Universal announces Epic Universe in escalation of Orlando theme park arms race

Universal is getting ready to expand its theme park world once again just as Disney prepares to make the jump to lightspeed.

Universal Parks & Resorts on Thursday announced its fourth theme park in Orlando, which is being called Epic Universe. This will be in addition to the existing parks Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay.

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said in a statement that Epic Universe "represents the single-largest investment Comcast NBCUniversal has made in its theme park business and in Florida overall."

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Nobody knows what will occupy this new universe, though, as Universal provided scant few details other than vaguely but confidently declaring that it will "create an entirely new level of experience that forever changes theme park entertainment." Super Nintendo World, however, is one possibility, as are more Harry Potter related attractions, notes the Tampa Bay Times. The park is to also to include an entertainment center, as well as hotels, shops, and restaurants.

Universal did release a logo and concept art for the new park, even as no actual attractions were specified. The park will be a few miles away from the resort and located on a 750-acre site.

This announcement, The Washington Post notes, comes less than a month before Disney is set to open its highly-anticipated Star Wars Galaxy's Edge area in Disney World after already debuting it at Disneyland, with this already being seen as Disney's answer to Universal's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Dennis Speigel, the president of consulting firm International Theme Park Services, told the Post, "this is a major competitive program with Disney, there's no question about it."