Common Orlando Resort has introduced the official opening date of Epic Universe, their third theme park in Florida that debuts in 2025. Together with this, they’ve shared ticket particulars for the brand new gate, preview information for Annual Passholders, and extra. This covers how and when you may entry the brand new park that includes extra Harry Potter, Nintendo, Monsters, How one can Practice Your Dragon, and extra. Plus, our commentary about crowds, when to go to, and extra.
Epic Universe is being constructed simply down the street from Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey, in addition to Volcano Bay Water Park. Finally, the brand new theme park campus would primarily double Common Orlando Resort’s current footprint. It received’t be that huge in 2025–that construct out is years, if not a long time, down the street. However Epic Universe will however haven a extremely formidable attraction roster at launch.
Epic Universe will transport friends to expansive worlds that includes greater than 50 experiences that embrace points of interest, leisure, eating and buying to create an unforgettable journey situated at Common Orlando Resort. For a giant image overview of all the park, see our Common’s Epic Universe Preview, which unveiled the entire lands and rather more. Towards that backdrop, let’s discuss opening dates and particulars–beginning with the official announcement from Common:
The countdown to Epic Universe has formally begun! Common Orlando Resort’s extremely anticipated new theme park, Common Epic Universe will formally open on Could 22, 2025! On this date, friends will have the ability to unlock the portals to 5 astounding worlds that may convey to life extraordinary adventures that transcend friends’ wildest imaginations.
Common Epic Universe is probably the most formidable theme park Common Locations and Experiences has ever created and would be the subsequent game-changer for theme park leisure. With a complete of greater than 50 unimaginable experiences that vary from groundbreaking points of interest to breathtaking leisure to extremely themed eating and buying and a lot extra, Epic Universe will current a stage of theme park immersion and innovation that’s unmatched throughout 5 themed worlds:
- Celestial Park
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
- SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
- How one can Practice Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Darkish Universe
Anchoring the park is Common Helios Grand Resort, a Loews Resort – an imposing 500-room property that may supply one-of-a-kind views of the park and have its very personal devoted entrance into Epic Universe for lodge friends (legitimate theme park admission required).
The opening of Epic Universe will rework Common Orlando Resort right into a weeklong trip vacation spot comprised of 4 theme parks which are dwelling to probably the most modern theme park experiences ever created, 11 spectacular inns which are locations unto themselves, and extra – eternally altering the panorama of the award-winning vacation spot.
“That is such a pivotal second for our vacation spot, and we’re thrilled to welcome friends to Epic Universe subsequent 12 months,” mentioned Karen Irwin, President and COO of Common Orlando Resort. “With the addition of this spectacular new theme park, our friends will embark on an unforgettable trip expertise with per week’s price of thrills that shall be nothing wanting epic! Our Universe won’t ever be the identical.”
SELECT EPIC UNIVERSE TICKETS & PACKAGES GO ON SALE OCTOBER 22, WITH MORE ON THE WAY SOON
Beginning subsequent week, friends can start planning an epic 2025 trip to Common Orlando to expertise all the vacation spot as the primary part of ticket merchandise and packages that embrace entry to Common Epic Universe will go on sale. Particular merchandise launching on this first part embrace:
- A wide range of multi-day tickets and trip packages that embrace three, 4 or 5 days of admission to Common’s theme parks – together with at some point admission to Epic Universe. These merchandise will go on sale on Tuesday, October 22.
- Reservations for Common Helios Grand Resort will open on Tuesday, October 22 for stays starting Could 22, 2025.
- Annual Passholders have the unique alternative to buy single-day tickets to Common Epic Universe earlier than they go on sale to most people. Passholders can benefit from this precedence alternative starting Thursday, October 24.
See under for extra particulars in regards to the Common Epic Universe-inclusive merchandise that shall be obtainable for buy starting on October 22, 2024.
Extra tickets for Epic Universe – together with single-day tickets for most people, further multi-day ticket choices, Florida resident tickets, Common Specific passes and extra – shall be obtainable at a later date earlier than the park opens. (For everybody fearful about accessing Epic Universe *with out* shopping for tickets for USF and IoA, there’s your reassurance!)
| 1st PHASE OF EPIC UNIVERSE TICKETS & VACATION PACKAGES – ON SALE ON OCTOBER 22, 2024 | |
| Multi-Day Tickets that Embody One Day Admission to Common Epic Universe | The next multi-day ticket choices inclusive of Common Epic Universe shall be obtainable: • 3-Day Ticket: take pleasure in two days of entry to Common Studios Florida and Common Islands of Journey, plus one separate day admission to Common Epic Universe • 4-Day Ticket: take pleasure in three days of entry to Common Studios Florida and Common Islands of Journey, plus one separate day admission to Common Epic Universe • 5-Day Ticket: take pleasure in 4 days of entry to Common Studios Florida and Common Islands of Journey, plus one separate day admission to Common Epic UniverseFor every of the above, friends even have the choice so as to add entry to Common Volcano Bay – giving them the chance to expertise all 4 Common Orlando theme parks throughout their go to. |
| Create Your Personal Trip Package deal | Company can save as much as $200* (financial savings primarily based on a 7-night keep) by bundling a 2-night or longer keep at a Common lodge with one of many multi-day ticket choices above.
Company can obtain the utmost financial savings of $200 with a 7-night trip bundle that features: |
| 2025 Explorer Ticket inclusive of a Single Day at Common Epic Universe (Solely obtainable within the U.Okay. and Latin America) | Accessible for visits in 2025, friends can benefit from the thrills of Common Studios Florida, Common Islands of Journey and Common Volcano Bay for 14 days, plus get entry to the all-new Common Epic Universe theme park for at some point throughout their ticket validity window. |
| All Parks Ticket (Solely obtainable within the U.Okay.) | Accessible for visits starting January 1, 2026, the All Parks Ticket offers friends the last word flexibility – permitting them to go to all 4 Common Orlando theme parks for 14 days. This ticket additionally contains park-to-park entry – which means friends can go to a number of theme parks, together with Common Epic Universe, on the identical day or any day they’d like throughout their ticket validity window. |
Extra particulars about Common Epic Universe – together with further ticket merchandise – shall be launched within the months forward.
If you wish to assist figuring out which tickets or packages will work greatest for your loved ones, we extremely advocate requesting a quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, a no-fee Common Most popular Journey Company. The brokers there’ll do the maths for you, reserving your trip with the best-available particular supply, and monitoring your bundle for future reductions that may be utilized retroactively–or modifying ought to a greater possibility be launched in subsequent waves.
Maybe most significantly in relation to Epic Universe, they’ll wait within the digital queue or on maintain through the phone so that you don’t must. We don’t know the way excessive demand shall be for Epic Universe tickets and packages, however my guess is very excessive. I’d anticipate waits on-line or through the cellphone as soon as Epic Universe packages go reside. Simply take into account that if you wish to use a journey agent, the time to submit a quote request is NOW–earlier than October 22, 2024. Don’t wait till tickets & packages go reside, understand you’re overwhelmed, and scramble. They’ll have already got lively purchasers they’re aiding on launch day!
Turning to commentary, this primarily confirms earlier rumors that Common Orlando shall be pushing trip packages exhausting with Epic Universe, hoping that diehard followers or vacationers with FOMO are prepared to shell out the massive bucks to ensure admission to Epic Universe.
As we beforehand reported, Common intends to broaden product choices to single and multi-day tickets together with Common Epic Universe in a phased strategy primarily based on availability–and there shall be availability.
So we’re not likely fearful about this part one ticket strategy. It’s simply good enterprise on Common’s half to lock-in folks with FOMO to longer length holidays. And given the considerations about Epic Universe cannibalizing attendance of the present gates, it’s a savvy technique.
One factor I’ve seen a whole lot of followers fear about is crowds. We’ve heard from many readers who’re ready to go to a number of months or till 2026, not desirous to be a part of the preliminary rush. I’m not so positive that’s the proper strategy.
For one factor, Common has made clear that at the least some park tickets are going to be bought in bundles for the opposite parks, which serves the twin function of buoying attendance on the current gates and controlling crowds at Epic Universe. That is what prompted our submit: Is Common Making a Traditional “Crowdpocalypse” Mistake with Epic Universe? The ticket particulars aren’t the purpose of that–it’s all about expectations of crowds.
Our view is that, no matter whether or not this works or backfires, Epic Universe crowds will not be going to be as unhealthy as some followers predict. Theme park followers been down this street earlier than, working ourselves right into a collective tizzy over a “crowdpocalypse” situation with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at each Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The precise reverse occurred as end result. Fearing multi-hour strains and loopy congestion, followers stayed dwelling–delaying visits till crowds died down. The primary few months had been useless, and the time when folks anticipated issues to “die down” had been loopy busy.
The identical factor has occurred this 12 months at Tokyo DisneySea to a a lot lesser extent within the opening month of Fantasy Springs, because the park hasn’t been that busy and tickets haven’t bought out on account of overly-strict entry limitations to the brand new port-of-call. It’s tough to foretell how that’ll play out, however I’d likewise be inclined to foretell lagged demand for Fantasy Springs, with this month by December being a lot busier than June by August.
Frankly, I’d exit on a limb and make the identical prediction for Epic Universe. Summer season in Florida isn’t precisely peak vacationer season anymore as a result of climate, whereas Halloween Horror Nights is insanely in style. Not solely that, however there’s an honest probability Common scales up attendance limits at Epic Universe or reduces friction for getting into after the primary few months.
The underside line right here is that, a method or one other, Epic Universe goes to be busy for years. Simply have a look at the latest curler coasters or Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter. And people had been particular person rides or lands. That is a wholly new theme park. It’s going to be highly regarded for the length by at the least 2030. That’s a really secure prediction.
What’s extra of a raffle is whether or not you’re higher off visiting very first thing when Common is artificially limiting attendance so the park can hit its groove, or ready till the coaching wheels come off and natural demand is no matter it’s. It’s a guess both method, however I’m extra inclined to go early. That is the guess we’ve made with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Fantasy Springs, and even Tremendous Nintendo World in Japan and California. In each single case, we made the proper name.
With that mentioned, doing Epic Universe early just isn’t with out threat. Not simply of crowds–that’s just one part of it. The opposite gamble is that all the things is able to roll at opening.
What I’ve heard within the final two months is that though massive parts of Epic Universe are forward of schedule, a few of the main points of interest are behind. That though seen progress on attraction exteriors and landscaping is going on at an extremely quick tempo–and a few experience testing is going on–a number of of the advanced experience techniques are proving problematic.
That is hardly shocking. As modern new points of interest grow to be extra advanced and sophisticated, there are extra points that come up throughout check and alter. Look no additional than Donkey Kong Nation at Common Studios Japan for an illustration of this. Minecart Insanity continues to have points there, and the brand new land is now over 6 months behind its previously-announced debut date–with no new opening date in sight. That land opening a full 12 months late is fully potential–and that’s one part of Epic Universe!
That is hardly distinctive to Common–if something, they’ve skilled this problem far lower than Disney. However now, Common is opening a complete new park with a number of next-gen points of interest, together with Minecart Insanity. It looks like a secure guess that a number of would have surprising hiccups throughout check and alter. That’s simply regular.
Anyway, it wouldn’t be in the slightest degree shocking if the foremost points of interest expertise extra frequent downtime in the course of the first few months–and even the primary 12 months–that Epic Universe is open. Likelihood is, if you happen to wait till 2026 or past, you’re much less prone to encounter this. How unhealthy it’ll be, nobody is aware of. Ideally, it’ll all be resolved throughout technical rehearsals, and the official opening of Epic Universe shall be clean crusing.
(Notice that this can be a double-edged sword, as we’ve seen from Disney. If there are problematic results or options which are inflicting the breakdowns that may merely be disabled, that’ll occur. Which means that visiting in the course of the first few months could also be your solely probability to see explicit advanced points of interest of their full glory. This was the case most lately with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.)
In the end, I’m actually excited for Common’s Epic Universe. It’s the factor I’m most trying ahead to in 2025, far surpassing even Disney Starlight Evening Parade. That may look like an absurd comparability since one is a brand-new, envelope-pushing theme park and the opposite is a parade, however I actually love night time parades. Even so, it’s not even a remotely shut name between the 2…that’s simply the one ‘main’ factor Walt Disney World is doing subsequent 12 months.
Anyway, I’m excited as a result of partially as a result of that is most likely the final main theme park opening we’ll must expertise within the subsequent decade or two. New parks are all the time a deal with, showcasing the newest improvements, developments, and the place the themed design business is heading subsequent. On this case, Epic Universe appears to be like each bit the gamechanger that Common is promising, that includes lands on par with Disney’s greatest in addition to themed design and placemaking that jogs my memory of a cross between Shanghai Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.
Past simply how beautiful Epic Universe’s lands look, I just like the idea of the portals and the best way it permits disparate ideas to be introduced collectively in the identical theme park. The lands chosen for Epic Universe have something-for-everyone attraction, with all the things from the kid-friendly How one can Practice Your Dragon franchise to all-ages Tremendous Nintendo World to extra adult-oriented Darkish Universe. That final one is what has me most excited, and talking of trend-spotting, it may function a sneak peek, of types, into what Imagineers are cooking up with Villains Land at Magic Kingdom.
Every little thing from the experience roster to the little particulars look extremely considerate and meticulously designed. If Common sticks the touchdown on Epic Universe–and all indicators proper now level to that taking place–it’ll fulfill the corporate’s aim of remodeling Common Orlando Resort right into a bona fide trip vacation spot.
On the finish of the day, that’s what that is about. Common desires to seize a much bigger slice of the pie in relation to vacationers, getting friends to remain on-site in its inns and buy packages or multi-day tickets to its parks, reasonably than go to for “The Harry Potter Park” as a diversion from Disney. We don’t wish to fixate an excessive amount of on the enterprise facet or Walt Disney World angle of Epic Universe becoming a member of the Florida theme park panorama. (For one factor, as a result of we’ve already accomplished an honest quantity of that lately in Is Common “Beating” Disney?)
All I’ll say is that this reveal of Epic Universe is additional proof that Comcast is extra aggressive than Disney in precise motion. Up to now, Disney is speaking; Common is doing. I’m not making an attempt to make this ‘theme park wars’ nonsense, however the truth of the matter is that competitors is nice for followers. A stronger Common places Disney on its toes, and forces them to ship. All of us win.
Clearly, loads nonetheless stays to be seen, however all the things we’ve seen from Common’s Epic Universe up to now is actually, actually spectacular and thrilling. It has me trying ahead to the brand new theme park much more, and at last attending to expertise this model new park in particular person. I actually can’t wait to step foot inside Epic Universe. It’s not typically you get to expertise a brand-new theme park…and Epic Universe actually appears to be like like one thing particular.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Epic Universe’s opening date? Assume Common can have “crowdpocalypse” considerations? Or is the lure of a complete new theme park so overwhelming that it’ll draw far more folks than it scares away? Will you go to Epic Universe in Summer season 2025, or will you await crowds to quiet down (in idea)? Excited for Tremendous Nintendo World, Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Darkish Universe/Traditional Monsters, or the How one can Practice Your Dragon lands and/or points of interest? Assume Epic Universe shall be a 3rd gate that’s a worthy addition to Common Orlando Resort…and probably on par with Disney’s greatest lands? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share some other ideas or questions you’ve got within the feedback under!