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The Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I spent three days at Universal's huge new £7bn theme park – all the things worth doing… and the bits to skip
'I SCREAMED and I prayed', the stranger next to me recalled as we clambered out of our seats with a dishevelled look. We hadn't known each other before this, but within 90 blurry seconds a whirlwind experience had bonded us. 9 We had just ridden Stardust Racers, the must-try thrill ride at Universal's brand new theme park. Epic Universe, which opened this week [May 22], is the first major theme park to come to Orlando in 26 years, costing a mega £7billion to build. 'This is the most technologically advanced park in the world,' Mark Woodberry, Universal Destinations & Experiences' Chairman and CEO, says – and he's not lying. No cash has been spared on taking each attraction to the next level with smooth tracks that won't jolt your neck and new-world immersion techniques that take away the woozy feeling caused by old-hat VR rides (something I greatly appreciated). But with demand so high, Brits will only be able to purchase one-day tickets for this year, so what should you see and what should you skip? I was one of the first to get a behind the scenes look at all the entertainment, rides and food and drink – and here's my verdict. Celestial Park This is the park's main hub with a glorious fountain at its centre and main food halls cooking up barbecue dishes, Asian grub and deep-pan pizza. STARDUST RACERS: HIT (5 stars) This dual 'racing' roller coaster is on par, intensity wise, with Universal Studios' leading thrill ride, Velocicoaster. If you're a roller coaster nut, then you won't want to miss this. It's one of the largest steel coasters in the US and it hurls riders down steep drops and in spiral turns at speeds of up to 62mph for a terrifying 90 seconds. At times l feared my brain may burst through my skull. I went to the huge new space-themed hotel part of the Epic Universe theme park Top tip: Both sides of the rollercoaster offer a different experience, (the green side is supposedly more intense - but I was too focused on clinging on for dear life to confirm) CONSTELLATION CAROUSEL: HIT (3.5 stars) Tired feet will be all too pleased to climb aboard the theme park's most relaxed ride that welcomes all ages. You can ride shiny unicorns, roaring lions and fiery phoenix's (seating up to three). Each animal slowly spins in typical carousel-fashion under a starry dome where the ceiling twinkles -- it was very peaceful after a long day. Top tip: head there after sunset – the twinkling lights are amplified by the dark sky 9 How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk A fire-breathing dragon and man-made lagoon welcome visitors through the portal into this Viking -theme world based entirely on the hit animation film. DRAGON RACER'S RALLY: MISS (2 stars) Although this ride continues for a similar length of time to many others in the theme park, it feels much shorter. The idea is sound, with riders climbing aboard their own 'dragon' which can be semi-steered using the wing controls on either side of your seat which can be lifted up and pushed down. You can perform some pretty cool tricks, including barrel rolls by tilting the wings at a certain angle, but by the time you've figured that all out, the ride is over. If you've queued for anything more than 45 mins, you may feel somewhat cheated. Top tip: hold the wings steady in opposite directions to perform a barrel roll 9 HICCUP'S WING GLIDERS: HIT (4.5 stars) An all-round favourite. This roller coaster is one that kids (over 100cm) and grown-ups will enjoy in equal measure. It may be relatively tame in comparison to stereotypical loop-de-loop rides, but that doesn't take from the thrill which comes in the form of sudden speed boosts, realistic animatronics and swooping turns that give the effect of riding a real dragon. Top tip: if you're in need of a brief cool down, sit on the right seat in the second row - you'll be in the prime spot to be sprayed with water FYRE DRILL: MISS (unless you have really young kids) (2 stars) Don't get me wrong, a water-ride can be great in the searing Orlando heat, but this one isn't a mind-blower and if you're tight for time, could be one to skip. Riders board an eight-seater Viking boat and are tasked with squirting various wooden targets with a pistol as they weave their way through dragon-infested waters. The squirting and aiming action may be a little tricky for kids to grasp at first, but they'll sure love getting drenched at spontaneous moments by water-spouting monsters. Top tip: do this after the show as you'll get drenched (you don't want to be sat indoors all soggy) THE UNTRAINABLE DRAGON SHOW: HIT (4 stars) Even adult's jaws will hit the floor when (spoiler alert) they see Universal's most famous dragon, Toothless, soar high above the audience in a plume of smoke during the show You don't need to have seen the film to follow the plot, although it helps. Top tip: Don't stress about getting near the front, Toothless flies towards the back of the room 9 Super Nintendo World Step through the portal to the Nintendo World and travel through a Mario-style green tube to possibly the most immersive and colourful land in Epic - it's laid out just like the old-school games with coins spinning above boxes and piranha plants threatening to chomp at any moment. MARIO KART: BOWSER'S CHALLENGE: HIT (but only if you're familiar with the console version of the game) (4 stars) I was a huge fan of this fully-immersive, amped-up version of hit Nintendo game, Mario Kart, that puts riders behind the wheel in a moving kart. You'll don a special Mario cap alongside an ultra-high tech pair virtual reality glasses so that every rider is playing their own game and racking up coins. You can fire shells at characters like Yoshi and Princess Peach, simply using your high-tech glasses to aim, plus you'll come face-to-face with a fire-breathing Bowser. As a Mario Kart fan, I loved it; pals who had never played the game, however, were much less enthusiastic and struggled with the controls. 9 YOSHI'S ADVENTURE: MISS (2.5 stars) Great for little ones and those who want something gentle. You'll board a colourful Yoshi and slowly plod through Mario World with epic views of the park below. The only downside is it can be a struggle in the searing heat, with much of the ride outdoors. Top tip: don't go in the middle of the day, the ride passes outside a lot and it can get very hot My top hacks for first timers in the park Bring your own water bottle and use refill stations. A bottle here costs around $6. If you forget your water you can ask for a cup at Starbucks or use fountains. Don't buy a wristband or wand unless you're a mega fan. Avoid queuing for the character meet and greets, you may just catch them at the right time and if not, you'll get to see them at the shows Pick your land – face reality, you're unlikely to get through everything in just one day. Prioritise your two must-see lands Dark Universe is so much more immersive at night so save it for the end of the day. It pays to stay in a Universal resort - it gets you access to park an hour ahead of everyone else. If you're feeling overheated, head to Astronomica in Celestial Park – this wet-play area has mini fountains that kids can run through and splash about in MINE-CART MADNESS: HIT (4.5 stars) A crowd-pleaser. Despite not having loops or reaching spine-tingling speeds, this roller coaster will still impress even the biggest adrenaline junkies, thanks to the immersive chaos of Nintendo themed music and realistic animatronics. You board a rickety minecart to ride a seemingly broken track that jerks and judders. I felt as if I could tumble off any moment which only added to the thrill. Top tip: don't go straight after lunch - this one is jolty 9 Dark Universe If the park is open late when you're visiting, save this world, crawling with Universal's well-known monsters and villains, until the evening to make it fully immersive. Everything feels much creepier in the dark, and you'll be able to spot things you may not notice in the light of day. MONSTERS UNCHAINED: THE FRANKENSTEIN EXPERIMENT: HIT (4.5 stars) Theme park fans say that this is one of the best dark rides ever created, thanks to its storytelling and advanced technology - and I agree. There's some very strong theming here and even the queue is factored into the experience, with riders entering through the gruesome manor gates, passing through creepy corridors with eerie pictures and sketches of lab-tested creatures adorning the walls – a hint at what's to come. The main ride places visitors on a row of chairs attached to a robotic arm which then twists and turns as you try to escape the grasp of some pretty terrifying creatures. Due to fewer videos and more animatronics, the ride didn't cause as much motion sickness as I often experience with a ride like this . Top tip: pay attention to everything around you as you make your way through the creepy manor, it will add some context to the storytelling 9 CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF: HIT (3.5 stars) This cart-twisting roller coaster is very good fun if you're into the theme, but I didn't enjoy it quite as much as similar rides like Hiccup's Wing Gliders and Mine-Cart Madness. The fun lies in the fact that you're not sure what to expect, no matter how many times you ride, with carts spinning at random paces. Top tip: normally the back of the roller-coaster offers the most thrilling experience, but for this ride, head to the front 9 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic There may be only one ride in this world, but the elements surrounding it took my breath away. You'll be transported from Orlando to 1920s Paris in mere seconds (a nod to the Fantastic Beasts films) and everything here feels wholly authentic from the old-fashioned wine bars lining the cobblestone streets through to the rustic-looking Metro signs. HARRY POTTER AND THE BATTLE AT THE MINISTRY: HIT (but be prepared to queue) (5 stars) Mega fans have been brought to tears upon seeing the entrance to this ride, the British Ministry of Magic - an exact replica of the one in the films featuring bottle-green glossy tiles and posters with moving images. I was blown away by the magic, especially the entrance to the Ministry via the Metro-Floo, which makes riders disappear in a cloud of smoke. The ride itself is very advanced and much longer than the others so you feel like you're getting your queue's worth. Top tip: The queue can hold around four hours worth of guests and there were reports of five-hour queues on opening day, so if you're going to go, try and book a night in a Universal Resort (more on that in the Hot Hacks above) and race straight there when you enter. LE CIRCUS ARCANUS SHOW: HIT (4.5 stars) There's a pre-show to this circus-themed experience that keeps you on your toes. Then, magical creatures are brought to life with on-stage tricks really will have you guessing just how they did it. It was 20 minutes very well spent. 9
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Universal's Epic Universe ‘Changes Everything' And Is Already Planning More Attractions
"This fourth gate changes everything for Universal Orlando," explains Karen Irwin, President and Chief Operating Officer of Universal Orlando Resort. Less than 24 hours later, the new multibillion-dollar theme park Epic Universe officially opened its gates to guests. Eight years in the making but announced in 2019, Epic Universe spans 110 acres and features five themed areas: Celestial Park, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon—Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Ministry of Magic. It's the first theme park to be added to the company's Florida portfolio since Islands of Adventure in 2019. "The future is super bright," enthuses the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, Mark Woodbury. "This is truly a momentous occasion for us and a significant milestone in a continuum of our development. When I speak about a continuum, this is the first step in an epic future." "There's a lot of room for expansion and we're already thinking about how that plays out. It's the same on the north end of the campus," he reveals, referring to legacy property Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. "There are new attractions coming, new intellectual property coming, and that's all part of our philosophy to grow our business by expanding our existing footprint." The entire footprint of the land in which Epic Universe sits, a stone's throw from the Orlando Convention Center, is 750 acres. The idea for Epic Universe started when execs looked at how to grow the Orlando business, which also includes the Volcano Bay water park, and realized that the key was another park to make the Universal resort a full week vacation and "the destination of choice for people for their full Orlando trip." "When we decided to do that, we asked the consumer, 'What will take you to swing to make Orlando your destination?' And they told us," Woodbury recalls. "We love your intellectual property, technology, immersive storytelling, and thrilling attractions, so give us more of what you do best, and we'll give you more of our time.' Epic Universe is the result of that." Then, he explains, it was a process of "compiling the best intellectual properties we could think of." A great example is How to Train Your Dragon. Woodbury continues, "With a new movie coming out in a couple of weeks, that gives you a sense of how things work within our company. We have the third installation of Harry Potter in the resort, so if you're a Harry Potter fan, you have to see all three parks, which speaks to the week vacation. Universal Monsters is completely reimagined. We were able to take those characters, reinvent them for the next generation, and put them behind some stunning technology. Then, of course, there's Super Nintendo World, our fantastic partnership with that powerful brand. You put all that together and have the most technologically advanced park we've ever built. I can say that with some confidence because I have built six of them for the company." That technology extends beyond the groundbreaking rides and attractions such as Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, the crown jewels in an offering that also includes exhilarating highlights Donkey Kong: Mine-Cart Madness, Stardust Racers, and Hiccup's Wing Gliders. "The technology starts when people first engage with their vacation planning cycle on an entirely new e-commerce platform that streamlines the purchasing process and the selection process for tailoring and customizing your vacation," Woodbury confirms. "It follows all the way through with facial recognition technology that streamlines and takes all the friction out of the entry process. You can pair your ticket with your face and walk right through the entry gate. Historically, you had to stop, buy a ticket, stand in line, and go to the turnstile, but now you've come straight in. That technology is going to enable all kinds of operational benefits going forward." Irwin adds, "We have absolute experts in this, and not only are they experts in what they do, but they're also very passionate about what we do. We think very much about what we want people to feel when they come to Universal Orlando Resort. We want you not to have to think about what you're doing but to put away your phone and feel what we're doing here. I think what you're going to find when you lean into that experience is that we offer this opportunity for people to come together with people that they love and care about, connect and be together, and have those moments and those experiences that honestly, they will remember for a lifetime." Epic Universe, which officially opened on Thursday, May 22, 2025, also significantly boosts Orlando's employment prospects. Along with the theme park itself, the development adds three Loews hotels to the resort: Stella Nova, Terra Luna, and the Helios Grand Hotel. These add 2,000 rooms to the portfolio, for a total of 11,000 across all their lodging properties. "What that means is that at any given time, there are 25,000 to 30,000 guests on our sites at our resorts, 24/7," Irwin enthuses. "I'm proud of the economic impact of this project. We hired 1000s of people to operate the resort. The economic impact is felt beyond this region, but in Orlando alone, there will be billions of dollars of economic growth in this area. We are lucky to have brilliant and talented team members who operate, build, and design everything. I'm proud of the work that's happened here. If you think about what it takes to run a resort like Universal Orlando, it's like running a small city." Ahead of the gates officially opening following a period of soft opening and media previews, Epic Universe welcomed a galaxy of stars made up of industry figures and celebrities, including Gerard Butler from Universal and DreamWorks' new live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon, James and Oliver Phelps and Warwick Davis from the Harry Potter films, Nintendo's Representative Director and Fellow, Shigeru Miyamoto, and seven-time Academy Award winner and legendary makeup artist Rick Baker.
Travel Weekly
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Epic Universe's opening day approaches
ORLANDO -- Universal Epic Universe "changes everything," said Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort. "It truly transforms Universal Orlando Resort into more than a full week's vacation destination," Irwin said on April 19 during a media reception at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel. "And I think you're going to love it." Universal Orlando on Thursday, May 22 will hold the grand opening of Epic Universe, its highly anticipated new park that features five worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon -- Isle of Berk, Dark Universe and Celestial Park. Epic Universe is Universal's first new domestic park since Universal Islands of Adventure opened in 1999. Disney last opened a U.S. park in 2001, Disney California Adventure. Its last in Florida was Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998. The statue of Apollo facing Epic Universe, as seen from the Universal Helios Grand Hotel's Flora Taverna restaurant. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada A nighttime opening celebration is set for Wednesday, May 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. Eastern time. The nighttime celebration and a celebratory moment Thursday morning will be livestreamed at Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations and Experiences, called Epic "unlike anything you will experience." "When you go out there, what you're going to see and feel and taste and experience is the culmination of a 10-year journey and is a clear reflection of the incredible creativity, and the technical prowess, and the operational excellence of our entire team at Universal Destinations and Experiences, together with the Loews company to make this all happen and to happen in a seamless way," Woodbury said. A room in the How to Train Your Dragon Kids' Suites at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada Epic Universe's home hotel Loews Hotels co-owns and operates a number of hotels at Universal Orlando, including the Helios Grand. It was from that hotel lobby that executives spoke to media during a reception, with Epic Universe the backdrop to their remarks. The Universal Helios Grand Hotel's entrance to Epic Universe. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada The Helios Grand sits adjacent to Epic Universe toward the back of the park, with Celestial Park sitting between the main entrance and the hotel. There is a park entrance from the hotel. Of the hotel's 500 rooms, about half feature views of Epic Universe. In addition to standard rooms, it has several family suites with children's rooms themed to the "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise. "Our team at Loews Hotels has been very busy," said Alex Tisch, CEO of Loews Hotels. "In the last three and a half months, we've opened three hotels on this campus, bringing us to 11,000 rooms." In addition to the Helios Grand, Loews and Universal have opened two other hotels near Epic Universe: the Universal Stella Nova and Universal Terra Luna. Loews and Universal have been working together for 30 years, noted Jonathan Tisch, executive chairman of Loews. "Through this partnership, we've been able to do something very special: Offer an experience that is unique in the theme parks, matched by remarkable time in the hotel," he said.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Infrastructure needed for Universal UK theme park, says council
Vital infrastructure upgrades are required if plans for the first Universal Studios theme park in the UK go ahead, a council leader has Destinations & Experiences will build its first UK resort on a site that includes former brickworks at Kempston Hardwick near leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Adam Zerny, said while the plans were "great news", work was needed to improve the area including around junction 13 of the M1, a key route for accessing the proposed site from the west.A formal planning application has not been submitted, but Zerny said the council had been in close contact with the company over the past year and continued to press for major transport improvements. "Universal are well aware of the infrastructure needs that we have continually put forward on behalf of residents," Zerny said."We will continue to lobby the government for what we need in this area."A full public consultation on the plans is expected to be run by the government later this year, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Asked whether he personally supported the project, Zerny said it "would be great news"."Not just the park itself - new infrastructure, jobs in construction and on the site once it's completed, and potentially increased income for local business," he added that the council stood to gain financially as Zerny acknowledged there were major infrastructure needs for the area."Junction 13 does need to be sorted out, and we also believe the roundabouts should be removed from the A1 to improve the flow of traffic. We will be pushing the government for solutions," he continued."We want a lot for this area, and we're going to demand a lot. Don't ask, don't get." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
