Universal announced that its Orlando Resort’s highly anticipated fourth theme park, Universal Epic Universe, will officially open on May 22, 2025, unlocking the portals to five astounding worlds that will bring to life extraordinary adventures that go beyond guests’ wildest imaginations. “This is such a pivotal moment for our destination, and we’re thrilled to welcome guests to Epic Universe next year,” said Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Epic Universe is set to revolutionize theme park entertainment. With a total of more than 50 incredible experiences that range from groundbreaking attractions to breathtaking entertainment to incredibly themed dining and shopping and so much more, Epic Universe will present a level of theme park immersion and innovation that is unmatched across five themed worlds: 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. And anchoring the park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel: a majestic 500-room property that will offer one-of-a-kind views of the park and feature its very own dedicated entrance into Epic Universe for hotel guests.
Potter’s Ministry of Magic builds upon the global phenomenon that began in 2010 with the debut of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure and continued with the 2014 launch of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Next year, the bar for theme park entertainment will be raised once again with the addition of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Ministry of Magic, creating an exciting trilogy of wizarding adventures across Universal Orlando.
Beyond the world’s ornate portal, guests and clients will first journey from a Muggle park in Paris into the breathtaking spectacle of 1920s Place Cachée, a hidden, bustling shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance. Here, wizards and non-magiques alike will be enamoured with the majestic grandeur and enchanting ambience of the city as they cast dazzling spells throughout the magical streets using interactive wands, encounter fantastic beasts at a travelling 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.
The opening of Epic Universe will transform Universal Orlando Resort into a weeklong vacation destination comprised of four theme parks that are home to the most innovative theme park experiences ever created, 11 spectacular hotels that are destinations unto themselves, and more – forever changing the landscape of the award-winning destination. “With the addition of this spectacular new theme park, our guests will embark on an unforgettable vacation experience with a week’s worth of thrills that will be nothing short of epic. Our Universe will never be the same,” said Irwin.
In the middle of Universal Epic Universe will be Celestial Park, a multi-acre space of gardens, waterways and pathways. The Celestial Park will be the main connection to the new park’s four additional lands. “It really puts the park back into theme park,” said Mark Woodbury, chair and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, as reported by The Independent.
As of the last week of October, guests can plan an epic 2025 vacation to Universal Orlando to experience the entire destination as the first phase of ticket products and packages that include access to Universal Epic Universe will go on sale. Specific products will be sold in phases.
A variety of multi-day tickets and vacation packages that include three, four or five days of admission to Universal’s theme parks – including one-day admission to Epic Universe. These products will go on sale on Tuesday, October 22.
Reservations for Universal Helios Grand Hotel will open on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, for stays beginning May 22, 2025. The hotel will be located in the new theme park, with Universal’s first dedicated theme park entrance for hotel guests. Two other new hotels will open before then, near the park.
Annual Passholders have the exclusive opportunity to purchase single-day tickets to Universal Epic Universe before they go on sale to the general public. Passholders can take advantage of this priority opportunity beginning Thursday, October 24.
Universal’s main competition in the Orlando area is Walt Disney World. It also has four theme parks with plans to expand. Disney officials have indicated that they could invest up to $17 billion in the Florida resort and add a fifth theme park, as reported by The Independent.
