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,1Disney’s current dominance of the Orlando area is increasingly attributed to the larger number of experiences they offer. That is, people find it easier and more appealing to stay on Disney property and go to Universal for a day than to stay on Universal property and go to Disney for four days. But perhaps not for much longer! 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?