(Above) There are multiple ticket options when it comes to Universal. Universalorlando.com states that the tickets cost $139 for adults and $135 for only a one-day and one park access. There are also two- to five-day passes that allow a guest to visit all three parks: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe, within those days. Prices for those range from $330 to $550. The three parks operate from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Orlando has become known for its incredible theme parks, which are breathtaking to many tourists who have visited, as well as to residents who live there. One of these jaw‑dropping theme parks is Universal Studios, and for about five years, there had been talks of Universal constructing a new theme park called Epic Universe. Universal decided to make every theme park lover’s dream come true by creating five different worlds for guests to enjoy. These worlds include: How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, Nintendo World, Celestial Park, and Dark Universe. Since last year, Universal had been releasing leaks of what their rides would look like and what each land had to offer. Before the park officially opened to the public, it was opened to employees, annual passholders, residents of the new Helios Grand Hotel, and those invited by Universal. Early viewers of the park were impressed by its layout and interior. Then, on May 22, 2025, the park fully opened to the public, and it has been an unforgettable experience for everyone since then.
(Above) Once a guest enters the park, the first land they come across is Celestial Park. According to orlandoinformer.com, it states that at Celestial Park, there are two attractions, including Stardust Racers and Constellation Carousel, and many restaurants, including Pizza Moon. One might assume that Constellation Carousel is an ordinary ride. However, “It features a variety of celestial creatures like lions, dragons, and peacocks. As each creature rotates 360 degrees, riders are gently lifted up to six feet in the air, adding extra excitement to the ride.” This ride is enjoyable not only for children but for all ages. Additionally, according to wdwnt.com, this ride offers, “Celestial music and color to dazzle your senses as you whirl and twirl together across the Milky Way.” The lights on the ceiling, seats, and dome are more noticeable at night and create this beautiful view of the ride due to lights that look like stars glowing in the sky. This ride is a great place to begin at after entering the park. (Hiba Bilal)(Above) One of the most highly talked about lands at the park is called Dark Universe. According to orlandoinformer.com, this land includes gloomy rides, including Curse of the Werewolf and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. There are also character meetups where guests can take photos with well-known horror movie characters including the Invisible Man, Frankenstein and his Bride, and Igor, who are all known to be iconic characters in classic horror films. Near the entrance, there is also a monster makeup experience in which a guest can become, “Werewolves, vampires, mummies, or creatures even more fashionably monstrous.” (Hiba Bilal)(Above) Super Nintendo World has definitely become a favorite for many people as it looks like they have stepped into a video game. Universal also added many interactive details including Power-Up Boxes that function after a guest scans their Power-Up Band. According to universalorlando.com, in this land there are two places a guest can go: Mario World or Donkey Kong Country. There are rides and simulations, including, “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, Yoshi’s Adventure, and Mine-Cart Madness.” (Hiba Bilal)(Above) In Super Nintendo World there is a very fun gaming ride, similar to Men in Black, called Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. As one enters the queue, there are a lot of references and details from the game, and once in line, a guest will receive a visor for playing and for scoring. Additionally, for a guest to keep track of their points, they need to scan their Power-Up Band, which should be purchased before getting on the ride. If a guest does not have a band, they will still be able to play, but their points will not be saved, according to universalorlando.com. This ride is a family ride and is mostly a simulation. So if anyone does not prefer roller coasters, this is a great ride to go visit. Orlandoinformer.com states that guests will, “Navigate through underwater landscapes and soar among clouds as you collect coins and launch shells. Immersed in a world of cutting-edge technology, you’ll feel like you’ve truly stepped inside the game.” The attention to detail on this ride speaks for itself. Another slow ride in the same land is Yoshi’s Adventure. This ride is a family ride and is perfect for children who are scared to go on the Donkey Kong Minecart Madness roller coaster. Universal states that this ride is known to have sudden track changes and many cool special effects in the mine along with sudden speed increases “as you hurtle through the jungle.” (Hiba Bilal)(Above) At Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, this ride is similar to Islands of Adventure’s Forbidden Journey. According to orlandoinformer.com, there are in total 14 very lifelike animatronics, and they include, “The Wolf Man, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Brides of Dracula, and more.” These animatronics move very fast and come very close to the guest on the ride. The special effects and animatronics in the queue also don’t disappoint, and everything looks incredible. Not many rides accepted single riders, but this ride does, and if one is a single rider, the wait time is not that long. (Hiba Bilal)(Above) Harry Potter fans are very excited to come across the Ministry of Magic World. Once a guest enters the land, the first thing they will notice is that Universal inspired this world by Fantastic Beasts, and it takes place in Paris. There is one ride here called Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. If people do not want to ride this attraction or are not able to, they can still explore the queue and test out the Floo Powder fireplace. Once one step inside, it is like they have stepped through a portal, and it feels unreal with how much detail was put into making this. People who had the chance to experience this claimed that it was incredible and reminded them of two rides from Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Tower of Terror and Rise of the Resistance. (Hiba Bilal)(Above) Another exciting thing about the Ministry of Magic is all of the shops. One of these includes a wand shop where one can purchase their own wand. At Epic Universe, they have introduced second-gen wands, and according to wdwnt.com, the main difference between this and the first-gen wands is, “The second-gen wands do have additional features that explain some of the increased cost, such as haptic vibration and custom lighting for each spell.” This wand costs about $65, which is $10 more than the first-gen wands. There are also more styles to choose from and more locations where wands can be used. (Hiba Bilal)(Above) At the Isle of Berk, which is a land dedicated to How to Train Your Dragon, there are lifelike dragon animatronics. One of these includes an ice dragon that moves around constantly, and guests can take photos with it. Another animatronic that is jaw-dropping to many people is the Toothless dragon. There is a place to take photos with Toothless, and there is also a character, Hiccup, that guests can meet. Guests have also been raving about Hiccup’s Wing Gliders ride which is very popular. According to orlandoinformer.com, “Guests will experience the excitement of flying on a dragon at speeds reaching 45 mph.” This has thrilled many How to Train Your Dragon fans. (Hiba Bilal)
Hiba Bilal, grade 12, is the Director of Photography for Lake Highland Preparatory School’s newspaper Twice-Told Tale. This will be Hiba’s third year on the newspaper staff: she started in her Freshman year, then came back for Junior and Senior years. She loves to explore a variety of topics and uses her creative writing skills to achieve a great piece. She hopes one day in the future to become a dermatologist and an author. When not writing, Hiba loves to read books, watch movies, and play piano. Additionally, she loves to write and publish poetry for The America Library of Poetry.
