Third Ride Coming to Dark Universe: What Epic Universe Fans Know So Far

Universal Orlando Resort announced Thursday that it is building a new indoor roller coaster in Dark Universe, the Universal Monsters land at Epic Universe. Construction has already started, but the company gave no opening date and said only that the ride will arrive in the years ahead.

For families planning a trip, that means the coaster will not be part of a visit any time soon. It will become the third ride in Dark Universe once it opens.

What Universal has said about the ride

Universal shared few details in its announcement. The coaster will sit next to Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, on an expansion plot behind that attraction, and it will tell an all-new story inspired by the Universal Monsters films. The company described it as an indoor coaster in a post on social media.

Several things are still unknown. According to WDWMAGIC, Universal has not released the ride’s name, the type of ride system, the height requirement or which monsters will appear. Parents of younger children will want that height rule before deciding whether the ride fits their group, and Universal has said more information will come later.

WDW News Today reported that site clearing in Dark Universe began in August and that work has continued since. The outlet also mentioned rumors that the coaster is themed to the Bride of Frankenstein, a detail it said has not been confirmed.

What is in Dark Universe today

The land currently has two rides. Curse of the Werewolf is an outdoor spinning coaster that WDWMAGIC describes as a family coaster. Monsters Unchained is a dark ride, meaning an indoor ride through themed sets, and it features several classic monsters, including Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Phantom of the Opera and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

According to WDW News Today, there were earlier reports of a Creature from the Black Lagoon boat ride for the land, and the coaster announcement means that plan will not go ahead. The outlet suggested the park needs more indoor rides that stay open in bad weather, since capacity has been a recurring problem at Epic Universe.

Why it matters for park visitors

This is the first new ride announced for Epic Universe since the park opened in May 2025, according to WDW News Today and WDWMAGIC. Universal had talked about adding attractions even before opening day, and the park has other expansion plots, including one near The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, according to a Fox station in Orlando.

Dark Universe is one of the busiest areas of the park, WDWMAGIC noted, and the outlet expects a third ride to help spread out crowds there. An indoor coaster would also give families an option during Florida’s frequent rain.

Other openings coming to Universal Orlando

The resort has several other projects underway, many of them scheduled for 2027:

• A reimagined Universal Horror Make-Up Show built around Blumhouse films, opening later this year at Universal Studios Florida.
• Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a high-speed coaster at Universal Studios Florida that replaces Rip Ride Rockit, opening in 2027.
• A new full-service Jurassic Park restaurant at Islands of Adventure, opening in 2027, according to WDWMAGIC.
• Luke Combs’ Category 10, a music and entertainment venue at Universal CityWalk, opening in late 2027.

Universal has not set a timeline for releasing more details about the Dark Universe coaster.

Sources: FOX 35 Orlando, WDWMAGIC, WDW News Today