Everything We Know About Universal Epic Universe (Latest Updates)

Universal Studios Orlando is getting ready to open its third theme park, and it’s been a long time coming. Epic Universe was first announced in August 2019, and after years of construction updates and pouring over new concept photos, the moment that the park opens its gates for the first time is almost here.

Scheduled to open in 2025, Epic Universe will be the home of the east coast’s version of Super Nintendo World, a new Harry Potter-themed land, attractions based on How to Train Your Dragon, and more.

But to tide us over ’til then, here’s everything we know so far about Universal Epic Universe.

What we know so far

More than a year after Super Nintendo World opened at Universal Studios Hollywood, the East Coast is closer than ever to hanging out with Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. But while the California version of the area is just a land in their already existing theme park, this one will be a part of an all-new theme park called Epic Universe.

And it won’t just be limited to the Nintendo theme, either; we’ll also see other themed lands coming to life as part of the brand-new park. A new hotel, Universal Helios Grand Hotel, will be opening at Epic Universe in 2025 as well, offering an exclusive entrance into the park for hotel guests.

Little by little, updates about what we can expect have been trickling in, and as more and more projects in the park are underway, those updates are starting to speed up. It’s an exciting time to be a theme park fan!

Opening Date

No official opening date has been announced yet, but we do know that Epic Universe will be opening sometime in 2025.

Without more information, it’s hard to predict exactly what month or even season the park will be opening, but it wouldn’t be too surprising to find out if the opening was before (or during) the peak summer season.

Lands & Attractions

Guests will travel through different “portals” to access each of the immersive areas of the park. There will be five different lands at Epic Universe:

How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk

Based on the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, so far, we know Isle of Berk will be themed after a viking village and include meet and greets with Hiccup, Toothless, and other characters from the movies, along with:

• Hiccup’s Wing Gliders: A rollercoaster where guests board a “flying contraption” that sends them soaring around the land, seeing familiar dragons like Toothless and Hiccup along the way. It will have a 40″ height requirement.
• The Untrainable Dragon: A live show including special effects and the chance to see Toothless flying over the audience
• Dragon Racer’s Rally: Board a “Viking-made dragon-riding trainer” that appears to spin guests through the air. It will have a 48″ height requirement.
• Fyre Drill: A kid-friendly boat ride where guests on board can shoot water at targets along the way as they compete for the high score.
• Viking Training Camp: An interactive play area aimed at the youngest visitors

Celestial Park

Described as the “cosmic heart” of Epic Universe, Celestial Park will feature greenery, fountains, and a few attractions, including:

• Starfall Racers: A dual-launch rollercoaster that reaches speeds of up to 62 mph along 5,000 feet of track. It will have a 48″ height requirement.
• Constellation Carousel: A themed carousel that features representations of the constellations instead of traditional horses, which all lift six feet in the air and turn 360 degrees.
• Astronomica: A wet-play area complete with fountains

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter —  Ministry of Magic

While no attractions that will be included in Ministry of Magic have been officially announced yet, we do know that a brand-new Harry Potter-themed world is coming to Epic Universe. The Ministry of Magic we know from the books and movies will incorporate details from the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

Though Universal hasn’t confirmed this yet, trademark filings from late 2023 seem to indicate that the main attraction in the land will be called Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, which may be a dark ride similar to the ones that already exist in the Wizarding World parks at Universal and Islands of Adventure, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

Other trademarks filed for the land include Tour en Floo, which may be the gift shop at the exit of the ride and Le Cirque Arcanus, a live show that might be themed to the circus from Fantastic Beasts.

Trademarks have also been filed for shops, including Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique (a wand shop), Mademoiselle Malkin’s (a robes and clothing shop), and Les Galeries Mirifiques (a department store). Filings for restaurants include Patisserie Matagot (a bakery), two quick service locations called Café L’air de la Sirène and Le Gobelet Noir, and a bar called Bar Moonshine.

Super Nintendo World

So far, it’s not clear what exactly we can expect from the Florida version of Super Nintendo World, but it’s likely that it will be similar to the land that already opened in 2023 in Universal Studios Hollywood. There’s a very good chance that Bowser’s Challenge, the Mario Kart-themed ride at the California and Japan parks (where it’s known as Koopa’s Challenge), will also find a home in Orlando, and there have been rumors that a Donkey Kong-themed coaster is coming, too.

Dark Universe

We know the least about the last land, called Dark Universe, but we feel safe to say that it is the land that lots of horror fans are very excited about.

Inspired by the classic horror films, Dark Universe will be a land dedicated to Universal’s monsters, headed up by Dr. Victoria Frankenstein.

Dining

These are the dining locations we know are coming to Epic Universe so far:

How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk

• Mead Hall: A quick service dining location that will offer up a “hearty menu including meat, fish, sandwiches and desserts” along with alcoholic beverages including meads, ciders, and ales.
• Spit Fyre Grill: A quick service dining location outside of Fyre Drill
• Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel: A racing-themed food stand in Viking Camp

Celestial Park

• Atlantic: A full service, fine dining restaurant themed after a Victorian aquarium serving seafood and steaks
• The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant: Serving Asian food and cocktails, this table service restaurant promises to include many Celestial Park Easter eggs
• The Oak & Star Tavern: A barbecue restaurant
• Pizza Moon: A pizza restaurant

Epic Universe News & Updates

March 2024

More details were revealed about How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk on March 28, 2024, when Universal announced the attractions and dining options that would be included in the land. Visitors would get to experience four rides, a live show, and a character meet and greet, along with different quick service dining locations themed to the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.

A press release published at the time promised that guests would be surrounded by “immense architecture featuring hand-carved details, lush landscaping, and extraordinary heights of rolling hills surrounding vibrant dragon houses and local establishments.”

January 2024

At long last, Universal finally started sharing concrete details about what we could expect at Epic Universe, starting with Celestial Park.

On January 30, 2024, a press release described Celestial Park, or the hub area for Epic Universe, as “lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements.” The land will include a rollercoaster, restaurants, and shops. The press release confirmed that attractions would include Starfall Racers and Constellation Carousel, along with a wet-play area called Astronomica. Four restaurants were also announced (Atlantic, the Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, the Oak & Star Tavern, and Pizza Moon) along with a candy store called Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets.

Universal also shared that guests would find portals to the other lands in the theme park — The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe — which were also officially revealed for the first time.

March 2021

Nearly a year after construction shut down on Epic Universe, it resumed, slowly ramping back up to full speed.

July 2020

Construction was paused on Epic Universe in July 2020 after COVID-19 shut down Universal Studios, as the company shared during a conference call with investors.

August 2019

On August 1, 2019, Universal officially announced their fourth theme park, Epic Universe, would be built just a few miles from the original resort. In a press release, the company announced that the new park would also include new hotels, shops, restaurants, an entertainment center, and more, all set on a 750-acre site that promised to double the total acreage available to the parks.