Epic Universe is the latest theme park to open in Orlando — the Theme Park Capital of the World — and the third park to open at Common Orlando Resort (the opposite two being Common Studios Florida and Common Islands of Journey). Common can also be dwelling to Volcano Bay water park; the CityWalk eating, buying and leisure district; and 11 themed hotels.
Associated: Surprising things you can do at Universal Orlando without a park ticket
Like Common’s different parks, Epic Universe has lands and points of interest themed to well-liked leisure franchises. Except for that, Epic Universe takes every little thing you suppose you understand a couple of theme park and turns it on its head.
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Common Epic Universe. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY
Epic Universe has 5 immersive worlds, together with The way to Prepare Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, Tremendous Nintendo World, Darkish Universe and Celestial Park. You possibly can learn our full guide to the five worlds of Epic Universe for a better take a look at the lands and points of interest in every world, however after spending three days within the park, I’ve amassed an inventory of suggestions and methods that can enable you profit from your go to.
Listed here are 11 tricks to maximize your journey to Epic Universe to avoid wasting time in line, have extra enjoyable and guarantee your Common trip is nothing in need of epic.
Arrive early and keep late
In case you are staying in any of Common Orlando’s on-site resorts, you need to use early park admission advantages to enter Epic Universe as much as one hour previous to the posted opening time. Solely choose points of interest are open throughout this time, however you may ask a group member or search for signage on the park entrance on the day of your go to to seek out out which lands and points of interest are open for early park admission throughout your go to.
Up to now, Mine-Cart Insanity, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem and Yoshi’s Journey in Tremendous Nintendo World, and Stardust Racers in Celestial Park have constantly been on the early opening checklist.
Of those, the look ahead to Mine-Cart Insanity is often longer all through the day than the others. It is best to be capable of head there first earlier than the wait climbs too excessive, after which knock out the opposite points of interest in Tremendous Nintendo World. Or, when you get one or two points of interest achieved in Tremendous Nintendo World and it is getting near the official park opening time, you can make your option to one of many different portals to be first in line for the points of interest in that world.
Alternatively, you can head straight for Stardust Racers and get on this exceptionally thrilling coaster with a really quick wait. Since it’s a dueling coaster, you can doubtless trip each tracks earlier than the park opens to common daytime visitors.
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Lastly, you can forgo getting on any rides throughout that first hour and line up in entrance of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic to be first in line for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry when it opens. The identical could possibly be mentioned for different points of interest, like if you wish to be first to satisfy Hiccup and Toothless in The way to Prepare Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, however Battle on the Ministry often has the longest wait on the park, with wait occasions constantly longer than an hour.
If you do not have early park admission, you continue to need to arrive slightly bit early (about half-hour earlier than gates open) to depart time for getting via safety and into the park. I might keep away from Mine-Cart Insanity and Battle on the Ministry till later within the day when wait occasions get shorter. You could possibly examine wait occasions within the Common app to see what’s shortest when the park opens and head there first.
The explanations to remain till closing (or take a break and return later within the day) are twofold. From what I’ve seen thus far, the wait occasions drop drastically within the final hour or two earlier than park closing. If there’s something you did not get to earlier within the day or something you need to reride, you need to be in a position to take action with a brief wait near closing time.
Second, this park shines at evening. Each side of the park adjustments as soon as the solar goes down and the park lights come on. (Extra on that later.)
Epic Universe is just not a 1-day park
Are you able to get on each trip at Epic Universe in sooner or later? In all probability. And if all you could have is sooner or later, you may nonetheless have a good time.
However, in case your schedule and finances permit, two days is the candy spot to get on all of the rides and expertise the opposite issues that make this park so particular, like assembly characters, taking part in the interactive components in every land, seeing the reside reveals and sitting down for a few good meals.
In two days, you may discover two worlds on the primary day and two worlds on the second. You possibly can go to Celestial Park on each days as a result of it’s the central world that you will move via to get to the opposite 4 worlds.
Extra time within the park additionally means you may go at a slower tempo and absorb all the main points. You might come throughout a Viking and a child dragon in The way to Prepare Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, meet college students visiting Paris from completely different wizarding colleges in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic or race round Tremendous Nintendo World to see what number of cash you may rack up punching blocks and taking part in mini video games.
For now, you will have to purchase two particular person one-day tickets as a result of there aren’t any multiday Epic Universe tickets, however that ought to change as soon as the park has been open for a bit. Or, if you wish to make a five- to seven-day journey out of it and go to Common’s different parks, you can buy a multiday bundle that features entry to Epic Universe and add a further one-day Epic Universe ticket for 2 days at Epic.
The way to maximize 1 day at Epic Universe
Should you solely have sooner or later to spend at Epic Universe, there are some things you will need to do to maximise your time (along with staying in one in all Common’s official resorts so you need to use the early park admission profit).
A number of of the points of interest at Epic Universe use a single-rider line, which might prevent time in line (so long as you do not thoughts your get together being cut up up and using with strangers).
However the best option to save time in line and get on extra rides is to buy a Universal Express move, Common’s model of a skip-the-line move. Common Categorical helps you to bypass the normal standby line on most points of interest and use a a lot shorter Categorical entrance.
A selected Categorical move for Epic Universe is obtainable on the Common Orlando web site beginning at $139.99 per individual, per day, however you may as well buy it at Common resorts or contained in the park (primarily based on availability). The Epic Universe Categorical move permits you to skip the road on choose points of interest as soon as per day.
At the moment, this is applicable to all Epic Universe points of interest apart from the next:
- Dragon Racer’s Rally
- Mine-Cart Insanity
- Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry
The one draw back to Common Categorical is that you simply bypass the standby queue, and among the queues at Epic Universe — like Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry, the entire Tremendous Nintendo World rides and Hiccup’s Wing Gliders — are virtually as spectacular because the rides themselves. If time permits, I might do these rides a second time with out utilizing Categorical simply to see the queue and be taught extra concerning the story behind the attraction.
Should you solely have sooner or later, I additionally suggest that you become familiar with the park’s points of interest earlier than your go to. Use this data to decide on your must-do rides and reveals in every land. Deal with these, and any time you could have left over is bonus time to do something you might have missed.
Keep at an Epic Universe lodge
Common opened three new resorts this yr within the neighborhood of Epic Universe. Universal Stella Nova Resort and Common Terra Luna Resort are inside strolling distance of Epic Universe, but in addition supply bus service to the park. Universal Helios Grand Hotel is positioned alongside the again of Celestial Park, permitting you to stroll straight via the lodge’s non-public entrance and instantly into the park.
Stella Nova and Terra Luna are in Common’s surprisingly budget-friendly Prime Worth lodging class. Costs begin at round $200 per evening for shorter stays and near $175 per evening for stays of 4 nights or longer.
Helios Grand is in Common’s extra upscale Signature assortment, the resort’s highest lodge tier. Which means that along with elegant theming, luxurious facilities and an elevated stage of service, you will discover a larger price ticket: near $400 per evening for brief stays and $300 per evening for stays of 4 nights or longer.
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Whenever you keep at one in all these three properties, you might be nearer to Epic Universe than when you stayed at one other Common Orlando lodge. Being nearer to the entrance gate (or again gate when you keep at Helios Grand) means you will get contained in the park quicker and simply pop out and in of the park for a noon nap or swim.
You will miss lots when you run from trip to trip
Greater than any theme park I’ve visited, Epic Universe feels alive. Every world has a kinetic vitality that makes you’re feeling such as you’ve really been transported far, distant from Central Florida (minus the new and humid temperatures).
The rides are technological and storytelling marvels, however there’s a lot extra to this park than rides.
Every world absolutely integrates you as the primary character in your favourite tales. Need to apply your dragon racing expertise and meet Toothless from “The way to Prepare Your Dragon”? All the time dreamt of being a wizard and touring to the Ministry of Magic through the Floo Community? You are able to do all of that and a lot extra on this enchanting new park.
Throughout my visits, I had an opportunity assembly with the Invisible Man within the Darkish Universe, accomplished the three key challenges essential to face off in opposition to Bowser Jr. and win the Golden Mushroom in Tremendous Nintendo World, and danced alongside to a band taking part in on stage in Celestial Park.
My experiences solely scratch the floor of the adventures you may have that do not contain getting on a trip. My level is, there’s a lot to see and do on this park, and you’ll miss out on quite a lot of it when you solely give attention to rides.
Epic Universe is much more lovely at evening
Epic Universe is such an aesthetically pleasing park that I could possibly be there all day with out getting on a single trip and nonetheless go away content material. And that sentiment is even stronger at evening.
Epic Universe glows with majestic, ethereal gentle after sundown. At evening, every little thing from the portals into the worlds to the rides and even the eating places takes on a brand new feel and appear. For instance, the big fountain in Celestial Park adjustments from a peaceable physique of water through the day to a colourful, glowing storytelling mechanism through the nighttime fountain present, with colourful fountains and music from the park’s worlds at evening.
Even when you’ve been within the park all day, it is value popping into every world at evening to see the transformation.
I used to be blown away by how a lot spookier Frankenstein Manor in Darkish Universe felt and the way the magic of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter shone a bit brighter at evening. The points of interest additionally supply a special expertise at nighttime. The dueling coaster trains on Stardust Racers streak via the evening sky like comets, and the Constellation Carousel animals twinkle as you trip.
Don’t skip the carousel
With so many flagship rides to select from, it may be straightforward to skip what seems to be a basic carousel. In actual fact, on my first go to, I did skip the Constellation Carousel. I really like a carousel, however I wished to check out the kinds of rides I’ve by no means been on earlier than.
After I lastly did trip Constellation Carousel, it was such a lovely second that I virtually teared up. Quite than a standard carousel, the animals dance round in mild, rhythmic circles because the carousel spins to the music, making for a special vitality every time you trip.
And the best way the animals sparkle at evening makes you’re feeling as when you’ve left Earth and spun proper up into the cosmos.
There are Easter eggs galore
There are far too many Easter eggs and secrets and techniques to checklist right here, and the simplest option to be taught all of them is to talk to the characters and group members in every world. You possibly can decide up bits of data by talking with the monster hunters and different residents of Darkish Universe or the Vikings in Isle of Berk.
However listed below are just a few of my favorites you could search for in your go to:
You will discover the smallest animatronic in Epic Universe inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic. Search for Newt Scamander’s Bowtruckle, Pickett, within the window of the locksmith store.
Additionally in Wizarding Paris, you will get a peek on the sorcerer’s stone. You will must buy an interactive wand for this one, however there’s a spell-casting spot exterior Nicolas Flamel’s dwelling subsequent to Le Goblet Noir. Whenever you carry out the spell efficiently, the sorcerer’s stone (or thinker’s stone, when you’ve learn the unique British model of the books) can be revealed.
The Burning Blade Tavern within the again nook of Darkish Universe is a duplicate of the fiery windmill scene in 1931’s “Frankenstein.” Fortunately, this windmill is not really on fireplace (and you may go inside to satisfy monster hunters and drink scrumptious cocktails), however you may see it catch flame about each quarter-hour. Hear for the bell tower on the entrance of the land to ring. That’s your sign that the windmill will quickly burst into flame.
In case you are conversant in the lovely (and teeny, tiny) Pikmin, you might be in for a deal with. Not solely can you notice them in little nooks and crannies, but in addition you will get a close-up view via the binoculars stationed round Tremendous Nintendo World. Search for the binoculars on the second stage throughout from Yoshi’s Journey as you exit Peach’s Citadel. Zoom in on the bush to disclose Pikmin arduous at work.
Should you look as much as the tippy high of Mead Corridor in The way to Prepare Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, you will see the hut the place Gothi, the village elder, resides. It is tough to see from such a far distance, however when you zoom in together with your digital camera or climb to the highest of the Viking Coaching Camp play space (which you’ll solely enter with kids) and use the telescope, it is best to get a greater view.
Should you look behind the Stardust Racers trains earlier than getting on the trip, you will see a small field with lights on the again of the final automotive. It is a Flux Capacitor that allowed Marty and Doc Brown to time journey within the “Again to the Future” movies. Although the trip has nothing to do with the movies, Again to the Future: The Experience was an early attraction at Common Studios Florida (it has since closed), and you may nonetheless meet Doc Brown in that park.
The reside reveals are pretty much as good because the rides
Epic Universe gives two reveals: “The Untrainable Dragon” in The way to Prepare Your Dragon — Isle of Berk and “Le Cirque Arcanus” within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Did each reveals deliver me to tears? Sure. However my proclivity to being overly emotional is not the one cause I might suggest these reveals. Each do have their jaw-dropping (or, for some, tear-inducing) particular results, however they’re additionally stuffed with small, however magical, moments that can deliver a smile to your face.
Every present has a couple of 20-minute run time, however I might finances nearer to 45 minutes. You will must arrive early to attend in line and be seated earlier than the present begins.
I can not stress this sufficient: Don’t skip the reside reveals.
The place to go if you must cool off
There was quite a lot of commentary on the dearth of shade in Epic Universe, and to that, I might say, “Welcome to Central Florida.” I do not imagine this to be an issue particular to Epic Universe, however at a theme park the place the warmth index can climb into the triple digits, it’s useful to know the place to seek out shade.
Every world has a minimum of one or two sit-down eating places the place you may order a meal or snack and sit inside for a bit. There are additionally indoor outlets in every land the place you may browse for souvenirs (or just admire the decor if you’re on a finances).
I spent quite a lot of time in Burning Blade Tavern and Das Stakehaus in Darkish Universe, and Mead Corridor in Isle of Berk. They had been darkish and funky and helped restore my vitality earlier than venturing again out.
A number of rides, together with these in Tremendous Nintendo World, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Battle on the Ministry, all have prolonged indoor queues that can hold you out of the solar. Stopping to soak up the reside reveals also can get you a break from the warmth.
I additionally strongly suggest you deliver a portable fan and a reusable water bottle. There are bottle refilling stations all around the park — I even noticed some within the trip queues. You too can get free water from the Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines, however do not attempt filling your water bottle with soda. There are sensors within the machines that do not permit you to get round paying to your caffeine repair.
Older youngsters might need extra enjoyable than little ones
There are solely two rides at Epic Universe with no top requirement (Constellation Carousel and Fyre Drill). The vast majority of what I might take into account “kid-friendly” rides at Epic Universe have a minimal top requirement of 40 inches, so youngsters will most likely have a greater time as soon as they hit that top.
It is not simply their top that will provide you with pause on reserving that journey. There’s one world that’s meant to be a bit scary.
The setting for Darkish Universe is Darkmoor Village, dwelling to monsters and people who hunt them. To provide you an concept of how creepy Darkish Universe is, even I set free a scream on the world’s premier attraction, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
It is not simply the trip that’s scary, both. Whenever you enterprise into the darkish and spooky Das Stakehaus for lunch or dinner, you will see useless vampires (and the stakes that made them that means) on show lining the partitions.
Backside line
Epic Universe is the kind of theme park that permits you to select your individual journey. For simply sooner or later, you is usually a wizard, a dragon tamer, a monster hunter, a online game character or the entire above.
However you must perform a little planning earlier than you may absolutely immerse your self in these fantasy worlds. The following tips will enable you put together to your go to and profit from your time at Epic Universe.
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