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Overview (TLDR Version)
- Epic Universe opens Summer 2025
- New park features 5 themed lands.
- Dark Universe is themed after classic Universal Monsters like Frankenstein and the Wolf Man.
- Two rides have been announced:
- Curse of the Werewolf – A family spinning roller coaster (40” min height)
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment – A motion simulator with state of the art effects (48” min height)
- Two Restaurants have been announced:
- Das Stakehouse – A vampire themed steakhouse.
- The Burning Blade Tavern – A quick service dining location for monster hunters inside a flaming wind mill.
- One Shopping/Experience Venue has been announced:
- Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience – Guests will be transformed into their favorite Universals Monster.
- Meet and Greets with Univerals Monsters and roaming characters.
Epic Universe
Opening in the Summer of 2025, Universal Orlando is opening its fourth theme park, Epic Universe. Epic Universe will join Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay (waterpark) in Orlando.
Epic Universe has announced all five themed lands, and has now released details for four out of the five lands. The five themed areas are Celestial Park, How to Train Your Dragon, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
After today, the only land that we have not received any details on is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is rumored to be themed after the Fantastic Beasts movies in the land, but feature an indoor dark ride from the original Harry Potter movies British Ministry of Magic.
Dark Universe
On June 20, 2024, Universal Orland released details on one of Epic Universe’s five themed lands, Dark Universe. Dark Universe is themed after the classic Universal Monsters like Frankenstein, Wolf Man, and Dracula.
In the announcement, Universal Orlando released details for two attractions, two quick service dining venues, and a shopping venue, so let’s dive in!
But don’t worry, Dark Universe is expected to be family friendly, but also have some PG-13 level scares for those looking to “conquer their fears”!
Curse of the Werewolf
Curse of the Werewolf is a family spinning roller coaster themed after the classic werewolf, Wolf Man. Guests will enter this attraction and will be treated by “mystiques” that will notify guests that they have the “Curse of the Werewolf”. The trains on the rollercoaster are themed after wagons and guests are loaded onto the “wagons” to experience the attraction.
The ride height for this coaster is (40″) so our whole family can experience it together! My daughter is slightly weary of roller coasters, but she like the Wild Mouse Coaster at Cedar Point, so this should be a very similar experience for her.
We expect this to be the “B” level attraction for this land behind Monsters Unchained: A Frankenstein Experiment.
Monster’s Unchained: A Frankenstein Experiment
On to the “A” level attraction, Monster’s Unchained. This is an indoor Motion simulator ride where guests will enter the Frankenstein Mansion and meet a new character, Victoria Frankenstein. Victoria is a descendant of the original Frankenstein and is looking to bring honor back to the Frankenstein name.
In this attraction, Victoria has captured all of the classic Universal Monsters and is looking for way to control them. Unfortunately for Victoria, Dracula has other plans.
For this attraction, guests must be above 48″ tall. Universal boasts that this will be one of their scariest attractions ever seen, so buckle up for this spooky adventure! I expect this ride to function similarly to Transformers and the Harry Potter ride in Universal Studios Orlando. I do have some concerns on motion sickness, so I hope it’s not too much like the others.
Das Stakehouse
Every themed land needs a restaurant or two. In Dark Universe, Das Steakhouse is a new Quick Service Dining location where guests will be served by Vampire “familiars”, which are servants to vampires, but are usually still human.
I expect this location to be a little more upscale than the Burning Blade Tavern (more details below) and for those looking for dinner. I recommend checking out the Burning Blade for Lunch, then Das Steakhouse for dinner if you can manage it. Universal also mentioned that their steaks at this location will come with a “Stake” too! They also advised that vampires may be roaming through the venue too!
The Burning Blade Tavern. 
Source: Universal Orlando
In comparison with Das Steakhouse, The Burning Blade Tavern sounds like a more laid back atmosphere offering pub-style fare for guests. It’s still a quick service restaurant, but boasts character interactions from monster hunters and the venue will display their monster trophies! This is likely the most “human” location in Dark Universe for guests.
The highlight for this venue will actually be from the outside, since the windmill itself will set ablaze for guests. It is unclear if the windmill will constantly be on fire or if it will be similar to the dragon in dragon alley and will light on fire every so often.
Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience
Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World? If so, you have probably come across the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where children are transformed into princes and princesses. Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience sounds similar, but instead of a prince or princess, guests are transformed into their favorite Universal Monster!
This also isn’t limited to children and all guests are welcome to the transformation! Universal Orlando started offering this experience this year at their parks, and I am happy to hear that they will have a dedicated home in Epic Universe! Make sure to check out this video from the Pugh Two on the Monster Makeup Expereince!
Additional Information
In addition to the rides, food, and shopping venues listed above, Dark Universe will also have roaming characters and meet and greets for Universal Monsters in Dark Universe. We aren’t sure what this is going to look like, but the artists renderings showing pictures with Frankenstein.
The land will also have an electrified portal, and based on the description it sounds like that electricity will flow from the front of the portal throughout the land to the Frankenstein Mansion.
Conclusion
Overall, this is our favorite land that has been announced so far. We are really looking forward to the Wizarding World, and believe that this will be our second favorite overall, but we will wait and see!
Let us know your thoughts below on this announcement and we look forward to seeing you in the parks!
