Design | Eric Jotch

A Universe
of
An Expansion of Epic Proportions
Copy | Zachary Babajanov | Eric Jotch
Every season, it feels theme parks
bombard the public with
announcements of new expansions.
Walt Disney World began this craze
when it expanded three new areas:
Pandora (2017, Animal Kingdom), Toy
Story Land (2018, Hollywood Studios),
and Galaxy’s Edge (2019, Hollywood
Studios). Universal challenged its
foremost competitor by opening
Volcano Bay, a water park to replace
Wet n’ Wild, in 2017. Now, Universal is
concentrating on opening a park that is
one all encompassing universe, i.e., an
Epic Universe.
According to Universal’s official
website, Epic Universe is: “The most
immersive and innovative park we’ve
[Universal has] ever created.”
Universal’s goal is for the park to take
visitors through an unparalleled venture
through their favorite worlds. In official
Possibilities
In this case, Islands of Adventure and the (fictional) possibilities of the park.
Universal Studios are continuous with Universal’s plan to immerse guests
no featured central point. According to comes in the form of a wearable
wristband that pairs with a smartphone
Theme Park Insider, Epic Universe will
app. The video showed actors playing
be different and contain one central
various mini-games throughout the park
“hub” (like Magic Kingdom’s Main
with the aid of the wristband and having
Street) with paths to each one of the
the time of their lives.
featured lands. Each of Epic Universe’s
featured lands will be separate with no
The announcement music video
physical connection other than the hub.
evoked sentimental feelings in fans.
This causes each land to be “a self-
“This is a childhood dream coming true,”
contained thematic world.” The Orlando
YouTube user G.B commented. “This is
Business Journal speculated that
how I imagined the actual world of Mario
featured worlds will include classic
looking like when I was a little kid,”
monsters from Universal franchises and
YouTube user Bizzcit Brass also
a Super Nintendo World. Only time will
commented.
tell if Universal fulfilled these promises.
Super Nintendo World is one area Much of the specifics are unknown,
of the park that many are excited about. except that the land will feature
While Epic Universe is slated to open in Bowser’s Castle, Princess Peach’s
2023, Universal Studios Japan is Castle, Mario Kart, and Yoshi’s
opening a standalone Super Nintendo Adventure rides - taken from theme park
World expansion in the summer of 2020.
? business website blooloop.com.

Universal formally announced For devout Super Mario fans, the

statements, Universal claimed the
journey is as impressive as the park
itself.
Epic Universe is a departure from
Universal’s familiar theme park layout.
Super Nintendo World through a music
video to the original song “We are Born
to Play” (Galantis ft. Charli Xcx) which
was uploaded to Nintendo’s official
YouTube channel. The music video
featured intense CGI to demonstrate
summer 2020 launch in Japan could not
come soon enough. For the majority of
casual parkgoers, however, three years
is more than worth the wait.

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? The most popular Florida theme parks in 2018 (by attendance).
- Data from Fox2, St. Louis (2018)
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