Thursday marks the launch of the first new major theme park in Central Florida in nearly 30 years—and it’s a big deal for NBCUniversal, the state of Florida, and theme park lovers across the country.

Universal opened its first Orlando theme park, Universal Studios Florida, in 1990, expanding the resort with a second one, Universal Islands of Adventure, in 1999, and a water park, Volcano Bay, in 20...

The theme park, which officially opened to the public Thursday (it has been hosting paid previews for a couple months), boasts four immersive themed lands surrounding a central green area called Cele...