Work is accelerating on Universal Epic Universe, with the park on track to open in two years in late 2025. Though there’s a lot we already know about this upcoming new park, we recently learned some exciting new details directly from Universal Destinations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury, who spoke at a Bank of America event about the project earlier this month, providing eager theme park fans with more information about the park’s development as well as how it is set to put Universal in a position to compete directly with neighbor Walt Disney World.
Epic Universe will set a new standard for technology in theme parks
Speaking during the presentation, Woodberry called Epic Universe “the most technologically advanced park we’ve ever done,” adding that Universal is investing heavily in technology that will touch every part of the guest experience, from “the next generation of robotics drone technology [in attractions], all the way through to the guest experience, The full guest journey is really being taken to a whole new level.”
This focus on technology also includes the recently-revealed face recognition technology that will power guest experiences and payment options at Epic Universe, a first for any theme park. However, the innovation doesn’t stop there.
A cutting-edge new transportation system is taking shape
Ever since Universal Epic Universe was announced, theme park fans have been wondering how guests would travel between the current Universal Orlando Resort and this new destination, which is about three miles north of the existing theme park.
Fortunately, Universal has announced plans for an electric bus system that will take guests from park to park on a 12-minute ride on a dedicated roadway. Woodbury said that this fleet of buses will help parent company Comcast with their Carbon Neutral goals, and also took a shot at nearby Walt Disney World’s transportation, saying “by comparison to the competition, [the 12-minute ride is] maybe a third of a typical journey.”
Universal is specifically going after a large part of Walt Disney World’s key demographic
And speaking of taking shots at Walt Disney World, Woodbury also spoke about how Universal is planning to compete directly with its neighbor down the street, saying that his goal with the new park is to extend visitor stays from three or four days to a full week, and is looking to establish itself as the premiere destination for families with kids age eight and above.
Though Walt Disney World by nature does skew a little younger with its target demographics, families with school-age children do make up a large portion of their overall guests, and it is clear that Universal is working hard with the Epic Universe project to bring more of these types of visitors to their resort, for longer periods of time in an effort to whittle away at Walt Disney World’s base and their larger stranglehold on the Orlando tourism industry.
Construction is moving along quickly at Universal Epic Universe, with the project still slated to debut in late 2025, around two years from now. Though Disney has announced a massive $60 Billion project to try and compete with Epic Universe, it may be too little, too late for Disney, at least in the short term, as Universal prepares to change the game in Orlando.
