Universal Just Filed a Permit for a Mystery Attraction at Epic Universe — and Then Pulled It

Universal Epic Universe has been open for less than a year, and the expansion plans are already moving faster than most people expected. A new permit filed with Orange County on March 24 references something called “Project 680” — described as a “future attraction” at Epic Universe — and calls for mass grading, utility connections, and rerouting of existing infrastructure at the site.

Then, just as quickly as it appeared, the permit was pulled from the Orange County website.

What the Permit Actually Says

The filing lists the address as 4700 W Sand Lake Road, which is the generic address for Epic Universe. The scope of work includes mass grading, utility points of connection, and reroutes — the kind of early-stage site preparation that happens before anything vertical goes up. This is not a permit for a building or a ride. It is a permit for the groundwork that has to happen first.

What makes this filing stand out is the language. Other recent Epic Universe permits have been tied to known projects — continued development in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an event space, and similar work within the existing park footprint. This one explicitly calls out a “future attraction” and assigns it a brand-new project code that has not appeared in any previous filing.

What We Do Not Know

Almost everything. There is no confirmed location within Epic Universe for Project 680. There is no intellectual property attached. There is no timeline, no ride type, no land designation. Universal has not commented publicly, and the removal of the permit from the county’s website only deepens the mystery.

It is worth noting that the permit was filed for a backstage area, which could mean this attraction is planned for a section of the park that has not yet been developed — or it could be related to infrastructure that supports something on the guest-facing side. Without more context, both interpretations are equally valid.

Why This Matters for Your Next Trip

Epic Universe opened in May 2025 with five themed worlds, and even in its first year, Universal has signaled that the park was designed to grow. The physical layout leaves room for additional lands, and Universal’s track record with Islands of Adventure and the original Studios park shows that post-opening expansion is not a question of if, but when.

If Project 680 turns into a full-scale attraction or a new land, it would represent the first major addition to Epic Universe since opening day. That timeline is aggressive — most theme parks wait several years before announcing post-opening expansions — but Universal has been moving at an unusual pace with this property.

For anyone planning a trip to Orlando in 2026 or 2027, none of this changes what you should do right now. Epic Universe is fully operational and worth visiting as it stands. But if you are the type of traveler who likes to time visits around new openings, this is a story worth watching.

We will update this post as more details emerge.

Source: WDW News Today