What is Orlando’s biggest theme park story of 2025, and why is it Epic Universe?
There’s little debate. The theme-park capital of the world gained its first major park in more than 25 years, thanks to a major expansion of — and $8 billion investment by — Universal Orlando.
Epic methodically dribbled out details about its lands, rides, previews, ticket sales and trio of hotels. It played host to international media and a star-studded build-up – complete with “celestial carpet” – to its May 22 debut.
Early reviews were mostly positive, lauding the immersive nature of Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. The latter’s signature ride, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, drew praise for its mesmerizing queue design and high-tech ride experience. But the resulting long waits, even with capped attendance for the park, prompted complaints.
Online reviews of Epic Universe visits were divided into a “not enough to do” crowd and an opposing “you can’t do it all in one day with Express Pass” contingent.
A common criticism throughout the summer concerned the lack of shade in the park, but overall, Epic had escaped the rocky public-perception road that Universal Studios had with its 1990 opening.
On Sept. 17, headlines turned tragic after 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala of Kissimmee died after riding Stardust Racers, Epic’s most high-speed and intense roller coaster. Universal Orlando initially found that ride systems “functioned as intended,” equipment remained intact, and park employees correctly followed procedures.
The ride reopened Oct. 4. In mid-December, Zavala’s family said they had reached an “amicable resolution” with Universal; the settlement’s terms were kept confidential.
Epic speculation continued six months after the park’s opening. Expansion talk has been common, bolstered by the company filing a construction permit for an unidentified 150,000 square-foot structure. Orlando-based Universal Destinations & Experiences also has been involved in unspecified projects at the resort’s original two parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, as well as Horror Unleashed’s opening in Las Vegas, the building of a kids-oriented park in Texas and a proposed theme park in England.
Stay tuned.
WWDD?
The arrival of Epic also sparked the burning question/Central Florida parlor game: What Will Disney Do? Some experts maintain that Walt Disney World is destined to open a fifth theme park, but nothing of that scale has been announced.
Instead, Disney has started working on multiple expansion projects, including “Cars” attractions and a villains-based land at Magic Kingdom; Tropical Americas, featuring “Encanto” and “Indiana Jones” rides, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; and a “Monsters, Inc.” land plus Magic of Disney Animation attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
In the meantime, Disney World introduced a handful of attractions in ‘25, including the Disney Starlight Parade at Magic Kingdom; “Zootopia: Better Zoogether” show at Animal Kingdom; and two stage shows at Hollywood Studios: “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” and “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.”
But, wait, there’s more
Other Orlando-area additions in 2025 beyond Epic Universe and Disney World:
• SeaWorld Orlando debuted Expedition Odyssey, a flying-theater attraction, in May and “Hydro Surge,” a seasonal stage show, in June. Aquatica water park added a holiday-season after-hours event called Illuminate.
• The Orange County Regional History Center developed “Orlando Collected,” an exhibit celebrating the 150th birthday of the city.
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opened The Gantry at LC-39 attractions in July. The Brevard County attraction added “Fraggle Rock: A Space-y Adventure” stage show in December.
• Sea Life Florida Aquarium opened at Legoland Florida Resort in Winter Haven in May.
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened Wild Oasis, a “kid-friendly adventure realm,” in June.
Going, going …
Additions can mean subtractions. For whatever reason, these attractions moved into our “Gone Forever – Probably” file in 2025.
• Tom Sawyer Island, Rivers of America and the Liberty Belle paddleboat are no longer available to Magic Kingdom visitors. Their grounds will serve as a Frontierland expansion for two “Cars” rides.
• “MuppetVision 3-D,” PizzeRizzo, Mama Melrose restaurant and other Grand Street structures at Hollywood Studios are repurposed for the under-construction “Monsters, Inc.” land.
• “It’s Tough to Be a Bug,” an opening-day attraction at Animal Kingdom, was replaced by “Zootopia: Better Together” show. Meanwhile, the Triceratop Spin ride, the Boneyard and select other Dinoland attractions closed to make room for Tropical Americas. (Also gone: the tall Cementosaurus figure.)
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster was dismantled at Universal Studios Florida. There is construction on the site, but its future has not been identified by the company.
• Volcano Bay water park ended use of TapuTapu, a wearable technology that managed the queue for Krakatau Aqua Coaster and other uses.
• Sleuth’s, an International Drive dinner attraction, closed in November after a 35-year run.
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay closed Stanley Falls Flume, a ride that debuted with the theme park in 1973, in September.
Return engagements
• Hall of Presidents, with its animatronic Donald Trump back front and center, reopened at Magic Kingdom in June after a five-month closure.
• A revamped version of Test Track debuted at Epcot in July.
• Capone’s, a dinner theater attraction in Kissimmee, closed in August, then reopened at Dezerland Park on International Drive in October.
Tweaks and turns
• At Magic Kingdom, Tron Lightcycle / Run roller coaster received an overlay of lighting and Nine Inch Nails music as a promotion for the “Tron: Ares” film.
• A new verse — written years ago by Richard Sherman — was tacked onto the finale of the “it’s a small world” attraction at Magic Kingdom in July.
• Virtual queues were removed from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride at Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster at Epcot.
• The “Wicked: The Experience” walk-through attraction at Universal Studios was enhanced with costumes from the “Wicked: For Good” film.
• Legoland Florida updated its brick U.S. Capitol structure in Miniland USA and participated in the first Global Lego Festival with other Legolands.
• Ripley’s museum on I-Drive added an exhibit named “True Crime: Blood, Lies and Alibis.”
• Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition displayed a black-glass necklace found 2.5 miles below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in the debris field of the luxury liner.
Consumed
• Epcot opened GEO 82, an adults-only lounge, in a space within Spaceship Earth in June.
• The Beak and Barrel, an all-ages tavern with a pirate theme, debuted at Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland in August.
• Universal Orlando rolled out “Wicked” foods at multiple locations, with menus that included Ozdust punch, Pink Goes Well with Green Scroll cake and Emerald City focaccia.
• Theme park fests and events featured distinctive fare, including Halloween Horror Nights’ Camp Bloody S’mores; SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Fest and its footlong pretzels on a stick and bananas foster beignets; and the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival items from the Gyozas of the Galaxy kiosk and the fun-to-say zwiebelkuchen (plus the International Festival of the Holiday’s prototype cookie).
• Orlando Science Center teamed with Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co. to develop three flavored coffees themed to elements of the museum.
Animal outlook
• Gino, a 400-pound western lowland gorilla and original inhabitant of Animal Kingdom, died in September. He was 44.
• Four-legged additions include Tucker, a Masai giraffe calf born at Animal Kingdom and Ginny, a critically endangered addax, born at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
• A red-rumped agouti was born in the “Life” exhibit at Orlando Science Center.
• SeaWorld announced the rescue of its 1,000th manatee.
• Emperor penguins from SeaWorld San Diego were incorporated into Orlando’s Penguin Trek habitat.
• Gatorland Global, the conservation arm of the longtime Orange Blossom Trail attraction, became an official 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
The icons
• Madame Tussauds Orlando added fresh wax figures of Angela Bassett, Selena Gomez, Jeff Goldblum, Taylor Swift (in a room of her own) and Beyonce in Cowboy Carter mode.
• Baby Evie became available for meet-and-greets at Peppa Pig Theme Park.
• Gaylord Palms’ “Ice” event was anchored by icy sculptures representing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
• Orlando Auto Museum added a 41-foot, guitar-shaped pink Cadillac once driven by Elvis Presley to a concert in Las Vegas.
• Orlando Science Center hosted “DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers” exhibit, designed to educate visitors about teamwork, deduction, cognitive thinking and more.
• Volcano Bay Nights featured appearances by Scooby-Doo and the gang.
• Disney Jollywood Nights holiday event included encounters with rare characters, including Bing Bong (“Inside Out”), Partysaurus Rex and Chewbacca in a Life Day ensemble.
Business matters
• For the first time in the post-pandemic era, both Disney World water parks — Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach — will be operating at the same time in summer 2025.
• The expansion of the Universal Studios Store at Universal CityWalk was completed.
• Legoland Florida laid off about 230 entertainment workers in the first quarter of the year.
• The federal Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation into Orlando-based United Parks & Resorts after its attractions — including SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — banned visitor use of “rollator walkers.”
• Orlando Science Center began the upgrade of its domed theater and ended its real reel-to-reel era.
• Icon Park continued or began construction projects for Ripley Crazy Golf, Blue Man Group and a multilevel Build-A-Bear Workshop.
• Orlando-based Falcon’s Beyond Global, an attractions and experiences developer, completed its purchase of Oceaneering Entertainment Systems, a designer of ride systems, also based in Orlando.
• Dutch ride manufacturer Vekoma opened a North American office in downtown Orlando.
• Disney announced it was transforming the former Galactic Starcruiser building into office space for Walt Disney Imagineering.
Odds and ends
• Magic Kingdom again was determined to be the world’s most attended theme park in the TEA Global Experience Index. The park welcomed 17.84 million guests in 2024.
• The IAAPA Expo, held in November at the Orange County Convention Center, set a record for attendance with more than 43,800 registered participants.
• Space Mountain, Florida’s oldest standing roller coaster, celebrated its 50th birthday.
• BDX droids, small robots, visited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios.
• Orlando-based Ripley Entertainment purchased a golden toilet/art piece for $12.1 million.
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
