ORLANDO -- Universal Epic Universe was celebrated Wednesday night before the theme park's gates officially opened Thursday morning.
Universal Orlando Resort invited media and a number of VIPs, including travel advisors, to its opening celebration, which highlighted the five main worlds of Epic Universe: Celestial Park, How to Train your Dragon -- Isle of Berk, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, and Dark Universe.
The evening concluded with a fireworks, water and light show in Celestial Park. Drones spelled out "Epic" across the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which stood in the background.
Drones spelled out "Epic" in front of the new Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
"On behalf of our entire organization, it is my honor to welcome you to Universal Epic Universe," Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations and Experiences, said to the crowd. "This moment marks a significant milestone in our company's journey to redefine the theme park experience for our global audience and for generations of families to come."
Woodbury thanked the company's corporate leadership at Comcast and NBCUniversal, as well as colleagues at Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation. He also thanked partners at Nintendo, Warner Brothers Discovery and state and local officials.
Epic Universe was open for attendees before his comments so they could experience its attractions, shows and food and beverage offerings.
"What you have seen, felt and experienced tonight is the product of the immense creative talent, technical prowess and operational excellence of all of our incredibly dedicated teams at Universal Destinations and Experiences," Woodbury said. "To all involved, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude."
Also offering comments was filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who Woodbury said was a creative consultant.
"In each of us lies the desire to explore new worlds in search of adventure, joy, discovery, and even to face our fears," Spielberg said. "Through amazing stories and unforgettable characters, we are introduced to these incredible worlds we only dare imagine, and in the process, we discover the hero in ourselves."
Spielberg added, "Universal Epic Universe has brought those worlds to life. All the sights, sounds and feelings you have come to love in a way that can only be described as Epic."