When Will Universal’s Epic Universe Open?

Updated on August 18th, 2024

For Universal super-fans, theme park aficionados, and casual guests alike, excitement in Orlando is at an all-time high for the opening of Epic Universe.

After years of speculation, Universal confirmed in early 2024 that Epic Universe will be made up of an east coast version of  Super Nintendo World,  a new expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter that merges elements of the original and Fantastic Beasts films, and lands based on How to Train Your Dragon and Universal’s Dark Universe of famous monsters, all surrounding the central Celestial Park land.

So, now that we’ve wet your appetite, you might be wondering — when is Epic Universe opening? Well, that question has been… complicated over the park’s development.

When Universal first announced Epic Universe in August 2019, they called it an “entirely new level of experience that forever changes theme park entertainment.” They initially avoided announcing a specific, or even targeted opening date.

Two months later in October 2019, after much speculation on when the park would open, Universal announced on an earnings call that the park was scheduled to open in 2023. However, like everything else in the world, the following year upended those plans.

In July 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal announced that plans for the park were “paused indefinitely” until the future became more “certain.” This led many to believe that the park was never going to be built. However, the following March the company announced that they were resuming work on the project. Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation said at the time:

“The restart of construction of Epic Universe is a terrific moment for our employees and for our theme park business in Florida. It is our single largest investment in the state and represents our enthusiasm for the spectacular park and the economic opportunities it will generate.”

While the end of the COVID-19 pause was a welcome relief for many, the long period of stagnation significantly lengthened the park’s construction timeframe and led to speculation that it may not open until the second half of the decade. The park’s potential opening date remained in limbo for the rest of the year.

Finally, in January of 2022, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell announced on an investor’s call that the park was now scheduled to open by the second half of 2025. “Epic is full steam ahead,” he said on the call. “I was down there a few weeks ago and the construction is going really well. We expect that park to open in ’25 and certainly in time for the summer of ’25.”

Shell reiterated this stance in December of 2022, saying “We’re right on track, literally right on track. We expect to open it in ’25.”

Over the first half of 2023, construction on Epic Universe continued at a frantic pace, with all sources confirming that the target date for opening of the new park is still scheduled for Shell’s promised summer of ’25.

In January of 2024, Universal once again confirmed a 2025 opening date for the park, though they’ve yet to give a specific date or even window to expect the park’s opening.

Universal’s website notes that Epic Universe will open in 2025, taking you to “astounding worlds beyond anything you’ve experienced before.” However, an exact opening date or timeline is not listed.

We do know, however, exactly when 2 NEW hotels near Epic Universe will open. Universal Stella Nova Resort (“inspired by the vastness of the unknown universe”) is set to open on January 21st, 2025.

Universal Terra Luna Resort is set to open a little later, on February 25th, 2025.

The Universal Helios Grand Hotel (the main star of the hotel show, so to speak — which will have views INSIDE Universal’s Epic Universe) is set to open in 2025, but no exact date has been set yet.

In mid-August of 2024, Universal revealed a new discount offer that may serve as a clue for the potential opening of Epic Universe. The offer was released for travel between November 7th, 2024-December 19th, 2024, and January 5th, 2025 through April 10th, 2025. Why does that matter? Well, Universal likely won’t need any discount offers to entice folks to visit once Epic Universe opens. So, Epic Universe may be likely to open sometime after April 10th, 2025.

We expect more details will be released soon about Epic Universe so stay tuned for ALL the latest.

➡️ Check out our Epic Universe page for updates! ⬅️

Will you be visiting Epic Universe when it opens in 2025, or will you give the park some time to work out the inevitable kinks before paying a visit? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to AllEars for coverage of the official announcement of the park’s opening date. 

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