Inside Epic Universe: Take a tour of Universal Orlando's new theme park
Saying that Universal Orlando Resort is opening a brand-new theme park next month would be an understatement. What the Florida resort really built is a universe of immersive experiences unlike anywhere else.
Universal Epic Universe features five unique, elaborately themed worlds: an original concept world called Celestial Park, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World and Dark Universe, which centers on classic monsters from Universal films.
For fans of these franchises, the park offers a chance to step into these worlds, interact with their characters, and even expand upon their cherished stories.
The Paste BN Network was invited to be among the first to do so before Epic Universe opens to the public on May 22.
Here’s what you should know.
Traveling across the universe
Each of Epic Universe’s worlds is accessed through an ornate, oversized portal. Think of these as doorways through time and space. From the outside, you can’t really tell what lies beyond each one, but stepping through, you hear the background music transition and emerge in an entirely different, self-contained world.
The first and largest portal is attached to the already iconic Chronos Tower at the front of the park. Emblazoned with the words “Beyond this gate find gardens green and epic worlds to fill your dreams,” this welcomes guests into Celestial Park at the heart of Epic Universe.
Every morning, guests can watch as the Chronos opens the portals by lining them up and activating them.
From there, guests can access portals to Epic’s four other worlds, as well as the new Universal Helios Grand Hotel, at the back of the park.
Celestial Park
Unlike the other four worlds, which are tied to intellectual property, Celestial Park is an original concept world imbued with mythology and astronomy.
It feels very much like a park with meandering walkways, sprawling gardens, elegant sculptures, and interactive fountains.
Celestial Park is also home to several shops and themed eateries including elegant, glass-enclosed Atlantic and family-friendly Pizza Moon, which offers top-tier desserts and a hybrid of quick service and table service, like many other restaurants in the park. Instead of waiting in a physical line, guests order through a QR code at their table and food is delivered to them, but they aren’t waited on the entire time, like at traditional table-service restaurants.
The two main attractions in Celestial Park are the dueling, dual-launch coaster Stardust Racers and otherworldly Constellation Carousel, which features creatures inspired by constellations, like a bull for Taurus, bobbing up to six feet high as the ride spins around.
Stardust Racers is massive, boasting 5,000 feet of track and a platform as big as those of real high-speed trains. The ride itself hits speeds up to 62 mph and feels playful and smooth, though its signature Celestial Spin, inverting one train over the other, may throw some riders for a loop.
Riders will need to stow all loose belongings in a locker before boarding, including cell phones, because they’ll need to go through metal detectors like at Jurassic World VelociCoaster in Universal Islands of Adventure. However, unlike at Universal Orlando’s other parks, all Epic Universe lockers open and close with facial recognition, so guests don’t have to worry about hanging on to their park tickets to retrieve their stuff. If you forget which locker you used, just scan at any station and it will redirect you.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
This is Berk, and it’s just like it looks a “How to Train Your Dragon” film, with bright colors and practical scenery that almost looks animated.
Located in the back of the world, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders invites brave new Vikings to take a ride in his latest glider contraption — only to have it sabotaged by Toothless, who isn't a fan of dragons being replaced. The coaster is smooth and breathtaking as it soars through the waters of Berk.
Whether your party needs to relax or burn some energy, Dragon Racer’s Rally is a fit for everyone. Guests can enjoy the sights of Berk while flying or move the wings beside their seat to try a flip or two (or five).
For those needing to cool off, especially after the arm workout from Dragon Racer's Rally, Fyre Drill provides some relief. Riders board a colorful dragon-headed boat and blast water cannons at flame-like targets to practice putting out fires. However, remember you're competing against the other boats. Blast the wrong target and you'll be the one that's soaked at the end of the ride.
Besides Celestial Park, the Isle of Berk is the most open with lots of room to move between attractions. This also makes it more ideal for dragon spotting. As the inscription on its portal says, quoting the franchise’s first film, “We, my friends, have dragons.”
The adorably scaly creatures are scattered around the world. Guests can even meet a life-size Toothless, who’s as endearing as he is on screen, along with Hiccup in the Haddock Paddock.
Guests may also encounter characters like Astrid and her dragon Stormfly or the twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut, walking around. Don’t forget to say hi to Gobber in his workshop, alongside his dozing dragon, Grump.
Other Vikings and dragons can be spotted in the live show “The Untrainable Dragon.” There is no bad seat for the show, as Hiccup and Toothless both soar above the group as they tell the story of an unruly dragon. Perfect for families and fans of the franchise, the show features Viking-style music, an endearing storyline and the cutest baby dragons you'll ever witness.
Speaking of families, little ones will love exploring Viking Training Camp. Guests of all ages can enjoy the view of Epic Universe from the top of the well-shaded, multi-level play area. If you look through the tower viewers, you may even spot a tiny Gothi near the top of the mountain on the other side of Berk.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Guests might be able to fool their loved ones into thinking they've actually traveled to France with the newest addition to the Wizarding World. With parkgoers leisurely enjoying a meal along the streets and detailed art tacked onto surrounding buildings, you might even fool yourself into thinking you traveled to another country.
The portal to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is framed by wands of wizards and witches from both "Harry Potter" and "Fantastic Beast": Voldemort, Ron, Hermione and Harry on the left, Grindelwald, Queenie, Tina and Newt on the right, and the Elder Wand in the middle. A quote from Albus Dumbledore is written overhead: “For in dreams we enter a world that is entirely our own.”
Like “Fantastic Beasts,” most of this world is set in 1920s Paris with grand Haussmann-style buildings and wide-open boulevards. But this isn’t the Paris we know. This is Place Cachée, the city’s wizarding neighborhood, so everything is magical.
Peering into the windows, you may spot an itty bitty bowtruckle in the locksmith shop, a wide-eyed mooncalf waiting for its wizard or witch, or a moving portrait of Newt Scamandar beside his famous book.
Magical creatures are also featured on Art Nouveau-style tilework in the stunning Café L’air De La Sirène, where you can find a new form of Butterbeer, the Bièraubeurre Crepe. Sharp-eyed guests may also notice that at this point, Madam Malkin from the “Harry Potter" series is still known as Mademoiselle Malkin, at her shop.
From the gilded cash registers adorned with golden nifflers to the giant-friendly floo-powder fireplace in the queue for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, every detail is impeccable.
The British Ministry of Magic and Harry Potter’s timeline are the scene for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry Ride, which hinges on the trial of Dolores Umbridge for her crimes. Similar to the "Escape from Gringotts" attraction in Universal Studios Florida, guests will see the "Golden Trio" reunite once again to defeat evil.
While Dark Universe is rightfully getting a lot of attention for its animatronics, don't count out the ones in Ministry of Magic. The Death Eaters are so life-like, you'd believe there were real actors in front of you.
For fans of Newt Scamander and "Fantastic Beasts," the "Le Cirque Arcanus" live show is for you. Its preshow alone earns several rounds of applause for its storybuilding and characters. The actual show features magical acts before pivoting to the main storyline — ringmaster Skender has stolen Newt’s magical suitcase and it’s up to circus employee Gwenlyn to rescue the creatures housed inside.
And yes, Eddie Redmayne returns as Newt.
Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World also bridges two worlds in one: Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.
This world has Epic's longest portal, with an escalator or wheelchair-accessible elevator taking guests through a green pipe, up to Princess Peach’s Castle, from which they exit into what looks like a real-life video game.
Throughout the world are towering Piranha Plants, boxes to punch like Mario or Luigi, and more. It genuinely feels like you stepped into a video game, with vivid colors and cartoonish imagery everywhere you look.
Even if you're not a gamer, you'll appreciate the attention to detail and immersive theming. Guests of all ages are seen participating in the game play, from the tiniest competitors to their grandparents.
To get the most out of these interactive games around the world, you may want to have at least one Power-Up Band for your party, but you can still have fun without one.
There are three rides. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge combines practical sets with digital gameplay using headsets and a steering wheel controller, just like at Universal Studios Hollywood. Remember to look in the direction of where you want to throw your turtle shells.
Yoshi’s Adventure is a slow-moving ride perfect for families with little ones at least 34 inches tall. It also provides you with additional gameplay, having riders track down glowing eggs and hitting the buttons in front of the cart.
Mine-Cart Madness is wild. Because you can’t really see the track — and from what you can see, it appears broken or bent — it feels even more unpredictable than Stardust Racers. As the words on Super Nintendo World’s portal read, “Here we go!”
Dark Universe
Dark Universe is not as scary as it sounds.
Yes, it’s a place where Universal’s legendary monsters roam, as its portal’s inscription reads, “It’s alive! It’s alive!” But unlike Halloween Horror Nights, Dark Universe is for all ages. Guests can casually converse with the Bride of Frankenstein or Ygor, without worrying about jump scares.
Dark Universe has some of the most innovative attractions of the park, especially Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Similar to the track of Hogsmeade's "Forbidden Journey" attraction, it features fluid, lifelike animatronics. Is Dracula actually real and flying a mere 10 feet away from you? It sure feels like it!
The ride's storyline is also intriguing, presenting a new character, Victoria Frankenstein, as she battles a revolt of enraged monsters led by Dracula. Expect appearances from some of your favorite icons, including The Wolf Man, The Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
The world's other ride, Curse of the Werewolf, gives thrills and chills to parkgoers. The track has riders go back and forth through the encampment while spinning in their individual carts. Oh and look above you — there's a large werewolf ready to pounce as you go through the shack.
Guests can also fully immerse themselves in the world by transforming into monsters themselves with the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience, which costs extra.
If they do, they’ll feel right at home in Dark Universe’s village of Darkmoor, where vampires have long lived and humans are reminded that they exist by the vampires’ will alone. Words to that effect are etched in Latin on a well in the village square and on small wooden stakes piercing the steaks at Das Stakehaus, which is run by the servants of vampires.
As such, guests may notice a lack of garlic on that menu while they’ll find plenty of it at The Burning Blade Tavern, which is run by villagers. Keep an eye out for the tavern’s blades to burst into flames throughout the day, pending weather, like the stream of fire emitted by the dragon atop Gringott’s in the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.
Final notes ahead of Universal Orlando Epic Universe opening
Epic Universe certainly packs an epic punch from its attention to the most minute detail to the innovative attractions and experiences. All five worlds fully immerse you; look around, you'll spot several awe-struck reactions and gasps around each one.
Each world packed an impressive number of parkgoers, all interacting with the space around them and pointing out clever details they spotted. Guests of all ages were seen partaking in games, shows and attractions.
It didn't matter if you were in Dark Universe right at opening or Super Nintendo World right before closure — the vibe remained energetic throughout the day.
Since large crowds for the theme park will be inevitable following its opening next month, allocate a few days to experience everything at Epic Universe on any future trips. Each world is so elaborate, it might take a few trips through the portals to feel like you've seen everything.
While it will be an eventful year for several theme parks throughout the country, 2025 is most definitely Universal Orlando's year, courtesy of Epic Universe.
This story was updated with new details, photos and video. The reporters on this story received access from Universal. Paste BN maintains editorial control of content.