“Most ambitious theme park yet”: A first look at Universal Epic Universe

Universal Orlando Resort has shared new details about its upcoming theme park, Universal Epic Universe, which is set to debut in 2025.

Referred to as its “most ambitious theme park yet,” Epic Universe – Universal Orlando’s fourth theme park – promises to transport guests to immersive worlds featuring more than 50 “epic” attraction, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences.

Here’s a breakdown of the latest, which was shared in a press release Tuesday (Jan. 30).

Celestial Park

With acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways and strolling pathways, Celestial Park puts the “park” back in “theme park,” the company says.

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 along shimmering waters “surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements.”

Here, guests can relax while taking in the sights and sounds around them, board a shooting comet for an exhilarating roller coaster adventure, dine on delectable cuisine, shop exclusive merchandise to commemorate their visit and more.

Portals to other worlds

Celestial Park will also be the gateway to explore the four additional worlds of Epic Universe – “each bringing to life extraordinary adventures that go beyond guests’ wildest imaginations,” Universal says.

Through a set of 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, where 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.

Super Nintendo World, where guests will enter the iconic green 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.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, where 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.

Dark Universe, where guests encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.

Celestial Park attractions

Other experiences guests will find at Celestial Park include:

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 – the grand centrepiece of Celestial Park. Here, 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;

New restaurants include 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 lanterns.

Additional “must-eat” locations within Celestial Park include The Oak & Star Tavern, which will serve barbecue, Pizza Moon, which will serve up a tasty menu featuring a variety of pizzas, and more.

Detailed retail locations include the Nintendo Super Star Store, Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, and more.

The park will also include fountain shows across seven acres of water where “a multitude of fountains sway, dance – and even reach heights up to 135 feet in the air.”

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.

More details about Universal Epic Universe – including the debut of an interactive preview centre at Universal CityWalk later this year that will offer a sneak peek at the new theme park – will be revealed in the months ahead.

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