Construction is moving quickly around the site of Epic Universe. Aerial photographer @bioreconstruct continues to share photos from the sky of Epic Universe, giving us an amazing look at the progress of the third Universal Orlando Resort theme park.

Above is the only piece of concept art released for the park. A Super Nintendo World is confirmed for the park, and the other three lands are likely inspired by Universal Classic Monsters, “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “Harry Potter.” The central corridor is a non-IP-based land, rumored to be named Celestial Park.

Overall

Here’s a wide photo of much of Epic Universe. In this photo:

1. The roller-coaster in the Classic Monsters land
2. The entrance portal to that land
3. Concrete walls near a fountain
4. The entrance to a dual-racing coaster
5. Celestial Carousel
6. Spinning rides and a coaster in the “How to Train Your Dragon” land
7. Rockwork at the Great Hall in the “How to Train Your Dragon” land
8. Super Nintendo World

The third Wizarding World of Harry Potter is past the dual-racing coaster, next to the in-park hotel.

At 1 in this photo is the pair of new Universal Orlando Resort hotels south of Epic Universe. Crews are covering them in colorful tiles. At 2 is a raised traffic circle at Kirkman Rd. 3 is a new road for the staging area. 4 is the entrance to Epic Universe.

This photo shows nearby roads, parking lots, and the staging area.

1. Recently added road
2. Parking access from Destination Parkway
3. Day guest parking
4. Epic Universe entrance
5. Theming models location

The themed models give crew members an idea of what various architectural elements should look like. They’re a step between concept art and the finished product.

These models are for Super Nintendo World.

There are several different kinds of walls represented, from stone to brick to clay.

There are also models for a cactus stem and themed fencing.

Nearby are tests for different types of flooring, including a half-circle featuring a sun, likely for Celestial Park.

The Universal Classic Monsters land is rumored to be named Dark Universe, a name that was going to be used for a canceled series of movies and that Universal Destinations & Experiences later trademarked. In this photo:

1. Dark Universe courtyard
2. Dark Universe roller-coaster
3. “How to Train Your Dragon” theater
4. Park entrance building
5. Waterside restaurant
6. Super Nintendo World entrance portal
7. Outdoor seating for a tavern restaurant

Entrance

The park will have an attached hotel, as seen at the back of the concept art and near the top center of this photo. It is on the other side of the park from the main entrance, but hotel guests will have their own entrance.

The entrance will have its own gateway arch like the one at Universal Studios Florida.

Aerial photo of work so far on the gateway arch of Epic Universe. pic.twitter.com/KzOxxiGlVb

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) October 13, 2023

Concrete has been poured for the base of the archway, between two buildings.

Steel supports in the base are the beginnings of the actual archway.

Just past the entrance is a large excavated basin for a future water feature. There will be several water features in Celestial Park.

The arrow in this photo shows a pole that has been on the construction site for years, marking to approximate entrance area.

The park also uses a lot of round architecture.

The arrow in this photo points to a possible backstage gate.

The arrow here points at concrete forms for the adjacent restaurant, next to the water feature that is just past the entrance.

Celestial Park

Celestial Park is set to include a carousel and dual-racing coaster, as well as restaurants and shops. The large circle on the right side of this photo is the park’s main fountain, in front of the hotel.

The stone base of the fountain is completed, and crews have been installing tiered seating around it. There will likely be a water show. The arrow in this photo points at what appears to be fountain jets, which are parallel to the hotel (not visible).

Near the fountain is a long concrete wall, with two pillars at either end and two more pillars across from those.

It looks like the beginnings of a building.

This small structure with a conical roof is some kind of kiosk. Service windows are visible beneath the roof overhang.

This restaurant building is mostly completed when it comes to actual construction. There is a rounded window above the entrance, with purple paneling behind it (likely just a layer of sheathing). Two round overhangs are to either side of the entrance.

The restaurant will be part of Celestial Park, but is right next to Dark Universe.

The two domed frameworks are for a carousel, possibly named Constellation Carousel.

The arrow in this photo points to a chain of fountains in the basin around the carousel domes.

In this photo of the carousel and surrounding area:

1. Chain of fountains
2. Point where the chain branches off in a semi-circle
3. One semi-circle in another, possibly for a splash pad
4. Pump room for all the water features in Celestial Park

Puddles of rainwater have collected in the basin near the waterside restaurant. The restaurant is a hexagonal building, which guests will enter on the second floor. They will dine on the ground floor, overlooking the water.

White tarps hang around the restaurant where there will be windows or open walls for the water view.

Of course, the main feature of Celestial Park will be the dual-racing coaster, which is situated between The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the “How to Train Your Dragon” land.

There is a yellow track and an orange track, unfurling from the entrance building, which has a shiny silver roof. Landscaping is underway beneath the tracks and at the edge of the park nearby.

In this photo:

1. Transplanted shrubs
2. Shrubs ready for planting
3. Short landscaping directly under track
4. Shrug staging area

This photo shows the entrance area of the coaster. Scaffolding is up around the front, where a decorative feature is being constructed. The arrows point at reach test devices, which ensure guests won’t run into anything while on the coaster.

This overhead look shows black tarps, protecting sloped areas from rain.

A week or two later, the top of the circular decoration at the front of the building was brown. New metal frames were also in front of one of the slopes.

In this photo:

1. Tunnel frame for guest entrance
2. Scaffolding around decorative piece
3. New curved frames

The dual-racing coaster is close to the “How to Train Your Dragon” coaster, seen at the bottom of this photo. At 1 are sidewalks next to the dragon coaster. At 2 are crew members in front of the dual-racing coaster.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is on the left in this photo, while the “How to Train Your Dragon” land is on the right.

In this photo, a crane is raised high up for work on a section of brake run. Electrical wiring is also visible under the track.

This lower side view shows the curves of the dual-racing coaster (1) in the background. In the foreground is the frame for rockwork atop the Great Hall in the “How to Train Your Dragon” land (2) and a building at the park entrance (3).

The arrow in this photo points at the coaster’s station and first launch.

The sidewalks below the coaster are for maintenance and inspections.

This photo shows some of the park’s coasters:

1. Donkey Kong in Super Nintendo World
2. “How to Train Your Dragon” coaster
3. Dual-racing coaster
4. Dual-racing coaster

In this photo:

1. Curved frames
2. Coaster entrance
3. Insulating panels being placed on the roof
4. Second launch of nearby “How to Train Your Dragon” coaster

Birds are already making themselves at home on the coaster.

Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World will include the Mushroom Kingdom, already open at Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as the Donkey Kong area planned for Japan.

The tallest structure in Mushroom Kingdom is Mount Beanpole.

The Donkey Kong roller-coaster is beyond that.

This close-up of Mount Beanpole from beyond the Donkey Kong coaster shows some of the land’s themed paneling. There are fake layers of dirt and rock on the tower and below. There’s a layer of fake grass. At number 3 is an unfinished wall. At 4 is some of the Donkey Kong coaster track.

The above and below photos show recent progress on the Super Nintendo World portal entrance. In this photo:

1. Tunnel to underground kitchen of waterside restaurant
2. Utility excavation
3. Super Nintendo World entrance
4. Concrete wall, likely for the land’s exit

The outside of the portal has been painted with primer. Unlike the Hollywood and Japanese versions of Super Nintendo World, guests will take an escalator up into the land.

The arrow represents the exit flow.

The arrow in this photo points at fresh concrete poured into a raised area next to Mount Beanpole. The bridge on the right is part of the Yoshi’s Adventure track. The omnimover attraction exists at Universal Studios Japan, but not at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Guests will arrive in the Mushroom Kingdom through Peach’s castle, which is currently covered in exposed yellow weather-proof sheathing. At the arrow are crew members placing foam outside the entrance.

In this photo:

1. Foam blocks
2. Foam blocks
3. Recently added vertical frames

On the front of Mount Beanpole, some themed sculpting hasn’t been painted yet. The white puffy rows will be painted grass green.

In this photo:

1. Peach’s castle
2. Toadstool Cafe
3. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride
4. Mount Beanpole
5. Yoshi’s Adventure bridge

The Donkey Kong roller-coaster utilizes a sideways track, with fake tracks that will make it seem like the ride vehicle is jumping over gaps.

The arrow in this photo of the coaster points to a reach test car.

In this photo:

1. Staging of frame for theming and stairs
2. A future waterfall
3. “Broken” track with actual sideways track underneath

In this photo:

1. The reach test car on the transfer track to the service bay
2. The closed service bay door
3. Gaps in the fake track
4. Gaps in the fake track
5. Gaps in the fake track

In this photo:

1. Kiosk taller than the track
2. Reach test car
3. Crew member parking

The arrow at 1 indicates the direction of the coaster. At 2 is a rectangular basin for the ride to splash through water. At 3 is a temporary construction platform and 4 is the top of the waterfall structure.

At number 4 in this photo is the kiosk next to the track. Concrete floor has recently been cast in the kiosk.

The metal frame in the center of these photos is for future theming.

The arrows in this overhead photo point at the slim sideways track, which will be hidden from rider view thanks to theming and the design of the ride vehicle.

This building is right outside Super Nintendo World and will possibly have a Nintendo shop and restaurant. Details are being added, like themed paneling around columns at the building entrance.

This pile of dirt is between Super Nintendo World and Dark Universe.

Dark Universe

Dark Universe is across from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, on the other side of the in-park hotel.

The entrance portal will be at the base of a giant tree. In these photos, some of the sculpted and painted roots are visible through scaffolding.

There’s a crooked triangular roof on the back of the portal. This is reflective of the architecture in the rest of the land, which is made to look like an old village.

The land’s roller-coaster is rumored to be called The Curse of the Werewolf. There will also be a ride that guests enter through a mansion façade. The show building for that ride is the large building on the left in the above photo.

After entering the land, guests find themselves on a thin village street. In this photo:

1. Themed paneling is only on the top half of these walls, where it will be seen by guests
2. The beginnings of a backstage gate
3. Scaffolding for a themed broken masonry wall

The arrow in this photo points at the same scaffolding. Across from the scaffolding is the framework for another wall.

There are several pyramid rooves, mostly without sheathing or paneling yet.

Trees have been transplanted around the Curse of the Werewolf coaster, turning the area into a forest. The arrow points at themed models for the coaster’s buildings.

This building, with a blue roof, is over a shuttled launch that will send the coaster cars backwards before propelling them forwards again.

The larger building at top right is the main entrance and launch building. The arrow in this photo points at plastic protecting recently cast concrete from the rain.

This arrow points at a wall resembling a wooden fence, which will have a roll door to hide the spur of track leading to the service bay.

At another time, a coaster train was on the spur of track, covered in black tarps.

In this photo, The Curse of the Werewolf is at the bottom. A restaurant, rumored to be called Burning Blade Tavern, is to the left. At the center, behind a curve of coaster track, is a small building believed to be a quick-service location. On the right is the manor house.

In this photo of Burning Blade Tavern:

1. Concrete forms for backstage pavement
2. Plastic covering walls
3. Plastic covering walls

From another angle, we can see an overhang for outdoor seating (1), themed models (2), and a pickup truck for scale (3).

The tower of Burning Blade Tavern will reportedly be a windmill.

An area at the back of Dark Universe has been cleared, possibly for future staging.

Scaffolding has begun to be removed from the manor, which looks like it is made of gray stone. White tarps cover the bay windows. There are brown accents around some window openings.

In this view of Dark Universe:

1. The rumored BBQ restaurant outside the land
2. Curse of the Werewolf coaster
3. Manor façade
4. Portal and village

Crews are still working on the tall tower on the front of the manor.

A courtyard is under construction to the side. In front of the manor are concrete walls around a future pathway, potentially a drawbridge over a moat.

Bioreconstruct shared more photos taken from Universal Blvd, including this photo of The Curse of the Werewolf. In the foreground is scaffolding at the coaster’s first launch. The poles around the scaffolding are thought to be for themed tents.

Here are more views of the manor tower with masonry work. The arrow points at the windmill tower for Burning Blade Tavern.

And this last look at the Dark Universe entrance portal clearly shows the gnarled tree.

Isle of Berk

The “How to Train Your Dragon” land is rumored to be named the Isle of Berk, Hiccup’s home in the films.

In our last construction update, we shared views of this double spinning ride.

Guests will be in these dragon-themed seats at one end of the seesaw-like beam. A dragon at the other end of the beam will appear to move the attraction.

One dragon is blue, while the other is red.

A roller-coaster will encircle much of Berk and appear to dive in and out of bodies of water. Next to the track in the above photo are themed walls of rock.

The arrows in this photo point at fences separating the coaster and the spinning rides, suggesting there has been or will soon be testing.

In this photo of the land:

1. Base coat of paint on the roller-coaster tunnel
2. Rockwork to be painted
3. Sculpting in progress for theming on an electrical building
4. Roof activity

This rockwork lines the right side of the coaster’s second launch. The rockwork on the left side is still being sculpted.

This building is thought to be a gift shop. It has a domed roof to the side and a triangular entryway. The concrete blocks across the roof are for future rockwork that will extend down towards the water on the right.

1. Studs for doorway exterior
2. Mast being painted on a viking ship

The land’s restaurant will be the Great Hall. A new framework on the circular section is for rockwork.

The framework extends across the front of the Great Hall façade. At the top of this photo is the loading area for a boat ride.

The Great Hall is inspired by the great hall in Berk as seen in the movies.

The larger structure in this photo is the station of the coaster. A hairpin turn leads guests to the first launch.

The first launch is in this structure that has steel beams painted to look like wood.

At the edge of the land:

1. Sand for base of concrete sidewalks
2. Coaster maintenance building
3. Backstage building

The arrow in this photo indicates the direction the coaster will travel in. 1 and 2 are where fencing is visible.

This is the entrance to a theater that will house a show similar to one at Universal Studios Beijing named “Untrainable.” Earlier this year, Universal trademarked “The Untrainable Dragon.”

This arrow points at the loading and unloading station for the boat ride. The ride will take guests through the lagoon around the land, while the coaster will sometimes take guests over it.

At 1 in this photo is a wall themed with green texture making a fake waterline. Any water in the lagoon right now is just rainwater.

Here’s another look at the boat ride and the Great Hall.

In this photo:

1. Theater entrance
2. Theater exit
3. Boat ride
4. Trench for unknown purpose

The tower on this building near the land’s entrance will likely have a dragon perched on top of it.

This arrow points at a backstage area between Berk and the park entrance area.

The theater is the large building to the left in this photo. Guests will need to cross a bridge from the rest of the land to reach the theater.

The dragon and viking statues at the entrance to the land are completed. They have been painted mostly blue with gold accents and sit on moss-covered rocks in the future lagoon. A boardwalk encircles the bay.

To the right is where the roller-coaster dives under a bridge. The walls around that coaster tunnel have been painted with a light base coat (1). At 2 is where the boardwalk is starting to be filled in and at 3 is a viking ship being painted.

Here’s a close-up view of the coaster tunnel under the bridge, with a couple reach test cars visible.

In the staging area we referenced earlier, moss-covered rocks served as models for some of the Berk theming.

This photo shows some of the completed and installed rocks, within a curve of the coaster.

In this photo:

1. Frame above a service building behind the boat ride
2. Building next to the Great Hall
3. Rockwork on the Great Hall
4. Rockwork on the Great Hall
5. Celestial dual-racing coaster station

This photo shows the more complted first launch structure for the coaster.

At number 2 in this photo is more significant rockwork development atop the Great Hall. At 1 is more of the Great Hall framework and at 2 are windows on the in-park hotel.

In this photo:

1. Viking statue
2. Dark roof near the boat ride
3. Scaffolding at the dual-racing coaster
4. Boxes inside the hotel

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Last but not least is the third Wizarding World of Harry Potter, inspired by Place Cachée, the French equivalent of Diagon Alley seen in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” In this photo:

1. In-park hotel
2. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter entrance
3. Building construction
4. Dual-racing coaster entrance

A tall pole is atop the portal to the “Harry Potter” land. Past that is a courtyard, in front of a replica of Porte Saint-Denis.

Here is a smaller courtyard inside the land. The unfinished façades of buildings include windows and arched doorways.

The doorway at the bottom of this façade leads to the courtyard.

The land has relatively thin Parisian-style streets. Tall façades are covered in scaffolding.

More window and roof details can be seen through the scaffolding.

Five streets of varying sizes branch off from each other. The thinnest, at the bottom left, may be based on Montmartre.

One section of roof stands out as its mostly covered in orange-ish paneling.

On the corner next to that orange roof is a domed tower, right at the intersection of the five streets.

Here’s another view of those rooves from through the dual-racing coaster.

The main ride in this land will be inspired by the British Ministry of Magic, which guests will seem to travel to from Paris. This archway is in the side of the show building, maybe for an extended queue.

The above and below photo point to the archway’s location relative to the rest of the land.

Hotel

Two cranes tower of the in-park hotel, which is curved slightly to match the fountain in front of it.

In this photo:

1. Tiers of the hotel tower
2. Concrete forms to extend the lobby area
3. A future cascading water feature outside a restaurant
4. Service access to the hotel basement

Crews have begun to install some themed paneling over the hotel walls.

In this overhead photo:

1. Tiers of the tower
2. Outdoor recreation area
3. Parking garage for hotel guests

This arrow points at recently poured concrete for a service road between the hotel and Dark Universe.

In this photo:

1. Pool and outdoor recreation area
2. Day guest parking
3. Main entrance

This side view of the hotel also shows off some recently installed paneling. The arrow points at a roof in the Dark Universe village.

Some sliding glass door windows have been installed on the hotel.The concrete columns in the foreground are pilings for a raised ramp above the Kirkman Rd extension.

Large boxes covered in plastic now sit in several room blocks.

Epic Universe is scheduled to open in 2025.

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