Yoshi waits patiently for riders at Epic Universe in new drone photography
Yoshi ride vehicles, pavement artwork, and more details are visible in new drone photography captured high above Universal Epic Universe, the new theme park coming to Universal Orlando Resort in 2025.
As the calendar turns to 2024, we can finally say it: Universal Orlando will open a new theme park next year! Epic Universe will debut by summer 2025 in Orlando, Fla., expanding the footprint of the existing Universal property significantly.
Through drone photography captured by Peaceful Thrill Seeker in late December 2023, and used here with permission, we can see more theming elements take shape as construction teams transform nondescript buildings and mounds of dirt into identifiable structures from familiar stories.
The Portals of Epic Universe
From the park’s central plaza, guests will enter portals to access each of the four lands of Epic Universe, which we expect will be themed to Nintendo, “How to Train Your Dragon,” Universal Classic Monsters, and “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.”
At the time of this writing, Universal has only publicly confirmed Nintendo, despite aerial views clearly revealing the other three themes. For example, the top of one portal features a hand pointing a magic wand toward the sky, marking the entrance into a new realm of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Architectural details and color palettes support the other themes, too.
Yoshi Is Here
Notice something — or someone — newly visible in Super Nintendo World?
Let’s take a closer look. Recognize anyone now?
It’s Yoshi!
A fleet of vehicles emulating Mario’s dino pal will carry guests through an indoor/outdoor attraction above Mushroom Kingdom at Epic Universe.
A version of this attraction, titled Yoshi’s Adventure Ride, opened in 2021 at Universal Studios Japan.
Bowser’s Castle
Nearby, construction crews are adding paint and details to the now-clearly-recognizable Bowser’s castle.
Crews have removed scaffolding on some areas of the castle’s exterior.
Bowser’s castle will reportedly house a “Mario Kart” attraction, just as it does in Super Nintendo World at Universal parks in Japan and Hollywood.
Donkey Kong Country
Adjacent to Bowser’s castle and the Yoshi attraction is Donkey Kong Country, also part of Super Nintendo World. Crews continue to add more theming elements to the Donkey Kong roller coaster and the surrounding area.
Zooming in, the track itself across appears to be nearly show-ready. Note the “gaps” between the “broken” track pieces, which guests’ coaster trains will “jump” across.
A blue wall of disheveled bricks and overgrown vines is brand-new, added in the last few weeks, but already looks like it’s been here for generations.
A version of this attraction, entitled Mine Cart Madness, will open at Universal Studios Japan in spring 2024. Comparing the Orlando construction progress to Japan’s promotional material, many elements seem identical.
The roller coaster track travels over, under, and around a large structure featuring a golden wall.
Switching our frame of reference and looking back in the opposite direction, we get a peek at the logistical and thematic transition from Mushroom Kingdom (in the background, under scaffolding) to Donkey Kong Country (in the foreground, largely still un-themed). Not only are the two areas distinctly separated by a tunnel, but the “thatched” rooftops become bigger as guests make their way through the passage.
Read more about the Donkey Kong roller coaster in our previous story.
Universal Classic Monsters
Rapid progress continues park-wide throughout Epic Universe. This includes the realm reportedly themed to Universal Classic Monsters, the horror icons of Hollywood’s early years (and of recent Halloween Horror Nights fame).
Today, though, our focus is elsewhere in the park. For previous aerial coverage of the monsters-themed land, see our story from November.
“How to Train Your Dragon”
DreamWorks’ “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy inspires another of Epic Universe’s lands.
The area will feature a waterfront flanked by two large structures already painted, as well as a visual pull on the other side of said waterway that’s still in its wireframe-and-scaffolding stage.
Deeper into the “How to Train Your Dragon” land, a roller coaster winds its way around a spinner ride, which Peaceful Thrill Seeker captured in action, already testing.
The Wizarding World Part III
Harry Potter fans are optimistic that Universal Orlando will welcome guests to the resort’s third chapter of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter when Epic Universe opens in 2025.
The Wizarding World’s portal from the park’s central plaza is at left in the photo below. Upon entry, guests will embark upon a new journey, following in the footsteps of 2010’s Hogsmeade and 2014’s Diagon Alley, this time featuring stories from the “Fantastic Beasts” films.
The Wizarding World has been further along in exterior construction than other lands for quite some time now. See our story from August for more aerial photos and rumored details about this land.
Epic Universe Central Plaza
The park entrance and successive central plaza of Epic Universe will anchor guests’ voyage with geographic bearings and a sense of space.
In the photo below, the Nintendo portal is top left and the monsters portal is top right. In the center appear to be the foundations for a large fountain and other unannounced elements.
The basis of a hotel is visible at the back of the central plaza, as are various structures that will perhaps house retail and dining opportunities.
Circles seem to be a motif throughout the central plaza, materializing in various forms of artwork, from architecture to pavement. The ground that for many months has been nothing but dirt is finally giving way to tiny glimpses into the park’s graphic design style.
Accessible from the central plaza and neighboring the “How to Train Your Dragon” land is a fully built roller coaster, with side-by-side dual tracks. This is also one of the first spots in the park where we see greenery already in place.
Hotels of Epic Universe
Along with the hotel that will be attached to Epic Universe itself, two additional Universal hotels will open nearby: Universal Stella Nova Resort (opening Jan. 21, 2025) and Universal Terra Luna Resort (opening Feb. 25, 2025). Reservations for both properties are now available for booking.
Stella Nova is already looking colorful, with Terra Luna waiting in the wings behind it.
These new hotels are a short distance from the new park. In the Stella Nova photo below, Epic Universe’s Super Nintendo World is in the foreground. The coasters and sky tower of SeaWorld Orlando are visible in the background.
The Universe is About to Change Forever
The magnitude of what Epic Universe will add — not only to Universal Orlando, but the city at large and even the themed entertainment industry as a whole — is starting settle in as the park approaches its final year of construction.
The park will extend Universal’s domain several miles southeast of the resort’s current offerings, on previously undeveloped land located on the other side of I4. Epic Universe, along with the three new hotels, will join the existing roster of Universal Orlando’s two theme parks, one water park, eight hotels, and the CityWalk shopping/dining district.
