Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Opens 2025

SplashJacket

Well-Known Member
View attachment 765845

That looks like a moderate day at the park. Lots of warm bodies working on this
IMG_0715.jpeg

Lots and lots of workers. Meeting with just the Dark Universe construction crew. Per Bioreconstruct.

Obviously workers/car will be much lower (nearly 1) than guests per car (certainly higher than 2), but regardless. Incredible workforce on this mega-project.
 

RandySavage

Well-Known Member
I really would like to see someone example a picture or art of how they intentionally imagine Riviera would of supposed to be.... I personally don't get it... is it the exterior of the building only? or is it the paint color or is it the size of the lobby and gift shop...
The theme is "French Riviera", which is a great theme for what could have a been a gorgeous resort if the Old Guard were still at Disney. The French Riviera at its peak (1880s-1914) was studded with scores of big, beautiful hotels in places like Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Menton & Monte Carlo. The stand-outs were generally Beaux Arts in style. They would be readily translatable to a modern hotel in terms of size and architecture, had there been any will or care to do so. A few examples:
Hotel de Paris monte carlo.jpg

Hotel Carlton.jpg

Hotel regina.jpg

Winter Palacce menton.jpg


Done right, Riviera would have had spires galore, a great deal of ornament, including around the windows, proper application of decorative masonry, and materials that look authentic to the theme - and that's just the exterior. You can see the Riviera tenth-a**es this style: the only elements separating it from standard highway garbage hotel "architecture" being the cupola and a few badly-executed dormers:
disney dog .jpg


I'd like to imagine if this theme came up back when Disney was capable of making great hotels, the concept for Riviera would have been along these lines:
Z - Euro BeauxArts - Riviera ought to have been 5a.jpg


Z - Adventure - Kingsland M Italian Renaissance Hotel.jpeg
 
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DCBaker

Premium Member
News from Universal on Epic Universe.

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Orlando, Fla. (January 30, 2024) – In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will unveil its next gamechanger for theme park entertainment with the debut of its most ambitious theme park yet: Universal Epic Universe. Epic Universe will present a level of theme park immersion and innovation that is unmatched – transporting guests to expansive worlds featuring more than 50 awe-inspiring attraction, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences that come together to create an unforgettable adventure that is nothing short of epic. The addition of Universal Orlando’s fourth theme park will also transform the award-winning resort into a weeklong vacation destination filled with the most compelling experiences imaginable.

Today, Universal Orlando reveals more details about Celestial Park – the heart of Universal Epic Universe and the first world guests will encounter at the new theme park.

CELESTIAL PARK
With acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways and strolling pathways, Celestial Park puts the “park” back in “theme park.” As soon as guests enter the imaginative world, they’ll embark on a journey of discovery, thrills and excitement as they wander through lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements. Here, guests can relax while taking in the sights and sounds around them, board a shooting comet for an exhilarating roller coaster adventure, dine on delectable cuisine, shop exclusive merchandise to commemorate their visit and more.

PORTALS TO OTHER EXTRAORDINARY WORLDS
Plus, Celestial Park will be the gateway to explore the four additional worlds of Epic Universe – each bringing to life extraordinary adventures that go beyond guests’ wildest imaginations. Through a set of majestic portals that capture the imagination and creativity of each world, guests will embark on a transformative experience as they journey from Celestial Park to:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, where guests will discover a different era of the wizarding world in an all-new land that blends 1920s wizarding Paris from Warner Bros. Pictures’ Fantastic Beasts films with the iconic British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series;
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, where guests will enter the iconic green pipe and discover a new way to play as they step into the worlds of beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong;
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, where guests can soar with dragons in a colorful world filled with Viking adventures based on the wildly popular How to Train Your Dragon film franchise;
• and Dark Universe, where guests encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.

CELESTIAL PARK ATTRACTIONS AND EXPERIENCES
Here are additional details about some of the other wonders guests can enjoy while exploring Celestial Park:
Starfall Racers, a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests rocketing through the skies aboard comets in a race to see who’s the fastest of them all. Reaching speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track, Starfall Racers will be Epic Universe’s most thrilling coaster experience with unique maneuvers such as the “Celestial Spin,” in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air – creating an “out-of-this-world” adrenaline rush.
Constellation Carousel – the grand centerpiece of Celestial Park. Here, explorers of all ages will take a fantastical whirl aboard constellations that glide forward, backward – and even make 360-degree rotations – through the milky way in a choreographed dance of music and starlight.
Astronomica, an interactive wet-play area that also doubles as a giant compass rose to the many wonders of Epic Universe, featuring crystal blue fountains that spring to life and dance around guests;
• An array of unique dining experiences ranging from full-service restaurants to quick-service locations that offer something for every palate, including Atlantic – a full-service “surf and turf” restaurant set inside a Victorian aquarium complete with captivating views of Celestial Park; and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant – where diners take a culinary journey across Asia as they enjoy authentic Chinese, Japanese and Thai fare in this full-service restaurant accented with neon dragons and ethereal lanterns. Additional “must-eat” locations within Celestial Park include The Oak & Star Tavern, where guests can enjoy savory barbecue, Pizza Moon, which will serve up a tasty menu featuring a variety of pizzas, and more.
• Incredibly detailed retail locations, including the Nintendo Super Star Store, where guests can shop an assortment of merchandise themed to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD; Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, where guests can satisfy their cravings with a unique selection of sweet treats, and more.
• Plenty of exciting entertainment, including various fountain shows throughout Celestial Park’s seven acres of water where a multitude of fountains sway, dance – and even reach heights up to 135 feet in the air – to music and interactive lighting from day to night.

And located inside Epic Universe at the end of Celestial Park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, designed to transport guests to a world where the heavens and earth unite – complete with 500 rooms, one-of-a-kind views and its very own dedicated entrance into the theme park.

Plus – in addition to raising the bar for theme park innovation, Epic Universe is Universal Destinations & Experiences’ latest development to integrate energy efficiency and sustainable construction practices.

More details about Universal Epic Universe – including the debut of an interactive preview center at Universal CityWalk later this year that will offer a sneak peek at the new theme park – will be revealed in the months ahead. For more information about Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com.
 

JoeCamel

Well-Known Member
Back when the land purchases were being worked out a group of friends and I rode the new at that time wheel to gaze at a cow pasture and speculate on the new park that was to come. I'd like to get that same group back for another ride but sadly some are no longer with us so I hope they can see it from where they are
 

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
When they say WWoHP:MoM will blend 1920s Paris with the HP MoM, I hope that doesn’t mean the land will be in the Fantastic Beasts 1920s era with the ride randomly in the 1990s HP era. That would be very strange. It would feel like they committed to a Fantastic Beasts land but the films weren’t as successful as they hoped, so they kept the land they designed and then threw in the Ministry ride originally planned next to Diagon Alley because they think we’d rather see Harry than Newt.
 

imagineer97

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
When they say WWoHP:MoM will blend 1920s Paris with the HP MoM, I hope that doesn’t mean the land will be in the Fantastic Beasts 1920s era with the ride randomly in the 1990s HP era. That would be very strange. It would feel like they committed to a Fantastic Beasts land but the films weren’t as successful as they hoped, so they kept the land they designed and then threw in the Ministry ride originally planned next to Diagon Alley because they think we’d rather see Harry than Newt.
I suspect that's exactly what is happening.
 

imagineer97

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Good luck explaining that. There’s a lot of magic in the Wizarding World, but not that kind of time travel.
It wouldn't surprise me if Universal just assumes most people won't care. And they're probably right. If the GP doesn't care about Splash Mountain (as some are saying in another thread), they definitely won't care what the walls look like as we walk to the next Harry Potter attraction.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but it sure seems like the exteriors are all 1920s, but the attraction has been said to be contemporary Potter, I think.
 

Chef idea Mickey`=

Active Member
Back when the land purchases were being worked out a group of friends and I rode the new at that time wheel to gaze at a cow pasture and speculate on the new park that was to come. I'd like to get that same group back for another ride but sadly some are no longer with us so I hope they can see it from where they are
It literally went so fast, I remember vividly when they were just clearing the land, any first signs of construction that it would be "years" before we see any hotel, even main roads, appearance of a park or on site Universal fruitioning...

Looks like however my statement fit Epcot on the monorail beam glimpsing perfectly! Years disney, years!
 

Lil Copter Cap

Well-Known Member
When they say WWoHP:MoM will blend 1920s Paris with the HP MoM, I hope that doesn’t mean the land will be in the Fantastic Beasts 1920s era with the ride randomly in the 1990s HP era. That would be very strange. It would feel like they committed to a Fantastic Beasts land but the films weren’t as successful as they hoped, so they kept the land they designed and then threw in the Ministry ride originally planned next to Diagon Alley because they think we’d rather see Harry than Newt.
This is very much what happened. 😐
 

Andrew25

Well-Known Member
Good luck explaining that. There’s a lot of magic in the Wizarding World, but not that kind of time travel.
To be frank... no one cares. We just spent the past few years on this forum discussing ad nauseam how WDW poorly locked itself into a very specific timeline for SWGE.

Not saying it's not odd that it'll be a Paris land with a UK ride... but who cares? As long as the quality is great, I can care less about continuity.
 

networkpro

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
Great presentation of thier vision in the Introducing Universal Epic Universe video, but it's a 10,000 foot view, a pretty view, but none the less an inch deep.

I hope for more than just a themed shopping mall with thrill rides.
 

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