Common Orlando has filed a structure allow for one in all its many enlargement pads, suggesting the development of a large display development adjoining to one of the vital current lands. This covers the entirety we all know to this point, which worlds are main contenders for progress, and what we’re hoping occurs.
Let’s get started with the development allow, which used to be filed for “web site utilities and basis paintings” and used to be at the beginning exposed through In the back of the Thrills on Twitter. It outlines 150,000 sq. toes of structure at an cope with that corresponds with Common’s South Campus on Epic Blvd.
To position this measurement into standpoint, the display constructions for Famous person Wars: Upward push of the Resistance and the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster at Walt Disney Global are (or shall be) round 100,000 sq. toes. Over at Epic Universe, current display constructions for Le Cirque Arcanus and Harry Potter and the Combat on the Ministry are about the similar measurement because the sq. photos encompassed through this allow. After all, it’s imaginable–even possible–that there’s house integrated within the allow that’s out of doors the display development.
The allow signifies that the paintings sort is “New Development” and Might 7, 2026 is indexed because the expiration date. This date is not only lower than 365 days from nowadays (clearly), but additionally ahead of Epic Universe’s first anniversary. After all, this doesn’t imply we’re going to look a display development upward thrust in lower than the time it’s taken Walt Disney Global to do web site prep for Tropical Americas.
However it does imply that Common Orlando goes to finish web site utilities and basis paintings (of an undisclosed stage) on a spread pad that used to be tailored for precisely this lower than a yr in the past. When Common master-planned Epic Universe, post-opening enlargement used to be baked in.
The similar can’t be mentioned for Walt Disney Global with plans to turn out to be its roadside dinosaur carnival into an enchantment in line with a film that didn’t but exist some thirty years into the long run. So now not precisely apples to apples…even supposing it is true that Common strikes quicker on initiatives.
Anyway, right here’s a have a look at the development allow for Epic Universe that used to be filed through Common Orlando:
Common Orlando has now not publicly commented in this structure allow, or specifics for enlargement at Epic Universe. As mentioned beneath, they have got vaguely mentioned that there are plans for the 3rd gate, however Disney as soon as mentioned one thing equivalent about the way forward for Famous person Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. And it’s now an administrative center.
Common is understood for taking a construction-first means, saying main points after paintings is already smartly underway. This contrasts Disney, which makes bulletins and generates hype lengthy ahead of earth is shifting (we first knew of a Dinoland alternative in 2022; DINOSAUR is remaining in 2026 and Tropical Americas opens in 2027).
My view is that it’s a grass is greener factor. Disney fanatics reward Common’s tight-lipped means, however I think that if Disney did likewise, the suspense would (figuratively) devour us. It’s roughly great to have one theme park energy participant do it a method, and the opposite do it the other manner. Helps to keep issues attention-grabbing and thrilling.
Following the outlet of Epic Universe previous this summer time, Common has been shifting complete steam forward to replace their two legacy theme parks in Orlando. Demolition has already kicked into excessive tools at the Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit curler coaster at Common Studios Florida, with plans for a nonetheless unknown new enchantment to take its position.
Common Locations & Stories CEO Mark Woodbury has time and again reiterated plans for competitive enlargement at Common Orlando Lodge, as we lined rather lately in Common Orlando Plans Enlargement at All 3 Parks. At the moment, one of the vital issues that Woodbury emphasised used to be the growth paids at Epic Universe. So it’s now not an enormous surprise to look this structure allow mere months after that tease.
Woodbury additionally discussed that there are initiatives in building for all 3 of the Common Orlando Lodge theme parks. He obviously needs households to view the Common Orlando Lodge as a weeklong vacation spot and now not only a 1-2 day add-on to a Disney holiday.
Common sees plentiful alternatives for additional progress of its theme park industry, and can proceed to transport aggressively to seize extra marketplace proportion from Disney. To ensure that that to occur, Epic Universe must increase and the prevailing two parks want to new or reimagined rides.
The latter is obvious from the newest annual theme parks attendance file, as mentioned in Walt Disney Global Attendance Rises Fairly as Common Orlando Deepens Drop. The quick model of that tale is that Common’s North American parks all misplaced attendance, with Common Studios Florida shedding greater than 2.5% and Islands of Journey down 5.5%.
With out query, Epic Universe would be the lowest-attended Common or Disney theme park in 2025. That’ll be true just by distinctive feature of it now not working a complete yr. It’ll most probably finally end up with between 4.5 and 5 million visitors in 2025, which isn’t unhealthy for its partial inaugural yr.
The issue is person who we’ve mentioned at duration in different posts (see Why You Must Skip Epic Universe amongst many others) is that Epic Universe doesn’t have the operational capability to conveniently welcome over 20,000 visitors according to day, and that is a low quantity.
Frankly, I don’t know the way Epic Universe can conceivably hit 10 million annual guests because the park recently exists until Comcast is fine with abysmal visitor pleasure rankings. The chance of opening the floodgates to atrocious opinions may just reason long-lasting injury that guarantees decrease attendance down the street.
Epic Universe has some nice days which are extremely delightful; I’ve skilled them! However it’s additionally had quite a few operational trainwrecks, and whole random weeks with moderate wait instances which are worse than Walt Disney Global right through the week between Christmas and New Yr’s Eve. And that’s in spite of modest attendance, plus a ton of friction appearing as a comfortable capability cap, and person who’ll in large part be long gone subsequent yr.
The excellent news is that Epic Universe will to find its operational footing and potency of the prevailing park will make stronger over the years. The unhealthy information is that it nonetheless has numerous headliners which are inexplicably outside and a couple of that experience low theoretical capability. The park in reality has an attractive bold trip roster, particularly on the best. It nonetheless wishes extra to do.
There’s no utterly solving the issue with out enlargement. The short repair is leisure, however there’s additionally the query of the place to position it that’ll organically draw a crowd. (Celestial Park leisure most probably would now not paintings, however a parade may. There isn’t truly house within the current footprints of Tremendous Nintendo Global or Harry Potter and the Combat on the Ministry, so the rest added there exacerbates congestion.)
All of that is exactly why Epic Universe already wishes enlargement and Common is greenlighting it lower than a yr after opening. This sort of fast enlargement isn’t even that unusual for brand spanking new Disney or Common parks, a lot of that have famously suffered from equivalent woes over the many years. It’s now not like what Epic Universe is recently experiencing is new or novel; it’s simply garnering extra protection because it’s the primary giant home park to open right through the social media generation.
As for the place this ~150,000 sq. foot enlargement may well be constructed, probabilities come with adjoining to Darkish Universe, Tremendous Nintendo Global, and Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic.
Even if there’s been numerous chatter about increasing Darkish Universe, that’s one thing that moves me as wishful pondering amongst fanatics. And don’t get me flawed, I’m this kind of fanatics. Monsters Unchained is fantastic, and the robust argument may well be made that the park wishes some other indoor people-eater. No longer most effective that, however Darkish Universe feels disjointed, and in all probability enlargement may just make it really feel extra encompassing.
It nonetheless moves me as not likely as a result of Darkish Universe is the least marketable of the lands at Epic Universe. Although it’s in line with highbrow belongings, it’s simply now not the similar as the opposite fashionable franchises and types headlining the opposite portals. A depressing trip that includes Creature from the Black Lagoon or no matter isn’t going to be as in style as even the least in style Nintendo providing. That’s proper–time to in any case construct Wario and Waluigi’s Wild Trip, Common!
My completely uninformed opinion is that Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic goes to get its 2nd trip. There have been rumored cuts to this land because of COVID, emerging structure prices, and so on., so it wouldn’t wonder me in the event that they have already got plans that may be dusted off and constructed reasonably temporarily.
Every other blockbuster enchantment (additionally indoor!) within the Ministry of Magic simply is sensible. Harry Potter is a license to print cash with immense drawing energy, the land isn’t somewhat as fleshed out or huge because the others, and there’s a spread pad proper there.
I don’t know the very first thing about Harry Potter or the Incredible Beasts, save for what my pals attempted to give an explanation for right through a long breakdown whilst in line for Combat on the Ministry, however I know that the legendary critters within the motion pictures/books/no matter are lovely cool. If it’s extra of what’s within the current trip and display, signal me up.
As for Nintendo, increasing that land additionally is sensible. Then again, my suspicion is that Common Orlando will construct new Nintendo lands in Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida, versus the Epic Universe enlargement pad adjoining to Donkey Kong Nation.
Nintendo is the marquee draw that will get households reserving journeys to Orlando, so it behooves Common to borrow a web page from its personal Harry Potter playbook and unfold Nintendo out amongst all 3 gates versus consolidating the logo. That is why it is sensible to concentrate on Nintendo at Islands of Journey and/or Common Studios Florida subsequent.
There were rumors previously by way of credible insider Alicia Stella of Orlando Theme Park Prevent that Common Orlando would exchange Springfield with a Pokémon-themed house and Misplaced Continent with the Legend of Zelda. There were studies that issues have modified since, however it nonetheless moves me as affordable for Pokemon and Zelda to be subsequent up for the prevailing gates.
From a fan standpoint, the Legend of Zelda is the most obvious candidate for changing the Misplaced Continent. The Kingdom of Hyrule has environments like Misplaced Continent, so components may well be salvaged if Common Inventive sought after an economical overhaul. That will be pragmatic to stretch budgets additional, however who is aware of if Nintendo would permit that.
From Common’s standpoint, Zelda in Islands of Journey and Pokémon in Common Studios Florida almost definitely makes probably the most sense. Like Disney, we’d be expecting to look Common construct extra in line with want, now not thematic integrity. Pokémon is the extra in style franchise and USF wishes a shot within the arm extra, in order that is going there.
However who is aware of–there may well be any other expediency I’m now not taking into consideration. Zelda has been high-growth and has a film popping out, so possibly it’s seen as a larger draw over the years.
In the long run, it’ll be attention-grabbing to look what Common has deliberate for Epic Universe. I’ve up to now mentioned it’s my suspicion that they’ll greenlight two Nintendo lands, one in Islands of Journey and one in Common Studios Florida, reasonably quickly. Now, it additionally turns out like they’re poised to approve some other main Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic enchantment.
All of this is sensible. Harry Potter and Nintendo each have longevity and drawing energy, and will flip Common Orlando right into a multi-day holiday vacation spot. With no need any within information by any means, I might be stunned if there isn’t a press release alongside those traces quickly, with a couple of sights and lands opening ahead of the 2030s.
Want shuttle making plans pointers and complete recommendation in your seek advice from to Central Florida? You’ll want to learn our Common Orlando Making plans Information for the entirety about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney Global Holiday Making plans Information for the entirety about the ones parks, lodges, eating places, and so a lot more.
Your Ideas
Which land do you assume would be the first to increase at Epic Universe? Assume the following enchantment must be family-friendly and indoors, or an excessive out of doors curler coaster with a 70″ top requirement and 650 THRC? Excited that Common appears to be complete steam forward on plans for Epic Universe, Islands of Journey, and Common Studios Florida? Do you settle or disagree with our checks? Any questions we will be able to allow you to resolution? Listening to your comments—even whilst you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas beneath within the feedback!
