Universal Epic Universe Takes Aim At Disney With First PG-13 Theme Park
While Disneyland and Disney World may be the gold standard for theme parks, Universal Epic Universe is trying to combat that with attractions for older parkgoers. Their new Dark Universe attraction is designed to appeal to a PG-13 audience and classic horror fans. The attraction will feature rides and other attractions based on Universal’s classic movie monsters.
These aesthetically distinct, more niche lands allow the Universal Epic Universe to appeal to fans who might be left out of the broader approach of Disney’s park.
Universal Epic Universe will be a theme park inside the larger Universal Orlando Resort, which houses multiple parks in Florida. Within that theme park are several IP-based “lands” that create their own immersive landscapes. Dark Universe is the newest addition, but the park also includes Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk.
Dark Universe, the recently announced addition to Universal Epic Universe, is an homage to the classic monster movies of the 30s and 40s.
These aesthetically distinct, more niche lands allow the Universal Epic Universe to appeal to fans who might be left out of the broader approach of Disney’s parks. While Disney has incorporated IP with older fan bases like Star Wars and Marvel into their parks, they remain focused on catering to families with young children. Dark Universe’s PG-13 approach and horror aesthetic are still family-friendly but designed for older children, while Super Nintendo World is an attraction for gamers of all ages.
Dark Universe, the recently announced addition to Universal Epic Universe, is an homage to the classic monster movies of the 30s and 40s. It features a gothic aesthetic with a sinister castle, burning windmill, and tavern run by vampires. In addition to the horror motif, it offers more conventional theme park thrills in the form of roller coasters and other rides.
Universal Epic Universe was announced in 2019 and is the fourth theme park at Universal Orlando, joining Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and the original Universal Studios Florida.
Like all of the Universal Epic Universe “lands” it also features state-of-the-art technology in its attractions. A combination of advanced animation techniques and new technology to increase immersion will be used to make the rides more thrilling. This level of commitment to horror movies like Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Wolfman sets the park apart from more kid-focused parks.
Universal Epic Universe was announced in 2019 and is the fourth theme park at Universal Orlando, joining Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and the original Universal Studios Florida. The project was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but construction on the park resumed in 2022. The theme park is still under construction but is expected to open next year.
While the Universal Epic Universe is a contained theme park aimed at appealing to older theme park fans, it incorporates ideas from other Universal parks. Super Nintendo World originated in Universal Studios Japan and opened in Universal Studios Hollywood in 2023. While a dedicated area for classic horror movies is new, the parks have even experimented with appealing to horror fans before with the popular Halloween Horror Nights.
It’s great to see Universal Epic Universe setting itself apart from other theme parks by appealing to older parkgoers and more specific fandoms. While Disney and Universal have plenty of attractions for young children, attractions built for teens and adults are less common. When the park opens in the summer of 2025, it will be a test to see if their plan to diversify is successful.
