Last week in this fine blog series we took a stroll through Universal’s 2024 Summer Tribute Store, which was filled with Easter eggs, photo-ops, and incredible references to the history of the Universal parks. It was a store for Universal fans, by Universal fans, and it showed. We thought that experience would be hard to top, but lo and behold Universal finally opened the doors this week to the highly anticipated Epic Universe Preview Center!

# 6 – Celestial Park

The focal point of the entire store is the INCREDIBLE scale model of Epic Universe in the center of the store.

Throughout the course of this article we will be looking at the various pieces which comprise this model, including changes that have been made to the Epic Universe park since the model was created. We’ll also get some fascinating comparisons between the Epic Universe model and what is currently being built about 2.5 miles down the road.

We’ll start off by looking at the very start of the park and the impressive Chronos tower. The tower is both the Epic Universe icon along with being the portal into the actual  themepark.

Below we have a shot of this exact area in its most current form taken by blogger-in-the-sky Bioreconstruct.

A closer look reveals even more details that should look absolutely stunning in person once the park opens to guests in 2025.

An even closer look reveals that there is a quote on the portal. This was deciphered by the Orlando Park Stop community and reads: With Sun And Moon And Stars And Time The Chronos Spins And Worlds Align – For If You Seek With Curious Heart, Your Compass True And Stars To Chart – Beyond This Gate Find Gardens Green And Epic Worlds To Fill Your Dreams.

Entering through the Chronos portal leads us directly into Celestial Park, the main hub of Epic Universe. Celestial Park is a pretty spectacular moment for theme park fans in that it was designed completely with original ideas and without the use of IPs, something that seemed would never happen again judging by the words of industry leaders like Bob Iger.

In the model below we can see Celestial Park’s two attractions, Celestial Carousel in the middle and Stardust Racers in the background.

A close up look shows us that the signage for the attraction says Starfall Racers, the original name for the coaster until its recent change to Stardust Racers.

The Chronos tower is the start of Epic Universe, but at the very back of the park you’ll see the large Helios Grand Hotel.

Like Disney’s Grand Californian, Helios will have its own entrance into the park!

The other side of the model shows the porte-cochère where guests will enter the hotel.

# 5 – Dark Universe

Throughout the Preview Center you’ll see photo-ops of the portals which will lead directly into the lands of the park. After so many years it is still hard to believe that the Universal Classic Monsters are going to be seriously represented in a theme park. I honestly didn’t think it was ever going to happen, but the Dark Universal land looks almost too good to be true. A serious “pinch me, I’m dreaming moment.”

The quote on the portal into Dark Universe reads “The Air Itself Is Filled With Monsters” which the Permit Princess Alicia Stella – who is everyone’s go to source on everything Epic Universe – says is the original wording on the portal. Since that time it has been changed and will read “It’s alive. It’s alive.”

Can you imagine that this creepy village is going to exist in an American theme park?!!

A burning windmill is ubiquitous in anything involving Frankenstein’s Monster and I love that we are going to have a restaurant based around this concept.

 

# 4 – Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

The Wizarding World in Epic Universe has a chance to be able to steal the show because expectations couldn’t lower thanks to a film series (Fantastic Beasts) that is a slog to get through and a brazen attempt by the Harry Potter author to turn off 90% of the sane world (to point where Elon Musk – that’s right, ELON MUSK of all people had to step and say something to the effect of “maybe you should talk about something else for a change.”)

All that said, the first two Wizarding Worlds made for Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida set a high bar, but they needed to be directly tied to a source material. For the Wizarding World – Ministry of Magic, Universal Creative is going to be allowed to cook for the first time. After the last several years of seeing things like the VelocCoaster, the Bourne Stuntacular and CineSational, I think they are going to rise to the occasion.

As immersive as Diagon Alley is, the streets of Paris created for the Wizarding World in Epic Universe look to be even more bonkers.

The red tent you see in the middle of the WWoHOP – Ministry of Magic model is the entrance for a show in the land that rumors and innuendo suggest will contain a true “wow” moment for guests.

# 3 – How To Train  Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

I’m of the belief that How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk is going to be the breakout hit of Epic Universe. While Disney animated films dominate the discourse on theme park social  media the How To Train Your Dragon series of movies is a fan favorite, and let’s face it, dragons never go out of style.

The yellow arrow below is pointing at the dragon Toothless, located outside of the Hiccup’s Winged gliders station.

While in the actual Epic Universe, Toothless will be located inside the station, as seen in this May 9th aerial photo.

When I see scale models like this, it just makes me wish Universal (and Disney) would sell recreations in the gift shop. We need more ride vehicle toys!

The Untrainable show in Isle of Berk is going to knock people’s socks off. Those who have seen the version of the show in Universal Studios Beijing can’t give enough superlatives about it, and Epic Universe will have several extra years of technological innovations to make the show even better.

# 2 – Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World is going to be the money printing machine of Epic Universe.

Everything about the land feels perfect.

Walking into Super Nintendo World will be a literal dream come true for not just kids, but those of a certain age who grew up on the old Nintendo video game systems (where we didn’t have to “download content,” we had to blow into the cartridges to get them to work and we liked it. WE LOVED IT!)

I’ve had to read about “kinetic energy” when it comes to theme park lands for the last decade or more. I’m not even sure I totally understand what it means but I think Super Nintendo World has it (and then some.)

I think with these two giant mushrooms acting as shade and the seats below, the Super Nintendo World has more seating for families than Toy Story Land when it originally opened.

Not only is there a main area in Super Nintendo World, but there’s effectively a second land themed that contains Donkey Kong Country – Mine Cart Madness.

This is the #1 ride I am most looking forward to at Epic Universe.

Can. Not. WAIT.

Seeing the scale model bring to life many of the things I’ve read Alicia Stella write about over the years at Orlando Park Stop is just amazing. Watching Alicia do a rapid fire look at the buildings at the front of the park is wonderful.

Another feature of the Preview Center is that you can interact with the model via augmented reality using the Universal Orlando Resort app. This will bring up some animated features such as dragons flying around Isle of Berk, the burning flames of Burning Blade Tavern, and the Stardust Racers trains, well, racing. You can also use the app to get more information on the various venues inside each land.

# 1 – Epic Universe Merchandise

While the scale model of Epic Universe is the centerpiece of the Preview Center, the area is also filled with Epic Universe merchandise.

I’m a huge fan of this Celestial Park hat.

So there you have it: The SATURDAY SIX Checks Out Universal’s EPIC UNIVERSE PREVIEW CENTER! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out the THEME PARK ENJOYMENT INDEX, giving a monthly recap of all the theme park news you need to know (and a lot more you don’t need to know, but we’re gonna tell you anyway). You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).

If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following: 

SATURDAY SIX: Tribute to Josh easyWDW

SATURDAY SIX: Tribute to Ian Barritt

Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, Digital Maestro Scott Walker, the bio-est of all reconstructs @bioreconstruct, Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog, my personal protege Hunter “Elvey” Underwood, artist @SonderQuest, the mighty maven of merchandise Hedgehog’s Corner, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and “the Dadalorian” Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, charter member of the Universal Four @Nitro230, the permit princess Alicia Stella, master cartographer Tommy Hawkins, and Hermione Granger’s tutor Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Absolutely no help was added by SeaWorld Influencer @SuperWeenieHtJr. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHyde and you Potterheads will  enjoy Meg’s other blog work over at the Central Florida Slug Club.

NEXT WEEK: DREAMWORKS LAND!!