With specialized programs in hospitality and themed experience design — alongside robust engineering opportunities through student-led clubs and industry partnerships — UCF has played a critical role in preparing the workforce behind Epic Universe’s debut and has built a direct talent pipeline into the park.

Now as the park prepares to open its gates this week, it’s also transforming how students learn.

Epic in Curriculum

At ±«°äąó’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, located less than a mile from Epic Universe, the park has become a living case study for both faculty and students. Ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality education by CEOWORLD magazine for 2025, the college is globally recognized for its leadership in shaping future professionals in tourism, attractions and entertainment.

“Anyone looking to build a career in the global attractions industry would not find a better place to attend than UCF.” — Carissa Baker ’08MA ’18PhD, Rosen College assistant professor

Carissa Baker ’08MA ’18PhD, assistant professor of hospitality, has embedded Epic Universe into multiple classes across the theme park and attraction management curriculum. In one course, students analyze the park’s community and economic impacts. In another, they follow the site creation process from research and development to operations and guest experience. Students have also designed guest experience concepts based on Universal’s creative parameters and presented them directly to leaders at the company.

“Several of my students were involved in design, construction and operations development for the park,” Baker says. “Dozens were in attractions commissioning roles, and many are working at the park full time, part time and through internships.”

Culinary Spectacle as Storytelling

Epic Universe is also reshaping ±«°äąó’s approach to culinary education. Chef Jonathan “Jay” Judy, assistant chair of the Department of Foodservice and Lodging Management, and senior instructor, uses the park’s immersive lands to explore how food enhances themed environments.

“Our students aren’t just studying the industry. They’re helping shape its future.” — Jonathan “Jay” Judy, Rosen College faculty member

In his course, Culinary Experiences in Theme Parks and Attractions, students study the full lifecycle of culinary operations in destination attractions — from food concept development to intellectual property (IP) integration and guest immersion.

“When Universal Orlando announced the themes for the various worlds, my students created sample menus based on the IP for each world. We have also used Epic extensively as a class discussion topic,” Judy says. “Watching a park like Epic Universe launch is a masterclass in themed food innovation. From kitchen concept to culinary spectacle, this course gives students the tools to imagine and execute food experiences that could exist in any world, real or fictional.”

Epic Economics, Real-World Impact

The scale of Epic Universe also offers powerful insights into economic development, infrastructure and regional transformation — areas that Rosen College Associate Professor Jorge Ridderstaat is bringing into the classroom.

“Epic Universe presents a valuable opportunity to view a theme park not just as an attraction, but as a major investment with measurable economic impact — something I’m looking to incorporate into my Hospitality Industry Finance class,” Ridderstaat says.

He notes that the park’s projected $7 billion investment and estimated 17,000 new jobs could generate up to $2 billion in economic impact in its first year, while driving new infrastructure and expanding the region’s global tourism appeal. But he also encourages students to consider other related topics — such as housing affordability.

A Creative Pipeline to Universal

“Epic has solidified Orlando as the international hub of the themed entertainment industry.” — Peter Weishar, director of UCF’s themed experience graduate programs

±«°äąó’s themed experience M.F.A. program, based in the College of Arts and Humanities, is providing a direct pathway into the creative engine of the industry. The programs — which are among the first of their kinds nationally — teach students the unique creative skills, processes, and concepts needed to design and produce themed environments and attractions. Many graduates go on to become show set designers, architects, show writers, coordinators, project managers, producers, art directors and even creative directors at some of the top themed entertainment companies.

Through the UCF/Universal Creative Lab, students work directly with Universal Creative’s show producers, engineers and designers, gaining rare access to behind-the-scenes development processes.

According to program director and professor Peter Weishar, approximately 40% of themed experience students go on to work for Universal Creative.

“Our students, alumni and even faculty have worked for years to help make Epic Universe a reality,” Weishar says. “Now that it’s opening to the public, it’s serving as a working laboratory for new ideas, innovation and experiential learning.”

“UCF is in the perfect location to collaborate with some of the top creatives in the field,”  Weishar adds.

Engineering the Experience

At the intersection of innovation and imagination, ±«°äąó’s STEEL Club — the Society of Themed Entertainment Engineers and Leaders — is creating new pathways for engineering students to enter the attractions industry. Founded in early 2024, the club has quickly become a hub for students eager to apply technical skills to the world of themed entertainment.

Focused on disciplines like ride control, show systems, mechanical safety and systems integration, the club regularly hosts industry speakers from Universal Creative, Disney, SeaWorld, and third-party vendors. Members also participate in technical workshops on topics ranging from Arduino programming and LED integration to mechanical modeling and wiring — all aligned with the demands of modern attraction engineering.

“We’re building a great program,” says Mikel Garner, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student and STEEL Club vice president. “We look at design, manufacturing, and maintenance — not just how a ride looks, but how it runs and how you troubleshoot it to keep guests safe.”

Garner, who was a Compliance and Auditing intern for Universal Creative, says his experience applied Advancing Standards Transforming Markets (ASTM International) safety standards and engineering best practices to support the development of the park.

STEEL President Bryanna Price, also a senior mechanical engineering major, says the club was founded to fill a gap at UCF for students who wanted hands-on, engineering-focused experience in themed entertainment.

“We’re helping students develop tangible technical skills that translate directly into the industry,” Price says.

The club recently competed in the Ride Engineering Competition, where student teams design and build operational ride models under strict time and size constraints. In the latest event, held at The Ohio State şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą, Price’s team built a fully functioning flat ride model from scratch — applying controls, mechanics and problem-solving under real-world pressure.

“It’s exciting to know we’re helping prepare the next generation of engineers for the theme park world — right here at UCF.” —  Bryanna Price, student and STEEL Club president

Beyond competitions, STEEL students are attending industry events like the ASTM F24 Conference, which develops global engineering safety standards for amusement rides and devices. They’re also partnering with other UCF organizations to grow their board, expand student participation and bring in even more professional mentorship.

“We’re still a young club, but we’ve already seen members go on to internships with companies like SeaWorld and Universal,” Price says.

For UCF, Epic Universe is more than a neighbor — it’s a living laboratory. From immersive design to food and beverage innovation, and from economic modeling to technical prototyping, UCF students aren’t just learning about the future of themed entertainment — they’re building it.

Beginning in Fall 2023, the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management will offer a bachelor’s in theme park and attraction management, which will give students a specialized understanding of the complex, global tourism industry, says Carissa Baker, assistant professor and coordinator of the new degree program. UCF will be the only institution in Florida to offer a management-focused, undergraduate degree of its kind. To start, it will be taught in a hybrid modality with a mix of in-person and online coursework.

“It will be distinguished by its interdisciplinary nature and its phenomenal location,” says Baker. “Several of the world’s most visited theme parks are right next door.”

Rosen College is just a few miles away from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, FunSpot America, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) headquarters, dozens of smaller attractions and industry suppliers. Their demand for more workers continues to grow, with Universal Orlando alone expecting to hire an additional 14,000 employees to support its new development, Universal’s Epic Universe, that’s slated to open in 2025, says Baker.

“Those who want to specialize in theme parks will find that this curriculum is more focused on the current industry and will allow them to gain the breadth of knowledge necessary to be informed and innovative leaders,” says Baker. “It reflects current industry realities, but also looks to the future and considers the industry’s constant goal of innovating and improving the guest experience.”

ShanghaiRanking last year named Rosen College the top school in the country for research and  hospitality education. Students have opportunities to intern at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando — two of the largest internship employers for the college — as well as other attractions. They also learn from faculty with a wealth of industry experience in areas as varied as ride operations, merchandise, food service, event management, finance, entertainment production, information technology, project management and creative development.

In addition to faculty and staff, students, alumni and industry professionals all contributed to the creation of the new degree program. Theme park and attraction management began at Rosen College in 2001 as a track within the , and then later evolved into a certificate in 2020. One of the reasons it’s now growing to a full undergraduate degree is student demand, says Baker.

Kevin Joralemon ’17 and Frank Hamedl ’18, both hospitality management alums, took many of the theme park and attraction management courses during their undergraduate careers and credit much of their current success to what they learned in those courses. Joralemon is now a senior analyst of global strategy at Universal Destinations and Experiences, and Hamedl is a human resources business partner at Fun Spot America.

“The theme park and attraction management courses were easily my favorite classes,” says Joralemon. “One of the best parts about these classes is that the professors provide students with an overview of everything that goes into running a theme park, from operations, marketing, human resources, strategy, information technology and more. As a student, employee and hobbyist of the industry, I found myself constantly learning something new about the business.”

Although just a track within the hospitality management degree at the time, Joralemon and Hamedl both recognized its value and advocated for there to be more.

“When I attended Rosen College, I tried to advocate elevating the theme park and attraction management track to a minor. When I learned it could become a major, I was blown away,” says Hamedl. “This is a must for anyone looking to grow in the industry. I am a little jealous and may consider getting a second degree soon.”

Dubai Parks and Resorts will be the region’s largest integrated theme park destination when it opens in October. It will be comprised of three theme parks, in addition to Riverland Dubai, a retail, dining and entertainment walkway, and the Lapita Hotel, a Polynesian-themed resort for families managed by the Marriott Group.

The program’s goal was to teach new managers how to efficiently manage theme parks ahead of the fall opening of Dubai Parks and Resorts’ three main attractions – motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, LEGOLAND® Dubai and LEGOLAND® Water Park. Rosen College’s training covered theme park and attraction management, guest services management, operational issues in the theme park and attraction industry, managing the employee experience, risk management and managing the guest experience.

Due to the success of the initial cohort, several Rosen College professors will travel to Dubai this summer to deliver the certificate program to 40 additional Dubai Parks and Resorts managers.

“Dubai Parks and Resorts’ partnership with the Rosen College is an exciting platform within our extensive Emiratisation programme, which will not only provide graduates with on the ground training, but also practical knowledge to help develop a new generation of Emirati theme park leaders,” Raed Al Nuaimi, CEO of Dubai Parks and Resorts, told ArabianBusiness.com.

For more information about educational partnership opportunities with Rosen College, please contact Dr. Youcheng Wang at 407.903.8039 or Youcheng.Wang@ucf.edu.

Wexler was appointed CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment in March 2015. Prior to this, he was the company’s chief financial officer for eight years. He told the audience that as CFO of the company, he jokingly referred to himself as “The CF-No” because while outstanding guest and employee experiences are vital, the company must also be financially secure. As CEO, his role has dramatically changed and he now refers to himself as the “Chief Encouraging Officer.”

“I truly believe the more opportunities we give people to respect and love each other, the happier this world will be,” said Wexler.

While reflecting on his career path, Wexler emphasized three pieces of advice for young professionals:

1. Your career is a marathon, not a sprint. You don’t have to be CEO by 24.

2. Integrity cannot be taken, only lost. There’s only one person in the world who can take your integrity and that’s you.

3. Focus on your purpose, your why. Great leaders have one thing in common; they don’t focus on what they’re doing, but why they’re doing it. Once you know why you’re doing what you do, it gives it purpose.

For more information about FTPLA and how to get involved, please like .

The Future Theme Park Leaders Association at Rosen College is the only student organization of its kind in the nation. Its mission is to create a forum for students interested in the theme park industry to openly share experiences and knowledge as well as network with industry professionals.

Learn more about at Rosen College.

Of course, what day is complete without a little free time to explore the park? Before calling it a day, Dr. Milman’s students took a moment to experience Manta, SeaWorld’s newest roller coaster where guests fly face-down in a horizontal position.

Site visits such as this bring real-world applications to the students and help distinguish the Rosen College curriculum from other hospitality management programs.