Epic Universe Update: Track Supports Installed for Yoshi Ride and Footings for Hub Coaster

Alicia Stella Construction Updates / Theme Park News / Theme Park Rumors This article contains affiliate links. Learn More

Universal Orlando’s upcoming theme park, Epic Universe, may not be opening until summer 2025, but construction seems to be happening quite rapidly. Just a couple weeks since our last update has seen new projects start within the massive work site, tons of more steel has risen, and even more ride supports have been installed.

Let’s take a quick look around some of the more notable changes to be seen, including work around Super Nintendo World, the park’s massive central hub, and more. UPDATE: Check out the video version of this story below for additional visuals.


Aerial view of future Epic Universe theme park, Photo: bioreconstruct

As always, these incredible aerial photographs come compliments of the talented Bioreconstruct on Twitter, the greatest theme park follow in all of Central Florida!

Official concept art for Epic Universe with speculated lands labeled

In our last update we talked about roller coaster track arriving and being staged near the theme park site. This coaster track is expected to be for the How to Train Your Dragon area, and still appears to be staged in the same spot.

Coaster track staged near Epic Universe site

Despite track not yet being installed within the How to Train Your Dragon area, there are plenty of coaster footings installed already. These are mostly positioned near and within the land’s main water feature.

How to Train Your Dragon land, yellow areas contain new footings

The roller coaster will pass under a couple bridges, passing below the water line of the area’s lagoon. This will be similar to the way the Incredible Hulk Coaster passes under the bridge near the entrance to Marvel Super Hero Island at Islands of Adventure.

Close view of underwater section of roller coaster


Zooming out, we can see that the very first coaster footings have been installed for another roller coaster attraction at Epic Universe. At the top-right part of the photo below are footings for the hub’s massive dual track racing coaster.

Dragons coaster work at center, hub coaster at top-right

The hub roller coaster will be the largest and most thrilling attraction for Epic Universe. See the video below to get an idea of what the coaster may be like.


The area where the new footings have been installed is where the two tracks for this massive steel coaster will come right up to the edge of the park’s central hub.


While we know for sure that the hub coaster and the How to Train Your Dragon coaster attractions will in fact be roller coasters, there is another attraction just starting to take shape that we aren’t 100% certain of.

According to permits, there will be two attractions located within the Universal Monsters area of Epic Universe when the park opens. One will be an indoor dark ride. The show building for this attraction is taking shape now.

Steel rising for indoor Universal Monsters dark ride entrance

Main attraction structure for Universal Monsters land

The second attraction was originally being designed as an indoor theater show, but recent permits and rumors indicate it may have been changed to another roller coaster ride for Epic Universe.

Main attraction for area seen at bottom, top-right area location for second attraction

Check out the photo below, which is where the second attraction is set to be built. Some footings are beginning to take shape, but it may still be too soon to tell if this will in fact be a roller coaster or not. Whatever it is, it does not appear to match earlier permit drawings for this area.

Closer view of second attraction area for Universal Monsters


As we’re used to by now, Super Nintendo World is seeing the most progress! The image below shows the entire land: Donkey Kong roller coaster at bottom, Mario Kart building outline on right, and Yoshi with the rest of the land at top.

Directly overhead view of Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe

In addition to coaster supports and track that has been installed already, new steel has risen for the Donkey Kong mine cart roller coaster.

Special hidden coaster track installed for Donkey Kong attraction

New enclosed area installed on right of image

This is part of the main structure for the ride, and may contain indoor scenes, as the attraction will go both outside and inside.

New enclosed area of Donkey Kong attraction


Donkey Kong on left, Mario Kart on right

In the photo below of the entire area, you can see that while not much work is happening at the Mario Kart ride, seen on the top-right, it does look like the ride path is starting to be dug out.

Mario Kart outline seen on top-right of photo

A closer view of Mario Kart seen below.

Closer view of future Mario Kart attraction

While not too much is happening with the Mario Kart attraction, work is picking up for Yoshi’s Adventure.

Yoshi building with track along left side

This family omnimover style attraction takes place high above the Mushroom Kingdom, and many of its track supports were just installed. The round structure on top of the building will be a continuously moving load and unload area for the Yoshi Ride.

Yoshi ride track installed at Epic Universe

The entrance to the Yoshi ride can be seen in the photo below, with the bridge under the ride path and track installed to the right. The black cylinder in the foreground will be the entrance to Toad’s Cafe, the land’s quick service restaurant.

Yoshi’s Adventure entrance

One last look at Super Nintendo World


Other areas of the park are seeing modest progress, including plenty of steel being added to the large ride in the future Wizarding World area.

Possible Wizarding World ride at Epic Universe

From the side we can get a better idea of how tall this large ride building is. According to permits, at least one section of this structure will be at least-5 stories tall.

Side view of possible Wizarding World attraction

The center of Epic Universe is seeing prep for several structures as well as multiple water features, including a large showpiece fountain display.

Wide view of the middle of Epic Universe

Large fountain in foreground, central water feature behind it

Closer view of the park’s large show fountain area

A big thanks to Bioreconstruct for providing everyone with the incredible aerial photography. You can follow Bio on Twitter for more photos around all of the Orlando theme parks.

View of Epic Universe, as seen from the back of the park

A super wide look at all of Epic Universe

That’s all for now, but if you’d like to bring a piece of the parks home, Souvenir Scents has candles and wax melts that smell like the the ET ride, Butterbeer, and even HHN houses. Save 15% off every order with my promo code PARKSTOP at SouvenirScents.com.

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