Jaden Ruiz
9/13/25
Professor Michael Perrotta
My Column: Go Big or Go Home
Everyone loves a good escape from reality for a while; a nice getaway from any stress or nervousness for what’s to come in your life next.
There’s always the options of going to a cultural place for a visit, or a cruise, but I think
that Florida is something that was missing some attention, until now.
If you go to Universal Orlando Studios, I think that it is pretty safe to say that you won’t be disappointed, since they opened up a whole new park called “Epic”.
It should be said that the fact is that it lives up to its name and will in no time be one of the quickest head turns that will get as many people as possible curious of what’s new: from loving rollercoasters and park attractions to people who even just want to try the food.
One of their key rivals can be said to be Six Flags, since they have similar attractions and ca be closer for most people compared to going to Florida. Kids also don’t make it easy to choose either all the time, but who’s the one spending their money for transportation
Epic has a new Mario World and How to Train your Dragon as new themes in their park, with also adding even more Harry Potter love, the dark universe, and a Celestial Park.
The Mario World has a total of three coaster rides and an area to meet Mario and Luigi for pictures, which would be any kid that’s a fan’s dream! In the How to Train Your Dragon World, there are a total of three coaster rides, a water ride which is kid friendly, and a show for the family to take into to get the feel of the movies.
For the Harry Potter world, they have a total of one roller coaster, but is one of the best and visually stunning rides, with a show, an interactive kid friendly wand area, and a shopping center for more Harry Potter merch. For the dark universe area, there are a total of two roller coasters, a makeup experience area to look like a scary figure/monster, and a character encounters area to take pictures with the scary monsters of you dare!
For the last area, which is the Celestial Park, it has one roller coaster which hurls you “across the cosmos”, and a kid friendly cosmic carousel that you can ride a celestial animal on to view the constellations indoors, or outdoors depending on the time of day that you choose to go in it!
Each has their own unique roller coaster rides, shows, shopping centers throughout each theme area, and set ups, giving the feeling of you being in the built-up world and getting whatever you want, which is something that playland, or six flags may not do.
Of course, every amusement park has some choices of food and drinks to get while you are there on your journey to have some fun. However, in Epic Park, each area can do breakfast, lunch, and dinner full of places with selections, such as pizza, burgers, vegan bowls, salmon, etc. Each in different restaurants around the park! The options are too many and delicious to pass on when you’re there!
In the end, granted six flags and playland may have more rides than universal’s epic park alone, but epics rides quality is like no other. As each room you wait in builds up the feeling and intensity of approaching the ride(s) of your life in any theme park!
