Tips for Making the Most of One Day at Universal's New Epic Universe Theme Park

Miami Herald

07-05-2025

Travel Tips for Making the Most of One Day at Universal's New Epic Universe Theme Park
The long-awaited Epic Universe is finally here. The first major theme park to open in the US since Universal launched Islands of Adventure in 1999, the sprawling Universal Epic Universe opens to the public May 22, 2025.
A select few of us got a sneak peek at this epic $7 billion wonder. After spending a ride-packed 12 hours in the 750-acre park, I can say that it lives up to the hype. The theming in the queues alone is worth a visit. It's some of the best I've seen at any theme park, ever.
Here are my best tips to help you experience all the thrill, dark, and magical rides at Universal Epic Universe.
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Five Immersive Lands Centered Around the Hub
Universal Orlando's Epic Universe theme park features five colorful themed lands and a central hub. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher
But first, an overview of what you'll find at Epic Universe. You'll step through dazzling LED portals to enter five distinct lands:
Celestial Par k – An ethereal, otherworldly hub filled with gardens, fountains, and the park's signature dueling coaster, Stardust Racers.
k – An ethereal, otherworldly hub filled with gardens, fountains, and the park's signature dueling coaster, Stardust Racers. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic – A stunning, scaled city that feels like stepping into the middle of a magical Parisian town. It's home to Battle at the Ministry, an immersive dark ride set within the British Ministry of Magic.
– A stunning, scaled city that feels like stepping into the middle of a magical Parisian town. It's home to Battle at the Ministry, an immersive dark ride set within the British Ministry of Magic. Super Nintendo World – A vibrant, colorful land that makes you feel like you've stepped straight into the world of Mario and friends.
– A vibrant, colorful land that makes you feel like you've stepped straight into the world of Mario and friends. How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk – A rugged land of towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, dense forests, and animatronic dragons tucked into hidden nooks and crannies.
– A rugged land of towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, dense forests, and animatronic dragons tucked into hidden nooks and crannies. Dark Universe – A moody, atmospheric land inspired by Universal's classic monsters and, anchored by the towering Frankenstein Manor, home to the flagship ride, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
SheBuysTravel Tip: There's something for the whole family! Within its intricately themed lands, Epic Universe offers 11 rides that range in intensity from intense roller coasters to family-friendly experiences.
Read More: How to do both Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure in one day.
Stay at a Universal Hotel for Early Access to the Parks
Each of the entrances to Epic Universe's five lands are called "Portals." Here, the Portal to Super Nintendo World. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher
Universal has 11 hotels in Orlando, including three beauties next to Epic Universe that opened this spring. Staying at any of these hotels gets you:
Early access to one or more of the parks each day. Check the Universal parks calendar to see which parks open early on the day you plan to visit.
Check the Universal parks calendar to see which parks open early on the day you plan to visit. Free shuttle transportation to and from the parks -though you can walk to Epic from the Stella Nova and the Helios Grand hotels.
-though you can walk to Epic from the Stella Nova and the Helios Grand hotels. Free merchandise delivery to your hotel.
Parkwide charging privileges.
Of those perks, the most important one (in my roller-coaster-loving opinion) is the one-hour early entry into the park.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Not all the rides are open during the early admission hour. During my visit, the only rides open during this hour were Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, Yoshi's Adventure, Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness, and Stardust Racers.
Super Nintendo World at Universal's Epic Universe features two lands, Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country (where you'll find the Mine-Cart Madness" coaster). Photo credit: Universal Orlando Resort
With that extra hour at Epic Universe, I advise heading straight to Super Nintendo World for ride Mine-Cart Madness. This zippy little coaster was one of my favorite rides in the park-and if the AVERAGE 144-minute wait for the same ride at Universal Studios Japan is any indication, the line will be long (and there's no Express Pass line).
Stay at the Helios Grand
The Helios Grand hotel has 500 rooms, including How to Train Your Dragon-themed suites for families. Photo credit Melissa Heckscher
Sure, $500 a night is no bargain, but if you are up for the splurge, Universal's newest "Signature Collection" hotel is a sprawling lap of luxury that sits so close to Epic Universe that you can hear the screams from its roller coasters wafting in the wind.
Not only does it have upscale amenities and a stunning top-floor restaurant with 360-degree views; it also boasts a resort-style pool, multiple dining options, and breathtaking views of the park.
It's as close as any hotel gets to a theme park in the US-tied with Disney's Grand Californian in Anaheim, which straddles the border of Disneyland's California Adventure. And being able to step through a doorway and be 'home' while the masses queue up for shuttle buses? Priceless.
Book the Harry Potter Ride AS SOON as You Get into Epic Universe
The stunning and immersive queue for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry transports guests from 1920s Paris to the heart of the British Ministry of Magic. Photo credit Melissa Heckscher
The Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride inside Epic's Wizarding World is a technological marvel from the moment you step into the line. The queue itself is a spectacle unlike anything I've ever seen on a theme park ride. And that's before the ride even starts.
The bad news? With state-of-the-art technology comes occasional technical hiccups. During my visit, the ride was closed or "delayed" more often than it was open. I waited in its stunning queue three separate times (honestly, it says a lot that I didn't mind coming back again and again) but never actually made it onto the ride.
That said, my visit was during a "technical rehearsal," so hopefully Universal smooths out the kinks soon. Maybe it's time for Harry to cast a little "Expecto Mechanicum!" spell?
Opt for the Single Rider Line
The Curse of the Werewolf is one of the seven rides at Universal's new Epic Universe that features a single-rider line. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher
If your aversion to long lines is stronger than your need to ride with your fellow Epic Universians, use the Single Rider Lines to get ahead of the crowds! These seven Epic Universe rides offer Single Rider Line queues:
Mine-Cart Madness
Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Curse of the Werewolf
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Hiccup's Wing Gliders
Stardust Racers
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Ride the Constellation Carousel at Night
The Constellation Carousel at Epic Universe is even more magical at night, with glowing lights and a celestial, cosmic vibe. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher
This is not your mother's merry-go-round. Beyond the traditional carousel turntable, this ride includes four smaller turntables and ride animals that aren't tethered to the ride's ceiling. It's an effect that makes it look like riders are floating through the air-especially at night, when each creature is illuminated by glowing orbs and a swirling sky of stars. It's no thrill ride, but it's beautiful.
Plan Where and What You Want to Eat
The Constellation Carousel at Epic Universe is even more magical at night, with glowing lights and a celestial, cosmic vibe. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher
With more than 30 dining locations spread across the five immersive lands, there's plenty to nosh on when you're ready to eat. That said, theme park designers took special care to make the food's theming as immersive as the lands. So fill your tummies wisely.
Some must-try food and drinks:
The Mario Burger (complete with a Mario cap on the bun) at Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World.
(complete with a Mario cap on the bun) at Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World. The Stormfly's Catch of the Day at Mead Hall in the Isle of Berk features a sweet cakey goldfish on top of a bed of rice krispy treats.
at Mead Hall in the Isle of Berk features a sweet cakey goldfish on top of a bed of rice krispy treats. The Piranha Plant caprese salad at Super Nintendo World's Toadstool Cafe will get your kids to eat their veggies.
Piranha Plant caprese salad at Super Nintendo World's Toadstool Cafe will get your kids to eat their veggies. The Northern Lights at Celestial Park is an elegant martini made with Beluga Noble Vodka, Pallini limoncello, Ferrand Dry Curaçao, lemon juice, simple syrup-with a butterfly pea blossom ice sphere rolled in gold luster dust to look like a shimmering planet floating in your drink.
is an elegant martini made with Beluga Noble Vodka, Pallini limoncello, Ferrand Dry Curaçao, lemon juice, simple syrup-with a butterfly pea blossom ice sphere rolled in gold luster dust to look like a shimmering planet floating in your drink. The Lobotacotta at Dark Universe is designed to look like a brain sitting in a pool of blood. Mmmm. (Really, it's greek yogurt-based vanilla panna cotta with raspberry sauce and popping candies).
at Dark Universe is designed to look like a brain sitting in a pool of blood. Mmmm. (Really, it's greek yogurt-based vanilla panna cotta with raspberry sauce and popping candies). Reaper's Reserve is Dark Universe's exclusive beer, a caramel-spice brown ale from Orlando's Crooked Can Brewing Company.
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Choose the Right Side of the Stardust Racers Coaster
Stardust Racers is a dual-track launched roller coaster in Epic Universe's Celestial Park that sends riders soaring through a cosmic-themed race filled with airtime hills, near-misses, and synchronized twists. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher
Described as 'Epic Universe's most thrilling coaster experience,' Stardust Racers is a sprawling 1.5-minute dueling coaster that whisks riders through a host of lifts, drops, and unique maneuvers including the 'Celestial Spin,' where the two competing coaster vehicles do an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air.
If you're brave enough to ride it (I wasn't), you may wonder which track to choose: Photon (the yellow track) or Pulsar (the green track)? Both reach speeds of 62 miles per hour and heights up to 133 feet, but insiders say the green track is more intense. To choose it, veer right when choosing a line.
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is a Dark Ride-but I Didn't Get Nauseous
The gothic castle facade of the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment ride at Universal Epic Universe. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher
Families with small kids may wonder if the Monsters Unchained ride is too scary for their kids. And while the answer largely depends on your kids (my 10-year-old was totally unfazed by it, and I saw many younger kids happily on board), I'd say kids under 7 may want to skip it (guests must be 48 inches tall to ride anyway, so it may be a non-issue).
Without spoiling the fun: This is an in-the-dark ride that tosses riders around (but not upside down) in a fixed set (mixed with background projections). You'll whirl through the dark underbelly of Frankenstein's castle while a realistic-looking crew of infamous monsters-including Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon-do their best to scare you.
Is it scary? Kind of. The monsters themselves might frighten young kids-these animatronics are next-level!-but there are no sudden drops or steep hills. The whole experience is like a high-tech funhouse ride, featuring marvelously realistic creatures and immersive effects. And while a few Reddit users reported feeling queasy, the general consensus is that most riders come out feeling just fine.
Don't Sit in Front at the Untrainable Dragon Show
The Isle of Berk brings the How to Train Your Dragon world to life with "The Untrainable Dragon" show, two exciting rides, and animatronic dragons galore. Photo credit: Universal Orlando Resort.
This is a can't-miss show for anyone who loves How to Train Your Dragon. I don't want to ruin the surprises, but let's just say the most exciting thing about the whole spectacle isn't happening on the stage-but above the audience-and that means sitting in the middle to back of the theater will give you a better view of the aerial action.
Get an Express Pass
Sure, Express Passes run about $170 on top of a regular park ticket (which starts at $134 per day), but if you can manage it, it can mean the difference between riding a few rides the whole day-and riding all of them. Express Pass lines let you whisk past the masses to the front of the line.
The only downside? Not all Epic rides take Express Passes. Currently, Express Passes are accepted at all of the rides except for the Ministry of Magic (which does a "Virtual Queue," meaning guests can reserve a spot in line through the Universal app), Dragon Racers Rally, and Mine-Cart Madness.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The best way to get Express Passes for your whole crew is to stay at one of the luxe Loews properties at Universal – Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel or Loews Royal Pacific Resort. A night at one of those hotels can be pricey, but its biggest perk is Unlimited Express Passes for everyone staying in the room. And best of all, the pass are good for the day you check in and the day you check out – two days' worth of faster-line access for one night's stay. For a family of four, that can mean you'll actually save money by booking the pricey room.
Some Souvenirs are Worth the Price
Power-Up bands are just one of the many souvenirs that can be used within Epic Universe to unlock special activities and surprises. Photo credit: Universal Orlando Resort.
If you're a parent and you can get through a theme park without buying your kids at least a few souvenirs, props to you. But if you've prepped your wallet for the barrage of begging you'll likely face, here are two things that might be worth the purchase:
Power-Up Bands ($40) – These tech bracelets turn the physical land of Super Nintendo World into a real-life video game, unlocking myriad challenges that tiny gamers will love (it also gives you and your kids a good chunk of time where you won't have to be waiting in line for a ride!). Collect digital coins, earn stamps, complete interactive Key Challenges, and unlock a special Bowser Jr. boss battle. The bands can also track your achievements in the Universal app, let you compete on leaderboards, and even function as amiibo for Nintendo Switch games at home.
($40) – These tech bracelets turn the physical land of Super Nintendo World into a real-life video game, unlocking myriad challenges that tiny gamers will love (it also gives you and your kids a good chunk of time where you won't have to be waiting in line for a ride!). Collect digital coins, earn stamps, complete interactive Key Challenges, and unlock a special Bowser Jr. boss battle. The bands can also track your achievements in the Universal app, let you compete on leaderboards, and even function as amiibo for Nintendo Switch games at home. Interactive Wands ($65 and up) – These ornately designed wands let you cast spells that trigger magical effects throughout Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and the new Ministry of Magic area. Chant "Lumos" to light up a shop window, "Incendio" to ignite magical flames, and "Ventus" to summon gusts of wind-while also tracking achievements, earning house points, and unlocking exclusive adventures through the Universal Orlando app.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The bands and wands can also be used at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing.
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This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 11:53 AM.