[tarheel1231]

This looks to be the largest announcement in decades for the North American theme park industry.

From the Universal Orlando Blog:

Epic. It’s a word that gets tossed around a lot in today’s day and age, though not one we use loosely. When we label something as epic, we want that experience to live up to the promise that the word makes. Which is why today we are elated to announce the addition of our fourth theme park, Universal’s Epic Universe, an experience genuinely worthy of its bold moniker.

Universal’s Epic Universe will offer an entirely new level of experiences that will forever redefine theme park entertainment. Guests will venture beyond their wildest imagination, traveling into beloved stories and through vibrant lands on adventures where the journey is as astounding as the destination. The new location will feature a theme park, an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. Ultimately, this expansion will create more space and freedom to let loose and create lasting memories with the people you love.

Here’s a peek at the logo, concept art and proximity map of Universal’s Epic Universe.

Official Press Release:

Universal Orlando Resort is building a new, fourth, theme park to be called Universal’s Epic Universe. The vision: create an entirely new level of experience that forever changes theme park entertainment.

Universal’s Epic Universe will take guests on a journey where beloved stories expand into vibrant lands – and where that journey is as much a part of their adventure as the ultimate destination.

“Our new park represents the single-largest investment Comcast NBCUniversal has made in its theme park business and in Florida overall,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation. “It reflects the tremendous excitement we have for the future of our theme park business and for our entire company’s future in Florida.”

The new theme park will also feature an entertainment center, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. It will be located within a larger 750-acre site that nearly doubles Universal’s total available acreage in Central Florida. Universal’s Epic Universe is just a few miles from the existing resort in Southwest Orange County. Specifically, it will be south of Sand Lake Road and east of Universal Boulevard.

“Our vision for Epic Universe is historic,” said Tom Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Universal Parks & Resorts. “It will build on everything we have done and become the most immersive and innovative theme park we have ever created. It is an investment in our business, our industry, our team members and our community.”

The new park was announced Thursday in an event attended by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, Tom Williams and Brian Roberts.

“We look forward to the new level of entertainment and innovation Universal’s Epic Universe will bring to one of our state’s most important industries,” said Governor DeSantis. “We look forward to Universal’s continued contribution to our state’s economic growth and development. And we are especially grateful for Universal’s partnership in improving Shingle Creek, which plays a critical role in serving the Everglades.”

“The investment Universal is making in our community and the benefit all of us will see is substantial,” said Mayor Demings. “This will benefit nearly every segment of our economy – from tourism to high-tech.”

Mayor Demings also spotlighted Universal’s role in the Kirkman Road extension. This is a 50/50 public-private partnership in which Universal is investing $160 million to extend Kirkman into the area where the new park will be located.

“The Kirkman extension will improve transportation through a busy and growing portion of our county and open up the entire area for additional development – including an important expansion of our Convention Center,” he said.

During the announcement, Governor DeSantis, Mayor Demings and Tom Williams released information about Universal’s economic contribution to the state and local economy.

Universal Orlando currently employees 25,000 people and will hire an additional 14,000 team members as part of Epic Universe, including professional, technical, culinary and other specialized positions. The company currently contributes more than $302 million in annual state and local taxes – a number that will nearly double when the new theme park opens.

The majority of the businesses Universal relies on are either regional firms or national firms with a large regional presence. An economic impact study for Universal conducted by UCF Economic Professor Sean Snaith found that Universal Orlando’s combined direct and indirect economic benefit to the Florida economy since Universal Studios opened in 1990 is $73 billion. He also found that construction of the new park alone will contribute a total of $11.5 billion in direct and indirect economic benefit into the Florida economy.

More details about Universal’s Epic Universe will be revealed over time. For more information, visit http://www.universalorlando.com.

[yawetag]

So this is bigger than the Nintendo park that had been rumored. The Nintendo area could be in lower-right, but hard to tell.

[tarheel1231]

The Nintendo area looks to be the bottom left, since it's a multi-level land and you can see what looks like a warp pipe entrance and a Donkey Kong ride. Nintendo was never rumored to be its own park, it was first slated to go to USF, but moved to the new resort in order to be its anchor.

[coasterbruh]

There was never to be an Nintendo park. That goes to show how the community gets things twisted. However, there was always going to be an Super Nintendo World, which is at the to the left and up some from the entrance. Will feature Mario, Yoshi and Donkey Kong. Also above that will be the tentative Universal Monsters land! I wanna say there will be a Dreamworks land (the one with the water running through it) and a fantastic beast area which is the areal at the top right.

[Coasterphreak]

It also looks like another rumor I've heard is holding true: they're leaving themselves lots of room for future expansion so that they don't necessarily have to close attractions when they want to build new ones, at least not anytime soon.

[coasterbruh]

I wouldn't say tons of space. Right now, it seems they have two expansion pads (between monsters and Nintendo and between the dueling coaster and Fantastic beast). While that may come in handy down the road, I wouldn't expect them to build the current lands 100% complete with no room to open new attractions in them.

[Coasterphreak]

I wouldn't say tons of space. Right now, it seems they have two expansion pads (between monsters and Nintendo and between the dueling coaster and Fantastic beast). While that may come in handy down the road, I wouldn't expect them to build the current lands 100% complete with no room to open new attractions in them.

They also own the entire area between monsters and the perimeter road behind it. I wouldn't be surprised if that's hotel space, though.

[coasterbruh]

It's gonna be weird doing what Disney does which is spread out their parks but to have an entire city between compounds is interesting.

[Coasterphreak]

I mean, I wouldn't call a six minute drive "an entire city".....