Epic Universe is Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth park (including water park Volcano Bay), and its most ambitious yet. Located on a 750-acre plot near the Orange County Convention Center, this park is just a few miles south of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, creating a second major Universal hub on the I-Drive corridor.
Epic Universe features ultra-immersive lands based on popular franchises including Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, and a land themed to Universal’s classic monsters: Dark Universe.
The park features world-class attractions ranging from family-friendly fun to high-speed thrills, including:
Epic Universe is also home to a brand-new dueling launch coaster, Stardust Racers, reminiscent of Universal’s iconic dueling coaster of the past, Dueling Dragons.
Early previews and behind-the-scenes insights reveal how the park blends storytelling, cutting-edge technology, and themed environments in ways that raise the bar for destination theme parks, with many early visitors already calling it one of the best theme parks in the world.
All of the attractions at Epic Universe utilize the latest and greatest technology from Universal as they continue to push the boundaries on the modern theme park formula, resulting in incredible experiences that guests won’t find anywhere else.
This includes the groundbreaking implementation of augmented reality into Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, allowing players to see and interact with objects in front of them via AR goggles as they race through fan-favorite Mario Kart scenes, and my favorite – the ultra-realistic animatronics used to bring the classic Universal monsters to life in Dark Universe, pictured below.
Universal isn’t just building a park—they’re building the infrastructure to support a city-sized influx of travelers.
To support access to Epic Universe, Universal has partnered with Orange County to construct the Kirkman Road Extension, a nearly $300 million roadway project. This major road includes:
This road isn’t just for theme park traffic—it’s a signal of how Universal is reshaping the entire tourism corridor. With better flow and access, previously underutilized areas will become hot rental markets. We are already seeing major growth in this area with hot new restaurants and hotels hurrying to build new locations near Epic.
This is the first new major U.S. park in over 24 years—and it's expected to draw millions of additional visitors per year. Many of them will be new to Orlando, booking multi-day vacations and seeking space and comfort. Vacation rentals will be in very high demand.
Epic Universe is big enough to justify a 3–5 day visit on its own. Add in time for the other Universal parks, Disney World, and other attractions, and your guests will be looking to stay longer—and bring the whole family. That’s a win for large homes, villas, and properties with family-friendly amenities.
Theme park openings generate significant media buzz—and higher-than-average travel spend. Just as we saw during the opening of Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epic Universe will likely create pricing surges during opening months and school breaks. Property managers with dynamic pricing tools (like those available within CiiRUS) can maximize revenue in this high-demand window.
This is a big one: Guests visiting new parks expect modern, social media-worthy accommodations. Listings with quality photos, smart amenities, strong reviews, and professional presentation will win more bookings. If you’re not already using tools like the CiiRUS Website Builder or Unified Inbox to present and manage your listings—now’s the time to level up.
Travelers spending big on bucket-list trips want peace of mind. Offer built-in protection with CiiRUS Protect - with $1 million in damage and liability coverage, plus protection for contents and even bedbug treatment, CiiRUS Protect delivers peace of mind and sets your listings apart as professionally managed and secure.
Epic Universe isn’t just a theme park opening—it’s a seismic shift that will ripple through Central Florida’s travel patterns, guest expectations, and booking behaviors. Property managers who prepare now will be first in line to capture the wave of new demand.
Here’s how to make sure your business is positioned for success:
Guests searching for “vacation homes near Epic Universe” will begin months before the park opens. Start building SEO relevance now:
In an era of immersive theme parks, guests are seeking immersive stays.
With new visitors flooding the area, clear and confident communication is key.
Epic Universe may bring complexity—new traffic patterns, fluctuating demand, and evolving guest needs. With CiiRUS, you're ready.
Epic Universe is a catalyst for Central Florida vacation rentals, opening the door to long-term growth, higher nightly rates, and new guests discovering the magic of vacation homes for the first time. If you're ready to ride the wave, CiiRUS is ready to help.
Let’s get ahead of the curve—because when the gates open next month, you’ll want to be front and center.
Heads up – if you’re a theme park fan and a current Universal Orlando Annual Passholder, you can now buy tickets to a special early preview of Epic Universe, running between April 17th and May 8th ahead of their May 22nd grand opening!
📷 Photos courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort and Bioreconstruct.
