Today’s the day: Epic Universe, the third theme park at Universal Orlando Resort and the first to open in Central Florida in a quarter century, has had its grand debut. And as exciting as this development may be, there is one part of it, specifically, that has us at Horrors Untold – an immersive guide to Halloween Horror Nights Orlando’s lore and history – the most intrigued: the land called Dark Universe, which is, of course, a world devoted to the Universal Classic Monsters. Designed from the ground up to be an exclusive, original, modern-day take on the sprawling, three-dozen-film-strong cinematic universe, it is packed with atmosphere, storytelling, creepiness, and, of course, more than its fair share of Easter eggs.

But how successful is it, really, across all those categories? We decided to do just a quick poll (it is opening week, after all!) of some of the most perceptive minds currently working in the theme-park community, people who have thought about and covered Epic Universe, generally, and Dark Universe, specifically, for the past several years.

This illustrious lineup is comprised of:

• Len Testa – president of Touring Plans
• Matt Roseboom – editor and publisher of Attractions Magazine
• Alicia Stella – creator of Orlando ParkStop and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando 2025
• Joseph Matt – co-host of the Parkscope Podcast and writer for Touring Plans

While this latest Horrors Untold roundtable may be just a quick-hit of first impressions, there is so much more Dark Universe content out there for you to dive into: you can check out our completely in-world accounting of Dark Universe’s story and experiences, and a special, 64-page print edition of Attractions Magazine, which includes an “exclusive interview with the artistic visionary” behind Dark Universe. You’ll get your new-park-excitement fill in no time.

Marc N. Kleinhenz, creative lead of Horrors Untold:

To me, Dark Universe was always the most interesting of all of Epic Universe’s new lands because – obviously – of its horror bent. How do you think Universal has managed to pull it off? How is its attention to detail and its overall level of atmosphere or immersion? How does it compare to all the other theme-park lands out there?

And, also, just how scary do you think it is?

Len Testa, computer scientist:

I think my first impression of Dark Universe was that they got all the little things right. Having open, upright coffins as photo-op stations is the kind of touch that no other theme park would consider. Also, the shrieks and groans you can hear from inside windows around the land just add to the expectation that something thrilling is going to happen.

I also like that the land is filled with hidden nooks and dark corners. It supports the idea that we’re strangers in a distant land that we don’t know a lot about.

Alicia Stella, rumor monger:

I wasn’t prepared for the emotions I would feel when I first walked into Dark Universe, but there is just something about the execution of this land that hits for me. It manages to set a tone (in what is objectively a small space) while setting the stage for its main attraction at the end of the eerie village street so perfectly that I could not help but fall in love with it at first sight. Talk about an impressive reveal! It’s rare for guests to emotionally connect to a theme park land not directly based on a locale we’ve seen before in media, yet somehow Universal has managed to pull it off here.

Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is more than just a love letter to the Universal Monsters – it’s a perfectly executed stand-alone story. It’s the reboot the Dark Universe films wish they could’ve been. This ride effortlessly reinvents the classic characters we think we know, introduces new ones with their own interesting backstories, and somehow straddles the line between heart-pounding action and in-your-face horror to create the epitome of a “Universal Studios” ride. You want fire and water effects? Got ’em. You need ride tech? This ride has you covered! It’s a scream.

Matt Roseboom, theme-park maestro:

I think Dark Universe fits in perfectly with all the other lands in Epic Universe. Universal did a fantastic job with the land and attractions within. Just like the other lands, the details are what makes it great. From the moment you walk in, all the way to Frankenstein’s castle and The Burning Blade Tavern, it feels creepy. They could have tried to make the land more family-friendly and the monsters not-so-scary, but I’m glad they didn’t. When I first ate at Das Stakehaus, I couldn’t believe they actually had such gruesome figures on the walls. To have to eat next to such things is a bit unnerving, and I love it.

The Monsters Unchained ride is a fan-favorite, and one of mine, as well. (I need to ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry a few more times to determine which is my favorite ride in the park.) It is packed with all the Monsters you’d want to see (except the Bride, but you can meet her in the land). And, again, they didn’t hold back on the scariness, which is great. 

I do think the land will be too scary for many little kids, and some adults. But once they know there’s no one jumping out at them, like at Halloween Horror Nights, it makes it more accessible. But they can definitely make it a lot scarier if they add scareactors at Halloween time.

My only gripes with the land concern the Curse of the Werewolf ride. I like riding it more than I thought I would – it’s really fun – but I hope they can figure out a way to get rid of all the nets surrounding the track. They aren’t really noticeable while riding, but they do hurt the aesthetics of the land. And the Maleva character should have been an animatronic instead of a static figure.

Joseph Matt, park-scoper:

One reason I think the land is a hit is because it recycles their most successful theme park land format: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. The E-ticket thrill dark ride, family coaster, dining, retail, and bar setup are similar to what’s in Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing. It would have been cool to see a show [as was originally planned by Universal – note from ed.], but the coaster is a more popular choice for the area. The one big risk is the Monster Makeup Experience – I have no idea how popular this will be, and I’m excited to see how guests react to it.

I have not yet been to Epic Universe (this was supposed to be an HHN roundtable, heh), so Monsters has always stuck out to me as the oddest choice for a land of them all. The actual Dark Universe film franchise is a notorious flop, and there’s already a Monsters presence in Universal Studios Florida (show, ride, food). From what I’ve seen so far, Epic presents the Monsters and the world in a more sincere manner than USF’s rather tongue-in-cheek manner.

For even more on Universal’s horror experiences, be sure to check out Horrors Untold, the HHN guidebook/immersive horror mystery. You can also sign up below for our monthly email newsletter for exclusive content and insights.