Epic Universe opens, and Harry Potter ride quickly draws a crowd (and a wait)
Its first visitors passed through the entrance at 6:30 a.m. — some eager customers had circled the area since 2 a.m.
Eventually, there was a boisterous group countdown, followed by cheers, tears, cosplay and livestreaming. Initial Epic-goers went into speed-walking mode before literally skipping through the park's signature Chronos portal into Orlando's eighth theme park.
Within 30 minutes, all visitors who had queued up early had ventured into the park.
'It was fun coming in because they had all the team members lining either side of the Chronos [entrance] clapping and welcoming everybody,' said Molly McCormack of Orlando, who arrived in the Epic parking lot at 7:30 a.m.
'We walked straight through security, straight through to Chronos,' said McCormack, co-owner of Mammoth Club, a content company that specializes in theme parks and travel.
'There's excitement in the air. Just now in the bar, people are toasting and cheers at each other,' she said.
Fast-track tech helps Universal mold new Epic Universe experiences
The opening ceremony also included mini-presentations and musical moments at the portals to the other four lands and the declaration that Epic Universe is officially open.
The themed areas of Epic include Super Nintendo World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk and Dark Universe, which showcases the classic monsters of Universal Studios.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, one of the more ballyhooed rides during previews for Epic Universe, quickly had a 300-minute wait time. Most other attractions had midmorning waits of less than 30 minutes.
The Battle at the Ministry wait time might explain the morning congestion at the Wizarding World portal.
'There was some running that happened,' a theme park no-no, said Tim Tracker, an Orlando-based YouTuber who covers Central Florida attractions. He said folks were dashing for the Potter ride, but there was no sign of trampling or injuries.
The park didn't feel crowded Thursday morning, he said.
'It feels very similar to the preview days,' Tracker said. 'When you're out in Celestial Park, there's not a lot of people walking around. … And it's been lovely.'
Overall, the short lines sharply contrasted with the first day of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010. Some anxious fans waited eight hours then to get close to Hogwarts Castle.
There has been a more measured approach in 2025. Ticket sales for the day were limited and quickly became unavailable, so there were no walk-up buyers for Epic on Thursday.
The new park has also had several weeks of previews, starting with Universal employees and eventually expanding to the general public.
Andrew and Sandra Spicer, a couple from the United Kingdom who took a nearly nine-hour flight to Florida, said they had planned their trip for a year and previously came during previews.
'It was the Harry Potter ride that we most wanted to go on when we came,' Sandra said. 'We queued for three-and-a-half hours to get on it.'
She hoped lines would be shorter and said that they would definitely not wait for that amount of time again.
Fireworks launch over Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park's grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first major new theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks launch over Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park's grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first major new theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) The sun sets over the Universal Helios Grand Hotel and Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park's grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first new major theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks launch over Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park's grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first major new theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 12Fireworks explode as part of the Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Expand
But Daryl Ireland, also from the U.K., said she was willing to wait up to six hours for Battle at the Ministry. She also came during the preview and rode all rides except for Battle at the Ministry and Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness, a roller coaster in Super Nintendo World. They were not operating during that visit.
'I'm gonna do Mine-Cart first, and then I'm hoping it eases off a little bit [at Harry Potter] because I think everyone will be around there first thing in the morning, Ireland said. 'So I'm hoping by the time I get there it might be less full.'
While it was mostly smooth sailing inside Epic, the outside world made itself known. A plane toted a sign over the park that read 'Gaza is starving — end genocide' Thursday morning.
Back on the ground, some visitors complained that a commemorative coin for opening day was already sold out. Other people stood in line to purchase an LP by Danny Elfman, who created music for Dark Universe.
'I'm excited to see the look on people's faces when they look at all of the work that people have done,' Patrick Braillard, senior show writer for the theme park, said during a preview during the buildup to Epic's debut.
With a grand opening comes great expectations in Central Florida.
'We have so many theme parks in Orlando and guests have so much expectation,' Braillard said. 'We kind of have no choice but to pay it off in a really amazing, epic way. It's well named, I'll say that.'
Epic Universe has been years in the making. The project was announced in August 2019. Construction began but the COVID pandemic put work on hold for a while. The park's life begins amid economic and travel uncertainties.
But park fans and Universal employees have been sampling Epic in previews for several weeks. That culminated with a gathering of VIPs, celebrities and media Wednesday night.
Actress Nico Parker and actor Mason Thames, stars of the upcoming 'How to Train Your Dragon' live action film, arrive on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, arrives on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Actors Oliver and James Phelps, who played the Weasley twins in the 'Harry Potter' film series, arrive on the 'Celestial Carpet' event as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, interacts with guests on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) 'Saturday Night Live' cast member Bowen Yang has some fun on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo representative director and fellow, walks the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Gothic fashion designer Micheline Pitt, who contributed to Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe, arrives on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Howie Mandel, best known for his roles as a judge on 'America's Got Talent 'since 2010 and as the host of the game show 'Deal or No Deal,' answers questions one the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins arrives on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Dancer and actor Frankie Grande models a Power-Up Band on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Danny Elfman, composer for Dark Universe interacts with guests on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. Elfman has composed scores for over 100 feature films including "Beetlejuice," "Men in Black," "The Wolfman" and more. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Tasha Ghouri, a British model, dancer and television personality, arrives on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universals Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) 'The Real Housewives of Miami' star Guerdy Abraira arrives on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Dean DeBlois, writer, director and producer of all 'How to Train Your Dragon' movies and the upcoming live action film, interacts with the media during a 'Celestial Carpet' event as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Mark "Crash" McCreery, center, who contributed designs for the monsters in Monster's Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe, walks the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Rick Baker, special make-up effects creator known for his groundbreaking work in films like 'An American Werewolf in London,' 'Men in Black', and 'Planet of the Apes,' talks with guests on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) VIPs arrive during on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, talks to members of the media during a 'Celestial Carpet' event as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, interacts with guests on the 'Celestial Carpet' as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 20Actor Warwick Davis, who played Professor Filius Flitwick in the 'Harry Potter' film series, talks with members of the media on the 'Celestial Carpet' on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Expand
The star power included executives from branches of Comcast, Universal Orlando's parent company, professional athletics and actors, leaning into the NBC broadcast family with Bowen Yang ('Saturday Night Live'), Howie Mandel ('America's Got Talent'), Joe Manganiello ('Deal or No Deal Island), Andy Cohen ('Watch What Happens Live') and Guerdy Abraira ('The Real Housewives of Miami').
Other celebs had direct ties to Epic's worlds, including Warwick Davis, James Phelps and Oscar Phelps from the 'Harry Potter' film series, cast members from past and future 'How to Train Your Dragon' movies, and Shigeru Miyamoto, designer, producer and director at Nintendo.
Epic Universe is the first theme park to open in Orlando since the introduction of Universal's Islands of Adventure in 1999. The addition is part of a corporate strategy to encourage longer stays at Universal Orlando Resort, which now features four gates including Islands, Universal Studios theme park and Volcano Bay water park.
The expansion also includes three hotels near the new park, including Helios Grand Hotel, which has a direct Epic entrance. Universal now has 11 on-property hotels with 11,000 rooms.
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
Fast-track tech helps Universal mold new Epic Universe
A rolling history of Central Florida's attractions industry
Epic Universe: Know before you go
Pictures: Epic Universe's nighttime celebration goes off with a bang
Pictures: Celebrities, VIPs arrive for Epic Universe nighttime celebration
Epic Universe Ride Guide: New park rides ranked from tame to super scary
Peeking into the portals (and just beyond) of Epic Universe
Epic Universe: Frequently asked questions (plus answers)
Power-Up Bands get games going in Super Nintendo World
Epic Universe timeline: From dragons to butterbeer, here's how theme park evolved
An Epic movie guide: What to watch before visiting Universal's new park
Epic Universe: Say hello to new Helios Grand, theme park neighbor
Epic Universe survival guide: What to pack for the new park
Epic Universe: Exec blends arts, engineering in theme park roles
Epic Universe preview: An early walk (and rides) in the park
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Los Angeles Times
7 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Every day is Halloween. Why theme parks are going big on year-round horror experiences
Las Vegas — I turn a bend and see a figure in a cornfield. The gray sky is foreboding, a storm clearly on the horizon. When I take a step forward, I'm hit with a gust of wind and fog. Suddenly, it's no longer a silhouette in the haze but a scarecrow, shrouded in hay, lurching toward me. Only I am not on a Midwestern farm, and there is no threat of severe weather. I'm in a warehouse in Las Vegas, walking through a maze called 'Scarecrow: The Reaping.' I jump back and fixate my phone's camera on the creature, but that only encourages them to step closer. I'm hurried out of the farmland and into a hall, where giant stalks now obscure my path. Welcome to Universal Horror Unleashed, which aims to deliver year-round horrors and further expand theme park-like experiences beyond their hubs of Southern California and Central Florida. Horror Unleashed, opening Aug. 14, is an outgrowth of Universal's popular fall event, Halloween Horror Nights, which has been running yearly at the company's Los Angeles park since 2006 and even longer at its larger Florida counterpart. Like Halloween Horror Nights, there are maze-like haunted houses — four of them here themed to various properties such as 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and 'The Exorcist.' Their more permanent status allows for a greater production factor — think disappearing walls and more elaborate show scenes — and they are surrounded by brooding bars, a pop-up rock-inspired dance show and a host of original walk-around characters. 'Hey, sugar,' said a young woman as I near the warehouse's main bar, a wraparound establishment themed to a large boiler. The actor's face was scarred with blood, hinting at a backstory I didn't have time — or perhaps the inclination — to explore. Horror Unleashed is opening just on the cusp of when theme parks and immersive-focused live experiences are entering one of the busiest times of the year: Halloween. The holiday, of course, essentially starts earlier each year. This year's Halloween Horror Nights begins Sept. 4, while Halloween season at the Disneyland Resort launches Aug. 22. Horror shows and films are now successful year-round, with the likes of 'Sinners' and 'The Last of Us' enrapturing audiences long before Oct. 31. Culture has now fully embraced the darker side of fairy tales. Texas Chainsaw Massacre at the Universal Horror Unleashed. 'You can make every month horrific,' says Nate Stevenson, Horror Unleashed's show director. That's been a goal of David Markland, co-founder of Long Beach's Halloween-focused convention Midsummer Scream, which this year is set for the weekend of Aug. 15. When Midsummer Scream began in 2016, it attracted about 8,000 people, says Markland, but today commands audiences of around 50,000. 'Rapidly, over the past 10 or 15 years, Halloween has become a year-round fascination for people,' Markland says. 'Halloween is a culture now. Halloween is a lifestyle. It's a part of people's lives that they celebrate year-round.' There will be challenges, a difficult tourism market among them, as visits to Las Vegas were down 11.3% in June 2025 versus a year earlier, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. And then there's the question of whether audiences are ready for year-round haunts that extend beyond the fall Halloween season to winter, spring and summer. I entered Horror Unleashed for a media preview on an early August night when it was 105 degrees in the Las Vegas heat. It's also been tried before, albeit on a smaller scale. Las Vegas was once home to Eli Roth's Goretorium, a year-round haunted house that leaned on torture-horror and shuttered after about a year in 2013. But Universal creatives are undaunted. More than a decade, of course, has passed, and Horror Unleashed is more diverse in its horror offerings. A maze themed to Universal's classic creatures winds through a castle and catacombs with vintage-style horrors and a mid-show scene in which Frankenstein's monster comes alive. Original tale 'Scarecrow: The Reaping,' which began at Universal Studios Florida, mixes in jump scares with more natural-seeming frights, such as the aforementioned simulated dust bowl. TJ Mannarino, vice president of entertainment, art and design at Universal Orlando, points to cultural happenings outside of the theme parks in broadening the terror scene — the success of shows such as 'The Walking Dead' and 'American Horror Story,' which found audiences outside of the Halloween season, as well as 'Stranger Things,' which he says opened up horror to a younger crowd. Theme parks are simply reflecting our modern culture, which is craving darker fantasies. Universal, for instance, recently opened an entire theme park land focused on its classic monsters at its new Epic Universe in Florida, and even Disney is getting in on the action, as a villains-focused land is in the works for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. 'We think our audience really wants this,' says Mannarino, noting theme park attendance surveys were prodding the company to give horror a permanent home. And at Universal's Orlando park, Halloween Horror Nights starts earlier, beginning in late August. 'Just a couple years ago, we started in August, and we were selling out August dates,' Stevenson says. 'On a micro level, we're seeing that, boy, it doesn't matter if you extend past the season or extend out before the season — people are coming. People want it.' Universal is betting on it, as the company has already announced that a second Horror Unleashed venue will be heading to Chicago in 2027. Smaller, more regional theme park-like experiences are once again something of a trend, as Netflix has immersive venues planned for the Dallas and Philadelphia regions, and Universal is also bringing a kid-focused park to Frisco, Texas. There are antecedents for what Universal is attempting. Disney, for instance, tried an indoor interactive theme park with DisneyQuest, for which a Chicago location was short-lived and a Florida outpost closed in 2017. Star Trek: The Experience, a mix of theme park-like simulations and interactive theater, operated for about a decade in Las Vegas before it shuttered in 2008. 'I know there's horror fans and Halloween fans who are always looking for something to do,' Markland says. 'What [Universal is] doing is very ambitious and big, and so I'm nervous along with them. We'll see how it goes. I'm sure people will go as soon as it opens and through the Halloween season, but after that, I don't know. ... They've definitely invested in Halloween and horror fans. They're all-in.' Horror, says author Lisa Morton — who has written multiple books on the Oct. 31 holiday, including 'Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween' — is thriving in part because today it is taken more seriously by cultural critics. The genre also has metaphorical qualities — the struggle, for instance, that is life, art and creativity in 'Sinners' or the underlying themes of PTSD that permeated the latest season of 'The Last of Us.' That makes it especially appealing, she says, for today's stressful times. 'I suspect that's part of the reason horror is booming right now,' Morton says. 'Everything from climate change, that we seem to have no voice in, and our politics, that don't seem to represent us. Many of us are filled with anxiety about the future. I think horror is the perfect genre to talk about that. When you add a layer of a metaphor to it, it becomes much easier to digest.' To step into Horror Unleashed is to walk into a demented wonderland, a place that turns standard theme park warmth and joy upside down. Don't expect fairy tale-like happy endings. The space's centerpiece performance is twisted, a story centering on Jack the Clown and his female sidekick Chance, who have kidnapped two poor Las Vegas street performers and are forcing them to execute their acts to perfection to avoid murder. The deeper one analyzes it, the more sinister its class dynamics feel, even if it's an excuse to showcase, say, street dancing and hula hoop acrobatics. The space has an underlying narrative. Broadly speaking, the warehouse is said to have been a storage place for Universal Studios' early monster-focused horror films. That allows it to be littered with props, such as the throne-like chair near its entrance, and for nooks and crannies such as a 'film vault' to be renamed a 'kill vault.' Somehow — horror loves a good mystery — the space has come alive, and don't be surprised to be greeted by a vampire or a costumed swampland figure that may or may not be related to the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The goal, says Universal creatives, is to give Horror Unleashed a bit of an immersive theater feel, something that can't really be done among the chaotic scare zones and fast-moving mazes of a Halloween Horror Nights event. But here, guests can linger with the actors and probe them to try to uncover the storyline that imbues the venue. One-to-one actor interaction has long been a goal of those in the theme park space but often a tough formula to crack, in part because cast members are costly and in part because of the difficulty to scale such experiences for thousands. 'As we've evolved this style of experience, we have given more and more control of the show to the actors,' says Mannarino on what separates Horror Unleashed from Halloween Horror Nights. 'It's less programmed. It's less technology. I've had conversations with tech magazines, and they'll ask me what is the most critical piece, and I'll say it's the actors. ... The lifeblood of our all stories — we can build all of this, but it doesn't go without the actors. 'It's what really drives this whole animal,' he adds. It extends a bit to the mazes as well. Audiences should expect to spend about five to seven minutes in each of the four walk-through attractions, but unlike a Halloween Horror Nights event, where guests are rushed from room to room without stopping, in Las Vegas there will be one dedicated show scene per maze. Here, groups will be held to watch a mini-performance. In the 'Exorcist' maze, for instance, that means witnessing a full exorcism, complete with special effects that will have walls give way to demonic specters. In the '70s-themed 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' haunt, look out for a bloody scene designed to drench guests. The mazes are intended to be semi-permanent. Stevenson says there's no immediate plans to swap them out in the near future but hints that Horror Unleashed will be an evolving venue and, if all goes according to plan, will look a bit different in a few years. Thus, he says the key differentiator between Horror Unleashed and Halloween Horror Nights is not necessarily the tech used in the mazes, but the extended time they can devote to unwrapping a story. 'When Universal builds a haunted house, the level of story that starts that out is enormous,' Stevenson says. 'There's so much story. All of our partners need that because they base every little nuanced thing off of that story. Unfortunately, we don't always have the chance to tell that story, and all our fans tell us they want to know more story.' Story percolates throughout the venue. Flatbreads, for instance, are shaped like chainsaw blades. Desserts come on plates that are mini-shovels. Salad dressing is delivered in syringes. In the past, says Mannarino, no one wanted their food to be played with. ''Don't do horrible things to my food!'' he says in mock exaggeration. 'But now, people really love that.' Little, it seems, is obscene, when every day can be Halloween.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Inside Universal's year-round haunted house opening soon in Las Vegas
Universal Horror Unleashed is set to open in Las Vegas on August 14, followed by a second location in Chicago in 2027. Walking through Universal Horror Unleashed's scarecrow-themed haunted house should have been a piece of cake. After all, I was raised in Iowa – I'm no stranger to corn fields. But, while walking through the haunted house's dark maze, pushing past the stalks of corn blocking my path, I could just barely make out the shape of something lurking around the corner, ready to leap from the shadows. I debated turning around. Then, I heard a scream and decided rejoining the monsters lurking in the dark farmhouse behind me wasn't a better alternative. As soon as I took a step forward, a scarecrow lurched at me and made me jump, his clawed hand and ghastly mask illuminated by the flashing lights overhead. "Scarecrow: The Reaping' is just one of four haunted houses available at Universal Horror Unleashed, a new experience located at the Area15 entertainment district just off the Las Vegas Strip. While the space won't open to the public until August 14, USA TODAY was able to take a sneak peek at the event space in early August. Here's what horror fans can expect. One attraction, four haunted houses There are four haunted house options scattered across the attraction, which is made to resemble an abandoned production warehouse: Universal added special touches to fully immerse its guests in each scene. The restaurant inside the 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' haunted house smells like barbecue, while the woods inside "Blumhouse's The Exorcist: Believer" smell like a real forest. In 'Scarecrow: The Reaping," guests push their way through a corn field and get blasted by wind from a dust storm, while ropes hanging from the Hunchback's bell tower block guests' path inside "Universal Monsters." There are even water effects in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" house, meant to mimic splattering blood during a particularly gruesome reenactment. 'We realize that we can't reach out and actually grab the guests,' said show director Nate Stevenson. 'But we need to reach out and touch the guests in every other sense that we possibly can.' More than just haunted houses The horror isn't over once you escape the haunted houses. Guests can also explore four immersive areas staged between the houses with their own themes, like '80s slasher flicks and classic Universal monsters. Here, original characters like a menacing set of twins and a bug monster are available to chat with guests or give them a fright. 'Our guests can approach these characters, and they'll actually tell you about their story and who they are and they'll interact with you,' Stevenson said, as a vampire queen and mad doctor lingered nearby, adding that it's 'very much immersive theater.' (I made the mistake of asking Stevenson a question about the characters in front of one and got called out for it. 'I'm right here!' said one of the spooky twins, looking like she was ready to tear my head off.) Jack's Alley Bar, another themed area in the warehouse, features a 15-minute show starring Jack the Clown and his sidekick, Chance. Two 'victims' are brought to a stage to perform in Jack's game show, 'Stay or Slay.' (Spoiler: the contestants' dancing and hula-hoop performances were impressive, but did little to win the killer clowns' sympathy.) And in the middle of it all sits The Boiler bar, an enormous machine where guests can take a break to drink craft cocktails. 'The Boiler bar definitely has a spirit of its own, so bear with us. Sometimes he gets a little upset,' said Kim Scott, general manager of Universal Horror Unleashed, as the machine let off steam with a roar in the background. Universal's Las Vegas horror experience: What to expect. Dining options at Universal Horror Unleashed Universal Horror Unleashed offers several dining options to guests who have worked up an appetite from any horror-induced adrenaline rush. Fast-casual stops like Rough Cuts offer themed dishes like Parts of Pieces, a spicy sausage sandwich. There's also a sit-down tapas bar, Premiere House, decorated with movie props and decor representing more recent horror films from Blumhouse. At the latter, guests can dine on small plates inspired by the surrounding houses – including a Texas Chainsaw Flatbread shaped like a saw blade and 'Scarecrow: The Reaping'-inspired dessert called The Haybale, a pecan kataifi roll served on a shovel. Drink options include the Green Dread – a bright green gin concoction served from a beaker – and the Bloodsucker, a rum and blackberry liqueur drink served with a dollop of dark red jello meant to look like a glob of blood. TJ Mannarino, vice president of entertainment, art and design, said attractions would have turned up their noses at the idea of adding grotesque themes to food in the not-too-distant past. But as guests increasingly look for more immersive offerings, he said that's no longer the case. 'Now, people love that,' he said. 'That's another step in this new world.' Horror is no longer just for fall The day I visited was a 100-plus-degree day in the middle of a Las Vegas summer. Not exactly the backdrop that comes to mind when you think of the typical fall spooky season. But that's the point: The team behind Universal Horror Unleashed says horror fans don't disappear once the clock strikes midnight on October 31. Mannarino said that's why Universal's Horror Nights pushed back its opening date from mid-October to late August, and why horror movies and horror-adjacent shows like 'Stranger Things' have success with spring or summer releases. 'Horror has a place year-round now,' Stevenson said. 'People love this group experience. ... There's a lot of real horror in the world, and this offers an escape. It's a way to laugh at horror.' Tickets start at $69 for one-time entry to each house and $99 for unlimited access to houses, with a discount offered to Nevada residents. A second location in Chicago is set to open in 2027.
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Forbes
‘Jurassic World Rebirth' 4K Blu-Ray Details Revealed—Including Hours Of Bonus Features
While Jurassic World Rebirth might still be rumbling through the global cinema jungle like a rampage of T-Rexes, adding to a worldwide cinematic take that already exceeds three quarters of a billion dollars, Universal has already announced details of its blockbuster's home video release. Including a 4K Blu-ray release that promises many hours of bonus features and what looks set to be (on paper, anyway) formidable picture and sound quality. The Jurassic World Rebirth 4K Blu-ray is scheduled to arrive on September 9 - just over a month after the film debuts to own or rent on streaming platforms today (August 5). The film's 4K disc master will get a Dolby Atmos soundtrack (Universal seems to have moved on from its old practice of using DTS mixes on its Jurassic Park/World disc releases), while the video will be presented in 4K resolution, of course, with a Dolby Vision HDR transfer. This Dolby Vision master will, as ever, default to core HDR10, minus Dolby Vision's extra scene by scene image data, for people who don't own DV-capable 4K Blu-ray players or TVs. Universal's press information states that the two-hour 13-minute film is going to be mastered onto a 100Gb 4K Blu-ray disc rather than the 66Gb alternative. Hopefully Universal's claims here will prove more accurate than Disney's claims that its recent release of Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World would get a 100GB disc proved to be… The 100GB disc should give the picture quality more room to breathe, meaning less potential for compression artefacts and softness to creep in – as well as helping the discs accommodate the extremely healthy collection of extra features Universal has assembled to accompany the movie. There's literally hours of bonus stuff for film fans to get their teeth into. Starting with not one but two feature-length commentary tracks: One featuring director Gareth Edwards, production designer James Clyne and first assistant director Jack Ravenscroft, and one featuring director Edwards again, but this time joined by editor Jabez Olssen and visual effects supervisor David Vickery. The rest of the promised bonus features stack up as follows: — Related Reading 'The Quick And The Dead' To Get Special 30th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray Release 'Ballerina' 4K Blu-Ray Details Revealed—Including Multiple Steelbook Editions 'Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World' Finally Gets A 4K Blu-ray Release
