Everything Epic Universe: The Central Hub

Become a Patron: / themeparkstop Here is every single detail we know so far about the central hub at Universal's Epic Universe, including the dueling roller coaster, for this new theme park opening in Orlando in 2025.
Intro / About Epic Universe: 0:00
Park Entry & Portals: 1:16
Celestial Gardens: 2:28
Dueling Coaster: 3:43
Flat Ride: 6:12
Fountain, Fireworks & Hotel: 7:05
Special Retail: 8:30
Restaurants: 9:21
Theming & Design: 11:40
Open Hub Rumor: 12:20
Closing: 12:54
Article Version of this Video:
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Dueling Coaster POV: • Universal 2025 New Rol...
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Sources
Dueling Coaster POV: • Universal 2025 New Rol...
Aerial Photographs: / bioreconstruct
Armillary Image: www.rmg.co.uk/collections/obj...
Astrolabe Image: www.rmg.co.uk/collections/obj...
SeaGlass Carousel: • SeaGlass Carousel at B...
Twist n' Splash: • Twist 'n' Splash - Bla...
Hotel Overlay Graphic: / 1574495343764709376
#EpicUniverse #UniversalOrlando #UniversalStudios #EverythingEpic

[@ThemeParkStop]

Two Park Stop videos in one day and a new logo! What is this, Christmas?

[@NinthShinigami]

The Grinch’s heart started beating this year lol

[@ParadoxPortals]

I've been waiting a bit for another juicy video on all Epic Universe's latest, and it seems this one will certainly deliver!

[@ralelunar]

We are not worthy 🙌

[@marcellobasso5554]

I was literally wondering where ya been! The two week wait was torturous but totally worth the wait with two new vids! Thank you sooo much TPS :)

[@imaginationstationyt6948]

This is a great (early) Birthday present for me! Thank you, You really did an amazing job with these two videos today! Can't wait for this park! :D

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I think that the IP selections for the different lands are pretty solid, but it is also refreshing to see them do something original with the hub. I remember Lost Continent at its peak and I wished that Universal would have continued with more original themed lands. However, the hub here seems to really seem to satisfy that desire. I'm hoping that as with Port of Entry, that there's an overarching story or narrative that ties all of these lands together through the hub itself.

[@tylerhfroemming]

Video idea for you: Design your own Disney Park and Universal Park the way you think it should be- you can use this video to express the importance of uniqueness and non-IP originally in the parks!

[@TreySarver]

I’m just not sure about How to Train Your Dragon having a whole land, is it really that big of an IP? I don’t even know if Shrek is big enough for that, and Shrek is huge. A DreamWorks land sure.

[@tylerhfroemming]

@@TreySarver I agree-- I feel like its not big enough in the long run.

[@FloridaFreak]

@@TreySarver I think I agreed with you, then I started thinking about the land more as a “dragon” land that happened to use the HTTYD IP. I think the pull of dragons in general will be sufficient.

[@TheRealPSKilla502]

@@TreySarver I think if you're talking about a theme park land, many people will be more concerned with the experience of being there than with the series itself. While HTTYD is a relatively popular series, it also has a decent amount of world building, which makes it suitable for a theme park "land", as opposed to a single attraction. Granted, it's not as popular as Harry Potter, but it's only one land, as opposed to three spread out across all the parks. And a good chunk of land will be taken up by water, too, so it's more spaced out.

[@NeonGhostin]

4 minutes into this video and I've already come to 2 conclusions: 1. This confirms where the best Disney Imagineers disappeared off to. 2. This park is going to make life extremely difficult for Disney starting in 2025.

[@jessbess394]

Totally agree! Disney is shakin’ in their boots lol

[@gokaury]

It would seem you are spot on right.

[@jdbanks74]

I don’t agree. The park is too big and will be a nightmare to navigate. Also, with the exception of Nintendo world, it doesn’t have enough family attractions ( e.g, rides, shows, parades) to pull away a lot of the die hard Disney park fans. I also think the other Universal parks, especially universal studios, are going to suffer more after Epic opens. Disney is much farther away and will not be impacted as much.

[@cesarachurra2321]

@@jdbanks74 but it will be impacted by some porcentage and it’s slowly dragging people to universal bit by bit, also it will have a future parade hangar asides of the Helios Hotel, Alicia has been talking about it in some of here videos lately. It does have a lot of potential to drag a shuck of turist into the park, in terms of the other universal parks I think they will have the other 2 updated with new rides and lands in 2025 so that there can be a balance with all 4 parks, maybe sell a package. But I do understand your point about the walking distance.

[@oscararagon6648]

@@jdbanks74 hard disagree. This things gonna blow, I can already tell amongst all theme park age groups besides kids, it’s going to be super popular. Especially with the quality that universal does with their lands? Come on

[@NinthShinigami]

Constantly with every new update, my excitement for this park go higher and higher. At this point, my excitement and hype are infinite! I cannot wait for 2025 and to experience this!

[@thomasnelson5758]

Is it bad that I'm most excited for this central hub area? A park can often make it's best impression on it's entrance, and something grand like as being proposed here would leave a BIG impression. I LOVE that there are distinct iconic portals to enter the themed sections of the park. Very excited for what they do here. Often parks throw all their money and weight behind the themed sections but ignore having a grand, cohesive hub to tie it all together. I hope Universal is bucking that trend here.

[@Shockzone1495]

The hype is real right now. The fact that this place is theorized to be in comparison to Tokyo Disney sea just boggles my mind. Universal is really going all out with this place. I'm also a big Jules Verne geek

[@superpandasama]

Universal is about to take over Orlando. Love all your updates, making me very excited for this park!

[@austiniscoolduh]

I like how theyre doing what we've wanted Disney to do for a long time - creating rides that arent based off of a popular IP.

[@FloridaFreak]

And one of the “IP’s” is not really “popular”. Classic monsters is something I’m incredibly excited for because of that. I think it’s an opportunity for Universal Creative to to go all out on some original concepts

[@marcussheen]

Wow, Alicia, this is the deep dive to end all deep dives. I think this seems to be such a beautifully thought-out park. Love the celestial theme, the portals and how the full service restaurants are arranged around the hub. I'm really excited for this.

[@cannotthinkofausername6379]

Alicia has just made the hub the part of the park I'm most excited for in just 13 minutes!

[@jj2572]

Best video yet! So lucky to have someone deep dive into patents and site plans and present it in a clear way. The comparison to Tokyo Disney Sea's theming has me most excited, if it comes even close to that, its going to be so rich with detail and style that just walking through and around the hub will be its own attraction. We've been going off years old concept art this whole time too, we've yet to see what the final versions of all these restaurants and attractions will be!

[@hunterthixton7577]

I just got to say the Hub area at Epic universe it's probably going to be the most amazing and beautiful land at any of us will ever truly see!😊

[@ottot3221]

The racing coast is going to be even more impressive than I expected. Due to sight lines they can't go too high but it looks that doesn't bother the two coasters and how exciting it all look. Awesome video, thank you.

[@Jordan_Villella]

The background music in this video is honestly what I want the music to be like in the actual hub, less adventurous and more mysterious and lighter tone. Sets the tone before embarking on the epic adventures that await in the 4 themed lands

[@alondramceldowney8640]

You are THE standout epic universe coverage 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Thanks for awesome, exciting, and passionate work regarding this awesome, exciting project we ALL feel passionate about !!!

[@philipchenmba]

I feel that since they replaced much of the Lost Continent with Harry Potter, they are trying to recreate the mythical god theme here at the hub along with the dueling coasters that were removed. This is a welcoming idea to me because the Lost Continent was my favorite area in the early years of the park.

[@TheRealPSKilla502]

Ikr I really miss Dueling Dragons

[@universalgames2901]

If the dueling coaster has music or audio going along with the ride usually like all there other coasters in every universal park, then I can tell its going to be better than velocicoaster because of the signature element. Hands down so exiting

[@SwetyBoi]

Wow that was a great simulation from Amusement Insider! My stomach actually dropped a few times lol

[@bobbyswanson3498]

i think the hub might be the part i’m most excited for, followed by universal monsters. it just looks so beautiful

[@ratbones620]

I’m so excited for this park. I hope it brings back the wonder and magic that I feel has sort of been slipping away from the general theme park experience.

[@MagicalBread]

Mack rides has really been on a roll lately! What an incredible looking coaster!

[@luism5514]

They could open the hub for all after park close. Dining and retail exist there so it could be a money maker. Hub could stay open until like 2am or something.

[@wavelength3856]

LOVE these EU deep dive videos! Looking forward to the individual lands' updated deep dives, of course, but I think I might be more excited about the Hub than any other land. It sounds like it's going to be breathtaking when we explore it for the first time. 🤩

[@brianmeadows3806]

This is the kind of video that I've wanted for Epic Universe. Now I'm feeling extra impatient for each following video😁

[@ZakAstro]

Seriously, amazing video! I have so much to say, and so many questions. First, to your point about the hub being open to all, but the lands being closed: how would this affect getting on the hub’s two attractions? Surely, they won’t be free. Will we be paying per ride, or granted in the queue based on park/land admission? Second, I love how universal is going without IPs in the hub. Some of the best theme park lands and attractions are IP-free. I know the video compares it to DisneySea, but I would more think of the port of entry at IOA, which I adore. Third, I seriously think this might be the park that puts them on Disney’s “level.” Not just with us theme park nerds, but in terms of revenue. You don’t have to be a genius to realize Disney has made some questionable choices in the past 10 years, and they haven’t made many appreciable expansions. This park could level the playing field, especially for regular vacationers. I think a lot of targeted marketing from 2024-2026 could accomplish this. Overall, I am so excited for this park to open. I’m 25, so I’m just old enough to have enjoyed MGM Studios, but just young enough to have never truly experienced a new theme park opening. I am particularly excited for the monsters land. Alicia, great video and content, as always. I look forward to viewing the videos in this series that follow!

[@gamelifeusa]

So far it looks like this is going to be Universal's Magic Kingdom but with a celestial theme instead of fairytale. I cant wait to go, were def getting a room at the Helios. :)

[@FloridaFreak]

I would love to do a WEEK. I think I would probably book at one of the cheaper hotels though. Tempting to get 1 night at the Helios grand though!

[@flarestriker2005]

Man, I'm hyped for Nintendo World and Classic Monsters! Gonna be atleast 19/20 by the time it's out, will definetly spend a day there(Might stay in a cheap hotel or at a Universal hotel to get the EU by bus early). These concepts and stuff sound amazing, Disney is quaking right now.

[@AttractionSource]

Another incredible update, including a great contribution from Austin with the coaster footage. Killing it!

[@sidspit9983]

i'm so excited for this park!! space is my special interest and i can't wait to geek out. also cassini was an italian astronomer so i love that they made an italian restaurant named after him

[@Ihartwalrusguy]

If it weren’t for the pandemic, we could have had Epic Universe literally next year, at this time of writing.

[@zarajenkins6948]

Fantastic in-depth analysis! Thank you, cannot wait for the lands!

[@4CAST4Life]

👏🏽 1st video I seen from this channel, but definitely gonna subscribe cause of well detailed this video was.

[@bradkoerner1]

Another fantastic video...thanks for the incredible research and quality you put into these!

[@felixrivera3698]

Really enjoy watching your videos! This park is going to be AMAZING!

[@Kumba9]

Outstanding job as always TPS team!!!

[@ThemeParkStop]

Thank you!

[@moneygrabbercodswollop8133]

Agreed entirely!!!

[@paulhord8081]

Wooooh! I am pumped! Edit to add: thank you so much for the video!

[@josiericaro3347]

It’s amazing how much you know about this already!! Great vid

[@marcellobasso5554]

9:24 “Half a Dozen Different Dining locations” Thought that was a funny tongue twister you added 😂

[@ThemeParkStop]

Got it on the second try!

[@cagunder]

INCREDIBLE work, Alicia.

[@ThemeParkStop]

Thank you!

[@UniversallySpeaking]

Great video, thank you for all the updates, unrivalled 👏

[@AnimatronicWorld]

Outstanding video! Can't wait for the other hub videos. It's just amazing to see, that original land(s) are more than just wishful thinking. 🤩

[@kikihorton2371]

Happy New Year Alicia!! Can't believe all this amazing EPIC stuff. 🙂

[@ThemeParkStop]

Happy new year!!

[@Ljkrummen987]

@@ThemeParkStopI’m extremely excited for the monsters I think it would be fun 😊

[@PaulAdler11]

Alicia Stella is the goddess of theme parks

[@ThemeParkStop]

Awww shucks

[@jocelynsantiago7154]

U are spoiling us with 2 videos in 1day! I love it

[@Mike_Vlogs_YT]

great update as usual 👍

[@ThemeParkStop]

Thanks!

[@calistogasteve3128]

awesome update. thank you

[@coolboss999]

Why can't 2025 get here any faster?!? 2 videos in one day is insane and I am always looking forward to these update videos.

[@benneybob5525]

You are going crazy with putting out videos today lol

[@birdflox1337]

I don't like traveling much, I usually just stick to my own country, but this might just convince me to travel from Europe to America. It's that impressive.

[@JoeyNuggies]

Great video like always

[@sarah.weaver]

Yay a new video!!!!!! Wow! This video has so much! I'm so excited! I might have a damn panic attack before 2025 😅

[@tylerhfroemming]

I hope they expand the hub in the future to include more original attractions! Imagine a Universal Creative designed non-IP based dark ride!!!!

[@cammysan]

I'm sad the burger quick service was cut, I was hoping for a food option that was a little meatier.

[@Angie2343]

Wow! I can't wait to see the gardens!

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

I can't wait for this place to open! One side note: I dig the idea of most of the dining establishments being right there in the center.

[@ilalez]

Just can't wait!!!

[@ericpatterson5050]

This is So Exciting!! 😃🕺🏽👏🏾👌🏾💜

[@mikegruber172]

GREAT Work !

[@ThemeParkStop]

Thanks!

[@syaidinaofficial]

Very beautiful

[@micotheentrepreneur]

I wish someone could tell them to build a food truck park on the outside of the park like the one in Kissimmee. Most people go to the one there just think if we had one at Epic it would help support local food trucks and keep people over near Sand Lake. 😊

[@zarlus8]

I'd put stock in the central hub being open to all. Jeff Shell is reported saying "… the park is built so that you can come into one land and not the whole park." Which lines up well with stores being outside of lands and the hub being a "city walk" analog.

[@JH-lu5yg]

I'm excited about the whole park. The Hub and lands all seem great. An open hub seems weird though. The lines for the lands would back up into it. Not only that, but there are rides inside the hub so I'd imagine you'd need to pay for those.

[@RankingTheMouse]

Re watching this video a month later just because it makes me so damn happy & excited

[@mylesminter6174]

I can’t wait until epic universe Open .🎉 🎄🎄

[@Dontmakemerun]

I'm getting so fracking excited!!! Ugh, I gotta go live my disappointing life until 2025 happens. Definitely feel the portals will be used to try to control overcrowding in areas, I feel like Universal Japan's Nintendo World was the trial run of how to manage the herds of people who inevitably crowd into parks creating a surge of want to visit for just "the new thing". I wanna ride that Mack Racer all day, I still miss Dueling Dragons ( I understand why but man it was cool). That roll element looks sweet

[@Leandro-xk3co]

Yeah I guess we have to live now.

[@FTChomp9980]

The Hub is the most important part of the Park!

[@AdventuresWithParker]

So excited to explore this amazing park in 2025! The hub seems beautiful and I can’t wait to just get lost in it 😌

[@DarthDaddy-cg6ro]

Thanks.

[@liamcollinson5695]

I'm really impressed I think it all sounds amazing I'm mainly a roller coaster fan but I'm more excited about the classic monsters land

[@alexgeorge501]

They should host Halloween Horror Nights In All 3 Parks when this rad pad opens!

[@rollercoasterheaven2170]

This is going to be sick

[@SpanishBear1994]

here it go

[@nefariousangel8238]

I was wondering about the rumor of the hub being open to all just before you brought it up in the video. Probably will start getting more details about things soon since they’re looking for about 17 network engineers to work an 18 month contract to help with the installation of their data infrastructure.

[@cammysan]

How long before the dueling coaster no longer duels?

[@caseyf6513]

The theming is perfect

[@LChatmanFL]

Pricing was touched on at the end and it is one thing I have not heard anything about... how will Universal incorporate this park into its current passholder price structure? My fear is a 4 park pass (Volcano Bay included) might become very expensive. If we start seeing Disney pass prices that's going create some blowback. I suggest they create an upgrade path for passholders that won't create sticker shock. If they do that current passholders will flock to this park.

[@LChatmanFL]

@@batshtcrazy5293 Maybe they will give us a choice like they did with Volcano Bay... they could offer 2, 3 or 4 Park pass and you pick your parks. For example EU, IOA & VB. If it's all or nothing like Disney it's going to be expensive.

[@FloridaFreak]

I have a hard time believing they would segment it. I think they’re going to go all in on a 4 park pass. The reason they’re building this park is to have a weeklong destination and increase per guest $$$. My thought is that $499 a year is bare minimum for what a 4 park pass could cost. Don’t be surprised to see things like disneys weekday only pass too

[@LChatmanFL]

@@FloridaFreak A 3 park seasonal is $424 and 2 park seasonal is $324. So your saying $499 for a 4 park seasonal? That might work. But I don't like a ton of blockout dates so I wonder what a 4 park preferred might cost. A 3 park preferred is $524 right now which is $43.66 per month. Still half the price of Disney AP. The new price may force more people to choose one and not carry both APs like a lot of people do.

[@cltcoasters]

This park is gonna be freakin beautiful

[@dominik.peters]

Having the stores and many of the restaurants outside the lands does lend credence to the "public hub access" idea. Especially the separate stores are a very odd design choice otherwise.

[@christopherthedisneydude6621]

Whoo! Two theme park stop videos in the same day! Are you expecting AP or softs for Minion Blast? Love the updates on the park!

[@ThemeParkStop]

With a summer opening, I think they may be able to get Minion Blast ready early enough for previews ahead of time!

[@pacos_tv]

So ready for 2050

[@PotarraFusionGaming]

LET'S GOOO

[@MarkAlcantara03]

The plot of land in between the monsters and Mario land universal should bring back their backlot tours, like in Hollywood. They don’t have anything like on the east coast it also really isn’t in their two parks such as universal studios Orlando and islands of adventure. And now their new park in Texas, the backlot is a classic!

[@danielramsey1959]

Looks like the coaster will be European sized...not fluffy American. And it does resemble Tokyo Disney Sea!

[@jman1948]

The rumor I heard is Universal will use facial recognition instead of a paper ticket. You will be able to walk in only if your face matches what they have on file, kinda like Disney's magic band but without tapping anything.

[@Collector3476]

You know what, Cassini was a NASA spacecraft that plunged into Saturn back in 2017. This restaurant could honor Cassini when she went down into Saturn and never seen again. I wonder if Epic Universe will have another restaurant that honor's Voyager 1 and 2.

[@MoAntphonyMo]

Those ex disney imagineers really said full send for this park

[@Comedy4cast]

Thanks for the great update! 2025 feels so far away, but it really isn't. I foolishly hold onto the idea that the space theme means a return of Trek to Universal. Yeah, I know it's not happening, but I'll keep dreaming until the concept art confirms something else.

[@NocturneFexy]

There are rumors of Epic Universe having expansions, we really don't know what the themes for these expansions are, but I wouldn't rule Star Trek out just yet.

[@kenfrancisworld8720]

It looks like the park layout will utilize walls and "land" separation like what is used at Phantasialand. Kudos to Universal for utilizing this style for immersion.

[@jennydorrance1884]

The more I think about it the more I think the central hub being open to anyone could work. They would need to use something similar to magic bands but it could cut down on lines at park open (everyone lining up for different lands as opposed to one big line for the whole park) and with a quick scan option like magic bands getting from land to land won't be hard. You already need your park ticket for things like lockers in the other parks. I don't see this being any more frustrating for guest than the locker situation

[@ACoupleOfParkHoppers]

Alicia is the GOAT of Universal coverage. Unbelievable details and her accuracy is unlike any other. Thanks for all the effort you put into these videos.

[@ThemeParkStop]

Thank you!

[@ChutneyGames]

5:25 this is a dogfighting munuver where two planes barrel roll at the same time known as a "rolling scissor" first dueling coaster to my knowledge to transfer this munuver to rollercoaster form

[@EagleRyan14]

Theme Park Stop: “water, air, fire, earth” Me: I mean, the order is wrong but those are the 4 elements! #ATLA

[@user-ct9bc2hz7w]

드디어 유니버셜에도 드래곤 길들이기가 ㅠㅠ 2025년이 너무 기다려질 듯…🐉🤍🖤

[@philipchenmba]

So basically, the hub area is like the City Walk if they allow people without ticket to dine and shop there. This way, they don’t have to build a Main Street inside the park and a city walk outside the park thus saves money, I guess.

[@lawrenceflail3164]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this but I've thought from the first look at the map the building in the 'space' section looks like the USS Enterprise.

[@jeffreysmith5671]

If Disney's defense to the Epic Universe is a massive Ford Versus Ferrari dueling coaster it would be the greatest coaster that ever was produced if they do it right. A RMC 4 track would do well and it should be outdoors and out to theme it to the 24 hour race in the story. With a feeling of change in the company maybe it is possible... (hopefully)

[@gio_adventurelm1578]

This dueling coaster OMG nintendo world ALL IS INCREDIBLE

[@e-manr.486]

Great update as usual Alicia! I'm so curious as to how effective the "portal approach" to lands will be. They'll function as the only entrance and exits into the land. On the one hand, this can be great for managing guest capacity as you said (looking at you Nintendo Land) but could this result in bottlenecks at entrances/exits? Also less effective traveling between lands. Will be interesting

[@m1lk0meda]

I mean, those portal pathways are enormous, and so is the hub area. I am not concerned with bottlenecks in that sense as the park appears to have been designed with that guest flow in mind.

[@keouine]

@@m1lk0meda It could be 100 feet wide and families and strollers will just stop and huddle in the middle of the path anyway.

[@sebastianllaurador8495]

I think this flat ride will be called Constellation Spin.

[@ThemeParkStop]

I like it! Perfect name

[@disneyaddict1080]

I feel like this park may eat up 3, 4 or 5+ days to explore.

[@gabrieldally6044]

I really hope that fountain show can be used for some original nighttime spectacular kind of on the level of fantastic with five actors maybe they could even projection map on the hotel

[@BRMakesStuff]

Oh it will. Probably not with actors but it's going to be epic.