For the past few years, all eyes have been on Epic Universe, the brand-new theme park Universal Orlando is building just down the road from its current parks.
And the excitement has grown exponentially this year now that Universal has started to reveal details about the park’s themed lands, attractions, rides, restaurants and more. Oh, and we can’t forget about those wonderful aerial shots of the construction site that populate social media from time to time.
But Epic isn’t slated to open until 2025. Thankfully, Universal is making the wait a little easier with big summer plans at its current parks.
A couple of weeks ago, the resort announced several new experiences visitors will be able to enjoy at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure—although Studios will be THE destination for most of the new stuff.
DreamWorks Land opening date
Universal first announced DreamWorks Land last summer as a replacement for Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone. The revamped kid-friendly land—with attractions and play areas themed to “Shrek,” “Trolls,” and “Kung Fu Panda”—will open on June 14.
Visitors will be able to spend time in Shrek’s Swamp, and meet the big green ogre, Donkey and Fiona while they’re there. The land will also feature the brilliantly named Trollercoaster, which has trains that look like the Caterbus from the “Trolls” franchise. Over in an area called Panda Village, visitors will be able to interact with Po and train to in “the ways of kung fu.” Several DreamWorks characters will also be part of a new live show called “DreamWorks Imagination Celebration.”
Cinematic lagoon show with drones
Also debuting on June 14, but in the evening, is CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular, a new nighttime lagoon show with drones—more than 600 of them, in fact. The show will celebrate the power of music with soundtracks and scenes from popular movies franchises like “Jurassic World,” “Back to the Future,” “E.T.”, “How to Train Your Dragon” and more.
Universal promises the show will use some pretty impressive tech, including more than 200 fountains as high as 131 feet, 4K projection mapping and special effects.
More Potter projections at Hogwarts
Speaking of nighttime show, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade over at Islands of Adventure will get a new project show on Hogwarts Castle.
Hogwarts Always, debuting June 14, will bring to life a year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with moments like the Sorting Ceremony and a House Cup celebration. The show will also pyrotechnics and four different endings—one to celebrate each Hogwarts house.
Universal has offered other projection shows at Hogwarts in the past, including Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle, which focused on the more sinister side of the wizarding world.
New daytime parade celebrating movies
Universal’s other big new summer offering will be the Universal Mega Movie Parade at Universal Studios Florida. Debuting July 3, this parade is being billed as the park’s “biggest daytime parade to date.” It will feature 13 floats and nearly 100 performers.
The floats will represent different movies lie “Minions,” “Jaws,” and “Kung Fu Panda.” The “Ghostbusters” float will feature a 16-foot-tall Stay Put Marshmallow Man, while the “Jurassic World” float with a Gyrosphere, raptors and a T-Rex make up the finale.
Universal will also offer a new iteration of its popular Summer Tribute Store, revealing that the venue will feature four themed rooms, merchandise and photo ops that “complement the new parade experience.”
