Universal Orlando Resort has shared the first official look at one of five new areas set to open as part of its Universal Epic Universe park, confirming the themes of three additional areas.
On Tuesday, Florida-based theme park and resort NBCUniversal unveiled Celestial Park, a land that embodies the literal “park” experience with lush, living gardens, shimmering waterways and walking paths alongside astronomically and mythologically inspired architecture. It also confirmed the themes of Epic Universe's three previously unannounced parks alongside Super Nintendo World: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe.
“Universal Epic Universe marks a major transformational moment for Universal Orlando Resort and will change everything about our destination,” Karen Irwin, president and chief operating officer of Universal Orlando Resort, said in a statement to . “This will be the exciting culmination of our amazing growth over the last 30-plus years, transforming Universal Orlando into a week-long vacation destination packed with the most exciting experiences imaginable.”
Celestial Park Luna Overlook in the Universal Epic Universe courtesy of NBCUniversal
As a gateway to the four other lands of the Epic Universe, Celestial serves as the first stop for all park guests and features in-park accommodations, fountain shows, a wet play area, a carousel, a dual-launch racing coaster, and themed restaurants and shops.
The big centerpiece of Celestial Park is the Constellation Carousel, an all-ages attraction that takes guests on a ride through the Milky Way. In addition to gliding forward and backward on constellations, park visitors will also do 360-degree rotations in what the park calls a “dance of music and starlight.”
The park's other attractions include the Starfall Racers, where guests experience a fast-paced race aboard competing comets over a 5,000-foot track at speeds of up to 60 mph and heights of 133 feet. The roller coaster is a dual racing attraction and also features various maneuvers such as the “Celestial Spin,” in which two vehicles perform an inverted cruise while racing through the air.
(LR above): Depictions of Constellation Carousel and Starfall Racers; (LR below): Renderings of pan-Asian restaurant Atlantic and Blue Dragon courtesy of NBCUniversal
A central and immersive feature of the park will be the Astronomica interactive wet play area. The attraction consists of a collection of crystal blue fountains that come to life around guests, doubling as a giant compass that guides park visitors to the various lands of the Epic Universe. Additional fountain shows, some reaching up to 135 feet in the air and accompanied by music and interactive lighting throughout the day, will be featured across the country's seven acres of waterways.
The park will serve as home to the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a 500-room resort located at the end of the park, with unique views and a private entrance that transports guests to the place in the world where heaven and earth unite. A number of themed restaurants and shops will also be available, including the Atlantic, a full-service surf and turf restaurant set in a Victorian aquarium with land views, and the pan-Asian restaurant Blue Dragon, another full-service experience, which is accented by neon dragons and ethereal lanterns, as well as a Chinese, Japanese and Thai menu.
Oak & Star Tavern's savory barbecue, Pizza Moon's pizza lineup and Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets' signature selection will serve as faster service options alongside retail locations such as the Nintendo Super Star Store.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel Courtesy of NBCUniversal
Portals that capture the distinct theme and creativity of the remaining four lands lead guests from Celestial Park to the Ministry of Magic, where park visitors can experience the 1920s era of the Wizarding World. This country serves as a cross between Paris in the Fantastic Beasts films and the British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.
Super Nintendo World – which already opened at Universal Studios Hollywood last year and was confirmed as part of Epic Universe in 2023 – takes guests through the iconic green tube, where they have access to attractions and experiences in the shared universe of Mario, Luigi and Princess have Peach and Donkey Kong.
After a separate Dreamworks land was announced last July, the launch of Isle of Berk promises park visitors to take to the skies with dragons and take part in Viking adventures inspired by the How to Train Your Dragon film series. Finally, the Dark Universe will delight fans of Universal's classic horror films with encounters centered around the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein in the middle of a shadowy landscape that is home to monsters, myths and mysteries.
(L-R above): The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and Super Nintendo World portals; (LR below): How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe portals courtesy of NBCUniversal
Universal's Epic Universe is part of a larger strategy by the Universal Destinations & Experiences division to enable multi-week local vacations. Together, the five countries will offer more than 50 attractions, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences. It is the newest of four NBCUniversal theme parks based in Florida, the other three being Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay.
In September, Universal Destinations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury announced that the park would use “facial recognition and photo validation technology” to support a “frictionless experience.”
“It is the most technologically advanced park we have ever built,” Woodbury said at the Bank of America Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference. “And that applies to both the attractions themselves, the next generation of robotic drone technology and the guest experience. It really takes the entire guest journey to a whole new level.”
In a video tour of the new park, Universal Destination & Experiences creative consultant Steven Spielberg called the basics of Epic Universe “an amazing concept.”
“The idea that you go into a world through some kind of portal and come out in a world that you never dreamed of – you could experience it,” he added. “I think it’s just going to capture the imagination of so many people of all ages.”
An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the Dreamworks land as part of the Epic Universe.