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The new Universal Orlando theme park will be a transit-oriented good time

NUMTOT Hot Spot

The new Universal Orlando theme park will be a transit-oriented good time

Conceptual rendering of Universal’s Epic Universe theme park (Universal Orlando)

Central Florida entertainment complex Universal Orlando is building a transit-oriented theme park. The company announced that its land of fun—the U.S.’s first big amusement park since 2001—is hoping to link up with local passenger rail service Virgin Trains to ferry customers to and from Miami.

Virgin Trains (formerly known as the Brightline) is a privately owned transit company that began providing high-speed rail service between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach in 2018. It would link to the park via a stop at Orange County Convention Center, which is steps away from the proposed main entrance to Epic Universe. Universal Orlando has been lobbying the company to provide a connection to the new park.

Universal Parks and Resorts CEO Tom Williams told Next Miami that his company will push “with every bit of strength that we’ve got” for the rail connection.

Outside of its possible amusement park involvement, the south Florida train company is on a major growth spurt. There are plans for a Tampa, Florida expansion, and by 2022, Orlando Airport–bound passengers will be able to travel directly from Miami. There should also be service to Orlando’s Walt Disney World soon: construction on a Disney train station began in May.

Conde Nast Traveler reported that the 750-acre Epic Universe will boast restaurants, retail, entertainment, and a hotel across four realms, each with their own separate entrance. There’s no word yet on an opening date or the types of attractions that will be contained within its walls, but it’s likely that Nintendo and Harry Potter content will feature prominently.

But that’s okay for all you NUMTOTS—the only thing you need to know is that you won’t need a car to get there.

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