Epic progress: A look at 9 months of construction on Universal's new theme park

Epic progress: A look at 9 months of construction on Universal’s new theme park

Updated: 4:38 PM EST Nov 20, 2023

Over the last few months, we watched crews transform 750 acres of land in Orlando into Universal’s newest theme park, Epic Universe. In February, there was some progress, but when you fast-forward nine months to November and there’s theming, landscaping, buildings and more tracks for different roller coasters. “We’ve been following this since it’s been a patch of dirt. And it seems to have just grown out of nowhere. It’s not just a couple buildings here or there. We’re seeing pathways that connect the different areas of the park the different portal entries into each of the themed lands are taking shape. It looks like a theme park already,” said Alicia Stella from Theme Park Stop. There will be four themed lands when Epic Universe opens.So far, Universal only confirmed one, which is Super Nintendo World.Stella says permits filed in Orange County give an idea on how it will compare to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Japan.”It looks to be slightly bigger, and they had to add an expansion for the Donkey Kong area which is opening in 2024 over in Japan, whereas Epic Universe is going to open with that Donkey Kong attraction from the start. So, it is the most complete Super Nintendo World from the start in the world,” Stella says.”The portal entry into Super Nintendo World is the most interesting of all the portals because it does contain escalators inside to start at the bottom and then go up to the second level. We can see what looks like a warp pipe inside of that portal image, but on the outside is the celestial themed Epic Universe portal design, which is exciting in its own way.”It’s not just rides and landscape under construction. The tourist district will welcome several news hotels.One of the hotels accidentally leaked some new, exciting details.Tharin White, from EYNTK info, saw it for himself.”It’s going to show the rooms which the standard room. It looks like it’s going to be a two queen room. It looks like there’s going to be 750 rooms between the two resorts, and they’re going to be on one big property. It also looks like they’re opening in January of 2025, which would be about five months ahead of Universal Epic Universe actually opening,” White said.White says it’s great for hotels to open and be prepared before the park makes its grand debut.”Doing it five months in advance is really actually a safe timeline that’s going to allow you to figure out problems, look up reservation issues, kind of just get everything running perfectly before you open one of the biggest theme parks in the entire world. One of the perks of it to, being that it’s right across the street from the Orange County Convention Center. So even not just park goers, I think this is really going to be taken up by people who want to go to the convention center or somewhere on International Drive. It’s a brand new hotel, it’s supposed to be in the lower moderate range. So, it’s going to be a reasonable rate. It’s also walking distance to a lot of restaurants, golf courses, and a lot of amenities that are going to be in that area and then of course Epic Universe.” So, as we sit back and watch all of this come to life, enthusiasts say get ready for the next big thing in Central Florida.”Orlando and everyone who wants to visit Orlando should get very, very excited. There is no doubt in my mind, this will be one of the greatest theme parks in the world,” White says.Top headlines: Florida Lottery: Winning ticket still unclaimed, will expire before ThanksgivingDeputies: Missing Winter Springs mom of 4 found dead in estranged husband’s storage unitFHP: Florida man seriously injured after racing hit-and-run crash ejects him from vehicle