Rendering the concept of the newest Universal Orlando Resort theme park: Epic Universe.
NBC Universal
Work is finally resuming for the fourth Universal Orlando Resort theme park, Epic Universe.
The park, which was announced in 2019, previously stopped construction in July 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, Universal revealed it would take several months to full speed as it had to restore the project and reassemble its vendors and contractors.
“Restarting Epic Universe is a great time for our employees and our Florida theme park business,” said Brian Roberts, president and CEO of Comcast. “It is our largest investment in the state and represents our enthusiasm for the spectacular park and the economic opportunities it will generate.”
The company is looking to turn its two-park resort into a one-week travel destination, not just a two- or three-day family outing. The company also operates Volcano Bay, a water park about a mile down from Universal Studios.
The new park will be located on a plot of 750 acres, just a few kilometers from the existing resort. Universal said it would provide transportation between all of its properties.
Universal Orlando currently has 25,000 employees and will employ another 14,000 workers, including professional, technical and culinary staff. The company boasted Wednesday that the resumption of construction of the Epic Universe will blow billions of dollars into Florida’s economy and create thousands of jobs during its development.
It usually takes three to four years to build a large theme park. The land was cleared in 2018 and will be the first park Universal has built since 1999, when the Islands of Adventure opened. Over the past decade, Universal has expanded its two parks to include the Harry Potter, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade theme parks.
Analysts speculate that the new rides could be based on universal properties, such as “Minions”, classic monsters and even Nintendo. The universal executors remained the mother in terms of specificity. Tom Williams, CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts, teased him for being “the most captivating and innovative theme park I’ve ever created.”
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC.