Epic Universe Evaluation: Common Orlando’s New Theme Park Is Out of This World

Theme park followers, together with myself, have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the brand new Common Orlando Resort park Epic Universe because it was first introduced in 2019.

This weekend, I bought an early preview of the park and might verify that it was properly definitely worth the wait.

As a member of the press, I attended Common’s media preview occasion for Epic Universe on Saturday.

I used to be in a position to tour all 5 “worlds” that comprise the huge park:

1. Celestial Park
2. Darkish Universe
3. Tips on how to Prepare Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
4. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
5. Tremendous Nintendo World (which already exists in Common’s Hollywood and Japan parks, although the three variations differ barely)

The sprawling park, which reportedly value round $7 billion to construct, is an unimaginable feat of engineering and design. (Common has not publicly confirmed the price of the growth, and a consultant declined to remark when reached by Enterprise Insider by way of electronic mail.)

As a theme park fan — and a lifelong Disney World lover — I can completely see Epic Universe drawing among the crowds from the Disney parks about 9 miles away.

This is what I considered Epic Universe, together with the perfect rides within the new park, and why it might give Disney a run for its cash.

Epic Universe has 5 themed areas that every immerse guests in a special ‘world’

All of us began our expertise by getting into by way of the Chronos, a spectacular clocktower-style monument the place every of the “worlds” is visually represented. The Chronos acts as guests’ portal to Epic Universe.

My group then branched off and headed towards the Isle of Berk, which is themed on the animated film franchise “Tips on how to Prepare Your Dragon.”

This world might be an apparent hit for teenagers who’re followers of the flicks (or simply dragons usually), however the consideration to element and immersive panorama are what actually blew me away.

Moving into the Isle of Berk, you are instantly transported to a Viking village populated with dragons. Some are costumed workers strolling round, whereas others are full-blown state-of-the-art animatronics peeking out from their perches.

I rode all three rides on this part (the Hiccup’s Wing Gliders curler coaster, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and the Fyre Drill water trip). They have been gratifying, however hands-down the perfect half was “The Untrainable Dragon” present.

At roughly 20 minutes and with a number of performances every day, it is a enjoyable musical expertise that wows the viewers with dragon animatronics that totally work together with the solid — together with a flying Toothless that soars out over the viewers.

The eye to element within the creations of those creatures is unbelievable. For example, as Toothless lands on stage, you may truly see his ft flex in a lifelike approach.

I used to be totally ready to award the Isle of Berk as essentially the most immersive till I stepped into Tremendous Nintendo World.

Guests enter by way of Princess Peach’s fortress and whenever you step by way of the portal, you actually really feel such as you’re in a online game.

It is nearly sensory overload — there are chomping Piranha Vegetation and query mark blocks all over the place, and towering palm bushes within the Donkey Kong Nation part.

I spent much less time within the remaining three worlds, however it was sufficient to go away an impression. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic was additionally extremely immersive, with retailers, eating places, and avenue performers that carry the magical model of Nineteen Twenties Paris from the “Implausible Beasts and The place to Discover Them” franchise to life.

As a lover of all issues spooky, Darkish Universe was one other spotlight. Frankenstein’s fortress was so creepy, and I liked the road performers — like the girl taking part in violin, and the bandaged Invisible Man stalking by way of the group and avoiding selfies with excited friends.

Celestial Park has an astrological motif and, in contrast to the opposite 4 worlds, it is not based mostly on any pre-existing Common mental property — moderately, it simply performs into the “Universe” theme, serving because the “hub” of the park that connects the opposite 4 worlds. Whereas the least immersive of the 5 worlds, design-wise, Celestial Park had probably the greatest rides.

One of the best rides in Epic Universe

I rode many of the points of interest throughout the preview, and some stood out.

One of the best curler coaster trip in Epic Universe is Stardust Racers in Celestial Park, an intense dueling coaster that reaches speeds of 62 miles per hour, sending riders by way of steep drops, loops, and corkscrews. There are two separate tracks that cross over each other throughout the trip. FYI: The precise aspect whenever you enter the queue is the marginally extra intense expertise, I am informed.

The one greatest trip within the park, nevertheless, is Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.

The thrilling darkish trip takes you into the fortress of Victoria Frankenstein, a descendant of Victor. Throughout the course of the trip, you encounter all of Common’s traditional film monsters, together with the Wolf Man, Dracula, Frankenstein, and even the Phantom of the Opera (who’s taking part in an organ that shoots out flames whenever you first see him).

The animatronics on this trip are unreal and higher than any I’ve ever seen in any theme park rides.

Beginning with the preshow, guests are handled to a face-to-face encounter with Henry, an enormous eight-foot-tall Frankenstein’s monster that strikes so easily you’d simply mistake it for an actual, albeit very tall, actor in a monster swimsuit. It even takes a number of steps.

The runner-up for greatest general trip (by a really slim margin) is the Battle on the Ministry of Magic. Should you thought Common Island of Journey’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was spectacular, simply wait.

The pre-show nearly rivals the trip itself. Riders enter by way of the “Metrofloo” (powered by inexperienced “floo powder” that enables wizards to magically journey instantaneously) earlier than strolling by way of an enormous, painstakingly detailed duplicate of the Ministry of Magic from the flicks. The trip is about in the course of Dolores Umbridge’s trial as she breaks unfastened, assisted by Voldemort’s Loss of life Eaters, and it feels such as you’re proper within the movie alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they try and re-capture Umbridge.

As soon as once more, the robotics work right here is out of this world. The huge Loss of life Eaters loom over riders as you zoom by way of the darkish trip, and there are a number of moments the place the animatronics and augmented actuality are nearly seamless. The storytelling and construct are on par with a few of Disney’s most superior (and costly) rides, just like the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction in Hollywood Studios.

Epic Universe goes to lure loads of Disney lovers by way of its portal, and it is definitely worth the cash

I have been to Common Orlando Resort earlier than, however not for a few years. I’ve personally all the time opted for Disney World throughout my journeys to central Florida, particularly due to how immersive it feels and the way particularly branded every of the 4 Disney theme parks — Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom — are.

The present three Common parks in Orlando — Common Studios Florida, Islands of Journey, and the Volcano Bay water park — are nice however have by no means fairly hooked me the way in which Disney has.

Epic Universe accomplishes that full immersion in a approach I have never skilled at Common Orlando earlier than. It is clear the corporate has leveled up with its large funding within the park, which is the primary utterly new theme park in-built Orlando in over a decade.

Disney has additionally more and more develop into recognized for its eating choices — many epicures make an annual pilgrimage only for Epcot’s Meals and Wine Pageant — however Epic Universe’s meals scene might rival that facet too.

Whereas we have been too busy taking within the 5 “worlds” to pattern lots of the park’s meals and beverage choices, theme park reporter Carly Caramanna attended an early preview and beforehand wrote for Enterprise Insider that Epic Universe’s eating choices might be a foodie’s paradise. It’s going to introduce over 100 menu objects new to Common’s parks.

I did get to eat on the Oak and Star Tavern within the Celestial Park part of the park, and the alternatives have been spectacular. We dined buffet-style for the occasion, however the menu will sometimes be à la carte throughout common opening hours.

There are a selection of strong barbecue alternatives (together with a vegetarian BBQ jackfruit possibility) and a few nice sides (I am nonetheless eager about the scrumptious mango bread days later), in addition to a full bar. The spacious inside, with its fairly “cosmic backyard” theme, even appears prefer it could possibly be a marriage venue.

Dennis L. Speigel, the founding father of Worldwide Theme Park Companies, Inc., beforehand informed BI’s Lauren Edmonds that he estimated Epic Universe might draw no less than 6 million guests in its first yr. (For context, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park alone had an estimated 17.7 million guests in 2023.)

After visiting, I can simply see how that could possibly be the case. The genuinely glorious rides, strong eating choices, and enjoyable points of interest and reveals will make a go to to Epic Universe properly definitely worth the cash for households.

Like Disney, Common operates on a dynamic ticket pricing system. Single-day tickets begin at $139 for adults and $134 for youngsters ages 3-9, plus tax.

Will Epic Universe topple Disney’s longtime dominance within the space? Most likely not, however it’ll actually give the Home of Mouse a run for its cash.