As a follower and fan of the Pra Falar de Disney (PFD) crew, one of the best podcasts about trips to the land of magic, I followed their journey to visit Epic Universe, Universal’s new park in Orlando, Florida. Everything was documented through the podcast episodes and on Instagram by Lucas Carneiro and Pedro Romero, the podcast hosts. It was an emotional experience, which made it even more fantastic to follow. For me, the highlight actually came before they showed the Epic Universe itself—when they surprised Lucas. He wasn’t going to attend, but PFD followers ended up buying his ticket. That way, the team was more than complete.
>>>Portuguese version: Especialistas do PFD revelam como o Epic Universe redefiniu a tecnologia em parques
When I published the article about the technology employed in the park, I reached out to Lucas and Pedro to get their personal account of the trip. And here it is: below is Lucas’s written account of the entire process—before and during. What it was like for these Orlando theme park experts to experience the magic and technology of Epic Universe. I hope you enjoy it and share it!
PFD at Epic Universe by Lucas Carneiro
In many years of working with digital transformation and technology projects, I never imagined that one of the things I love most in this world would merge with it. Being at Epic Universe on its opening day was simply unimaginable.
At PFD, we followed the journey from the very first announcement: every tree, every excavation, every tiny piece of news. But after 25 years since the last theme park opening in Orlando, we had never stopped to think about what it would mean to experience a park entirely conceived in the era of social media and artificial intelligence, with nearly “infinite” computational capacity.
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Could there be something beyond what Pandora at Animal Kingdom achieved with Flight of Passage or the Shaman of Songs? Something that could rival Rise of the Resistance? After all, Star Wars always seems light-years ahead in technology, just like its distant galaxy suggests.
The answer is yes. The moment you enter Epic Universe, you realize the park was designed for technology to enhance the visitor’s experience. Entry is done through facial recognition. Forget about carrying paper tickets that got soaked at Popeye’s or forgotten in your pocket. “But what’s so innovative about that?” It’s not the technology itself, but how it connects to the experience. Few things are more frustrating than leaving a roller coaster thrilled and then realizing your ticket is locked in the locker. At Epic, that doesn’t happen: the same facial recognition opens the locker for you—even if you look completely “turned inside out” after the ride.
Another point: Disney has always been famous for “tricking” the senses with magic, making everyone forget reality. At Epic, technology plays that role. In Monsters Unchained and Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry, it is often impossible to tell what is a screen, what is an animatronic, or what is a live actor. It’s the highest level of sensory immersion. And technology isn’t always about disruption; sometimes, it’s about the simplicity of fulfilling a fan’s dream. What is every Potterhead’s dream? To step through a Floo Powder fireplace and appear in the wizarding world. With lights and smoke, that dream comes true—and it works perfectly.
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The last, and perhaps most surprising, innovation lies in the How to Train Your Dragon show. “Spoiler alert”: at its climax, we see Hiccup flying on Toothless, held by steel cables. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. The projection transforms the screen into a sky full of clouds, while smoke covers the audience, creating the real sensation of flight.
In times of AIs, GPTs, and deepfakes, Epic Universe is a spectacle of technology in its noblest form: not technology for technology’s sake, but pure enchantment. A park designed to captivate both technology enthusiasts and theme park lovers alike.
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