Epic Universe: A Monumental Achievement of Human Creativity
It's the first major new theme park in the United States in over two decades. Though the park is in its infancy, and to some extent unfinished, it remains a stunning masterpiece.
In no way am I attempting to oversell Epic Universe, the newest theme park by Universal Orlando located just four miles from their flagship destinations of City Walk, Volcano Bay, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios. In no way am I telling you to go (now) or risk missing out on all the fun. That’s for you to decide.
Theme parks aren’t for everyone, after all.
But I am telling you, emphatically, that Epic Universe deserves all the accolades it is receiving — and more. I say this as an average theme park attendee. I will take my kids to theme parks, attend special events, purchase the occasional park merchandise, but I am not a theme park enthusiast. I am, however, a creativity enthusiast and when you find creative genius, you share creative genius.
Epic Universe is creative genius.
And yet, as it has been noted throughout history, creative genius can be a bit messy, slightly cluttered, chaotic, perhaps, and that’s okay. Neat and tidy perfection will only get you so far, and besides that, it’s boring.
There’s nothing boring or mundane about Epic. The park is part of a 750-acre development that features five themed areas named Celestial Park, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Construction began in 2019 but was abruptly halted—like many other good things in our world— due to the pandemic.
It was described by CEO and chairman, Tom Williams, as "the most immersive and innovative theme park" the company had ever created, adding 14,000 new jobs and untold tourism dollars, further elevating Universal’s brand and leader in the amusement park market.
The rides at theme parks are obviously a focal point for success and park attendees can be incredibly critical when it comes to ride details and nuances. Are they exciting? Are they slow or fast? What kind of emotional or physical response does each ride elicit? Are they worth the wait? How long are the lines? Is there a virtual line queue (there is, sorry). And because of admission price, etc, attendees have every right to be critical. If a day at the park is going to be expensive, it better be a great day, and most of all, worth it.
Epic created 11 new rides, and though I’m not going to describe each in detail, most of them, are indeed worth it. From personal experience and preference, the Stardust Racers was the best ride of the park and the best ride I’ve been on—ever. This is a dueling roller coaster that will go down in the history books and undoubtedly rank as one of the best within and beyond the park. From what I hear though, it’s better to ride at night when dueling vehicles appear as comets shooting across the night sky above Celestial Park. This ride is, in my opinion, worth a two hour wait, if it comes to that. I do not say that lightly. Two hours is a long time.
Another noteworthy ride, or shall I say immersive experience, is Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment inside Dark Universe. Part of what makes this ride so interesting is that you are essentially walking through a technologically innovative queue, almost like a haunted house, entering into a story of good vs. evil, with larger-than-life size audio-animatronics, classic horror characters, flying vampires, and even the Phantom of the Opera, playing the organ and all. It’s a decadent, over-the-top type of ride, part chaotic, pure genius.
And then there’s the Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry ride inside the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. No, I did not experience this ride, and no, I’m not sad about it. Harry Potter was never my thing, and as of right now, the ride is virtual queue line only (also not my thing).
From what I hear, it’s spectacular. But if it remains a virtual queue ride, there’ll likely be a flood of complaints from people who never got the chance to ride, despite staring into their phone all day long, searching for an open spot. On the one hand, standing in line for three plus hours is highly unpleasant but you know what to expect. Virtual queue lines, on the other hand, promise nothing but constant phone checking. Maybe you’ll get in. Maybe you won’t.
But even though I’m not a Harry Potter die hard, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic was my favorite world inside Epic. It’s basically Paris, just older (set in 1920s) and cleaner. There are cobblestone streets, original and imaginative architecture, street carts, flower stands, back alleyways, shortcuts, bistros, cafes, musicians, and more. Plenty to eat and drink—the adults will love it. The young ones, not so much. In fact, while leisurely passing through the area, there weren’t many children in the crowds.
So where did all the children go? Most likely, one of two worlds: How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk or Super Nintendo World. Both areas have several rides and other kid-friendly things to do. Both areas are designed with littler ones in mind. But, despite your age, Super Nintendo World will blow your mind (or your sense of reality) when walking inside. It’s unreal, really. From colors, patterns, music, characters—every last detail is exactly like the video game. It’s the world I was most impressed with in terms of design and the world I spent the least amount of time in. My senses (and the crowds) went into overload.
Lastly, we have How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. Despite dragons and vikings galore, the park is a bit tamer with room to move and explore, a few rides, a roller coaster, and even a large climbing playground (Vikings Training Camp) for littler kids to be kids and for parents to sit.
The world is 15.5 acres with over 30 dragons of 17 different species coming in and out of view. It’s not only spacious but it captures the overall feeling of the films, How To Train Your Dragon. And again, the details. From hand carved rocks to soaring architecture and recreated mountains, nothing has been forgotten here and most certainly not the beloved characters Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid, all of whom can be found roaming the world.
Final Thoughts
While leaving the park later that evening, I thought of the movie Jurassic World. In the movie, Claire Dearing, the director of the park was boasting about the invention of a new dinosaur, Indominus Rex, as a way to keep the park attendees happy and satisfied (because dinosaurs weren’t enough, it seemed). The new dinosaur breed was bigger, stronger, faster… better. It’s a metaphor for many humans today and their never-ending quest for something different, something new.
Although dinosaurs are no where to be found at Epic Universe (there are dragons!) this theme park is new and it is better. It’s completely immersive, innovative and monumentally designed.
Some people will still complain. Some will want more.
More is coming, believe it or not. Epic is in its infancy and the beginning has just begun.
Great article, sounds like an exciting place. I’m ready to visit. Happy I live in Florida.
Wow. I'm not always a fan of the Disney/Universal style interactive parks, especially when the rides feel dated (I grew up near Cedar Point so I'm hard to impress). But this looks worth a visit!