Concept rendering of Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park: Epic Universe.
NBC Universal
Work on Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth theme park, Epic Universe, is finally resuming.
The park, which was announced in 2019, had earlier halted construction in July due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, Universal announced it will take several months to run at full speed as it has to overload the project and reassemble suppliers and contractors.
“The relaunch of Epic Universe construction is a great moment for our employees and for our Florida theme park company,” said Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO of NBCUniversal parent company Comcast. “It is our largest investment in the state and represents our enthusiasm for the spectacular park and the economic opportunities it will generate.”
The company wants to turn its two-park resort into a week-long travel destination, not just a two- or three-day trip for families. The company also operates Volcano Bay, a water park about a mile from Universal Studios parks.
The new park will be built on a plot of 750 hectares, just a few kilometers from the existing resort. Universal said it will provide transportation between all of its properties.
Universal Orlando employs 25,000 people and will hire an additional 14,000 employees, including professional, technical and culinary employees. The company said on Wednesday that restarting construction on Epic Universe will inject billions of dollars into the Florida economy and create thousands of jobs during its development.
It usually takes three to four years to build a large-scale theme park. The land was mined in 2018 and it will be the first park Universal has built since 1999 when Islands of Adventure opened. Over the past decade, Universal has expanded its two parks to include Harry Potter-themed Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade lands.
Analysts speculate that new attractions could be based on universal traits such as Minions, classic monsters and even Nintendo. Universal execs have remained mum over the details. Tom Williams, CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts, called it “the most immersive and innovative theme park we’ve ever created.”
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC.