ORLANDO, Fla. – Epic Universe is looking more like an operating Universal Orlando theme park, and on May 22, the portals will open.
Those mystical portals will transport guests into incredible worlds. Each one is designed to give guests a transportation sequence complete with LED, media, sound, and visual effects.
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While similar in design, each portal facade will have unique features: An inscription, an icon centerpiece, and an architectural ornament atop.
Super Nintendo World
Inscription: “Here we go!”
Portal hue: Green
Icon: (Rotating?) Mario coin
Perhaps no world within Epic Universe has a more fitting portal entry than Super Nintendo World with it being the most common mode of transportation in the Super Mario franchise — a green warp pipe.
The inscription alone will hype up any gamer as well as the character theming on the ring.
Atop the portal are more warp pipes complete with iconic power-ups and shooting rainbows.
Dark Universe
Inscription: “It’s alive! It’s alive!”
Icon: Purple orb
Portal hue: Purple
Within the Dark Universe portal is the village of Darkmoor, the Frankenstein-inspired setting, and guests will immediately be met with the Frankenstein legacy at the entrance.
The sparking spire atop is wired with electrodes as if it were bringing a monster to life. Twisted trees give off an eerie first impression and above the entrance reads “It’s alive! It’s alive!” One of the most famous lines in horror movie history.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Inscription: “For in dreams we enter a world that is entirely our own”
Portal hue: Blue
Icon: (Rotating?) Time-Turner
Professor Dumbedore’s famous quote is front and center on this portal to wizarding Paris with wands encircling the entrance.
Atop the archway, there’s a Time-Turner pendant complete with the key hourglass component. The magical device allows a witch or wizard to travel back in time, something ruthless Dolores Umbridge hopes to accomplish during Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
The portal also features a golden hand atop a tower, brandishing the Elder wand. The most powerful wand ever created stood the test of time in the wizarding world.
Guests will go from 1920s Paris to 1990s London via the Métro-Floo. Overall, time appears to be very fluid in this world.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Inscription: “We, my friends, have dragons”
Portal hue: Orange
Icon: Flying dragon silhouette on an orange globe
The essence of a fire-breathing dragon will be first felt walking through the portal with the fiery-orange glow.
Berk is full of Vikings and dragons. Donning the portal appears to be a dragon watchtower with the crest of Toothless on a spire. Night Furies and other species of dragons encompass the portal ring.
Chronos tower
Inscription: “Beyond this gate find gardens green, And epic worlds to fill your dreams”
For any guest entering Epic Universe, the journey begins at the Chronos tower, the device that supplies the energy to the four portals allowing them to open.
Within the tower structure are the stacked icons representing each world.
The tower is also equipped with lights and the elements within will have spinning capability, specifically the golden celestial orb at the top.
Opening on May 22, Universal’s fourth theme park sits on 750 acres of land with over 50 attrations. Multi-day ticket packages are now on sale.
Epic Universe features five vivid worlds:
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Transporting visitors to a different era of the wizarding world, blending 1920s wizarding Paris from the “Fantastic Beasts” films with the iconic British Ministry of Magic.
- Super Nintendo World: Featuring beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong in an interactive gaming experience.
- Dark Universe: A realm of myth and mystery, where guests encounter the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein and traverse a shadowy landscape inhabited by monsters like Dracula and the Wolfman.
- How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Discover an island where Vikings and fire-breathing dragons exist together in harmony.
- Celestial Park: Thrilling rides, entertainment, dining, shopping, plus the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, all come together to create an amazing world of discovery and excitement.
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