Universal’s new Orlando park has barely been open a month, and the star sightings are stacking up faster than the lines for the Mario Kart ride.
Over the past two weekends alone, photographers caught Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter and at least two Kardashians weaving through the Celestial Park portal.
It turns out the hottest red carpet in America right now is made of themed pavement.
The buzz started with a single TikTok: Bad Bunny, in a bucket hat and sunglasses, riding the Hiccup’s Wing Gliders coaster with a handler trailing behind him.
The clip hit 40 million views in three days.
Within a week, every publicist in Los Angeles seemed to have the same idea, and Epic became the unofficial summer headquarters for celebrities who want to be seen acting like regular tourists.
What makes it work is the setting itself.
Unlike Disney or the classic Universal parks, Epic is new enough that even jaded stars haven’t done it a hundred times.
The dragon animatronic in Isle of Berk is genuinely jaw-dropping on camera, and the Dark Universe monsters give influencers something spooky to pose next to.
It’s fresh content in a landscape where everyone is desperate for fresh content.
The park’s own social team is clearly leaning in.
Universal has started posting coy “who’s that in the crowd?” teases that fans decode within hours.
A blurry figure in a green jacket turned out to be Timothée Chalamet, which sent film Twitter into a full investigation.
The strategy is smart: let the stars do the marketing, and let the fans do the detective work for free.
Park regulars have started complaining about roped-off walkways and sudden ride closures that only seem to happen when a famous face shows up.
One viral Reddit thread accused Universal of “turning a theme park into a VIP lounge,” and the debate over whether celebrity perks ruin the experience for paying families is only getting louder.
Hotel bookings near the park are up, annual pass sales are climbing, and the “Epic celebrity sighting” hashtag has become its own genre of online content.
Whether or not you spot a star, the park has officially become the place to be seen this summer, and Hollywood knows it. **Our take:** Universal stumbled into the best PR machine money can’t buy, and the celebrities get to look relatable for a day.
The real question is how long the magic lasts once the novelty fades and the next shiny thing opens.
Final Thoughts
For now, though, Epic is winning the summer without ever paying for a billboard.