The doorway portal to the Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, US, on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Epic Universe, the $7 billion attraction from Comcast Corp.’s Common Locations & Experiences division, affords 5 distinct lands and opens to the general public on Could 22.
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Epic issues are coming to Orlando.
In a little bit greater than a month, Common will formally open the doorways of its latest theme park, the primary main theme park within the Florida space in 25 years, spurring a serious shift in Orlando’s tourism trade.
Epic Universe is the biggest of all Common properties at 750 acres and options 5 themed worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – The Ministry of Magic, Tremendous Nintendo World, Prepare Your Dragon – The Isle of Berk, Celestial Park and Darkish Universe.
It should be part of Common Studios and Walt Disney World in theme park mecca Orlando.
Tourism has lengthy been the main sector in central Florida, drawing each home and worldwide guests. Greater than 74 million individuals journeyed to Orlando in 2023, contributing round 50% of the full gross sales tax collected in Orange County.
Epic Universe shouldn’t be solely anticipated to bolster theme park revenues for Common, in addition to its rival simply down the freeway, Disney, but in addition usher in billions of {dollars} to the native economic system.
“That is the primary main, totally new theme park within the U.S. in 25 years. This can be a compelling cause to go to Orlando,” mentioned Casandra Matej, CEO of Go to Orlando, a tourism commerce affiliation. “So, whenever you see a serious milestone venture akin to Epic Universe, you recognize it will have undoubtedly a domino impact of financial advantages for our group.”
An actor dressed as Astrid Hofferson, proper, with dragon Stormfly, performs within the Prepare Your Dragon – Isle of Berk space, on the Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, US, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
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Epic Universe, first introduced in 2019, represents the biggest single funding Common’s mum or dad firm Comcast has ever made in its theme parks enterprise and in Florida general, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts mentioned on the time. That determine is rumored to be round $7 billion.
This large endeavor, which formally opens Could 22, is a approach for Common to showcase and monetize its numerous library of franchises and bolster its amusements enterprise. It at the moment operates Islands of Journey and Common Studios in addition to Volcano, a water park, a few mile down the street.
Common Orlando generated $44 billion in financial affect between 2019 and 2023, in response to a report from Sean Snaith, director of the College of Central Florida’s Institute for Financial Forecasting, that was solicited by the media firm.
And Common’s latest theme park is already making waves: Snaith decided that Common’s direct funding in Epic Universe has resulted in $11 billion of financial affect nationwide within the type of building and operational expenditures, in addition to the hiring of recent workers.
The Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment amusement experience within the Darkish Universe space, on the Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, US, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
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Common Orlando generated 94,000 jobs throughout the nation in 2023, together with engineers, software program specialists, artists, architects and set designers, in response to Snaith’s examine. Round 65,000 jobs have been created simply to assemble Epic Universe, the corporate mentioned.
Snaith’s analysis additionally discovered that Epic Universe will possible generate round $2 billion for the state of Florida in its first yr of operation. It is projected to create greater than 17,500 new jobs in its first yr of opening.
“The labor market is in Florida is sort of robust proper now,” Snaith mentioned. “So it is form of the wealthy get richer right here. We’re projecting that Florida will proceed to outpace the nationwide economic system, each by way of financial development and job development.”
As soon as the park opens, guests keep at native motels, hire vehicles, buy groceries and go to eating places, boosting revenues for different native companies.
“You see the zone round Epic Universe really boosting since that building,” mentioned Jakob Wahl, CEO of Worldwide Affiliation of Amusement Parks and Sights. “You see new infrastructure. You see new housing. You see new motels being constructed. You see new eating places being construct. It is a enhance for the entire space.”
Theme park specialists instructed CNBC that different locations within the space, together with Disney, will possible see a bump from Epic Universe’s opening.
“When Disneyland Paris opened in ’92 there have been considerations from the theme parks round Paris,” mentioned Wahl. “However the reverse really occurred. They elevated their viewers. And that’s one thing which is prone to occur additionally in Orlando as a result of it strengthens the vacation spot.”
New developments, whether or not they be parks, lands or rides, additionally spark competitors between the businesses to create extra compelling and modern sights to lure in company.
“It is a rising tide that lifts all boats,” mentioned Matej.
Sometimes, each Common and Disney obtain patronage from these visiting Orlando, particularly from company who’re touring from out of state or from different international locations. Having the extra park signifies that many will lengthen their holidays to permit extra time to expertise Epic Universe alongside Disney’s 4 theme parks and Common’s different amusement areas.
“What we do know is each day that somebody extends their keep, that’s tens of millions of {dollars} price of financial affect for our group,” Matej mentioned.
Disclosure: Comcast is the mum or dad firm of NBCUniversal and CNBC.
