Universal’s epic universe is the age of theme parks. That timeline is full of rumors, roller coasters, dragons, pandemics and butterbeer swigs. This is how it unfolded.
•1998: Universal purchased 2,000 acres of property from Lockheed Martin to expand along Sandrake Road, but in 2003 it sold the land to an Atlanta developer. After the foreclosure, Universal’s parent company Comcast bought the property again in 2015.
•August 2019: Construction begins.
•August 1, 2019: Universal Orlando is confirming that it will build an epic universe on a site visible from the Orange County Convention Center where news is being announced. The company says it will lead to 14,000 new employees with a starting wage of $15 per hour.
•October 24, 2019: Comcast officials say the epic can open immediately in 2023 with a quarterly revenue call.
•January 2020: Comcast executives casually check the world of Super Nintendo as part of an epic universe.
•April 2020: Construction will be suspended as the Covid-19 pandemic and economic uncertainty rises. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings says a senior Universal employee told him that the project was a year behind. In June, the company will have around 2,000 layoffs, and July will reduce Halloween activities that year. Universal’s Sapphire Falls and Aventella Hotel will be temporarily closed on August 21st.
•March 2021: Super Nintendo World will open at Universal Studios Japan.
•March 2021: Epic Space Construction Resume.
•May 2023: Universal will raise wages to $15 per hour.
•January 2022: NBCuniversal CEO Jeff Shell says Epic will open “in time for the summer of 2025.”
•January 2022: A visible structure arises from the construction site.
•August 2022: A roller coaster truck was found at a construction site.
•December 2023: Universal creative executives, including President Mike Hightower, accept a voluntary early retirement package.
•December 2023: The names of two epic hotels, Terra Luna and Stella Nova, have been announced.
•February 2023: Super Nintendo’s world attraction opened at Universal Studios Hollywood. Mark Woodbury, CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts, calls the existence of the world of Super Nintendo in the epic universe “the worst secret in history.”
•March 8, 2023: Orlando-based Universal Parks & Resorts division will earn new names and become a universal destination and experience.
•March 2023: The park’s name (and logo) has been tweaked from Universal’s epic universe to Universal Epic Universe.
• January 30, 2024: Company announces names of Epic lands, including Celestial Park, Dark Universe, Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Magic Ministry of Magic, How to Train with Dragon, Berk Island, and the Unsurprising Super Nintendo World. The company has identified the 500-room Helios Grand Hotel as having its own entrance to the theme park.
•May 2, 2024: Universal confirms that the world of Super Nintendo includes Mario Kart: Bowers Challenge, Yoshi’s Adventures, Minecart Madness Attractions, and Toad Stall Cafe.
•May 2024: Universal Shift Starfall Racer coaster names shift to Stardust Racer after being challenged by Starfall Education Foundation, a website that teaches children reading skills.
•June 2024: The magnificent Universe Preview Centre will host a large model of the park at Universal City Walk. Equipped with augmented reality effects. Epic-specific products are available for sale.
•June 20, 2024: Monster Unchained: The Frankenstein experiment, the main ride within the Dark Universe, is touted as “the coldest ride in Universal Orlando.” The Werewolf roller coaster curse has also been announced.
• July 31, 2024: Details about Harry Potter’s magical world are shared, including the 1920s Paris setting, the 1990s rides called Harry Potter, and the battles of the ministry. The thrill ride features an omnidirectional lift for “the most ambitious and groundbreaking ride Universal has ever created,” the Universal News release said.
On the birthday of author J.K. Rowling and brainchild Harry Potter, it was revealed that butterbeer is on the epic menu via Bierauberre Cart.
• July 31, 2024: Entertainment Weekly Report Actor Eddie Redmayne recreates the role of Newts Camander’s “Fantastic Beast” in Wizard World.
Magnificent Space Preview: Early Walks (and Rides) in the Park
•August 22, 2024: Universal says that the selection rooms at Helios Grand Hotel are based on the theme of “How to Train Your Dragon.”
•October 17, 2024: Universal will reveal its opening date on May 22, 2025. The first ticket is for sale, but is only sold as a multi-day purchase or as part of a hotel package.
•March 2025: Team members previews begin.
•March 2025: In the story of a Hollywood reporter, executive producers confirm the use of drones as dragons on Berk Island. “With drones, if you live with dragons, they just exist, so it’s not a show.
•April 2025: Annual Pass Holder Preview Date will be held.
•April 16, 2025: The Helios Grand Hotel will open about a month earlier than announced.
•May 22, 2025: Grand Opening Day of the Epic Universe.
