The long-awaited and epically anticipated newest theme park at Universal Orlando finally officially opens this week. As we wait for the portals to open and over-the-top theming to be unleashed, we’re homing in on all the biggest thrills the park has to offer.
From glides with dragons to haunts in Frankenstein’s Manor and nostalgic animated races, here are all the new rides for park goers to brave.
Epic Universe’s 11 new rides include: Fyre Drill, Yoshi’s Adventure, Curse of the Werewolf, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, Dragon Racer’s Rally, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, Stardust Racers, Constellation Carousel, Mine-Cart Madness, and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
The fourth park under Universal Orlando’s reign, Epic Universe transports guests via portals to five immersive lands: Super Nintendo World, Ministries of Magic in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon’s Isle of Berk, Dark Universe and Celestial Park.
In addition to the new rides, guests can find eight interactive shows and experiences, dozens of eateries and plenty to shop.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
Isle of BerkThis coaster gives wannabe Vikings the chance to test their courage and hop onto Hiccup’s winged contraption before being launched into the air along with Hiccup and Toothless themselves. The height requirement is 40 inches, making it largely a family-friendly thrill. Express pass is valid. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
Isle of Berk Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Fyre Drill
Isle of BerkThis water ride tells the story of Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut taking over Berk’s Fyre Skööl to turn it into a battle at sea. Riders’ mission is simple: use the water cannons to out-soak the other occupants and shoot flame-like targets. It’ll help guests release a little friendly aggression, leaving riders feeling competitive and likely soaked. There’s no height requirement, but children under 48 inches must be accompanied by a supervising companion. Express pass is valid. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Fyre Drill
Isle of Berk Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Yoshi’s Adventure
Super Nintendo WorldYoshi’s Adventure is a low-and-slow family-friendly ride that takes its occupants on a nostalgic quest through Mushroom Kingdom’s landscapes and beloved characters. The height requirement is only 34 inches, but those under 48 inches must be accompanied by a supervising companion. Express pass is valid. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Yoshi’s Adventure
Super Nintendo World Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Super Nintendo WorldThis indoor dark ride combines 3-D and 4-D motion simulations to create an eye-catching, completely immersive Nintendo world. It’s not a high-speed chaser, so it’s largely family-friendly but no less thrilling. There is a 40-inch height requirement and supervising companion requirement for those under 48 inches tall. Express pass is valid. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Super Nintendo World Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Stardust Racers
Celestial ParkThis dual-launch coaster invokes memories of the now-defunct Dueling Dragons ride at Islands of Adventure with similar takeoff styles and whips around the track. Riders are launched into a trip through the cosmos with speeds reaching up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet across the 5,000 total feet of track. Look out for the “Celestial Spin” maneuver that takes the coasters through an inverted crisscross in the air. The height requirement is 48 inches. Express pass is valid.
“Although it doesn’t have Velocicoaster’s theming or multiple inversions, both tracks do deliver a breathtaking series of ejector airtime moments; I sat in the back row of the more-intense green side, and felt like my soul was being ejected from my body — in the best possible way,” says Seth Kubersky. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Constellation Carousel
Celestial ParkThe kid-friendly Celestial Park is a classic carousel with a cosmic twist. Each of the constellation-inspired carriages turn 360 degrees while lifting riders as high as 6 feet in the air. There is no height requirement but a supervising companion is required to ride along with kiddos under 48 inches. Express pass is valid. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Constellation Carousel
Celestial Park Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Ministries of Magic in the Wizarding World of Harry PotterThis motion simulation ride takes riders via Métro-Floo from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic, where they are met with Dolores Umbridge before standing trial. Guests are joined by Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Ministry’s depths and past animatronics.
As noted by our own resident theme park wizard Seth Kubersky, the ride “not only improves upon everything Universal innovated in their earlier Forbidden Journey and Escape From Gringotts dark rides, it decisively dethrones Disney’s Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance as the most awe-inspiring experience in any theme park. Battle at the Ministry blurs the line so expertly between razor-sharp 2-D screens — featuring convincing digital doubles of Harry, Ron and Hermione — and frighteningly fluid animatronics that I stumbled off after five minutes unsure of what exactly I had seen, or how it could possibly have been pulled off without actual magic.”
The height requirement is 40 inches. Express pass is not valid. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Ministries of Magic in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Dark UniverseDark Universe’s Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is a motion simulation ride that brings occupants through a journey following Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s cryptic work. Riders will be met with Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, the Creature From the Black Lagoon and more monsters as the story unfolds. The height requirement is 48 inches. Express pass is not valid.
“Monsters Unchained literally thrusts you into the middle of a battle between Frankenstein’s Monster and Dracula, with cameos from the full roster of vintage villains. Physically thrilling without being as nauseating at its Potter predecessor, and visually overwhelming without being overloaded with gore or jump-scares, this is as close to a perfect monster mashup as I could hope for, minus some minor muffled audio and missing effects,” says Seth Kubersky. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Dark Universe Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Mine-Cart Madness
Super Nintendo WorldDonkey Kong’s Mine-Cart Madness is a family-friendly coaster that brings guests on a mission to help protect the Golden Banana and through the Golden Temple. Riders will encounter familiar landscapes and details representing the Donkey Kong Country games. The height requirement is 40 inches. Express pass is not valid. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Mine-Cart Madness
Super Nintendo World Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Curse of the Werewolf
Dark UniverseCurse of the Werewolf takes its victims through the daunting forest on a mission to escape the wrath of a pack of werewolves. “Curse of the Werewolf, an outdoor family spinning coaster, has a fun boomerang element through a werewolf-infested shack, but it’s far too short to be much more than a glorified C-Ticket,” says OW theme park expert Seth Kubersky. It has a 40-inch height requirement. Express pass is valid. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Curse of the Werewolf
Dark Universe Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
Dragon Racer’s Rally
Isle of BerkGuests can try their hand at the art of dragon racing in the Isle of Berk land with Dragon Racer’s Rally. The ride puts occupants in a over-the-shoulder restraint seat as they whip, spin and soar through the air. The height requirement is 48 inches. Express pass is not valid. Credit: Photo by Seth Kubersky
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