Get ready for an unforgettable summer at Universal Orlando Resort! The highly anticipated Universal Epic Universe, the resort’s fourth theme park, officially opens its gates on May 22, 2025, kicking off the summer. This groundbreaking addition features five immersive worlds, including Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and the celestial-themed Celestial Park. Beyond Epic Universe, the resort is buzzing with excitement, offering new events like Volcano Bay Nights, and returning favorites like the Mega Movie Parade, and the Cinesational: A Symphonic Spectacular lagoon show. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a foodie, or a fan of immersive storytelling, Universal Orlando’s summer lineup is set to deliver epic adventures for everyone.
Grand Opening of Epic Universe
Universal Orlando Resort’s most ambitious project yet, Universal Epic Universe, officially opens on May 22, 2025. Spanning 750 acres, this multibillion-dollar theme park introduces five immersive worlds, brand-new attractions, and next-generation technology, marking the first major theme park addition in Florida since 1999.
At the heart of Epic Universe lies Celestial Park, a luminous hub featuring lush gardens, interactive fountains, and the high-speed dual-launch coaster, Stardust Racers. From there, guests can enter portals to four immersive worlds:
- SUPER NINTENDO WORLD: Step into the Mushroom Kingdom with attractions like Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Donkey Kong’s Minecart Madness.
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Enter 1920’s Paris and then take the floo network to delve into the magical corridors of the British Ministry.
- How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Fly alongside dragons and experience Viking adventures in this family-friendly land with favorite characters such as Toothless, Hiccup, Astrid, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and more.
- Dark Universe: Encounter Universal classic monsters in the gothic village of Darkmoor, featuring the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment attraction as its centerpiece.
We’ve been lucky enough to preview Epic Universe a few times and we definitely recommend dedicating at least two days to exploring this park if you want to experience as much as possible. Check out our full guide to Epic Universe for tips and tricks to make the most of your visit.
To make the most of your visit, consider staying in one of Universal’s new hotels, Stella Nova Resort, Terra Luna Resort, or the brand new Signature hotel, offering views of Epic Universe and a dedicated entrance, Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Universal Resort Hotel Guests can enter Epic Universe an hour prior to general park opening and explore SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and Celestial Park. For complimentary assistance planning your Universal vacation, reach out!
Halloween Horror Nights 2025
Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights 2025 is set to deliver its most extensive and spine-chilling experience yet! The fan-favorite event includes terrifying and immersive haunted houses, scare zones, live entertainment, exclusive merchandise, and special food and beverage offerings. Running on select nights from August 29 through November 2, this year’s event marks the earliest start in its history, spanning a record-breaking 48 nights of terror.
WARNING: This event may be too intense for young children and is not recommended for children under the age of 13.
Halloween Horror Nights 2025 Dates
- August: 29, 30, 31
- September: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
- October: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 2, 29, 30, 31
- November: 1, 2
Halloween Horror Nights Tickets
Book your Halloween Horror Night tickets our complimentary assistance.
To experience the frights of Halloween Horror Nights, a separate event ticket is required. Tickets for Halloween Horror Nights 2025 have not yet been released but you can begin planning your visit below with this helpful ticket breakdown:
- Single-Night Admission: Ideal for those planning a one-time visit. Prices vary based on the selected date, with the most expensive dates typically being weekends in October. Pricing can fluctuate, so we recommend purchasing your tickets as early as possible. Starting pricing: $82.99
- Rush of Fear Pass: Perfect for those who like to take advantage of the lower crowd levels during the first few weeks of Halloween Horror Nights, the Rush of Fear Pass allows guests unlimited access during the first 18 nights of the event. Starting pricing: $179.99
- Frequent Fear Pass: The Frequent Fear Pass is great for HHN fans who like to visit as often as possible, but want to avoid the more crowded nights. This pass allows guests to attend every Sunday through Thursday and the first weekend. Starting pricing: $239.99
- Frequent Fear Plus Pass: The Frequent Fear Plus Pass includes admission to HHN every Sunday through Friday, as well as the first and last Saturday evenings. Starting pricing: $289.99
- Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass: The Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass is for the ultimate HHN fans, granting guests entry every event night throughout the season, plus includes free parking after 5 PM. Starting pricing: $399.99
- Express Pass: To minimize wait times, guest can purchase Express Pass, allowing guests to skip regular lines at all haunted houses and participating rides once. Starting pricing: $159.99
- Scream Early: To get ahead of the crowds, consider purchasing a Scream Early ticket. This ticket allows guests to enjoy the park from 3-5 PM and then wait in the Stay & Scream area until Halloween Horror Nights officially begins. Starting price: $55 (Halloween Horror Nights admission is required)
- R.I.P. Tours: If you want to ensure you have the lowest wait times and enjoy a premium experience, R.I.P. Tours (VIP Tours) offer guided tours with priority access to haunted houses, entertainment, Express Pass for all eligible attractions, and private lounges. Both private and non-private tours are available to reserve. You can learn more about HHN RIP Tours in our review of our experience.
- Behind-the-Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tours: These daytime, lights-on tours provide a behind-the-scenes look at select haunted houses. Guests will experience between 3 or 6-house tours dependent on the tour selected.
Tickets are expected to go on sale soon for Halloween Horror Nights. Join our waitlist and be amongst the first to purchase your tickets.
Summer Entertainment at Universal
CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular
CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular, a breathtaking 22-minute lagoon show at Universal Studios, returns for its second summer and will run each night at park close from May 22 through August 24 (be sure to check the Universal app for the most up to date information). The show features a medley of Universal’s beloved franchises, including Harry Potter, Jurassic World, Jaws, How to Train Your Dragon, and Back to the Future, among others. Each segment is thoughtfully crafted to evoke the magic and emotion of these cinematic classics through drones, lighting, and water effects.
For the best viewing experience, we recommend heading to Central Park, located next to Hollywood, where you’ll find dedicated viewing areas.
Universal Mega Movie Parade
Step into your favorite movies with Universal’s daytime parade, Mega Movie Parade. The parade celebrates both new and classic Universal movies including E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, Ghostbusters, Jurassic World, Minions, Sing, Trolls, and Kung Fu Panda. With 13 floats and over 100 performers it’s a must-see during your Universal Studios visit. The parade begins near the Horror Make-Up Show in the Hollywood area, traverses through the park’s streets, and concludes back by the Horror Make-Up Show, ensuring there are lots of great spots to watch parade. The parade is currently scheduled to run at 2 PM each day May 20 through November 13, but be sure to check the Universal app for the most up to date information.
Hogwarts Always
Harry Potter fans won’t want to miss the chance to see “Hogwarts Always,” a projection show on Hogwarts in Universal Islands of Adventure park. The breathtaking projection show takes guests on a journey through a year at Hogwarts, culminating the presentation of the House Cup. The show takes place every 15 to 20 minutes each evening from dusk until close May 22 through August 24. For the best viewing experience, grab a spot in the central plaza in front of Hogwarts or on the bridge from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Jurassic Park.
Special Movie Experiences at Universal
Wicked: The Experience
Wicked: The Experience is an immersive attraction that brings the world of Elphaba and Glinda to life from the two-part Wicked film franchise. You’ll get to follow the yellow brick road right to costumes and props used in the films and then peruse through exclusive merchandise. Grab a drink or bite to eat at Emerald City Eats, located right outside of The Experience. Even more exciting, this summer, from June 23 through August 10, you can meet Elphaba and Glinda at Wicked: The Experience in Universal Studios.
Celebrating 50 Years of Jaws at Universal Orlando Resort
From May 23 through July 6, Universal Studios Florida is diving into nostalgia to honor the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s iconic thriller, Jaws. In a nod to the original Amity Island setting, Universal has transformed the San Francisco area of the park into a limited-time “Little Amity” tribute. This reimagined space features nostalgic signage, props, and references to the former Amity area, which was replaced by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Chez Alcatraz is joining the celebration by offering specialty drinks served in commemorative 50th anniversary glasses.
Universal has also released a special collection of Jaws 50th anniversary merchandise including a commemorative sipper, bucket hat, baseball cap, crossbody bag, cooler bag, and more.
Jurassic World Rebirth
In celebration of the upcoming release of Jurassic World Rebirth, Universal Orlando Resort is unveiling a series of thrilling experiences and exclusive offerings that immerse guests in the prehistoric adventure.
Starting May 23, guests can encounter specially designed photo ops within the Jurassic Park area at Islands of Adventure. These installations allow fans to step into scenes inspired by the film, capturing memorable moments with life-sized dinosaur replicas and immersive backdrops. Nearby, guests can stop by The Burger Digs offering limited-time menu items themed with a unique twist on classic favorites. Fans can commemorate the new film with exclusive merchandise available at Jurassic Outfitters and Dinostore.
For a limited time, Jurassic Park River Adventure is receiving a thrilling update inspired by Jurassic World Rebirth. The finale now features the menacing roar of a Mosasaurus, erupting water geysers, and the addition of four new Spitter dinosaurs.
These special offerings are part of Universal Orlando’s summer festivities, providing guests with immersive experiences that bring the excitement of Jurassic World Rebirth to life within the park.
M3GAN 2.0 Comes to Universal Studios
In anticipation of the release of M3GAN 2.0 on June 27, 2025, Universal Studios is introducing a limited-time experience featuring the infamous AI doll, M3GAN. From June 10 through June 30, guests may encounter M3GAN making pop-up appearances throughout the park during the day and night.
Plan Your Universal Vacation
KMV Travel offers complimentary vacation planning assistance to Universal Orlando and Hollywood. To start planning your Universal trip with our expert guidance, reach out today!