UPDATED February 16, 2026
A NEW theme park is NOW OPEN in Orlando, Florida as of May 22, 2025: Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe!
WELCOME to Epic Universe!
Five themed lands make up Epic Universe: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe.
“Nothing Short of EPIC…”
Universal has called Epic Universe “its most ambitious theme park yet.” In a press release, the company announced, “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 attractions, entertainment, dining, and shopping experiences that come together to create an unforgettable adventure that is nothing short of epic.”
Celestial Park
Celestial Park serves as the heart and main hub of Epic Universe. Universal shares that this land is “the gateway to explore the four additional worlds of Epic Universe.”
Welcome to Celestial Park!
According to Universal’s announcement, “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.”
Celestial Park
When you step into Epic Universe, Celestial Park provides the grand entrance to the new theme park! You’ll enter underneath the Cronos Tower. The inscription reads: “Beyond this gate, find gardens green and epic worlds to fill your dreams.”
Epic Universe — The Chronos Tower
TWO new rides — Stardust Racers (a dual-launch racing coaster) and Constellation Carousel (the “grand centerpiece” of Celestial Park) are part of the adventures in this land which connects to the other four lands in the park.
Stardust Racers
A wet-play area called Astronomica doubles as a compass to the other immersive things you can do in Epic Universe!
Celestial Park restaurants include everything from full-service dining experiences to quick service spots to confectioneries… and, yes, to Starbucks! Celestial Park is also home to the Nintendo Super Star Store and other retail locations.
We take a deeper dive into all that awaits you in Celestial Park HERE.
Step into Celestial Park HERE!
From Celestial Park, guests can travel “through a set of majestic portals” to visit the other four lands…
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
The NEW Ministry of Magic is the third Harry Potter-themed land at Universal Orlando! It joins Hogsmeade (located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure) and Diagon Alley (located in Universal Studios) as a unique land adding another chapter to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Portal Entrance into Ministry of Magic
The Ministry of Magic blends the 1920s wizarding world of Paris from the Fantastic Beasts movies with the British Ministry of Magic from the original Harry Potter series.
Wizarding Paris
Upon passing through the Portal for the Ministry of Magic, you’ll step into 1920s Paris, directly into a Muggle park. From here, you’ll pass through the Phoenix Arch and into WIZARDING PARIS by way of Place Cachée, which Universal shares is a “hidden, bustling shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance.”
Wizarding Paris
It’s here that wizards and “non-magiques alike” will be “enamored with the majestic grandeur and enchanting ambiance of the city as they cast dazzling spells throughout the magical streets using interactive wands, encounter fantastic beasts at a traveling circus, and – for the first time ever within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – travel across countries and time to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo for a thrilling adventure set inside the iconic British Ministry of Magic.”
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
The new land features a brand-new ride (Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry), several new entertainment options (including the first full-scale theatrical Happy Potter-themed show in the parks), restaurants and bars along with more eateries, a Butterbeer cart (of course!) and more!
Click HERE to EXPLORE The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic!
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
Having made its debut at Universal Studios Japan followed by Universal Hollywood, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is now in Orlando, too!
“Here We Go!”
Universal shares that “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.”
Mario and Luigi!
Mark Woodbury, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, calls Super Nintendo World “the most interactive, colorful world we’ve ever created.”
Super Nintendo World
Like the other lands at Epic Universe, you’ll enter through the “portal” — in this case, the iconic green pipe from Super Mario World! Super Nintendo World is divided into two areas — Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Super Mario Land houses two attractions, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure, while Donkey Kong Country hosts one attraction, Mine-Cart Madness. Several eateries (including the popular Toadstool Cafe) and much more also make up the land…
Click HERE to enter SUPER NINTENDO WORLD!
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Universal shares that “Guests can soar with dragons in a colorful world filled with Viking adventures” in How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, “the world’s first dragon-Viking utopia” from the DreamWorks movie franchise.
“We, my friends, have DRAGONS!”
Further, Isle of Berk is “a vibrant world where raucous Vikings and rambunctious dragons live together in hilarious harmony – based on the wildly popular How to Train Your Dragon film franchise.”
Isle of Berk
The storyline of the land takes place between the first and second How To Train Your Dragon movies.
Toothless and Hiccup!
THREE new attractions (Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Fyre Drill, Dragon Racer’s Rally), several dining locations (get ready to eat in Mead Hall!), a play area, show, and character meet-and-greets with Hiccup and Toothless and MORE make up this immersive land!
Mead Hall inside Isle of Berk at Epic Universe
(And what’s all this about FLYING DRAGONS?!?)
Fly into How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk here!
Dark Universe
The final themed land is Dark Universe…
The Portal to Dark Universe
Dark Universe draws on Universal’s rich history with horror. Here, visitors “encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.”
Darkmoor
Molly Murphy, President Universal Creative, shared that Dark Universe is “a world where Universal’s classic monsters are reimagined in an OMINOUS and CHILLING experience.”
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
That’s right… if you already love Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights held in the fall, you’ll be THRILLED to know that there are now monsters at Universal Orlando all year ’round!
The Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s Monster
Dark Universe features two attractions (including the E-Ticket Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment), meet-and-greets with MONSTERS, dark dining experiences, and MORE…
Click here to enter Dark Universe… IF YOU DARE!
Epic Universe Nighttime Show
In August 2024, Director of Universal Creative, Catherynne Jean shared about the nighttime show at Celestial Park. While the idea of Celestial Park is stellar-based, it also includes elements of Greek mythology. The concept is that by day, Apollo rules the park, but at night, the goddess Luna takes over and is in charge of the “luminescense of the night.” So the two have an exchange when day becomes night!
Celestial Park
A ceremony featuring beautiful music slowly brightens the lights in the park, growing “with the swells of the music until we have a burst of light,” followed by a “dance of light” throughout everything, including the foliage, the buildings, etc.
Celestial Park
Once the ceremony is complete, Celestial Park has its lighting ready for the night. Though the dance of lights doesn’t continue, the lights illuminating the park remain!
Epic Universe Hotels
Three brand new hotels have been added to Universal Orlando to accommodate guests coming to see everything NEW and EPIC at Universal Orlando Resort! Universal Helios Grand Hotel, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort by Loews Hotels all provide the easiest access to Epic Universe.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel
What’s so unique about Universal Helios Grand Hotel? Well, Helios boasts its very own entrance into Epic Universe! It connects to Celestial Park and opened to guests on April 16th, 2025.
Helios Grand Hotel
According to Universal, Helios offers “500 rooms integrated into the park like no other theme park in the world” with a Mediterranean feel.
Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort by Loews Hotels
Joining Universal Helios Grand Hotel are two park-adjacent hotels — Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort by Loews Hotels.
Universal Terra Luna Hotel
Stella Nova, which is inspired by the cosmos, opened on January 21st, 2025!
Stella Nova Resort Guest Room
Step INSIDE the NEW Universal Stella Nova Resort HERE!
And Universal Terra Luna Resort — as of March 25th, 2025 — is NOW OPEN as well. It is inspired by terrestrial exploration and is Stella Nova’s sister property.
Terra Luna Guest Room
These Resorts come with the usual exclusive theme park benefits like early entry and free transportation to and from Universal’s four theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay, and Universal Epic Universe).
Click any of the links below to find the LATEST NEWS about Epic Universe!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
