universe Hotels

Three new hotels are planned to open in conjunction with Epic Universe:

• Universal Helios Grand Hotel: This 500-room resort will have direct park access and an elegant, Mediterranean-inspired design.

• Universal Stella Nova Resort: This 750-room resort will feature resort-style amenities and a dichroic panel exterior with teal and purple highlights. It is scheduled to open on January 21, 2025.

• Universal Terra Luna Resort: Also offering 750 rooms and resort-style amenities, this resort will have a dichroic panel exterior with gold and green highlights. Its scheduled opening date is February 25, 2025.

Tickets and Transportation

To visit Epic Universe, guests will need to purchase multi-day tickets, as single-day tickets are not currently available, except for Annual Passholders. These tickets will include one day of access to Epic Universe and entry to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure on the other days. Multi-day ticket options include 3-day, 4-day, and 5-day options. Annual Passholders will have priority access to purchase single-day tickets to Epic Universe beginning October 24, 2024.

Epic Universe will be accessible by a planned Brightline rail station. The park is estimated to be a 15-minute drive from the main Universal Orlando Resort and is conveniently located near Walt Disney World.

Conclusion

With its five immersive lands, innovative attractions, themed dining, and new hotels, Universal's Epic Universe promises an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. As the opening date approaches, more details about the park's offerings will be unveiled.