Exploring the enchanting details in Epic Universe

Travel Weekly

2 days ago

ORLANDO -- Universal Epic Universe is home to worlds based on famous intellectual properties (IPs) like Harry Potter and Super Mario. It has big-ticket attractions themed to those and other franchises that are sure to draw guests by the droves.
But the park's creators hope that guests will explore beyond the headliners and take the time to appreciate the details.
"People talk about our 11 rides at this park, our two shows, which are spectacular," said Steve Tatham, executive creative director of Epic Universe. "But I just love the little details, because people can come to this park and just stroll through it and experience them."
Standing in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Ministry of Magic, he pointed to a nearby jewelry store, where a Niffler (a magical creature attracted to shiny things) sits in the window. That Niffler, and other creatures and objects throughout the world, can be activated by guests with interactive wands, spurring movement and other effects.
The entrance to "Le Cirque Arcanus," a show in Epic Universe's Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
"Those little details really are the difference of bringing those stories to life," Tatham said.
Epic Universe opened to the public May 22. The park's hub is Celestial Park, with four worlds branching out from it, including the Wizarding World.
Ministry of Magic is set in 1920s wizarding Paris at the Place Cachée, which translates to "hidden place." Here, Harry Potter merges with the Fantastic Beasts film franchise, which follows magizoologist Newt Scamander and his bevy of magical creatures.
Guests are transported to 1990s London for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, a ride featuring Harry, Ron and Hermione. Tatham said Universal wanted to marry the original Potter franchise with Fantastic Beasts by creating a new story. The trio, and riders, are at the British Ministry of Magic to witness the trial of villain Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton reprised her role on video and audio for the attraction). Universal re-created the ministry as seen in the films for those waiting in line.
"It really is the most ambitious queue in the history of queues," Tatham said. "We're super proud of it. I mean, we've set a challenge for ourselves now. How does that ever get topped?"
Dark Universe is themed to classic monsters that have been part of Universal and its parent company for decades.
The queue of Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
Chris Frisella, assistant director and executive producer of Universal Creative and executive producer of Dark Universe, said the time was right to incorporate those monsters more fully into Universal's parks.
"I think we've always been in search of the right way to present them in the right time," he said. "I mean, they've always been a part of our history. Some of the films are approaching 100 years old."
Frankenstein's monster, for instance, has been doing meet-and-greets in Universal parks since 1990. But the portals that Epic uses to transport guests into each world made it a particularly good candidate for a monster-themed area.
"Being able to be transported to different worlds gave us a great opportunity to step into this world of mad scientists and monsters," Frisella said. "It was just the right timing, finally."
Steps away from Dark Universe is Super Nintendo World, which features two distinct levels that house its attractions and activities. Guests enter via Peach's Castle with a vista of the Mushroom Kingdom ahead. It includes plenty of playable features.
Patrick Braillard, senior show writer with Universal Creative, described the land as "completely layered."
"It gives you an immediate sense of you getting the opportunity to have the call of action of playing," he said.
The largest world in Epic is How to Train Your Dragon -- Isle of Berk. Katy Pacitti, executive producer with Universal Creative, said the world had essentially already been designed by filmmakers, but her team was tasked with matching that vision in real life.
A statue of Bowser inside the queue of Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
"I think that whenever you have the responsibility of a very loved IP, you need to treat it with care and really think about what people want to see -- and then deliver it," Pacitti said.
With three attractions, a live show and a themed meet-and-greet with the franchise's main characters Hiccup and Toothless, Pacitti believes they met that goal.
"The details that they gave us, I think they poured their heart and souls into that film series, and then my team poured their heart and souls into building Berk," she said.