Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe theme park now delayed due to health crisis

Universal has announced that construction is delayed for its Epic Universe theme park in Orlando due to the ongoing global health crisis.

This update was shared during a Comcast earnings call early this morning. The park was originally scheduled to open sometime in 2023. Prior to this announcement, Universal said that construction would remain active at any of its theme parks around the world.

Universal Studios Hollywood closed on March 14 as a result of the pandemic, and Universal Orlando Resort closed on March 15. Part-time hourly team members will be temporarily furloughed starting May 3.

According to the same earnings call, Super Nintendo World is likely to open “a few months past” the original expected opening period at Universal Studios Japan, but will still open this year. The new, immersive land was previously scheduled to open in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

In China, construction on Universal Studios Beijing had stopped, but now over 15,000 construction workers are back at the site working on the new park — more than were there when construction began. Comcast expects the park to be open on time and on budget in 2021.

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Stay tuned for more updates on Universal’s theme parks and the future of Epic Universe as this story develops.