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Universal Orlando Resort has revealed the first official look at one of five new lands scheduled to open as part of its Universal Epic Universe park, and confirmed the themes of three additional lands.
On Tuesday, Florida-based theme park and resort NBCUniversal teased Celestial Park, a land that embodies the literal “park” experience with lush living gardens, shimmering canals and stroll-worthy trails along with inspired architecture. astronomical and mythological. It also confirmed the themes of Epic Universe’s three previously unannounced parks beyond Super Nintendo World: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe.
“Universal Epic Universe marks a huge transformational moment for Universal Orlando Resort and will change everything about our destination,” Karen Irwin, president and chief operating officer of Universal Orlando Resort, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “This will be the exciting culmination of our incredible growth over the past 30 years and will transform Universal Orlando into a week-long vacation destination filled with the most exciting experiences imaginable.”
Celestial Park Luna Viewpoint at Universal Epic Universe
Courtesy of NBCUniversal
Celestial, a gateway to the other four lands of the Epic Universe, serves as the first stop for all park visitors and will feature in-park accommodations, fountain shows, a wet play area, a carousel, a roller coaster double launch racing and themed restaurants. and shops.
The big centerpiece of Celestial Park is the Constellation Carousel, an attraction for all ages that takes visitors on a ride through the Milky Way. Park-goers will not only glide back and forth over the constellations, but they will also perform 360-degree rotations in what the park describes as a “dance of music and starlight.”
Among the park’s other attractions is Starfall Racers, which launches guests on a dizzying race along 5,000 feet of track aboard competing kites, reaching up to 62 mph and heights of 133 feet. The roller coaster, a dual-race attraction, also features several maneuvers, such as the “Celestial Spin,” in which two vehicles perform an inverted weave while accelerating through the air.
(LR above): Renderings of Constellation Carousel and Starfall Racers; (LR below): Renderings of pan-Asian restaurant Atlantic and Blue Dragon
Courtesy of NBCUniversal
A central and immersive feature of the park will be the interactive wet play area, Astronomica. A collection of crystal-blue fountains that come to life around guests, the attraction functions as a giant compass, pointing park-goers to the various lands of the Epic Universe. Additional fountain shows will be located throughout the grounds’ seven acres of water, some of which will reach up to 135 feet in the air and will be programmed to sway with music and interactive lighting throughout the day.
The park will be home to the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a 500-room resort located at the end of the park, with unique views and an exclusive entrance, taking guests to the place in the world where the heavens and the earth meet. A collection of themed restaurants and shops will also be available, including Atlantic, a full-service surf and turf restaurant inside a Victorian aquarium with views of the land, and pan-Asian restaurant Blue Dragon, another full-service experience accented by dragons. neon and ethereal lanterns and offers a Chinese, Japanese and Thai menu.
Oak & Star Tavern’s tasty barbecue, Pizza Moon’s variety of pizzas, and Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets’ unique selection will serve as quicker-service options, along with retail stores like the Nintendo Super Star Store.
Hotel Universal Helios
Courtesy of NBCUniversal
Portals that capture the distinctive theme and creativity of the four remaining lands take visitors from Celestial Park inside the Ministry of Magic, where park-goers will experience the wizarding world era of the 1920s. This land serves as a Paris mix in the Fantastic Animals movies and the British Ministry of Magic Harry Potter series.
Super Nintendo World, which opened at Universal Studios Hollywood last year and was confirmed as part of Epic Universe in 2023, will take guests through the iconic green tube where they can access attractions and experiences based on Mario’s shared universe. , Luigi, Princess. Peach and Donkey Kong.
Following a separate Dreamworks land announced last July, the introduction of the Isle of Berk promises park visitors to fly with dragons and take part in Viking adventures inspired by the How to Train Your Dragon film franchise. Finally, Dark Universe will appeal to fans of classic Universal horror films, with encounters featuring the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein amidst a shadowy landscape that is home to monsters, myths and mysteries.
(LR above): The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic Portals and Super Nintendo World; (LR below): How to Train Your Dragon – Portals to the Isle of Berk and the Dark Universe
Courtesy of NBCUniversal
Universal’s Epic Universe is part of a broader strategy for Universal Destinations & Experiences division to grow week-long vacations at the site. Together, the five territories will feature more than 50 attractions, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences. It is the newest of NBCUniversal’s four Florida-based theme parks, the other three being Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay.
In September, Universal Destinations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury announced that the park would use “facial recognition and photo validation technology” to support a “frictionless experience.”
“It’s the most technologically advanced park we’ve ever built,” Woodbury said at the Bank of America Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference. “And that refers both to the attractions themselves, to the next generation of robotic drone technology, and to the visitor experience. “The entire guest journey is really being taken to a whole new level.”
In a video tour of the new park, creative consultant for universal destinations and experiences Steven Spielberg called the foundation of Epic Universe “an amazing concept.”
“The idea that you enter a world through some kind of portal and come out into a world that you could never dream of, you can experience it,” he added. “I think it will fuel the imagination of many people of all ages.”
An earlier version of this story misidentified Dreamworks’ land as part of the Epic Universe.