A milestone countdown begins for Epic Universe this week. We’re 100 days away from the opening of Orlando’s first new theme park in a era.
It’s a high-quality time to reboot and enroll in Epic 101, a course that evaluations what we all know and what we don’t learn about Common Orlando’s growth, which Mark Woodbury, CEO of Common Locations & Experiences, has known as “probably the most technologically superior park we’ve ever achieved.”
The park was introduced at Orange County Conference Heart in 2019. Common has shared particulars alongside the best way about its rides, reveals and motels, however burning questions stay.
When and the place
Epic Universe is beneath development between Sand Lake Highway and Common Boulevard, simply north of the conference middle. That’s about 2.5 miles southeast of Common Orlando’s present theme parks, Common Studios and Islands of Journey, in addition to Volcano Bay water park and Common CityWalk. Epic is on “the opposite facet” of Interstate 4.
Common will run buses between its unique parks and motels and the Epic space. There will probably be open-air parking obtainable close to Epic for guests solely going to the brand new park.
The grand opening of Epic Universe is scheduled for Might 22, the Thursday earlier than Memorial Day.
The theme crew
Epic Universe will probably be divided into 5 lands. Guests will enter by way of Celestial Park, which features a coaster and a carousel. Different lands are Tremendous Nintendo World, The way to Prepare Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and Darkish Universe, which options basic monsters such because the Creature From the Black Lagoon, the Mummy and brides of Dracula.
Alicia Stella, proprietor of Orlando ParkStop web site, has been monitoring the park since earlier than development started. Some individuals are confused by the “5 immersive worlds” push, she mentioned, pondering that means 5 parks — and 5 tickets.
It doesn’t. The rounded gateways, which Common calls “portals,” are the walkways from Celestial Park to the opposite 4 lands, that are all a part of Epic.
“Folks suppose all the worlds are particular person theme parks as a result of they’ve their very own portal entrance and since they’re being marketed in particular person commercials,” Stella mentioned. “It’s like ‘Do I would like a ticket for every world?’”
The portal structure, which is able to funnel Epic crowds into lands, issues Tharin White, lead producer of EYNTK.data, an Orlando-based journey web site.
“I don’t know what occurs when it’s important to undergo a single portal to get into Tremendous Nintendo World, to then go right into a second single portal to move into the Donkey Kong Nation,” he mentioned. “To me, that simply feels like bottleneck after bottleneck after bottleneck.”
Massive rides on means
Sure. There will probably be 4 curler coasters throughout Epic. Mine-Cart Insanity, within the Donkey Kong Nation subsection of Tremendous Nintendo World, already has a speaking level: A second the place the automotive seems to leap over a spot in its damaged rail.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders will fly over Isle of Berk; Curse of the Werewolf will probably be a coaster with spinning vehicles in Darkish Universe; and Stardust Racers, working in Celestial Park, will probably be a dual-launch racing trip.
Wizarding World gained’t have a coaster, however it’s going to function Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry, a trip that follows the trial (and escape) of Dolores Umbridge, a merciless character from the Potterverse.
Darkish Universe may have massive thrill trip. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment will boast greater than a dozen animatronic figures in an journey that’s set beneath Frankenstein Manor.
Tick, tick, tickets
Tickets are actually on sale for Epic Universe, however there are restricted choices to this point.
You should purchase multiday Common Orlando tickets, which include a one-day move for Epic Universe.
Or in case you are a Common annual passholder, you should buy one-day tickets for Epic. Ticket costs fluctuate by date, and this class is offered out for the primary 17 days that Epic is open. The bottom posted worth by way of the remainder of 2025 is $122.
Extra Epic tickets, together with one-day tickets, will probably be offered earlier than the park opens, the Common web site says. That’s additionally true for Common Specific, the resort’s system for skipping strains. However whether or not they’ll be obtainable months, day, weeks and even hours earlier than opening isn’t recognized but.
Preview mode
When Common introduced the primary section of ticket gross sales final fall, it talked about “comfortable opening alternatives” for passholders. No extra data has been shared.
Usually, worker previews would precede these occasions. There are indicators of that occuring. Some crew members are being skilled on the location, a Starbucks is open contained in the park, though to not most people, and trade watchers count on automobile check rides to start out subsequent month.
“It definitely looks as if team-member previews are imminent, as a result of they’re doing mock dinner companies at among the eating places,” Stella mentioned.
Annual move it on
Florida residents at present can buy annual passes on-line which can be legitimate for Common Studios and Islands of Journey for $530 with an choice so as to add Volcano Bay for an additional $110. (The resort has a further $100 low cost on this determine for Floridians.)
Common has not shared particulars about future annual passes and in the event that they would come with entry to Epic Universe.
“Is it going to be an add-on, sort of like Volcano Bay?” White mentioned. “Does each single move skyrocket as quickly as they resolve so as to add it?”
Tech discuss
Officers and promotional supplies have touted Epic as being technologically superior. A number of customer-facing bits of tech, together with animatronics, robotic drones, facial recognition and trip programs have been talked about.
“I feel it runs the gamut, however I feel it begins with the visitor expertise of what they’re going to see and the way they’re going to be introduced into the immersion,” mentioned Dennis Speigel, CEO and founding father of Worldwide Theme Park Companies.
Tremendous Nintendo World will embody an interactive function utilizing a Energy-Up Band wearable gadget to unlock further content material.
“I feel technological development goes to be essential to the company,” Speigel mentioned.
Meal motifs
Eating places will probably be closely themed inside Epic Universe. Among the many eateries will probably be Mead Corridor, a viking-driven institution in Isle of Berk, and Das Stakehaus, which will probably be run by servants of vampires, the story goes, in Darkish Universe. Toadstool Cafe in Tremendous Nintendo World will lean into its mushroom theme with components and decor.
And, sure, butterbeer will probably be offered within the Wizarding World, simply as it’s within the installments at Islands of Journey and Common Studios.
Scorching new motels
Three motels are deliberate for the Epic space. Stella Nova opened final month, and Terra Luna opens subsequent month. They’re near the theme park, however not as shut because the Grand Helios, which may have a devoted entrance into Epic Universe, to not point out an unique view and a rooftop bar.
White, who stayed at Stella Nova not too long ago, timed the bus trip to CityWalk and Common’s different parks at 14 minutes.
“I principally in contrast that to going from staying at one of many motels on the Magic Kingdom and driving over to Animal Kingdom,” he mentioned.
Getting there
A multimillion-dollar extension of Kirkman Highway from Service Drive all the way down to the Epic web site, plus an elevated site visitors circle with devoted bus lanes for the resort, had been designed to assist with site visitors woes across the populated vacationer hall.
However our consultants count on roadway snarls.
“I nonetheless suppose Common Boulevard goes to be like, you realize, 20% busier than it has been, and it’s already fairly unhealthy throughout sure days,” Stella mentioned.
“I really feel like that’s a type of issues,” White mentioned. “I imply, it simply will get added on to Orlando. We simply have site visitors points.”
And the remaining
Even an Epic Universe overview will be overwhelming. There are further rides to discover, stage reveals to soak up, a number of themed eating places and their menus to expertise. There are unknown particulars surrounding Specific and early entry for lodge company.
And what about fireworks?
“How do you place fireworks in each single promotional advert for this theme park and never announce a firework present?” Stella mentioned. “That’s a query I’ve, and it’s driving me loopy.”
Epic’s debut is simply 100 days away, however there will probably be 100,000 questions. Time — and Common — will inform.
Another: Will or not it’s prepared?
Speigel mentioned he’s talked with producers and installers, and none have expressed doubt. That’s uncommon, he mentioned. And there’s the swagger issue.
“I’ve by no means seen a park open with such fanfare this far prematurely of that readiness and displaying the images and offering the knowledge that they’ve,” he mentioned.
“I simply suppose that’s a really daring assertion on their half, which leads me to consider, from what I see … that they will be prepared.”
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