Universal Epic Universe is adding characters, testing new access, and planning future expansions.
Dive into the immersive world of Universal’s epic universe
Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida is the first theme park to open in the region in 25 years and features five different immersive worlds.
- Since its opening, Universal’s Epic Universe has focused on tweaking operations, enhancing popular experiences, and adding new character meet-and-greets.
- The park is testing an open hub concept by offering free access to the Celestial Park area for corporate events.
- Universal executives said they are considering future expansion but are currently focused on optimizing the existing guest experience.
Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park will celebrate its first anniversary on May 22, but it’s already experimenting with new ways for visitors to experience its expansive grounds.
On May 30 and June 1, Universal Epic Universe will welcome attendees for the premiere Orlando Beauty Convention to Celestial Park, its Gateway World, and the park’s main artery. The theme park regularly hosts corporate events, but what’s new is that these specific convention attendees will be able to access parts of the park for free, according to an Instagram post from the event organizer.
This follows speculation that Universal is testing an open hub concept that would expand access to Celestial Park to a wider audience, while restricting access to the rest of the park’s world.
Jeff Polk, executive vice president and general manager of Universal Orlando, told USA TODAY ahead of the park’s opening day: “We’re constantly testing to find out what’s the best way to help all of our guests take advantage of the experience.” “Over the next year and a half, we’re going to be experimenting with a lot of things to see what works and what doesn’t.”
He added: “However, we are not going to do anything all at once until we have confidence that what we are doing is not disrupting the balance between the guest experience during the day and our corporate and other activities.”
Here’s what guests can expect from Year 2 of Epic Universe.
What’s in the Epic Universe?
Epic Universe steps guests into five complex and detailed immersive worlds.
“Guests keep telling us… They want to be inside the story. They want to feel like they’re part of the story. They want to feel like they’re viscerally experiencing it,” Polk said. “What we’ve learned over the past year is that you can’t lean into it enough.”
▶ Celestial Park is the center of the Epic Universe. It runs along the center of the park and not only acts as a gateway to the other four worlds, but also because its theme is exploration and discovery. At night, the world of original concepts comes alive with light, especially during a dazzling fountain show.
▶ How to Train Your Dragon – Berk Island immerses guests in the vibrant world of the DreamWorks Animation series. Fans eagerly line up to meet characters like Toothless and watch the popular live show “The Untrainable Dragon.” Younger children will enjoy the multi-level Viking Training Camp play area.
▶ The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – The Ministry of Magic is primarily set in the Wizarding Paris of the 1920s, during the time of the Fantastic Beasts movies, and the world’s must-see live show, Le Cirque Arcanus. With a little magic, guests can be transported to the Harry Potter timeline and a life-size British Ministry of Magic, and take part in the battle between Harry Potter and the Ministry, one of the most popular rides in the Epic Universe.
▶ Super Nintendo World has two small lands: Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country. Both offer interactive challenges and rides that make guests feel like they’re stepping into the world of their favorite video games.
▶ In the Dark Universe, monsters from Universal’s classic horror films, including Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Invisible Man, live in the village of Darkmoor. The village is family-friendly, but the attraction Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment may be intimidating for some.
What has changed in Epic Universe?
Guests may not see much visible change in the park other than the growth of trees and other landscaping, but they may notice some differences. Team members have been fine-tuning operations while increasing capacity.
“This is a continuous layered experience that makes things better, smoother, faster and more available,” Polk said.
Universal is also focused on enhancing experiences that already resonate with guests, such as changing operating hours so more guests can enjoy illuminated parks after sunset, increasing production of high-demand mac & cheese cones, and focusing on live entertainment.
What’s new in Epic Universe?
Starting May 22nd, Captain Cacao, an original character from the cult favorite Epic Universe, will begin appearing in the park.
Universal describes Captain Cacao as a chocolate bear brought to life by the cosmic energy of the Celestial Park. He and his best friend Maya of the Skies travel the universe in search of treats for her store, Moonship Chocolate and Celestial Sweets.
Until now, Captain Cacao only had goods such as stuffed animals.
“Now people will have a fully realized version of him that they can interact with and hug,” Polk said.
What’s next for the Epic Universe?
There’s been a lot of speculation about new attractions and worlds that could be introduced to the Epic Universe.
Polk acknowledged that the team is wondering “what’s the next best exciting story we can tell,” but that will take time.
“We have a lot of space here, but we still have a lot of time to grow,” Polk said, adding that the resort’s next big addition will be the new “Fast and Furious” roller coaster that opens next year at Universal Studios in Florida.
How many vehicles are there in Epic Universe?
Universal Epic Universe has 11 different rides.
Epic Universe’s Toothless stars in sweet viral moment
Universal’s Epic Universe is set to open in the next two months, including Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon.
Can you do the Epic Universe in one day?
You can’t experience everything in the Epic Universe in one day.
Polk said many guests spend a day at Epic and return on the same trip, captivated by the atmosphere at night.
This park helped establish Universal Orlando as a multi-day destination, which was always the goal.
“It’s been on our minds literally since the early ’90s,” Polk said. “Everything really came together this past year.”
How much do Epic Universe tickets cost?
Adult one-day tickets to Epic Universe (ages 10 and up) start at $139, and tickets for children ages 3 to 9 start at $134. Prices vary depending on date and demand.
Annual Passholders and Military Freedom Passholders are eligible to purchase specially priced tickets.
Will Epic Universe be part of the Annual Pass?
“When the time is right, all good things will happen,” Polk said.
He acknowledged that the process may feel slow, but reiterated the importance of finding the right balance between guests and guest experience, saying it is something that must be done correctly.
“We always want to give them as much as we can because we know our passholders are definitely some of our most important guests, but… we also pay attention to the level of experience that you can get, and we have a lot of annual passholders,” he said.
Are there hotels within Epic Universe?
Step into Epic Universe’s new hotel before check-in
USA TODAY’s Eve Chen toured Universal Orlando Resort’s three new hotels right near Epic Universe.
No, but Universal Helios Grand Hotel is adjacent to Epic Universe and has its own entrance behind Celestial Park.
The twin resorts Universal Stella Nova and Terra Luna are also nearby.
Universal Orlando has a total of 11 resort hotels in partnership with Loews. Each offers perks like early entry to the park and free delivery of items purchased in the park to your hotel.
However, please note that Epic Universe is not included in the free Universal Express Unlimited Pass, which is granted with stays at some Universal hotels.
