Epic Universe is Universal’s brand new theme park in Orlando. The park will feature multiple new lands and attractions for guests to enjoy. Epic Universe opened for previews on April 17 and opened to the public on May 22.
Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe and Celestial Park make up the worlds (themed areas) in Epic Universe.
Celestial Park is a futuristic, space-themed land with a dueling roller coaster, carousel and two restaurants. The roller coaster named Stardust Racers is a launch coaster which includes two separate tracks, allowing two different coaster cars to race.
“I think the Stardust Racers look cool because of the racing element and how you can watch the other car flying by you,” Ethan Muir, freshman, said. “Celestial Park, I think, will be the most visually appealing section of the park.” Muir plans on visiting Epic Universe.
Super Nintendo World is themed to the Mario franchise and is split up into two sections: Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country. Super Mario Land has a Mario Kart themed ride as well as a Yoshi’s Adventure themed ride. Donkey Kong Country has a Donkey Kong roller coaster where the cart seemingly jumps the coaster track.
“My favorite world by far was Nintendo Land,” Jadyn Schmiedl, a junior who recently visited Epic Universe, said.
Hiccups Wing Gliders is the main attraction of Isle of Berk, the How to Train Your Dragon themed world. Along with the family coaster, there is a water ride which allows riders to control whether they go upside down or not while soaring 67 feet in the air. There is also a show called The Untrainable Dragon, which is said to be one of the popular theme park shows in Universal.
“Getting to witness the Isle of Berk in person was one of the best experiences at a theme park ever. Universal had really made the How to Train Your Dragon movies come to life,” Schmiedl said.
Unlike Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, the Ministry of Magic is set in Paris in the 1920s. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is the only ride in the world and is a thrilling simulator that takes you through the Ministry of Magic with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
“I like the different themes in the Ministry of Magic. It sets it apart from the other two Harry Potter lands,” Muir said.
Dark Universe is a section of the park themed after classic Universal Monsters such as Frankenstein, Dracula and the Werewolf. The World has two rides, an impressive dark ride with very advanced animatronics called Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and The Curse of the Werewolf, a launch coaster with a spinning cart.
“Dark Universe was amazing and really had that frightening atmosphere. However, it would have been more exciting if the park stayed open longer during night,” Schmiedl said.
After more than six years of work, Epic Universe is finally open. Ticket prices will cost $300 per person.
“Epic Universe is definitely Universal’s most ambitious park ever,” Muir said.
