Universal Orlando announced this morning that its planned Epic Universe theme park has resumed construction after being paused in July 2020 due to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
After rumors swirled for years about a third Universal Orlando theme park, Universal’s Epic Universe was announced in August 2019. In 2016, Universal parent company Comcast purchased 475+ acres of land just a few miles south of the existing Universal Orlando parks and resorts, as shown in the map below.
This map illustrates Epic Universe’s location in relation to the existing Universal Orlando parks and resorts.
Epic Universe will feature a new theme park, an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. It will be located on a 750-acre site that nearly doubles Universal’s total available acreage in Central Florida. It will be located a few miles from Universal Orlando’s current theme parks in Southwest Orange County (specifically, south of Sand Lake Road and east of Universal Boulevard).
Though no concrete details about Epic Universe’s lands or attractions (aside from a Super Nintendo World area), the original announcement did give a high-level glimpse at what guests will experience when the park opens:
Epic. It’s a word that gets tossed around a lot in today’s day and age, though not one we use loosely. When we label something as epic, we want that experience to live up to the promise that the word makes. Which is why today we are elated to announce the addition of our fourth theme park, Universal’s Epic Universe, an experience genuinely worthy of its bold moniker.
Universal’s Epic Universe will offer an entirely new level of experiences that will forever redefine theme park entertainment. Guests will venture beyond their wildest imagination, traveling into beloved stories and through vibrant lands on adventures where the journey is as astounding as the destination. The new location will feature a theme park, an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. Ultimately, this expansion will create more space and freedom to let loose and create lasting memories with the people you love.
The announcement of Epic Universe’s revival is not only exciting news for theme park enthusiasts but for the local economy as well:
Restarting Epic Universe will result in hundreds of jobs within Universal and thousands of jobs across Central Florida. These positions include highly-skilled professional positions, all levels of construction jobs and more.
The Epic Universe project will infuse billions of dollars into the Florida economy and generate more than 14,000 permanent jobs in addition to the thousands of jobs that will be created during its development.
Universal leadership and local stakeholders shared optimistic sentiments about the news:
“The restart of construction of Epic Universe is a terrific moment for our employees and for our theme park business in Florida,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. “It is our single largest investment in the state and represents our enthusiasm for the spectacular park and the economic opportunities it will generate.”
“We are excited to begin work on Epic Universe again and for what this moment means for our industry, our community, our business and our team members,” said Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO for Universal Parks & Resorts. “Our confidence in our collective future is as strong as ever.”
“The resumption of the Epic Universe project couldn’t come at a better time,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “Our community has so many talented workers who will benefit from this massive project. I am confident it will deliver a huge economic boost to Orange County.”
“Our vision for Epic Universe is historic,” Mr. Williams said at the time the project was announced. “It will build on everything we have done and become the most immersive and innovative theme park we have ever created.”
Universal Orlando has not yet announced an opening date for Epic Universe.
What attractions and lands do you hope to see at Universal’s Epic Universe? Let us know in the comments section below.
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