Fast-track tech helps Universal mold new Epic Universe experiences

Disney4me · 2025-05-22T09:00:04Z

When the portals of Epic Universe theme park officially open Thursday morning, Universal Orlando will welcome a new era of attractions technology.

Central Florida’s first big theme park debut since 1999 was designed with modern features to align with the expectations of today’s consumers. There’s fresh tech on multiple fronts. Sometimes it’s obvious — such as lockers activated by facial recognition — but sometimes it’s invisible to park visitors.

“There’s a strong expectation that if you’re going to walk into a world based upon Nintendo games, that you’re going to be able to interact with the environment as well,” said Peter Weishar, director and professor of UCF’s themed-experience program.

New Power-Up Bands, wearable technology activated in Epic’s Super Nintendo World, and the updated iteration of wands for its Wizarding of Harry Potter land propel that trend, he said.

“That’s definitely a new way of engaging a guest and making them feel like they have a degree of agency over what they’re seeing,” Weishar said.

Epic Universe also has themed lands called How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe, which showcases classic Universal characters such as Dracula, Wolf-Man and the Mummy.

Frankenstein Manor within Dark Universe serves as the entrance to the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment ride at Universal Epic Universe on April 4, 2025. Orlando's first new theme park in a generation is set to open to the public on May 22. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) — Frankenstein Manor houses a signature ride within Dark Universe. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment features a slew of animatronic figures with close-up encounters for passengers. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

‘It’s not easy’

The buzzy attraction within Dark Universe is named Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Riders glide through a dark and stormy revenge-driven storyline, encountering lurking animatronics from multiple directions at a rapid pace.

“I don’t think there’s a more ambitious collection of technology being stuffed into one building than in that attraction,” said Jeff Polk, general manager and executive vice president for Epic Universe, during previews for the park.

“We have more high-level animated figures that are interacting directly with the ride vehicle, with a fairly complex ride system, with video, with other effects put in place in there, than we have ever combined into one space,” he said.

“Doing that is not easy. I can tell you, it’s not easy,” Polk said.

Epic Universe: Exec blends arts, engineering in theme park roles

Orlando’s theme parks regularly updated their ride systems and introduced innovative inventions in new attractions over the years. Epic Universe will be the first to open with only 21st-century technologies.

UCF’s Weishar points to Mine-Cart Madness, an Epic roller coaster in the Donkey Kong Land within Super Nintendo World. The design of the ride creates the illusion of broken rails and carts flying across the gaps.

“As with most innovation, it’s an incorporation of some existing technologies coupled with a few new different ideas,” Weishar said.

And he labeled the park’s Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride a game-changer. Passengers watch a rollicking chase scene involving movie characters and an elaborate system of lifts.

“You’ve seen pieces of it done before, but never at that scale, never at that quality,” Weishar said.

“Once you’ve gone on that, there’s going to be an expectation of seeing something of that quality in the future, especially on new rides,” he said.

Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is an interactive ride within Super Nintendo World at Universal Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) — Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is an interactive ride within Super Nintendo World at Universal Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Things change quickly

Development is happening rapidly, said Dennis Speigel, founder of International Theme Park Services.

“Technology has risen to a level in the world of theme parks that we couldn’t have imagined 10, 15 years ago even,” Speigel said. “It’s allowing us to do things that we just now can dazzle the guests with and it’s a combination of CGI, AR, VR.”

Epic’s ride called Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge debuted at Universal Studios Japan in 2021 and at Universal Studios Hollywood in California in 2023. The Orlando version is already an upgrade.

“Even in the short time between the introduction of the rides in the other parks, this version has faster computers, higher resolution, faster frame rate and new technology,” Weishar said.

Lights and fountains put on shows in the Celestial Park section of Epic Universe theme park. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Lights and camera action

In Epic’s Celestial Park, an introductory area of the new park, there are prancing water fountain and a lagoon at the foot of the Helios Grand Hotel.

“This park has 7 million independent color-changing, programmable LED lights in Celestial Park alone,” Polk said.

“Those are things you can and can’t see,” he said. “The technology of the lights, people don’t think about that, but it’s really complicated.”

There’s elaborate wiring — and water — to consider.

“It’s amazing stuff that we’ve never attempted before,” Polk said.

Smartphones and mobile ordering, which are becoming increasingly common in real, non-park life, are integrated into Epic Universe, particularly in its restaurants. For years, attractions designers plotted to pry people away from their devices, Weishar said.

“Then they came to the realization of, you know, people aren’t going to do that right now,” he said. “How do we integrate the experience in the park with the phone that you’re already carrying in your hand? … To use it to help you figure out what’s the next ride you’re going to go on, where you’re going to eat, to help navigate the park.”

Epic Universe Ride Guide: New park rides ranked from tame to super scary

The morphing preferences of consumers also affected some designs of the new park. Epic’s ticket booths for on-site purchases are off to the right side rather than standing guard before the entrance.

“We’re really trying to push into the world of mobile ticket,” Polk said.

The ticketing area may be repurposed.

“That building could be something else,” Polk said. “That ultimately is us trying to think through where you want to be in the future, versus just saying, ‘OK, we’ll just carbon copy what we do today because that’s what everybody does.’”

The dueling Stardust Racers coaster takes guests for a head-to-head race at Universal Epic Universe on April 21, 2025. Orlando's first new theme park in a generation is set to open to the public on May 22. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) — The dueling Stardust Racers coaster takes guests for a head-to-head romp at Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Face the future

Epic will use facial recognition for opening lockers and express lines with a goal of extending those capabilities.

“I don’t think it’s there totally yet, but I think it will, within the next five years, be a constant, beginning at the front gate and being utilized through the attractions,” Speigel said.

Universal’s goal is to make attractions “friction-free,” Polk said.

“We’re really focused on, how can we take friction out of the guest experience, so that as they’re making their plans at home, getting on the internet, getting on the phone, getting here, coming in the gate, getting into the park, that the technology disappears into the background and they’re just enjoying themselves,” Polk said.

Modern technology could alter how parks update — or replace — existing attractions, Speigel said.

“Something we’ve been working on for a long time is evolving the software and planning for the software improvements and extensions, kind of like what the cell phone has done and the Tesla automobile,” he said.

“Let’s leave room in the program that we can put that in there, I think we’ll see that rather than tearing down the ride or just rebuilding a new ride,” he said.

And technology may start following folks home after their park experiences, Speigel said.

“You’ll be able to do connecting with whoever your park is — Disney, Universal, whoever. It’ll happen through the computers at home as well,” he said. “I think that facial recognition is just where the world is going. That’s going to be our fingerprint for tomorrow, I believe.”

Mine-Cart Madness at Super Nintendo World takes guests on a fast-paced ride through Donkey Kong Country at Universal Epic Universe. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

Expect bumps along the way, experts say.

“Every time you go out of the gate and you swing on new technology, there are always things you didn’t expect and things that you’ve got to adapt to,” Polk said.

“We’re seeing rapid increases in technology and effects and innovation, but I think that’s always been there, and there’s always been leaps forward to create new experiences. I think it’s wonderful to be quite honest with you,” Weishar said.

“What’s going to happen, and what’s already happening is, is the competition — Disney is gearing up for major expansions at Disney World as their answer to some of the things we’re seeing at Epic, and Universal isn’t stopping their momentum either,” he said.

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