ORLANDO, Fla. — Universal Orlando Resort has officially launched Epic Universe, its highly anticipated theme park and the first major addition to Florida’s theme park landscape in over two decades. The park opened its gates to the public Thursday morning.
Epic Universe is the first traditional theme park to debut in Florida since the opening of Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999. While Universal introduced the water-themed Volcano Bay in 2017, Epic Universe marks a return to the company’s flagship park-style experience.
According to Universal, the new park is among the most immersive and technologically advanced ever created. Guests are transported into five distinct worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and Celestial Park.
To mark opening day, fans began lining up early, with gates opening at 6 a.m. and the park officially opening at 9 a.m. A live stream of the debut was made available on UniversalOrlando.com starting at 7:30 a.m., allowing fans around the world to witness the event.
Epic Universe promises a wide range of attractions, live shows, themed dining, and immersive environments. The park features more than 30 themed restaurants and offers a diverse array of entertainment options designed to appeal to guests of all ages.
NBC6 provided live coverage from Orlando as crowds explored the park for the first time. The debut of Epic Universe is expected to further solidify Orlando’s status as the theme park capital of the world.
