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Outsiders now can go inside Orlando\u2019s latest theme park via a televised special titled \u201cInside the World of Epic Universe.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n The 45-minute program, which originally aired on NBC<\/a>, is now available through the Peacock<\/a> streaming service. It\u2019s hosted by actor Joe Manganiello<\/a>, who gives a guided tour that includes special guests including Warwick Davis, Bowen Yang and the stars of the live-action version of \u201cHow to Train Your Dragon.\u201d<\/a> Viewers see director Steven Spielberg multiple times.<\/p>\n If you followed the development of the Universal Orlando<\/a> park, there\u2019s not much new here. But there\u2019s plenty of colorful footage of the attractions serving as reminders in case it\u2019s been a while since your visit. Still, it\u2019s not a blow-by-blow travelogue. Some rides \u2013 including Stardust Racers<\/a> roller coaster \u2013 are limited to quick cameos, and centerpiece Helios Grand Hotel<\/a> is seen but not heard about. Overall, it\u2019s a positive spin involving Comcast<\/a> corporate cousins.<\/p>\n The timing might seem odd to Orlandoans since the park debuted three months ago, but farflung possible Epic visitors are probably more of the target audience. There are scenes from the park\u2019s construction era, staged promotional footage, backstage animatronic scenes (barefoot Dracula alert<\/a>) and the pre-opening, star-studden celebration.<\/p>\n Still, we a few moments of interest to share. (Wait, was that a \u201creal\u201d flying dragon outside?)<\/p>\n Manganiello and Davis take a walk-through of the queue for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. They sit down to absorb the surroundings.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty uncanny, really, because this location exactly matches the set we shot on \u2026 the scale, the detail. It\u2019s all identical,\u201d Davis said. He also drops the fact about 175,000 custom-made tiles were used in the queue.<\/p>\n Later, viewers see the duo get into the ride vehicle and struggle a little with the seat belts.<\/p>\n The How to Train Your Dragon \u2013 Isle of Berk section of the park gets a lot of real estate, figuratively, during the program. It\u2019s bright, broad and so real-looking that it might look AI-generated.<\/p>\n Mason Thames<\/a> and Nico Parker<\/a>, stars of the \u201cDragon\u201d movie released in June, were big-eyed after passing through the Berk portal.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is way bigger than I thought it would be,\u201d Parker said. They also were enthusiastic about actually being allowed on the rides, and their front-row experience aboard Hiccup\u2019s Wing Gliders coaster appears in the special. They also spent time with the Toothless meet-and-greet animatronic and at the stage show.<\/p>\n Authenticity again was considered a marvel<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very true to what we were actually in,\u201d Thames said of the park\u2019s Great Hall restaurant.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like we never left [the set],\u201d Parker said.<\/p>\n Zoinks! Volcano Bay Nights to include Scooby-Doo and pals<\/a><\/p>\n Spielberg is interviewed in a screening room and also seen at Epic\u2019s construction site alongside Mark Woodbury<\/a>, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences.<\/p>\n \u201cMy eyes were pinching themselves,\u201d Spielberg said. \u201cI was humbled just to see it for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n As creative consultant for Universal Destinations & Experiences, he had a voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI was pushing for some kind of ride experience that would collide every one of these famous monsters together in one huge scary but entertaining experience,\u201d he said, pretty much describing Epic\u2019s Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment<\/a>.<\/p>\n Manganiello, Yang and Matt Roberts (who creates the Las Culturistas<\/a> podcast with Yang) encounter characters on the streets of Dark Universe, including the Invisible Man and Ygor, carrying a severed hand. The latter also is pivotal in the Monsters Unchained ride.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you the same Igor as Dr. Frankenstein or is this just a generational thing?\u201d Yang asked. (Answer: \u201cThe Ygor family has worked for the Frankenstein family for generations.\u201d)<\/p>\n The program also includes sound bites from stars such as Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh and Bryce Dallas Howard, each of whom have resumes containing Universal franchises.<\/p>\n Just when you\u2019ve heard plenty of Epic wordplay in the past few months, Davis ups the ante in closing. \u201cIt should be called Epic Epic Universe.\u201d<\/p>\n Manganiello has the last words: \u201cThe most exciting thing \u2026 they\u2019re only just getting started.\u201d<\/p>\n Hmmm, what does Joe know?<\/p>\n Peacock isn\u2019t done with its Epic storytelling. A three-part docuseries called \u201cEpic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks\u201d will be seen on the streamer later this year.<\/p>\n First peek: The Beak and Barrel, Magic Kingdom\u2019s pirate tavern<\/a><\/p>\n Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks<\/a>. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com\/newsletters<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nBattle-ready<\/h4>\n
Berk, big-time<\/h4>\n
Monster mash<\/h4>\n
Meeting Ygor<\/h4>\n
Even more Epic<\/h4>\n