Bryan Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast annpunces this morning Universal Orlando fourth thme park and provided a first look at the new park to be named "Universal Epic Universe", stated by Universal as "The most immersive and innovative park we've ever created".
First, here is Universal official statement:
Our Universe is expanding. by Mark Woodbury:
Epic. It’s a word that gets tossed around a lot in today’s day and age, though not one we use loosely. When we label something as epic, we want that experience to live up to the promise that the word makes. Which is why today we are elated to announce the addition of our fourth theme park, Universal’s Epic Universe, an experience genuinely worthy of its bold moniker.
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.
Here’s a peek at the logo, concept art and proximity map of Universal’s Epic Universe.
It’s such an exciting time at Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Epic Universe will be located just a few miles from the others parks and resorts in Southwest Orange County, south of Sand Lake Road and east of Universal Boulevard. The new park will cover an area larger than 750-acres be and will nearly doubles Universal’s total acres in Orlando.
No opening date was set or announced for Universal Epic Universe, but Universal executives promised more news in the near future, as works has already began on building the park.
All-right, that sounds pretty exciting, so let's have a closer look at the park artwork, would we, as Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO Universal Parks & Resorts didn't revealed the specific themes of each land, only saying: “A universe is bigger than a world.” He did not disclose too how many themed lands the park will have, just saying that “it will be an incredible amount that will surprise you.”
So, the first picture shows the park entrance with an arch looking like a new version of the famous Universal arch and most probably the buildings, at least those on the right once entered in the park, will be shops as usual.
On the next picture below i think it's safe to say that it looks to be the awaited Super Nintendo World land, with the Mario Kart ride with the show buiding at the bottom left, Yoshi’s Adventure, and Donkey Kong’s Mine Cart Madness on the far left.
On the top left of the artwork we can ( barely ) see another land with what seems to be medieval buidings, and it could very well be the land themed to Universal Monsters with a rumored Dracula Castle, i'm putting my bets on it anyway. The only thing that surprise me is the big arena on the left of it, probably for a stunt show, but that wouldn't fit really with the theme...
On the right of it will be the 4/5 stars hotel located at the other end of the park.
But in the front it is where seems to be the rumored extended hub with shops, restaurants and a fountain show in front of the hotel.
On the right of the hotel is something more difficult to know what ti tis. The facades looks like the ones of Parisian buildings and most of it seems to be indoor, so either it's the land themed on Fantastic Beasts or because it is close to the hotel it could be the entertainment, shops and restaurants area, mostly indoor, like they do in Las Vegas, but i'm putting more my bets on a Fantastic Beasts land where they will recreate, after the London streets in Diagon Alley, the Paris streets where action of the second Fantastic Beasts movie happen.
Also, right under it, notice this Sci-Fi looking building entrance? Could it be a Star Trek attraction as it was rumored?
There is more with this other land difficult to identify but it could be the rumored "How to Train your Dragon" land on the bottom and dueling roller-coasters on the top of it with a different theme.
Here is the bird-eye-view rendering again with indication of where should be what.
One more thing about the water areas at the park center. One lake is good but three it's better apparenty thought Universal Creatives...
...but these three water areas on different levels reminded me something ...that i've finally found in D&M Archives, and it is this very early rendering "for a future Disney theme park", at that time supposedly a first concept for Shanghaî Disneyland. It turns out that SDL final design doesn't look like that but apparently the idea of water running on different levels may be was not lost for everyone - just the idea as in all honesty we can't say that Universal has copied it, as it's not the case.
Allright, say tuned on D&M for future developments of this new park, as we're just at the start of it!
Pictures: copyright Universal Orlando
