Latest news with #UniversalCreative
Condé Nast Traveler
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Condé Nast Traveler
Universal Just Opened Epic Universe, the First New US Theme Park in 26 Years
After six years in the making, Universal Epic Universe officially opened its doors on May 22—and the brand new theme park is already attracting crowds of travelers. The 750-acre development in Orlando, Florida, is the first new US theme park to open in over two decades. Featuring 11 rides based on fan-favorite franchises like Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon, Epic Universe is poised to usher in the next era of American theme parks, with advanced ride technology, a diverse range of dining options, and even a 500-key Loews Hotels Signature Collection property on site with direct access to the park. 'The excitement is that there's so much here,' Adam Rivest, vice president of creative management for Universal Creative, tells Condé Nast Traveler. 'Everybody gets to experience it a little bit differently." Below, everything travelers need to know about the new theme park. Celestial Park Upon entering, visitors are welcomed through a 'portal' into the cosmos-themed Celestial Park, a central area that serves as the crossroads between all four of the other franchise worlds. If you arrive hungry, you're in the right place. Celestial Park features a range of eateries, from the seafood fine dining restaurant Atlantic (its upstairs bar is known for one of the best views of the park) to the pan-Asian The Blue Dragon, decked out with neon Asian night market signs. This section also has two attractions of its own. The family-friendly Constellation Carousel moves in tune to seven different songs and becomes especially ethereal come nightfall. Then there's the thrilling Stardust Racers, a dual-track roller coaster with speeds up to 62 mph flying up to 133 feet high—guests can choose from two track options, yellow or green (there's debate among theme park enthusiasts as to which provides more thrills, but we preferred the green at night). The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic is one of the park's most anticipated attractions. Universal/Kilby Photo The Wizarding World of Harry Potter From Celestial Park, travelers can then enter four more worlds via different portals. One of the most anticipated, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic marks Universal's third development centered around the blockbuster franchise. This one transports guests into the magical world of 1920s Paris, with towering facades reminiscent of the Champs-Elysees. The main attraction, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, attracted the longest queue (lasting five hours) on opening day. To make the lines more bearable, grab a Butterbeer crepe to nosh on while you wait. Super Nintendo World Another portal travels up a pair of escalators into the cartoonish land of Super Nintendo World. It's the third global Universal park to include one, after Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood. However, this world is far more expansive than its California counterpart, and is divided into two sections: Super Mario Land, including rides Mario Kart Bowser's Challenge and Yoshi's Adventure, and Donkey Kong Country with the Mine-Cart Madness, as well as interactive coin collections through its Power-Up Bands, available for purchase. How to Train Your Dragon One portal away is How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, a whimsical section filled with animatronic fantastical creatures and interactive elements at every corner. The family coaster Hiccup's Wing Gliders is here, as well as Dragon Racer's Rally, where each guest can flap the wings of their own dragon to control their soaring. The Broadway-style show The Untrainable Dragon also impresses with its special effects, including a dragon soaring over the audience. Dark Universe In Dark Universe, the final portal combines all of Universal's monsters under the umbrella of Victoria Frankenstein's experiments. Here is where you'll find another one of the park's most buzzed-about attractions: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, a dark ride with eerie twists and turns (and a few surprises). The area's vampire-themed Das Steakhouse has also already attracted hype, rumored to have already been the inspiration for a Saturday Night Live sketch.
Travel Weekly
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Epic Universe: A new era for Universal Orlando Resort
ORLANDO -- Universal Orlando Resort is abuzz with one word: Epic. Executives, media and theme park enthusiasts converged on Central Florida for the May 22 opening of Universal Epic Universe, the third theme park at Universal's Orlando campus, and several days' worth of preopening previews and activities. "We are so excited to welcome you today -- dare I say, emotional — to Universal Epic Universe," said Brian Robinson, executive vice president and chief creative officer of Universal Creative, during a media event. "This park is a game-changer, folks, and the most technologically innovative park we have ever built." Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, said that Epic "changes everything" for Universal's Florida property. "It truly transforms Universal Orlando Resort into more than a full week's vacation destination," she told media during a reception. "And I think you're going to love it." Epic Universe is home to five themed worlds, including Dark Universe; How to Train Your Dragon -- Isle of Berk; Super Nintendo World; and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Ministry of Magic. The Atrium of the British Ministry of Magic in the queue of Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, a ride in Epic Universe. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada And the one world that isn't based on intellectual property is the one that centers them all: Celestial Park. Guests enter Celestial through the Chronos Tower, Epic's main portal. It's a dynamic structure that hints at astronomical and mythological elements, a theme that follows throughout Celestial. The backbone of Epic Universe, Celestial welcomes guests at the park's entrance as well as toward the back, through the 500-room Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which has its own dedicated park entrance. Celestial was purposely designed with plenty of greenery and water features, Robinson said. "This is the world that put the 'park' back in 'theme park' -- lush gardens, dancing fountains, serene locations," he said. It is also home to several dining locations, wet-play area Astronomica, the Constellation Carousel and Stardust Racers, a dual-launch coaster with tracks measuring 5,000 feet. The coaster rockets riders up to 133 feet in the air as fast as 62 mph. Fyre Drill is a water ride in How to Train Your Dragon -- Isle of Berk, one of the five worlds in Epic Universe. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesida Adam Rivest, vice president of creative management at Universal Creative, spent the past eight years working on Celestial as one of its producers. "When we approached this project, we wanted to look at something that would be a differentiator for this park," Rivest said. "We looked to the great European gardens and how those have always been a place where people can come together and share experiences and relax and kind of decompress from their week and their days. We felt like that's what Celestial Park wanted to be." The park boasts not only a high thrill in Stardust Racers but also gardens and waterways, spaces where guests can decompress after Epic's other thrills, Rivest said. "I tell everybody to make sure that you take the time to actually experience the space," he said. "Don't live through a camera. Don't live through your phone. Put it away, talk with the people you're with. Use Celestial Park as what it was designed for: a place to connect."
