It’s actually happening! New permits have confirmed that the first expansion to Universal Epic Universe is now beginning. Known as Project 915 in official documents, permits for vertical construction have been filed with Orange County. Plus, there are other smaller projects happening around the park to check in on, like official time frame for phase two dining, modifications to some of the roller coasters, and more.

Let’s see what we can learn from public documents regarding new projects at Epic Universe, in today’s news update. See the video version of this story below for additional visuals.

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Epic Universe officially grand opened just last month, and while the park has been quietly finishing smaller projects, like landscaping, pathway improvements, and more, there have also been dozens of new permits submitted to the City of Orlando for upcoming work as well.

For the past few weeks there have been around a dozen or so Notices of Commencement for new signage at Epic Universe. And countless that simply list the vague “Professional Services” as the type of work to be done. But it’s a couple new permits for an entirely new project number that may be the most interesting.

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Project 915 Permits

Known in documents as Project 915, one permit describes the work as 40,178 square feet in size. One permit says it will be for new building construction, “including but not limited to relocating existing utilities, installing new utilities, site grading and foundation for new building.”

A second permit simply lists the work as Project 915 Vertical Construction.

Both of the project 915 permits have an expiration date in December of this year, so we can hopefully expect to see movement on this soon.

The leading theory for the location of Project 915 is the expansion pad located between Super Nintendo World and the park’s entry area. The square footage listed in the permits seems to line up with this space, which is seen below in a recent aerial photo by Bioreconstruct as a cleared plot of land backstage, with a connection to Celestial Park.

From inside the park, what appears to be a temporary wall with a backstage gate can be seen blocking the view of this expansion pad. It can be spotted directly across the pathway from the Atlantic full service restaurant location.

This plot of land was originally rumored to be home to a future parade building, years ago, but newer permit drawings now show a future parade building coming to the back of the park behind Dark Universe.

Newer rumors for this expansion are for some sort of multi-purpose soundstage or theater structure to be built, which would add a new event venue to Celestial Park. However, these may just be guesses based on older rumors, and we won’t be certain until more permit documents are filed.

With a little over 40,000 square feet to work with, they have enough room to build any of the existing soundstages at Universal Studios Florida, with plenty of room to spare. One of the two Project 915 permits lists the project as 30,337 square feet, so maybe that will be the actual building’s footprint, leaving 40,000 as the measurement for the entire work site?

So far, the only visible change to the site in the last couple weeks, appears to be the removal of portable offices that were originally located at the back of this plot of land.

With permits for vertical construction already starting to post, it may not be long until we see movement on Project 915, and hopefully get some more answers as well.

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Phase 2 Dining

One Phase 2 project that we don have answers on, is for the two new combined dining locations on the other side of the front of the park.

Known in permits as Project 914, there are now signs on all of the doors for this new restaurant. The signs say “A galaxy of flavors and culinary delights” are coming in 2026.

If you happened to have caught my recent vlog from inside of Epic Universe, you already know that rumors have had this new dining location opening as soon as January of next year. But now we know for sure that it will not be until then at the soonest.

Permits for interior work for this upcoming dining location were posted this week. They describe a full build-out for the restaurant’s inside, including incorporating interior partitions and doors, themed finishes and ceiling systems, custom furniture and milwork, kitchen and food service equipment, and utilities. The permits also describe possible minor structural modifications to the building’s existing shell.

Team Members working at Epic Universe have confirmed that they believe it will feature two separate sides, one for an Italian eatery and the other for Mexican food, but that could change as we get closer to an official announcement.

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Project 375 Modifications

With Project 914 wrapping up, and Project 915 about to begin, the only other active new project for Epic Universe has been Project 375.

This smaller project has been reported to be modifications to some of the seats on two of the park’s roller coasters. Hiccups’ Wing Gliders and Stardust Racers have received new modified seating which can accommodate guests with larger dimensions.

The new Wing Gliders seats have already been installed in the last row of the trains, offering a wider, more accommodating seats. Dragon Racers Rally also received a modified seat on one of its two spinners as well.

Stardust Racers is expected to see modified seating installed on Row 6 of its trains. And these photos even show a delivery from Mack Rides featuring the Project 375 number on them.

We will continue to monitor other possible expansion projects for Epic Universe, but seems like whatever Project 915 will be is going to be the first expansion to the park after opening, and soon.

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Fireworks & Drones

There have been some other elements of Epic Universe that we had expected to see, but the company says are still in development. One of course, is fireworks.

In an interview with the Orlando Weekly, the senior manager of show direction at Epic Universe, Anitra Pritchard, says they’re still looking into fireworks, and still working on it.

As we have seen in aerial photos from Bioreconstruct, only temporary launch sites have been set up for the few occasions that fireworks were set off at Epic Universe, including the large demonstration for media the night before grand opening. A permanent launch site may still need to be constructed within the pond behind the Universal Helios Grand Hotel before we see regular fireworks along with the nightly fountain show.

Looking at a photo of the future launch site from just a couple days ago, seen below, we can see pipes sticking out of the ground. It’s possible that initial utility work has already begun on a permanent launchpad.

Another long-touted element of the park that was not ready for opening day, are the flying dragon drones. Universal Creative is still fine-tuning the dragon drones. This according to an interview in The Orange County Register last month, where they said “they’re right at the threshold of being able to release.” And that “it’ll really add to the skyline.”

Dragon drone sighting over Epic Universe tonight! pic.twitter.com/rI33BFoCss

— Adventuring with Annie (@AnniesUniUpdate) April 16, 2025

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Project 830 – Rockit Replacement

Ongoing projects at Epic Universe is not the only work happening at the resort, as multiple permits continue to drop for Project 830 at Universal Studios Florida. That’s the project to demolish and replace Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

Officially closing August 18th, Rockit will be torn down and be replaced with a new attraction, which everyone assumes will be a new roller coaster, probably from Intamin as permits hint.

Since our latest update on the Rockit replacement, work walls have gone up in the New York area of the park, near the firehouse facade, indicating that the facade may be restored to once again reflect the Ghostbusters theme.

Land clearing work is happening behind this area as well, preparing for the construction of two new buildings related to the new attraction. So even though the existing ride won’t be demolished until at least mid August (at the soonest,) they are wasting no time starting on its replacement.

In our last update we did share our opinion that the ride may be an Orlando version of Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift, a new coaster opening next year at Universal Hollywood. But with the Ghostbusters hints on work walls around the area, it’s becoming harder to discount the possibility of this new mystery project perhaps having something to do with that property.

See our last update for more permit details on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit replacement, and stay tuned as we follow that project, as well as any new expansion projects for Epic Universe in the coming years. See the video version of this story for additional visuals.

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

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