All You Need to Know About Epic Universe

Is Epic Universe truly epic? After visiting multiple times, we're ready to share all the tips we've gathered. Epic Universe is the latest addition to Orlando Universal Studios, situated just a few miles away from the other parks. The park opened on May 22, 2025.

What Should I Pack in My BackPack?

• Bandaids (plan for lots of steps) Here are my go to's

• Poncho's if rain in the forecast (yes you can bring the Disney ones, everyone else does)

• Water bottle - if you want to carry it. Plenty of refill stations.

• Spare battery charger for your phone. Someone has to use their phone for mobile orders and check wait times. You will also need the screenshot of the Express Pass ticket if you have one.

• Hand sanitizer—because you don't need to catch an illness after your theme park visit.

  
  

Parking?

What we appreciate about Epic is the absence of a large parking structure requiring a long walk from the parking lot and multiple escalators to reach the park entrance. Instead, parking is available in a paved area with some shaded overhangs, though your car will still get hot under the Florida sun. Additionally, there is a Ride Share drop-off zone just a few hundred feet from the park entrance and a Valet parking lot for Annual Passholders.

Overview of the Park

The 5 Lands

1. Celestial Park is the center of the park

2. Super Nintendo World is to the left of the entrance

3. Dark Universe is also on the left but between Nintendo World and the Helios Grand Hotel. This is all about your old school Monsters. (Dracula, the Mummy)

4. Harry Potter is to the right of Helios Hotel and is based upon the movies The Fantastic Beasts. It is set in Paris.

5. Isle of Berk is the last land and is to the right of Harry Potter or if coming from the main entrance the first land to your right. This is based upon the movies How to. Train your Dragon.

The park is truly breathtaking. It's vibrant, with a beautifully designed central lake and gardens. The entrances and themes for each area are spot-on! I was amazed when I entered both Super Nintendo World and Isle of Berk.

None of the areas are interconnected. Each forms a loop, and you exit the same way you enter. They are concealed from the park's center, allowing you to become completely immersed as you enter.

Florida is HOT

Shading poses a challenge. The newly planted trees are still small and require time to mature. Apart from some shaded areas in the ride queues, the park lacks additional shaded spots. It would have been beneficial to have shaded benches where visitors could sit and escape the intense Florida sun.

Storms

Storms present a challenge because there are limited shelter and ride options. Most of the rides are outdoors with inadequate shading from the sun, offering little protection from storms. When a storm arrives, everyone heads to restaurants for refuge, but the rides are all closed. There are only three indoor rides, which is a nice difference from the other two parks, but we need more options for weather shelter. Perhaps additional indoor shows could be available during these times.

Are Express Passes Worth the Cost?

Express Passes are expensive, but the process is simpler than at Disney because you don't have to constantly use your phone to book the next ride or navigate the park. It's the classic saying: you get what you pay for. The price varies by day, ranging from $175 to $225 per person per day. Currently, this only grants access to Epic Universe, whereas other Fast Passes for Universal include both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure parks.

Rides included as of 8/25/25:

• Constellation Carousel (Celestial Park)

• Curse of the Werewolf. (Dark Universe)

• Fryre Drill (Isle of Berk)

• Hiccup's Wing Gliders (Isle of Berk)

• Harry Potter Battle Of Ministry

• Le Cirque Arcanus (show- Harry Potter)

• Mario Kart (Super Nintendo)

• Mine-Cart Madness (Super Nintendo)

• Monsters Unchained (Dark Universe)

• Stardust Racers (Celestial Park)

• The Untrainable Dragon (show -Isle of Berk)

• Yoshi's Adventure (Super Nintendo)

How it works?

You can access the Express lane for each ride once. You'll need to present your Express pass before entering each ride, and for many rides, you'll also need to show it again midway through. This measure is in place to prevent line jumping.

TIP: Internet service can occasionally be unreliable, especially indoors. You can display a screenshot of your Express pass.

Are they Worth it?

What you want to achieve from your day will determine your decision. This is a significant investment for a family, so consider your budget carefully. When I bought the Fast Pass (before the addition of Ministry of Magic and Mine Cart Madness), I managed to experience all the rides available with the Fast Pass, stand by line at Ministry of Magic and a couple of others by using the standby line, starting my day at 11 AM and finishing around 5 PM.

You could also experience one of those key rides being closed or down most of the day. One of my visits Werewolf Curse was closed the entire day and another visit most of the rides were 'delayed' due to weather for a couple of hours.

Which Ride Should I Begin My Day With?

Even though Mine Cart Madness (Donkey Kong) is now available on the Fast Pass, I would still recommend starting your day there. The wait time rarely decreases throughout the day. However, check when you first arrive at the park, as sometimes the ride may show 'Delayed,' indicating it doesn't open immediately. If that's the case, be ready to switch to another option.

I would NOT begin with Ministry of Magic. I've observed that it has the longest line at Rope Drop, but the wait times tend to decrease a couple of hours later. Keep monitoring the wait times on the app and head there once it drops to 90 minutes or less.

Mario Kart often has a long line all day, so it's a good idea to start with this ride if you plan to go on it.

I avoided including any spoilers about what happens on a ride or any pictures of the rides themselves. However, there are photos of the lands below, so consider this a warning.

All About the Rides?

If you're as weary of 3D virtual screen rides as I am, you'll absolutely LOVE Epic Universe. It features only one 3D ride, which is Mario Kart. The Ministry of Magic ride is akin to the Harry Potter Bank Ride, combining screens with the ride experience. However, it has fewer screens compared to the Hogwarts Castle ride.

Most of the queues are well-shaded, and the theming for the queues in Monster Unchained, Mario Kart, and Ministry of Magic is outstanding. However, the queues for the other rides, particularly the outdoor ones, are somewhat disappointing. The Werewolf Curse scary forest is not frightening at all; in fact, it hardly resembles a forest.

Rides with Single Rider Lines

Many rides offer a single rider line. However, similar to the other two Universal Parks, these lines often close when the queue is long. Therefore, I wouldn't suggest depending on this as a substitute for Express Passes, but rather consider it a pleasant surprise if you can switch from the standby line to the Single Rider line upon arriving at the ride entrance.

As of August 2025, here is the list of Rides with Single Rider lines:

• Celestial Park: 

  • Stardust Racers (a roller coaster) 

• Dark Universe: 

  • Curse of the Werewolf 

  • Monsters Unchained 

• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: 

  • Hiccup's Wing Gliders 

• Super Nintendo World: 

  • Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge 

  • Mine-Cart Madness (The Donkey Kong Mine Cart Coaster) 

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: 

  • Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry 

Favorite Rides

Stardust Racers

This is two rollercoasters racing and when the launch sequence is timed right it is an absolutely thrilling ride. It has the stomach drops and thrills of Velocicoaster but I dont need as much recovery time once I get off the ride. Like Velocicoaster and Hulk everything has to be stored in a locker and you will go through a metal detector. Once you go through the metal detector the ride splits into two lines the green and yellow. if you are looking for a less intense version of the ride choose 'green'.

Hiccups Wing Gliders

This is an adorable and well-themed coaster located in the Isle of Berk. Imagine the theming similar to Hagrid's, but without all the unexpected twists. This was a favorite of my two adult children. One loves How to Train Your Dragon and the other has never watched the movies.

Mine Cart Madness- Donkey Kong

This ride was truly adorable. It's well-executed, but the wait is long. Additionally, it's quite jerky, so if you have back issues, you might want to skip it.

Werewolf Curse

I was torn between putting this on the LOVE it and didnt love it list. Don't misunderstand me; we absolutely LOVED the ride itself. However, it was far too short! We initially thought the ride had stopped or was waiting to continue, only to realize it was over and we were at the unloading area. This was unexpected, leading to our disappointment. I want you to be prepared to avoid the same disappointment.

Additionally, be aware that the ride spins. It is a coaster that also spins on the track, which might not be suitable for those prone to motion sickness.

Not So Favorite Rides

Ministry of Magic

The theming in the queue surpasses that of any ride I've experienced in any park worldwide! It's truly remarkable, and if you don't wish to ride, there's a separate line just to walk through and admire the queue. I must commend the engineers for the loading system, which is both innovative and efficient! The ride itself is unique, offering experiences unlike any other ride. HOWEVER, the storyline was confusing, and despite my attachment to the series and books, I felt no emotional connection to the ride. Neither I nor anyone I've visited the park with has walked away saying, "We have to go again." We did say that about Hiccups and Stardust Racers, as well as all three Harry Potter rides at the other Universal parks.

Yoshi

This is basically the People Mover of Magic Kingdom but in the sun and with a more colorful view. I would not recommend riding this during the heat of the day, you will bake. It is a great ride for later in the day to watch the sunset. It gives you a fun view of Super Nintendo World.

Mario Kart Racers

Every time we've stood in line, this has broken down. Even with express passes, we've waited at least 30-60 minutes. Be warned that you'll be wearing goggles and playing the game, which is 3D and involves spinning. The queue is adorable! However, I didn't feel it was a great experience, and the game didn't seem to work well. In Toy Story Mania, you really have control over your shooting and aim, but I didn't get that same experience here. Additionally, you'll need the power-up band (available for purchase in the gift shop) if you want to save your score.

Food & Drink Tips

COMING SOON! Favorite Foods and Snacks

But to get you started, here are a few recommendations.

Coffee: Most locations offer hot coffee, but for iced coffee or specialty lattes, you should visit Starbucks as you enter the park. Look for the green awning on your left on the way to Super Nintendo World.

Breakfast: The park currently opens too late for breakfast service. This might change in the future, but no announcements have been made yet.

Lunch:

We consistently enjoyed our meals at Café L'air De La Sirène in Harry Potter land. My favorite dish is the roasted chicken, while everyone else loves the Butterbeer crepe, which I found too sweet.

Another easy, light, and healthy option was Fryle Grill to the right of Toothless Meet and Greet. A kiosk in Isle of Berk. We had the beef skewers with jasmine rice, mushrooms, and horseradish sauce. This was flavorful, and the meat wasn't bad for a theme park.

Snacks:

Mac N Cheese Cone at Hooligans Grog & Gruel in Isle of Berk right next to the Viking Training Camp. Mac N Cheese with BBQ harissa pulled pork, maple candy bacon, and chopped parsley served in a crunchy everything bagel seasoned cone.

Butterbeer

You will not find the hot version anywhere in this park. But you can find the frozen version in a couple of stands in Harry Pottery land.

Please keep in mind this is a new theme park and new parks always go through growing pains so you may experience rides that are down, long wait times or places that run out of food. Them are trying to figure out the crowds and preparations for those cycles. Be kind to the Team Members they are not responsible for rides having issues and are trying their best to make your experience memorable!

What other questions do you have about the park? Did you think it was Epic?