Believe in the hype: The first major new theme park to open in Central Florida in 26 years, the epic Universe leads to its name.
Honestly, I'm just as shocked as you.
But the grandeur was actually my takeaway after spending the last two days in the epic universe as part of a “technical rehearsal.” When it officially debuts on May 22, the estimated $7 billion in real estate should narrow the gap between Universal Orlando Resorts. The Challenger brand in Orlando's $92.5 billion tourist market, and Walt Disney World, which has been dominant since its arrival in 1971, is a long time.
The epic universe is an eight years of widespread creation and spread over 100 acres, representing the dramatic evolution of the universal and, in a way, the American theme park industry. It is more interactive and reflects consumer obsession with immediate satisfaction and personalization. There is also a layer above the storytelling layer from the front gate to the farthest corner, making it even more immersive. The theme goes far beyond the rides and includes things like music, smells, landscaping, food, cutlery, staff uniforms, and even toilets (black in areas dedicated to monsters in the movie).
Epic Universe uses a facial recognition system at its entrance plaza. I'm not groping with tickets or digital fingerprinting. The goal is to speed up input. Face recognition is also used in high-speed lanes for lockers and vehicles.
Adults' daily tickets start at $139 and rise to $199 during their peak holiday days. Express Access costs between $130 and $330 per person.
The epic universe also has an extraordinary layout. There are several shops at the entrance. However, visitors are not exposed to the usual measures of stores that raise high-priced chokkekes. Instead, you will soon enter the vast area of ​​the actual park: trees, flowers, grass, winding roads, a circular “tide pool.” This section, Celestial Park, also features a Bellagio-style dance fountain, with some jets reaching 135 feet. Four walk-up bars. The scattering of restaurants. Concierge booths for phone charging, locker rentals, information, and perhaps emergency band-aids.
“We wanted to bring the park back to the theme park,” Mark Woodbury, chairman of Universal Destinations & Experiences, told me while we stood in our oversight. Part of the goal is to slow you down and make you feel like a crazy dash from riding to riding an epic universe.
The tunnel, known as the portal, connects Celestial Park with four areas. Essentially it's a mini theme park with rides, shops, restaurants, costumed characters and interactive games. One area, Burke Island, is based on the “How to Train a Dragon” movie franchise. Another Dark Universe is home to classic Orgs like Frankenstein's monsters. “Harry Potter” gets a portal just like Nintendo's game characters.
Universal hopes that the addition of the park will allow families to view Universal Orlando Resort as a weeklong destination, as well as a one- or two-day add-on to Disney holidays. (Universal Orlando consists of four parks and 11 hotels.)
However, Orlando's magnetic poles do not reverse. With around 50 million guests per year to Florida parks, Disney is making the hold of childhood strong. Disney World also remains relatively huge, consisting of six parks and over 25 hotels. Disney, which recently announced a summer deal, is also closing out its new ride.
Universal has a history of rocky openings.
Among the theme park fans, the company is still remembered for its arrival in central Florida in 1990. The large vehicle malfunctioned on the first day. And in 2010, when we opened the magical world of Harry Potter, which had 20 acres added to the old park, there was a six-hour wait just to get inside the gate.
It seems that Universal is not left by any coincidence this time. Therefore, it is a long soft open. But we don't know about crowd control in those tunnels. They're so cool and there's going to be selfie traffic.
Here is a guide for what you can expect:
Astronomical Park
The Heavenly Park was conceived as the “cosmic mind” for a spectacular space experience, and its ornamental architecture was inspired by the World Exposition design of the 1800s. The actual hotel includes the luxurious Helios Grand. Rooms start at $490 and offer instant access. Get out of the entrance and start riding.
In the evening, Celestial Park features a show of fireworks and lights. Universal says there are 7 million individually programmable LED lights embedded in the area. (The evening display was not running on the day I was there.)
A new twist in the classic, the Constellation Carousel is located between a pool of tides under a blue glass dome. It's a dual-Lan roller coaster with a stardust tracer spreading out on one side, hitting 62 mph, aiming to feel like riding a comet. (Maybe don't jump on the beginning of the morning like I did.)
Dark universe
Of all the portals, Universal was the least certain of this portal. Classic movie monster? Since the 1930s?
Perhaps overcompensation, the company has built an ultra-fast ride called the Monster Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. After passing through the foreshadowing Frankenstein Manor, equipped with bright blue electric lines, he jumps on a vehicle connected to a robotic arm, zooms in on the catacombs that have made the experiment horribly malformed.
Cut into rebellion of furious monsters like wolf man, mummy, black lagoon creatures. This ride blends digital effects with physical sets and animatronic figures. This includes a 9-foot-high Frankenstein monster that can walk at 800 pounds. There are also flying Drakura. (Yes, plural.) Ride is directed towards the theme park hall of fame. That's very good.
The Dark Universe is home to walkaround characters like The Invisible Man and Ygor, who carry suitcases filled with bloody limbs. Beauty Parlors offer monster makeovers (Face Paint $45, $169 if you want a full outfit).
Super Nintendo World
This colorful, kinetic area has been turned into a mob, with families running maniacly through obstacle courses and collecting digital coins using a power-up band ($42) and a universal app. They seemed to have time for their lives.
That was too much for me, but I'm not a gamer. It is also 90 degrees and there is no shade tree on the front. That's the cost of such a strict theme. You should be in the game, so anything that gets in the way of that fantasy is forbidden. (I took shelter under the toad.)
The big ride here is Mario Kart: Bowser's challenge. The vehicle has a button to throw a digital turtle shell. If possible, go well with Bowser and his associated villain, not Mario and the Princess Speech. I had no idea when I first rode it, but on my second attempt it almost doubled and almost doubled my score.
Bark Island
This light land of sturdy Vikings and wild dragons was my favorite as it was the most unexpected. The “How to Train Your Dragon” Goshi hut is on a towering fake mountain. A real wooden ship navigates the icy fjords. The shop sells hatched dragon eggs. The tavern serves chilly yaknogs that taste like malt chocolate and cinnamon. One ride simulates the flight of a dragon while a family-friendly coaster slides around the landscape.
“Beware of the drools of dragons” is the purpose of your voice as you descend it.
Here are 31 animatronic dragons, including babies with free roaming. Universal is working on two dragons that fly overhead using drone technology. I'll smoke a fire.
Ministry of Magic
This is Peace de Recistance. Universal is already doing very well with Harry Potter in the old park. However, this addition, primarily based on the Paris-themed 1920s, is the only wizard world featuring characters from two sets of films. This is the original Harry Potter Blockbusters and spin-off series, “Fantastic Beasts.”
Marquee Ride is a real mind blower called Harry Potter, a battle in ministry, transporting riders to the trial of Half Blood Witch Dolores Umbridge using a mix of vehicle technology, video walls and animatronic figures invented by Universal. Perhaps to offset her harsh personality, The Ride adds a new character, an elf of the house named Higgledy.
Amateur witches and wizard wands were runaway hits for Universal in the old park. The epic universe gives interactive toys a major upgrade, adding lights and tactile effects (vibration). When linked to the Universal App, these wands ($85) activate personalized messages and other rewards at interactive spellcasting spots within the Magic Ministries.
Food and products
I already have a drawer full of old canes in my house, but I couldn't resist leaving with a small item. I picked up a stuffed animal ($59) from “Fantastic Beast” and Dragon Booties ($29).
For my nephew.
But I treated myself with a huge amount of epic universe food. My favourites included King Oyster Mushroom Ceviche, located in the Atlantic in Celestial Park. Perhaps a vampire hangout (note the lack of garlic in menu items), Das Stakehaus served delicious yogurt “brain” with a raspberry “blood” sauce.
The longest line I saw during my visit was on a stand on Berk Island, serving mac and cheese from bread “corn”. They topped with goldfish crackers or pulled pork with peanut bacon jam.
The buffet should clearly not eat.
