We’re counting down the days until Universal Epic Universe officially grand opens on May 22nd, but Universal Orlando Team Members are previewing the new theme park right now. With guests technically now in the park, the official app has been updated, revealing new details for the rides, shops, dining, and more. Plus, despite guests being inside the park, multiple last-minute construction projects are continuing in every world.
Let’s check in on all of that, as well as single-day tickets now available for sale, in today’s news update. See the video version of this story below for additional visuals.
Single Day Tickets Available Now
Beginning today, Epic Universe single day tickets are available to the general public. You are no longer required to purchase multiple days that include tickets to other parks to be able to buy a ticket to Epic Universe.
Start of the selection calendar for single day tickets
Single day tickets for Epic Universe range from $139 to $199 each, depending on the date. They debuted this morning, with availability starting from June 1st through the end of the year. No dates were available in May for this ticket type, including opening day.
There is not a limit for the total number of single day tickets you can purchase, and you are able to buy these tickets for yourself and others. However, individual transactions are limited to 15 tickets.
New ticket types now available for purchase
Keep in mind that the Annual Passholder single-day tickets are also still available, and are priced less than these tickets for the general public. If you are a passholder, be sure you’re logged in and accessing those ticket options from your account page on the official site or in the app.
Two day ticket packages are also now available for sale, which include one day at Epic Universe and another day at either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. Florida Resident discounts can be applied to 2-day tickets, and other multi-day packages, but at this time it appears they do not apply to single day tickets.
Team Members lining up for preview, Aerial photos by @bioreconstruct
Team Member Previews Happening Now
Team Members have been able to experience Epic Universe for the last couple weeks, with the ability to reserve multiple days of tickets, and the option to bring members of their family beginning next week.
Universal Orlando shared official footage of some Team Members as they entered through the portal into the park for the very first time.
During these previews most attractions have been running, with more coming online as the preview has gone on.
Here we can see guests riding Dragon Racers Rally in How to Train Your Dragon.
Here are guests heading towards Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, which has been getting good reviews online from those who have experienced it.
Most dining locations are open during these previews as well. We can see guests waiting in line for handheld mac & cheese cones from Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel in the Isle of Berk.
Some areas are still blocked off as construction projects continue around the park, like the shops and guest services here on the right side of the park’s entrance area within Celestial Park.
Official map imagery from the Universal Orlando Resort app
Universal Orlando App Updated
The night before previews began saw the official Universal Orlando app updated to now include details for Epic Universe.
The overall map now includes Epic Universe for the first time, and details for most attractions, shops, and dining can be viewed within the app.
Logos and names previously not yet announced for multiple retail locations can now be found in the app, including candy store names confirmed like How to Treat Your Dragon at the Isle of Berk AND K. Rammele in the Wizarding World.
Universal just shared photos of some of the confectioneries that will be available for Epic Universe’s Wizarding World, which are branded with the K. Rammele name. The items include chocolate nifflers, and of course various types of caramels.
Official photo of sweets coming to The Wizarding World in Epic Universe
New information for Moonhip Chocolates & Celestial Sweets reveals that it features an original character named Maya of the Skies. The Sensorium Emporium, part of a multi-space retail location within Celestial Park had an original character revealed as well, an explorer named Vincent Various.
Universal had previously applied for a trademark for the term Vincent Various for use in theme parks.
Trademark application from U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
The app has confirmed which rides at Epic Universe will offer Single Rider Lines, most of which we’ve been able to see within permit information, but the full list includes all major rides for the park:
- Stardust Racers
- Mario Kart
- Mine-Cart Madness
- Monsters Unchained
- Curse of the Werewolf
- Battle at the Ministry
- Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
The Parking Reminders section of the app shows the names for each of the parking sections of the flat parking lot, which are named: Explorer, Monster, Viking, Gamer, and Hero.
Each of the parking sections include iconography on the signs, like this photo by Ethan Hershaft of the Monster section shows.
Monsters parking lot section seen from road nearby, Photo: Ethan Hershaft
The Epic Universe valet sign was recently installed along the street.
Newly added Valet sign in front of Epic Universe, Photo: Ethan Hershaft
The new Epic Universe valet sign is similar in style to the one in use at the existing resort area.
Current valet sign at Universal Orlando Resort, Photo: Alicia Stella
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Checking in on all areas of Epic Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic has seen finishing touches added just before Team Member previews began.
Posters and adverts were added around the base of the entry arch into Place Cachée.
These adverts match the official concept art for the arch.
Official concept art
A new Metro-Floo sign was installed above the entrance into the world’s main attraction, an indoor ride named Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
The show within this world, Le Cirque Arcanus, features live actors, puppets, and special effects.
There are 12-new spell casting experiences for Epic Universe’s Wizarding World. This is according to new maps found packaged with the second-generation interactive wands—which are now available for sale—as well as the within the new interactive wand section of the official app.
Official spell-casting map, as seen in Universal Orlando Resort app
A Team Member can be seen here using a wand on the Chez Flamel spell-casting experience, located within the side alley area of this world.
Official Harry Potter social media accounts recently revealed new Butterbeer products that will be available in this area when Epic Universe opens.
New Butterbeer products for Epic Universe, Photo: Harry Potter
The new Butterbeer products include macarons, truffles, candy bars, and caramel-filled Butterbeer-flavored chocolate barrels, in addition to new steins when ordering Butterbeer, and the previously announced Butterbeer crepe.
New Butterbeer candies, Photo: Harry Potter
Dark Universe
Heading into Dark Universe, we can spot some of the wardrobe for the Monster Makeup Experience, which appear to look like mad scientists lab coats.
Here is how this experience appears in official concept art.
Official concept art
We now know from the official app that The Burning Blade Tavern not only offers quick service inside, but there is a separate listing for a Burning Blade Pickup Window as well. The only other restaurant with mobile order via a pickup window in Epic Universe, (currently,) is Meteor Astropub in the center of the park.
More scaffolding has gone up around a third wall for part of the building for Monsters Unchained that faces the park. Two other walls have already received paint to help it blend in as seen from guest areas.
New scaffolding seen at top-right
Universal Creative shared a behind the scenes video on Instagram from inside of Dark Universe, which included some brief views around the world, but included mostly footage from within the Monsters Unchained attraction.
Here we can get some glimpses of areas of the ride’s queue, the ride path, and even shots from above a show scene, where it appears they’re standing in the catwalks above.
A look at the queue, Image: Universal Creative
There is also a quick glimpse of the KUKA-arm style ride vehicle for Monsters Unchained. As expected, these ride vehicles appear much more open than the ones in use at Forbidden Journey, which allows riders to look around them during the ride, and not be limited to only staring forward.
Ride vehicle design, Image: Universal Creative
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Over at How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, multiple character meet and greets can be spotted, including Astrid seen wandering the pathways
Ruffnut and Tuffnut can also be spotted, walking around the docks near the world’s entrance.
Hiccup and Toothless can be spotted meeting guests within the Haddock Paddock area at the back of the world.
The Snow Wraith animatronic dragon looks complete, but no word yet if it is running or not.
According to an article in The Hollywood Reporter there is also “a full-scale Grump in the Forge who breathes fire.”
Water can be seen running on the fountain for the first time, located within the center of the town plaza in front of Mead Hall.
New dragons have arrived in front of the lagoon near the world’s entry, which appear to be Scuttleclaw figures.
These dragon tails have been completed at the back of the area, near The Untrainable Dragon theater show.
The sign for this live show was installed since our last update.
The sign has also been installed for the gift shop near the theater’s exit, which is named Toothless’ Treasures.
Universal shared a look at some of the merchandise coming to the Isle of Berk when Epic Universe opens.
Official photo of some of the items available in this world
A highlight of the announced items are the baby dragons to adopt, that each come with an egg with a carrying strap to carry them in.
Official photo of adopt-a-dragon plush
Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World was initially open for Team Member previews early on, but closed for a few days to wrap up some last minute projects before guests could come back.
It’s unclear whether the hillside painted designed along the exterior for this world is completed yet, or has just been paused temporarily. The sides appear more complete than the small section directly behind the entry portal.
Universal has shown off some of the items that will be available for purchase within the world, including all of the Power-Up Band designs.
They revealed the 1-UP Mushroom and Super Mushroom Sippers.
And Here are the light-up Super Star Popcorn Bucket and Mario Kart Popcorn Bucket.
These items do appear to be the same as the ones currently for sale at Universal Studios Japan.
Celestial Park
It’s been reported that the development of Celestial Park, the central areas of Epic Universe, featured many of the designers that worked on Islands of Adventure’s Port of Entry.
Water can now be seen flowing through all of the park’s central water features and lagoons.
The water motif begins with the cascading waterfalls leading from the Luna Court of the Moon statue and plaza, heading all the way to Apollo’s Court of the Sun, located at the very back of the park in front of the Universal Helios Grand Hotel.
The dragon arch statue has not yet been installed in front of the Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, but a boom crane is currently parked in the way.
A new episode of the Discover Universal Podcast described entertainment for Celestial Park, including what will be shown on the Hemisphere Stage near the middle of the park. Daytime shows will feature The Travelers, who have returned from the various portals to bring stories and songs from each of the 4 other worlds.
The first part of the Constellation Carousel sign has been installed.
According to official concept art, the word “Carousel” will be installed over top of the ride entrance.
While work continues above this area, guests are being routed to the left of the entrance to ride during previews.
New stylistic information signs have been installed in Celestial Park, almost like an Epic Universe version of a Parisian Morris Column.
A mist effect can be seen at the front of Stardust Racers.
Here we can see how the landscaping is extending a comet-inspired pavement design in front of the ride.
While Team Member previews did kick off with both trains running on Stardust Racers, a train did valley shortly after.
Luckily this occurred during tests runs without riders, as the train did sit on the track for multiple days before being removed.
According to the story in The Hollywood Reporter, Stardust Racers will feature different music for daytime and nighttime, with an adventurous brassy sound during the day and a more ethereal synthy sound at night.
The story also says Celestial Park features 40 hours of combined music, 14 of which is entirely original. The hub area is separated into 16 different background music zones.
Universal says the lagoons within the center of the park feature over 200 fountain jets.
Nighttime Lighting Testing
Bioreconstruct was able to get a rare look at an RGB test of the interconnect LED lighting, which is all changing in unison across the entire 20+ acre Celestial Park. See the video below for a detailed look at these tests.
Universal confirms that there are over 1 million points of light within the central areas of Epic Universe.
LED lights are even embedded in the paths and courtyards throughout the middle of the park.
We can spot these points of light in the pavement during the day.
The control of these lights, which include accents on all of the worlds’ portals and within the queue for Stardust Racers, will be utilized for nighttime shows as well as the daily evening ceremony to switch from daytime to nighttime lighting.
Recent footage from Ivo on YouTube shows what the regular nighttime lighting may look like when not in testing mode.
The footage also includes a good view of the main show fountain running, which we now know is confirmed to be named The Cosmos Fountain.
Lighting and fountain test, Image: Ivo
This large fountain display is using its water to almost mimic the same style of dome as Constellation Carousel, creating two domes across the night sky’s skyline.
Fountain sprayers acting like a dome, Image: Ivo
Before we wrap up, a shout out to Bioreconstruct for sharing over 6 and a half years of Epic Universe update aerial photography. It’s not easy to get such incredible images from a moving helicopter, but we are all so grateful that he has.
Bioreconstruct began with photos of a flat piece of undeveloped land.
A look back at the beginning of this journey, over 6 years ago, Photo: @bioreconstruct
Flash forward to now, and he’s revealing a fully functioning theme park. The detailed photographic coverage has been nothing short of amazing.
A fully operating theme park where once nothing but dirt sat, Photo: @bioreconstruct
You can follow Bioreconstruct yourself on X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky, or Mastodon, or subscribe to his YouTube channel for even more aerial views.
That’s all for this update, but be sure to check out the video version of this story for additional visuals. As we get closer to the park’s official grand opening on May 22nd, be sure you’re subscribed to Theme Park Stop on YouTube to never miss an update.
Subscribe to the news feed or enter your email address below to never miss an update. Official Art: Universal Destinations & Experiences | Aerial and On the Ground Photos: Bioreconstruct | Permit Documents: fasttrack.ocfl.net | Graphics and Overlays: Alicia Stella | Other Images as Captioned
Subscribe to Receive Email Updates
Consider supporting us on Patreon for as little as $1/month. All patrons receive behind the scenes posts and exclusive podcasts. Learn More
0 Comments