21-05-2025
Universal Orlando's ‘Epic Universe' Is Opening – Here Are Our Top Weather Survival Tips For Any Theme Park Visit
Universal Orlando's fourth theme park - Epic Universe - opens Thursday (May 22). It's being called one of the largest, most expensive theme parks in the world.
It's also the first new theme park in Florida in more than 20 years, so you can bet crowds will be flocking to check it out. Do you know what else you can bet on? The weather will test your mettle, from scorching heat to drenching thunderstorms.
meteorologist Jennifer Gray explains, 'Summer is the rainy season in Florida. You can bet on afternoon thunderstorms to pop up somewhere in the vicinity of the park most days. These not only can drench your Universal crew but there is a risk of lightning as well that you need to be mindful of. Also, keep in mind that temperatures will be extremely hot! Highs will be in the 90s… heat indices in the triple digits aren't uncommon.'
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So what's the best way to prep for the weather and still wring every moment of enjoyment from your theme park visit? Instead of turning to a single expert, I consulted our team here at to get some tried and true tips from our theme park veterans.
Topping everyone's list:
Our Senior Product Manager, Michael Cohen, said bring your own reusable water bottle from home. Universal allows you to take empty, reusable bottles that you can fill at water stations throughout the park. You're also allowed a sealed water bottle, once it's under 2 litres. Stephanie Quick, Lead Performance Marketing Manager, added, 'Dehydration is real, especially for those who don't live in the South.'
This one may seem obvious, but if you're spending all day at a theme park, the key is to remember to reapply your favorite sunscreen every couple of hours. Don't know which sunscreen is best for you? Stephanie Quick has the ultimate guide and our top 10 picks here.
It's tough to make a poncho cute, Kristin Amico, one of our Engagement Editors, shared this memory: 'Somewhere in a pile in my parents' house is a picture of me in a poncho riding Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls. Sad vibes for real.'
But, the alternative is trudging around and sitting on a ride in wet clothes after you've been drenched by that pop-up thunderstorm. Although our managing editor, Sean Breslin, said: 'I'd rather be wet than baking in the Florida humidity trapped in a poncho.' Pick your poison, people.
Senior Digital Meteorologist Jonathan Belles has this one covered: 'As somebody who has done everything from 100 degrees to a foot of rain in one visit, the best summer advice for a new park goer would be to pick out several dark rides and water rides to take breaks at.'
He went on the explain that summer storms usually only last 20 to 60 minutes (outside of hurricanes, of course), so 'that's when you dip into the dark ride or the food break. And something I probably shouldn't advocate, but something I personally do, if you get lucky and get a shower without lightning, some outdoor rides and roller coasters are completely different in the rain and lines are almost always shorter. Just check the lightning app before you jump in line.'
Now that you have these insider tips, we wish you all the best at wrangling the excited, then extremely fatigued, kids (and kids at heart) and long lines. No really! Cheers to a great summer filled with some theme park magic.
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