Orlando's Newest Theme Park - Is It Truly Epic?

Universal Epic Universe is the brand new theme park in Orlando, Florida, which officially opened on May 22, 2025. This makes it Universal's 4th park in Orlando, with the other 3 being: Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay water park. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are on the North side of campus and guests can easily hop from one park to the other. In fact, the attraction, Hogwarts Express, takes guests between each park. Epic Universe, on the other hand, is on the South side of campus and requires bus or car transport to get to.

Universal’s Epic Universe is a game-changer. It’s Universal Orlando’s biggest project in decades, with five immersive lands, brand new attractions, and an onsite luxury hotel that gives major VIP energy. Its wheel and spoke design centers on Celestial Park, a vibrant, park hub with gardens and water features, LED light spectacles, and key attractions, before branching out into four fully themed portals: Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. The attention to theming, immersive details, and ride variety marks a new level for Universal Orlando. If you’re planning a visit or just curious about what makes this park worth your time, here’s everything you need to know.

Celestial Park: The Heart of the Park

Passing through the iconic Chronos Gate entrance of the park, you arrive in Celestial Park. This spacious, open air plaza features fountains, LED landscaping, and an ambiance that transitions beautifully at night with light shows. Stick around after dark for a synchronized fountain show.

Attractions:

• Stardust Racers is a dual-track launch coaster (133 ft tall, ~62 mph) where riders choose either the yellow or green track. Green gets the thrill vote! This rollercoaster has a 48″ height requirement.

• Constellation Carousel is a whimsical, family friendly spin ride unlike any carousel you've been on before. This is a must ride after dark. There is no height requirement for this one.

• Astronomica is a splash pad perfect for cooling down on those hot Florida days, featuring compass directionals as part of its theming.

Dining:

• Atlantic is a beautiful sit down restaurant with fantastic views, inside a glass dome, as if you're part of the sea. This restaurant features seafood dishes. But if you're meant to be part of the sea, is this apropos or odd? Let me know what you think in the comments.

• Blue Dragon is another sit down restaurant and features pan Asian cuisine and neon lantern décor. This one is on the opposite end of Celestial Park, near Helios Grand Hotel.

• Quicker bites include Oak & Star Tavern, Pizza Moon, Meteor Astropub, and Frosty Moon.

Super Nintendo World: A Level Up

Enter through massive warp pipe escalators into Peaches Castle and take a moment to experience all the movements, sounds and colors of this two level Nintendo world. And believe me, there's a lot of it!

With the world of Mario being front and center, don't forget to also visit Donkey Kong Country towards the back of this world. Throughout both areas, there are lots of interactive elements and mini games. Don't have a Power Up band yet? While it's not necessary, having the band, which tracks points and unlocks interactive features throughout the world, certainly adds to the excitement. This portal is fun for the whole family and I can see my family spending quite a bit of time in this world alone.

Pro Tip: If you are staying at an onsite resort with a Universal gift shop, purchase your Power Up Band before visiting Epic Universe. Or, purchase it at the Nintendo store right outside the portal entrance. The stores inside can get very crowded and it'll take a few minutes to get it synced to your Universal Orlando App.

Attractions:

• Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is an AR enhanced game, much like the one you might be familiar playing at home, except this time, you're actually in the car. It consistently draws long waits. Express Pass makes a big impact here.

• Yoshi’s Adventure, an omnimover ride perfect for all ages, also has a gaming element to it where you search for eggs throughout the ride. While it is a cute ride with great views of the land, I do not recommend waiting more than 30 minutes for it. This ride also takes Express Pass.

• Mine Cart Madness, is a Donkey Kong themed coaster that "jumps" the tracks. This ride was recently added into Express Pass! This ride consistently has long wait times. When I first visited, during previews, which had limited park capacity to begin with, this ride was at capacity - which meant guests could not even enter the queue. When I returned in August, I waited 180 minutes for it. As I write this blog, on a random Thursday in September, the wait time is listed at 165 minutes! Prepare your kids now. Also, if you have back concerns, this might not be the ride for you.

Bowser Jr.'s Lair: First, this is the only attraction that you need a PowerUp Band for. Complete the mini games throughout the land to collect keys. Collect all 3 keys and you can enter Bowser Jr.'s Lair to complete another interactive challenge to get the Golden Mushroom.

Dining:

• Toadstool Café is an extremely well themed quick service restaurant that has themed food like a Mario or Luigi Burger, Fire Power Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Super Star Chicken Salad. This is a sit down quick service, which means you sit at a table, order on the app, and the food will be brought out to you. For your best experience, visit this location at off peak dining hours.

• Yoshi’s Snack Land has light bites themed around Yoshi.

• The Bubbly Barrel snack stand at Donkey Kong Country has one of the most talked about snacks, the DK Crush Float. There is a lot going on with this snack, so definitely check out the description before purchasing it.

• There are two merchandise shops inside the world, and a third Nintendo World shop right outside the portal entrance.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic

Enter into 1920s Paris as featured in the Fantastic Beasts series, explore various shops and restaurants, try your hand at some spells, and visit the circus for the Le Cirque Arcanus show. Don't have a wand yet? Be sure to stop at Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique and you might even meet Cosme, the wand maker, herself.

My biggest tip before entering this portal is to watch the Fantastic Beasts series of movies, since that is what this area is themed to. Or, you'll walk in thinking you've been transported to Paris, France, possibly confused since Harry Potter is based in London, and that's fine too.

Once you have explored Paris, you'll venture to 1990s Ministry of Magic by way of Floo powder. Yes, you'll be transported by time and space, it's magic...just go with it!

Main Attraction:

• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is a motion simulator with a dark-ride preshow. Posted waits averaged 300 minutes on opening weekend, and even now, waits can still top out to be multi hours long. Express Pass has recently been added here.

• You can ask if the single rider line is open, if you're ok with splitting your group up. But I have been told by team members that it isn't always faster.

• You can also ask to just walk the queue, if you don't want to ride the attraction. And yes, the queue is worth seeing.

• Pro Tip: If you are a Harry Potter fan, have your cameras recording as you go through the floo, and capture your reaction when you first enter the ministry. I have had the opportunity to visit several times, and every single time, my jaw drops in awe of what has been created!

The other big attraction in this portal is the Le Cirque Arcanus show, which should not be missed. But, it can be a little loud and a little scary, especially for younger kids. Check the Universal app for showtimes.

Dining & Extras:

• Bar Moonshine: Butterbeer, cocktails, beer and wine.

• Bieraubeurre Cart: Yes, that's how you say Butterbeer in French. It is right outside the circus tent.

• Le Gobelet Noir: Where Paris's dark witches and wizards eat, drink and plot. Very hearty meals with a German touch, like Jagerchnitzel, Pierogies, Bratwurst sandwich.

• Cafe L'air De La Sirene: This is one of my favorite places to eat in all of Epic Universe. Everything I have tried here is fresh and delicious. It is another table dining quick service. Check out this reel on how to order food at Epic Universe using your app. While it focuses on ordering with food allergies, it's the same process without food allergies, just even easier: Ordering food when you have food allergies.

Quiche Lorraine and The Fraise (strawberry & mint iced tea). My favorite!

And since it is a wizarding world, there are plenty of spells to cast. You can get a map from the wand shop or just look around the floor for spell spots. You can also purchase a wand at the wand shop. There were 2.0 wands recently released, but be sure to ask which ones they are. These wands vibrate, the tip shines when the spells work, and it connects to the app for added interactivity. While you're on the lookout for magic, keep an eye out for talking portraits too. There's an especially talkative one near Le Gobelet Noir. Spoiler - me having a conversation with a portrait.

Isle of Berk – How to Train Your Dragon

Berk has dragons!...everywhere. It's pretty amazing, and this is my absolute favorite portal. Music fills the air of this serene land of water features, fire elements, and Viking architecture. It really feels like you have walked into the movie. Pause for a minute and take it all in, it's truly breathtaking.

Attractions:

• Hiccup’s Wing Gliders: a family launch coaster; Express eligible, height ~48″.

• Dragon Racer’s Rally: Interactive Sky Fly coaster where you can flip your wings to control the ride; no Express, height requirement 48".

• Fyre Drill: Splash boat ride, interactive and high fun for all ages. Prepare to get wet. Express included, no minimum height requirement.

• The Untrainable Dragon stage show: results range from 10–30 minutes. If you're lucky, you might get a surprise visit from a special dragon, but heads up, I've seen the show 4 times and not seen him yet. Check show times in app.

• Extras: Viking Training Camp play zone.

• Meet Toothless. This is an incredible meet and greet, well worth the long lines it often has. You might see other vikings around the land and maybe even some baby dragons playing Simon Says.

Dining:

• Mead Hall: Sit for a while and enjoy some hearty Viking fare.

• Spit Fyre Grill: This area gets very busy around typical meal times, but it is one of my top spots for good, filling, quick food. Hot Tip: You can get the mac & cheese cones here too.

• Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel: Counter service with the viral mac & cheese cones.

Dark Universe – Monsters Come to Life

The foggy, eerie “Darkmoor Village” brings Universal Monsters to life across gothic streetscapes. Especially eery at night when there's a sense of lurking horror in the shadows. If possible, visit this portal during the day when the Monsters are more likely to be out, but stop back in once the sun sets to get a true feel for this land.

Attractions:

• Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, a dark ride with KUKA robotic arms motion. It is dark, atmospheric, and can be scary, with a 48″ minimum height requirement. That being said, the animatronics are incredible and worth seeing. This ride is included in Express.

• Curse of the Werewolf: spinning coaster that takes you through a haunted forest while you're chased by werewolfs. This ride feels even faster at night. Express-eligible, 48″ minimum.

Dining & Extras:

• Das Steakhaus: garlic-free, monster-themed steakhouse. This sit down dining location is very themed, down to the black silverware, and can be scary for younger guests.

• Burning Blade Tavern: when the bell tolls, get down to the tavern, before it burns. At night, you can clearly see the villagers burning down the surrounding forest before the fire eventually reaches the blades of the tavern. You might even encounter a monster hunter inside. Pro Tip: Beverages can be ordered inside the tavern, but food is ordered at a window to the right of the tavern.

• De Lacey's Cottage: snacks and sweets.

  • My meal tip: Grab a Burning Blade Burger from the Tavern and Warm Hearted Cinnamon Bites from the Cottage. Yum!

• Darkmoor Makeup Experience: This experience comes at an extra cost and can be booked prior to your trip. Talk to your travel agent (hopefully that's me!) if you're interested. Get your full face done to look like a monster or a partial face of makeup, but either way, know that once you get your makeup done, you will not be able to order alcoholic beverages. (The locker systems also might have a hard time recognizing you.) That's how good the makeup is!

• Ygor, The Invisible Man, Frankenstein's Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein can often be seen around the land and they are more than happy to interact with you.

Helios Grand Hotel: Your On-Site Advantage

There are many onsite hotels to choose from, so why choose Helios Grand? Well, for one, this Loews-run hotel sits inside the park, with an entrance directly into Celestial Park. Easily be one of the first ones to the Wizarding World Portal, because you'll be walking there from the back of the park, whereas everyone else will be walking from the front. With 500 rooms including How To Train Your Dragon themed kids suites, it blends luxury with in-park convenience, but this does come with a cost. If the convenience is worth the price to you, in my opinion, the best room is a theme park view room.

Click for: Hotel and Room Tour

Dining at Helios:

• Flora Taverna: upscale, Mediterranean fare.

• Bar Helios: cocktails, tapas, and celestial décor on the top floor of the hotel.

• Lotus Lagoon: Poolside casual.

• Aurora Market: Coffee, grab & go food and gelato.

Guests at three other Universal Signature Collection hotels—Hard Rock, Royal Pacific, Portofino Bay—get Express privileges to Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure, but Epic Universe is not included in this perk.

Primarily visiting Epic Universe and looking for a more budget friendly option but still hoping for convenience? My favorite pick is Universal Stella Nova Resort, which is a Prime Value resort with a walking path to Epic Universe. Tour Stella Nova Resort HERE.

Wait Times, Express Pass, and Strategy

Although Universal Epic Universe has been open for several months now, it is still a brand new park that hasn't even gone through all the seasons yet. Therefore, putting together a strategy has been challenging. But here's what I have learned from visiting the park multiple times.

Express Pass:

Wait times for attractions can get really long here, for pretty much every ride. If you have a limited time at the park (ex: 1 day), I highly recommend purchasing Express Pass, especially now that 2 of the rides with the highest wait times are included.

Express Pass does not eliminate waits, but it should decrease the amount of time you spend waiting. Multiple reports indicate wait times cut in at least half with the use of Express Pass.

Another thing to note about Express Pass is that as of right now (2025), it is a stand alone purchase for Epic Universe and can only be used once per attraction. It is not included with a stay at any of the Signature Hotels.

Early Entry Strategy

Guests staying at a Universal Resort Hotel (or those who purchased certain types of tickets through a Travel Agent) are eligible for early park admission of 1 hour before the park opens to the public.

At the time of writing this blog (Sept 2025), the following attractions are included with early park admission:

• Mario Kart Bowser's Challenge

• Yoshi's Adventure

• Stardust Racers (currently closed)

• Constellation Carousel

• Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment

• Curse of the Werewolf

Find the updated list for the day you will be visiting through the Universal Orlando App

--> Park Hours --> Select your date --> Scroll down to "What's Early Park Admission" --> Scroll down to Universal Epic Universe.

The two most popular rides during early park admission are Mario Kart and Stardust Racers. My suggestion is, if you do not have express and Mario Kart is important to you or you want to ride it more than once, head there first. If it is not of utmost importance, head to the Ministry of Magic Portal to get in the Battle at the Minstry Queue as early as possible, OR to Isle of Berk to queue for the Toothless meet and greet, OR to Dark Universe where you'll likely have a very short wait, if at all, for Monsters Unchained. It's a matter of deciding which rides you want to prioritize.

If you have Express, decide which ride you want to do more than once and go for it in the morning, without using Express. If you have the benefit of early park admission AND express, my suggestion is to utilize that time to ride something.

Ride Height Requirements

Here’s a quick chart to prep your group:

Attraction	Min Height
Stardust Racers	48″
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge	40" Supervising Companion required for children 40”-48”
Mine-Cart Madness	40" Supervising Companion required for children 40”-48”
Yoshi’s Adventure	34″ Supervising Companion required for children 34”-48”
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders	40″ Supervising Companion required for children 40”-48”
Curse of the Werewolf	40"Supervising Companion required for children 40”-48”
Monsters Unchained	48″
Fyre Drill, Dragon Racer’s Rally	None / 48″
Constellation Carousel, Astronomica	None, no hand held infants, Supervising Companion required for children under48”
Battle at the Ministry	40″ Supervising Companion required for children 40”-48”

Always double-check via the Universal app, as ride testing can change specs.

Dining Rundown

And while we're on the topic of dining, something I do recommend purchasing early during your Universal vacation (whether that's just one day at Epic Universe or a full week long trip), is a refillable Coca Cola Freestyle cup. Purchase one (or multiple) and refill throughout the day at any Freestyle machine. The next day, pay to recharge the cup at a discounted rate. Freestyle machines dispense a variety of Coca Cola flavors, Fanta, MinuteMaid, HiC, and water (which you can get with any type of cup).

Fun Bonus, occasionally, some of the machines have a vault with a secret menu. To access it, press the vault on the screen and draw a U. At Epic Universe, there are 3 special Freestyle drinks: Celestial Spritz at Celestial Park, Screaming Berry at Dark Universe, and Dragon Splash at the Isle of Berk (listed in my preferential order). Fun Fact, you will not find Coca Cola products at any of the Wizarding Worlds.

Freestyle Tips: These cups can be refilled every 10 minutes or. They are not meant to be shared, but I have never seen that being enforced. Make sure they are empty before you're ready to get on a ride and they do have to be emptied before placing into a locker. The park Freestyle cups cannot be used at the resort hotels. The hotels actually have their own. So, fill it up before you leave the parks.

For the 21 and over crowd, Epic Universe has exclusive drinks in every portal except Nintendo World.

Final Thoughts

Epic Universe isn’t just a park, it’s a full on experience. From racing through Rainbow Falls on Mario Kart to soaring like a dragon over Berk, there’s something around every corner to make you gasp, laugh, or just stop and stare at the incredible detail. But here’s the thing: seeing it all and really enjoying it takes a little strategy, and that’s where I come in.

I love helping travelers make their visit uniquely theirs. Whether it’s planning the perfect ride order, finding the best snack spots, or making sure you catch every must do experience without feeling too rushed, I’ve got you covered.

Want to stay in the loop on tips, tricks, and the latest park updates? Follow me on Instagram. I’m constantly sharing hacks, dining recommendations, and behind-the-scenes moments. And for a full park walkthrough, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel to see everything in action: Epic Universe Walkthrough.

And when you're ready to plan your Epic adventure, reach out to me at Treasures Untold Travels!

Meeting Toothless for the first time was EPIC!