Universal’s Epic Universe, which officially opened on May 22, 2025, in Orlando, Florida, is a groundbreaking fourth park in the Universal Orlando Resort. Spanning roughly 110 acres and featuring five meticulously themed realms, it marks a bold evolution in immersive park design.
🌟 Celestial Park (Central Hub)
- Central “wheel-and-spoke” hub with lush gardens, walkways, fountains, and the iconic Chronos portal tower that powers the park’s theme worlds
- Seven million embedded LEDs and nightly light-firework shows.
- Attractions include:
- Stardust Racers, a thrilling dual‑launched coaster reaching 62 mph and 133 ft tall—one of the US’s largest steel coasters
- Constellation Carousel, a family-friendly carousel ride
- Dining options include:
- Atlantic, an full-service Undersea Adventure featuring steak and seafood
- Blue Dragon Pan-Asian, a full-service culinary journey across Asia
- The Oak & Star Tavern, a quick-service barbecue & beer experience
- Pizza Moon, a quick-service stop featuring amazing pizza for lunar travelers
- Meteor Astropub, a quick service gastropub with a celestial twist
- The Plastered Owl, a whimsical bar experience
- Star Sui Bao, an Asian food cart featuring unique Asian bao buns
- Frosty Moon, a bright and alluring ice cream stand
- Comet Dogs, enjoy out-of-this-world hot dogs
- Celestiki, the trendiest tiki bar in the cosmos
- Bar Zenith, refreshingly curious beverages with an amazing view
- Shopping options include:
- Other Worlds Mercantile, with apparel, sundries, toys, souvenirs and more
- Sensorium Emporium, a collection of unique stores with various gifts and gear
- Moonship Chocolates, otherworldly treats and sweets
- Lens Flare, with Universal keepsakes and photo packages
- North Star Wintry Wonders, where holiday cheer is always in season
🧙 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
- Set in 1920s Paris (Place Cachée) leading into the British Ministry of Magic.
- Attractions include:
- Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, an immersive courtroom-style motion-simulator ride.
- Dining options include:
- Shopping options include:
- Atmosphere-rich details in architecture, shops (Les Galeries Mirifiques), cafés, and live theatrical experiences.
🍄 Super Nintendo World
- Vibrant homage to Nintendo franchises like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong.
- Attractions include:
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, an AR-enhanced dark ride.
- Yoshi’s Adventure, a family-friendly omnimover-style ride.
- Mine Cart Madness: A unique and visually spectacular family coaster.
- Dining options include:
- Shopping options include:
- Plenty of interactive and gaming-themed experiences, restaurants, and shops.
🐉 How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk
- Themed around the beloved DreamWorks franchise, this is Epic Universe’s largest land.
- Attractions include:
- Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, a launch coaster by Intamin.
- Dragon Racer’s Rally, a Gerstlauer Sky Fly free-fly ride.
- Fyre Drill, an interactive boat ride.
- Stage show “The Untrainable Dragon”
- Viking Training Camp playground.
- Toothless, Hiccup, and Astrid meet-n-greet
- Dining options include:
- Mead Hall
- Spit Fyre Grill
- themed drinks like “Yaknog”
- Shopping options include:
👹 Dark Universe (Classic Monsters)
- A shadowy realm celebrating Universal’s iconic monsters—Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolf Man—set in spooky Darkmoor Village.
- Attractions include
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, a chilling dark ride through Frankenstein Manor.
- Additional thrills: a family coaster in the woods and immersive meet‑and‑greet experiences.
- Dining options include:
- The gothic Das Stakehaus
- Burning Blade Tavern
- De Lacey’s Cottage
- Shopping options include:
🛏️ Hotels & Resorts
- Universal Helios Grand Hotel (500 rooms) inside the park with exclusive access directly into the Celestial Park area of Epic Universe.
- Features:
- Stella Nova Resort with 750 rooms, located nearby, offering Early Park Admission and shuttle service.
- Features:
- Terra Luna Resort with 750 rooms, located nearby, offering Early Park Admission and shuttle service.
- Features:
📝 Final Take
Universal’s Epic Universe is a game-changing theme park—melding stunning design, beloved franchises, cutting-edge tech, and narrative immersion. With spectacular visuals, thrilling rides, and atmospheric dining and accommodations, it’s positioning itself as Orlando’s new premier destination—though managing Florida’s climate remains an ongoing challenge.