Credit: 0soulis0, FlickrEpic Universe is certainly on Disney’s radar.
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There’s never been a time like the present when it comes to the theme park industry. Not only are new theme parks on the rise, but so are large-scale expansions and overhauls that promise to change the landscape of iconic destinations, namely Walt Disney World.
Disney laid out many of its plans last year during the company’s D23 event, sharing details about changes coming to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios in Florida. These changes range from the themes of lands to the construction of brand-new thrill rides.
One of the most significant announcements was confirmation of a brand-new villains-themed land for Magic Kingdom. Aside from this initial announcement, Disney World’s Villains Land remains shrouded in mystery. However, concept art (pictured above) did reveal a very different aesthetic and vibe than what Disney World is typically known for.
Gone are Magic Kingdom’s fairytale hubs and pristine walkways. Instead, what is presented at Disney’s upcoming Villains Land is dark, gothic mountains, jagged edges, and a towering spire with an ominous castle at the top. Fans have been eager to see Disney dip its toes in more mature-themed entertainment, something the company briefly experimented with in the early 2000s at its theme parks, so the announcement of a Villains Land couldn’t come at a better time.
News of a Villains Land also came as fans looked forward to Epic Universe, which was still months away when Disney held its D23 event back in 2024.
After years of speculation, rumors, and excitement, Epic Universe finally opened on May 22, 2025. It is not only Universal’s first park since it opened Islands of Adventure in 1999, but also the first new U.S. park from either Universal or Disney since 2001.
Split into several distinctly themed sections, Epic Universe takes notes from classic theme park design while expanding upon ideas and technology. A great example is the Ministry of Magic. This area extends Universal’s highly successful Wizarding World of Harry Potter experiences, this time transporting guests into 1920s Paris.
However, many fans are raving the most about Dark Universe, a gothic, monster-filled land full of grim secrets and locations to explore. At the top of it all is Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, which Universal has advertised as its most immersive and most complex theme park ride yet.
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Monsters Unchained has received immense praise from riders and has seemingly set a new bar for both Universal and the theme park industry as a whole. It’s likely to be a main draw for the park, though it may also be driving conversations within Walt Disney Imagineering too.
Recently, Disney staff, including Disney Parks and Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, visited Epic Universe. A photo shared by Universal Apex on X showed D’Amaro talking to an unknown individual while visiting the park.
Josh D’Amaro at Epic Universe 👀 pic.twitter.com/wDMOrBf7Z9
— Universal Apex (@universalapex) June 26, 2025
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This is interesting for several reasons. As we mentioned, Disney plans to build a Villains Land at its Magic Kingdom theme park. With Epic Universe featuring its own dark gothic land, Dark Universe, Disney may be gauging what visitors think and feel about it.
Of course, the trip can also simply be a friendly visit that allows Disney to get a feel for Universal’s latest theme park. The two companies have been competitors for decades, though new developments in Florida are good for both parties. Disney congratulated Universal back when Epic Universe opened, calling the park a “big win” for Florida.
Disney may also be taking notes, seeing what works and what it’d like to change when the time comes to actually plant some shovels in the ground. However, this visit is also interesting given that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District recently approved development plans that allow for not one, not two, but three new parks to be built at Walt Disney World.
One of these parks would be the same scale as Disney World’s four other theme parks, with the other two parks being listed as “minor” additions.
The arrival of Epic Universe definitely gives Disney reasons to look into expanding its footprint in Florida. It’s unknown when or if Disney will actually build a fifth gate in Orlando, though fans have been speculating for decades. Only time will tell what Disney World will look like in five or ten years, but the future is certainly exciting nonetheless.
Have you visited Epic Universe? What upcoming Disney World project are you most excited about?