Saying that Universal Orlando Resort is opening a brand-new theme park next month would be an understatement. What the 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 USA TODAY 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.
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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. Inscribed 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.
From there, guests can access portals to Epic’s four 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 dancing 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 miles per hour 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 use, just scan at any station and it will redirect you.
First taste of Universal Epic Universe: Trying its highly themed food, drinks
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.
There are three rides – Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and Fyre Drill – but they aren’t the only attractions. As the inscription on its portal says, quoting the franchise’s first film, “We, my friends, have dragons.”
A huge draw will be the chance to meet a life-size Toothless, who’s as endearing as he is on screen, and 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 throughout the world and in the live show “The Untrainable Dragon.”
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
This is an entirely new corner of the Wizarding World for fans of “Harry Potter” and the “Fantastic Beast” films to explore.
Its portal is framed by the wands of wizards and witches from both series: Voldemort, Ron, Hermione and Harry on the left, Grindelwald, Queenie, Tine and Newt on the right, and the Elder Wand in the middle. A quote from Albus Dumbledore is inscribed 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
, where you can find a new form of Butterbeer, the Bièraubeurre Crepe. Sharp-eyed guests may also notice that at this point in time, Madam Malkin from the “Harry Potter” series is still known as Mademoiselle Malkin, on 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 scene switches to the British Ministry of Magic and Harry’s timeline in that Battle at the Ministry Ride, which is hinges on the trial of Dolores Umbridge for her crimes.
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. All throughout the land are towering Piranha Plants, boxes to punch like Mario or Luigi, and other more.
To get the most of the 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 families with little ones at least 34 inches tall. Mine-Cart Madness is wild. Because you can’t really see the track, 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. They can also transform 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.
The reporters on this story received access from Universal. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
