ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – When Universal Orlando announced plans for its massive new theme park, Epic Universe, fans of Florida’s theme park scene were thrilled. But in the quiet neighborhood next door, the reaction was far more cautious.
Residents of Tangelo Park, a small, historically Black community, had two big concerns when the project was first announced in 2019: traffic and gentrification. Now, as the 750-acre park rapidly takes shape, those fears are becoming a daily reality.
[Watch video below to see and hear neighbors’ concerns]
Robert DuBose has lived in Tangelo Park for more than 40 years. He remembers the peace and quiet that once defined the community. Today, things have changed.
“In the morning you can’t hardly go down the main street, and in the evening when they get off work, you can hardly go up the street,” he said.
His main concern is the increased traffic — especially on Mandarin Drive, which has become a cut-through for theme park employees and construction traffic avoiding congestion on Kirkman Road and International Drive.
Another resident, Adam Sutton, lives right on Mandarin. He says it’s now a constant stream of cars.
“It’s been sort of busy, like getting in and out,” Sutton said. “They stay busy all the time.”
Even outside of rush hour, our team saw semi-trucks rumbling through the neighborhood, using streets never meant for heavy traffic.
District 6 Commissioner Mike Scott, who represents the area, says work is underway to improve the situation.
“We’ve put signage, and we’re more than 50% done with some of the roadway improvements,” he explained. “Once a lot of the construction on Kirkman is complete and traffic routing is finalized, I think we’ll see a lot less congestion.”
But the issue goes beyond traffic. Residents say they are being inundated with offers to sell their homes — sometimes multiple times a week.
“I get letters all the time,” one neighbor said. “They want to buy the property.”
These offers, often from investors or prospective residents looking to live closer to the park, have created an atmosphere of mounting pressure.
Despite the temptation, many are saying no. “You’re not selling?” we asked Adam Sutton. “No,” he answered flatly. For residents like Sutton and DuBose, Tangelo Park is more than just a place to live—it’s where their families have built lives for decades.
Still, not everyone has been able to hold out.
“This church, my house, and my neighborhood is important to me and my friends,” said DuBose. “Although a lot of them are leaving… I don’t blame them. People gonna give them enough money to move somewhere else.”
He shared that some who have sold are now paying $1,500 a month in rent.
As Epic Universe prepares to open its gates, the buzz surrounding the park is only growing louder. But just across Sand Lake Road, Tangelo Park stands in quiet contrast— unsure how much longer it can hold on.