How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Wolf Man, Dark Universe
Epic opportunity U
niversal Epic Universe is being viewed as a way to bring first-time visitors to Universal Orlando Resort, with agents encouraged to speak to clients who traditionally have not
considered the destination. The new theme park, which opens next month,
provides a range of strong selling points for agents, according
to Alison Montague, vice-president of international sales and marketing EMEA for Universal Destinations & Experiences.
“It’s the first major park opening this century, so there’s an excitement and a buzz for
people who are Florida fans,” she said. “But for me, the excitement is going
beyond that to those people for whom Orlando
and Florida are not front of mind.” The last land-based park to open at Universal
Orlando Resort was Islands of Adventure in 1999, while
Higgledy the house elf features in a new Harry Potter ride
waterpark Volcano Bay was unveiled in 2017. Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990. Montague said an “intense training programme” had
been rolled out in advance of Universal Epic Universe opening on May 22, with five UK agent fam trips having already taken place and a further three scheduled before the opening. More trips will be hosted from September. Record numbers of registrations have been
logged on the online training platform, she added, in recognition of the “major news” of a new park. “It almost doubles the
size of the destination,” she said, going on to
14 10 APRIL 2025 YOUR GUIDE TO EPIC
Epic Universe is home to five distinct ‘worlds’. Located at the centre is Celestial Park, from where visitors can access
four other zones through themed ‘portals’. The zones are: QSuper Nintendo World: Transports visitors into the colourful worlds of Nintendo’s most familiar characters including Mario, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong.
QDark Universe: Home to Dracula, the Wolf Man and more, including Universal’s “most chilling attraction ever” – Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
QThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Features shopping district Place Cachée, as well as the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride.
QHow to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Offers Viking adventures inspired by the eponymous film series, including flying like a dragon on Hiccup’s Wing Gliders.
Universal Epic Universe ‘will attract debut resort visitors’, reports Andrew McQuarrie in Florida
underline the opportunity presented to the trade. “I think it gives our trade partners a reason to have a conversation with their clients, because even for those people who think they know us, there’s so much more to talk about and [there’s a task of] understanding what they’re looking for in a holiday and matching up what we have to offer here. “Obviously, there’s something very enticing about
things that are new. We know holidaymakers flock to new hotels, new attractions and new destinations, and that’s a nice selling point for our trade partners.” In addition to the anticipated growth in visitor numbers
from the UK, Montague said she also expected customers to spend more time at Universal Orlando Resort.
travelweekly.co.uk
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