Construction update: Epic Universe a year(ish) from 2025 opening
At the construction site of the new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, progress abounds as the park races toward its 2025 grand opening.
This is an exciting season for Orlando, as Epic Universe will be the city’s first new theme park since the ’90s. It’s easy to not see the forest for the trees, so let’s go back to basics and take a macro view, literally, of all five worlds of Epic Universe, captured by aerial photographer bioreconstruct in late April 2024.
Aerial photos by bioreconstruct
What is Epic Universe?
Universal Epic Universe is actively under construction at Universal Orlando Resort. The new park — themed to planetary quests through otherworldly portals — will contain five major worlds:
- Celestial Park, the central hub of Epic Universe from which all portals emanate
- How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, based on the DreamWorks films
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, featuring France as seen in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” and the British Ministry of Magic from the “Harry Potter” films
- Dark Universe, starring the creatures of Universal Classic Monsters films
- Super Nintendo World, featuring Mushroom Kingdom and Donkey Kong Country
To accommodate more guests, three new overnight lodging options will open. Universal Helios Grand Hotel will be connected to Epic Universe itself, while Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort will be located across the street.
When Will Epic Universe Open?
Epic Universe is on track to open sometime in 2025, joining Universal’s current roster of destinations in Orlando: the Universal Studios Florida theme park, the Universal Islands of Adventure theme park, the Universal Volcano Bay water park, the Universal CityWalk shopping/dining district, and the resort’s collection of hotels.
Universal previously teased a summer 2025 opening for Epic Universe, but the company’s current verbiage sticks with just “2025.” No matter when the specific opening date of Epic Universe will be, the park is approximately one year away from welcoming guests through its gates for the first time.
Celestial Park Construction Photos
Guests will enter Epic Universe by encountering a structure called the Chronos Tower, which has yet to be erected onsite.
From there, visitors will find themselves at Luna Overlook, taking in the view of Celestial Park.
Attractions in Celestial Park will be the Starfall Racers dueling roller coaster (with two sets of tracks, and therefore two coaster trains racing), Constellation Carousel, and the Astronomica water play area.
(Update, May 31, 2024: Universal has renamed the roller coaster formerly known as Starfall Racers. The attraction’s official title is now Stardust Racers.)
Dining options in Celestial Park will include Atlantic (serving surf-and-turf cuisine) and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant.
Celestial Park will also be the home of the Nintendo Super Star Store, located just outside of the portal to Super Nintendo World.
Speaking of portals, Celestial Park is where guests will enter the four portals leading to the park’s story-based worlds.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk Construction Photos
Guests will step into the realm of DreamWorks’ “How to Train Your Dragon” films within How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk.
As Berk’s newcomers, visitors will try their hand at dragon-training themselves on the Hiccup’s Wing Gliders family roller coaster, the Fyre Drill boat battle ride, the Drag Racer’s Rally spinning flat ride, the live show “The Untrainable Dragon,” the Viking Training Camp play area, a character greeting with Hiccup and Toothless, three quick-service dining locations, and three shops.
Throughout Isle of Berk, construction crews continue to install the homes of Berk’s villagers and the many dragons hanging around.
Notably, a live-action remake of “How to Train Your Dragon,” based on the original 2010 animated movie, will debut in theaters in 2025. While Isle of Berk is strictly based on the animated films, the live-action remake’s release means the franchise will be fresh in public consciousness when Epic Universe opens.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic Construction Photos
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will transport guests into two different points within the timeline of the Warner Bros. films: 1920s Paris (specifically, Place Cachée) from “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” and 1990s Britain (specifically, the Ministry of Magic) from the “Harry Potter” films.
The British Ministry of Magic is the site of several sequences across the “Potter” movie saga, including:
- Harry’s trial for using magic underage
- A battle for a prophecy within the Department of Mysteries
- A showdown between Dumbledore and Voldemort
- Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s Polyjuice Potion visit to retrieve a Horcrux from Delores Umbridge
Universal has not yet announced details (or shared concept art) for the attractions of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at this time.
At the construction site, Parisian alleyways are adorned with murals and wizarding advertisements. Crews also installed the beginnings of what seems to be a tent.
This new chapter, of sorts, of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter joins Universal Orlando’s previous worlds built at its other two parks: Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida (connected by the Hogwarts Express, naturally). Given the distance of Epic Universe from the rest of Universal Orlando, the new Ministry of Magic area will not physically connect to Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley.
Dark Universe Construction Photos
Dark Universe will introduce a new character, Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, as a jumping-off point for attractions starring creatures from the Universal Classic Monsters library of films.
Guests will walk through a macabre, dilapidated village before encountering the attractions of Dark Universe: an outdoor spinning roller coaster and an indoor attraction with a manor-like façade. Universal has not announced the names or details of these experiences, nor has the company shared concept artwork for Dark Universe, at this time.
The windmill from “Frankenstein” flanks the top of a building at the back of Dark Universe.
Super Nintendo World Construction Photos
Epic Universe guests will score a two-for-one bonus with Super Nintendo World, as the area will feature both Mushroom Kingdom and Donkey Kong Country.
Mushroom Kingdom will contain an indoor “Mario Kart” ride, as well as an elevated, indoor/outdoor Yoshi ride.
Donkey Kong Country will feature an indoor/outdoor roller coaster. The coaster trains will appear to jump the track, soaring over “broken” track pieces, just like Donkey Kong does in his video games.
Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe will share many similarities with its existing counterparts at Universal Studios Japan (which features the “Mario Kart” and Yoshi rides, and will open the Donkey Kong coaster in late 2024) and Universal Studios Hollywood (which only features the “Mario Kart” attraction).
New Hotel Construction Photos
Universal Helios Grand Hotel will overlook Celestial Park and provide its overnight guests with an exclusive back entrance into Epic Universe.
Down the road, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort will serve as value-level lodging options.
Unlike Epic Universe itself, Universal has announced an opening date for these two new resorts. Stella Nova will open Jan. 21, 2025 and Terra Luna will open Feb. 25, 2025. Reservations are now available. Universal stressed that Epic Universe will not be open when these two resorts begin their operations.
Epic Universe Deep Dive
We hereby grant you permission to drop everything and go full stan mode on Epic Universe with our coverage below!
So far, Universal has revealed details about the backstory and attractions of Celestial Park and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. The company also released virtual fly-throughs of those worlds, and we took a close look at each world’s details.
| Celestial Park | How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk |
| Overview | Overview |
| Details | Details |
| Behind-the-scenes video | Behind-the-scenes video |
| Virtual fly-through | Virtual fly-through |
As Epic Universe steps into the public spotlight, many individuals have expressed different perspectives about it, from Disney CEO Bob Iger to screenwriter and actor Tina Fey to our own Attractions Magazine staff.
If you’re interested in visiting Universal Orlando Resort, we recommend MEI-Travel for a free, no-obligation quote and free help throughout your trip.
