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<\/p>\nIn mid-2025, Central Florida residents and tourists can experience new thrills with the opening of Universal Orlando Resort\u2019s Universal Epic Universe. The expansive theme park contains five distinct worlds that immerse guests in familiar stories and fresh narratives.<\/p>\n
Teams across Universal Creative, including several Knights, have meticulously crafted every detail of each world. All theme park lovers since childhood, these alums merge their personal, academic and professional backgrounds to create the awe-inspiring sites.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n
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As the nexus of Epic Universe, Celestial Park is an astronomy-inspired hub that provides portals to the other worlds. The attraction includes a roller coaster, carousel ride, entertainment, themed dining and shopping. At the edge of Celestial Park is the 500-room Universal Helios Grand Hotel.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so mind-blowing what we\u2019re doing here for every single land, [but] I think the really unique one is going to be Celestial Park just because it\u2019s our own story we\u2019ve created,\u201d says Frances Franceschi \u201915<\/strong>, a production designer for Universal Creative and an architecture<\/a> alum.<\/p>\n Master plans for Epic Universe began in 2017. The early stages of planning were driven by design, including considerations for space allocation and the types of attractions that would be included across the worlds, Franceschi says.<\/p>\n \u201cYou dedicate a lot of extra time to get these jobs done and all of that becomes worth it when you see [someone experience] something that you helped build. It\u2019s just so rewarding,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Monsters from classic Universal Pictures films and new spooky creations are brought to life in Dark Universe. Through the ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, guests join a demonstration gone wrong as creatures, such as Dracula and the Wolf Man, turn against their creator, Victoria Frankenstein.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though we\u2019re using the most advanced animated figures, a lot of their movements were performance-captured from real people, which makes them feel more [genuine] and natural,\u201d says Greg Hall \u201909<\/strong>, a creative director for Universal Creative and a visual language (now digital media<\/a>) alum.<\/p>\n Hall and his team collaborate with experts at Universal Pictures, including Steven Spielberg, and leverage new technologies to create authentic, fear-driven experiences<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe designed the queue as part of the story [to] build up [anticipation and] why you should be afraid of these monsters,\u201d Hall says. \u201cIt\u2019s a bigger payoff when you\u2019re in the ride and the events happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Guests discover an island where Vikings and fire-breathing dragons exist in harmony at Isle of Berk. Among its attractions is the Untrainable Dragon show, which reimagines the production from Universal Beijing Resort.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re transitioning that presentation to a new audience. The level of technology, puppetry [and] music, use of media and how guests take in the show is something that\u2019s completely different,\u201d says theatre<\/a> alum Patrick Braillard \u201914MA<\/strong>, a senior show writer for Universal Creative and an adjunct instructor in UCF\u2019s themed experience program<\/a>.<\/p>\n Show writers use extensive research and great attention to detail to not only create scripts for shows, but also dialogue for characters in the park, and the language used in back- and front-of-house experiences for guests, Braillard says.<\/p>\n The sights and sounds of beloved video games and characters come to life through SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Across Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country, gamers unite as they track their progress on interactive experiences with Power-Up Bands, which are radio frequency identification silicone slap bracelets that feed into a land-wide leaderboard.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have a physical set around you, [but] you\u2019re in a [virtual reality] \u2026 playing real-time video games, and it\u2019s never the same. You and the players next to you can change the outcome. There\u2019s this different level of immersion,\u201d says Chris Bromby \u201900<\/strong>, director of immersive experiences for Universal Creative and an art<\/a> alum.<\/p>\n With Universal Studios Japan and Hollywood already home to Super Nintendo attractions \u2014 which Bromby also helped create \u2014 Universal Orlando Resort will offer its own versions of existing rides, such as Mario Kart: Bowser\u2019s Challenge and Mine-Cart Madness, along with a few unique experiences.<\/p>\n Ministry of Magic is an extension of widely popular The Wizarding World of Harry Potter environments at Universal
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<\/p>\nDark Universe<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nHow to Train Your Dragon \u2014 Isle of Berk<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nSUPER NINTENDO WORLD<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter \u2014 Ministry of Magic<\/h2>\n
\nOrlando Resort\u2019s existing properties. Most of the world is based in 1920s Paris, the setting of the second Fantastic Beasts spinoff film.<\/p>\n
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