New details have just been released about Universal’s new theme park that is currently under construction. While speculation and rumors have been floating around about this park for quite some time now, we finally have official confirmation and details surrounding at least one of the worlds in the park.
The park, called Universal Epic Universe, consists of multiple highly detailed worlds, including “How to Train Your Dragon – Island of Berk”, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic”, “Super Nintendo World” and “Dark Universe”, all surrounding a central hub referred to as “Celestial Park”. Guests will enter these worlds through separate “portals”, each of which is adorned with a magnificent spire themed appropriately to its area.
One of the most anticipated worlds, Dark Universe, is set to take full advantage of nearly 100 years of Universal Monsters history. As guests enter the world, they are greeted with a sign to the fictional town of Darkmoor which contains several attractions filled with modernized versions of those classic characters. There’s a restaurant called Das Stakehaus, set inside a vampire’s catacomb, as well as a bar where monster hunters celebrate their victories and show off their captures, called The Burning Blade Tavern, where the windmill blades even catch on fire multiple times an hour!
Alongside the monster makeup parlor and the werewolf themed spinning coaster is the highlight of the whole land, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. This ride tells the story of the all new character, Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, who is continuing the work of her great-great-grandfather. Not only is she experimenting on bringing the dead back to life, but she also seeks to gain control over several other of the classic monsters such as the Wolfman, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Mummy, as well as others. But as is the case with many similar dark rides, all does not go according to plan and she must now rescue you from the evil Count Dracula.
There is still little known about the technical details of the ride, but it boasts to be the most technologically advanced ride Universal has ever built. Seeming to include a ride vehicle reminiscent of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, combined with a coaster track similar to Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, they also claim to have some of the most cutting edge, impressive animated characters seen in a theme park ride to date. Whether that means physical animatronics, or more screen/projection based images is yet to be determined. Either way this is happening up to be quite the treat for fans of all things “Monster”.
While that is the only “official” information that has been released at this time, there is still plenty of speculation with plenty of corroboration to tell us a bit about what to expect in the other worlds as well. Super Nintendo World will most likely have a copy of Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure which are already found in parks in California and Japan, but there is also a Donkey Kong themed roller coaster being installed called “Mine-Cart Madness”. No official details have been announced, but fan channels have been tracking the construction process, and it is shaping up to be a very fun looking semi dark coaster.
There is also no official information about the new dark ride in the Ministry of Magic world, however, Alicia Stella of Theme Park Stop has shared information about the expected ride vehicles that are being produced by Simtec Systems, and based on patents for a ride system they combine elements from Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man to make for a unique all new ride experience. There is no official opening date for Universal Epic Universe, however it is still on schedule to open sometime in 2025.
