Disney World President Jeff Vahle Sends Well Wishes to Universal for Epic Universe Launch

May 21, 2025 in "Universal Orlando Resort"

Gallery / 6 Photos
Epic Universe

Posted: Wednesday May 21, 2025 10:50am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

With just a day to go before the official opening of Universal Epic Universe, Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle has publicly offered congratulations to the Universal Orlando team—a notable gesture between two of Central Florida’s biggest theme park competitors.

Vahle shared a post on Instagram featuring a stylized image of Florida with a sunburst backdrop and wrote:

“It takes great passion and dedication to bring new projects to life. Best of luck to the Universal Orlando team with the opening of Epic Universe! Another big win for tourism in Florida.”

The message arrives as Universal prepares for a week of high-profile events celebrating the launch of its fourth Orlando theme park, Epic Universe, which officially opens to the public on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD – Super Mario Land

Virtual Grand Opening Events Announced

Universal has invited fans around the world to join in the celebration via two live streams:

Wednesday, May 21 – 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Epic Universe Grand Opening Nighttime Celebration Event
A virtual look into the exclusive VIP party, including celebrity arrivals on the “Celestial Carpet,” interviews with creators of the park, first-look footage of the park’s lands and attractions, and a special commemorative finale moment.

How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk – Hiccup’s Wing Gliders

Thursday, May 22 – Beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Epic Universe Grand Opening Day Live Stream
Coverage of opening day as guests are welcomed into the park for the first time, along with a celebratory moment marking the official debut of Epic Universe.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic

Central Florida Impact

Vahle’s acknowledgment is not just recognition of a major competitor’s milestone, but also underscores the significance of Epic Universe’s opening for the broader tourism industry in Florida. With both Disney and Universal continuing to invest in large-scale projects in Central Florida, the competition is expected to drive increased visitation and spending throughout the region.

Universal Epic Universe features five themed lands: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. Guest previews began on April 17, and demand for access has been strong in the lead-up to the full opening.

Dark Universe

As the park opens its gates this week, all eyes—including some from within Disney—will be watching.

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Pizza Moon20 days ago

Back to the Future or Ghostbusters would be crazy popular.

lentesta20 days ago

BTTF is still a candidate. I’ll ask around.

999th Happy Haunt20 days ago

Len, wanna see if we can loop back to this since Supercharged closing is official now. Any updates on what replacement could be?

Andrew C25 days ago

That is a pretty long are jetting out.

Squishy25 days ago

BrianLoJan 08, 2026

Sorry, that makes much more sense. I thought you were calling it the third iteration of this attraction. I wouldn’t remotely call it the best new park, not even the best in the last ten years. But I enjoy it a lot and seem to like Ministry much, much more than the consensus. The repetition I think tells a better, consistent story. Instead of a forbidden Journey highlights reel. It’s because it has a through line that it is one of the better executed attractions out of Universal; I disagree that it serves no purpose having the trio follow in a consistent manner.

Pizza MoonJan 07, 2026

The elevators you see with character projections in the first scenes are mounted on a KUKA arm... I'm fully aware of how the ride system works; that wasn't what I was referring to. I've been on the ride and have studied it extensively. My point was that ride scenes repeat for no reason, and things were scaled back, giving it a weird pacing issue.

sedatiJan 07, 2026

I think they're referring to the elevator with the trio, not the one we're in.

TalkToEthanJan 07, 2026

Traditional Uni Orlando(Studio and IOA) has, in my opinion, some uneatable food joints(as in literally not fit for consumption)——food so nasty that I chose not to eat after positioning myself at a table with Mel’s Drive In on one occasion and Buger Digs on another. And still even more spots that I had a close up view of other people’s horrific food like Circus Mc, Fantastic 4 and Richters—as in earthquake at the SF area. Now Mythos is a great restaurant with ambiance/atmosphere and product—-deserving all its accolades

BrianLoJan 07, 2026

It’s a completely unique ride platform, it is not a Kuka arm. I’m also not acutely aware of cut elements, but that of course doesn’t mean there were not.

Andrew CJan 07, 2026

Options like minion cafe, croissant moon bakery, desert kabab house, confisco grille, green eggs and ham, three broomsticks, leaky cauldron, mythos and today cafe are all decent options. But agreed epic steps it up.

TalkToEthanJan 07, 2026

Yes, Epic wins ……such an extremely low bar to surpass. 3 out of 4 well known fast food burger joints (be it Wendy’s, Jack in the Box, Big Kahuna or Moobys) put out out better product than the likes of Burger Digs, Mel’s Drive In or Circus Mcgurkus plus 10 or more on property

AidenRodriguez731Jan 06, 2026

Epic definitely wins on food, mostly because IOA and Studios are pretty bad when it comes to the food. Having “themed food” at Universal is definitely a more modern thing and it shows