Things are really getting EPIC at Universal Orlando. 

Thanks to the general amount of time it takes to build a theme park combined with massive COVID-related construction delays, it can sometimes feel like an eternity since Universal officially announced Epic Universe back in 2019. However, as Epic Universe’s 2025 opening draws nearer, those years of concept art and construction rumors are giving way to real photos of the in-depth lands and massive rides coming to the revolutionary new theme park. 

At opening, Epic Universe is going to be broken down into five initial lands – or “Portals” in Universal’s parlance for the park – with the central Celestial Park surrounded by Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk. So far, we’ve seen various images and tidbits from each. 

Aerial overview of Epic Universe. pic.twitter.com/JEGuew46B6

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 27, 2024

Celestial Park

The park’s central park area is going to serve as its main entrance point and gateway to the other Portals. 

Aerial look at Celestial Park areas near Starfall Racers roller coaster in Epic Universe. pic.twitter.com/oaHICc9goG

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

The lush landscaped park will also contain a lagoon and two of the park’s premier attractions. The first, Starfall Racers, a dual track launch roller coaster that features several highlights including a top height of 133 feet, top speed of 62 mph, and a section where the two tracks will intertwine with each other known as the celestial spin. 

NEW: Chopper 2 spotted ride testing today for Starfall Racers at @UniversalORL’s #EpicUniverse! Whew! Here’s more about the duel-coaster: https://t.co/m84GtctT6m @WESH pic.twitter.com/P9ODHcKFan

— Christina Watkins (@CWatkinsWESH) March 19, 2024

The coaster should look especially beautiful at night, as its track will feature no external lighting, and instead see the ride vehicles themselves be heavily lit to provide an effect that looks like shooting stars streaking across the sky. 

Celestial Park’s second major ride, the Constellation Carousel is a massive carousel attraction featuring ride vehicles designed to look like celestial creatures, complete with spacey color schemes. 

A play area called Astronomica, which is a wet-play area that will double as a compass to the other immersive things you can do in Epic Universe! Restaurants will include a full-service “surf and turf” restaurant called Atlantic. The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant will present flavors of Asia with authentic Chinese, Japanese, and Thai meals in a full-service fashion.

Aerial look at development of Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant in Epic Universe.
A cascading water feature flows in front, from right to left. pic.twitter.com/PlUvFbcthU

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 27, 2024

For quicker meals, you’ll be able to enjoy The Oak & Star Tavern for some tasty barbecue or Pizza Moon for a variety of pizza! And if you’re in the mood for some sweets, don’t forget to swing by Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets.

Read More About Celestial Park Here

Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World holds the distinction of being the Epic Universe land we know the most about, given the fact that nearly identical versions already exist at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan. However, there is one new ride we can’t wait for: The Donkey Kong-themed Mine Cart Madness!

Aerial look at theming in progress at the Donkey Kong roller coaster. Scaffolding at right is for sculpting a character face at top of a waterfall.
Golden concrete has been cast at ground level. pic.twitter.com/Mekhj9YbgZ

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 27, 2024

Currently under construction at Epic Universe (and Universal Studios Japan) promises to be a game-changing coaster thanks to a new technology that allows it to appear like the cars are “jumping” over “missing” sections of track.

Aerial photo of a Super Nintendo World store and Pizza Moon under construction in Celestial Park. pic.twitter.com/Npicyhojjg

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 27, 2024

We also know that some sort of Mario Kart ride will be coming! This was previously mentioned in other press releases by the company but it is cited on the Universal website next to the Super Nintendo World Portal!

Click HERE to enter SUPER NINTENDO WORLD!

Dark Universe

Perhaps the most highly anticipated of Epic Universe’s portals, Dark Universe will finally give a full fleshed theme park home to the iconic Universal Monsters including Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man. The land’s main attractions will be a massive indoor dark ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment that we haven’t seen much of anything in the way of previews yet.

Aerial photo of a Curse of the Werewolf roller coaster train covered in protective plastic during testing. pic.twitter.com/UJ2j9CpSNl

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 27, 2024

The land will also feature a spinning family coaster entitled Curse of the Werewolf, which we have been able to see thanks to its outdoor placement and eye-in-the-sky photography and coaster testing footage from numerous sources including X user @Bioreconstruct. 

Click here to enter Dark Universe… IF YOU DARE!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

The next installment of Universal’s Wizarding World, this latest land will combine elements of the core Potter franchise like the British Ministry of Magic with with elements like the magical version of Paris seen in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off franchise. The land’s primary attraction will be a massive dark ride set inside the British Ministry of Magic. 

Aerial photo showing The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic next to Helios Grand Hotel in Epic Universe. pic.twitter.com/tqBOCyz2Bk

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

The intention of Ministry of Magic is to create another chapter of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Here, you’ll explore lore from Fantastic Beasts as well as the British Ministry of Magic.

Click HERE to learn more about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic!

How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk

Outside of Super Nintendo World, Isle of Berk is the Epic Universe Portal we know the most about since Universal revealed a detailed look at the land in March. Its primary rides are going to include Dragon Racer’s Rally (a dual sky fly flat ride), Fyre Drill (a Splash Battle boat ride), and a massive multi-launch coaster entitled Hiccup’s Wing Gliders. 

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is a family thrill coaster where you’ll join Hiccup to test out “his latest glider contraption” that he’s invented! Hiccup, you see, has created a way for riders to simulate what it’s like to fly on a dragon! The coaster reaches speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, taking visitors around the perimeter of the land and even across the lagoon.

Aerial photo of the second launch of Hiccup's Winged Gliders. Look close … Dragon eggs.

At right is development of Viking Training Camp in How To Train Your Dragon land. pic.twitter.com/Nzze2RqC35

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

Fyre Drill

Oh, boy… the Viking twins from How To Train Your Dragon, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, are in charge of Fyre Drill! Get ready to board a boat and take a trek down Berk’s Fyre Skööl, where the brother and sister have designed an interactive boat battle.

Look close in this aerial photo of grandstands construction at Dragon Racer's Rally.
• A dragon at left, at Hiccup's Winged Gliders
• A dragon glaring out the scaffolding, top right. pic.twitter.com/QRfogWoSUC

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

Dragon Racer’s Rally

Get ready for THRILLS on Dragon Racer’s Rally! You’ll get to “practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on two Viking-made dragon-riding trainers that reach heights of up to 67 feet in the air.”

Aerial overview of the Viking Training Camp site in How To Train Your Dragon land.
There's dragon eggs along the second launch of Hiccup's Winged Gliders. Top right of this photo. pic.twitter.com/MUsJSLIKyL

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

The beating heart of Berk and the village’s main gathering hall, Mead Hall is where guests can feast like a Viking and enjoy a savory menu featuring a variety of meats, fish, sandwiches and more along with a collection of meads and ciders. Overlooking the action of the Fyre Drill water attraction, Spit Fyre Grill is a quick-service dining location featuring delicious, hearty meals flame-seared by a helpful (unseen) dragon fry cook.

Guests can grab quick bites at Hooligans Grog & Grill — a festive racing-themed food stand located in the Viking Camp.

Aerial overview of How To Train Your Dragon land. pic.twitter.com/wCpahacTHg

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

FOUR (!!!) new stores have been announced for the Isle of Berk. We don’t have a ton of details yet, but we know the stores will be:

• Viking Traders
• How to Treat Your Dragon
• Hiccup’s Work Shop
• Toothless’ Treasures

Aerial look at work on How To Train Your Dragon land in Epic Universe.
Among the recent changes are trees in the Fyre Drill boat ride queue, and dragons are in scaffolded grandstands construction top right. pic.twitter.com/1Nxh3zLROT

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

What are you most excited about seeing?

Learn More About the Isle of Berk Here!

Hotels

What’s so unique about Universal Helios Grand Hotel? Well, Helios will boast its very own entrance into Epic Universe! It will connect to Celestial Park. According to Universal, Helios will offer “500 rooms integrated into the park like no other theme park in the world” as well as a Mediterranean feel.

Helios Grand Hotel with the glow of sunrise in the windows at left.
As seen through construction of the raised traffic circle at Epic Universe. pic.twitter.com/VL3eWVPaTT

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

Joining Universal Helios Grand Hotel will be two park-adjacent hotels — Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort by Loews Hotels. 

Aerial look at the resorts of Epic Universe.
• Helios Grande Hotel, in the park
• Stella Nova
• Terra Luna

On the horizon at top right are roller coasters in SeaWorld Orlando. pic.twitter.com/dANq5IX3KC

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

Stella Nova, which is inspired by the cosmos, will open before Epic Universe on January 21st, 2025. Terra Luna is inspired by terrestrial exploration and is Stella Nova’s sister property. It is set to open a month later on February 25th, 2025. Both resorts will come with the usual exclusive theme park benefits like early entry and free transportation to and from Universal’s four theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay, and Universal Epic Universe).

Sunrise at Stella Nova resort. pic.twitter.com/xBEKzbRsU0

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 26, 2024

The more images we see of Epic Universe, the more excited we’re getting for this brand-new theme park to finally open in 2025! Stay tuned to DFB for more exciting Epic Universe updates.

UPDATE On the Best Part of Universal’s Epic Universe; The In-Park Hotel

 

Which Epic Universe attraction are you most excited to ride when the park opens. Let us know in the comments below.