Epic Universe details you may have missed in Universal’s reveal
Universal packed so many details into announcing Epic Universe that you may have missed a few discoveries, so let’s take a magnifying glass to the videos and literature Universal published and see what we can find.
We’re about to get into microscopic details, sure to excite superfans. For a more macro overview of Epic Universe and its four lands, check out our previous story.
A “Back to the Future” Easter Egg is Part of Starfall Racers
Starfall Racers, the dual launch coaster located in Celestial Park, will contain a reference to a classic Universal film — and, inadvertently, a former Universal Orlando attraction.
In discussing Starfall Racers, Andrezza Duarte, senior manager of Universal Orlando’s internal communications team, said, “Although I can’t give this easter egg away just yet, just know that there’s a gift for true Universal fans on the back of each coaster vehicle. Truly outatime!”
Reading between the not-so-subtle lines, the Starfall Racer coaster trains will have an Easter egg nod to “Back to the Future.” The 1985 film, directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg, inspired a simulator ride in the early days of Universal Studios Florida.
Steven Spielberg, Creative Consultant
Film director Steven Spielberg was involved with the conception of Universal Studios Florida prior to that park’s 1990 opening, and continues to serve as creative consultant to Universal Destinations & Experiences.
“Epic Universe is built on an amazing concept: the idea that you can go into a world through some kind of a portal and you come out in a world you never could dream of,” Spielberg said in the park’s announcement video. “You can experience it. I think it’s going to just feed the imagination of so many people of all ages.”
Several Spielberg films have been adapted into Universal theme park attractions over the decades, including “Jaws,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” and “Jurassic Park.” Notably, Epic Universe will be the first park at Universal Orlando to not contain an attraction based on a Spielberg film (though Warner Bros. did offer Spielberg the chance to helm the first “Harry Potter” film before hiring Chris Columbus).
Every Portal in Epic Universe will Display an Inscription
From Celestial Park, guests will enter four separate portals to access each of the lands within Epic Universe. Let’s take a closer look at each portal.
Each portal displays an inscription with a phrase embodying that land.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: “We my friends, have dragons!” The concept art is missing a comma, but hopefully the real signage will be correct.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: “For in dreams we enter a world that is entirely our own.” This is an Albus Dumbledore quote from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”
Dark Universe: “It’s alive! It’s alive!” This references the words spoken by Dr. Henry Frankenstein in the 1931 Universal horror film “Frankenstein.”
Super Nintendo World: “Here we go!” A Nintendo video game player of any frequency likely read those words in Mario’s voice. The hero happily utters the phrase upon embarking on his adventures.
Notice in the concept art above that each portal’s inscription is closely accompanied by a medallion or orb of some sort. These same spherical symbols seems to be atop the Chronos Tower, the portal all guests will enter upon arriving at Epic Universe.
In the opposite view of Chronos Tower below, the spheres appear to be more generically designed, void the specific lands’ symbols.
Each portal will be topped off with a symbol weather vane, of sorts, representing the land: a dragon emblem, the Elder Wand, an electricity tower, and super stars.
Compare the concept art below to the recently captured construction photos onsite at Epic Universe.
Epic Universe will be (Allegedly) Universal’s Fourth Theme Park
If you’ve seen Universal refer to Epic Universe as Universal Orlando’s “fourth theme park” and wondered what you’ve missed … Universal counts Volcano Bay as a “water theme park.” This vernacular differs, for example, from Walt Disney World, which contains four theme parks and two water parks, but doesn’t outwardly refer to its property as having six parks.
According to Universal, the full, formal names of the four parks of Universal Orlando Resort are:
- Universal Studios Florida
- Universal Islands of Adventure
- Universal Volcano Bay
- Universal Epic Universe
Note these names say “Universal” (singular) rather than “Universal’s” (possessive), a change in recent years for all parks except Universal Studios Florida.
Pizza Moon References a 1902 Film
Pizza Moon, the counter-service pizza location in Celestial Park, contains a reference to one of cinema’s earliest films within its signage. The Pizza Moon marquee depicts an anthropomorphic moon with a piece of pizza stuck in one of its eyes. This references “A Trip to the Moon,” a 1902 silent French film directed by George Méliès, in which a rocket smashes into the moon’s face.
Shout-out to Connor Webber, our movie reviewer, for catching the deep-cut (deep-dish?) reference.
Dr. Victoria Frankenstein stars in Dark Universe
The description for Dark Universe reveals a new character original to Epic Universe, not derived from an existing Universal film: Dr. Victoria Frankenstein.
The land’s description reads: “Guests encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.”
Universal’s announcements contained a first look at Dr. Victoria Frankenstein.
Also pictured were promo images of Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, and Wolfman.
Additionally, Universal’s reveal video contained clips of regulars in the Universal Classic Monsters repetoire, including the Bride of Frankenstein, the Creature of the Black Lagoon, and Frankenstein’s monster.
Luna Overlook will be a Tranquil Area in Celestial Park
An area called Luna Overlook will provide a sweeping view of Celestial Park.
An inscription on a statue in the Luna Overlook reads: “The goddess Luna draws the veil across the worlds as colors pale. Her glowing face reflects the light and pulls the stars into the …” A guest in the concept art covers up the final bit, but “night” seems like a safe bet.
In the background of the Luna Overlook concept art, one building has signage reading, “Mexican fresh.” Nothing in Universal’s accompanying press literature mentioned a Mexican dining location.
Starfall Racers Will Glow in the Dark
The ride web page for Starfall Racers contains an exciting detail: “With no external track lighting at night, the fully illuminated ride vehicles appear as comets shooting across the night sky above Celestial Park.”
Starfall Racers will have a height requirement of 48 inches, the same as Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida, as well as Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure. Child swap will be available for Starfall Racers.
Universal described a signature move of Starfall Racers, its inverted crisscross, as “the Celestial Spin.” This affectionate verbiage recalls the Mosasaurus Roll, the over-the-water tumble at the conclusion of Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure.
The ride description also says it will have “ … dazzling display of blazing colors and ethereal music.” We assume this means it will have onboard music.
It’s All Connected
While the four lands of Epic Universe may not seem to connect, a general narrative thread ties everything together.
Language throughout Universal’s various announcements described Epic Universe as a place where “the sun, moon and stars have aligned to create a transformational theme park, with amazing portals taking you worlds beyond.” Celestial Park, the central plaza, is “a world between worlds, where everything begins and ends.”
Getting more detailed, Universal said, “Celestial Park is the center of an ever-evolving universe that, throughout centuries, people — artists, musicians, explorers, adventurers, inventors — have visited for inspiration and connection, and maybe left a little piece of them behind.”
“The Crimes of Grindelwald” Movie Clips Could be Foreshadowing
While Universal didn’t outright reveal specific attractions for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, the clips the company selected for the reveal video from “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” could hint at what guests may find throughout the land. The clips in Universal’s video align with our speculation in an earlier story, including Newt Scamander’s pavement spell and magical creatures flying through the night sky.
Nintendo Super Star Store Is Integrated Into Celestial Park’s Lore
Nintendo Super Star Store is located outside of Super Nintendo World proper, residing in Celestial Park. Aligning with the backstory of Celestial Park being a “celestial world between worlds,” Nintendo Super Star Store was “founded by explorers that have been on multiple excursions into Super Nintendo World.”
Check out constellations on the store’s ceiling. We can spot Luigi and Bowser.
The exterior of Nintendo Super Star Store contain some fun details, too: a Mario fountain with gold coins (of course), Nintendo characters sculpted in marble and painted in stained-glass windows, an intricate weather vane, and tiny sculptures of bananas to top if all off.
Both Restaurants in Celestial Park Will Have a Bar
While Universal widely reported the news of Celestial Park’s two table-service restaurants — Atlantic and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant — only the establishments’ official landing pages revealed both locations will contain their own bar: Aquaria Bar at the former, Tiger Bar at the latter.
Zooming in on the concept art for both location yields some discoveries about the restaurants’ interior designs, too.
Universal also revealed that “the signage hanging around the [Blue Dragon] restaurant contains many easter eggs of Celestial Park.” This brings to mind Confisco Grill, the restaurant in Islands of Adventure’s entrance area that contains references to the park’s other lands within its interior details.
Universal is Just Getting Started
Quotes from this story were sourced from the Epic Universe website, Epic Universe press materials, the “Introducing Epic Universe” video, and the Discover Universal Blog, all of which are official resources published by Universal Orlando Resort and publicly viewable.
For a more big-picture overview of Epic Universe rather than granular details, make sure to check out our previous story:
UNIVERSAL IS ABOUT TO SMASH DISNEY. LETS GOOOOO EPIC UNIVERSE!!!!!!