Late last week, representatives from Universal Orlando held a press conference during which they announced what everyone pretty much figured they were going to announce – they’re opening a new theme park in Orlando.
Universal’s original park in Orlando, Universal Studios Florida, opened in 1990. It was followed by the opening of its Islands of Adventure park in 1999 and Volcano Bay water park in 2017.
The resort’s upcoming theme park will be called Universal’s Epic Universe.
Concept art courtesy of Universal Orlando
From Universal Orlando:
Universal’s Epic Universe will offer an entirely new level of experiences that will forever redefine theme park entertainment. Guests will venture beyond their wildest imagination, traveling into beloved stories and through vibrant lands on adventures where the journey is as astounding as the destination. The new location will feature a theme park, an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. Ultimately, this expansion will create more space and freedom to let loose and create lasting memories with the people you love.
With plans to hire 14,000 more people, the park will be located about 3 miles south southeast of the existing Universal Orlando Resort, and 1 mile away from Universal’s new Endless Summer Resort, within a 750-acre site of land the company purchased a few years ago.
PC: Universal Orlando
Here’s the full press conference, courtesy of Attractions Magazine:
The CEO of Comcast (UO’s parent company), called Epic Universe “the largest investment we’ve ever made in a park.” However they admittedly didn’t go into a whole lot of information yet, short of “we’re opening a new park.” And so, of course, lots of theme park bloggers are giving their opinions of what they think is going to happen:
- Michael at Inside The Magic started speculating a few days before the press conference, assuming it was going to be a theme park (we’ve ALL assumed the announcement was that there was going to be a new theme park), with thoughts of what sort of lands and attractions they could potentially have. My fingers are crossed for Classic Monsters World 😉
- Alicia at Orlando Park Stop also went into depth with speculation of what the new park would include.
- Both Attractions Magazine and Orlando Informer did in-depth looks at the concept art Universal had made public, and what it could potentially mean.
- All of the “easy chair Imagineers” are also discussing if Disney will make their own announcement about a new theme park, in light of Universal’s announcement (Disney does have a history of trying to “even the score” and come back with stuff that sounds “above and beyond” when Universal makes announcements like these).
I guess as time goes on, we’ll get to hear more about Epic Universe. I’m looking forward to it!
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
