Epic Universe: What to Expect at Universal Orlando’s Newest Theme Park (2025)
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Epic Universe: What to Expect at Universal Orlando’s Newest Theme Park (2025)
I have been hearing and seeing some great things coming from Orlando's newest theme park EPIC UNIVERSE! Have you heard about this new park?
Epic Universe is Universal Orlando's third theme park (4th if you count their water park Volcano Bay) and it is epic.
It contains 5 lands:
-Celestial Park
-Ministry of Magic
-Super Nintendo World
-Isle of Berk (How to Train Your Dragon) and,
-Dark Universe
1. Celestial Park
Celestial Park is the lush, open-air hub that welcomes you into Universal’s brand-new Epic Universe. Unlike traditional park entrances, this space blends natural beauty with futuristic whimsy; think gardens, fountains, stargazing vibes, and pastel architecture with a steam-punk vibe.
This is more than just a walkthrough area. It has rides, interactive attractions, and restaurants. Celestial Park serves as the central hub from which all four immersive lands of Epic Universe branch off.
Some of the rides and attractions in Celestial Park are: Stardust Racers coaster, Constellation Carousel, Astronomica splash pad, & Nighttime fountain shows. You'll also find restaurants like The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian, Atlantic, and Pizza Moon. You can read more about these attractions and restaurants in my Free Universal Planning Guide.
You can also visit Universal's website to read more about Celestial Park.
🌟 Insider Tip: If you're staying at Universal Helios Grand Hotel, you’ll have your own exclusive entrance directly into Celestial Park. It’s the only Universal hotel with this benefit, making early entry, midday breaks, and park hopping as seamless as it gets.
2. Ministry of Magic
Possibly one of the most anticipated lands in this park is the new Harry Potter land, the Ministry of Magic. Universal's other parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure have Harry Potter themed lands as well, but this new park has created a land that takes inspiration from Fantastic Beasts and 1920's Paris for a fun feel. Watch Universal's teaser trailer for this park:
I heard one theme-park expert describe the 'Battle at the Ministry' as the "best ride I've ever been on". There are plenty of teaser videos of how incredible just the line queue is. I don't want to give away too much here, but you can definitely peruse YouTube to find more videos of rides and attractions. Also, check out Universal's site to learn more about the Ministry of Magic.
3. Super Nintendo World
Bowser, Peach, Mario, Luigi, if you are a fan of the Super Nintendo franchise you'll love this land. You enter through a green pipe and, like Mario, you are transported into the world of Super Nintendo with mushrooms, Koopa Troopa, and Piranha Plants. The world around you is moving, just as if you were in the video game.
In Super Nintendo World, you will also experience rides like Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (VR ride), Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness, you'll have the change to meet characters like Mario, Luigi, and Peach. And you'll find special interactions as well as game-themed snacks. Go to Universal's site to learn more about Super Nintendo World.
4. Isle of Berk
Do you know how to train a dragon? In the Isle of Berk you'll meet characters from How to Train Your Dragon and experience the fantastical Viking world. This trip back in time will take you to an isle with dragons as well as characters from them movies like Hiccup and Toothless and Astrid and Stormfly.
You'll see a live show based on Beijing's version of The Untrainable Dragon, you can fly on the wing gliders, or participate in the Dragon Racer's Rally. You can read more about this land on Universal's site.
5. Dark Universe
Dark Universe is a land of classic monsters. Think dark and brooding Dr. Frankenstein. You might have heard rumors of the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience. It's not just a 5 minute face-painting, they turn you into a monster.
You can also experience rides and attractions like; Monsters Unchained: Frankenstein Experiment, Curse of the Werewolf, you can meet Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man and they as always have themed food to set the mood! Get monstrous treats at places like Das Stakehaus + Burning Blade Tavern. See Universal's website to learn more about Dark Universe.
Eating and Sleeping
There are a ton of fun new restaurants and even new hotels to experience with the opening of this new park. The Mead Hall in Isle of Berk, Yoshi's Snack Island in Super Nintendo World, there are SO MANY places to eat. Rather than list all of them here, you can download my free Universal Planning Guide for a comprehensive list of places to eat in Epic Universe, as well ask linked menus to each restaurant.
But what about where to stay?
Universal has updated their different hotel categories, they now have a
-Signature Collection
-Prime Value Hotels and
-Value Inns and Suites
If you choose to stay in one of Universal's hotels, you can get early entry into the parks and transportation from your hotel to the parks. If you stay in a Signature Collection hotel, which is the fanciest hotel category offered, you also get Universal Express Unlimited (you can skip lines).
Signature Collection Hotels
Like I said, this is the fanciest category. Themed hotels and rooms, full service amenities, and fun dining experiences. Universal's hotels that fall in this category are:
Prime Value Hotels
The Prime Value Hotels are the middle-range hotels. They mix affordability with comfort but don't have all of the luxe features of the Signature Collection. You still get theme park benefits like early entry and transportation, as well as fast-dining options at these hotels. Universal's hotels in this category include:
Value Inns and Suites
The most affordable option, includes the option of suites and kitchenettes. You still have quick-service dining options and the early entry and transportation theme park benefits. Universal Hotels that fall into this category are:
-Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Other Accommodation Options
Of course you don't have to stay in one of Universal's hotels. I always recommend weighing the pros and cons, what's your budget? Does early entry matter to you? Are you wanting a more affordable options? Plenty of hotels and accommodations that also offer free transportation to Universal's parks.
Also, ride share is an affordable option and you get dropped off pretty close to the park entrance. This is the option I chose when I went to Orlando a few months ago (I was there for Disney though 😅). Make a list of what you want in a hotel or other accommodation and then go shopping. I've used AirBnB a lot, VRBO, you can select 'free cancellation' or 'full home' if you want the place to yourself or flexible options. Hotels.com or Expedia list hotels available. You can search for accommodation in Orlando or Kissimmee. It's a good idea to have Google Maps open as you're looking at options so you know how close you could be staying to the parks.
Ready to Book?
I've mentioned a couple of times that I made a free guide that will help you make decisions about where to stay, My goal is to educate and empower you to plan the most amazing trip possible. That's why I write posts and create free guides. If you want more support though, I'm happy to help!
I've also created a short YouTube video explaining some of the other parks Universal has and the features in those. You can check that video out below. Happy planning!
Beginner's Guide to Universal Orlando
Tour of All the Lands in Epic Universe:
About the Author
Hi, I'm Tara- travel strategist, itinerary optimizer, and firm believer that every trip should feel effortless (and maybe a little luxurious). From Disney parks to Turkish rooftops, I help smart travelers plan unforgettable adventures without the overwhelm.
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