Get ready to be blown away.
On May 22, 2025, Universal Orlando elevated the global theme park wars by opening the long-awaited Epic Universe theme park. Universal’s third theme park (fourth, if you count Universal Volcano Bay water park) has arguably set a new bar for theme park immersion, and it’s only getting started. Let’s look at the good, the great, and all the rest of Epic Universe, along with some touring strategies to help you have an “Epic” time when you visit.
The Worlds of Epic Universe
Ok, let’s set the table. Epic Universe is – at its core – a collection of five worlds. The central world – Celestial Park – serves as a hub for the park, and connects the other four worlds via uniquely-styled “portals.” Here’s a brief rundown of all the worlds.
Celestial Park
Your Epic Universe adventure starts in Celestial Park. This cosmos-themed central area greets guests at the park’s front gates, and opens up into each of the park’s other four worlds. But in addition to serving as a hub connecting the other worlds, Celestial Park boasts its own theming, attractions, and dining.
Celestial Park Attractions
Two attractions in Celestial Park whisk guests off-planet. The headliner is Stardust Racers – a high-intensity rollercoaster that pits two trains on parallel tracks on a race through the stars. This attraction may be the best in all of the park, especially when enjoyed at night among the twinkle and glow of Celestial Park and the recently-opened Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Stardust Racers just may challenge other local coasters for the best in the Orlando area. Despite steep competition like Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Jurassic World Velocicoaster, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind wowing guests at every turn, Stardust has quickly proven it belongs in the “best coaster” discussion.
For kids and guests not interested in the intensity of Stardust Racers, Celestial Park also offers quite the opposite experience – Constellation Carousel. A menagerie of earthly and otherworldly creatures roam beneath a glowing canopy, weaving in and out of each other’s paths in the process. While the design and aesthetic of this carousel is beautiful to look at, the design seems to have outsmarted itself. Guest loading is slow and the ride is short and unrewarding. Still, it’s a pretty space.
Celestial Park Dining and Shopping
The menu in Celestial Park is surprisingly inspiring, with full-service dining locations venues, as well as quick service locations. Atlantis features a seafood-focused menu beneath a ceiling of illuminated fish. The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant serves authentic Asian cuisine as “dazzling neon dragons chase across the walls.”
Quick-service options include The Oak & Star Tavern – serving barbeque food and nice cold beer, and Meteor Astropub – serving traditional pub fare in a cosmically cool hangout.
Snack locations include Pizza Moon (which has earned rave reviews), Plastered Owl Bar, Frosty Moon, Comet Dog, and several others.
Celestial Park offers a broad selection of merchandise from all five worlds – the largest stores being Other Worlds Mercantile, Sensorium Emporium, and Nintendo Super Star Store (more on that in a moment).
Super Nintendo World
“It’s a-me, Mario!”
Walk (and climb) through the iconic green pipe and into a colorful, boisterous, fully-alive video game world. Super Nintendo World is the definition of themed immersion. The primary area here is Super Mario Land, and it is buzzing with classic characters from the Super Mario video game franchise – including Goomba Mushrooms, Koopa Troopas, Piranha Plants, and everything (and everyone) in between. Everything moves in this land, to the degree that – even if you stand still – you still feel the world moving around you. Universal’s Power-Up Bands enhance the experience in this land, inviting users to play adorable mini-games for a chance to take on Bower’s son (appropriately named Bowser Jr.) for bragging rights on the land’s leader board.
The majority of Super Nintendo World is ruled by Mario and Luigi, but there is in fact a bit of non-Mario fanfare here as well. Donkey Kong Country is another mini-land located within Super Nintendo World, giving kids of the 80s like me a chance to geek out with our pixelated DK memories. This area is a total vibe, and I’m down for it anytime!
Super Nintendo World Attractions
Two of Super Nintendo World’s three attractions are located in Super Mario Land. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge invites riders to race in their very own Mario Kart race. The attraction builds on the features of a classic dark ride, adding screen simulation and virtual reality augmentation to give the feel of racing out-of-control go-karts among a handful of your closest competitors (I mean, friends). The queue for Bowser’s Challenge is littered with giant, colorful nods to all walks of the Super Mario universe. Overall, Bowser’s Challenge embraces the future of what immersive dark rides can be, though this first iteration of the attraction did prove a bit clunky at times.
Yoshi’s Adventure takes guests on a sky-high (but pleasantly calm) ride through Mushroom Kingdom atop their very own Yoshi. Guests are challenged to find three hidden Yoshi eggs, while enjoying views of Super Mario Land below (trust me, the eggs are not at all difficult to spy). Yoshi’s Adventure is adorable and worth riding at least once, but the slow pace, small footprint, and low re-rideability factor keeps this from being an every-visit type of attraction.
Over in Donkey Kong Country, Mine-Cart Madness takes guests on an indoor/outdoor wild family coaster cart ride. Along the way, riders are treated to zany interactions with Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and several others – all while appearing to “jump” sections of broken rail in an attempt to help Donkey Kong protect the Golden Banana. This wild ride was a blast, though a bit short. It’s also a little rough on the body, with a few jerky moments. The mostly outdoor queue has a subdued theme with a couple gems – silhouetted murals of classic Donkey moments, and a stunning audio-animatronic of Cranky Kong, which makes the queue wait worth the time.
Outside of these attractions, guests can also meet Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad – and occasionally Donkey Kong. I was really hoping for a chance to meet Donkey Kong while I was visiting, but it wasn’t meant to be on the day of my visit.
Super Nintendo World Dining and Shopping
There are no full-service dining locations in Super Nintendo World, but Toadstool Cafe is pretty close to full service. This is one of the growing list of Universal Orlando dining options guiding guests to mobile order ahead (or while waiting in line for a table), and the food gets delivered to the guests’ table shortly after sitting down. The mobile order system works well enough, though it lacks a personal touch. Toadstool Cafe is immaculately themed, with “windows” looking out into the adorable daily bustle of Mushroom Kingdom. The food here includes classic American options – all finished with a signature Mario touch. Sandwich picks boast the iconic Mario hats, or even the classic level-clearing flags. The chairs in Toadstool Cafe are ginormous, and must weigh at least 30 pounds each. The wait to dine at Toadstool Cafe is the biggest drawback – we waited about 45 minutes just to sit down. It’s a tough swallow (pardon the pun) for quick-service food.
Snack locations sprinkled around Super Nintendo World include Yoshi’s Snack Island, Turbo Boost Treats, and – over in Donkey Kong Country – The Bubbly Barrel (this is where you can find the super-popular DK Crush Float – served, if desired, in a fun souvenir DK Barrel Mug).
Merchandise is all the rage in Super Nintendo World, and it’s hard to resist! The 1-UP Factory is the largest and most popular shopping location, serving up nods to all the most popular Nintendo characters (and a few deeper dives as well). Mario Motors – located at the end of Bowser’s Challenge – specializes in Mario Kart-related merchandise. Funky’s Fly ‘n’ Buy – over in Donkey Kong Country – offers all things, Kong, yellow, and banana-related!
Don’t overlook the Nintendo Super Star Store. This merchandise location is technically located in Celestial Park, but it sells most of the same merch as the 1-UP Factory, with a fraction of the crowds. I suggest doing more of your Nintendo shopping here.
Dark Universe
“It’s Alive!” (sort of).
In Dark Universe, guests enter the Village of Darkmoor to take a stroll through the crumbling streets of a mythic yesteryear. This foreboding world is home to unearthly legends and monstrous experiments – a shadowy realm where legend meets reality. Speaking of legend – Darkmoor has been plagued for centuries by frightening monsters and mad scientists twisting the laws of nature and discarding the rules of science.
I’m just gonna say it here – Dark Universe is the sleeper hit world in Epic Universe. It is impeccably themed, yet sorely overlooked. I suspect that will change when the Halloween season sets in. Did I mention the Danny Elfman soundtrack? Chef’s kiss.
Dark Universe Attractions
Two frightening (ok, maybe “thrilling”) attractions call Darkmoor home. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment pits Dr. Victoria Frankenstein against Dracula and a who’s-who of Universal’s classic gothic monsters – including the Wolf Man, the Mummy, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, among others. This dark ride challenges Stardust Racers and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry for the title of best attraction in Epic Universe. It combines stellar audio-animatronics, well-placed screens, and the wild Kuka Arm ride system, giving guests a good shake! Monsters Unchained feels like a dead-man’s party wrapped in a battle for life!
Curse of the Werewolf is a winding, swiveling coaster taking riders on a frantic run through the woods of Darkmoor. This family-friendly thrill coaster twists and turns for over two full minutes, reaching speeds up to 37 miles per hour. This coaster isn’t overly imaginative, but it’s a lot of fun. One downside – the line can grow long due to a slower loading process.
Outside of these headlining attractions, visitors to darkmoor can meet Frankenstein’s Monster (and his Bride) as well as Ygor. Guests wanting to live their best (and darkest) life can visit Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience. Think of this as Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for adults of the underworld.
Dark Universe Dining and Shopping
Darkmoor hosts three quick-service dining locations. Das Stakehaus is the primary location for a satisfying meal. Celebrating the vampire culture, Das Stakehaus is run by vampires’ “familiars” (human servants). Festive menu fare includes items like Bird on a Stake (chicken skewers) and “Blood Orange” Chicken Sandwich – served in a delightfully dark black bun. This is another mobile-order restaurant. In stark contrast to Toadstool Cafe, Das Stakehaus tends to be much less crowded, and the dark, subdued atmosphere lends to a much more relaxing dining experience.
The Burning Blade Tavern features the instantly famous (and Instagram-friendly) burning blade, which bursts into flame on occasion. This is especially impactful in the evening. Inside, the tavern features comfort pub food and a fun assortment of alcoholic drinks (and a few non-alcoholic choices). De Lacey’s Cottage is a small walk-up counter location, serving up pretzel bites and cinnamon bites, plus an assortment of basic beverages.
Guests looking to purchase morbid curiosities in Darkmoor can shop at Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities – a “wondrous emporium where his macabre items are on display (and for sale).” The Manor Storehouse features more conventional monster-themed souvenirs, apparel, jewelry, toys, candy, and collectibles. The Guild of Mystics offers a few more souvenirs like t-shirts, magical charms, and hand-crafted jewelry.
How to Train your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Of all the worlds of Epic Universe, Isle of Berk was the one I was least excited about when it was announced. I happily ate my words (as well as a couple mac and cheese cones). Overall, I was immensely impressed by the cheerful energy and positive vibes in Berk. The land captures the heart, humor, and scale of the How to Train Your Dragon film series, presenting an authentic re-creation of the rugged, rocky world where Vikings and dragons live together in amusing harmony.
Guests roaming around Berk will marvel at the sparkling lagoon which boasts two 40-foot-tall Viking statues. Set back towards the rear of Berk is Raven Point. This colorful mountain peak serves as the land’s icon, and nestles dragons in steep slopeside caves. The forced perspective used in crafting this peak didn’t quite pull off the desired scale, but it is still a fun sight to see. The music in Berk gives a sweeping, victorious feel – lending to the positive energy.
Isle of Berk Attractions
Berk boasts the most attractions in all of Epic Universe, with a total of five. The headliner attraction is Hiccup’s Wing Gliders – a fun family-friendly thrill coaster taking swoops and dips through Berk, paying a visit to Hiccup and Toothless along the way. This coaster has no inversions, but there are plenty of sharp turns to keep the thrill high. Unfortunately, Hiccups is also prone to breakdowns. We were foiled on two different occasions when the ride went down. During afternoon thunderstorms two days in a row when all outdoor rides closed, Hiccups was the last to reopen. Hopefully these are initial bugs that will be worked out over time.
Dragon Racer’s Rally is a swooping, circular spinner inviting new Vikings to practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on a Viking-made dragon riding trainer – at heights up to 67 feet in the sky. Riders can make Dragon Racer’s Rally as challenging as they wish by manipulating a pair of (rather heavy) dragon wings. The right combination of wing angles can allow riders to spin around completely (sadly, we were not able to accomplish this when we rode).
Fyre Drill is a good old fashioned water ride. In this interactive boat battle, guests can blast water cannons at flame-like targets – and at the occupants of other boats. But watch out! The targets (and other riders) shoot back! Fyre Drill has the potential to be a very wet experience, so consider yourself warned.
The Untrainable Dragon is the only indoor experience in Berk. This stage show stars Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid, as they work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon. The loveable Toothless soars overhead in an awe-inspiring moment.
Berk boasts the only kids playground area – Viking Training Camp. But there’s water here – sprinklers and misters. Score!
One last piece of entertainment in Berk that cannot go unsaid – meeting Toothless. The loveable Night Fury dragon – joined by his pal Hiccup – isn’t just a static figure; Toothless is a life-sized animatronic dragon. He moves his head, blinks, and even breathes. Toothless interacts with guests – reacting to them in real time. If there is one single character worth a long wait in line, Toothless is it!
Isle of Berk Dining and Shopping
Berk offers three quick-service dining locations, the largest of which is Mead Hall – located at the base of Raven Point. Mead Hall serves up the tasty Thawfest Platter – a mixed grill with fries and veggies. Other seafood items sprinkle the menu, including Stormfly’s Catch of the Day – a chocolate mousse fish nestled atop a bed of colorful crispy rice cereal (think Fruity Pebbles). It’s like a giant goldfish! Best of all, Mead Hall is spacious and well-themed, and proved to be a welcome respite from the Florida heat and afternoon thunderstorms.
Spit Fyre Grill and Hooligan’s Grog and Gruel are both walk-up counter-service locations. Spit Fyre Grill offers an assortment of healthy and tasty grain bowls, including Stoick’s Steak Bowl, Hiccup’s Salmon Bowl, Meatlug’s Chicken Bowl, and others. Both locations serve Mac and Cheese Cones, which may be my favorite snack in all of Epic Universe. The mac and cheese comes in three varieties – classic, PB and J (Pork, Bacon and Jam), and Dragon Fire Chicken Spire (with Nashville-style pulled chicken, hot honey, Calabrian peppers, chimichurri, and crispy onions). The “cones” are actually freshly baked herbed bread. These mac and cheese cones are the perfect walk-around snack!
Viking souvenirs are available at Hiccup’s Work Shop and Toothless’ Treasures. Sweet tooths can satisfy themselves at How to Treat Your Dragon.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
How can you go wrong with Harry Potter? The juggernaut fantasy book and film series is a surefire bet at Universal theme parks (can you believe Disney passed on the rights to use this IP back in 2004?). At Epic Universe, guests can visit Harry and some of their favorite wizards (and Death Eaters) at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic. But first, let’s clear up a bit of confusion. This world in Epic Universe is called Ministry of Magic, and the headlining attraction is called Battle at the Ministry. Just to make things a little more confusing, the neighborhood in which the Ministry (and the entire world) are set is called Place Cachée – French for “Hidden place” or “hidden square.” This is appropriate, as the portal passing into this world winds around a giant stone, keeping the world itself out of view from the outside.
As a huge Potterhead – news of a new Harry Potter-themed world at Epic Universe was tops on my list. Then, seeing Universal’s plan for the world in 2024, my enthusiasm waned significantly. The Paris locale is featured heavily in the Fantastic Beasts film series, which I never found to be nearly as engaging as the core Harry Potter films. In my opinion, much of the childlike Harry Potter magic is missing, replaced with heavier, adult-oriented themes. It just wasn’t for me. I also wasn’t hugely interested in the whole downtown Paris cafe theme, despite Universal’s promises of the hidden magic within.
I must admit now, after exploring Place Cachée, that I have been gleefully proven wrong. The land is teeming with magical nods. Most of these are in French, but I had fun translating the signs and figuring out the meanings through context clues. The whole neighborhood feels like downtown Paris from the 1920s, and it’s a cool vibe. The building facades are colorful and expressive – almost alive. Not to mention, the taller buildings and narrower roads and alleys offer many shady areas throughout most of the day – something Epic Universe as a whole is sorely lacking.
Ministry of Magic Attractions
The headliner attraction in the Ministry of Magic (and the undisputed headliner attraction of all of Epic Universe at the moment) is Battle at the Ministry. This dark ride takes groups of guests through the quirky old “lifts” which transport wizards throughout the Ministry. The mission is simply to attend the trial (and presumably applaud the conviction) of Delores Umbridge – the most hateable character in the whole Wizarding World. Of course, this is a theme-park attraction, and hijinks ensue, sending guests on a wild ride throughout the bowels of the Ministry. Battle at the Ministry is a little heavier on screens than the fan-favorite Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal Islands of Adventure – but it is an epic wizarding adventure just the same.
Battle at the Ministry has earned its place among the top dark rides in theme parks worldwide. But for me, the ride itself came in a close second to the attraction’s queue line. Guests enter the Métro-Floo to travel from the streets of Paris to the British Ministry of Magic. This smoke effect is a blast, as is the welcome burst of air conditioning. Once inside, the magnitude and detail of the Ministry atrium is truly jaw-dropping. The Fountain of Magical Brethren sits proudly at the center, surrounded by ornate columns and windows of the offices around. A moving message board heralds the trial about to commence, with alternative imagery of Umbridge herself and Kingsley Shacklebolt – the Minister of Magic following the defeat of Voldemort. As the queue winds beyond the atrium deeper into the Ministry, guests will catch glimpses of the wizarding locker room, Umbridge’s signature pink office, and many more magical details. I am not joking in the slightest when I say I would happily walk through the queue, even without riding the attraction – it’s that good.
Oh yeah, there’s a second attraction in Place Cachée! Le Cirque Arcanus (mysterious circus) takes place in the back streets of wizarding Paris, following the fate of the once-spectacular circus featured in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. This surprisingly large theater show is cleverly disguised behind a streetside circus tent. The show’s story revolves around Newt Scamander’s magical suitcase. Circus Ringmaster Skender has stolen the suitcase in an effort to restore his show to its former glory. Several of Newt’s most famous creatures find their way out of the suitcase and on-stage (or should I say, under-stage), and Scender’s much more morally centered assistant Gwenlyn sorts through the chaos for a solution. This performance is part Cirque du Soleil, part drama, and part puppetry. It’s an easy attraction to pass by, but it’s well worth the time spent, for both the entertainment value as well as the break from Florida’s heat and sun.
In classic Wizarding World fashion, Place Cachée offers many opportunities to practice wandwork through interactive experiences. But be warned – several of the new experiences require the new second-generation wand to perform. These wands can be found at Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique (magic wands), as well as other Wizarding World shops and other locations around Universal Orlando.
Ministry of Magic Dining and Shopping
Dining in Place Cachée caters to the whole French cafe scene, but there’s plenty of grub for all tastes. Café L’air De La Sirène (air of the siren – a subgroup of merfolk) is a quick service location offering French cuisine like quiche, croissants, and crepes. The cafe’s signature item is the Bièraubeurre Crêpe (Butterbeer crêpe) – filled with shortbread cookie butter Bavarian cream, Bièraubeurre cream, accompanied by strawberries, Bièraubeurre drizzle, and a shortbread cookie garnish. This was easily my favorite sweet in all of Epic Universe. Le Gobelet Noir is a mysterious time-worn auberge (small inn) tucked in the shadowy corners of Place Cachée, and features a larger menu of European fare, from small bites to entrees and specialty drinks. Bar Moonshine offers a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including the famous Butterbeer (or should I say, Bièraubeurre).
In addition to purchasing wands at Cosme Acajor, guests can purchase many fun Wizarding World souvenirs at Les Galeries Mirifiques, and satisfy their sweet tooth at K. Rammelle – a tasty confectionery.
Touring Epic Universe – Strategy and Tips
With Epic Universe still being so new, there are many questions about how best to experience all it has to offer. “Is one day enough, or do I need two?” “Should I purchase an Express Pass?” “Where should I go first?” We visited for multiple days, both with and without Express Pass, and I’ll give you my honest take on what worked for us.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Epic Universe?
The answer to this question can be a bit subjective, as Epic offers four different portal worlds, all appealing to uniquely different tastes. For purposes of this discussion, let’s assume the goal is to experience every attraction at least once. My short answer is – one day should be enough to see all of Epic Universe, if you are willing to be among the first at the gates for early morning hours, and also choose to stay in the park beyond the posted closing time. It’s a long and busy day, but it’s doable and can be rewarding. That being said – several of the new attractions have experienced major inconsistencies with run-time. Battle at the Ministry often opens late, and is often down during the day. We found Hiccups Wing Gliders to be very unpredictable, and it was down more than any other attraction during our visit.
The bottom line here is – Epic Universe is still new, along with all of its attractions, and therefore unpredictable. If you are visiting the park during its first year of operation, bring your patience and a backup plan, just in case your must-do attraction is experiencing a meltdown of cosmic proportions.
Express Pass
For our first ever visit to Epic, we were hedging our bets. We planned for two park days, and purchased Express Pass for our first day there. Universal Express Pass isn’t cheap, and Universal’s Signature Collection hotels do not offer complimentary Express Pass for Epic Universe, the way they do for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We shelled out well over $250 per person to shorten the lines for most attractions during our visit. All attractions at Epic Universe accept Express Pass with the exception of Battle at the Ministry, Mine-Cart Madness, and Dragon Racer’s Rally.
Was Express Pass helpful? Sure. Was it necessary? No – considering we planned to visit for two days and therefore had time on our side. But having Express Pass in our pocket allowed us to strategically hit several attractions during Early Park Entry (including Mine-Cart Madness) without using Express Pass, while lines were short, then return to hit the major attractions a bit later using Express Pass. For us, this included earlier rides on Stardust Racers, Curse of the Werewolf, and Monsters Unchained all without Express Pass, then second rides on each attraction later using Express Pass.
Keep in mind – Express Pass does not offer front-of-line access. It shortens the wait to about a third of the posted wait time. So when we visited Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge at 2pm, we waited about 40 minutes to ride, instead of two hours. We enjoyed similar experiences with Yoshi’s Adventure, Stardust Racers, Hiccups Wing Gliders, and Curse of the Werewolf.
Overall – Express Pass can be critical during busy times of year, like summer, school vacation weeks, and the holidays. During less busy times of year, Express Pass is more of a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have. Spending two days in Epic may be a better use of vacation money than paying big bucks for Express Pass.
Early Park Entry
If you don’t want to shell out the dough for Express Pass, then Early Park Entry is a must (though as I explained above – a combination of both is the best recipe for success). At Epic Universe, Early Park Entry offers Universal hotel guests one-hour early access to Celestial Park, Dark Universe, and Super Nintendo World (though Mine-Cart Madness doesn’t officially start running until regular guest hours). On the days we visited, this translated to 9am access, vs. regular park opening at 10am.
The two headliner attractions not offering Express Pass are Mine-Cart Madness and Battle at the Ministry. Guests looking to beat the lines at those two attractions will do one of two things: 1) Flood into Super Nintendo World for early access and then straight into Donkey Kong Country to wait for Mine-Cart Madness to open, or 2) Charge to the Ministry of Magic Portal and wait there until the land opens at regular time, then run to Battle at the Ministry open opening.
We chose to prioritize Mine-Cart Madness for two reasons. We had read and heard from several sources that the attraction opens fairly early before the posted park opening, despite no official guarantee. In addition, reports of the Battle at the Ministry being plagued with delayed openings discouraged us from taking that route. We were rewarded by our choice, as Mine-Cart Madness started running at 9:10am – only ten minutes after Early Entry, and almost a full hour before the posted opening time. Buoyed by our good fortune, we hopped off Mine-Cart Madness to ride both Dark Universe attractions, then Stardust Racers – all without needing to use Express Pass – before heading into Berk with the rest of the day guests, where we started putting our Express Pass to use.
Guests not interested in fighting for either of the two non-Express Pass headliner attractions will enjoy low crowds in the spaces open during Early Entry. Super Mario Land is a true joy to explore, interact with, and photograph – and it’s much better in the morning when it is cooler and you’re not surrounded elbow to elbow with people. Not to mention, you can ride Bowser’s Challenge and Yoshi with reasonable waits.
Regardless of which strategy you use – make sure you take advantage of this precious hour of the day. It’s worth the early rise and hustle. In fact – I recommend doubling down on Early Access, and getting to the front gates over an hour before Early Access opening time. The park security gates open approximately one hour before Early Access. If you can be at the front of the rush through security, you’ll end up near the front of the pack for the Early Access to your selected world, and you’ll be on-and-off your first attraction in no time!
Evening Hours
At the end of a long, hot theme park day in Orlando, the temptation to melt back to the hotel in the evening is hard to resist. But if you want to do everything in Epic Universe all in one day, the evening hours are indispensable. The park really starts to empty out around 8pm, and crowd levels become much more manageable than they are in the mid-afternoon peak.
On the days we visited, the park closing time was 9pm. That was the latest time guests could enter the park. However – most attractions continued running until long after 9:00. In fact, while we were visiting, most attractions were allowing guests to hop in the queue lines as late as 10pm – meaning, guests were actually riding many attractions as late as 10:30pm or even later.
This additional time – call it two hours between 8pm and 10pm – was amazingly productive for us during our visit. On one of our two days, we experienced every ride in Isle of Berk (Hiccups, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and Fyre Drill) – as well as Stardust Racers – all within the span of an hour. And this was without Express Pass. Use your mid-day time to rest, eat, and maybe catch one of both of the show attractions. Heck – you can even go back to your hotel for a bit while the crowds are at their thickest.
Bonus: Leaving Epic after 10pm helped us avoid the mass rush to the shuttle bus area. We hopped right on our bus and headed back to our hotel with almost no waiting.
Epic Universe Touring Strategy in a Nutshell
To boil all this down – If you only have one day to visit Epic Universe, purchasing Express Pass is nice insurance to guard against ride downtimes and weather interruptions, when guests tend to flood the standby lines of certain indoor attractions and spike the wait times. If you don’t have Early Park Access, then Express Pass becomes even more important, as crowd levels swell quickly once the park opens to all guests.
Early Park Access is a huge asset for Universal hotel guests, and can be used to target headliner attractions first thing in the morning, to avoid waiting in the long mid-day attraction lines. Likewise, later evening park hours contain far fewer guests, and attraction wait times drop sharply after 8pm (even a bit earlier).
Save the shows (The Untrainable Dragon and Le Cirque Arcanus) for mid-day or high heat/foul weather. The shows are easier to attend, and offer nice respite from the elements and a break from the hustle of theme park touring.
Five Random Takeaways from Epic Universe
In no real order, here are a few takeaways that struck me during our recent visit.
Lockers and Family Waiting Rooms
Many attractions in Epic Universe offer the free lockers for use while riding. These lockers are much larger than those at the other two Universal Orlando parks – allowing for upright placement of the renewable cups, and plenty of room for drawstrings and merch. Unlike the other Universal Orlando parks, the lockers at Epic Universe use facial recognition technology, instead of using tickets, room keys, or access codes. The local locker bank hubs will take a photo upon renting the locker, and will confirm the photo after you ride before opening the locker. It takes a tiny bit longer than the ticket/key process, but it works very nicely overall.
Family Waiting Rooms
Most attractions in Epic Universe have family waiting rooms, which are also used for child swap when applicable. These rooms are incredibly nice – cooled and comfortable, with water fountains. If you gotta wait out an attraction, these rooms are a nice way to do it.
Sun and Sun (and More Sun)
This is not exactly a hot take – Epic Universe is a very sunny park, with not nearly enough shade available for comfort. This makes hot Florida days tough to bear at times. On top of this – over half of the attractions in the park are either all or partly outdoors. So when those daily Florida summer thunderstorms hit, you can count on half the park shutting down for a period of time. This sends hordes of guest flocking to the indoor attractions, and to dining locations – sending wait times into a tailspin in those areas of the park.
Hopefully future park expansion plans will add more shade and indoor experiences – they are desperately needed.
Ice Ice Baby
Everything at Epic Universe is brand new, including the ice machines. And they all serve that little slightly rounded cube ice – the kind you get at Chic-Fil-A. It’s so nice. I know it’s only ice, but it’s the little things…
Security
We took full advantage of Early Park Access on both of our park days. On both days, we were near the front of the line at the main security gate, and we were treated to the lively animated antics of “Dan” – the security lead who interfaced with the early morning crowd. His energy, enthusiasm, and positivity were off the charts! Dan made waiting in line fun, and he added a ton of extra magic to the beginning of our day – all while exercising an amazing control on everyone in line. Under Dan’s watch, we all behaved in ways that would make our parents proud! If I used Dan’s amount of energy for just an hour, I’d need to go take a three-hour nap to recover! Well done sir – thank you for starting our day in an Epic way!
Top Five Attractions at Epic Universe
Epic Universe has a total of 13 attractions, not counting character interactions – not a whole lot (yet) compared to other established theme parks. But remember, this park is just getting started. Expansion pads and extra space are sprinkled all around the outside edges of the park. The moral of the story – stay tuned for more Epic adventures.
In the meantime, here are my top five favorite attractions in Epic Universe.
5 – Donkey Kong – Mine Cart Madness
Donkey Kong Country is a whole vibe, from the music to the chill atmosphere. Mine-Cart Madness takes that exact vibe and ratchets up the shenanigans to make for a wacky ride with cool friends. This specialty coaster’s “gimmick” is to simulate the feeling of jumping sections of broken rail while in a runaway cart. The effect is a blast, even though we all knew it was coming. The animatronic characters both in the queue and on the ride are bright and fun. A couple minor notes: The ride is a bit rough, and not because of the rail jumping. It just has some rough turns. Also, despite the fact that a large portion of the ride is indoors as a dark ride, the overall length is short. All that being said – Mine-Cart Madness is still a blast.
4 – Hiccups Wing Gliders
This was one of my least anticipated attractions to experience. My impression of the attraction as a “family-friendly” coaster was that it wouldn’t be very exciting (I had visions of Goofy’s Barnstormer at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in my mind). Hiccups ended up being a lot more like Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure over at Islands of Adventure. The twists and turns were joyful, and the speedaways gave me that adrenaline rush I was craving. The Toothless animatronic was adorable too.
Two major drawbacks. 1) Hiccups was the most stubborn attraction we rode. During our two-day visit, the ride broke down twice while we were in line. It was also the last ride to reopen following afternoon thunderstorms on both days of our visit. 2) Near the end of the queue line, upon entering the boarding area, the Team Members awkwardly split the line between “odd” and “even” numbered parties. We were a party of two, so we were repeatedly directed to the “even” line, which moved much slower than the “odd” line every single time. Universal – if you are listening – this system isn’t working! Just split guests evenly between the two lines and load each side evenly.
3 – Stardust Racers
The most intense attraction in Epic Universe may also be the most joyful. By pitting two competing coaster trains against each other, Stardust Racers adds a level of excitement and fun that few other coasters have. The cosmic theming is beautiful, and this coaster really shines at night – literally! The accent lighting of the cars as they twirl around each other creates a sense of mystique after dark, and the added outdoor lighting of Celestial Park and the Helios Grand Hotel make Stardust a feast for the eyes at night. Oh, and the coaster ride is as smooth as silk, meaning my body didn’t take the usual rollercoaster beating I experience on most coasters.
On any given day, I may rank this as my number one attraction in the park, but I love my dark rides, so…
1 (Tie) – Harry Battle and the Battle at the Ministry and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Going into my Epic Universe visit, Battle at the Ministry was one of my top two anticipated attractions, along with Mine-Cart Madness. I got exactly what I expected – a fully immersive experience that started in the next-level queue line, and continued through an exquisite combination of animatronics and screen graphics. It is a wonderful ride, and I would do it all day long. As I said previously – the ride itself was a little heavy on the screens, but otherwise a near-perfect attraction.
What I did not expect was just how amazing Monsters Unchained would be. This party of classic Universal Monsters wowed me at every turn (and at every howl, shreek, and piano key). The number of animatronics (and their sophistication) was stunning. From Victoria Frankenstein and her monster, to Dracula and my personal favorite – that ghoulish piano player – the amount of physical performance was jaw-dropping. The screen-based content was well-placed and in just the right amount. If I’m splitting hairs, I’d say Ygor was a bit off-putting, but that is very minor (and besides, my son loved him!).
I keep alternating between both attractions, trying to decide which one I like more. I have to give the edge to Monsters Unchained for the actual ride experience, but Ministry of Magic had a better queue experience. I’ll gladly debate these two attractions till the end of time – there is no wrong answer!
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Ok, that’s Universal Epic Universe in a (rather large) nutshell. The worlds, the attractions, the food, the shopping, and the touring strategy. Being a brand new park, Epic Universe will evolve through this first year and beyond, as it finds its place in the busy central Florida theme park market. But overall, this park shines brightly, and it’s just getting started!
If you are planning to visit Epic Universe this year, or are you giving the park some time to work out the bugs? Whichever way you approach it, please reach out to Facts and Figment Vacation Planning to get started planning your Epic adventure! My travel planning services are absolutely FREE to you, and I can help you score the best, hardest-to-get deals to make your vacation more affordable and more enjoyable! Plus – I will stay involved every step of the way, giving you dining reservation support, touring strategies, and answering every question you have along the way.
If you’ve already been to Epic Universe, what was your experience? Share your thoughts with Facts and Figment on social: Instagram Facebook X
