Universal Kids Resort: Universal Creative Builds Its Own Disney California Adventure 1.0

What in the world is going on? How is it the brand new Universal Kids Resort theme park make Disney California Adventure 1.0 look like an Imagineering masterpiece? Universal Creative has hit home runs with Harry Potter attractions and just above every aspect of Epic Universe. As this photograph from the Attractions 360 vlog shows, the place is a wasteland of concrete and static figures. Bright colors alone do not a theme park make! Even if it's seven "themed" lands with about 30 rides or so- probably mostly off the shelf carnival ones- had potential, they certainly tossed it by the wayside in favor of an even wider cheap and edgy version of Anaheim's second Disney park at opening. Can they / will they correct course and end up with something high quality? It certainly does not look like it. You can be sure I will not be recommending this park to my sister who lives nearby.
 

Art for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

There are plenty of reasons why Universal Orlando Resort's Diagon Alley is one of the best single Intellectual Property themed land in any park, Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers or anywhere else. The mix of great design detail, unique shopping and dining and those thrilling attractions make it an area a guest can spend hours in. Still it is not the most popular Harry Potter themed attraction to be found.

Perhaps the most popular one is this little coaster named Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. (And you thought Disney was the only one who had claim to ridiculously long attraction names.) In order to get to Hagrid's, you have to leave the Studios park for Islands of Adventure, but it is worth it! Besides, Diagon Alley aside, the Studios park is not nearly as richly themed as the resort's second theme park. 

The concept art from Universal Creative captures the spirit of fun and discovery. It'd be foolish to think that those of you reading this have not been on the ride. But multiple launches, engaging show scenes with real animated characters, an unexpected surprise along the way and multiple ways to ride make this an adventure that is worth repeating. Disney wishes they could pull off something this terrific! 

Universal keeps upping its game with Epic Universe being the next shot at taking up more of those vacation days. What ultra creative, groundbreaking Potter attraction comes next? We'll have to wait and see. 

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

Happy One Year Anniversary of Epic Universe Opening!

This can't be true! Can it? Florida's Epic Universe has been open one whole year? No way! Yes, it absolutely is true. The third full sized theme park at Universal Orlando Resort is a smash hit, and I can't wait to see it for myself. But I have agreed to let my youngest son and soon to be wife a first crack at it. 

As big Harry Potter fans, it's on the top of their list next to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Regardless, congratulations to Universal Creative. They knocked it out of the park!
 

An Epic (Universe) Decision

Ever since our visit to Universal Orlando Resort in 2021- the one where surprisingly I declared the Studios' incredible Diagon Alley to be the best themed land in any of the Florida parks- I have been staying on top of the construction of Epic Universe. Now, that it is open, my enthusiasm for seeing the park has only gotten stronger. A recent turn of events means I'll have to delay my trip even more. My son and his bride to be have decided to make Orlando the location of their honeymoon. I think it's only right that the man who introduced me to the worlds of Harry Potter gets first right to see Ministry of Magic in person. Don't you?

Design Detail: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

This is certainly no surprise to anyone who is a theme park fan: When it comes to their newer attractions in the last decade or so, the men and women of Universal Creative are matching the design excellence that once belonged only to Disney Imagineering. The new Epic Universe park is the epitome of what they can accomplish so far. Dark Universe, in particular, stands out in this regard, but the grandaddy of their work seems to remain Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It's not my favorite Potter themed attraction- that'd be a tie between Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Escape from Gringotts- but the sheer attention to detail is unsurpassed. You're not just in the movie, you've been taken out your ordinary world into theirs. My only regret with this award winning attraction is how intense it is on my body! Even with dramamine to kill the effect of riding, I still pay a pretty high place to do so. Yet, the experience as a whole is worth it if not for the queue through the castle. It's that well done!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.) 

Universal Orlando Update: Harry Potter's Empty Hogsmeade

An off week and a quick trip to Florida. First stop? Universal Orlando Resort and Islands of Adventure for a tour through Hogsmeade. With Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure down for an extended time, the must do next choice ride is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The short trip began with last night's dinner at Raglan Road at Disney Springs, but that would be the only stop on the Disney property. What will I do next, you might ask? Well, I'll wait for more photos. It's (sadly) not my trip, so I'm living vicariously through other family members. But it's still a great time. Even especially when its an empty park!

A Better Epic Universe

On the eve of the U.S. Presidential election, what could be more fitting than taking our minds off two awful choices and instead indulging at a look at the newest theme park coming our way? Epic Universe will delight fans and frustrate Disney executives. 

With blockbuster attractions like Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, this park will offer world class thrills and fun right from the beginning. Unlike the misfiring of the Epcot transformation, the park is a winner! Beautifully designed and ambitious, the theme park industry will be talking about its success for years to come. Fans will line the gates. 

Disney loses yet another day to Universal and for good reason...

 

An EPIC Announcement

The game of chess changes for the Walt Disney World Resort on May 22, 2024. Today, Universal Orlando announced the grand opening sate of May 22 for the incredible looking Epic Universe! In this corner, we have the suits at Disney who are slow to build but have a rabid fan base. In the other corner, we have relative upstart Universal who has access to one of the most beloved franchises ever: Harry Potter. With two parks gaining a massive following and the Boy Who Lived soon to be present in three separate parks, Disney continues to lose days guests to their competition. Will Encanto and Indiana Jones sway the flow? Will a Cars themed Frontierland tip the scales? We will see. Let the real battle begin!

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

The Real Brilliance Behind Dark Universe

Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. It's a mouthful, but it may well be the attraction everyone is talking about when Epic Universe opens in 2025. What's behind this new land and why is Universal Orlando going to play a very significant role in something no one is talking about? Check out this video:

Back to the monsters unchained. I think this one will give Harry Potter and The Battle at the Ministry a run for its money. And sounds like Universal is betting on the whole of Darkmoor as well.

Walt Disney World Loses A Third Day to Universal- Harry Potter and The Battle at the Ministry Will Rock the World!

As expected, Epic Universe moves beyond Disney starting today. The final details have just been released. Harry Potter and The Battle at the Ministry. Take a ride on the Métro-Floo from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic for an attraction that look like the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror on steroids! It will leave fans with a resounding question of "How did they do that?!?"

In this new wizarding world, it wouldn't be Paris without a cabaret! In the brand new land, show patrons will enter a tent in the center of the streets to enjoy a full-scale incredible traveling group called Le Cirque Arcanus. Encountering fantastic beasts of many kinds and performers of equal variety, be prepared for something spectacular. When the brilliant minds of Universal Creative puts a theater show in the middle of the land, you can be they are very proud of it! 

What's the Wizarding World without some Butterbeer? Is it here in Paris as well? Mais bien sûr! (But of course!) Shops, restaurants, and brand new places to explore will bring guests for a third full day to the Universal Orlando Resort. And this is Disney's new problem.

How does Disney stem the tide of an additional third day loss day of revenue? Families by the thousands will now call Universal their home resort for the next family vacation. 

The full video.

They may act unafraid, but you can guarantee the suits at the Walt Disney Company have  to change their clothes today. In this world, no one successfully competes with the wizard named Harry Potter!

(Concept art copyright Universal Creative.)

Dark Universe is the One to Beat at Epic Universe- and Why Disney Can't Do It!

Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy and more. Things are going to get twisted and very scary and very interesting! By this time next year, theme park fiends will be screaming with delight talking about Epic Universe and especially the brand new land, Dark Universe. That is saying certainly something coming up against the themes of the other lands in the park. Think of the juggernaut that is Harry Potter. Then consider the rabid fan base 40 years strong of Mario Bros and Super Nintendo World. Even How to Train Your Dragon has families excited to visit the Isle of Berk. But Monsters will rule them all. Why? These characters' stories have been told for seemingly hundreds of years, tales as old as time, and they are the backbone of Halloween costumes for decades as well.

Main nemesis the Walt Disney Company can't fight this battle since Disneyland or Walt Disney World has nothing even close to compare. My hunch is the suits know it too. They'll blew their chance to include uber villain Dr. Facillier on the Tiana's Bayou Adventure remodel, and Rise of the Resistance aside, they just don't have the guts to do real bad guys anymore let alone real monsters. Cartoon monsters that gather screams or laughs, sure. Those that truly terrify? No. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom is proof. On the other coast, Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim has more edge but misses the horror mark too.

Let's be honest, no one does horror like Universal. Whether it is the brutal slasher type scarefest of Halloween Horror Nights or the more playful Monster Make Up show, guests love to be scared. Now, the classic Universal movie monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, are on the scene, they've got to go to Universal to get it.

 

The main attraction in the area named Darkmoor will be the new rite of passage for those younger theme park guests. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment promises nonstop thrills and chills with a nightmare of a story. Cutting edge effects, unforeseen lifelike- or is it deathlike - frightening characters gone beserk in a setting that will make riding Disney Imagineering's Haunted Mansion look like time spent at Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Sign me up, he said trembling a bit.

The whole area will be fleshed out with otherworldly experiences, character meet and greets of a whole new dimension, and dining and shopping like nothing ever seen. Certainly incredible during the day but absolutely foreboding once the blackness of night settles in. Fans of classic horror now have another option to be scared, especially if slasher flicks are not their genre of choice.

I'm not even a big fan of the classic monsters franchise, and this has me very excited!

Could this year's D23 reveal Disney countering with a Villains land or even entire theme park? No. Robert Iger and company would appear to be playing catch up. And they are! For about two decades, the suits at Disney have not truly invested in building the parks. They've rested on their biggest cash cow, and now it is rightfully going to bite them in the wallet. And I hope it does- with a huge set of Dracula's fangs! 

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Concept Art

There's a reason for the rabid fan base for Universal Orlando Resort's incredible Harry Potter themed worlds, and Epic Universe is about to add to it in an incredible way! First we had Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, then it was Diagon Alley's thrilling Escape from Gringotts. Then, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure took the crown and rightfully so. Perhaps my favorite ride in the resort. What's next? The upcoming Battle for the Ministry at Epic Universe. The great thing about Universal I'm discovering is that the actual construction and attractions are far better than the concept art. I can't always so that's true of their biggest competitor. Can't wait for more Potter- or anything else Universal Creative chooses to dish up!

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

Why I May Never Go Back to Universal Studios Florida (Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando Resort- Day Two)

This article could be titled, "Why Can't Diagon Alley Be Placed in a Better Park?" It is really Day Two of Our Trip to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort vacation. The Studios may very well be my least favorite theme park of the bunch. It is definitely the lesser of the two at Universal, but Walt Disney World has a park that may be the very bottom of the barrel.

Now, Islands of Adventure is one of the best theme parks in Florida. No qualifiers in that statement. Our first day on the Universal property was everything we expected it to be and more. Their second park has a couple of my favorite attractions and some pretty incredible design work behind it. It has its flaws- as I pointed out in Day One of my trip report- but it is definitely worth your hard earned money. 

Since I wrapped up all the Islands attractions into one report, I'll do the same with the Studios.

We took the Hogwart's Express over to the Universal Studios Florida park because early entry hours was only for Islands of Adventure. Our plan was to make sure we took in a variety of attractions we missed last trip even if it meant missing some things we enjoyed last time. 

Such an incredibly well themed area!

For a few years now, I've maintained that Diagon Alley is the best themed land ever designed around a single Intellectual Property. You may not agree, but I make a pretty convincing case here. Collectively, we have taken hundreds of photos of this second Harry Potter land, and it is so rich and full of design detail, that we have spent hours there with only going on a single ride. Escape from Gringotts is a family favorite. The story is solid, from beginning to end the effects and sets are wonderful, and the use of the ride vehicle is thrill without inducing nausea. You walk off with a smile on your face. This is something I cannot say for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The shopping in Diagon Alley is unique, the food is decent, and then there's Butterbeer- a definite reason alone to visit.

So why would I even dare write I may never visit Universal Studios Florida again? The problem begins when you step outside of Harry's world.

Use the single rider line here.

We were in and out in less than 10 minutes.

We were there prior to the recent opening of the revised kids area with Shrek, Trolls, and Kung Fu Panda areas. DreamWorks Land was still behind walls. This meant the entire Studios park was a full cityscape of streets even if the theme varied. Harry Potter 2.0 aside, this gives the first Universal Florida park a redundant landscape and very cold feel. 

Playful atmosphere with two good family friendly attractions.

Minion Land is really cute, colorful, and contains a couple of family friendly attractions that we really enjoyed: The brand new Villain-Con Minion Blast shooter game, and the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem simulator. How can you not love minions and more minions? You just can't! But again, it's still a street just like all the other areas. The other themed areas San Francisco, New York, Hollywood, Springfield U.S.A., are all just streets. More streets everywhere. Concrete and more concrete. When you add in that the buildings are full sized and not scaled down, walking them can become a bit overwhelming too.

The reputation is well earned.

Other attractions to see on our list included the less than impressive Transformers The Ride 3D, a huge rip off of the still excellent Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man next door in that other theme park.  It's loud, and action packed but with 2/3 less the fun.

Even less successful was Fast and Furious Supercharged. It has rightly earned the reputation of being the worst ride on the Orlando property by far. Universal Creative blew it.  Big time. The closest comparison is the much better Skull Island, again at the other park. See a pattern here?

In contrast to what was poor, we found The Bourne Stuntacular an excellent show. Creatively designed, staged and executed, it was one of the highlights of our time in the Studios. This is the show not to miss. No spoilers here but I will say it is very different than what you expect, and these differences make it a winner.

Sorry, Universal, but I don't think anyone

associates Julie Andrews with your company.

The star of the equally lovely Olivia Newton-John.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame was unexpected as was the Brown Derby. The Old Hollywood settings were a nice change of pace. I'm sure I missed several other stars on the walk. I just got tired of looking down. 

Where the streets work is when the doors of the shops and restaurant open up to real places to explore. I found most of the time, it seems the proprietors' locations are just false fronts for a show building. There's no life here. It feels empty and even deserted in spots. Something's got to give. 

Springfield, the Home of the Simpsons Ride holds one of the cleverest attractions in the park. Destroy an entire amusement park? Who do you think we are, Disney Imagineers working on plans for California Adventure? Speaking of all that, we absolutely love the satire of the Disney attractions in the queue. It's both sincere and snarky at the same time. The main ride is a little much on the stomach toward the end as it is pretty lengthy for yet another simulator, but you've got to do it at least once. The vibe is appropriately different than Back to the Future which was there prior. But I'd say it's even more fun. I'll hate to see it all go away. 

The Haunted Condo ad in the queue.

Downing a Flaming Moe is a must.

World Expo's sole ride, Men in Black Alien Attack may be my favorite shooter ride in Orlando. But I could see it on the chopping block. Will Smith has probably moved this to the delete list. It's too bad. The ride is clever and competitive- even if all the effects were not working compared to our previous trip.

At the risk of being repetitive, let me summarize here. Have you ever gone to Disney California Adventure and regretted it after an hour and a half in the park? Have you ever thought, "I should have gone to Disneyland?" If so, this is the best comparison I can give you between going to the Studios instead of Islands of Adventure. The park is quite enjoyable for one visit. However, while it lasts, if you have never been to the parks at Universal Orlando Resort, buy a one day-two park ticket. You can see the best of both in one full day if you plan it right. 

Unless big plans and a major redesign happen, I won't come back unless I'm visiting with first timers- or our son who is a huge Potter fan and will insist on seeing all three lands, soon one in each park when Epic Universe opens. BUT Diagon Alley is just so good...

While Islands of Adventure has layers of subtle beauty, the Studios is loud and in your face. In one more Disney comparison, it's like the difference between Disney Springs and Universal's City Walk. Two totally different experiences. 

The evolution of Universal Orlando Resort can be seen here: The big box, simulator heavy Studios was first. They learned from there, and the more creative and beautiful Islands of Adventure was next. It was a huge leap in themed entertainment. This all makes me even more excited for Epic Universe in 2025. If the increase in quality is equally huge, Disney had better watch out because it will be fantastic!

I'll pop in some City Walk restaurant Dine or Ditch reviews in future articles, but we will move onto Disney World next. Lots to share. Great stories, first visits to new attractions, and some surprises both good and bad. 

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Here's to Mothers Day... and Butterbeer!

A nice little shot from our recent trip to Universal Orlando Resort and of course, Walt Disney World. As I was looking for a photo of all four of our kids with their mother, I realized I only had old ones from years ago. That's ok- I have a recent one of our youngest son- the Harry Potter fan- sitting in Hog's Head enjoying a butter beer with his Mom, I mean Mum. 

Islands of Adventure is quickly becoming one of my favorite parks in Florida due to the great Jurassic Park thrill Velocicoaster and my love for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. 

More of our trip report to come. Next up? Universal Studios Florida park.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Jesus Says Judgment is Coming

Jesus himself says it's Heaven or Hell for each of us as we must give an account for how we've lived our lives. Let me say this clearly- I love writing about Disney and Universal parks, music- especially that of Carpenters- Karen Carpenter and her brother Richard, travel, and many other things. But this is important stuff. Jesus himself speaks of both Heaven and Hell in terms of judgment and His impending return more often than you'd first think when you read the Bible:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.  Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." (John 5:24-30)

The great Apostle John, in his revelation of the future and the final judgement says this:

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 20:11- 21:8)

Thankfully, this King Jesus also provides a way for sinful broken people- that's me and you- to escape an eternity in Hell without Him. Two very famous verses- but sometimes the second half is forgotten!

For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)

Yes, me and you are guilty as charged- With the smallest lie to the evilest of actions, we deserve our punishment- and yet we're all given the same opportunity to turn to Jesus, change our focus in life, and start fresh in a way that pleases Him. No one is turned away. The Great Apostle Paul writes to the Romans who were part of the earliest believers:

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach), because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  (Romans 10:8-13)

It's stunningly straightforward. It's simple. It's life-changing one way or the other, for now and for all eternity. The choice is yours. Choose your own "final destination" (in the words of the classic Haunted Mansion spiel). The greatest part for the here and now is the joy, freedom, and sense of a fresh start you get the moment you give Jesus your life. He's not afraid of your past, worried about your present, or without a plan for your future. He has it under control once you give it to Him.

Let me say it again- I love writing about Disney and Universal parks, music, my family, lots of things- but nothing you will read on this blog is as important as what you just read right now. Nothing. And nothing you do will be as important as the decision you must make now that you know the truth.

A Trip Down Harry Potter's Knockturn Alley

A taste of the dark side. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley is an incredible space. It's "hidden attraction", Knockturn Alley is filled with creepy spaces, eerie noises, and surprises at every turn. It's not for everyone. In fact, parents should think about the potential impact on their littlest ones. It can be nightmare inducing. And evil is real, just as good is- so who knows what is going on "behind the scenes". But from a design detail standpoint, Knockturn Alley is an excellent example of how Universal Creative is beating Disney at their own game. Ot at least, tying the game. More on that later.

Our Latest Trip to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort

Returned a few days ago from a trip to Central Florida. Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort were both on our to do list. This was the first time we stayed at a Universal hotel for the entire trip. I'm looking forward to sharing photos and full blown day by day reports, but I haven't even finished our trip to Italy and France. Maybe I'll do this trip in smaller chunks. Lots to tell both good and bad. That said, I have over 2,100 photos that will make for some great "Design Detail" posts in the future!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Design Detail: Shanghai Disneyland's Treasure Cove

Design detail is what used to make the Disney parks unique. It's not exclusive to them anymore as Universal Creative has made huge strides to transform old spaces into highly detailed ones as well as create modern day theme park masterpieces. Their Diagon Alley at Islands of Adventure is the best single Intellectual Property themed land ever. (Proof is here.) But that is not to say Disney Imagineering has given up on delivering lands rich in artistry and hidden design gems to discover.

In spite of how large the park is and how this creates a lack of charm, Shanghai Disneyland holds a fair amount of design detail. When the lands feel sterile (surprisingly, Fantasyland for example), it's really bad. But when it's good, it's really good.

When it comes to Mainland China's Disney park - let's be clear here, it is not the other way around- it seems everyone is focusing on Zootopia right now. That's expected as it is brand new, but I'd like to look at a different area instead. The pirate themed Treasure Cove is also an example of great design. 

Yes, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure excels in this area. From entrance to queue to the incredible attraction itself, Imagineering hit a grand slam! 

But on the smaller side of the scale, take a look at the top photo of the almost hidden prison cel just above the waterline of the bay that straddles both Treasure Cove and Adventure Isle. There's a skeleton of the last prisoner peering out from behind the bars. You can only see if from the canoes, but it is something that they did not have to add. These thoughtful touches bring something to the park that most guests probably can't put their finger on, but when found all over, they add a depth and richness to the entire park.  Storytelling at its finest.

Here's one more to be found in Treasure Cove...

There's more design detail posts on the blog as these are part of what make great theme parks compelling. At least to me. And probably to you as well if you've read this far!

(Photographer unknown.)

Epic Universe Will ROCK the Theme Park World!

"Why go to Disney World?" That will be the question theme park fans will be asking after Universal Orlando's new Epic Universe park opens in Summer of 2025. Making Universal Orlando Resort home to three full theme parks and one water park, visitors to Florida will have even tougher decisions to make about how to spend their time. Think I'm kidding? Take a look at some epic artwork! (The piece above shows the portal to the Dark Universe, Epic's land devoted to monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, and more.)

It all starts at the entrance (seen above). Imagine adventures based on Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon, Super Nintendo World, and those beloved classic Universal monsters in their own Dark Universe. Just imagine. Take a look at this great new video (below).

We are already planning a trip! The only question will be- How many days to we cut out of Disney so that we can see all Universal Orlando Resort has to offer? There's not a Disney princess that can hold a candle to this! 

Check out the map. The concept art is just stunning, isn't it? Universal Creative has knocked it out of the park. Everything from the shops to the restaurants to the attractions screams first class excitement.

Will this coaster beat the heart racing thrills of Velocicoaster?

This is a carousel??? Wow!

Beyond the expected coaster thrills and creepier dark rides, there will be attractions for younger guests as well. The Constellation Carousel may be one of the most beautiful structures ever built for an attraction of this type.

The Blue Dragon will definitely be one of my picks for a meal!

Dining is becoming more of an attraction in itself at theme parks. Epic Universe is wisely giving folks more of what they want- perhaps even taking the best of Disney theme park restaurants and improving on them for a modern, younger audience.

Shades of the Blue Bayou and San Angel Restaurante.

This Pan-Asian restaurant (two images above) looks great from the outside, but the inside is even better. Imagine dining in elegance in the Asian countryside at night. Lanterns illuminate the sky as dragons float by and enchanting music plays. Sounds like a great afternoon break- and something very creative and very EPCOT circa 1982. I love it!

Beyond the new park, there's a multitude of City Walk experiences we still want to do, a resort or two to stay at, and a brand new theme park that will take at least two days. I mean, a guy only has so much vacation time. 

Universal Builds Epic Universe and More While Disney Talks, and Talks, and Talks

While Disney executives Josh D'Amaro and Robert Iger talk and talk and talk some more, Universal Creative is hard at work building Epic Universe, the third major theme park for Universal Orlando Resort. Due to open in 2025, you can see in this image by Bioreconstruct, the dueling coaster tracks of the park's high profile Star Fall Racers are coming into their own. The great Theme Park Stop with host Alicia Stella provides the latest news. (See below.)

While Disney Imagineering is hamstrung due to finances- and the full on announcement of Indiana Jones Adventure and an Encanto and Coco themed attractions for Disney Animal Kingdom continues to be placed on hold- Universal forges ahead. The park's going to be game changer once again. 

Harry Potter and Nintendo may be the biggest headliners. (Who can resist a new Parisian themed area with a ride to save the Ministry of Magic?) But my bet is that Classic Monsters and How to Train Your Dragon themed lands will surprise and delight us as well. I'm counting down the days to the park's opening. The only question remains- What Disney park will I have to cut to make enough time at Universal?

(Photograph copyright Bioreconstruct.)