Ingredients for Expansion
In 2019 at an inoccuous investor’s meeting, Chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts Tom Williams confirmed a rumor long-circulating among industry fans: that Universal Orlando was readying for the construction of a third theme park – their most “immersive and innovative” yet. Considering that neither Disney nor Universal had built a theme park in the Western hemisphere since 2001’s California Adventure (preferring the largely untapped markets and massive populations of Asia), that alone was a big deal.
Then in August, it was official. For the first time since 1999’s Islands of Adventure, Central Florida would become home to a brand new theme park: Universal’s Epic Universe. The new, from-scratch gate would be Universal’s third Orlando park (though they officially call it their fourth based on the somewhat silly notion that their 27 acre waterpark counts as their third, which actually just discounts what a big deal this actual-third-park actually is.)
After inventing the concept of literary, stylized, IP-focused “islands” with Islands of Adventure and arguably mastering the art with the perfectly to-scale Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, Epic Universe would be the first from-scratch, post-Potter U.S. park from either Disney or Universal, with every single land (or, presumably, “universe”) cordoned off from the rest, fully immersive, and totally “in-universe” just like the Wizarding World.
Technically, the only thing officially confirmed about Epic Universe (and again, only through investor calls and not as public marketing) is that it’ll contain Super Nintendo World – the jaw-dropping and unexpected collaboration between Universal Creative and Nintendo that opened in 2020 in Osaka, and 2022 in Hollywood. Even then, Orlando’s version will come pre-packaged with a Super Mario themed Mushroom Kingdom as well as a Donkey Kong expansion pre-built – larger than either of the existing versions.
(That land alone will contain a Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge AR-based E-Ticket dark ride, a Yoshi’s Adventure outdoor family ride, and a Donkey Kong coaster, plus countless interactive experiences activated by a Power-Up Band that serves as Super Nintendo World’s wand equivalent.)
We also know that the park’s “entry land” will be a massive space. A sort of bronze, art deco, otherworldly zone allegedly called Celestial Gardens, it’ll be packed with a dozen restaurants, several flat rides, a headlining dueling coaster, and more, reportedly separated out into elemental mini-lands themed to Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Aether. Beyond it all, a deluxe hotel (reportedly called Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel) will serve as a cosmic, art deco centerpiece.
Otherwise, insiders tracking the park’s development (like the incredible Orlando ParkStop) confirm that the park will also contain a land themed to Universal’s Classic Monsters (think the black-and-white, pre-code horror films like Dracula, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein, and more); a land devoted to DreamWorks’ How To Train Your Dragon films (recreating the Viking world of Berk, above); and a third Wizarding World of Harry Potter locale to join Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. (This land, it’s believed, was designed as a 1920s Paris to complement the Fantastic Beasts franchise, but given that film series’ lukewarm reception, expect the rides within it to be set firmly in the more familiar Potter timeline.)
Epic Universe and its associated hotel (no doubt in Universal’s Premier tier) will be the first projects to take shape on the regained “South Complex” property. They almost certainly won’t be the last. ParkStop reports that as of late 2022, paperwork has been filed for two more hotels – Universal’s Terra Luna and Stella Nova Resorts – and space for a fourth theme park and several more hotels will remain. (Remember, in the ’90s, this “South Complex” was envisioned as the home of two theme parks and 10,000 hotel rooms.)
Though a second “half” of Universal Orlando physically disconnected from the existing core by urban sprawl may seem disjointed, a purpose-built extension of Kirkman Road with Universal shuttle lanes will ensure transportation between the existing transit hub and the South Complex is continuous and smooth. (And lest we forget, a far, far more complex drive is required to travel between any two Disney World parks!)
And perhaps more to the point, Epic Universe resides just steps from the Orange County Convention Center. That’s important for a few reasons. Not only does its proximity to the Convention Center position Universal’s Epic Universe as a highly attractive add-on for conventioneers; the park also has a first-of-its-kind design criteria specifically related to the convention audience…
As confirmed by Comcast CEO Jeff Shell in a December 2022 investor update, Epic Universe is being constructed in such a way that its “entry land” and hub – with restaurants, retail, flat rides, fountains, and roller coaster – can theoretically function as a “CityWalk South,” open to the public in the evenings. Then, the “portals” into each land can either be closed, or sold to corporate groups, evening events, or other buy-outs a la carte. For example, after the park itself closes at, say, 8 PM, that central “Celestuary” could remain open to all till midnight, while a corporate group rents out only Super Nintendo World as a finale to its convention day.
How serious is Universal about Epic Universe? So serious that in January 2023, the company announced that it would pledge 13 acres of its South Campus to establish a SunRail commuter train station linking up to the Orlando International Airport.
Yes, just months after Disney officially pulled out of hosting a Brightline train station at Disney Springs and officially axed its Magical Express shuttle service, Universal has picked up the slack on an altered route, suggesting low-cost mass-transit connections between the airport and their campus will begin sometime this decade. If all goes as planned, that means that – while Disney World visitors vie for Lyfts or pay for Mears shuttle service to their hotel – Universal’s Epic Universe (and by extension, the rest of Universal Orlando) will be linked into a regional, door-to-door transit network.
Thinking bigger, though, just as Universal’s “learn-as-you-go,” “school of hard knocks” lessons from its 1999 expansion informed the evolutions-into-multi-park destinations of the Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Disneyland Paris that followed, the clever “multi-campus” setup established by the South Complex could help shape an inevitable third park in Anaheim, Tokyo, or Paris – any of which would almost certainly located several blocks away from the existing resort core.
No matter how you slice it, Epic Universe looks to be a world-class theme park. And don’t misunderstand – we could (and have) argued that Epic Universe may actually be more than Universal can handle; that it might be just as smart to take those lands to drop them into the resort’s two existing parks where such investment is inarguably needed rather than spreading the resort’s resources thin.
But given that Universal’s decided to go with an entirely new gate, we can look on in awe and ask ourselves: just as they were ready for Universal Studios and ready for Islands of Adventure, what has Disney gotten start to combat Epic Universe? The answer might surprise you…
FYI: While not on property, a train station will still be built close enough to WDW (known as the “South International Drive” station.)
Guests will still be able to take the train from the airport to WDW, although it may not be as seamless as if it were directly on property.