Years in the making, Universal Orlando’s newest theme park is almost here. Epic Universe is more than just Mario and Monsters, this is Comcast’s largest investment in themed entertainment ever. This article will cover all the information you need about Universal’s latest theme park and hotels opening in 2025. [Last updated July 6, 2024]

History of Epic Universe

Universal first purchased the land that would become Epic Universe from Lockheed Martin in 1998. Originally designed as a third phase of expansion for a resort after Islands of Adventure, the third phase of expansion would have housed golf courses, resorts, timeshares, and more. After the tourism recession in 2001/2002, the resort switched hands and the new owners sold the land in 2003 to keep the resort afloat. It also helped that the land would require millions in hazardous waste cleanup work before it could become useable.

Comcast fully purchased NBC/Universal in 2011 and finally fully took over the operations of the resort. Comcast was looking at expansion and started with Volcano Bay in 2017 and the Endless Summer hotels in 2019 and 2020. In late 2015 Comcast shocked the themed entertainment community by reacquiring the original 1998 land. While Universal remained mum on their purchase everyone knew it was for a third theme park.

After years of rumors, land cleanup, and roadway expansion proposals, Universal announced Epic Universe in August 2019 for a grand opening in 2023. Then the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic hit and Universal Orlando suddenly closed for months. Team Members either had their hours slashed, were furloughed, or lost their jobs. Epic Universe work slowed as Universal Creative focused on VelociCoaster and Universal Studios Bejing projects. In March 2021 Universal announced Epic Universe project was ramping back up and with a new 2025 opening date.

Today the park, roads, and hotels are under active construction. Inside the park rides are cycling and testing, landscaping is underway, and food services are bringing kitchens online. Comcast used to confidently say the park would open in the summer of 2025 but now Universal Orlando is simply saying sometime in 2025. We will know an official opening date later this year.

I don’t know about y’all, but I am beyond excited.

Location of Epic Universe

Epic Universe is located at the intersection of Kirkman Road and Universal Boulevard near the Orange County Convention Center. The north Universal campus is home to the current Universal Orlando theme parks and the south Universal campus will house the future Epic Universe park and its three themed hotels. This new campus is located south of the existing hotels and theme parks and will be accessible by bus or car. Unlike at Walt Disney World, Epic Universe is separated from the north campus by land Universal doesn’t own or control.

Guest parking is located in a surface parking lot off of a new street being built south of the park, Epic Boulevard. The easiest way to reach Epic Universe will be by taking I-4 North to 528 East. Take 528 East and then go north on Universal Boulevard. Follow Universal Boulevard and take a right onto Kirkman Road. Take the next right onto Epic Boulevard and follow the signage to parking. I-4 Southbound guests to take the Kirkman Road exit and then take a left on Epic Boulevard.

Hotels at Epic Universe

Universal is opening three new hotels near to Epic Universe in 2025 – two Prime Value hotels and one Premier or Preferred hotel located inside the park.

Opening in January 2025, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort are sister Primve Value resorts located next to Epic Universe. Per-night pricing starts at $189 plus tax and as low as $134 per night for a 7-night stay.

Each ten-story, 750-room, indoor tower is covered in color-changing panels that shimmer in the sun. Guests enter through the black hole portal into a neo-futurist lobby with sweeping surfaces and large windows. Indoor and outdoor counter service dining is available along with coffee baristas and bars for your early-morning coffee run or post-park cocktail. Kids will love the outdoor pool and splash pad while adults will enjoy the hot tub, lounge space, and bar.

Both hotels include theme park early park admission (theme park admission not included), free transportation to and from the theme parks, resort-wide room key charging, and package delivery.

Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel is located at the back of Epic Universe. Themed to the sun god, Helios is expected to have full-service dining, concierge-level service, and 500 deluxe rooms. Many of the rooms will either overlook the Oculus fountain in the park or have a view of the fireworks. Pricing and amenities details are coming at a later date.

What is Epic Universe?

Universal Epic Universe is a new theme park at Universal Orlando Resort, their third theme park. Epic Universe combines industry-leading design and state-of-the-art technology to create an unparalleled theme park experience. If one considers Universal Studios Florida as having themed lands, and Islands of Aventure as denoted by islands, then Epic Universe has worlds. Each of the four themed worlds is a self-contained space accessed through portals located in the hub. Epic is shaping up to be one of Universal’s more well-rounded parks at the opening, with a slew of attractions designed for all ages.

Epic Universe is estimated to be around 110 acres in size, roughly the size of the Magic Kingdom. The park has a stem and leaf design, with the park’s stem reaching from the entrance of the park to the hotel in the back. Themed portals branch off from the stem, leading to the universes of How to Train Your Dragon, Universal’s classic monsters, Harry Potter, and Nintendo.

Rumored Attraction Type Overview:

• Dark Rides: 4
• Roller Coasters: 4
• Shows: 3
• Flat Rides: 2
• Water Rides: 1
• Interactive/Play Areas: 5

Entrance

From the parking lot, guests pass through a combination of security and turnstiles set up to enter the park. Guests walk through the main portal under The Chronos statue, the central icon for Epic Universe. Behind the statue is Celestial Park, the main hub for Epic Universe.

Celestial Park

Celestial Park is the backbone of Epic Universe and is decorated with lush gardens and elaborate water features. The park spans the full length of the park, from the entrance to the Helios Grand Hotel in the back. Celestial Park is home to the park’s core utilities like rentals, first aid, guest relations, and lockers.

Four attractions are in Celestial Park:

• Stardust Racers – super headliner thrill coaster themed to two comets racing and dueling along a winding track. This coaster features inversions, sudden accelerations, and vertical drops. (Formerly Starfall Racers, renamed in May 2024).
• Constellation Carousel – an innovative carousel with ride vehicles themed to astrological symbols.
• The Oculus – Fountain show area
• Astronomica – Water play area

The gardens host the majority of Epic Universe’s restaurants. Due to the amount of restaurants in the hub and the nighttime entertainment it is rumored some guests might be able to access Celestial Park at night without purchasing a ticket.

These are the restaurants in Celestial Park:

• ATLANTIC – Upscale full-service dining overlooking the water pools of Celestial Park. Surf and turf in a Victorian aquarium setting.
• The Oak & Star Tavern – Casual full-service dining focusing on BBQ and grilled items
• Blue Dragon – an Asian fusion restaurant attached to the park and Helios Grand Hotel.
• Meteor Astropub – Rumored burgers and beer overlooking The Oculus and Astronomica. Unconfirmed by Universal.
• Pizza Moon– Counter service pizza.

Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World is based on Nintendo’s video games’ worlds, stories, and music. Guests enter the warp pipe portal and enter the rotunda of Peach’s Castle. Walking back outside we discover we’re now transported to the second story of Super Nintendo World. We are now in the world of Mario with Mount Beanpole in the foreground and animated characters all around. On the right are moving Yoshi ride vehicles of Yoshi’s Adventure, on the left a giant metal head of Bowser as the entrance to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.

There are three rides in Super Nintendo World:

• Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge – a family-friendly dark ride that spins guests around a real-life Mario Kart race course and projects characters using augmented reality technology
• Yoshi Aventure – omnimover attraction for young families where we help Captain Toad find missing Yoshi
• Donkey Kong Mine Car Mayhem – family friend rollercoaster that simulates the wacky mine cart levels from Donkey Kong Country.

Eat at Toadstool Cafe, shop at Mario Motors, and collect coins using the PowerUP Bands throughout the land. This is the definitive version of Super Nintendo World, larger and more elaborate than the lands in Hollywood and Osaka, Japan.

Dark Universe

The creepy, the crawly, the things that keep you wondering what is around the corner live in Dark Universe – Frankenstein’s Castle looms over the small village, while a traveler’s encampment stands between us and the wilderness, and there is a burning windmill on the village outskirts.

Dark Universe is home to Darkmoo, a village shaped and scared by monsters. Here the upturned caskets and scattered tombstones provide makeshift guest photo spots but also hint at a creepier, scarier story. Behind the dark stone buildings and signs crackling with electricity is a restaurant operated by vampires, a repurposed laboratory turned monster make-up shop, and opportunities to meet the Monsters. Darkmoor is home to monsters and humans looking for a connection and a place to belong.

• Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment – indoor thrill ride where guests come face to face with Universal’s classic horror icons. Guests swoop, swerve, and flip through Frankenstein’s Castle attempting to escape Dracula’s grasp.
• Curse of the Werewolf – launched family spinning rollercoaster (say that three times fast) based on the traveling guild of mystics from The Wolf Man.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Walk through the Wizarding World portal and into Paris, with authentic winding streets full of magical surprises. Those magically inclined will find beasts behind those Parisian windows and guests will find a whole new batch of interactive wand locations. Expect to find a French wand merchant, pastry shops, counter service dining venue, and two attractions:

• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry – Join Harry, Hermione, and Ron in the British Ministry of Magic as they stop a jailbreak of Delores Umbridge.
• Le Cirque Arcanus – Elaborate stage show featuring fantastic magical beasts.

How To Train Your Dragon

Enter the rocky portal to the Isle of Berk, the hometown of the How to Train Your Dragon series. Our story is the personal journey of learning how to ride a dragon, from fire extinguishing to dragon riding.

Berk features several of the park’s attractions:

• Hiccup’s Wing Gliders – Family coaster, similar intensity to Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure. Swoops over and under bridges and through valleys on your own mechanical dragon flyer.
• Dragon Racer’s Rally – Mild-thrill flat ride, large arms on two training towers send guests flying over 60 feet in the air as they train to become dragon racers. Seats feature controls for individual guests to make their flight as mild or intense as they want.
• Fyre Drill – Slow-moving outdoor boat ride where each seat is equipped with water cannons. Guests shot water at targets, other riders, and guests on shore.
• The Untrainable Dragon – indoor stage show featuring live actors, puppets, large sets, and projections
• Viking Training Ground – Little Vikings can brush up on their skills at this multi-story play space with rope nets, slides, and themed elements.

Of course, you will get hungry, so visit Mead Hall for a Viking meal. Rumors suggest purchasable dragons that could sit on shoulders and interact with the environment are in the works.

Coming Soon…

Epic Universe and the three brand-new hotels begin to open in January 2025! Stay tuned to TouringPlans for all the latest Epic Universe news and the first Epic Universe touring plans.

Original published June 9, 2023. Updated on May 31, 2024.