Universal’s newest theme park makes big impact on Orlando tourism
Katherine oversees editorial operations across all six brands. Before joining The Meridan Group, she spent 14 years at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she led the metro desk through its digital transformation. She holds a Master's in Journalism from Northwestern's Medill School.
More from Katherine →
Universal Orlando’s newest theme park is already making a major impact on Central Florida’s tourism industry, helping drive an increase in theme park attendance during its first year of operation.According to the Themed Entertainment Association, Central Florida’s theme parks saw attendance climb by more than 4% in 2025, with Universal’s Epic Universe contributing to the growth.The highly anticipated theme park welcomed approximately 4 million visitors during its first seven months of operation, adding a significant number of guests to the region’s tourism numbers.Despite the strong debut for Epic Universe, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom continued to lead the global theme park industry.Magic Kingdom remained the world’s most-visited theme park in 2025, attracting nearly 18 million visitors.The attendance figures highlight the continued popularity of Central Florida as a global theme park destination, with Epic Universe adding another major attraction to an already competitive touris