ORLANDO -- Universal Epic Universe "changes everything," said Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort.
"It truly transforms Universal Orlando Resort into more than a full week's vacation destination," Irwin said on April 19 during a media reception at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel. "And I think you're going to love it."
Universal Orlando on Thursday, May 22 will hold the grand opening of Epic Universe, its highly anticipated new park that features five worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon -- Isle of Berk, Dark Universe and Celestial Park.
Epic Universe is Universal's first new domestic park since Universal Islands of Adventure opened in 1999. Disney last opened a U.S. park in 2001, Disney California Adventure. Its last in Florida was Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998.
The statue of Apollo facing Epic Universe, as seen from the Universal Helios Grand Hotel’s Flora Taverna restaurant. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
A nighttime opening celebration is set for Wednesday, May 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. Eastern time. The nighttime celebration and a celebratory moment Thursday morning will be livestreamed at UniversalOrlando.com.
Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations and Experiences, called Epic "unlike anything you will experience."
"When you go out there, what you're going to see and feel and taste and experience is the culmination of a 10-year journey and is a clear reflection of the incredible creativity, and the technical prowess, and the operational excellence of our entire team at Universal Destinations and Experiences, together with the Loews company to make this all happen and to happen in a seamless way," Woodbury said.
A room in the How to Train Your Dragon Kids' Suites at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
Epic Universe's home hotel
Loews Hotels co-owns and operates a number of hotels at Universal Orlando, including the Helios Grand. It was from that hotel lobby that executives spoke to media during a reception, with Epic Universe the backdrop to their remarks.
The Universal Helios Grand Hotel’s entrance to Epic Universe. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
The Helios Grand sits adjacent to Epic Universe toward the back of the park, with Celestial Park sitting between the main entrance and the hotel. There is a park entrance from the hotel.
Of the hotel's 500 rooms, about half feature views of Epic Universe. In addition to standard rooms, it has several family suites with children's rooms themed to the "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise.
"Our team at Loews Hotels has been very busy," said Alex Tisch, CEO of Loews Hotels. "In the last three and a half months, we've opened three hotels on this campus, bringing us to 11,000 rooms."
In addition to the Helios Grand, Loews and Universal have opened two other hotels near Epic Universe: the Universal Stella Nova and Universal Terra Luna.
Loews and Universal have been working together for 30 years, noted Jonathan Tisch, executive chairman of Loews.
"Through this partnership, we've been able to do something very special: Offer an experience that is unique in the theme parks, matched by remarkable time in the hotel," he said.