Florivida is attending the opening of Epic Universe!

Universal Epic Universe opened on May 22, 2025 - and we at Florivida were there during the preview days! Rick and Tari were allowed an exclusive sneak peek at this brand new theme park in April from Universal Orlando Resort. In this blog, we share our first impressions of all five themed areas and spectacular attractions.

Rick and Willem were also present at the official opening, so be sure to follow our adventures via Florivida's Instagram For stories and future updates! Would you rather listen to our experiences? Then listen to the episode about Epic Universe from Oorlando the Podcast.

Universal Epic Universe forms Universal Orlando's third theme park and sets the tone with unparalleled innovation and experiences. Curious about general information about the park? Then check out our overview page as well: Universal Epic Universe - everything you need to know.

⭐ Celestial Park - the heart of Epic Universe

After entering under the imposing entrance gate, you step into Celestial Park. This green and open area welcomes you with a beautiful view of the water. Passing beautiful merchandise stores - which we immediately take a look inside - we walk on. It is still quiet, so we also take a look at two nice, and at the same time different, eateries: Atlantic and Pizza Moon.

We walk a little further and visit our first attractions. Stardust Racers is a spectacular, dueling roller coaster and definitely a highlight for thrillseekers looking for speed and thrills. For a more leisurely ride, we board the Constellation Carousel. This is a beautiful merry-go-round with a cosmic theme, ideal for young and old.

The atmosphere in Celestial Park is remarkably soothing. Despite being in a brand new theme park, it feels open, green and almost stimulus-free. There is plenty of space to walk, sit and look around. Everywhere you see fountains, water features, seating areas, small bars and cozy restaurants. It's the ideal place to start your day or unwind between adventures.

As we walk around, the futuristic Helios Grand Hotel on. This new deluxe hotel is located on the edge of the park, but is directly connected to Celestial Park. Guests of the hotel can walk right into the park in the morning!

From Celestial Park, you can walk right into the four other themed areas via the impressive Portals, each with a completely separate world to explore.

🍄 Super Nintendo World - the world of Mario!

As soon as I stepped through the Portal to Super Nintendo World, I really felt for a moment as if I had entered a Mario game. Everything is so colorful and recognizable: the ?-blocks, the green pipes, the mushrooms ... you just don't know where to look. Everything is detailed down to the smallest detail - it feels like you are in the game, but in real life.

We started at Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, and wow ... what an experience! With AR glasses on, you race through familiar Mario worlds while scoring points by hitting enemies. It's not just a darkride, but a kind of game you play yourself. Super dynamic, technically impressive and truly one of the top rides in the entire park. As far as I am concerned, a must-do if you are in Super Nintendo World Orlando.

After that, we wanted to do something a little quieter, so we got into Yoshi's Adventure. You ride through the area on Yoshi's back, and along the way you see all sorts of hidden details. It's a lot more relaxing, but definitely not boring - and you also get great views of the entire park.

And then... there he was all of a sudden: Mario himself! He took extensive time for a photo, waved happily, and it just felt like meeting a video game hero in real life. Luigi and Princess Peach were also walking around!

After all that adventure, we were in the mood for something tasty, so we headed to Toad's Café. The interior alone is fantastic - it looks like Toads are running the restaurant, complete with interactive screens and funny sounds. And the food? Surprisingly good! Think dishes with a nod to the games, like a burger with a mushroom-shaped bun or desserts shaped like Super Stars. Everything is super photogenic AND delicious.

Finally, we visited the newest part of the park: Donkey Kong Country. The entrance alone, with those iconic temple vibes and jungle sounds, makes an immediate impression. You immediately feel like you're in the world of Donkey Kong. The highlight here is without a doubt the new roller coaster: Mine-Cart Madness. You race through the jungle, “jumping” over rails like in the classic games, and the technology behind it is so good that you ask yourself several times: how do they do this!

After the ride, we wandered around the area for a while, I was tempted to bang on the interactive bongos for a bit, and then it was time to move on to the next portal, because there is SO much more to explore in the park.

🦇 Dark Universe - a world of darkness and monsters

At Dark Universe the classic Universal monsters come to life. Once you walk through the portal, you step Darkmoor Village inside. Everything exudes mystery: creaking signboards, ghostly mist creeping between the houses and dark details everywhere. We wander through the area and can hardly take our eyes off everything that is happening, because it is so richly decorated.

Soon the eye-catcher of the area catches my attention: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. This is not just any attraction. It is a blood-curdling ride in which you come face to face with unhinged experiments, terrifying scenes and hyper-realistic animatronics. From start to finish, you'll be on the edge of your seat. Without a doubt one of the most intense and impressive rides I have ever experienced.

After that hefty dose of adrenaline, it's time for a short break, and for that there is Das Stakehouse the perfect place. This restaurant is completely in style with subtle nods to vampire stories. This is where I catch my breath with a snack and a drink.

The Curse of the Werewolf is a lightning-fast spinning coaster which chases you through a dark, foggy forest while a werewolf is hot on your heels. The combination of speed and rotation makes for an intense ride you won't soon forget. Exciting, chaotic and incredibly fun!

Dark Universe is dark, intense and beautifully crafted in every detail. It drags you into a world full of fear, action and wonder. On to the next impressive portal.

🪄 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: The Ministry of Magic

Without a doubt, this is the most beautiful and impressive themed area I have ever seen. This part of the park alone is reason enough to go to Epic Universe to come. Once you set foot in the magical Paris of the 1920s, inspired by Fantastic Beasts, it feels like stepping right into a movie. The atmosphere is enchanting: atmospheric streets with wizard stores, cozy cafes and elegant French restaurants. Every corner is right, every detail breathes magic.

But the most spectacular is yet to come. Through the Métro-Floo you travel from Paris to London, and there it happens: just like in the movie, you are hit with a flashing green flame the Ministry of Magic sucked in. Everything from the floors to the high ceilings is themed down to the smallest details. Here you will find the big attraction of this area: Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry™. In this newest attraction, you take your seat in an elevator and fly along on an exciting mission with Harry, Ron and Hermione. This ride combines visuals, sound, magic, animatronics and impressive scenery!

After all these impressions, it's great to unwind for a while. We find a spot on one of the cozy Parisian terraces and stop for a drink at Moonshine Bar.

🐉 How to Train your Dragon: Isle of Berk

As soon as you Isle of Birch step inside, you see the island from the movies come to life. A place where vikings and dragons live together, and it is at least as magical as it was on the big screen. Along the winding path you will encounter all kinds of dragons, and the best part is: you can even meet your favorite dragon here. And yes, Toothless Is even cuter in real life.

A little further on, the cheerful sounds of the splash battle our attention. In this water attraction you can use water cannons to shoot at targets and at each other. It looks super fun, but today I skipped it... I didn't really feel like getting wet, haha.

We walk on and take a look at Viking Traders, a cozy store full of fun merchandise. The staff is so friendly and enthusiastic that you immediately linger. The Cookie Dough macaron stares at me, and of course I take one. Spoiler: it tastes as good as it looks.

Time for some action! We get in Hiccup's Wing Gliders, a family roller coaster that is surprisingly fast and exciting. With unexpected twists and fun effects, this may be one of my favorite rides in the entire park.

Then we walk on to Dragon Racer's Rally. It looks cool, but I will skip this attraction today. We do discover another large playground further on, perfect for families with young children. This whole area feels relaxed and cheerful. You can really wander around here for hours and discover something new each time.

✨ Ready for your own adventure in Epic Universe?

After a day full of magic, action and wonder, our exploration of Epic Universe is over. What an experience! Each themed area is detailed to perfection and completely immerses you in the world of your favorite movies and games. Whether you come for the adrenaline, the nostalgia or the innovative attractions - this park is next-level. An absolute must for every theme park and movie lover. Would you like to experience this for yourself? You can!

🎟️ We offer individual trips to Epic Universe to, perfectly tailored to your needs.
🧳 And in January 2026 we organize a unique group trip to Epic Universe - travel with other fans, enjoy exclusive extras and be fully immersed in this magical world.

📩 Want to know more or reserve your spot in advance? Send us a message or check out our website for all the ways to get to Universal Orlando Resort travel.

Want to know what else Universal Orlando Resort has to offer? Then check out: All parks of Universal Orlando Resort!