Universal Orlando announces DreamWorks Land opening date: What to know

Universal Orlando Resort will open its newest land — DreamWorks Land — on June 14, the Florida resort announced Monday, but the new land isn’t the only new attraction coming set to debut this summer.

DreamWorks Land will feature characters from DreamWorks Animation, including Sherk, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda. Built on the site of the former KidZone inside Universal Studios park, the new land will feature rides including a Trolls Trollercoaster, Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp and Shrek’s Swamp Meet.

Guests can also enjoy their favorite characters in DreamWorks Imagination Celebration — “a multisensory live show that will bring beloved DreamWorks stories to life like never before,” according to NBCUniversal.

Also set to debut this summer is CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular — a new nighttime show in the lagoon inside the resort’s Universal Studios park; Hogwarts Always, a new castle projection show in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Hogsmede section in Islands of Adventure; and what the park is billing as its “largest daytime parade to date,” the Universal Mega Movie Parade.

“We are thrilled to debut an array of never-before-seen experiences for the entire family to enjoy from day to night,” said Karen Irwin, President & COO of Universal Orlando Resort. “These new experiences – coupled with the amazing attractions currently in our theme parks – will allow our guests to create lasting memories that will make this summer truly unforgettable.”

The company released additional details on the new attractions:

CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular: Set to debut alongside DreamWorks Land on June 14, the new show water-based show will celebrate the emotional power of music by leveraging the iconic scores and scenes from blockbuster films that have inspired Universal Orlando’s past, present and future attractions – including Warner Bros. Pictures Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, Jurassic World, Jaws, Shrek, Ghostbusters, Trolls, Back to the Future, Universal Monsters, Transformers, How to Train Your Dragon, E.T., Fast and Furious, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Minions, The Mummy and King Kong.

The lagoon show will feature 228 fountains reaching heights up to 131 feet; 4K projection mapping; an original composition featuring newly-arranged scores for each scene; and more than 600 drones — “all coming together to envelop guests in a breathtaking display of unforgettable cinematic moments,” according to the resort.

Universal Mega Movie Parade: Scheduled to start July 3, the new daytime parade will be a celebration of iconic movies E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, Ghostbusters, Jurassic World, Illumination’s Minions and Sing and DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls and Kung Fu Panda. The parade will combine 13 new floats, nearly 100 performers – including dancers, skaters, stilt walkers, poi performers and more, coupled with special effects.

Parade-goers will see a 16-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man atop a Ghostbusters float; a Jaws-themed float with a drum line performing the score from the classic film; and a Gyrosphere, Raptors, and Tyrannosaurus rex on a Jurassic World float, among other elements.

The park’s rotating Tribute Store will be themed to the new parade experience, including new merchandise and photo opportunities inspired by the films featured in the parade.

Hogwarts Always castle projection show: The new projection show on Hogwarts Castle inside Hogsmede at Islands of Adventure will feature a tour de force of iconic moments of a school year at Hogwarts, including supply shopping in Diagon Alley, a ride aboard the Hogwarts Express, the Sorting Hat Ceremony, and celebrating the House Cup winner, among other elements.

The show will also feature four different endings geared to each of the four Hogwarts houses, and culminates with a pyrotechnic display.

Still to come, of course, is an opening date for Universal Orlando’s much-anticipated new park, Epic Universe, scheduled to open in 2025.

For more information, including ticket prices and hotel reservations, visit the Universal Orlando website.