Universal Orlando Resort has created an Epic Universe Preview Center, which offers a much anticipated glimpse into the upcoming Epic Universe theme park.

The focal point inside the Preview Center is a massive and detailed Epic Universe model. The Epic Universe model features shops, experiences, and attractions that’ll be offered at Epic Universe in 2025.  

Guests will get really be able to get a bird's eye view of Epic Universe, which is slated  to open in early 2025. 

To really enhance your experience inside the Epic Universe Preview Center, you'll want  to utilize the Epic Universe Preview Center AR app. By using augmented reality via your smart phone, you’ll get to see Epic Universe attractions, experiences, and dining locations come to life.

The Universal Epic Universe model is enhanced by augmented reality via the Epic Universe Preview Center app (Android and Apple). 

The Augmented Reality allows you to see into the various portals and their entertainment, attractions, dining locations, and more.

Guests can also shop the new Epic Universe merchandise collections. There’s merchandise from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe,  How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, Celestial Park, and more.

In addition to exploring the upcoming attractions via AR, guests take photo's in front of Portal backgrounds themed to each of Epic Universe's  5 five worlds.

When Does the Epic Universe Preview Center Open?

Universal Orlando invited me out for a sneak peak, but all guests can experience the Universal Epic Universe Preview Center starting June 13th 2024. 

Where is the Epic Universe Preview Center located?

The Universal Epic Universe Preview Center is located  in Universal CityWalk. (aka the former Universal Legacy Store) 

You’ll find it located between  VIVO Italian Kitchen and Bigfire.

Epic Universe Portals

Surrounding the Epic Universe model, you’ll find large portals with concept art. These will give guests an easy glimpse into each land if it’s difficult to see all the details in the model. They’re also really cool photo ops.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD

How to Train Your Dragon- Isle of Burke

First Look at Concept Art for Dark Universe & The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic

While Universal Orlando Resort hasn't made official announcements on these two worlds, inside the Epic Universe Preview Center, Universal debuted the very first artwork that depicts the insideThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, and  Dark Universe via Portal photo ops!

This area of Epic Universe is expected to offer immersive theming aligned with the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter films.

Epic Universe Scale Model

Celestial Park Model

The most central land (also the hub) is called Celestial Park. it’s Universal’s only original concept land at Epic Universe. It’s surrounded by  IP-driven lands. There’s also an on property hotel attached to the back of Epic Universe.

With acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways, and strolling pathways, Celestial Park puts the “park” back in “theme park.” 

Guests will be able to wander through lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements.

Universal Orlando has stated Celestial Park will feature lots of exciting entertainment, including various fountain shows throughout Celestial Park’s seven acres of water where a multitude of fountains sway, dance – and even reach heights up to 135 feet in the air – to music and interactive lighting from day to night.

The Chronos is the centerpiece of the Epic Universe model. The portal that reads:

With Sun And Moon The Stars And Time – The Chronos Spins And Worlds Align
For If You Seek With Curious Heart – Your Compass True And Stars To Chart
Beyond This Gate Find Gardens Green – And Epic Worlds To Fill Your Dreams

The second big attraction in Celestial Park is Stardust Racers. Stardust Racers is a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests shooting through the skies in comets racing to see who’s the fastest. 

Stardust Racers will reach speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track. 

Starfall Racers will be Epic Universe’s most thrilling coaster experience with unique maneuvers such as the “Celestial Spin,” in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air.

What’s really cool is the track will have no external lighting at night, the  illuminated ride vehicles will really look like comets shooting across the sky above Celestial Park.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Model

The portal text on SUPER NITENDO WORLD reads, “A Colorful World Awaits Inside, So Do Not Delay, Let Fate Decide”

You’ll notice that SUPER NITENDO WORLD is split into two separately themed areas. 

At the front of SUPER NITENDO WORLD, there’s Super Mario Land, and at the back of the land, you can experience Donkey Kong Country.

Peep the facade for the Mine-Cart Madness roller coaster in Donkey Kong Country!

Dark Universe Model

The portal text on Dark Universe reads, “The Air Iteself Is Filled With Monsters”

After walking through the Dark Universe portal, you’ll enter the village of Darkmoor.

Based of the Epic Universe model, Dark Universe is divided into two areas –  the manor grounds and the Darkmoor village. In the manor grounds is where there  will be an immersive indoor attraction, and an outdoor spinning roller coaster.

As you make your way to the end of the Darkmoor village, you’ll pass through a gate into the manor grounds. Here, the scenery changes into a more lively environment, showing the big difference between the attractions area and village area.

In the back portion of Dark Universe, you we see the outdoor spinning roller coaster on right (left when walking through the land). The manor grounds is on the opposite side.

The main attraction entrance to the manor reads “Monsters Unleashed” and signage over the walkway reads “Frankenstein”. It looks like the entrance to the ride could take us into the manor, before sending us outdoors into the graveyard queue.

The model also shows this queue will have you walking past spooky things like  gravestones. (Kinda reminds me of the Haunted Mansion outdoor queue at Disneyland)

Manor grounds in Dark Universe also has a less intense spinning outdoor roller coaster close by. You can see several wagons throughout this part of Dark Universe.

In between the queue for the monsters ride and the spinning roller coaster, is a Burning Windmill. The Burning Windmill is anticipated  to be a small dining location.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic Model

Per Universal Orlando, “Guests will discover a different era of the Wizarding World in an all-new land that blends 1920s wizarding Paris from the Fantastic Beasts films with the iconic British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series."

The portal text  reads,  “Let Us Step Out Into The Night And Pursue That Flighty Temptress, Adventure”

Through the Porte Saint-Denis archway, and on the opposite side of the entrance portal is a huge Phoenix is seen above guests. 

The focal point of the land will be Le Cirque Arcanus, the red tent in the streets of this Parisian city block. 

This will be some sort of seated theater show. Le Cirque Arcanus will appear to be a small tent from the outside, but it will be much bigger once you go inside.

The main attraction in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic is in the name of the land The Ministry of Magic. This attraction is located to the right of a statue, and to the left of the Le Cirque Arcanus tent. 

How to Train Your Dragon- Isle of Burke Model

The portal text  reads, “They Have Armies, We Have Our Dragons”

Once you walk through the portal, you’ll immediately be greeted by the huge statues and the lake.

The main attraction in How to Train Your Dragon- Isle of Burke is Hiccup’s Wing Gliders roller coaster.

The two Sky Fly spinning rides are officially named Dragon Racer’s Rally, where riders soar up 67 feet in the air and have the choice to control the intensity of their ride. 

“The sport of dragon racing is a celebrated pastime on the Isle of Berk. At Dragon Racer’s Rally, Berk’s new Vikings can practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on a Viking-made dragon riding trainer. 

You’ll need these high-flying, gravity-defying, swooping and soaring skills if you hope to become a champion dragon racer.”

Located near the entrance to the land is Viking Training Camp, the much anticipated kids play area. It’s labeled the Dragon Camp in the Epic Universe model.

“With fire-breathing dragons everywhere, villagers have to be prepared. Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut have transformed Berk’s Fyre Skööl into a watery, interactive boat battle at sea. Board your ship in Fyre Drill and blast your water cannons at flame-like targets – and the occupants of every other boat – to out-soak other Vikings.”

Located within the lagoon, and essentially in the middle of this land, you’ll be able to see this attraction from several different vantage points.

You’l board your ship in Fyre Drill and shoot water cannons at targets – and everyone inside the other boats. The goal is to out-soak other Vikings. 

You’ll find Fyre Drill next to Mead Hall mountain.

In the back right corner of the land (after entering the portal), is where you’ll find The Untrainable Dragon Show. 

Universal Helios Grand Hotel Model

Universal Helios Grand Hotel is located inside Epic Universe theme park at the end of Celestial Park.  It has its own dedicated entrance into the theme park. 

Universal Helios Grand hotel is actually located at the very back of Epic Universe theme park if you’re standing in front of the Chronos.

Epic Universe Preview Center Augmented Reality

Once you’ve downloaded the Epic Universe AR app, users will scan designated areas on the park model. These are marked by Augmented Reality signs. 

Once activated, future Epic Universe attractions and entertainment will come to life through the augmented reality. These special effects will do things like:

• Set the windmill on fire and watch bats fly above the castle in Dark Universe

• Watch a Donkey Kong ride vehicle jump over the track

• See inside the Mario Kart ride

• Thestral’s and Dragons fly overhead in the WWoHP: Ministry of Magic

• You can watch the ride vehicles on Stardust Racers coaster race along its track, and more!

Epic Universe Preview Center— Exclusive Merchandise

Here’s your chance to shop some of the merchandise for Epic Universe! 

Inside the Epic Universe Preview Center, you’ll get to see a large range of merchandise. Merchandise compliments each of the Epic Universe worlds. 

From bags, apparel, headbands, water bottles, plush toys, and more, there’s something for everyone. 

Your Universal Orlando Resort Annual Pass discount can be applied to purchases inside the Epic Universe Preview Center.

As of right now, the plan is for Universal Orlando Resort to keep the Epic Universe Preview Center open until next year as we await Epic Universe to open sometimes in 2025.  

We do have official opening dates for the new hotels coming to Epic Universe. Universal Stella Nova Resort will open on January 21st, 2025, and Universal Terra Luna Resort will open February 25th 2025. 

Universal's 3rd hotel, Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel, will also open in 2025.

Stay tuned for more Epic Universe news!