Universal Epic Universe started out as a doodle on a piece of napkin.
“Here’s a layout of how this could work,” said Mark Woodbury back in 2016. At the time, Universal’s current CEO was president of Universal Creative and had just tasked his team with setting up a brainstorm session with one topic on the agenda: “What would we create if we had the opportunity to build another domestic park?”
As it turns out, a whole new universe.
Cut to nearly a decade later and here I am sharing with you the first exclusive deep dive into the highly anticipated details around Universal Epic Universe, the most immersive and innovative park ever built, opening in 2025.
What is Universal Epic Universe?
Let’s start with the basics. Epic Universe is Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth theme park, built on 750 acres of land, just a few miles from Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay. This new offering will transport guests to expansive, vivid worlds filled with awe-inspiring attractions, entertainment, hotels, dining and more.
How do you get to Epic? Instead of parking in the main parking garage and accessing the theme parks through Universal CityWalk, you’ll drive directly to where the new theme park is located (and yes, there will also be complimentary transportation connecting the entire Universal Orlando Resort destination!).
From ground-breaking technology to an innovative racing roller coaster, to five different worlds connected through mystical portals, Epic is transformational on so many levels.
“Epic is the future meeting the present,” says Gabriela Lander, director of Facility Design for Universal Creative, who’s been involved in the Epic project (what at the time was being called the “new project”) since the very first brainstorm session. “We’ll have a park where we’ll be able to walk through nature and be guided by the stars, surrounded by iconic elements that materialize dreams into immersive worlds of epic stories, and with a level of technology that will take the experience to a new level,” she adds.
Inspired by the exploration of unknown worlds, the theme park offers an entirely new level of experience by putting guests into five fully-themed worlds. “We’re telling stories that resonate with our guests, immersing them right from the front gate,” says Steve Tatham, the executive creative director for Universal Epic Universe, who moved back to Orlando from Osaka, Japan, to work on this project. “Universal redefined theme-park entertainment forever. We’re setting a new standard, and that’s what it means to be a modern theme park,” he adds.
Can you imagine what it must feel like to work on a project for so long, not be able to talk about it, and then finally start to see it come to life? “It’s one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” says Gabriela. “This amazing park went from an idea to a design, and from there to a full construction site, where everyday you see new parts being built or installed. The amount of talent invested in producing a new theme park that goes above and beyond what we have already done, is a humbling and heart-filling experience.” She attributes the greatness of Epic Universe to the diverse talent involved in its creation. “It’s a direct reflection of the multitude of cultures, races, religions, abilities, backgrounds and genders represented in this project through our Team Members,” says Gabriela.
