ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s alive!
Epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, will officially open Thursday to the public, after weeks of technical previews among passholders and other guests.
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Universal Orlando’s fourth theme park will feature five immersive worlds to explore:
News4JAX sister station WKMG in Orlando put together a list with all of the information people need to know if they plan to visit the park.
What are the park hours?
Epic Universe will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to its website.
What are the worlds to explore, rides to check out?
Celestial Park
Celestial Park is the “cosmic heart of Universal Epic Universe” that features greenery, tree-lined walkways, dining options, shopping, and attractions.
Here are the rides:
Stardust Racers
Stardust Racers is a dual-launch racing coaster “that hurls you across the cosmos.”
This thrill ride will reach up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet.
“Race along an inverted crisscross, known as the ‘Celestial Spin’ in a dazzling display of blazing colors and ethereal music.”
And fun fact: Universal Orlando said there is no external track lighting at night, so the illuminated ride vehicles appear as “comets shooting across the night sky above Celestial Park.”
Constellation Carousel
“Ride the constellations” on this carousel ride with a spin.
Each carriage will lift 6 feet in the air while spinning 360 degrees. You’ll be surrounded by “celestial music and color” as you spin across the Milky Way.
Super Nintendo World
Who doesn’t love Mario?
This world will offer “the fun of the Mushroom Kingdom and Donkey Kong Country.”
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
With some special goggles, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge will steer you through iconic courses.
“In this interactive ride, you’ll collect digital coins and throw shells to try to defeat Team Bowser and win the Golden Cup. With multiple outcomes, it’s a different experience each time you ride.”
Yoshi’s Adventure
This family-friendly attraction will take you on a ride with Yoshi and search for the glowing eggs.
You’ll make your way through the iconicMushroom Kingdom landscapes, “encountering many familiar characters and spotting hidden colored eggs along your journey.”
Mine-Cart Madness in Donkey Kong Country
Take a wild ride through Donkey Kong Country and “help Donkey Kong protect the Golden Banana on Mine-Cart Madness.”
“Enter the majestic Golden Temple, board your mine cart and take off in this thrilling family coaster. Speeding through the mine, you’ll appear to jump across gaps in the track and perform other eye-popping feats from the Donkey Kong Country video games.”
How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk
Explore an island where Vikings and fire-breathing dragons exist together.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
This roller coaster takes aspiring Dragon Riders into the air straight from Hiccup’s workshop. This “winged flying machine” will take you swooping and soaring, “speeding through the sky with dragons.”
And you may meet Hiccup and Toothless on the way.
Fyre Drill
Prepare for a sea battle!
Described as a “watery, interactive boat battle at sea,” this attraction will test your water-cannon-blasting skills as you try to hit flame-like targets to “out-soak other Vikings.”
Dragon Racer’s Rally
Get ready to train like a champion dragon racer.
This thrill ride will help Vikings “practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on a Viking-made dragonriding trainer.”
Dark Universe
Step into a village taken over by unearthly creatures and the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein.
Featuring classic Universal Monsters, “Dark Universe is a shadowy world where the unknown lurks around every corner.”
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Guests will try to escape the latest experiment of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein in this thrill ride.
“A demonstration of her experiments to control monsters goes awry when Dracula leads a revolt of enraged monsters, including The Wolf Man, The Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and more.”
Curse of the Werewolf
This coaster will send you weaving through the forest as you try to escape a pack of werewolves at a secluded camp of wagons in the woods.
You’ll tear through the forest at 37 mph “with mysterious figures clawing ever so near.”
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic
Check out fantastic beasts in 1920s Paris or travel via Métro-Floo to the 1990s and explore the British Ministry with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Travel through the Ministry of Magic, where Dolores Umbridge is about to stand trial.
“Board a lift and join Harry, Ron, and Hermione as you journey deep into the Ministry’s many departments.”
What shows are available?
There are two shows and a fountain show to check out if you’re heading to Epic Universe.
The Untrainable Dragon at Isle of Berk is a performance about a new dragon that the Vikings are having trouble getting trained.
Then, Le Cirque Arcanus in Harry Potter is about how Ringmaster Skender is trying to bring Le Cirque Arcanus back to its former glory. To make it happen, he has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase from the “Fantastic Beasts” Harry Potter franchise.
Click here for a deeper look at these shows and what to expect at the fountain!
What tickets are available?
If you’re visiting the park for one day or plan to head there multiple days, there are tickets available for you.
Express passes are available for purchase at the following rides or shows:
Celestial Park
- Constellation Carousel
- Stardust Racers
Super Nintendo World
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
- Yoshi’s Adventure
How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk
- Fyre Drill
- Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
- The Untrainable Dragon (show)
Dark Universe
- Curse of the Werewolf
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic
- Le Cirque Arcanus (show)
To check out express passes, click here.
Additional experiences?
There are tickets available for the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience, where guests will be made up like their favorite Universal Monster. There is also a Transformation Ticket that will include accessories to “complete the monstrous transformation.”
Click here to learn more.
What food will be at Epic Universe?
The park will bring dining experiences from fast casual dining to full-service restaurants in 30 locations and a variety of cuisines.
You can savor Asian, Italian and French cuisines, along with seafood, barbecue, and items uniquely themed to each world in the theme park.
Click here to see our rankings of the snacks available at Epic Universe!
How to navigate traffic by Epic Universe:
Guests entering the Epic Universe parking area will have to navigate a roundabout just north of the intersection at Epic Boulevard and Destination Parkway.
There’s also a new traffic roundabout at Carrier and Lakehurst drives, and changes have been made to the intersection at Carrier Drive and Universal Boulevard.
There’s also the eye-catching elevated flyover circle that allows drivers to have direct access between Kirkman Boulevard and Epic Boulevard.