Construction has never stopped at Epic Universe, Orlando’s newest theme park, as prep begins for its first major expansion, a new massive ride in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Plus, work has finally started on what could be a permanent fireworks launchpad. And the resort’s transit system proposal has been expanded to include another stop.

Let’s dig into permits for all of the projects currently in development around Epic Universe in today’s news update. See the video version of this story below for additional visuals.

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Project 247 Fireworks Launchpads

A new trademark application was filed for a name and logo for what very well could be a new nighttime show at Epic Universe.

The logo for “Universal Celestial Goodnight” was filed for use in “entertainment services in the nature of an amusement park show.”

The current nighttime show, which happens nightly around park close, is simply referred to as “The Cosmos Fountain,” the name of the fountain in the middle of the park.

Perhaps “Celestial Goodnight” could become the official name of an updated show later this year?

While the current show focuses on coordinated fountains, not only at the Cosmos Fountain, but at all of the water features within Celestial Park, we have seen testing for new projection effects in the main fountain that may end up as part of an updated show.

Construction has finally started on what could be a permanent launch pad for fireworks shows at Epic Universe.

These aerial photos from Bioreconstruct show how concrete has been poured on the little peninsula in the center of the drainage pond located behind the park, on the opposite side of the Universal Helios Grand Hotel.

A trench was dug out, perhaps to run cables between the future launchpad to a future control booth? It’s not yet clear, but the trench does connect the new concrete pad in the center of the pond to a smaller pad near the shore.

Permits related to this project refer to it as Project 247, including one to add a safety fence around the pond which is meant to keep people from entering the launch site.

This fence can be seen near the top of the photo above, already installed near the entrance to the launch site access road.

Previous permits described small prefab structures to be added to backstage areas in both the Wizarding World and Dark Universe. These could possibly be for secondary, smaller fireworks launch sites, which may be added in addition to the main site behind the park.

The few fireworks displays that we have seen at Epic Universe have included secondary pyro on the sides of the park in addition to the center.

It is not clear whether the final fireworks launchpads being created for the park now could mean that the new show will feature fireworks nightly, or if the launchpads are just being created for the few times a year we already do see fireworks shows, like during special events and holidays.

Until we get a formal announcement, it’s anybody’s guess.

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Project 987 Potter Expansion

The biggest project currently happening inside of the Epic Universe theme park is the expansion now confirmed to be located at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Positioned on the right side of the Wizarding Paris-themed land, a massive 150,000 square foot expansion is seeing prep work starting now.

Survey markers on stakes and colored paint on the ground have appeared all throughout this large empty plot of land located directly behind the area.

The survey markers on stakes are easily visible by riders on Stardust Racers, but also from that ride’s exit platform and stairs. It is here in this field that we should someday soon see foundation work begin for this mysterious project.

The foundation permit for the Potter expansion was recently updated, offering us more insight into the project.

Looking at recent notes on this permit, which were first discovered by Behind the Thrills, we now know that this project is referred to by Universal as Project 987. The building number for the 150,000 square foot structure will be Building 1660.

Currently, the highest building number in the land is 1650. That is the number designated for the cluster of shops and dining on the front-right of the land that makes up the side alley area.

The new Building 1660 will be located on the back-right of the land, directly behind the facade for the French Ministry of Magic, which can be found behind the photo op that appeared as a magical entrance to the French Ministry in the second Fantastic Beasts film.

It is not known if the French Ministry will act as the new attraction’s entrance or setting, but allusions to the French Ministry, known as the “Ministry of Magical Affairs of France” or “Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France” in French, can be found all throughout the Parisian streets in Epic Universe.

The foundation work permit lists Baker Barrios Architects as the contractor, same as the project’s main permit. They are a local architectural firm who have worked on large projects in Orlando like the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts.

With the project now being assigned a building number it’s looking more likely that this will be an indoor experience, but we still don’t know that for certain. The foundation permit’s footprint matching the project’s main permit’s 150,000 square feet is another good sign as well.

A timetable for the new attraction is not yet known, but the foundation permit, which was only just filed in December 2025, has an expiration date of June 30, 2026, so work on prepping for foundation should begin in the coming months.

A notice of commencement related to the project has an expiration date of December 2028, although it is common for those documents to default to three years, so I wouldn’t read into it.

No one knows for sure what type of ride or attraction this project will end up being, but the most common theory is it could be something based around flying on a broomstick. See our recent ‘Five Year Predictions’ story for ride system speculation for this upcoming project.

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Project 915 Event Space

Looking across the park, to the front of Celestial Park, work has finally started on Project 915. This is expected to be a multi-purpose building located across from the Atlantic seafood restaurant.

The land is being prepared now in the lot where this permitted 30,000 square foot structure will be built.

On the park-facing side of the project, new tall work walls have been installed.

These new work walls have been placed in front of the preexisting fence that was already blocking this backstage area from the view of guests.

We have now gotten our first permit image showing the location of the project, which matches what we’ve seen in aerial photography from Bioreconstruct.

This permit image is related to hardscape demolition, which will remove sections of concrete in the red highlighted area on the top-left of the plan.

The permit describes installing sanitary sewer system and water lines leading to the future Project 915 structure.

A new mechanical permit posted this month describes the installation of ductwork, not only for air cooling for the new building, but also for kitchen and grease exhaust.

Prior permits had described a kitchen to be built as part of this two-story structure’s second floor. The first floor is expected to be utilized as multi-purpose event space, but the upper level is described as Team Member areas, including a kitchen.

The new mechanical permit also includes a mention of “AC units for a Computer Room.” This lines up with prior permits mentioning office space within the building as well.

A timetable for this project is not yet known, but most of these preliminary permits expire by the end of 2026, so we should see major construction begin this year.

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Project 914 Phase 2 Dining

Also located within Celestial Park, the phase 2 dining may have been postponed. The signs touting this dining expansion on the front-right side of the park have been removed.

There used to be signs located on every door for this large structure, saying that new dining would be coming in 2026, but now the doors are once again bare.

Permits related to the interior build out for this dining location have remained incomplete, still missing design plans needed for approval. This likely means that interior work on the project has not even begun.

Permit notes had described the project as a dual dining location, offering both Italian and Mexican restaurants inside of one building.

Permit notes have been updated though, showing that this project, known as Project 914, does in fact have a building number. It is Building 1292. This is different from the plans for the original building’s designation, which was 1290. That original building was designed as a food court before being canceled and replaced with this new split dining concept instead.

It is unknown when work will begin on the interior of this structure, but with the signs removed from the windows, perhaps it will no longer be ready to open this year as originally announced.

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Recent Epic Universe News

Catching up on some news from around Epic Universe, both trains on Stardust Racers valleyed earlier this month.

We saw a train valley on the ride during previews back in March 2025, before the park was officially open to the public, but it had not happened since.

Both this time and that first time, it occurred on days with extremely strong wind gusts, which were likely to blame.

Luckily no one was riding the coaster when it valleyed this month, so an evacuation was not necessary.

Cranes were used to remove the coaster trains car by car in the days following, and the ride has already reopened just a few days after the incident.

In How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, the land’s official soundtrack has been released on vinyl, and is available for purchase in the gift shops.

The soundtrack for Dark Universe is still available for sale in that land, and also available for download or streaming online.

We are expecting the full soundtrack from Celestial Park next, which is expected to drop on streaming in the next few months.

Also in the Isle of Berk, the Fyre Drill boat ride will close on February 1st for a week long refurbishment, reopening on February 8, 2026.

This marks the first official announced refurbishment for an attraction at Epic Universe. The ride has received complaints lately for low water pressure on the water cannons, so hopefully this quick closure can resolve the issue.

Across the street from Epic Universe, we can see how a couple projects for Universal Orlando are now utilizing the south campus’ staging area.

Boats from Jurassic Park River Adventure can be seen parked here while that ride at Islands of Adventure is receiving its extensive refurbishment.

We saw the boats being removed from the water a couple weeks ago, and being stripped down. The River Adventure ride is scheduled to reopen in November 2026.

Also visible in the staging lot near Epic Universe, the first pieces of track have arrived for the now announced Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster.

This project, under construction at Universal Studios Florida, has just started to receive track delivered here to this lot. See our recent story about the announcement of the new coaster, opening next year in 2027, for more details.

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West Parcel Mass Grading

Located to the west of Epic Universe, the project known in permits as “West Parcel Mass Grading” recently saw some minor updates.

Originally listed as being for 53 acres, the project is now listed as around 35 acres.

The permit has been approved, and shows an expiration of December 2030, but work has seemingly not yet begun on this grading project.

Documents describe the project as intended to “support the future development on an 87.2 acre parcel along Universal Boulevard.”

This complete parcel is visible in an updated project boundary graphic available from the South Florida Water Management District.

Universal has not yet said what this large parcel will be used for, but they do say in their application that the future commercial project will be permitted separately.

As part of this mass grading project, Universal has submitted plans to alter the retention ponds and drainage currently found on the section of the parcel in question, including adding additional stormwater drainage measures.

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Universal’s Proposed Transit System

The proposal for a transit system that would connect the north and south campuses of the Universal Orlando Resort has seen a minor change since we last talked about it back in December.

So far a company has not been selected to build the transportation system, which would span up to 5 miles in total, but a new stop has been added to the list of proposed stations to be built.

The previously announced phases included stops near the CityWalk parking garages, several of the on-site hotels, and Epic Universe.

The new proposed stop is labeled as “Sunshine Corridor Future Connection.”

This new possible stop along the transit route would connect the possible future SunRail station near the Orange County Convention Center to Universal Orlando.

Universal has offered to donate 13 acres of land and help to pay for the construction of this possible Sunshine Corridor train stop, which would connect the Orlando International Airport to the Convention Center.

Universal’s special district, the Shingle Creek Transit & Utility Community Development District, is still looking for a contractor to build their proposed transportation network.

Any contractor who is hired will be responsible for maintaining and expanding the transit system for 25 years, which would now include a future stop at this train station. Estimates say the Sunshine Corridor rail line may not be completed until sometime next decade.

We will keep you updated on the transit system project in the coming months, including when a company is named, as that will dictate what type of transportation system will be utilized.

That’s all for now, but stay tuned to never miss an update as we cover all of these projects for Epic Universe and more. See the video version of this story for additional visuals. Big thanks to Bioreconstruct for sharing all of the aerial photos and more seen in this story.

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

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