Celestial Park is the one one of many lands at Epic Universe not primarily based on mental property and has caught the eye of theme park followers because of this. There’s additionally the perpetual Common vs. Walt Disney World fan debate, and actuality that World Celebration is a straightforward comparability. For this and a number of other different causes mentioned right here, Celestial Park has turn out to be probably the most polarizing ‘portal’ of Epic Universe, with opinions starting from it being an EPCOT killer to the park’s weakest hyperlink.
Let’s begin this evaluation with a fast introduction to Celestial Park. Whether or not arriving at Epic Universe by the entrance entrance or Helios Grand Lodge, friends movement by Celestial Park to the left or proper of the water options that likewise movement from Luna, goddess of the moon, to Apollo, god of the solar. With acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways and strolling pathways, Common Orlando has boasted that “Celestial Park places the ‘park’ again in ‘theme park.’”
Celestial Park options over two-dozen lush residing gardens nestled alongside shimmering waters surrounded by gorgeous structure impressed by astronomical and mythological components. In response to Common, friends can loosen up in Celestial Park whereas taking within the sights and sounds round them, board a capturing comet for an exhilarating curler coaster journey, dine on delectable delicacies, store unique merchandise to commemorate their go to and extra.
Celestial Park’s seven acres of water the place a mess of fountains sway, dance – and even attain heights as much as 135 toes within the air – to music and interactive lighting from day to nighttime. Above all else, Celestial Park acts as a world between worlds, and is actually the hub by which friends enter the portal for every mental property-based land within the park. Consider it like Important Avenue at Magic Kingdom or, extra aptly, World Celebration at EPCOT.
(Notice: this was initially supposed to be one subsection of our bigger Epic Universe theme park evaluation, but it surely stored getting longer, so is being separated out to its personal standalone submit. For higher or worse, Celestial Park is probably the most thought-provoking land at Epic Universe, and the one deserving of the discourse.)
The unequivocal spotlight of Celestial Park is the fountain reveals that play all through the day and night time.
To this point, these have occurred sporadically and never on a set schedule. Most of those are comparatively transient, with the fountains dancing to background music in between the precise reveals. There’s a full nighttime fountain present (or a number of?) that final ~quarter-hour, however I’ve solely managed to catch this from my room at Helios Grand Lodge.
Common has entry to a terrific suite of music from its movie franchises and past, and Epic Universe is not any completely different on this regard. A few of this shall be misplaced on informal friends, as I’d think about the themes from Tremendous Mario Galaxy aren’t going to be immediately recognizable to all however probably the most hardcore Nintendo followers. However good music is sweet music, and these scores plus water plus lighting are a terrific combine.
As soon as the solar units, the present lighting in Celestial Park is unbelievable.
This entire space is an A/V geek’s dream, as this appears like the primary theme park space in Central Florida that’s designed with simply an absurd quantity of customizability. It’s spectacular the best way the lighting within the fountains, bulbs and all over the place all through Celestial Park might be synchronized, modified concurrently and instantaneously.
Having an aerial view of this being programmed and examined from Helios Grand was actually fascinating–controlling this should be a ton of enjoyable, kinda like our Twinkly Christmas tree, however at an enormous scale. I’m unsure that high-tech wizardry at all times delivers the heat that makes these areas really feel inhabited, but it surely seems to be actually cool, regardless.
Talking of cool, Celestial Park is the other of cool through the day. That is one thing we coated at size in Why You Ought to Skip Epic Universe in 2025, so I don’t wish to belabor the purpose, however Celestial Park is scorching.
For all the bluster from Common about Celestial Park placing the “park” again in theme park, it positive doesn’t really feel that manner whenever you’re truly there, on the bottom. There aren’t any mature timber or shade buildings of any kind, however as a substitute, massive swaths of probably the most reflective pavement on earth. You’ll be able to really feel the warmth from each above and beneath, making it troublesome to spend time in Celestial Park through the day.
All through my visits to Epic Universe (all days that weren’t even all that scorching or humid), I’ve seldom seen greater than a handful of friends in Celestial Park through the day except for these going from level A to B. It’s at all times been a veritable ghost city, and for good purpose–it’s extremely uncomfortable. Celestial Park could be a beautiful park-like setting a decade from now, however within the quick future, it’ll seemingly turn out to be umbrella central this summer time.
Regardless of the sensible actuality that it’s scorching and few friends are literally spending considerable time there, lots of my fellow diehard theme park followers are getting misplaced of their love for Celestial Park. This reward has turn out to be exaggerated for a few causes.
First, Celestial Park is a land with out ties to mental property, which is turning into exceedingly uncommon for Disney or (particularly) Common. Unique ideas are catnip for theme park followers, even when they (sadly) don’t resonate with most of the people in the identical manner.
Second, Celestial Park is a distinction to the current EPCOT overhaul, which was dangerous. Very dangerous. There’s no manner round that, so we’d as properly acknowledge it. Our personal evaluation of CommuniCore Corridor and World Celebration was scathing, calling it higher than a dust pit however having little different reward for the challenge. Common followers are unsurprisingly latching on to the disparity between Celestial Park and World Celebration as “proof” that Common is thrashing Disney.
On the danger of stating the apparent, World Celebration being very dangerous doesn’t robotically make Celestial Park good. The latter being higher than the previous additionally doesn’t make Celestial Park nice! There’s nonetheless room in such a coherent evaluation for them to each be dangerous or underwhelming!
To be clear, I don’t assume Celestial Park is dangerous. However I additionally assume it falls properly wanting greatness. It has some wonderful concepts, however the execution is scattershot at greatest and it suffers from loads of issues and utterly misses the mark for “placing the ‘park’ again in ‘theme park.’”
On paper, Common did a very good job. In contrast to the EPCOT overhaul, it has an abundance of water options. These are additionally catnip for theme park followers, because it appears we’re usually arbitrarily disadvantaged of them. There are a number of fountains with synchronized jets that look pretty day or night time (however particularly night time). There are flowing streams, reflecting swimming pools, and beautifully-designed gardens. The above picture seems to be nice, doesn’t it? Much better than something in World Celebration!
The issue is that none of that is partaking or explorable. The above picture is just not mine, as a result of this isn’t doable from a guest-facing location. Discover one thing lacking from the picture? Walkways! Oddly sufficient, after making an attempt to place the park again in theme park, Common designed Celestial Park to be guest-flow corridors with broad walkways and solely a scattering of tiny timber.
There’s little or no alternative to get misplaced alongside little trails and uncover quiet areas, sit again and loosen up or just decelerate. For probably the most half, all the pieces within the heart of Celestial Park is for viewing from a distance–you stroll alongside the periphery, with a few cut-through factors.
This structure implies that, even as soon as the timber mature and there’s extra shade, Celestial Park is basically going to be a conduit for getting friends from level A to B, no less than through the daytime hours. There are only a few areas that interact with the creativeness, supply satisfying locations to take a seat, or invite friends to get keep for some time.
For all of its issues, that is truly one thing World Celebration at EPCOT does higher. It has smaller pathways and quiet spots to take a seat that beckon friends. Against this, Celestial Park is basically one massive loop of a really broad walkway–it’d work properly as a efficiency hall if Common ever decides so as to add a parade, but it surely doesn’t really feel significantly park-like besides when seen at a distance.
Greater than anyplace else at Walt Disney World, Celestial Park jogs my memory of Disney Springs in the best way it’s designed.
Each have pretty water options, however the frequent areas are nonetheless primarily about funneling friends from place to put. A little bit of type blended with perform. I far desire the structure of Celestial Park to the repurposed no matter of Disney Springs, however neither have the requisite stage of heat or any lived-in high quality. They aren’t inviting locations to linger or just be.
Evaluating Celestial Park to Walt Disney World’s purchasing and eating vacation spot is just not meant to be an affordable shot at Epic Universe. There are many methods Celestial Park runs circles round Disney Springs and different areas at Walt Disney World. If something, that is one other indictment of World Celebration, because it simply dawned on me that there are issues Disney Springs truly does higher than that park’s new central backbone. However I digress.
Though the ‘park-like’ atmosphere is what the advertising emphasizes, the excessive level of Celestial Park is its structure and inside design. The land is that this cool mixture of Jules Verne meets Artwork Nouveau with a splash of exhibition-architecture and cosmos stylization. The insides of the eating places and retailers are all diversified and fascinating, showcasing Common Inventive on the prime of their sport.
Common went above and past with these, allocating vital artistic and financial assets to getting this all proper. Big kudos right here–I worry this similar space carried out by Disney would’ve been a bunch of boring and vaguely trendy designs (not a daring prediction given exactly what was delivered by way of World Celebration).
The exteriors aren’t at all times excellent and I worry that there received’t be fairly sufficient to lure friends inside and discover these venues, however those that do shall be rewarded with a number of the most unusual and fascinating concepts, together with an unparalleled depth of design.
Merely put, the themed design work contained in the areas in Celestial Park is best than something we’ve seen at Walt Disney World recently, particularly in ‘clean slate’ areas. I hope Imagineering takes the time to discover these shops and eating places, and is disabused of the notion that all the pieces like this must be sterile/crisp/clear/trendy/ethereal/insert different buzzword for boring.
Once more, Celestial Park is the one land in Epic Universe not primarily based on mental property so what’s been created for its two sights and huge array of eating places and retail is authentic. However this doesn’t imply it’s devoid of storytelling. There’s a backstory for Celestial Park itself that additionally weaves into the 4 outlying portals, making this space the connective tissue that makes an attempt to stop this from being yet one more ‘studios’ park.
In response to the land’s lore, the Chronos is a tool that gathers the cosmic power wanted to open the portals to the 4 worlds. The Chronos is in alignment, and alive with power. It opened a grand gathering house for vacationers from across the universe who’ve visited the portals, and the Chronos changed the comets that had beforehand served as transportation throughout the cosmos.
A minimum of, I assume that’s the backstory. This was solely ever relayed by way of the official “Uncover Common” Podcast and different pre-opening morsels of lore. The story was alleged to be conveyed to friends by way of the Hemisphere Stage and characters in Celestial Park who regaled friends with tales of the travels (assume Residents of Hollywood or Important Avenue). These characters had been all lower very early-on throughout previews.
Whereas I like the look of Celestial Park and might create my very own headcanon to make sense of all of it, I’d admire if there have been extra worldbuilding to flesh out its backstory and sense of time and place. This may additionally assist make the land really feel extra lived-in, and enticing to common friends, even when they’re not actively asking questions on these items.
The alternative for these Celestial-citizens is one other manner Celestial Park jogs my memory of Disney Springs is the leisure. I hate to disparage dwell performers, as they’re an asset to any space, however the modern acts in Celestial Park taking part in prime 40 hits and oldies remind me of these you’d see in Disney Springs or perhaps CityWalk. It’s all generic, taking part in radio music you might hear anyplace.
Truthfully, that is in all probability out of necessity. After spending time in Epic Universe, I now perceive the why of the aforementioned leisure cuts. With the best way friends are transferring by Celestial Park, there seemingly isn’t the chance for extra nuanced acts which have time to organically unfold and slowly seize an viewers. Nobody is keen to take the time to hunt out any such factor, or put money into it if passing by. As a substitute, the leisure wants to have the ability to beckon friends from throughout Celestial Park.
It’ll be fascinating to see how visitor response to Celestial Park evolves over time, or if it does. My expectation is that this space within the heart of the park will at all times hole out through the daytime, with the various eating places and retail areas seeing comparatively much less foot site visitors and fewer patrons than these in portals–until one rises to the highest as vacation spot eating (in all probability Atlantic?). However I might see Celestial Park feeling useless through the day for years to return, even because the portals themselves are slammed.
This received’t be a difficulty as soon as the solar goes down, as that’s when Celestial Park is definitely at its prettiest. It’s arguably the most effective land within the entirety of Epic Universe at night time, maybe even surpassing Darkish Universe. (The land with nighttime mainly in its identify!)
At nightfall, the colourful fountains and lights of Celestial Park interact and appeal to friends as they’re leaving Epic Universe, and the elevated dynamism will make Celestial Park a draw within the night. The one downside with that, as with the EPCOT overhaul, is that nighttime is a small sliver of the Epic Universe working day.
This is the reason we had been so happy to see Epic Universe prolong its hours for the primary half of summer time. I hope this continues. Truthfully, I’d even settle for a “compromise” the place the 4 major portals shut at 10 p.m., and Celestial Park stays open for purchasing and eating till 11 p.m. Given the sensible realities of clearing the park, and the potential for producing income, this looks like a win-win.
Lastly, I’m not going to fixate on the standard of the 2 sights in Celestial Park as a result of we do this in our Journey Opinions & Rankings for Epic Universe. Nonetheless, it’s price touching upon how they improve Celestial Park as thematic components, anchoring the land and giving it a way of kinetic power.
Constellation Carousel is unbelievable. It merely oozes heat and might be the primary time in theme park historical past {that a} carousel has acted as a land’s “wienie.” I can not recover from what an asset this attraction is to Celestial Park and Epic Universe as a complete; it jogs my memory of Fantasyland at Disneyland Paris or Tokyo DisneySea, each the best doable reward.
Every part about Constellation Carousel is first-rate. From its location in the course of the park to the rockwork and fountains to the nice and cozy lighting, colourful critters and whirligigs overhead. It could be “solely a carousel” as an attraction, however as an asset to the theme park, it’s a lot extra.
Then there’s the curler coaster on the perimeter of the park. One massive “concern” tangential to Celestial Park that comes up so much in fan debates is Stardust Racers being an uncovered curler coaster seen from all through the land and past. Disney wouldn’t have carried out this, it’s true! There’s a sure aversion to uncovered metal (besides when defined away by story) and stringence on sightlines amongst Disney followers vs. Common followers.
I view all of this on a case by case foundation. Not each sightline encroachment or thematic incursion is unforgivable. Some, similar to seeing a German citadel or Swiss mountain from Midwestern major road, are completely effective; they add a component of caprice and sudden cohesion. There’s no laborious and quick rule to this–it’s a odor take a look at. What works or is permissible is situational–does it add to the power versus distracting from the immersion?
To every their very own, however I view the position of Stardust Racers as a web optimistic and am not bothered by seeing it from elsewhere within the park or seeing backstage whereas on board the coaster. Stardust Racers radiates pleasure and exhilaration, and the locations from which it’s seen are largely effective. It’s a web optimistic.
Finally, the core thesis of Celestial Park that’s been superior by Common Orlando is that it “places the ‘park’ again in ‘theme park.’” That is seemingly the premise for followers calling it an EPCOT killer (properly, and that it has many fountains whereas World Celebration doesn’t, a reality that also stings). I’ve spent properly over 2,000 phrases on it, however all you need to do is look round Celestial Park through the day and see it almost empty to disprove that thesis.
Satirically sufficient, it’s all the non-park-like qualities the place Celestial Park shines. The portal has flashes of brilliance and kernels of nice concepts that might be fleshed out over time. It additionally has true exemplars of themed design and world-class theme park eating places that locals and followers will wish to revisit time and again (I can not wait to return to Pizza Moon, one in all my favourite spots within the entirety of Epic Universe). After which there’s nighttime, when darkness supplies shade, the fountains come alive and the lighting is gorgeous.
All of that could be a recipe for making me wish to decelerate and keep for some time in Celestial Park, even when I really feel a lot in another way through the day. In the long run, Celestial Park is neither an EPCOT killer nor a weak hyperlink. It’s a warts and all opening act that might be higher, and may enhance over time. I’m wanting ahead to seeing how Celestial Park evolves, as a result of it ought to. I’ve no such optimism for World Celebration. (Fortunately, that underwhelming central backbone is just not the totality of EPCOT’s atmospheric areas.)
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Celestial Park? Impressed by the type or substance of Epic Universe’s opening act? Do you assume it truly does “put the ‘park’ again in ‘theme park’”? Is that this land an EPCOT killer, weakest hyperlink, or someplace in between? Agree or disagree with our Celestial Park evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you will have within the feedback beneath!
