How Big Is the Universal Orlando Resort?
Universal Orlando currently covers over 1,500 acres split across three areas:
- Main Resort Area: 725 Acres
- Endless Summer Resort: 64 Acres
- Epic Universe: 750 Acres
These three areas are close in proximity but are not tied together, as demonstrated in the map below.
The History of Universal Land Holdings
The main reason the 1,500 acres that Universal owns are not tied together is how and when the land was bought.
When Universal first launched its Florida venture, it owned 423 acres. This expanded to 840 acres and then stabilised at 725 acres. This is the “Main Resort Area” of Universal Orlando and features:
- Universal Studios Florida
- Islands of Adventure
- CityWalk
- On-site Hotels
- Portofino Bay Hotel
- Hard Rock Hotel
- Royal Pacific Resort
- Sapphire Falls Resort
- Aventura Hotel
- Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
- Volcano Bay
In 1998, Universal purchased 2,000 acres near the Orange County Convention Center. Universal paid $200 million for the land and intended to build a theme park, hotels, and a sports complex.
However, financial difficulties and a change in ownership led to the sale of this 2,000-acre property in 2003 for just $70 million. This turned out to be a mistake because 12 years later, Universal began efforts to buy back the land.
- In 2015, Universal bought back 474 acres for $130 million.
- In 2017, an additional 101 acres were acquired for $27.5 million.
- By 2018, more land was reacquired, though the exact details remain undisclosed.
The Universal Orlando Resort Areas
Today, the 1,500 acres of land that makes up the Universal Orlando Resort covers three areas:
Main Resort Area: 725 Acres
The main resort area of Universal Orlando is at the northern end of International Drive. This is the longest-standing area of Universal Orlando and features:
- Universal Studios Florida: 108 acres
- Islands of Adventure: 110 acres
- CityWalk: 30 acres
- On-site Hotels
- Portofino Bay Hotel
- Hard Rock Hotel
- Royal Pacific Resort
- Sapphire Falls Resort
- Aventura Hotel
- Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
- Volcano Bay: 27 acres
Endless Summer Resort: 64 Acres
The Endless Summer Resort area of Universal Orlando is located one mile south of the Main Resort Area. This area opened in the summer of 2019 and features:
- Surfside Inn and Suites
- Dockside Inn and Suites
Epic Universe: 750 Acres
Epic Universe will open in the summer of 2025. This new theme park will be located on the 2,000-acre stretch of land Universal reacquired between 2015 and 2018.
The Epic Universe area of Universal Orlando Resort is 2.5 miles south of the “Main Resort Area.”
When the Epic Universe area opens in 2025, only 750 acres of the 2,000-acre stretch of land will have been developed. It will include:
- Epic Universe Theme Park: 110 acres
- On-site Hotels:
- Universal Stella Nova Resort
- Universal Terra Luna Resort