Epic Universe opens to thrill crowds, with hopes of boosting economy in Central Florida | FOX 51 Gainesville
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Epic Universe opens to thrill crowds, with hopes of boosting economy in Central Florida

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Published  May 22, 2025 7:22pm EDT
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FOX 35 Orlando
Epic Universe opens to thrill crowds, boost economy

Epic Universe opens to thrill crowds, boost economy

After six years in development, Universal’s long-anticipated Epic Universe theme park officially opened its gates Thursday, marking the first major new park to launch in Orlando in over two decades.

The Brief

    • Epic Universe opened in Orlando after six years in development, debuting with short wait times and high fanfare.
    • The park is expected to drive major economic growth across Central Florida’s $92.5 billion tourism industry.
    • With its scale and ambition, Epic Universe reinforces Orlando’s status as the theme park capital of the world.

ORLANDO, Fla. - After six years in development, Universal’s long-anticipated Epic Universe theme park officially opened its gates Thursday, marking the first major new park to launch in Orlando in more than two decades.

First major park launch in Orlando in more than 25 years

What we know:

Universal Orlando officially opened its new Epic Universe theme park on Thursday, marking the first major theme park addition to the region in more than 25 years. 

The park includes five immersive lands themed around popular franchises such as Super Nintendo and Harry Potter. Despite high anticipation, wait times for most rides remained under 25 minutes, and crowds were surprisingly manageable — suggesting a controlled, soft-launch strategy by Universal.

The backstory:

Universal’s newly opened Epic Universe is doing more than attracting crowds — it’s transforming Orlando’s landscape and supercharging the local economy, particularly in the once-overlooked International Drive corridor.

Epic Universe has been in development for six years, representing one of Universal’s most ambitious projects. The park’s announcement stirred global interest, with pre-sale tickets selling out as early as October. 

The last major park debut in Orlando was in the 1990s, making Thursday’s opening not just an event, but a generational milestone for Florida’s tourism industry.

From contamination to celebration

Dig deeper:

Located on 160 acres in Orange County, Epic Universe is now a vibrant draw for tourists and businesses alike, sitting on what was once vacant and contaminated land formerly owned by defense contractor Lockheed Martin. The transformation has turned what some called "wasteland" into a global attraction.

Epic Universe transforms once-contaminated land

Epic Universe transforms once-contaminated land

Universal’s newly opened Epic Universe is doing more than attracting crowds — it’s transforming Orlando’s landscape and supercharging the local economy, particularly in the once-overlooked International Drive corridor.

Before Epic Universe broke ground, the area served a far different purpose. Documents show Lockheed Martin conducted missile and fire control testing on the property from 1958 to 1996, leaving behind contaminants like benzene, cadmium and vinyl chloride.

After Universal acquired the site in 1998, cleanup efforts began. In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency commended both Lockheed and Universal for collaborating on the remediation, which cleared the way for development.

Timeline:

The launch of Epic Universe isn’t just a milestone for Universal  — it’s a shot in the arm for Central Florida’s $92.5 billion tourism sector. 

Local business leaders are already reporting increased foot traffic and renewed interest in surrounding areas. Analysts expect the park to drive substantial growth in jobs, tourism revenue, and regional development. It also raises the bar for theme park competition, potentially influencing the future direction of entertainment attractions nationwide. Below is a timeline of significant dates leading up to Epic Universe's grand opening:

1998: Universal acquires the site from Lockheed Martin, cleanup efforts begin.

2004: EPA clears path for redevelopment of the land.

2019: Universal announces plans for Epic Universe.

2020–2022: Development faces delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Late 2024: Tickets go on sale, and final preparations begin.

May 2025: Epic Universe officially opens to the public.

What we don't know:

Universal has not disclosed exact attendance numbers or confirmed whether opening day capacity was intentionally limited. There’s also uncertainty around how long the lower wait times and controlled entry will last. 

What they're saying:

The park’s opening has created a wave of prosperity for surrounding businesses, hotels, and infrastructure projects. The Las Palmeras, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club hotel, overlooking Epic Universe, has seen an influx of international guests.

Experts say the entire corridor is booming, with new developments including the expansion of the Orange County Convention Center and the planned Sunshine Corridor rail project.

"When the economists do the projections for 2025, the total economic impact is going to be somewhere north of that $92.5 billion," said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Universal Orlando Resort and Orange County. 

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