Earlier this week, Universal Destinations & Experiences gave us a formal video unveiling of their newest undertaking (and most serious play yet for national theme park supremacy), Epic Universe.
This 110-acre park, which Universal Parks CEO Mark Woodbury very deliberately notes will provide visitors with enough destinations to stay at the Universal Orlando Resort for a full week,1 is officially scheduled to open in 2025. Per the video, it will contain five lands:
- Celestial Park, an unthemed (or at least non-IP-themed) central hub that will be home to a dual-launch coaster as well as the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which is looking like the first hotel to ever be located completely inside the gates of a theme park
- Isle of Berk, recreating the main location of the How to Train Your Dragon series
- Dark Universe, a land centered around the Universal monsters
- Some Harry Potter bullshit
- An expanded recreation of the existing Super Nintendo World
As I’ve noted numerous times in this column, I’m not much of a Universal guy, and even now, only about half of what’s here catches my interest. But in terms of the big picture, I can’t pretend this isn’t exciting, and I truly wish nothing but success for the park.
Well, maybe not the Harry Potter part.
Feel free to use this space to discuss all things theme- or amusement park!
Optional Discussion Question(s): What part of Epic Universe has you the most intrigued? I’m particularly curious about this one because I think there are a number of equally legitimate answers.
And in the spirit of Groundhog Day: How many days in a row could you spend at a park without losing your mind? Which park would break you down the slowest/fastest?