Universal Teases Possible Expansion in Years Ahead

Less than 4 months aft nan opening of Epic Universe, a Universal taxable parkland executive hinted astatine large things coming to their properties.

Last week, section outlet Orlando Sentinel reported connected an question and reply betwixt Universal Destinations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury and Bank of America Securities expert Jessica Reif Ehrlich. During nan conversation, nan Universal leader gave conscionable a tease astatine what’s to travel successful nan years ahead.

“If you alert complete Epic [Universe] aliases you look astatine Google Earth, you’ll spot really we planned nan park, and you’ll spot greenfield abstraction betwixt nan existing worlds,” Woodbury explained. “That is strategically positioned to springiness america elasticity to grow nan world aliases create a caller world, and truthful that’s really we look astatine it.”

Epic Universe, located successful Orlando, Fla., opened its gates to nan nationalist connected May 22. It was nan first caller U.S. taxable parkland to unfastened successful much than 2 decades. Universal Orlando Resort’s 4th parkland — aft Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay h2o parkland — presently features 5 themed lands: Wizarding World — Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe and Celestial Park.

Woodbury continued: “I don’t really person thing to denote specifically arsenic attractions, but I tin show you that location are aggregate attractions successful nan works, not conscionable astatine Epic… We person a beautiful blase and good thought-through long-range scheme that takes america retired different decade successful position of merchandise offerings, not conscionable successful Orlando, but astir nan world.” 

While thing circumstantial was announced, he addressed instrumentality speculation regarding a celebrated franchise getting a imperishable residency astatine Universal parks. 

“I deliberation I mightiness person stirred that cookware erstwhile I saw nan Wicked sets and said it was a ‘theme parkland waiting to happen,’ ” Woodbury said, referencing an question and reply he did pinch nan New York Times in February. 

Beyond nan company’s properties successful Florida and California, nan CEO besides said astir breathtaking projects coming to Frisco, Texas and the U.K. 

“We person a terrific pipeline of intelligence spot successful nan shape of DreamWorks and Trolls and Gabby’s Dollhouse to build around,” Woodbury said of Universal Kids Resort which has plans to unfastened successful 2026. “[Young families] get to that parkland from each complete Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and [a] 300-room edifice arsenic portion of it, awesome merchandise and a feeder arsenic they property up to go aligned pinch our marque and past turn into our bigger parks.” 

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For nan company’s task crossed nan pond, Woodbury said astir offering different attractions that won’t interrupt their “strong U.K. visitation to Orlando.”

“The champion measurement to look astatine it is to look astatine it for illustration 1 of our standalone parks. It’s a full-blown Universal taxable parkland pinch a 500-room edifice that is portion of it, very overmuch for illustration Epic successful position of a large parkland pinch a hotel,” he said. “So we’ve created a different operation of attractions that we deliberation will activity awesome successful nan U.K.”

Construction connected nan park, located successful Bedford, is group to statesman successful 2026, according to a institution press release.