Universal Orlando is not only building a brand new theme park, which is set to open in 2025, but Epic Universe is also expected to bring several new hotels to the area. One hotel will be located at the back of the park, and two other hotels will be built across the street.
Thanks to new trademark applications we may now know the names of all three of these new resorts. Let’s dig into what we know about the new hotels, what they could be named, and more in today’s news update. See the video version of this story below for additional visuals.
Three active hotel project locations related to Epic Universe, Original Image: fasttrack.ocfl.net
Two new trademark applications have been filed by Universal this month that may be related to the Epic Universe project. The two trademarked terms are described as being for “resort” and “hotel services.”
One is named “Universal’s Terra Luna Resort” and the other is named “Universal’s Stella Nova Resort.”
Recent trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Recent trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
It is possible that these newly registered trademarks could be for the two hotels being built across the street from the Epic Universe theme park. Known as Project 912 and 913 in permits, these two plots of land are located on either side of the Kirkman Road extension, where it will dead end into Universal Boulevard.
The two hotels will be located on the south side of the new “Epic Boulevard” which will connect existing roads to Epic Universe. It has long been rumored that these two hotels will be sister resorts, similar to Universal’s Endless Summer Resort, which includes the Dockside and Surfside on either side of Universal Boulevard.
Image from South Florida Water Management District with labels added for hotel parcels
The two new trademarked names do seem to go along with this rumor, with two similarly named resort titles, both having to do with outer space terminology. And these Stella and Luna names go along with the “Universe” themed naming style we’re seeing for Epic Universe in general. Early site plans for the area even appeared to show space-themed iconography in front of these two hotels.
The Project 912 and 913 hotels have been rumored to each contain 750 rooms. Project 912 will be constructed first, with land prep work happening now. Height waivers filed with the FAA show that three cranes are scheduled to arrive to this work site on October 25th.
Future hotel site at corner of Kirkman Rd and Universal Blvd
Project 912 hotel work site seen at number 2 in this photo by Bioreconstruct
Permits filed with the county show that “mock-up rooms” are being constructed in a nearby warehouse, with Finfrock listed as the contractor. These model suites will be used to show what the finished rooms for this new hotel will look like and aid in construction.
Finfrock specializes in building precast concrete structures, which allow for incredibly fast build times, and they were the same contractor as Universal’s Endless Summer Resort. The construction timeline for this project could have it ready as soon as 2024. Work has not yet started on the sister hotel, Project 913.
Finfrock’s description of Endless Summer, Image: finfrock.com
Universal’s Terra Luna and Stella Nova Resorts are not the only trademarked names we have seen from the company so far. In April of last year the company filed a trademark application for “Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel.”
Many believe this could be the name for the hotel that will be built at the back of the Epic Universe theme park itself. Helios is the god of the Sun in Greek mythology, so it fits within the naming scheme for the new park as well.
Trademark filed for Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel
Known as Project 910, the hotel at the back of the park is rumored to have 500 rooms. Guests of the hotel will park their vehicles and enter the lobby from the other side, opposite of the park.
Many rooms appear to have views overlooking the theme park, and a lounge is rumored to be located on the roof. The lounge may offer views of a possible fireworks show nightly, as some permits show a fireworks launch site located within the center of the drainage pond behind the hotel.
Official concept art for Epic Universe showing hotel at the back of the theme park
While most visible construction for Project 910 has been on the attached restaurant so far, prep work for the hotel appears to be preparing for a tower crane. Documents show that the tower crane will be arriving on site for this project in early October.
If the hotel we believe will be named “Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel” will have 500 rooms, and the two hotels possibly named “Universal’s Terra Luna Resort” and “Universal’s Stella Nova Resort” each contain 750 rooms, that could mean another 2,000 rooms for Universal Orlando overall.
Land being prepped for hotel construction at the back of the park, Photo: Bioreconstruct
We do not know which pricing tiers these hotels may fall under when they open, but all three are expected to be run by Loews Hotels. That is the same company that operates all of the existing hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal Orlando has not confirmed any of these details, but the company has said they expect to open Epic Universe by summer 2025 at the latest. Orange County says the Kirkman Road extension, which will be vital for the new area to be able to open, should be completed by the end of 2024.
Lines being drawn on guest parking lot for Epic Universe, Photo: Bioreconstruct
Wider view of guest parking lot under construction, Photo: Bioreconstruct
Reporting by the Orlando Sentinel says that while only about 1,500 construction employees are currently working on-site at the new theme park area, between 9,000 and 10,000 workers are expected to be on-site by next year.
That may explain why we can now see white lines being drawn on Epic Universe’s parking lot already. They will need plenty of space for all those workers in the coming years, as this project continues to grow at a rapid pace.
Wide view of Epic Universe work site, Photo: Bioreconstruct
That’s all for now, but be sure to check out the video version of this story for additional visuals. See our complete coverage of Epic Universe for more detailed updates on this upcoming theme park, and be sure to subscribe to the news feed for more!
Subscribe to the news feed or enter your email address below to never miss an update. Official Art: Universal Orlando | Added Graphics by Alicia Stella | Other Images as Captioned
