Universal’s Epic Universe Is This the Future of Theme Parks?

Orlando certainly wasn’t suffering from a shortage of theme parks. Apparently, nobody told Universal.

Universal Epic Universe opened in May 2025 as the first major new theme park in Orlando in 25 years, joining Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay. But rather than simply building another collection of rides, Universal created five separate worlds connected through a central hub called Celestial Park.

And that’s where things get interesting.

Walk through enormous themed portals and you can disappear into SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk or The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Celestial Park itself contains gardens, fountains and the dual-launch Stardust Racers coaster.

You’re not just riding anymore

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD probably gives the clearest indication of where this is all heading.

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge mixes a physical ride with game-style interaction, while optional Power-Up Bands let you tackle challenges around the land, collect digital coins and stamps and even track your score. Mine-Cart Madness goes one better visually, creating the rather disturbing sensation that your coaster has jumped off the track.

Suddenly the theme park isn’t something you simply look at. You’re playing it.

Then Universal gets weird.

Dark Universe brings Frankenstein, Dracula, werewolves and the classic Universal Monsters together in the gloomy village of Darkmoor. You can ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, then actually book into the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience and have yourself transformed into a monster. Because apparently buying a fridge magnet wasn’t memorable enough.

Families and younger kids get the colourful Isle of Berk, while Harry Potter fans can explore a Wizarding World combining 1920s wizarding Paris with the British Ministry of Magic.

Who's it for?

Families are the obvious market, but Epic Universe is far from being just a kids’ park. Gamers, Harry Potter tragics, coaster nuts, movie fans, tech lovers and adults who secretly still want to meet Toothless should find plenty here.

For Aussies, this is also very much a fly-drive Play experience. Pick up a hire car in Orlando and Epic Universe sits within one of America's great road-trip playgrounds, with Florida offering plenty more once you finally escape the theme-park bubble.

The bigger story, though, is what Universal has built.

Epic Universe suggests the next generation of theme parks won't simply be about bigger roller coasters. They'll combine rides, games, live performers, technology, food, characters and physical environments into places you can actually participate in.

And if that’s the future of play, we’re quite happy to press Start. Having only been open since the 22nd May 2025, this is a theme park that is still being discovered - this is your sign to discover this EPIC adventure before all of your friends!

DSP Tip: Don’t treat Epic Universe as something to squeeze into half a day. There’s too much interactive stuff hidden between the headline rides. Give it a full day, download the Universal Orlando Resort app beforehand and, if SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is high on your list, investigate the Power-Up Band before you arrive.

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