After six years in the making, Universal Epic Universe officially opened its doors on May 22—and the brand new theme park is already attracting crowds of travelers.
The 750-acre development in Orlando, Florida, is the first new US theme park to open in over two decades. Featuring 11 rides based on fan-favorite franchises like Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon, Epic Universe is poised to usher in the next era of American theme parks, with advanced ride technology, a diverse range of dining options, and even a 500-key Loews Hotels Signature Collection property on site with direct access to the park.
“The excitement is that there’s so much here,” Adam Rivest, vice president of creative management for Universal Creative, tells Condé Nast Traveler. “Everybody gets to experience it a little bit differently.” Below, everything travelers need to know about the new theme park.
Celestial Park
Upon entering, visitors are welcomed through a “portal” into the cosmos-themed Celestial Park, a central area that serves as the crossroads between all four of the other franchise worlds. If you arrive hungry, you’re in the right place. Celestial Park features a range of eateries, from the seafood fine dining restaurant Atlantic (its upstairs bar is known for one of the best views of the park) to the pan-Asian The Blue Dragon, decked out with neon Asian night market signs.
This section also has two attractions of its own. The family-friendly Constellation Carousel moves in tune to seven different songs and becomes especially ethereal come nightfall. Then there’s the thrilling Stardust Racers, a dual-track roller coaster with speeds up to 62 mph flying up to 133 feet high—guests can choose from two track options, yellow or green (there’s debate among theme park enthusiasts as to which provides more thrills, but we preferred the green at night).
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
From Celestial Park, travelers can then enter four more worlds via different portals. One of the most anticipated, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic marks Universal’s third development centered around the blockbuster franchise. This one transports guests into the magical world of 1920s Paris, with towering facades reminiscent of the Champs-Elysees. The main attraction, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, attracted the longest queue (lasting five hours) on opening day. To make the lines more bearable, grab a Butterbeer crepe to nosh on while you wait.
Super Nintendo World
Another portal travels up a pair of escalators into the cartoonish land of Super Nintendo World. It’s the third global Universal park to include one, after Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood. However, this world is far more expansive than its California counterpart, and is divided into two sections: Super Mario Land, including rides Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure, and Donkey Kong Country with the Mine-Cart Madness, as well as interactive coin collections through its Power-Up Bands, available for purchase.
How to Train Your Dragon
One portal away is How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, a whimsical section filled with animatronic fantastical creatures and interactive elements at every corner. The family coaster Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is here, as well as Dragon Racer’s Rally, where each guest can flap the wings of their own dragon to control their soaring. The Broadway-style show The Untrainable Dragon also impresses with its special effects, including a dragon soaring over the audience.
Dark Universe
In Dark Universe, the final portal combines all of Universal’s monsters under the umbrella of Victoria Frankenstein’s experiments. Here is where you’ll find another one of the park’s most buzzed-about attractions: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, a dark ride with eerie twists and turns (and a few surprises). The area’s vampire-themed Das Steakhouse has also already attracted hype, rumored to have already been the inspiration for a Saturday Night Live sketch.
