NBCUniversal has backtracked on an announcement that said that they were planning on expanding the Universal Epic Universe theme park. The change in tone comes as a number of fans pointed out that this was sort of the first acknowledgment from Universal that they were expanding Epic Universe. We’re going to take a look at what changed, and why it really doesn’t matter what Universal says… Epic Universe is expanding.
Universal Backtracks on Epic Universe Expansion Announcement
We’ll start with what changed. As part of a press release highlighting a celebration of 100 years of NBCUniversal, Universal changed some wording as it relates to Epic Universe. Here’s the before and after of the change:
NBCUniversal continues to scale immersive experiences as one of only two global media companies with a theme parks division. This includes expanding Universal Epic Universe, developing a new theme park in the United Kingdom – the company’s first in Europe – and introducing new formats including its first Universal Kids Resort and year-round horror experiences in Chicago and Las Vegas.
NBCUniversal continues to scale immersive experiences as one of only two global media companies with a theme parks division. This includes Universal Epic Universe, developing a new theme park in the United Kingdom – the company’s first in Europe – and introducing new formats including its first Universal Kids Resort and year-round horror experiences in Chicago and Las Vegas.
As you can see, Universal took out one key word: expanding. Actually, “expanding” remains in the Comcast version of the press release, but it has been removed from the NBCUniversal site.
Either way, the removal was intentional. While I can’t speak to the exact reason it was removed, I can speak to the fact that it doesn’t matter. Epic Universe is expanding, whether Universal says so or not.
In fact, there is currently work taking place to create an event space between the Celestial Park shops and Super NINTENDO World. That’s one expansion.
Another expansion that is very likely taking place is the addition of a new attraction to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Permits and backstage work appears to show that Universal is getting ready to begin a big project to bring a second ride to the Harry Potter-themed land.
Beyond that, we don’t have to read a press release to know that Universal is working on expanding Epic Universe. In fact, executives have said that plans are in motion to expand the theme park since before it opened.
Karen Irwin, President & COO of Universal Orlando Resort, said that plans were in place for Epic Universe’s first expansion back in March 2025. Universal Creative lead Mark Woodbury said that there is plenty of room for expansion at Epic Universe during a July 2025 chat with media.
If we know that plans are already in place, and that some dirt is already moving, we can start to speculate a bit about why Universal would remove mention of expansions at Epic Universe.
Simply put, Universal doesn’t like announcing things early. They were famously quiet during the construction of the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, and I’d imagine that they would play it the same way with Epic Universe expansions.
So, while Universal did remove a mention of expansion plans, it doesn’t really matter. Epic Universe is expanding, and I can’t wait!
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