Universal Epic Universe, the brand new theme park in Orlando, made quite an impression last night at the prestigious, annual Golden Ticket Awards by Amusement Today. These awards are voted on by industry professionals and members of the media for numerous categories related to the themed entertainment industry. And the Universal Orlando Resort has a lot to be proud of.
“It was Universal’s year, unquestionably,” said Tim Baldwin, Golden Ticket Awards Communications Coordinator. “There was so much build-up to this park’s opening, dating back before the pandemic. And they pulled it off. The awards alone demonstrate that Universal really delivered the goods.”
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry | Best New Attraction Installation
One of the most technologically advanced rides in themed entertainment history, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is the sole ride in the Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic portal world at Universal Epic Universe. This attraction utilizes massive LED screens, fluid animatronics and a lot of visual trickery to create believable 3D effects without the use of glasses.
This ride usually boasts the longest wait times in the park as Harry Potter fans clamor to experience not just the ride but its jaw-dropping queue. The Universal Orlando Resort states, “Both the queue and attraction spaces for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry are covered by tiles. The Métro-Floo alone has over 80,000 subway tiles and the British Ministry of Magic™ spaces have over 125,000 of the iconic Ministry tiles in five colors!”
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment | Best Dark Ride
Dark rides, flat rides and roller coasters are most well known as the foundations of the theme park industry. While a dark ride doesn’t necessarily need to be in the dark, this next winner certainly is. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is the E-ticket attraction in the Dark Universe portal world at Universal Epic Universe. This attraction utilizes the Kuka robot arm to take visitors into the manor of Victoria Frankenstein for a ride best described as a love letter to the horror franchise.
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment was the first ride at Universal Epic Universe to reach 1,000,000 riders. The ride’s incredibly efficient loading system allows this fan-favorite attraction to maintain lower wait times than most other big rides in the park. But, for those waiting in line, the queue experience is filled with lore as you make your way farther and farther into the manor to discover the experiments that Victoria Frankenstein and Ygor are up too.
Dark Universe | Best New Theme Concept
Being bold enough to present an idea and brave enough to back it with funding requires an award. And that is where the Best New Theme Concept award comes in, going to the Dark Universe portal world at Universal Epic Universe. Dark Universe offers a step into a category of film that is rarely showcased in theme parks, horror. But, much like we have learned with the Universal Classic Monsters, being a monster doesn’t have to make you a villain.
“Who’s the true monster? The one in chains or the one who put us there?” – Dracula
Dark Universe offers two rides, three dining locations, numerous monster character experiences and an interconnected story system that brings the land to life multiple times per hour with lighting, sound and large-scale fire effects. While this land does feature thrilling attractions and horror based characters, the Universal Creative team toed the fine line between a family friendly, monster filled land and a horror experience. Clearly, this award proves that many believe they found the sweet spot.
Stardust Racers | Best New Roller Coaster
Roller coasters are the icons of amusement parks, dating back to the early 1900’s. These park status symbols boast big hills, fast drops, world records and thrilling, memorable experiences. Stardust Racers in Celestial Park at Universal Epic Universe delivers a truly incredible experience, offering riders the chance to race family, friends and strangers side-by-side as you rocket into the cosmos.
This dual launch, dueling coaster takes riders up to 62 miles per hour over 5,000 feet of track and into a world-first roller coaster maneuver, the Celestial Spin. The ride features an original soundtrack that changes from day to night, alongside its sparkling, comet-themed nighttime lighting package.
Universal Volcano Bay | Best Water Park
The awards didn’t end with Universal Epic Universe. Universal’s water park, Universal Volcano Bay, also took home an award, the Best Water Park. With its iconic volcano, sandy beaches and array of attractions, Universal Volcano Bay has brought the water park crown to Florida, away from the state of Texas where it has resided for 26 years.
This year marked a new offering for Universal Volcano Bay, Volcano Bay Nights, a way to experience the park after the sun goes down. Snacks, entertainment and short wait times are all included in this package. This adds-on to the existing lineup of rides, experiences and dining inside of the park. Given its tight footprint in the middle of Orlando’s tourism district, this water park excels at bringing the tropics to the Universal Orlando Resort.
You can explore the full list of Golden Ticket Awards winners via the official website or by reading Amusement Today. This annual award features the existing year (this being 2025) and some past year (being 2024) for specific honors. Attractions that debut later in the year have a chance to win during following awards ceremony, so keep an eye out for 2026’s award winners.
