Big Epic Universe news as early ticket information seems to have leaked, while construction progress remains relentless for this new theme park opening in Orlando in 2025. The roof has been installed for Constellation Carousel, signage is up for multiple rides including Yoshi’s Adventure, and the circus tent is being enclosed at the Wizarding World.

Let’s dig into all that, as well as Epic Universe early ticket rumors, permit information, and more in today’s news update. See the video version of this story below for additional visuals.

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The image below is an official piece of concept art, but with labels added for all of the main attractions for Universal Epic Universe. (So far all of these names have been confirmed, except for those within the Wizarding World.)

Thanks to recent aerial photography from @bioreconstruct on social media, we’re able to compare the latest construction progress to permit details and official concept art for this new theme park.

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Celestial Park

Starting our update at the entrance to Epic Universe, the medallions and spheres representing all the themed worlds of Epic Universe have been uncovered.

As part of the moving Chronos machine atop the park’s entry tower, starting from the top and moving down, these icons represent The Wizarding World, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon, and Dark Universe.

The large section at the top includes multiple orbiting rings which may move similar to the animated logo seen in promotional videos for Epic Universe.

In addition to the 4 themed worlds, there are two icons for the two main attractions that can be found within the central hub of the park, which is it’s 5th world named Celestial Park.

On the left we can see a Pegasus figure. This matches the Pegasus that can be seen at the top of Constellation Carousel in the scale model for park seen in the Epic Universe Preview Center.

Less obvious though, a second icon can be seen on the right for Stardust Racers, in the shape of two comets with long tails. This matches the large comet icon at the front of the ride, as well as the smaller comets seen on the attraction’s marquee in official concept art.

Work continues on the icon for Stardust Racers, while the dueling launched coaster continues to test both of its tracks.

The top roof section has been installed at the top of the dome for Constellation Carousel. It appears to feature painted clouds and stars on this roof topper. Where the Pegasus statue will be on top is currently covered in protective plastic.

Below is how the clouds and star motif appears in the scale model.

Side panels continue to be installed around the dome itself.

These ornate pieces are lifted in pieces by a crane to be installed, but are already fully painted before installation.

The nearby splash pad has been covered entirely by concrete. The worker seen in the next photo gives a sense of scale for this kid’s splash pad in the middle of the park.

On the other side of the large fountain, near the back of the park, a new starburst design can be seen in the concrete along a bridge.

This bridge passes over cascading waterfalls that lead from the hotel at the back of the park down into the basin for the park’s massive fountain display.

Near the fountain, the dining areas for the dining location expected to be named Meteor Astropub have made quick progress.

While trademarks for this restaurant were filed as “Meteor Astropub,” it’s curious how the sign in the scale model only shows it as “Meteor,” as seen in the next photo.

A new permit image shows the inside and covered dining areas for this dining location as being the front sections, with kitchen and restrooms for the back areas.

Interestingly, this new permit describes the outside area on the left side of the structure, closest to the park’s large fountain display, as “Exterior Pickup Area.”

Perhaps this location will offer a mobile pickup window the way that Minion Cafe and Circus McGurkus now has at the existing Universal Orlando parks? Possible pickup window seen in next photo.

New trademark applications have been filed for logos for a couple locations at Epic Universe, including the logo for The Oak & Star Tavern, which is the quick service restaurant seen in the next photo, hidden behind trees.

This officially announced restaurant will serve savory barbecue, and according to permit descriptions will feature a tree motif inside the entry area. This is reinforced by the trademarked logo image, which features two trees.

The half-oval shape of the logo also complements the window shape about its entrance.

Another logo trademark application is for North Star Wintry Wonders, the expected name for the park’s holiday shop, which will be located in a multi-use building on the right side of the entry area.

Also on this side, near the park’s entry, the building listed in permits as dining phase 2 is making quick progress.

Permits indicate that this structure with its two dining locations will have shared inside seating in the front half of the building, with kitchen and backstage areas along the back side, just like the Meteor restaurant.

As this dining location is still listed as Phase 2, and not included in the model in the preview center, we still do not expect it to open with the park.

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Dark Universe

Heading now to Dark Universe, the land inspired by the Universal Monsters, we can spot a sphere installed above the portal entry.

Each portal will include an icon similar to the one seen on the Chronos at the park entry, and for Dark Universe it’s a glowing sphere of dark energy, as seen below in official concept art.

It is rumored that the sphere, (seen at number 1 in the next photo,) will include special LED effects to achieve this animated glow effect.

At number 2 in the photo above we can see the roof is being installed on the security booth near the exit out of the land.

After passing through the portal, guests entering the land are directed to their right, around a crypt-like structure. A fence can be seen now installed in this area, better separating the entry and exit pathways.

The entry pathway is lined with gravestones, statues, and even coffins.

In the next photo we can see what appears to be a broken coffin inside of an open grave on the left. On the right it is made to look as though the land has shifted, exposing several caskets sticking out of the earth, and even falling.

The dark brickwork on this entry wall has been painted and stained to appear aged. Supplies for this process can be seen on shelves on the right of the area.

This side of the village street is for retail and restrooms.

The other side is for the land’s main dining location, Das Stakehaus.

According to permits, the areas on the left and middle are for interior dining areas, whereas this area on the right with the large opening is for open air covered seating. An awning for this open air seating area can be seen facing the land’s entry.

Deeper into the land, the manor facade for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment still has not had its tower’s peak installed.

Some prefabricated theming elements can be seen staged on the ground, leaning against the wall in front of the manor.

Once installed they will appear like the ones seen at number 2 in the next photo.

Fences have been installed within the exterior extended queue behind the manor.

A perimeter wall similar to the style of wall in front of the manor can be seen all around this outside queue area.

The De Lacey’s food stand has received extensive aging, especially on its roof.

We can see the ordering windows on the front side of this structure.

Moving around the land counter-clockwise, next to the windmill-themed quick service dining location, the sign for The Burning Blade Tavern has been installed in front of its entrance.

Here is how this sign appears in official concept art.

The main entrance sign for the Curse of the Werewolf roller coaster attraction has also been installed. Featuring a werewolf figure, this sign is attached to a wagon located near the ride’s queue entry.

The roof of the barn in the middle of the coaster attraction has been aged similarly as De Laceys.

New divider walls are being added to separate sections of the queue for the coaster.

The green objects scattered throughout the queue are speakers. They line the pathways throughout the entire exterior queue for this attraction.

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Moving now to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, while the portal’s icon has not yet been installed, a ring for the icon above the portal has been added.

The Parisian arch into the land, located on the other side of the portal, is now covered in scaffolding for theming details to be added.

Inside of the land, the circus tent entry into the land’s live stage show is receiving it’s first layer of covering.

We can see this material being stretched into place still on this smaller point of the tent here.

This level of covering may just be what is visible from inside the tent, and more layers have yet to be added on top.

New colorful murals and decorations have been added to the exterior facades around the theater building.

Behind the stage show structure, a gas tank from AIR PRODUCTS has been installed. It’s possible this could be for liquid nitrogen to create cold fog effects for the show, or some other sort of special effects.

What may be a turret for the forced perspective Sacré-Cœur Basilica can be seen staged on the ground.

The cylinder is seen here at number 1 in the next photo. It will be installed on the tower at number 2, so it can appear to be looming in the distance behind the land’s streets.

Recently added to also be seen above the land, is this new billboard, now installed on the far right side of the land.

The billboard appears to be promoting a French version of Butterbeer in a bottle.

We’re still awaiting an announcement with official details for this area of Epic Universe within the coming weeks, as it is the final world left to be revealed.

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Super Nintendo World

Heading into Super Nintendo World, which has not yet seen its portal icon installed, we can see that the main ride entrance sign for Yoshi’s Adventure has been installed.

Located at the base of Mt. Beanpole on the lower level of the multi-level land, the entrance signage for Yoshi’s Adventure is still covered in protective plastic.

The ride itself is located on the upper level of the land, and we can see the Yoshi-shaped ride vehicles are currently covered.

Here the pipe-themed entry and exit tunnels leading to and from the ride’s indoor scene are being enclosed.

Near the entrance framing for this indoor scene we can spot a Pokey figure, wrapped in plastic, near the paratroopa figure we saw last update.

On the other side, near the exit pipe, we can spot another Pokey figure, as well as these newly revealed cacti.

Behind the finale scene for the Yoshi ride, we can see a cut-out section in the green backdrop.

This cut-out section seems to be so that some of the Donkey Kong Country mini-land is visible from the Yoshi ride.

We first spotted this possible cut out view of the other land when looking at the scale model at the Preview Center, and it has in fact been built in the same way.

Looking to the Donkey Kong Country area on the other side, the airplane-shaped retail location near the entry to this mini-land is taking shape. This is expected to be named Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy.

Additional pieces of this airplane-shaped structure can be spotted staged behind the golden temple ride building at the back of the area.

Framing and wire mesh structure is taking shape for the base of Donkey Kong’s Treehouse, a themed backdrop expected to be used for character meet and greets within this area, seen on left of photo below.

On the other side of the path from his treehouse, we can spot multiple DK drums, which are expected to be part of an interactive game.

Multiple mine carts can be spotted on the track for Mine Cart Madness, the mini-land’s main attraction.

This is our best look yet at the uncovered 4-passenger mine cart ride vehicle.

Now keep in mind, the wheels and track we see here in this picture are not actually the real wheels or the real track. These are just for show, to make it appear as though this is the track we’re riding on.

To be able to appear like we’re jumping over gaps in this track, the real track is hidden beneath.

The next images show us the other side of the ride vehicle, where the real coaster wheels are are located, gripping the hidden sideways track.

Most track sections that pass through guest areas are cleverly oriented in such a way as to hide the back of the ride vehicle.

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How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

Now onto How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, where the portal icon, a sphere, is being installed above the land’s entrance.

Just inside the land, a green field surrounding some sheep within this circle of coaster track has been fully landscaped, blending into the fake mossy-covered rockwork in this area.

New framing has been added behind the entrance structure for the land’s roller coaster ride, named Hiccup’s Wing Gliders.

One of the coaster trains can be spotted coming from the ride’s maintenance building.

Work continues on framing for covered awning structures over sections of the queue for this roller coaster ride.

New framing has been added between the roller coaster queue and Dragon Racer’s Rally ride next door.

Between the two rides we can spot new mesh structures for themed scenic elements.

This view shows the entry into the queue at number 5, awning framing for main queue areas at number 2, coaster station at number 3, and the new scenic elements at number 1.

A throne has been added within the center of the decorative grandstands behind the Dragon Racer’s Rally ride.

Work is picking up for the kids’ play area in this land, named Viking Training Camp.

The coaster’s second launch can seen behind this play area.

Newly added, and hiding among the many dragon eggs, is what appears to be a gronckle dragon figure, seen at bottom-left of the next photo.

Below is what this section of the roller coaster looks like in official concept art.

Dragon houses and mossy hillside theming can be seen atop the land’s main retail location.

An open air pavilion has been built in this town square style area. A small tower with a face is being added now.

And a rotating thematic element has been added behind it over the lagoon.

Many more targets have been added to the Fyre Drill boat ride. Riders will fire water cannons at these fire-themed targets to help their side of the boat win the challenge.

Here we can see a Viking cutout with a bucket of water.

Here we can see many more targets and scenic elements for this attraction that have yet to be installed.

Color has started to be applied to the framing around the entrance to the land’s live stage show theater, where The Untrainable Dragon show will be performed.

Here is a look at this theater entrance as seen in the scale model.

On the left side of the next photo are the theater exit doors, with a retail location seen at center with its roofs installed.

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Hotels & Roads

There are three hotels for the Epic Universe area, with the Universal Helios Grand Hotel located at the back of the theme park itself.

All of the domes have been installed atop the Helios hotel.

The large central dome, which is located above a rooftop bar, is just starting to receive a shiny layer.

On the side of the hotel facing the park, we can see a decorative awning over the back entrance, with a celestial design.

This area behind the hotel features a raised porch that overlooks the theme park. Below the porch is where the cascading waterfalls start, which feed into the fountains.

Across the street from Epic Universe, we can see a turn around circle with a swirl design in front of the entry for the Universal Stella Nova Resort.

The front of the Universal Terra Luna Resort features a similar turn around, but with a different design.

On the opposite side of Stella Nova, where the hotel’s pool is located, we can see many planted palm trees in these circles, and along sidewalks in front of the building.

Terra Luna is receiving its own palm trees around its pool area as well.

Behind these two sister hotels, the raised traffic circle ramp being built as part of the extended Kirkman Road has seen dramatic progress in recent weeks.

The base for this elevated flyover has been installed for half of the circle. This raised ramp is how most guests will arrive to and leave from Epic Universe.

Through traffic will be able to continue straight under the circle to go to the hotels or Universal Blvd, which is where the extended Kirkman will end.

Located off of this intersection, Universal new bus depot now has a couple new structures going up, as well as new strips of concrete forms.

Recent permits confirm this depot will be outfitted for electric bus charging, as was rumored.

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Early Ticket Information

Before we wrap up, it’s worth mentioning that some early Epic Universe ticket information appears to have been leaked.

As originally reported in recent weeks, revealed by travel agents and authorized ticket sellers, the first tickets that will be available for Epic Universe will only be part of multi-day, multi-park ticket packages—and will not allow you to park hop between the existing parks and Epic Universe.

Speaking with the Orlando Business Journal, a representative from Universal has confirmed that these ticket restrictions are true for third-party ticket sales. They stress that these will only be the initial tickets first offered, and that more ticket types, including options for annual passholders, will come online later.

Universal’s representative said “We are introducing products in a phased approach starting with multi-day ticket packages that include an opportunity to visit Epic Universe in addition to the entire Universal Orlando Resort for those planning vacations further out.”

It has been rumored that the first tickets would go on sale as soon as August 2024, which is just a couple weeks away, however if they are not yet ready to announce the park’s grand opening date I could see that pushed back to maybe September.

In any case, we will have a better idea of what these initial early ticket packages will look like, and how much they will cost, very soon. But we may have to wait until next year to purchase single day tickets and learn more about annual pass options.

That’s all for this update, but be sure to check out the video version of this story for additional visuals. A huge thank you to Bioreconstruct for the amazing aerial and on the ground photographs. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky, or Mastodon for more incredible theme park photos.

Subscribe to the news feed or enter your email address below to never miss an update. Official Art: Universal Destinations & Experiences | Aerial & Model Photos: Bioreconstruct | Permit Documents: fasttrack.ocfl.net | Graphics and Overlays: Alicia Stella | Other Images as Captioned

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