What's Under Construction at Disney, Universal and Other Top Theme Parks

With the theme park industry shut down for several months in 2020, construction plans have been thrown into doubt throughout the industry. But here's what we know now about the state of newly announced projects at the world's top theme parks.

The biggest project was Universal Orlando's new Epic Universe theme park, which was to open on a new site located just north of the Orange County Convention Center in 2023. Initial concept art depicts four immersive theme lands, tipped by many to include Orlando's installation of Super Nintendo World as well as lands based upon The Wizarding World's Fantastic Beasts franchise and Dreamworks Animation's How to Train Your Dragon. The project is now on indefinite hold, facing a one-year delay according to local officials.

As for Super Nintendo World, the first installation of that land was supposed to open this summer at Universal Studios Japan, then come Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Singapore at as-yet-unannounced dates. Featuring real-life versions of Bowser's Castle and Princess Peach's Castle, the video game-themed land will include a Mario Kart ride — "the most immersive and cutting-edge technological attraction that we could possibly imagine," Universal Creative officials have said.

At the Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure is scheduled to get a Marvel-themed Avengers Campus land featuring Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, a new interactive dark ride. Disney's original opening date for that was July 18, but that's been delayed with no new date announced.

Meanwhile at Walt Disney World, the trackless dark ride Ratatouille: The Adventure now is expected to open in Epcot's expanded France pavilion in early 2021, while the TRON Lightcycle Run roller coaster at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind indoor coaster now appear to have been pushed back to 2022.

Here is our complete list of all attractions currently under construction or officially announced at the world's major theme parks.

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