What not to do at Universal's new Epic Universe theme park
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Dive into Universal's Epic Universe immersive worlds
Universal's Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, is the first theme park to open in the area in 25 years with five different, immersive worlds.
Don't focus only on the rides; explore character interactions, live entertainment, and interactive elements.
Prepare for the Florida heat and potential rain by staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, and bringing appropriate accessories.
Check ride height requirements in advance to avoid disappointment, especially for children.
Don't let the stairs in Super Nintendo World deter you; utilize the available elevators for accessibility.
Universal Epic Universe is a theme park lovers' theme park.
The new addition to Universal Orlando Resort takes immersive theming to new levels in five fully fleshed worlds connected by ornate portals throughout the park.
'It's transforming the nature of theme park design itself,' Steve Tatham, executive creative director for all of Epic Universe, told USA TODAY ahead of the park's grand opening on Thursday. 'Because when you think about theme parks, for the last half century, there have been three-minute experiences built within themed lands, but this is something entirely different ... Each one of these worlds can be a full day experience.'
There is no shortage of things to see or do, but there are some things to avoid at Epic Universe.
1. Don't focus solely on rides
There are only 11 rides at Epic Universe, but there's much more to experience across the park.
Character interactions and live entertainment should not be missed. "The Untrainable Dragon" show is one of the best attractions in the park, and meeting characters like the Bride of Frankenstein and Ygor in Dark Universe is unforgettable. There are also lots of interactive elements and Easter eggs across the worlds.
'It's about living a story for an extended period of time,' Tatham said. 'I like to think of it as waders, swimmers and divers. So, waders are people who just stroll through and say, 'Oh, this is nice. This is lovely. I'm going to go on a ride.' And then people that dive a little deeper, they notice certain things, those divers, they're going to be rewarded because they can find very specific things.'
2. Don't get overheated
While most attraction queues are either shaded or indoors and there are many air-conditioned restaurants and shops, there are even more wide-open spaces in Epic Universe without any shade.
Drink plenty of water, which is available for free wherever dispensed drinks are sold, as well as in ride queues.
Apply – and regularly reapply – sunscreen.
Bring sunglasses, a hat, a cooling towel, a parasol and/or a personal fan.
Take breaks indoors, whether watching a show or sitting down in an air-conditioned eatery for a cold drink.
If you start feeling sick from overheating, ask a team member for help. There are also two First Aid stations in the park: one by guest services near the main entrance and another by the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. You can find them on the map in Universal Orlando's free app.
By the same token, just like the heat, you'll want to prepare for rain. Pack reusable ponchos and wear shoes that can handle getting wet. And remember, if a ride has to shut down for weather, it's for your safety and out of team members' control.
3. Avoid disappointment by looking up height requirements
There is a 48-inch height requirement for three attractions at Epic Universe: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, Stardust Racers, and Dragon Racer's Rally.
Most other rides have a 40-inch requirement, which is about the height of a preschooler, and may require a supervising adult.
There is a 34-inch height requirement for Yoshi's Adventure, even though it's slow-moving and gentle, and hand-held infants are not allowed on Constellation Carousel or Fyre Drill.
Looking up height requirements in advance can avoid disappointment for kids who may not be quite tall enough for some rides. Most rides have a family waiting area for parents or guardians to switch off with kids who either can't or don't want to ride.
There are also two play areas specifically for kids: Viking Training Camp in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and the Astronomica splash pad in Celestial Park.
Kids of all ages will also enjoy the Power-Up Band Key Challenges and other interactive activities in Super Nintendo World and interactive wand areas of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, though at least one guest in your party will need to have a Power-Up Band or interactive wand to take part in those.
4. Don't skip Super Nintendo World because of the stairs
Just like in the original Super Mario games, there are a lot of stairs in Super Nintendo World, particularly in Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. This has been a pain point for some guests previewing the park, but it doesn't have to be.
There are multiple elevators within the two-story world and rest of the park for any guest, but particularly guests with wheelchairs or other mobility needs.
As soon as you enter the portal into the world, instead of heading straight for the escalators, turn right to find an equally themed path to the elevators that will take you up to the second floor.
This is where you can play various Power-Up key challenges to qualify for an interactive showdown with Bowser Jr. It's also where you can enter one of the world's three rides: Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. If you can't climb or descend stairs, you can ask a team member at the attraction entrance to escort you to elevators within the queue. It won't cut your wait time, but it will help you avoid the stairs.
There is another elevator on the second floor for guests who want to go down to the ground level to enjoy the rest of the world, including Donkey Kong Country. It's located to the right of Mario Kart and the Mario Motors shop.
From the ground level, guests can catch that same elevator to the left of Yoshi's Adventure to go upstairs. Yoshi's Adventure also has an elevator for that specific ride. No elevator is needed for Mine-Cart Madness.
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