The stage is set, the floats are rolling, and the movie magic is back in motion. Universal Orlando Resort has revived one of its most celebrated live entertainment offerings—and it’s arriving alongside a much larger wave of transformation.
As of this week, the Universal Mega Movie Parade has officially returned to the streets of Universal Studios Florida. It’s a high-energy showcase of IP-driven nostalgia, timed to reflect both the studio’s deep film catalog and its growing ambition as a global theme park powerhouse.
The reintroduction of the parade may seem like a crowd-pleaser in isolation, but it speaks to something bigger: Universal’s evolving strategy to balance large-scale innovation with the time-tested power of live, character-filled spectacles.
A Parade Built on Big-Screen Nostalgia
Running most days through mid-November, the Universal Mega Movie Parade is once again anchoring afternoons at Universal Studios Florida with a star-studded lineup. The parade features 13 intricately designed floats and nearly 100 performers, including dancers, skaters, stilt walkers, and poi artists.
Crowd favorites have returned, including the 16-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters, a full-scale Tyrannosaurus rex from Jurassic World, and a drum line-led float celebrating Jaws. Notably absent this year are the Kung Fu Panda and Trolls floats.
While the parade had been on hiatus, its return retains much of the original format, making only slight adjustments to its lineup. This year’s performance schedule includes daily runs through April 24, intermittent dates into May, and a second daily run from May 18 through August 26. After that, the parade continues on select days until mid-November, when it yields the spotlight to the Universal Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, beginning November 21.
A Global Expansion Beyond the Parade Route
The return of the Mega Movie Parade is just one part of Universal’s bigger-picture expansion. On May 22, 2025, the long-awaited Epic Universe theme park will open in Orlando. The park will feature five lands: Celestial Park, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe, a horror-themed zone inspired by Universal’s classic monsters.
Key attractions will include the Stardust Racers dual-launch coaster and Mine-Cart Madness in Donkey Kong Country, which uses Universal’s groundbreaking “boom coaster” tech to simulate trackless jumps. The Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride promises to push interactivity further than ever before.
In 2026, Universal will open Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas—its first park specifically designed for younger children. The six-land resort will feature franchises like Shrek, Gabby’s Dollhouse, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Jurassic World, offering family-focused rides and character encounters.
Looking further ahead, Universal has its sights set on Europe. A new resort is planned for Bedford, England, set to open in 2031. The 476-acre development will include themed lands, a 500-room hotel, and IPs ranging from Paddington and James Bond to rumored elements from The Lord of the Rings. It marks the company’s most ambitious international play to date.
In the meantime, the Universal Mega Movie Parade serves as a colorful, accessible reminder of what the brand does best—bringing its biggest screen stories to life just steps away from its most exciting future.
What’s your favorite part of the Universal Mega Movie Parade?
