Universal leaks details of massive Epic Universe expansion… and Disney may be forced to take drastic action

Daily Mail​

a day ago

Universal Studios' brand new theme park Epic Universe just opened a little over two months ago... but a massive expansion is already in talks.
The dazzling amusement park launched on May 22, 2025, introducing five immersive new lands - including Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, and the Isle of Berk from How to Train Your Dragons, amongst others.
From battling the Ministry of Magic in a thrilling Harry Potter-themed ride to visiting the spooky village of Darkmoor, where Henry Frankenstein's great-great-granddaughter has accidentally set free a slew of famous monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, and the Werewolf, to name a few - there is so much to see and do.
But according to Universal's executives, this is just the beginning, as they've already been teasing some pretty exciting updates to the glorious new park.
And the upcoming expansions may force Disney World, which is located just down the road, to take drastic action to ensure it doesn't lose guests.
Karen Irwin, president and chief operating officer of Universal Orlando Resort, was first to tease a potential Epic Universe expansion in a video shared to Universal's YouTube channel in March, two months before the park even opened.
'There are already so many things in the works now. We have a slate of new attractions that we're already developing for every one of our parks. We're already planning for the next thing at Epic,' she said.
Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, also hinted at the future of Epic Universe last month during a press conference.
He told reporters from inside the park, 'What you can't see sitting here are all the expansion areas that are outside the spaces that you can see.
'There's a lot of room for expansion. We're already thinking about how that plays out, and it's the same on the north end of the campus, new attractions coming, new intellectual property coming.'
Last month, Universal sent theme park fans into a frenzy when it filed new work permits for a 40,178-square-foot construction site at Epic Universe, titled Project 915.
It was described as 'site preparation for new construction building, including but not limited to relocating existing utilities, installing new utilities, site grading, and foundation for new building.'
According to popular theme park blog That Park Place, the project is set for the area 'between Super Nintendo World and Celestial Park, right across the path from the Atlantic full-service restaurant.'
They theorized it will be 'a multi-purpose soundstage or theater, possibly designed for events, seasonal shows, or even temporary exhibits.'
The permit expires in December 2025, giving a hint as to when the mysterious new building will be finished.
Aerial shots taken by a theme park photographer known as Bioreconstruct on X (formerly Twitter) show that Epic Universe as multiple 'expansion pads' - areas of land just outside of the park that have been completely cleared out for future construction.
Universal's executives have already been teasing some pretty exciting updates to the glorious new park. Some of the lands at Epic Universe are seen
There is one next to Super Mario World that's about seven acres, one connected to Dark Universe that's about 3.5 acres, and one adjacent to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic that's a whopping 17 acres, amongst others.
In addition, the gate at the center of Epic Universe has a symbol for all five of the current worlds - and there's two more spots that are empty, hinting that two new lands may be added in the future.
Naturally, social media has been ablaze with theorizes about what new things will be coming to Epic Universe.
Many people believe a Wicked-themed area will be next to arrive, while others have speculated that Luigi's Mansion, a Lord of the Rings land, or something to do with Legends of Zelda or Pokemon will come to the park.
There are also a slew of rumors that a Creature from the Black Lagoon boat ride will be added to Dark Universe in the future, as well as a second ride for the Harry Potter area.
When asked about a potential Wicked land by the New York Times in February, Mark said, 'When I saw it, my first reaction was, "This is a theme park waiting to happen."'
So what does all this mean for Disney World? Well, for years, Disney has been looked at by many as the top theme park in the world, offering four amusement parks, two water parks, and a slew of hotels, shopping, and dining.
But there's no denying that the opening of Epic Universe tilted the scale slightly - and Universal's fast and ambitious talk of expansions has got many avid theme park fans talking.
'The opening of Universal's Epic Universe sent ripples through the industry - and now, just two months later, those ripples have become a tidal wave,' Inside the Magic wrote earlier this month.
From battling the Ministry of Magic in a thrilling Harry Potter-themed ride (seen) to visiting the spooky village of Darkmoor - there is so much to see and do at Epic Universe
'Universal didn't just throw open the gates to its most ambitious park ever - they also just confirmed that expansion is already in the works.
'It's fast. It's aggressive. And it's exactly the kind of pressure Disney hasn't had to deal with in decades.
'And if the rumors and leaked plans are anything to go by, Universal isn't just trying to compete anymore. They're aiming to take over the market.
'Universal is building hype, driving bookings, and reshaping expectations. Disney needs to meet that energy, or risk falling behind.'
They pointed out that Disney has become somewhat known for its 'slow and calculated' expansions - something the company might have to reconsider amidst the immense excitement surrounding the future of Epic Universe.
And Disney may already be taking notice as it has announced a slew upcoming changes to its parks in recent months.
A new Cars-themed land is in the works at Magic Kingdom, as well as an area inspired by the Disney villains.
In addition, an Encanto river ride, an Indiana Jones attraction, and a Zootopia show are all set to come to Animal Kingdom in the upcoming years.
Over in Hollywood Studios, a new Monsters Inc. land will replace Muppets Courtyard, and it's set to have a suspended rollercoaster that will put riders 'right in the middle of the monster action.'
But the all the new stuff has meant that a slew of beloved rides have been forced to close, including the Liberty Square Riverboat ride, the Dinosaur ride, and Muppet*Vision 3D, leaving many die-hard Disney fans outraged.
Earlier this year, a new Comprehensive Plan 2045 from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District even showed potential plans for Disney to build a fifth sprawling theme park.
The plans detailed a reserved development capacity for another 'major theme park' and two 'minor theme parks' that could be built over the next few decades.
The expansion at the Orlando resort could be expansive - mirroring the scale of other popular parks such as Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.
The documents allotted 400 to 500 acres for the new park which would be Disney's first all-new gate in over 25 years.
It is thought that the two smaller parks will be water parks, spanning an estimated 147 acres each.
Walt Disney World has not officially confirmed a fifth Florida theme park, and the Comprehensive Plan does not mean that the fifth park is definitely happening, but it opens the door for one in the future should Disney want to go forward with it.
In the end, only time will tell what will come next for both Epic Universe and Disney World, but all in all, it's an exciting time for theme park lovers.