Big news for Universal Orlando Resort fans. Actually, it’s EPIC news! Work is resuming on Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe theme park. The widely anticipated theme park is slated create an entirely new level of theme park entertainment. The pandemic put Epic Universe on paused back in July 2020. This pause allowed for Universal to adjust their plans. Work on this new themed destination will begin immediately. It will, of course, take several months before the project is restaffed and vendor and contractor teams are reassembled.
This will be the fourth theme park in their line up, including Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal’s Volcano Bay.
“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.”
When this new section officially opens it 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 space. Now, the one small fly in the ointment is that Epic Universe won’t be located next to its current parks. Instead, Epic Universe will be about 12 minutes from the main Universal Orlando Resort. Transportation links between the two sections are being considered. (Specifically, south of Sand Lake Road and east of Universal Boulevard).
Universal’s Epic Universe will be the first from-the-ground-up construction of a theme park in Central Florida since Universal’s Islands of Adventure, back in 1999. 14,000 permanent jobs will be generated with the project. That’s in addition to the thousands of jobs that will be created during its development.
The park’s opening has now been pushed back. We are hearing that Epic Universe will officially now open in 2025. In addition, while we don’t know exactly which themed properties will be a part of the park, we still do expect that Super Nintendo World will be a part of the new project.
We are so excited to hear that this project is still a go. We will be sure to share details with you, when details about Epic Universe are released.
