NEWS SPECIAL REPORT
Fountain of Magical
Brethren in The
Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Resort expands hotels range to 11
The addition of Universal Helios Grand Hotel and Universal Terra Luna Resort will significantly enhance Universal Orlando Resort’s appeal to a wide range of clients, including adult-only groups, Alison Montague said. Mediterranean-inspired Helios, which has 500 rooms, will open on
May 22 and has its own entrance to Universal Epic Universe. Montague said the hotel “really stands alone” in its offering, adding:
“It’s part of one of our parks and it really anchors Universal Epic Universe.” Terra Luna, which opened in March with 750 rooms, is located
minutes away from the new theme park. Montague said: “Everything changes now we’ve got 11 properties
and 11,000 rooms, because the range of room types and hotel types means there’s something for people looking for absolute value through to people looking for something really extraordinary.” Universal Orlando Resort has described Helios as “the crown jewel of
Epic Universe and the pinnacle of Universal Orlando’s hotel experiences”. Montague also said the trade
Alison Montague
should consider adults travelling without children as among potential resort customers, going on to cite statistics suggesting that 37% of visitors to the area are in this category. She added: “Historically, we’ve been seen as a family destination, but that’s changed over the past 10 years. It’s become more apparent this is a destination that’s absolutely suitable for adults without kids.”
travelweekly.co.uk IN MY VIEW . . . H
aving never set foot on a rollercoaster in my life until the previous day, when I visited Islands
of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, reviewing Universal Epic Universe made me feel like an early Apollo astronaut who had skipped most of the training course. Thankfully, though, there was a
ready-made solution to any identity crisis or sense of fraud – take a 62mph journey on the Stardust Racers ride and you will soon have all doubts ejected from your system. There are five worlds in Universal
Epic Universe, and I screamed in each of them. But I was in good company, as even the most battle-hardened of Orlando thrill-seekers were going into these attractions without full knowledge of what awaited. The extent of the shroud of secrecy was laid bare when we heard that even our VIP tour guide had not yet been permitted to step foot onto the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride. That ride has perhaps been
the most hotly anticipated in the six-year lead-up to the new park, and I expect most visitors will be more
Andrew at the entrance to Super Nintendo World
than satisfied with the end result – they might just find it difficult to adequately describe the pulse-racing journey they have been on. It’s a triumph of technology that will set the bar for what people expect from a 21st-century theme park. Yet almost as impressive as the
rides themselves are the ambition and attention to detail applied to the scene-setting. Without going near a rollercoaster, you could happily pass a day wandering among the different worlds (see box, facing page). As for the 62mph dash around
Celestial Park, I have that ride to thank for my fresh zeal for life. Rollercoasters might yet catch on, you know.
10 APRIL 2025 15
PICTURES: Universal Orlando Resort; Simon Wright Photography
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