Competition between Walt Disney Company (DIS) Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and Comcast’s (CMCSA) Universal Orlando Resort heated up back in 2010 when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal’s Island’s of Adventure park in Orlando.
Universal kept fueling the fire in 2014 when it added the Wizarding World attraction to Universal Studios Orlando. It also added Wizarding World to Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016 to put pressure on the granddaddy of all theme parks, Disneyland, on the West Coast.
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Disney World luckily had a new land in the works and added Pandora – The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom in Orlando in May 2017.
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In another answer to Universal’s Wizarding World attack, Disney World added Toy Story Land to Hollywood Studios in June 2018.
Wizarding World made such a huge impact on Disney that it went back to the playbook and developed even more spectacular attractions. The House of Mouse added its Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., in May 2019 and at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando in August 2019
Universal answered the challenge first by opening Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood in January 2023, and then it teased fans in Orlando with updates about its new theme park Epic Universe.
All of Epic’s lands are currently in the last stages of construction, including its versions of Super Nintendo World and Wizarding World of Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk, monster-themed Dark Universe, and Celestial Park, which looks like it will feature some wild thrill rides, from the looks of artist renderings.
Celestial Park, which also looks like it could be part of Disney’s Tomorrowland, will also be connected to Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Lowes Hotel that will have a dedicated and exclusive entrance to Epic Universe.
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That frightful day that Disney has dreaded since Universal Studios revealed its plans five years ago to build its fourth theme park in Orlando has finally come – and it has nothing to do with Halloween.
Universal Epic Universe
Image source: Universal Studios
Universal Epic Universe opening set
Universal Orlando Resort has finally matched Disney World in offering vacationers a week’s worth of entertainment with four theme parks, hotels, and entertainment with the Grand Opening of Universal Epic Universe on May 22, 2025.
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Universal on Oct. 17 revealed that Epic Universe tickets and packages will go on sale to the general public beginning Oct. 22.
Initially, guests who want to enter Epic Universe will be able to purchase only three-day or longer ticket packages that will include a one-day ticket for Epic Universe and two or more tickets to Universal’s other parks, including Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay waterpark.
Universal Orlando will also offer hotel and theme park bundles that will include Epic Universe, hotel savings, early park admission, and complimentary transportation from Universal hotels to the parks.
Universal has not revealed the price for the Epic three-day packages yet, but a three-day ticket that gets you into Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure currently would cost $345.99 plus tax, while a child 3-9 years old is $336 plus tax.
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