In Summer of 2025 a new Universal will be opening up right in front of Vista Cay by CY. You can expect nothing short of 5 minutes to the parking areas of Universal.
This will be the very first Universal park to adopt the traditional wheel-and-spoke design that was immediately popularized by Disneyland back in 1955, with a central hub being placed in the center and all of Epic Universe’s various individual lands radiating out from it.
Universal has yet to announce a firm opening date. But it’s a good bet it won’t be that far off. All of the announcements from Universal have been remarkably consistent, all saying that Epic Universe is on track for an opening date for some time in 2025. Initial press releases indicated it would open in the summer, but now all official communications just say 2025. It’s unclear if this means the park will be opening earlier or later than its initial projected date.
What will the Epic Universe park map look like?
On January 30, Universal released a preliminary map that outlined the structure of the park. The center of the new map will be Celestial Park, a central shopping, dining and attraction area that also has portals to the four additional worlds.
Universal
Universal says it wants Celestial Park to put the “park” back in “theme park.”
Celestial Park is set to be a destination in and of itself. Universal said in a press release that it’ll let guests explore “lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements.” There will be fountain shows with state-of-the-art lighting effects, along with shops and new restaurants, like the The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, Atlantic (surf and turn inside an aquarium), The Oak & Star Tavern (for barbecue) and Pizza Moon.
Celestial park will have its own rides, too. The centerpiece will be the Constellation Carousel, which has horses and other mythical beings that rotate 360 degrees as they orbit. Astronmica will have get-wet attractions that will serve visitors well in the Florida heat. And, for thrill-seekers, there will be Stardust Racers, a dual-launch coaster that has vehicles criss-crossing and reaching speeds of up to 62 mph.
But when it’s time to leave Celestial Park, portals will take guests to four other lands.
Ministry of Magic will be Orlando’s Third Harry Potter-themed land.
Universal
The Ministry of Magic design combines 1920s Paris with what fans already love from the movies.
Universal Orlando Resort already has two The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-themed lands — Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure — but two good turns deserve another.
This time, they’re going for the Ministry of Magic. The twist: While the other two parks mostly take their visual design from the magical version of the UK seen in from the eight Harry Potter movies, this one has more of a 1920s French flair, as seen in the Fantastic Beasts movies. Guests enter into the Parisian Place Cachée, which is full of shops, cafés and even a traveling circus, Le Cirque Arcanus, where visitors can see aerialists, puppeteers and other performers in a dazzling stage show. They can buy wands at Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique (and, like in other parks, use them at various interactive spots to cast spells in the real world), meet characters (including some exchange students from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny), buy confections and souvenirs and, of course, stop off at Bièraubeurre Cart for some butterbeer.
Universal
Place Cachée is the main shopping, dining, and entertainment district for the Ministry of Magic.
But that doesn’t mean the U.K. is ignored entirely. Guests can travel by Métro-Floo for the land’s big ride: Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. They’ll emerge in the Ministry’s grand atrium to witness the trial of Dolores Umbridge. According to a press release from Universal, guests will “venture through other departments before boarding magical, omnidirectional lifts to watch the trial take place…until Umbridge attempts to escape. Guests then join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and a house-elf named Higgledy in a thrilling chase that will propel them up, down, forward, backward, sideways and more throughout the Ministry as they try to capture Umbridge — all while dodging attacks from Death Eaters, rampaging creatures and more along the way.” Sounds like everyone’s going to have to head out for some chocolate frogs to settle down after that one. Accio candy!
Universal
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry begins in the Ministry’s giant atrium.
If stomachs are not to flip-floppy after that and can stand a bite to eat, food seems to be another focus of this land. Good witches and wizards can retire to the Café L’Air De La Sirène and enjoy the magical beast-themed décor along with sandwiches, plats du jour and desserts. But those pulled to more sinister magic can try Le Gobelet Noir, where dark forces gather for heartier food. There’s also Bar Moonshine, where witches and wizards from across the pond gather for drinks amid “U.S. Quidditch team pennants and other items of wizarding Americana.” We’ll hoist a pint to that.
