Competition between Walt Disney Company DIS Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and Comcast's CMCSA Universal Orlando Resort heated up in 2010 when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal's Island of Adventure Park in Orlando.
Universal kept fueling the fire in 2014 when it added the Wizarding World attraction to Universal Studios Orlando. It also added Wizarding World to Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016 to put pressure on the granddaddy of all theme parks, Disneyland, on the West Coast.
💰💸Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter💸💰
Disney World luckily had a new land in the works and added Pandora - The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom in Orlando in May 2017.
In another answer to Universal's Wizarding World attack, Disney World added Toy Story Land to Hollywood Studios in June 2018.
Wizarding World made such a huge impact on Disney that it went back to the playbook and developed even more spectacular attractions.
Related: How Al Pacino went from a net worth of $50 million to broke
The House of Mouse added its Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge lands at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., in May 2019 and at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios in Orlando in August 2019
Universal answered the challenge first by opening Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood in January 2023.
Then it teased fans in Orlando with updates about its soon-to-open theme park, Epic Universe.
Image source: Universal Studios
Epic Universe on track to open with top attractions
All of Epic's lands are currently in the last stages of construction, including its versions of:
- Super Nintendo World and Wizarding World of Harry Potter,
- How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk, monster-themed Dark Universe, and
- Celestial Park, which looks like it will feature some wild thrill rides from the looks of artist renderings.
Celestial Park, which also looks like it could be part of Disney's Tomorrowland, will also be connected to Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Lowes Hotel that will have a dedicated and exclusive entrance to Epic Universe.
Related: One popular vacation resort won't open to visitors this winter
That frightful day that Disney has dreaded since Universal Studios revealed its plans five years ago to build its fourth theme park in Orlando has finally come – and it has nothing to do with Halloween.
Universal Epic Universe Grand Opening date
Universal Orlando Resort has finally matched Disney World in offering vacationers a week's worth of entertainment with four theme parks, hotels, and entertainment.
The Grand Opening of Universal Epic Universe will be on May 22, 2025.
More theme parks:
- Going to Disneyland is about to get (even) more expensive
- Disneyland makes a major change that visitors may not like
- Disney cast members violate a controversial rule at theme park
Universal revealed on Oct. 17 that Epic Universe tickets and packages will be available to the general public beginning Oct. 22.
Initially, guests who want to enter Epic Universe will be able to purchase only three-day or longer ticket packages that will include a one-day ticket for Epic Universe and two or more tickets to Universal's other parks, including Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay waterpark.
Universal Orlando will also offer hotel and theme park bundles, including Epic Universe, hotel savings, early park admission, and complimentary transportation from Universal hotels to the parks.
Universal has not revealed the price for the Epic three-day packages yet, but a three-day ticket to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure currently costs $345.99 plus tax, while a child 3-9 years old is $336 plus tax.
Related: Veteran fund manager sees world of pain coming for stocks
