Universal Orlando is having a blockbuster summer with a new kids land, new nighttime shows, and Universal’s biggest parade ever. Discover all the new attractions plus the Epic Universe Preview Center and Tribute Store inside!

Epic Universe Preview Center

Replacing the long-in-the-tooth Universal Legacy Store, the Epic Universe Preview Center is a shop advertising their new theme park opening in 2025. The theme park model is the star of the exhibit and is full of dozens of fun, tiny details. View the model through a custom Epic Universe app for iOS and Android acts and see animated overlays over the model as you explore.

Around the perimeter of the exhibit is merchandise for each of the five lands, featuring the usual assortment of shirts, hats, bags, keychains, lanyards, and more. The large portals featuring concept art for the new park are already a selfie-taking hot spot.

Universal Epic Universe Preview Center is open daily from 8 am to midnight in CityWalk.

Tribute Store

Anyone who’s over the age of 35 likely remembers those small, tucked-away mini-strip malls full of local stores and establishments. Universal took this childhood memory and expanded it into a full Summer Tribute Store that celebrates summer blockbusters. Inside guests find themed rooms for a video rental store, an arcade with tacky carpet, and a movie theater showing the hottest films. Oh, and there’s lots of merchandise inside.

Universal Tribute Store is open daily in Universal Studios Florida during theme park hours.

DreamWorks Land

Party with all your favorite DreamWorks characters in the new DreamWorks Land, now open in Universal Studios Florida. This land is designed with young children in mind and features play areas, meet and greets, a live musical show, and a child-friendly rollercoaster. Shrek headlines the land, with his house at the entrance to the land and the swamp behind it with slides. In Trolls guests ride the Caterbus on the ⭐️ Trolls Trollercoaster while little trolls who can’t reach the height requirement can play at Poppy’s Playground. In the back of the land is Kung Fu Panda and Po’s dojo where guests can train with Po or do the laundry. It’s dirty work but someone’s gotta do it. Next to Po’s dojo is ⭐️ DreamWorks Imagination Celebration, a 20-minute stage show with singing, light, dancing, and puppets.

There are three new dining locations in DreamWorks Land. ⭐️ Imagination Cafe serves beignets and pizza and is located next to Spongebob Storepants by the land’s entrance. ⭐️ Swap Snacks at the front left when entering the land serve up Shrek-ified treats like the Shrekzel (pictured below), something called a “swamp dog”, and stuffed savory waffles. ⭐️ Trolls Treats by the entrance to the Trollercoaster has soft serve ice cream in funky flavors.

DreamWorks Land is now open in Universal Studios Florida.

CineSational Nighttime Show

CineSational is the new nighttime spectacular at Universal Studios Florida, replacing Cinematic Celebration. The show runs for 22 minutes and weaves famous movie scores with dancing fountains, colored lights, fireworks, projections, and color-changing drones. What you get is a mix of World of Color at California Adventure and the new drone show at Disney Springs. Our review is coming soon but look at these breathtaking photos and video below.

CineSational nighttime spectacular is now open and performs on select nights at the park close. CineSational does not run during Halloween Horror Nights.

Universal Mega Movie Parade

Debuting July 3, 2024, the Universal Mega Movie Parade is a new daytime parade for Universal Studios Florida. Celebrating the biggest blockbusters, this over the top parade includes a 16 foot tall Stay Puft Marshmallow Man with the Ghostbusters, a marching band celebrating July 4th during the Jaws section, or a massive T-Rex with Jurassic Park. We are eagerly awaiting more information about this parade but Universal’s held their cards close so far.

Universal’s Mega Movie Parade debuts July 3, 2024, and will perform daily in the afternoon.

Hogwarts Always

Relive a full school year at Hogwarts while watching the Hogwarts Always nighttime spectacular at Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure. Through projection mapping, Hogwarts Castle magically transforms into the visuals of a school year at Hogwarts. The show highlights magical classes to Christmas, Quidditch to the Maurarders Map, and it all culminates in the awarding of the Hogwarts Cup to one of the four houses at random.

Hogwarts Always is now running and performs nightly at Islands of Adventure, shows start at sundown and run till the park closes. The show goes dark during the Halloween and Christmas seasons when seasonal shows are performed.

TouringPlans Touring Tips

• We expect word to get out about CineSational, arrive at least half an hour before showtime to find a spot, and up to an hour before on busier days.
  • Our favorite standing location is on the third tier, front railing, slightly to the right of the path through the middle of the viewing area.
• DreamWorks Land will be moderately crowded during its opening summer. This land will be popular with young families and theme park fans but if you do not fit that demographic feel free to skip the land.
  • Trollercoaster is best experienced in the morning, during the Mega Movie Parade, or during the last two hours the park is open.
  • Dreamworks Imagination Celebration is performed every 90 minutes starting in the late morning – check the Universal app after the park is open for showtimes. Arrive 30 minutes before show time for the best seats – a restroom is located nearby.
  • Visit the play areas, interactive exhibits, and characters anytime.
• Mega Movie Parade
  • runs counter clockwise from
• Visit the Universal Epic Universe Preview Center and the Tribute Store anytime.

Ready for Universal’s summer?