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Work has restarted on Universal’s fourth gate in Orlando, with Epic Universe now scheduled to open in early 2025
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 04 Mar 2021
Epic Universe’s development was postponed in July as a result of the global pandemic Credit: Universal
Universal has offered one of the most promising signs that the attractions industry is starting to recover from the effects of the global pandemic, with the operator resuming construction on its Epic Universe park in Orlando.
Universal first announced plans for Epic Universe - the largest single theme park investment in its history - on August 1, 2019, with the theme park and resort originally scheduled to open in 2023.
Those plans however were thrown out at the start of the pandemic, with Epic Universe put on indefinite hold until the state of the market could be properly assessed in relation to COVID-19.
Speaking during the Morgan Stanley 2021 Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, Comcast CEO revealed that the gears were once again starting to turn on the project, with construction set to restart “imminently”.
“I'm really pleased to say that we've resumed construction of our fourth gate in Orlando, Epic Universe, which is super exciting,” said Roberts.
“We paused construction during COVID until we felt confident enough that there was a road that we could see to the resumption of a great business. We feel that way now.”
Joining Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay, a fourth Universal property will offer increased competition to Disney in Florida, which operates four theme parks, two waterparks and the Disney Springs retail complex in the greater Orlando area.
Super Nintendo World coming to Florida
In addition to the theme park, the Epic Universe site will also feature a hotel, shops, an entertainment centre and restaurants. One of the hotly-anticipated features of the upcoming park is Super Nintendo World, which is also about to open its doors at Universal Studios Japan.
“In Osaka, we’re about to open Super Nintendo World, which is unlike any attraction, I think in any park and I'm so excited to get over myself to see it,” said Roberts. “We've had years of planning and have a great partnership with Nintendo, which is an incredible intellectual property. We expect to bring that to the US in California and to Epic Universe. We have high, high hopes for what it means. It's a whole new interactive gaming experience.”
Universal has not yet confirmed an opening date for Epic Universe, though Orange County mayor, Jerry Demings, has said the development is scheduled for early 2025.
An official statement also followed Roberts comments: “Work on Epic Universe paused in July 2020, as the company adjusted plans in the midst of the pandemic. The restart will begin immediately - but is expected to take several months before reaching full-speed, as Universal re-staffs for the project and reassembles its vendor and contractor teams.”
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