Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Opens 2025

[BrianLo]

It’s not about having a hotel linked to a park. It’s not about the land it utilizes. It’s not about how well it is or isn’t designed. It’s about the audacity of its placement. It’s as shameless as putting a towering gift-shop or churro stand as your parks focal point. We call them “castle parks” for a reason. Paris and Tokyo’s remain castle parks despite their hotels. Epic Universe is a “hotel park”. The others skirted a line, Universal boldly crossed it and this park is foundationally and permanently marred by that decision no matter the quality of execution. IMHO

Not to pile on to this debate, since it actually doesn't bother me a ton...

But I really think the inspiration was Bellagio + fountain show. The hotel even looks like Bellagio. I think what's bothering you the most, is that the park weenie is essentially "Las Vegas". And I agree, that's kind of weird for a park that is otherwise playing Space and Fantasy as its themes.

None of the Disney Parks have their hotels acting as icons and Fantasy Springs seems to be making effort to hide it. Though Universal doesn't really do central Weenies, so I assume its iconography are more the gate itself, which they are further leaning into with every Land portal.

 

[sedati]

I may have exaggerated when I called it a "Space Casino". Seeing it coming together on Bioreconstruct it looks like a pretty average Earth hotel. I know it's got some adornments and dome coming (maybe they'll paint some flowers on it) but it's pretty clear that they went with a less-themed look than in the concept art.

And while it doesn't bother me, it is also a non-symmetrical design which means every EPCOT purist will have their noses bleeding and brains-breaking the moment they enter the park.

To be clear, I am very pretty excited about this park, but disagree strongly with the decision of hotel placement.

 

[lazyboy97o]

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I may have exaggerated when I called it a "Space Casino". Seeing it coming together on Bioreconstruct it looks like a pretty average Earth hotel. I know it's got some adornments and dome coming (maybe they'll paint some flowers on it) but it's pretty clear that they went with a less-themed look than in the concept art.

And while it doesn't bother me, it is also a non-symmetrical design which means every EPCOT purist will have their noses bleeding and brains-breaking the moment they enter the park.

To be clear, I am very pretty excited about this park, but disagree strongly with the decision of hotel placement.

Are you intentionally being disingenuous?

Structure isn’t ornament.

The symmetry of CommuniCore was part a specific spatial organization. Appreciation for it has nothing to do with some sort of religious devotion to symmetry.

 

[TalkToEthan]

but it's pretty clear that they went with a less-themed look than in the concept art.

No, it’s not clear at all(yet); you’re too early to make such a conclusion.

 

[trr1]

https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct
bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct

Aerial photo with the two highest elements of the Epic Universe dual-racing roller coaster. Each reached immediately after a launch.1 Top Hats2 Celestial Spin, where tracks crisscross as they roll.

Aerial photo of development of a Harry Potter related land in Epic Universe. Intersection of five full-size streets of Paris.

Aerial photo of development of the extended queue of the featured attraction in Harry Potter related land in Epic Universe.

Aerial photo of work in progress for theming the front of the Epic Universe dual-racing roller coaster.

Aerial photo of a construction staging area of Epic Universe, where theming models are created. Including pavement tests.1,2,3 Staging of a large number of mystery items.4 Believed to be a ready-to-place wagon in the Curse of the Werewolf queue.

Aerial overview of the Epic Universe dual-racing roller coaster.

Aerial photo showing tracks returning inside the Epic Universe dual-racing roller coaster.

Colorful pavement at left in this aerial photo is the exit from the Harry Potter related land in Epic Universe.The portal is at center, with a magic wand raised on a column above it.

Aerial photo showing all streets with scaffolding in a Harry Potter related land in Epic Universe.

Aerial overview of a Harry Potter related land in Epic Universe.

 

[trr1]

bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct

Aerial overview of the Epic Universe dual-racing roller coaster. Arrow at recently-added foundations.

There's several octagon shaped foundations in the central corridor of Epic Universe. This aerial photo shows steel frame on one of the octagons, near the portal to a Harry Potter related land.

Aerial overview of areas near the portal of Harry Potter related land in Epic Universe.

Aerial photo of with roofing progress of the station of the Epic Universe dual-racing roller coaster.

Aerial look at the front of the Epic Universe in-park resort tower.

Aerial photo of Epic Universe Back of House, along Sand Lake Rd.At center is recent site work. Lighting indicates this will be parking. Nearby is more Team Member parking.Arrow at top center at Doctor Doom's Fearfall in Islands of Adventure.

Aerial photo of the arrival side of the Epic Universe in-park resort.

A wide aerial photo looking across Epic Universe.• Dark Universe in foreground.• In-park resort tower at left.• Raised magic wand at the portal of a Harry Potter related land.• Tallest tracks of the dual-racing roller coaster at right.

Aerial photo of the excavation for the pool at the Epic Universe in-park resort.

Aerial overview of the pool and outdoor recreation area of the in-park resort of Epic Universe.

 

[trr1]

bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct
Aerial photo of the front of Epic Universe.1 A Back of House gate2,3 Octagons. Several in the park.4 A tunnel to access the underground kitchen of a water side restaurant. (Octagon shape)5 Concrete pours pending in this service area near Super Nintendo World.

It's believed that nighttime shows in Epic Universe will include the show fountain, projections on the in-park resort tower, and fireworks launched from a peninsula behind the tower.Arrow in 2nd aerial photo at landscape staging.

Aerial photo of cascading water features relative to shops at front of Epic Universe.

Aerial overview of Dark Universe. Classic Universal Monsters land in Epic Universe.

Aerial overview of the entrance areas of Epic Universe.

Yellow truss at center of this aerial photo is being assembled to support construction of a dome at top of the Epic Universe in-park resort tower.

Aerial photo of the Curse of the Werewolf roller coaster and The Burning Blade Tavern in Epic Universe.

Aerial photos of cascading water features at front of Epic Universe.

 

[trr1]

https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct
bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct

Aerial photo of cascading water features at the front of Epic Universe. Arrows at bridge foundations.

Aerial photo of the admission sales and Guest Services building of Epic Universe.

Aerial photo of Terra Luna and Stella Nova resorts.Epic Universe day guest parking at top.

Aerial look at framing for a curved roof edge over a ballroom at top of the Epic Universe in-park resort tower.

Aerial overview of How To Train Your Dragon land and surrounding areas of Epic Universe.

Aerial photo of development of the feature guests will see on entering Epic Universe. Water to cascade from this feature into a flow of ponds through the center of the park.

Aerial overview of the Epic Universe in-park resort.

Aerial photo of the Epic Universe in-park resort tower. A yellow truss is being assembled at center to support construction of a large dome.

Aerial photo of the entrance areas of Epic Universe.

Aerial photo of what will be the portal into Epic Universe. A center half-circle of the colonnade gateway of the park.Each portal into the park's lands has a similar half-circle.

 

[trr1]

https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct
https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct
bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct

In this aerial photo of the Epic Universe area:1 Recent site work2 Terra Luna resort3 Stella Nova resort4 Universal Blvd5 Raised traffic circle site6 In-park resort access road7 Sand Lake Rd

Aerial photo of a shop building at front of Epic Universe. Roofed area connects to the entrance gateway.Water feature construction at left.

Aerial photo of work so far on the entrance of Epic Universe. Some theming in progress at top left wall. Similar theming at bottom right.

At left in this aerial photo is work on theming to hide Back of House of Epic Universe from guests returning to the How To Train Your Dragon roller coaster station.First launch at right.

Aerial photo with the flow of water features at front of Epic Universe.1 A pond that will have elaborate fountains. In front of a water side restaurant. (Octagon shape)2,3 Octagonal foundations. There are a few of these in the park.

Aerial photo of work so far at the entrance of Epic Universe.A half-circle entry at center. Similar to the half-circle portals of the lands in the park.

Aerial overview of the Epic Universe in-park resort.

Epic Blvd spans here from top center through the traffic circle to Destination Pwy at bottom. The intersection with the street signage.Road at right is exit from day guest parking.

Arrow in this aerial at first facade where scaffolding has been removed in a Harry Potter related land.

 

[trr1]

https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct
bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct

Aerial photo of a background skyline in a Harry Potter related land.At top of the photo is scaffolding on both sides of a narrow street with stairs. As if in Montmartre.Workers are building roofline of Paris buildings.Turrets of Sacré-Cœur Basilica to be at the tower.

Colorful pavement at left in this aerial photo is the exit from the Harry Potter related land in Epic Universe.The portal is at center, with a magic wand raised on a column above it.

Aerial photo of a restaurant at base of the Epic Universe in-park resort tower. A cascading water feature is in front, and a bridge is in progress.Top of the Dark Universe portal tower also seen.

Aerial photo of the Meade Hall area of How To Train Your Dragon land.

Aerial overview of rock work in progress at Meade Hall in How To Train Your Dragon land.A substantial excavation at the bridge at left.

Aerial photo of rock work at the entrance to Meade Hall. Viking statue shapes are on both sides of the door.In How To Train Your Dragon land.

Aerial photo of the target-practice boat ride in How To Train Your Dragon land. Roof recently raised over the station.

Aerial photo of development near the pair of spinning rides in How To Train Your Dragon land. Arrow at ride test dummies.Sign in lower left is: Grog & Gruel.

Aerial photo of the portal to How To Train Your Dragon land. Rock work mesh is being added at base of the tower.1 Theming model for the rock work2 Temporary fence and a permanent fence in progress. Near the roller coaster track.

Aerial overview of Dark Universe. Classic Universal Monsters land in Epic Universe.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The new hotel is very reminiscent of the latest WDW towers like Riviera. Good enough as a backdrop for fireworks at Universal, apparently.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

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I may have exaggerated when I called it a "Space Casino". Seeing it coming together on Bioreconstruct it looks like a pretty average Earth hotel. I know it's got some adornments and dome coming (maybe they'll paint some flowers on it) but it's pretty clear that they went with a less-themed look than in the concept art.

And while it doesn't bother me, it is also a non-symmetrical design which means every EPCOT purist will have their noses bleeding and brains-breaking the moment they enter the park.

To be clear, I am very pretty excited about this park, but disagree strongly with the decision of hotel placement.

The concept art that you posted is an older version of the park. The newer concept art is closer to what they are building.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

The concept art that you posted is an older version of the park. The newer concept art is closer to what they are building.

Are you sure? I thought the other was the newer because the space themed restaurant between Starfall Racers and Harry Potter is missing from the other one.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Are you sure? I thought the other was the newer because the space themed restaurant between Starfall Racers and Harry Potter is missing from the other one.

Yes. And what they are building where Meteor Burger and Citrico's were in the most recent concept art doesn't match either of them. It's a new place called Meteor Astropub.

 

[celluloid]

That hotel is going to frame so nicely in the arches for the park.

 

[SouthDakotaTink]

I can't wait for EPIC to open!!!

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

 

[phillip9698]

It’s not about having a hotel linked to a park. It’s not about the land it utilizes. It’s not about how well it is or isn’t designed. It’s about the audacity of its placement. It’s as shameless as putting a towering gift-shop or churro stand as your parks focal point. We call them “castle parks” for a reason. Paris and Tokyo’s remain castle parks despite their hotels. Epic Universe is a “hotel park”. The others skirted a line, Universal boldly crossed it and this park is foundationally and permanently marred by that decision no matter the quality of execution. IMHO

Confused because somehow it seems people think that Universal was building a “castle” park when that is never been part of their DNA. How did that ever become an expectation?

None of their other parks have a central focal beacon the way Disney parks do, why would this one? This isn’t following the Disney formula no matter how hard anyone wants to force the narrative. If you were looking for the next evolution of a Disney park then you will need to wait until Disney decides to open a 5th gate if that ever happens.

IMO it seems people don’t like the hotel because it’s a part of the park that really isn’t part of the park. People feel as though when they enter the park EVERYTHING they see should be a part of the park experience. The fact that this hotel isn’t unless you are a guest is rubbing people the wrong way.

 

[Rich Brownn]

Confused because somehow it seems people think that Universal was building a “castle” park when that is never been part of their DNA. How did that ever become an expectation?

None of their other parks have a central focal beacon the way Disney parks do, why would this one? This isn’t following the Disney formula no matter how hard anyone wants to force the narrative. If you were looking for the next evolution of a Disney park then you will need to wait until Disney decides to open a 5th gate if that ever happens.

IMO it seems people don’t like the hotel because it’s a part of the park that really isn’t part of the park. People feel as though when they enter the park EVERYTHING they see should be a part of the park experience. The fact that this hotel isn’t unless you are a guest is rubbing people the wrong way.

Universal's icons tend to be outside the park: The globe for USF and the lighthouse for IOA. I assume the gateway will have some sort of icon when entering the park.

 

[sedati]

None of their other parks have a central focal beacon the way Disney parks do, why would this one?