This summer, Universal Creative provided 16 students from the University of Central Florida (UCF) with an exclusive glimpse into the process of developing a world-class theme park as part of the UCF Creative Lab. First introduced in 2023, this is the initial themed experiences program of its kind. This unique educational opportunity allows students to learn directly from top professionals in the industry. Universal Creative is responsible for bringing to life compelling narratives and beloved characters through innovative attractions, immersive locations, and more at Universal Destinations & Experiences sites worldwide. Each semester, students join the Universal Creative team on-site at Universal Orlando Resort to gain hands-on experience in creating theme park rides and experiences, including the upcoming Universal Epic Universe theme park. Universal Creative Team Members serve as speakers and participate in panel discussions where they share their expertise in storytelling, design, engineering, safety, legal matters, budgeting, business analytics, and other essential skills for attraction development. Over 90 speakers from Universal Creative have been involved in the program since its inception. Peter Weishar, the founding director of UCF’s themed experiences program, commended Universal for exceeding his expectations for the class. Chris Oliver, the vice president of engineering and safety at Universal Creative, emphasized the advantages of the program being located in Central Florida, the hub of themed entertainment. The students receive feedback on their creativity, project design, management, and presentation skills from a panel of Universal Creative leaders at the end of each semester. The networking opportunities provided by the program are highly valued by students, such as Karlyn Leander, a themed experiences student and Universal Creative intern. Since the launch of UCF Creative Lab in Spring 2023, nearly 40% of students who participated in the class have been hired by Universal. The program aims to raise awareness of careers in themed entertainment and inspire students who may not have considered it as a potential career path. The Creative Lab, offered through the themed experiences program in the UCF College of Arts and Humanities, consists of a graduate-level spring course and a six-week summer course open to graduate and upper-level undergraduate students from any accredited institution. Universal Creative plans to expand the program into additional disciplines in the future to continue educating and inspiring the next generation of themed entertainment professionals.