Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort’s much-anticipated theme park, officially opened on Thursday, hours early to eager fans. It's the first major, traditional theme park to open in Florida ...

It’s the first major, traditional theme park to open in Florida since 1999, when Universal Islands of Adventure debuted, though Universal opened a themed Orlando water park, Volcano Bay, in 2017.

Universal Orlando has not released details about the capacity of the park, but Speigel estimates Epic Universe can accommodate roughly 45,000 to 50,000 people per day.

The fourth addition to Universal Orlando's Florida portfolio, Epic Universe will immerse visitors in the worlds of Harry Potter, Super Mario, "How to Train Your Dragon" and other beloved franchises.