Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Opens May 22 2025

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In this general area, the winds were not as severe as we had feared they would be once it arrived here. The major issue in central FL is the epic flooding you keep seeing so much about as a result of the stunning amount of rain.

and the T Rex that escaped the Jurassic Park River Adventure

 

[MagicHappens1971]

This 9-10,000 team member number, where is it coming from? And what is it based on? I’m just wondering as that’s a lot of people for as of right now one theme park? Have they announced anything else yet?

 

[DCBaker]

This 9-10,000 team member number, where is it coming from? And what is it based on? I’m just wondering as that’s a lot of people for as of right now one theme park? Have they announced anything else yet?

In this story from the Orlando Sentinel - here's a portion.

"Epic Universe is projected to bring $11 billion in economic impact to Orlando between now and the theme park’s opening, said John McReynolds, Universal Orlando’s Senior Vice President of External Affairs.

“It is the largest single investment that the company, Comcast, has put into the parks worldwide,” McReynolds said during a recent luncheon for Orlando’s tourism leaders.

NBCUniversal is investing several billion dollars for the park’s construction, including $1 billion in 2022 alone.

About 1,500 construction employees were working on-site in mid-August, he said, and within the next year there will be between 9,000 and 10,000 workers at the property daily until the park opens.

Dennis Speigel, founder and CEO of International Theme Park Services, said the theme park industry is closely watching Epic Universe’s race to meet its 2025 deadline.

“We keep hearing from vendors, as well as people in the industry, that use the old term again, ‘pedal to the metal,’” he said. “They’re moving rapidly. They don’t want to get behind.”

The park will be a world-class addition to the attractions industry, Speigel said, and there are high hopes for its debut.

“This isn’t adding just a show or a ride or an attraction. We’re adding major new entity, which will have a huge impact on Orlando and Florida,” he said."

Universal puts ‘pedal to the metal’ on Epic Universe project

Universal has kept quiet, but that hasn’t stopped fans from piecing together clues about Orlando’s first new major theme park since 1999.

www.orlandosentinel.com

 

[tommyhawkins]

This 9-10,000 team member number, where is it coming from? And what is it based on? I’m just wondering as that’s a lot of people for as of right now one theme park? Have they announced anything else yet?

USB and Shanghai used 100,000 workers each, so 9,000-10,000 per day is normal and to be expected. it was reported in the sentinel.

Consider the fact the active work site is going to end up around 600 acres by next year.

Beijing Universal Studios Theme Park and Resort

At Arcadis, we made use of our advantageous global networks to formulate a cost strategy that met the requirements of Beijing Universal Studios, working together with other engineering, design, and technology partners to ensure the high-quality delivery of Beijing Universal Studios within the...

www.arcadis.com

Shanghai Disney officially opens: A peek inside

After five years of construction, $5.5 billion in spending and a month of testing to work out the kinks, Shanghai Disney Resort opened to the public just before noon, Shanghai time, on Thursday, June 16 (which was 9 p.m. Wednesday in Anaheim, home of the original Disney park). Shanghai Disneyland…

www.latimes.com

 

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Arlene Wszalek
@Wzzy

I’m not
@bioreconstruct
; I just pretend when I recognize a landmark. Here’s Epic Universe as we flew over it a few minutes ago.

Tommy Hawkins
@tommyhawkins

Arlene gets an overlay for an awesome photo

 

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bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct
Oct 9

Aerial look at Universal's Epic Universe 1 Park entrance area 2,3,4 Water features in central corridor 5 A new Harry Potter land 6 High-speed roller coaster 7 High-speed site grooming 8 High-speed staging 9 How to Train Your Dragon roller coaster 10 The Great Hall

Aerial overview of How To Train Your Dragon land, and surrounding area of Universal's Epic Universe.

Aerial overview of How To Train Your Dragon land. 1 Roller coaster water and terrain features 2 Roller coaster station area 3 The Great Hall 4 Theater attraction 5 Park entrance area

Arrows in this aerial photo at recent concrete work in How To Train Your Dragon land. 1 Roller coaster station area 2 The Great Hall 3 Deep excavation

Aerial look at Universal's Epic Universe construction. Top spire of Hyatt Regency Orlando in foreground.

Aerial overview of Universal's Epic Universe. Arrow at Mythos Restaurant in Islands of Adventure.

Aerial overview of Epic Universe with most of the Hurricane Ian flooding drained.

Aerial look at the Ministry of Magic show building. 16 or more boom lifts are seen in this photo, including along the side at arrow. In a new Harry Potter land in Epic Universe.

 

[trr1]

Epic Universe Update: Storm Flooding Gives Way to Increased Construction Progress

Flooding has subsided but crews have wasted no time getting back to work as new track is installed for Nintendo rides and more

orlandoparkstop.com

 

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Robbie Coltrane dies aged 72: Tributes flood in for 'unique talent'

Harry Potter and Cracker actor Robbie Coltrane has died aged 72, his agent announced tonight. The Scottish star was known for playing Hagrid and starring as criminal psychologist Dr Eddie 'Fitz'

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[OG Runner]

Robbie Coltrane dies aged 72: Tributes flood in for 'unique talent'

Harry Potter and Cracker actor Robbie Coltrane has died aged 72, his agent announced tonight. The Scottish star was known for playing Hagrid and starring as criminal psychologist Dr Eddie 'Fitz'

www.dailymail.co.uk

That really is said. He is immortalized on the Hargrid's ride though.

 

[JoeCamel]

That really is said. He is immortalized on the Hargrid's ride though.

I hope he is finally pain free and can rest

 

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bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct
Oct 16

Aerial look across Epic Universe. 1 Classic Monsters show building 2 Portal to Classic Monsters land 3 Fountain basin 4 Portal to a new Harry Potter land 5 In-park hotel pilings 6 Ministry of Magic

Aerial photo of the featured attraction in Classic Monsters land. Manor seen in the land at left. At Epic Universe.

Aerial look at construction of a restaurant near Classic Monsters land. Accessed from the Epic Universe central corridor.

Seems like a shuttle loop under construction for Team Members to reach distant areas of Epic Universe. TM building in lower right. Ministry of Magic show building at center of this aerial.

Aerial look at the portal into a new Harry Potter land at Epic Universe. Behind it are foundations for city buildings in the land.

Aerial overview of How To Train Your Dragon land in Universal's Epic Universe.

Aerial look at construction of The Great Hall (at left) in How To Train Your Dragon land. At right are recently added concrete forms. At Epic Universe.

Aerial overview of How To Train Your Dragon area of Epic Universe. 1 Great Hall 2 Roller coaster 3 Coaster station 4 Theater attraction 5 Guest parking/transportation 6 Park entrance 7 Separate high-speed roller coaster

Aerial of the entrance plaza of Epic Universe. Arrow at pole used as reference for front of the park when the site was flat. 1 First of 3 water features through the park's central corridor 2 Buildings near the entrance 3 How To Train Your Dragon land 4 Super Nintendo World

Aerial look at part of the Kirkman Rd extension alongside Epic Universe. 1 Classic Monsters land 2 Super Nintendo World 3 Day guest parking 4 Universal hotel site

 

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https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct
bioreconstruct
@bioreconstruct
Oct 16

Aerial look at center of Epic Universe. 1,2 Hotel tower spans here 3 Fountain basin, arrow centered on hotel tower 4 Water-based attraction 5 Harry Potter land entrance 6 High-speed roller coaster 7 Classic Monsters land entrance

Aerial overview of site of a Universal Orlando hotel near Epic Universe. Bridge at left is part of the Kirkman Rd extension. Arrow where Shingle Creek has been temporarily diverted around an excavation.

Aerial overview of where, at center, a Universal hotel is being built near Epic Universe (at left). SR 528 Beachline diagonal at top right. Universal Blvd at right.

Aerial look across Epic Universe 1 High speed roller coaster track staging 2 High speed station, near center of the park 3 How To Train Your Dragon coaster 4 What seems to be a roller coaster in Classic Monsters land 5 Featured Monsters attraction 6 Harry Potter land entrance

Aerial overview of Universal's Epic Universe.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Do you think Universal is consciously working on sight lines so you can’t see other lands or the Hub from within a land. The “portals” would seem to suggest it. While I don’t mind see exterior coaster track if it’s aesthetically pleasing (like Hulk), I don’t want the tracks to seem like they are overtaking the land or intruding on the overall feel of an area (Rip Ride Rockit).

IoA purposely wants you to see the lands across the lagoon…do you think that’s what they want while you’re in the Hub?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Do you think Universal is consciously working on sight lines so you can’t see other lands or the Hub from within a land. The “portals” would seem to suggest it. While I don’t mind see exterior coaster track if it’s aesthetically pleasing (like Hulk), I don’t want the tracks to seem like they are overtaking the land or intruding on the overall feel of an area (Rip Ride Rockit).

IoA purposely wants you to see the lands across the lagoon…do you think that’s what they want while you’re in the Hub?

This park is mostly being designed with the idea that each land is visually isolated from the rest. It’s part of why you have to enter the hub to move between them.

 

[JT3000]

Do you think Universal is consciously working on sight lines so you can’t see other lands or the Hub from within a land. The “portals” would seem to suggest it.

That's the idea. They're working under the Diagon school of theme park design. It's yet to be seen how well they actually accomplish this, but we know they can.

The one thing I'm very skeptical of is the idea that everyone has to enter/exit each individual land from the hub, with no connections between them. That strikes me as a potential nightmare for crowd flow.

 

[MisterPenguin]

They've just confirmed that the hub will have a Hunger Games audience participation attraction...

 

[JoeCamel]

They've just confirmed that the hub will have a Hunger Games audience participation attraction...

View attachment 673280

Sheesh - do you understand how spoilers work??

 

[OG Runner]

They've just confirmed that the hub will have a Hunger Games audience participation attraction...

View attachment 673280

Remember to bring your bow and machete!

 

[sedati]

This park is mostly being designed with the idea that each land is visually isolated from the rest. It’s part of why you have to enter the hub to move between them.

Having only one portal in and out seems worrisome as they also don't seem terribly large.