The latest round of Epic Universe aerial photos by bioreconstruct on X showcase Frankenstein Manor, Stardust Racers, the Helios Grand Hotel pool, Constellation Carousel creatures, and more.
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Epic Universe Construction
Bioreconstruct most recently flew over the park on October 24. When we last shared a construction update from bio, construction was recovering from Hurricane Milton.
Entrance & Celestial Park
Landscaping is underway in front of the park’s main entrance, with grass and trees filling in space around the guest services building. On the left are bus shelters. An arrow at the bottom points to the route through the center of guest parking.
This wider view shows parts of the How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Super Nintendo World lands. The center of Epic Universe is Celestial Park, a non-IP-based land with an original story that transports guests into the other four lands via portals.
Green rooftops cover the ticket booths in front of the park. The building on the right with a rotunda is guest services. Pavement features large circular designs.
The colorful concrete continues to the entrance portal beneath a green tower supporting the Chronos device. Concrete forms behind the portal outline a future circle of pavement.
Beyond the entrance portal is Luna Overlook. There will be cascading water features leading down to the pools around Atlantic, a table-service restaurant.
Scaffolding and tarps surround a large statue of Luna, the goddess of the moon. Paint swatches on her head suggest crews are testing different colors. Bridges go around the water features to the left and right.
At the other end of the park, in front of Helios Grand Hotel, is a statue of the sun god shooting an arrow. Crews are assembling a ring behind the statue, which is in front of an overlook. A bridge crosses in front of the statue, over future water features.
Also in front of the hotel is a large fountain. More cascading features lead from the bridge down into the fountain. The water will move over and around rockwork. Crews were working in the fountain, which is not yet full of water.
Trees have been planted as landscaping progresses at the base of the hotel. Much of the architecture curves with the water features of the park.
Outside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, crew members were pouring concrete into a garden area.
The large decoration on the front of Stardust Racers was recently revealed as scaffolding came down. It resembles a silver comet with gold streaking behind it and green rings around it. An arrow in the second photo points at the coaster’s entrance sign.
Stardust Racers is a dual-racing coaster with yellow and orange tracks. An arrow in the above photo points to where new trains have been installed on an access spur.
The spur is where cars will go when they need inspections and maintenance. The train pictured above has a starry blue and purple design on its nose.
Stardust Racers is located between How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk (left) and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic (right). There is a patch of land between the coaster and the Wizarding World that could be used for future expansions.
Crew members were working on the star-shaped pavement outside Super Nintendo World.
Also outside the land is a Super Nintendo World store, featuring a Mario fountain out front. Next door is Pizza Moon.
The restaurant’s sign is inspired by the 1902 film “A Trip to the Moon.” Colorful, circular pavement is visible inside the restaurant. Crescent moons and stars adorn the exterior towers.
The octagonal building in these photos is Atlantic. Guests will enter on the second floor and then go down to the dining room, overlooking water features. The large circular canopy is Constellation Carousel.
On the edge of Constellation Carousel’s pool is the Astronomica splash pad.
Crews have begun installing the carousel’s astrological creatures. They are just barely visible under the purple, blue, and gold canopy.
Constellations like the Big Dipper inspired the vehicles. Some resemble lions, dragons, and peacocks.
The green stylized berm around the edge of the carousel’s water feature is coming together. A chain of fountains in the pond leads under a bridge into another pool.
This building is Meteor Astropub, another Celestial Park restaurant. A row of supports on the roof is for a future sign. Crews have also installed more colorful circular pavement outside the restaurant.
Two more restaurants are under construction in a shared building near the front of Epic Universe.
Outside Dark Universe — the Universal Monsters-inspired land — is the Oak & Star Tavern. Kiosks in front of the tavern are quick-service snack locations.
Helios Grand Hotel
Universal Helios Grand Hotel is located opposite the main entrance. Hotel guests will have their own dedicated parking and entrance.
The hotel’s pool is complete, with landscaping underway around it. Water was recently added to the pool. Silt from construction collected at the deep end and will be removed.
Frames for cabanas are near the pool. A fence or wall is also under construction separating the pool area from the Dark Universe backstage space.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
The Time Turner medallion at the top of the Wizarding World portal was recently unveiled. In the “Harry Potter” universe, this magical golden hourglass allows users to travel in time, which guests will feel like thy’re doing in the new Wizarding World.
Behind the portal is an archway inspired by Paris’ Porte Saint-Denis. Scaffolding is being removed from the archway as crews complete paint that creates faux weathering.
On the other side of the archway, where guests have officially entered the magical world, is a large golden phoenix sculpture. There is also still some scaffolding on this side.
The exterior portions of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic resemble 1920s Paris. Guests find themselves in Place Cachée, the Parisian equivalent to Diagon Alley, which appeared in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” The land consists of five dead-end streets that connect in the center.
Among the facades is Café L’air De La Sirène. This restaurant has a red entryway and window frames with yellow touches. It will serve French-inspired cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are two outdoor seating areas in addition to indoor seating.
In the above photos, the facade with green vine-like detailing is the entrance to the land’s ride: Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Guests will enter the Métro-Floo, part of the magical Floo Network, and be transported to the British Ministry of Magic in the 2000s. There they will attend the trial of Dolores Umbridge — but of course, things don’t go as planned.
Other facades, some fake and some real, advertise a bookstore, music shop, and optometrist. Frames above the store’s first floors will eventually be covered by awnings.
In the center of the land is a red circus tent — the entrance to Le Cirque Arcanus, a stage show also inspired by “Fantastic Beats. It also features frames for future fabric covers.
Near the tents is the V-shaped facade of the Patisserie Matagot. Universal trademarked this name last year, although did not include the patisserie in their announcements about the new Wizarding World.
One thin street is inspired by Montmartre, a hill in Paris, with the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre at the top. Replicas of the basilica’s turrets are visible over the other facades.
This street will house Bar Moonshine. This sports bar will be decorated with U.S. Quidditch team pennants and serve exclusive beers, wines, and cocktails.
The expansion pad between the Wizarding World and Celestial Park would be perfect for an addition to the “Harry Potter” land, but nothing has been announced.
Dark Universe
The Dark Universe portal is a rocky tower with a steampunk-like Frankenstein invention. Guests will walk through Darkmoor Village to reach the two attractions. The largest building in the second photo above is the show building for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, hidden behind the Frankenstein Manor facade.
Scaffolding is gone from Frankenstein Manor, indicating the facade is mostly complete.
There is fake lightning damage on the highest turret of the manor. It looks like a blackened scar along the roof.
Parts of the tower will light up blue, as seen in this nighttime photo. The blue light fluctuates.
Guests will enter the manor after crossing a bridge over a moat. The entryway is bordered by creeping vines. A small forest surrounds the bridge.
A path leading through the trees is the ride’s exit.
Universal recently teased Monsters Unchained’s technologically advanced animatronics.
Guests will be able to dine at The Burning Blade Tavern, inspired by a scene from the 1931 “Frankenstein” film. The blades of the windmill will burst into flame every 20 minutes when the park is open. The menu includes burgers, wings, bratwursts, pretzels, and beverages.
The land’s second ride is The Curse of the Werewolf, an outdoor spinning coaster. The barn near the center of these images is the middle of the ride, where guests will be launched backward. The image on the right above shows a train car cresting a hill on the left.
Purple and blue tents now cover frames around the ride’s queue and station. The tents will likely get another layer of patterned fabric. Arrows in the second photo point at fabric fringing on the edge of the tents. Queue railings are also being installed.
Darkmoor Village includes a well in the center of a courtyard. Night lighting tests were in progress during bioreconstruct’s flyover.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Work continues on the portal entrance to Isle of Berk. Scaffolding still surrounds the tall tower extending from the hilltop. The yellow arrow in the image on the right points to dirt that was recently added inside a section of the portal in preparation for landscaping.
Installation of a tent is in progress over the queue for the Hiccup’s Winged Gliders roller coaster. Small canopies can also be seen at the left of the queue, which were recently added.
Scaffolding was recently added at the entrance of Mead Hall, between the two statues.
In one of bioreconstruct’s photos, he caught some theming suspended in the air at the left.
Near the center of these two photos is a newly-added themed cascading fountain.
The sign at Spit Fyre Grill is being painted to resemble boards and carved wood, one section at a time. Work has also begun on the building’s themed grassy roof.
At Fyre Drill, the targeting game boat ride, crews are preparing to theme the roof at the boat station.
At the entrance to The Untrainable Dragon scaffolding surrounds the exterior themed archway.
Framing for the tents over the queue has gone vertical at Dragon Racer’s Rally. The tents are quite close to where the ride arms will glide through the air, adding an extra thrill to the experience.
Bioreconstruct also caught the ride testing during his flyover.
Construction continues in the Viking Training Camp area of Isle of Berk. Framework for walkways and canopy coverage are in place.
These two images show dragons hiding at the second launch portion of Hiccup’s Winged Gliders, as well as a train staged at the launch.
These sheep staged near Hiccup’s Winged Gliders aren’t all ready just yet. Two of them do not yet have their wool. One is “disguised” as a dragon.
Looking at the Viking ships docked in the bay, it appears their theming is now complete.
Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World is starting to become more colorful as construction work continues.
At the portal, you can see crew members on a lift working at the top of the entrance. On the far left of the photo, a yellow arrow points to a tree that has been pruned into the shape of a rectangle.
At Bowser’s Castle, scaffolding surrounds the villain’s profile. This building serves as the entrance to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
Theming is in progress on the staircase from Peach’s Castle. Crew members were all throughout this area.
Peach’s Castle is also a work in progress. While most of the exterior is covered in a gray primer, one turret on the right has received its cream and pink paint job.
In the left photo of Yoshi’s Adventure, a Conkdor at the top right is leaning toward a Yoshi ride vehicle. In the photo on the right, there may be something of interest in the wall, behind the Conkdor.
These two photos show the movement of the Conkdor as Yoshi vehicles pass by.
The framework for Toadstool Cafe was recently added, seen here on the left.
Theming is still in progress at Funky’s Fly n’ Buy and the warp pipe in Donkey Kong Country. In the aerial photo on the right, artists can be seen painting palm trees on a green wall.
This aerial photo of Donkey Kong Country shows the current theming work for Donkey Kong’s house near the bottom right. Three mine carts are stationed on the Mine Cart Madness roller coaster track.
In the center of this photo is a portion of Mine Cart Madness where the mine carts will skim across water. A chain link fence was recently added to make sure the area is clear during testing. At the left, a mine cart is stopped in a brake run.
A yellow arrow points to a hidden statue tucked into an alcove in the photo on the left. In the photo on the right, a mine cart is stopped near the crest of a second lift hill.
Other Epic Universe Construction
This aerial photo showcases what will eventually be day guest parking for Epic Universe. It is currently being used by the construction team. A toll plaza is under construction at the right.
The photo on the left shows another angle of progress on the parking toll plaza. According to bioreconstruct, work recently began on the center route to and from the park, which has no tram turnarounds.
Bus shelters are also under construction for the park.
This aerial photo offers a view of both Universal Terra Luna and Universal Stella Nova Resorts. The yellow arrow near the top left points to Universal’s electric bus terminal.
Bioreconstruct captured more photos of Universal’s electric bus terminal, which is still under construction. In the photo on the left, a path has been outlined with cones.
Construction is also ongoing for the raised traffic circle on Kirkman Road next to Epic Universe — which might be the most innovative part of the park. You can spot Frankenstein Manor at the right.
Watch Bioreconstruct’s video below:
Epic Universe is scheduled to open to all guests on May 22, 2025. Tickets went on sale earlier this month, with only Annual Passholders able to buy 1-Day Epic Universe tickets. Passholders will also have access to a soft opening. Reservations are open for the in-park Helios Grand Hotel.
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