Saying that Universal Orlando Resort is opening a brand-new theme park next month would be an understatement. What the resort really built is a universe of immersive experiences unlike anywhere else.

Epic Universe opens to the general public on May 22, but I was part of a special VIP tour of the new park this weekend. I rode every ride. I saw every show. I walked nearly every

It’s apparent in the tunnel-like “portal” entries into each land, stunning landscapes like the towering statues in Celestial Park or the new Helios hotel, the first one to be situated within a theme park itself. With its fountains and statues and hemispherical domes, the giant palace would look at home in Las Vegas.