Epic Universe was announced on August 1st, 2019, to be Universal’s newest addition to its family of Orlando-based theme parks. Its development cycle and the physical build of the park endured through the world-changing event of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the lockdowns that ensued, and at one point the future of the park – and social destinations like theme parks in general – felt very uncertain. But with eyes on the newest park, fans were able to follow along with construction updates and official releases from Universal Orlando Resort on the development of Epic Universe, all leading up to this moment: Universal Orlando has announced that Epic Universe will be opening on May 22nd, 2025, several months ahead of its original Summer 2025 estimation.
So what do we know?
What most guests are already aware of is the fact that Epic Universe will be featuring five themed worlds, all accessible through celestial portals: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and the park’s centerpiece land, Celestial Park will all be unveiled at the opening of this brand-new, highly-anticipated park.
Along with the opening of the park, Universal has also built three new hotels – the Stella Nova and the Terra Luna, which will join the Prime Value family of Universal Hotels early next year, and the Helios Grand Hotel – a Loews Property much like the Portofino Bay and the Royal Pacific – that will open alongside (and indeed, inside!) of Epic Universe, as an in-park hotel with dedicated access to Epic Universe.
“This is such a pivotal moment for our destination, and we’re thrilled to welcome guests to Epic Universe next year,” said Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort. “With the addition of this spectacular new theme park, our guests will embark on an unforgettable vacation experience with a week’s worth of thrills that will be nothing short of epic! Our Universe will never be the same.”
And indeed, this new park has not only shaped the skyline of Orlando, but the very footprint of Universal’s impact on the Central Florida area and the themed entertainment industry as a whole, with Universal’s Orlando property having been steadily expanding over the last ten years, starting with the announcement of Universal’s own water park, Volcano Bay, in 2015. Universal Orlando Resort has never been a stranger to investing in the quality of its parks experiences, and the drive to become bigger and better for the guests who consider it a second home has been reflected in the experiences that this park has brought to the table over the years.
Now, with Epic Universe on the horizon, guests and fans alike are eager to see how Universal Orlando Resort has raised the bar of quality on their own experiences, with what promises to be a high quality and highly immersive theme park experience.
Guests looking to experience Epic Universe in 2025 will be pleased to know that tickets for both Epic Universe and bookings for the Helios Grand Hotel will be going on sale as early as Tuesday, October 22nd, with a variety of multi-day tickets and vacation packages being available to the general public. Tickets will be sold in phases, as announced by Universal Orlando Resort, which has provided the following breakdown:
- Multi-day tickets that include one single-day admission to Epic Universe will feature 3-, 4-, and 5-day tickets. This will give guests access to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure for the bulk of their stay, with only one day’s access in these multi-day tickets allotted for Epic Universe. Guests can choose to add-on admission to Volcano Bay, as well!
- Guests living in the UK and Latin America can purchase a 2025 Explorer Ticket, which entitles the ticket holder to fourteen days of admission to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay. One single-day admission to Epic Universe is also included.
- Guests living in the UK will also have the option to purchase the All Parks Ticket. This ticket is available for visits beginning January 1st, 2026, and entitles ticket holders to fourteen days of Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay, and Epic Universe with same-day, park-to-park access on any day within their ticket window. Because this ticket does not grant access until almost a full year from the opening date of Epic Universe, it does not seem that the one-day restriction is in place for this ticket, meaning guests holding an All Parks Ticket will be able to visit Epic Universe at their discretion.
- Universal Orlando Resort is also bundling these multi-day tickets into hotel packages, which allow guests to choose from any one of Universal’s 11 hotels. Savings and discounts will vary depending on the length of stay and the hotel chosen, but guests opting for a vacation package will also receive a single-day admission to Epic Universe with their multi-day tickets.
- Annual Passholders, however, will be able to purchase single-day standalone tickets for Epic Universe as early as Thursday, October 24th. As an extra treat and a show of appreciation, Universal Orlando Resort is granting special access to single-day Epic Universe tickets to its Annual Passholders. While multi-day ticket sales including Epic Universe open October 22nd, no word has been given yet on when single-day standalone admission for Epic Universe will be available to the general public, allowing UOAP’s to take advantage of this priority access long before single-day standalone tickets go on sale to the general public.
While booking and standard rates are still currently unavailable for the Helios Grand Hotel, checking out Universal’s booking site tells us that rooms at the Helios Grand will start at 293.00 per night plus tax, based on a 4-night stay, which puts this Signature Collection hotel at a significantly cheaper price point than its sister hotels.
Despite being part of Universal’s Signature Hotels collection, along with the Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, and the Royal Pacific Hotel, a stay at the Helios Grand Hotel does not entitle guests to Universal Express Unlimited for the duration of their stay like the other Signature Collection hotels do. However, staying at the Helios Grand still comes with a slew of other perks, including Early Park Admission, complimentary transportation to all of Universal’s parks, charging privileges with the room key, complimentary room delivery for merchandise purchased in-park, and club level rooms available.
With just over seven months until the official opening of Epic Universe, there’s going to be a lot to cover and discuss, as Universal unveils more information about ticketing phases, hotel booking, and all the other juicy details about this groundbreaking new park that we’ve all spent the last five years being excited for. Epic Universe will be a game changer in the heart of Orlando, and Theme Park Shark will continue to report on any more details offered by Universal Orlando Resort as we close in on the official opening date.
It is, without a doubt, going to be Epic.
