Everything CONFIRMED for Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe

By Kelly Oliveros
Posted on Posted on

A brand NEW theme park is coming to Orlando in 2025, but how much do you actually know about it?

Universal Studios Florida

Epic Universe is the new theme park being built by Universal Orlando Resort. It’s set to feature new lands, new rides, a new hotel, and MORE. We’ve been watching all of the construction progress being made on this park, but just what could it actually include? We’re taking a DEEP DIVE into the concept art for the park and taking a look at construction updates to let you in on all the secrets!

Disclaimer

First, a disclaimer. A lot has yet to be confirmed for Epic Universe, though there are a lot of rumors that have been spread out there. For now, we’ll be looking at the original concept art for the park and some construction updates, and we’ll identify rumors vs. confirmed details.

Just keep in mind that the park is still in development and concept art is just that…a concept! It’s open to interpretation, and the things we spot might not reach the park in its final form. Still, it’s interesting to see what could be coming to Universal Orlando in the future!

Epic Universe — What We Know

Let’s start with a basic primer on what we DO know about Epic Universe. In terms of its location, the new park won’t be attached to Universal Orlando’s existing theme parks. Instead, it’ll be located closer to the Orange County Convention Center, about 2 miles from Universal Orlando Resort.

Details are still pending in terms of how individuals could get from the existing resort to/from Epic Universe. But we do know that a Brightline train station is set to be built near here, connecting this general area to the Orlando Airport.

Universal Orlando Universal’s Epic Universe Map ©Universal/Comcast

Back in 2021, NBCUniversal’s CEO, Jeff Shell, indicated that attractions at the park would be based on “some of the Illumination and DreamWorks content but especially Nintendo.” Illumination worked on films like Despicable Me, and DreamWorks is behind properties like Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon.

It has been reported that there could possibly be a hotel inside the theme park that could give guests direct access to the park. This is reportedly a 500-unit, full-service hotel set to be completed by Q4 of fiscal year 2023. Another hotel is also set to be built for Epic Universe, which would be a 750-room hotel that will be built along Universal Boulevard.

Click here to see our FULL post about what we know about Epic Universe

Alright, now that we’ve gone over the basics, we can take a look at the concept art and construction.

©Universal

The above is the concept art originally shared for Epic Universe a number of years ago. Let’s break down the potential areas and secrets hidden within!

Entrance/Center Fountain Area

We start our dive at the entrance to the park! You can see the front entrance in the concept art below. It looks like there are some buildings near it with domed, circular tops and rock forms on the bottom. It gives us a very Mythos Restaurant-vibe. The front appears to have a dome of its own in the center, with smaller curved arches to each side.

©Universal

It reminds us of the entrance to Universal Studios Florida, though the entrance to Epic Universe seems a bit more elaborate and grand.

Universal Studios

From that entrance, we enter a central plaza area. Here, it looks like there is a general space for guests to congregate in and ultimately decide whether they’d like to follow the path to the left of the water features or hang a right and visit other lands.

The designs on the floor feel like they would almost be inspired by old astronomers and those who charted the stars, or almost like something out of a DaVinci invention.

©Universal

Near the front (on the left-hand side), we can also see a HUGE show building. It appears to be attached to an overhang with some more domes. It’s unclear what this building could be. Perhaps a ride of some kind? An elaborate restaurant? Backstage areas for employees? We’re not sure but the domed structures and overhang near it seem to suggest it would be something that could be used for guests.

©Universal

If you continue just a bit more to the left of that large show building, you’ll find a smaller structure with a fountain in front of it. It gives us the vibes of being a small hotel, given what appears to be its multiple floors. But there’s another building that more likely will be the large hotel with in-park access that has been previously discussed.

Could this be an elaborate restaurant? Show? There’s a lot that remains to be seen.

©Universal

If we look directly across from this structure, past the little center portion of the path in front of it, there’s an octagonal building located on a bright blue lake. The building looks like it could house some kind of spinning attraction (like a carousel). But it could also be home to a store, restaurant, or a number of other things. The bright lights coming from it seem to suggest that it’ll be something worth checking out — especially with those water views!

©Universal

To the right of this octagonal structure, there is more water with some green structures within it. At least some of the structures appear to have bridges that connect them to the main path. It looks like these will likely just be lookout or relaxation points, but is anyone else also getting mini golf vibes? 😂

In this general area, it also looks like there are some small buildings (see that little circular building to the right?), trees or other vegetation, some little bridges, and even potentially little ponds or water features.

©Universal

Backing up a little bit from that green area toward the front entrance again, on the right-hand side of the entryway there appears to be another building structure with more of those domed tops.

©Universal

All of the domed roofs and what appear to be more glass/window-based tops remind us a bit of the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, which has a central area with a sort-of greenhouse/atrium feel.

©Gaylord Palms

We also want to point out that the waterways here appear to have bridges connecting guests from the left side of the park to the right side, making it easier to walk around without having to do a FULL loop.

Even these bridges appear to have themed elements, with colorful trees or water features making them more interesting.

©Universal

For purposes of this deep dive, we’ll make a loop around the park to the left. Once you go past that octagonal structure, the concept art shows a path that appears to take you past another circular building (you can see the theme here) and over to another circular structure that is closer to the lake.

Anyone else see a ghost design near that circular structure in the greenery? Just us? Okay, we’ve been staring at this for a WHILE now, so you’ll have to excuse our eyes and brains…we might just be seeing things here. 😂

It looks like there is a path leading to this circular building and another path on the other side of it that leads to the bridge across the water. What exactly this circular building could be, however, is unclear. Maybe a shop? A restaurant? An event or entertainment space? There are a lot of possibilities.

©Universal

If you continue going up the path from this circular building, you’ll hit a larger space with a BRIGHT and beautiful circular (again) structure. Again, details haven’t exactly been shared as to what this will be. It looks like this would be a strong draw for guests though, given how well it is illuminated in the concept art and how bright and colorful it is. This could house some kind of attraction (perhaps a water-based one) or could be home to an elaborate restaurant right on the water. There are a lot of possibilities here.

Another interesting thing in this space is that little structure to the bottom-right-hand corner that looks like a little floating island. It appears to have some greenery and perhaps some structure or design on it but doesn’t look like a space guests can access.

There is also a LARGE area to the left of the big circular structure with a light tower of some kind in the center and lots of people all around. And on the far side of the concept art, you can see a circular outcropping that extends a bit into the blue water. That seems to potentially be an area for guests to sit and relax in, but it is prime real estate so it could be home to much more.

There are also little circular structures dotting the greenery on the right-hand side. Could those be food or merchandise kiosks? There are more little circular buildings somewhat similar to those scattered elsewhere in the concept art.

©Universal

Bote that bioreconstruct does seem to refer to the large, colorful central circle as a “mystery attraction.”

 

 

 

Now, let’s backtrack a little bit and enter the first of this park’s themed lands.

Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World is heading to Epic Universe, and many expect that the land to the left of the large, colorful, circular building could be its home.

The front entrance to this land does seem to have some structures that are similar in shape to a pipe and an entrance at the bottom that could be used for guests walking “through a pipe” and into the land.

©Universal

The concept art for this land does appear to be colorful and has structures mirroring certain things you’d find in Nintendo, like some square shapes that could mimic the blocks in Mario games.

There are LOTS of things to look at in this area. There is a sort-of spinning wheel design on the floor at the front entrance, buildings to the right in a variety of colors, a central area, paths that lead up and to the back to what appear to be show buildings for some of the rides, and more.

©Universal

On Twitter, bioreconstruct has posted a number of updates for construction on Super Nintendo World, including what could be the entrance to the world and the load/unload area for the Yoshi’s Adventure ride.

 

 

 

The land is also expected to feature a Mario Kart attraction, which appears to be under construction.

But that’s not all. A back area is expected to house a Donkey Kong-themed space and potentially a roller coaster.

 

 

 

You can see that in this back part of the concept art. Some have speculated that this area’s theming (which looks a bit more natural and green) would be the Donkey Kong-themed space. You can see what appears to be a ride track leading out and around a central show building.

©Universal

This is a more full look at the expected Donkey Kong area under construction.

It looks like there could even be some tracks at the side of vehicles to give the illusion that you’re hoping over gaps, like in the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s another overview of the entire land — looks like things are really starting to come together.

Let’s exit the Nintendo World space and see what’s next.

Central Areas and Unknown Spaces

If you exit the Nintendo space and come out to the main walkway, you’ll pass a large building with what appears to be its own separate entrance on the right-hand side, so it doesn’t look like it would be tied to Nintendo.

©Universal

 

 

 

Past that is that central circular area we saw with the sort-of light tower. If you keep walking past that, you enter another area with more circular buildings and a central light with some greenery all around.

To the left, is a large building with some orange circles in front. In the front, it looks like there is a large structure with some figures and a potential flame or firey element behind them.

©Universal

According to bioreconstruct photos, it looks like this could be a large quick-service restaurant that faces the center of the park.

 

 

 

If you continue walking from there and look to the right of the concept art, you’ll see a MASSIVE fountain. It has what appears to be stadium-like seating, with rows that go down toward the fountain, all around it. That would indicate that this could be home to some pretty spectacular shows, particularly at night when the fountains could have some beautiful lighting effects.

©Universal

Here’s a look at what appears to be this fountain space under construction.

From this fountain space, we’ll stick to the left and enter a NEW land.

Universal Monsters (Rumor)

 

 

 

This next land is rumored to be a Universal Monsters land, and yeah, we totally get spooky vibes from this concept art! We could see Frankenstein or Dracula absolutely loving this space. The details are hard to piece out here, but there does appear to be a large structure in the bottom left, a larger/tall structure on the upper left, a large structure in the upper center (likely an attraction), and a row of houses/buildings in the upper right.

©Universal

This land (if it truly comes to be) appears to be under construction.

 

 

 

There appears to be some framing for themed roof elements in place for a manor or mansion and more that would house the featured attraction in this space.

 

 

 

To the left of this space, there is what appears to be a LARGE arena. This could be really helpful given the concerts Universal Orlando sometimes holds for special events. But it could also be home to some kind of in-park show for regular park hours — perhaps themed to the classic monsters since it is right near that space. This also appears to be right on or near an access road.

©Universal

Now, let’s leave the realm of monsters behind and continue our virtual park walk.

Hotel

If you continue to the right of the park you’ll hit that large fountain, and behind it are several buildings/structures. One is a smaller building that has a bright red banner on the top.

©Universal

There’s also a yellow sculpture or figure in the center.

©Universal

And that leads to the LARGE hotel that would provide guests with in-park access. There appear to be access roads behind it, allowing individuals to drive up to the back, park their cars, and then head inside the hotel and go from there directly into the park.

The hotel rooms would provide some truly spectacular views of the park itself and any entertainment that might be organized at that large fountain.

©Universal

You can see where the hotel restaurant and hotel site would be located in relation to other things in the construction photo below.

 

 

 

It’s only just begun, but we’re excited to see what it could become.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Rumor)

From there, you can take a path around the fountain, past the hotel, and over to what is rumored to be a new Harry Potter land featuring the Ministry of Magic (and perhaps themed more to the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them part of the franchise).

You first encounter a building outside the main entrance to the land.

©Universal

Then, you step further into the land and walk past what look like older buildings — perhaps set somewhere in Europe or from some other big city? You can see these buildings lining part of a street, which then spills into another street running perpendicular with some greenery at the end and more buildings all around. Some have theorized that the large building more toward the back could be a Harry Potter ride which would have guests entering through the Ministry of Magic.

©Universal

Here’s a look at what could be the Ministry of Magic.

Here’s another look at the land and how it could be structured, with the land’s entrance closer to the front and the Ministry of Magic toward the back end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That Ministry of Magic building (if that is indeed what it is) appears to be attached to a large show building, so it could be quite an elaborate attraction!

More General Spaces

After the rumored Harry Potter land, there is a path leading down to the right that appears to pass more large structures. These could be restaurants, shops, or other general buildings.

©Universal

Across the path, to the right of these buildings, is a building that gives us planetarium vibes. It has a circular design on top and some unique design elements.

©Universal

From there we get to our last land and a potential stand-alone ride.

Roller Coaster

Next, we get to a dueling roller coaster that could be a separate ride, totally unrelated to the rumored How to Train Your Dragon land below it.

©Universal

The roller coaster looks to have two sides (very much like the old Dueling Dragons), with a yellow/red side going one way and a more blue path going another way. The roller coaster appears to make some elaborate turns and more paths that then go near the rumored How to Train Your Dragon land and over some more tree-filled areas.

©Universal

It looks like part of this roller coaster is under construction.

 

 

 

How to Train Your Dragon (Rumored)

Then we get to what is rumored to be a How to Train Your Dragon-themed land. It looks like the entrance is just to the side of that big coaster and guests walk under a themed area and into the space, with water all around.

©Universal

There are a bunch of smaller areas within this space. One area has some colorful awnings around it and could be the entrance to a smaller coaster or ride that circles around part of the land (you can sort-of see the track for this in various parts of this lower concept art design).

©Universal

From there, you head down a path to what appears to be more of an entertainment stage or space. Or it could potentially be a restaurant or some other more interior space.

©Universal

There are more areas along the bottom of the concept art that seem to show smaller buildings/spaces guests can enjoy — possibly restaurants or shops.

©Universal

Then you move past a water feature and over to the left, there’s a central space that is more open. Perhaps this could be more of an entertainment-based space or just a space for families to sit back as kiddos run around.

©Universal

It is expected that The Great Hall will be built in this space, really putting fans within the film.

 

 

 

Here’s an overview of the land.

 

 

 

We end our loop around the park by exiting the How to Train Your Dragon land and finding another building of some kind. It appears to face the water.

©Universal

And that’s a current look at the Epic Universe concept art and construction!

 

 

 

There’s a lot under construction here, a lot that has yet to be confirmed, and a lot to look forward to.

 

 

Epic Universe is not set to open until 2025 — in time for summer 2025, so we’ve got a ways to go. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates. Stay tuned for the latest info!

 

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What are you most excited about when it comes to Epic Universe? Tell us in the comments!

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