The positives first, the park is well thought out, travel between each portal was easy. The visuals were stunning and we had an overall good experience. However, the waits were extremely long. We planned our stay for 2 days strategically to allow ample time to see it all while keeping a 10 and 9 year old in good spirits without pushing them past their limits. The express passes are way over priced and the limits placed on their use devalue the purchase. For the four of us it would have added an additional 1200 to our stay. Not what I call "family friendly." The staff was not well informed which to me was a shock. We received comments like: "I'm not really sure but.." or "I think you can..." and these were simple questions about park navigation. The most egregious encounter with a staff member was at the "How to Train Your Dragon" show entrance. It was 99 degrees that day and we were looking forward to seeing the show to get a break from the sun. As we approached the entrance the attraction had already closed despite us arriving before the stated time. When I asked about entrance she was not only rude, she went as far as to talk about me so loud I could hear her when I walked away. Not at all what I would expect. If Universal is in competition with Disney, they have a long way to go. I walked away with a "wow" and not in a good way. The photo package was not what I expected. The photographers were not easily visible or present at all portals as suggested. A big disappointment as we paid for a service we expected to be delivered as promised. We were told from one of the photographers that they are only present at "certain times" of the day. If that is the case then it needs to be stated in the information before the purchase. We were given incorrect information on multiple occasions. When asked how we could access our pictures we were told we had to visit the photo shop at the entrance of the park. I specifically asked if we could access them online and she said no. Finally we found out that was not accurate, that the photos were available online. The worst experience(as far as photos) was at park close. We were so excited to actually see a photographer at the entrance. We got in line to have our photo taken only to be told, Im sorry but after this person(the people in front of us) we will not be taking any more photos. I was stunned that they were not going to take our picture. We had stood in that line only to be told something we paid for was not going to be delivered. I just stood there in disbelief. Another photographer walked up and I asked him to take our photo and told him what the other guy said. He apologized and said he would take our photo. There is really no good excuse for poor customer service. Honestly, we receive better customer service from our local theme part at home, a small local experience: "Kentucky Kingdom." Epic has been open for a year now, I would be more understanding if the park was brand new. This is a leadership failure that needs to be addressed. The staff should be informed to answer basic questions about park navigation. As well as, be taught how to deliver excellent customer service. Truly we were disappointed at how uninformed and neglectful the staff were at times. And I didn't even mention the low visibility of the park characters. Not at all what I expected for the price as well as service. The bar is set very high based advertising and promotion. It was not delivered in our experience of "Epic" Universal. read more

Plan to spend a lot of money to make this trip enjoyable in the summer. I've been monitoring wait times for about a month. Earlier in June, I think you can get away with being strategic and not buying express passes. However, the day before our trip, which was July 2, I looked at wait times and at 9:02 AM the wait time for Mine cart madness was 90 minutes. Early entry opened at nine so this told me that lines were going to be incredibly long. We made the split minute decision to buy express passes for my son and husband since my younger son didn't really want to ride a ton of the rides and neither did I. Now this is when you need to hold onto your seats, because express passes can be upwards of $300. When I looked at express passes earlier, it was $350 per rider, but it turns out it is dynamic pricing so the day before it cost us $280 per person. Think about that, for a family of four it cost $1200 to buy express passes. And the sad thing is it is absolutely needed if you're going to the park on a busy day. This is on top of Park tickets that are $150 per person. At the other universal parks if you stay at the hotel, you get free express passes, but not here. We were staying at the Helios hotel, which is attached to the Park and I'll review on that page, but we were spending a pretty penny for our hotel and then paid for Park tickets and then express passes. So that does add up. However, it made our day a lot more enjoyable the fact that I could take my younger son back to the room to nap because it was so hot and my husband and older son could continue to use all their express passes. Since we had express passes, we rope dropped Isle of Burke, which is what everybody recommends you do. It was absolutely empty, we went to meet toothless because that line gets upwards of 60 minutes later in the day. We breezed through and met him in about 10 minutes. However, at about 4 PM we went back and it was a 30 minute wait time so we decided to get back in line because my younger son wanted to meet toothless again. He was scared the first time. With the express passes, you can still end up waiting a long time, but definitely not as long as the regular line. For example, mine cart madness had a wait time of 110 minutes and my son and husband ended up waiting 45 minutes. If we didn't buy the express passes, the plan was to rope drop mine cart madness, but the day of it was delayed, so we wouldn't have been able to do that. This is why I'm so glad we got the express passes because it was an unknown when mine cart madness was going to be back up and running, but they got to experience it because of the express passes versus having to wait in ridiculously long line. If you rope drop Berk, you're able to do every single ride there plus meet toothless in under an hour. But again, then you wouldn't be able to have a short line for Ministry of magic or the super Nintendo world rides. My younger son and I went and rode the Yoshi ride three times in a row because in the first hour, it was always either five minutes or 10 minutes. Even though Yoshi ride ended up being 60 minutes at one point, which is insanity. The rides that were never long seem to be curse of the werewolf, Stardust racers, the carousel, and monsters unchained. So if you really would be happy only riding those three rides then you can get away without an express pass. The worlds are beautiful. There is strong attention to detail here. My husband did point out that unlike Disney, there are signs of wear and tear which take away from some of the magic. However, if you didn't point it out, I wouldn't have noticed. The Isle of Burke show, the untrainable Dragon is very easy to get into. There wasn't a full theater when we watched it. The Harry Potter show is different, because it is very popular. I highly recommend getting there 30 minutes before showtime because they let you get in line and the line is in air conditioning. This isn't a park that we are dying to return to, but I could definitely see us coming back in a couple of years. I just know that once my younger son is old enough and tall enough to ride the rides then I will always have to plan to budget for those express passes. read more

Massive long wait times. We rope dropped and were able to ride Ministry of Magic after an hour and a half. Impressive decorations, thought this isn't too bad for a major attraction. Then the day crashed. We went to the circus show immediately afterwards. Sorry that show is cancelled. We go to the racers close by wait in line for 20 minutes and the ride is delayed. We waited another 30 minutes never moved. Went to Dragon land and got in the glider line. 2 1/2 hours later we finally got to ride. Several delays while waiting in line. Lunch was good. Got in line for the other dragon ride and waited ten minutes before it was also "delayed". Waited thirty minutes never moved so went the dragon show. Show was good. Went to Mario world queued for Bowser .... Sitting here in line yet again while the ride is "delayed". Wished I could get my money and time back. And must buy the Mario bands to participate in most of the activities in Mario World. So another required add on. Park is beautiful, and fully in the baking sun. Universal will get no more money from this family ever. read more

Absolutely terribly thought out park. Lines are atrocious. Washrooms are scarce, staff are PLENTY. It it doesn't help the actual problems. Terribly planned park. Shame on the designers. Do not recommend. Go elsewhere. read more

Epic Universe is, unfortunately, a billion-dollar disappointment. I was so excited for this visit! A new theme park, with on-paper excitement and theming, particularly the new Harry Potter area and Super Mario World! I don't think my expectations were too high; instead, there are a number of missed opportunities and cut corners that reduce the experience overall. Growing up in Orlando, I have a long history with Universal. I drummed with Ringo Starr for the grand opening of the Hard Rock Hotel, I participated in the opening ceremonies for Islands of Adventure, CityWalk was my high school hangout, and Halloween Horror Nights has provided me with many great memories. So, yeah, I was very excited for Epic. My review looks at the park overall, so while individual attractions will weigh on my overall score, this is really the summation of the full experience. We spent most of one day exploring the park. First, there's not a whole lot to see or do here. Take the new Harry Potter are for example. Why is the area even called the Ministry of Magic when the portal entrance takes you to the streets of wizarding Paris? I have a theory that the world was structured around where the Fantastic Beasts series was supposed to go, but it's cancellation has blown that up, leaving us with a setting that's essentially a non-sequitur to the stories. There's a ton of space here, too, and pretty much nothing to do! Fake store fronts with some admittedly amusing magic displays if one has invested in a wand, whereas the actual shops largely carry the same items as the other two parks, and there are entire streets with almost nothing to do but look at shop windows and perform magic. Why? Why is there nothing here to do? But, let's talk about The Ministry of Magic. The MoM lobby almost makes the park worth the cost of admission. The creative floo journey, emerging into the ministry lobby is an absolute triumph. As Harry Potter fans, the experience was literally breathtaking. I couldn't stop myself from giggling with absolute glee at being in that place. One very nice touch is the ability to walk into the lobby without standing in the queue for the ride. They knew they created something special and that people would want more time with it -- well done for allowing that. The Battle of the Ministry ride, however, is pretty lame and didn't entirely make sense. We did shelter from the rain at the Parisian café, which was by far the best food we had in Epic or any of the other Universal parks. Moving on, the Super Mario area is really cool and hugely interactive, but is so extremely loud! The entrance through a warp pipe and opening up into an almost Yosemite tunnel-like vista of the entire land is very cool. But the result is a sound bowl. As you descend into the land, you're completely drowning in a hot, sticky area that's about 100 times louder than the loudest Dave and Busters you've been to. It makes it nearly impossible to spend any time here. Even my 8-year-old was overwhelmed by the noise. Not to mention two-hour waits for the two major attractions, neither of which we had time to do. Quickly onto dragons -- Hiccups wing gliders is a great roller coaster, definitely a highlight of the park not to be missed. Lunch at the Mead Hall included a red, slightly effervescent liquid that was definitely not mead, and lukewarm meats -- unappealing. The monsters area is weird, and the Monsters Unleashed ride is a repackaged version of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Lazy. Another huge gripe I have is the lack of shade and the fact that nearly everything is outdoors. Florida may be synonymous with fun in the sun, but it's Florida! It's hot and there are often thunderstorms! This leaves people with ample opportunities to be trapped outside when a storm hits, get a robust sunburn due to the lack of shade, and most importantly -- with nothing to do in a storm because most of the attractions are at least partially outdoors. On our day here, lightning shut down the attractions at 3:50pm while we were in line for Mine Cart Madness. The outdoor attractions never reopened that day because the storms stuck around for the rest of the day, well past closing time. I know Universal can't control the weather, but they absolutely should have accounted for it in planning this park (and Islands of Adventure, for that matter). When you leave a park full of people with essentially only three attractions left open when a storm hits, driving up wait times and frustrations -- that's entirely due to poor design, not the weather. In the end, all of these elements add up to a theme park seems more designed for influencers to take cool photos to encourage their followers to spend money here, and lacks the substance for true enjoyment. That lack of substance is a slap in the face to people who are investing their time, energy, and resources to experience it, and Universal should be ashamed of that. read more

Universal Epic is epic to me. I have retired from theme park rides, but my kids and grandkids have not. My family wanted to come here, and I was the money man. Ordered their picture package. Don't do this. It's not like Disney; you have to find a photographer, and if they are not too busy, they may take your picture. Then scan your ticket at the front gate to get the pictures. Sadly, we are located in the Helios at the back of the park. The scan must be before 9pm. read more

Universal Epic Universe - Something French - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

This was my first visit at Universal Epic Universe and it was a bit overwhelming in a good way. We arrived on a non-peak day which was great since we did not wait in long lines for any rides and were able to seek shelter from the hot sunny day. The universes are very different each in their own unique way but my favorite was Super Nintendo World, had an old school classic, Donkey Kong ride was which fun. This world is very colorful and pleasing to the eyes and senses. By far my favorite ride was Stardust Racers, this is a massive dueling multi-launch steel roller coaster located in the Celestial Park world. I wasn't aware of what was in store when riding this coaster until I did and boy was in for a huge surprise with 62 mph speeds and 133 feet drops. The other world I was not prepared for was the Dark Universe, which I had no expectations for, and wasn't even aware it existed, thought there were 4 worlds, then come to realize it was 5 worlds. Loved the classic horror film characters like the werewolf, frankenstein experience and the rest. My overall take on this massive park was great although there were other areas not related to the rides or park overall that need some help. read more

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Universal Epic Universe was on our to-do list for our Orlando trip. It is a lot smaller than I anticipated, and unfortunately a bit underwhelming as a result. I think this might just because it's newer, so I imagine this may change with time. There were definitely some cool things to see & "worlds" to see. I just am not sure if I would come back any time soon. The Nintendo world's architecture made it feel kind of like a baking sauna since it's like dug into the ground. My real complaint was the inconsistency with the health center. Upon arrival I was told there was a medical freezer in the back. Then, the back health center said "no it's in the front." So turns out there wasn't one here at all! Some positives, we really did like the food, it surprised me a lot. I think it might be worth a one time visit every now and then but not all the time. read more

I was fortunate to visit this park while chaperoning a field trip, as the daily ticket prices are quite high. Based on my experience, there are still some issues that need to be addressed before the cost truly reflects the value of the park. Pros: *The size of the park shows promise of evolution *Great food and drink options *Mobile/online food ordering *Locker size *A+ costuming of cast members *Awesome theming and staging in each realm *Water refill stations (especially the ones sprinkled amongst the outdoor lines) *Phenomenal customer service from staff Cons: *Extensive wait times *Limited number of rides *High ride closures or delays As a first visit and it to be a 'working' one, I look forward to returning to the park again. read more

Universal Epic Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH AHFDLSKFDJSLDSAJLKF Ahem. Anyway, I will 100000000000000% be back. I would absolutely dedicate multiple days to this place. When we went, December 2025, that wasn't allowed. I mean I get it, because it's the first year, but hopefully by the time we get back we can go for more than one day. I could visit HTTYD for an entire day by itself. The portal set up is super cool because it does feel like you're entering an entirely new world. I also enjoyed how the Donkey Kong world was connected to Mario. I also saw some Legend of Zelda stuff somewhere so I wonder if they would connect it here or as it's own thing. The Dark Universe is way cooler at night. Celestial Park is the weakest "world" to me. It'd be nice if they themed it up more. I guess it's for the people who aren't into themes but cmon they could absolutely make some of this nerdier. read more

As the name suggests, Epic Universe is pretty epic! I've never been to a theme park that felt this visually impressive. The theming across all the different lands is beautiful and clearly very well thought out, from the food to the rides to the overall atmosphere. Each area feels totally distinct, with tons of little details to take in. Even the portal-style entrances to each land are really fun and added to the experience. Not sure if we just got lucky, but lines weren't bad at all on our visit. We were able to get on a lot of rides in around 20 minutes. My only real complaint is that I wish each land had a few more rides, since most only have a handful of attractions. That said, the rides themselves were really fun! We especially loved Stardust Racers and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment! Overall, I'm really glad we went and would definitely love to come back again. read more

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Universal Epic Universe was a lot of fun! The park is extremely detailed and well maintained. You must have the Universal Florida App to access the park map, they DO NOT offer any printed maps in the park. We opted out of the Express Pass due to the overall cost of it, but it didn't take away from the experience. We planned our park visit based on wait times. We road everything we wanted to! I would say it is a little expensive for food and beverages throughout the park as well. The entire park is interactive but you must purchase a wand or bracelet to play the interactive games. I wish there was a few more "free" entertainment options like there are at other theme parks. Overall fun day but get ready to pay for it!! Xo- BB read more

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We went to Epic Universal for the first time, and overall, we had a good day, but it was pricey. We arrived around lunchtime, and while the park ticket itself was already $170 per person, the only fast pass option was an extra $300 each and it only lets you skip each ride once. That was a bummer, especially since we were hoping for more flexible options. We did get on all the rides, though, since we went on a Monday when it wasn't as packed. We spent about 8 hours there. We considered VIP because it was almost the same price as the express pass, but when we asked again, it wasn't available. Of course, food and drinks were expensive too, and parking was another $35. Honestly, while we enjoyed it, I think Epic Universal is more geared toward younger kids. There was really only one big roller coaster, and we were hoping for more thrills. I've got to say, the immersive rides were actually awesome. They're so well done that half the time I couldn't even tell what was real or not, super advanced motion and effects. I definitely appreciated that! And hands down, my favorite world was the Harry Potter one. it's so detailed and just super cool to walk through. I'd definitely be open to going again, but next time I'd just go right at opening. That way, you could knock out all the rides without needing to buy those expensive fast passes. read more

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Epic Universe is a beautiful park with impressive technology and incredible theming, but overall it feels smaller than I expected. While each land looks amazing, I found myself feeling like the biggest highlight by far was Super Nintendo World. Walking through the Warp Pipe into the Mushroom Kingdom is unforgettable. The music, colors, Mario Kart, Yoshi's Adventure, and Donkey Kong Country make it feel like you've stepped inside a real Nintendo game. My biggest disappointment is that Nintendo didn't get the entire park. Imagine if Epic Universe had been built completely around Nintendo with multiple themed worlds: Mushroom Kingdom - Mario, Peach's Castle, Mario Kart, Toad Town, and Rainbow Road. Yoshi's Island - A colorful family land filled with dinosaurs, adventure trails, and unique rides. Donkey Kong Country - A huge jungle packed with temples, waterfalls, mine carts, and thrilling attractions. Bowser's Kingdom - A massive volcanic world with Bowser's Castle, lava-filled rides, and epic battles. Luigi's Mansion - A haunted land with ghosts, puzzles, special effects, and a state-of-the-art dark ride. Nintendo has enough characters and games to fill an entire theme park. Instead, it only occupies one section of Epic Universe. For me, the park itself feels a bit small, and outside of Nintendo there wasn't another land that left the same lasting impression. Super Nintendo World is what makes Epic Universe worth visiting, and I honestly believe Universal missed an opportunity by not making the entire park a Nintendo park. Epic Universe is still a great park, but Super Nintendo World completely steals the show. If Universal ever expands Nintendo into multiple worlds--including Yoshi's Island, Bowser's Kingdom, Luigi's Mansion, Zelda, Pokémon, Kirby, and Metroid--it could become the greatest video game theme park ever created read more

Universal Epic Universe - This How Epic Universe should look - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

We had a great time and great set up of the different theme sections with the carousel in the middle of the park. I appreciate the cooling stations but it would be nice to have more coverage for long lines and rain. It rained periodically and was hot and humid most of the time for the summer. read more

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My family and I really enjoyed our time and experience at the park. It was our first time and yes this park is both expansive in space but smaller in size than expected, but we had a great time. We were visiting from Ca so we are use to smaller spaces. The park itself is beautiful, the lands are thought out and attention to detail is amazing. I did feel it closed a little earlier than it should, but we were still able to enjoy so much! My family and I would def be back in the future! read more

People near and far have been pumped for this park. It's been a year since it opened and it seems pretty well-established by now. I visited on a Saturday, arriving after 11 a.m. Parking and walking to the entrance was a smooth process, no long lines to get in. It was an overcast day, which mitigated direct sunlight but the humidity is inescapable. Wish I had prepared better. A cooling towel or wearable fan is highly recommended. The park sells them, but no way would I pay their prices. The various themed areas of the park are very impressive. Unique portals transport you to highly detailed worlds that immerse you in an altered reality. One of the highlights for me was exploring the Ministry of Magic. Breathtaking! There's a separate way in for non-riders, which was nice. Stardust Racers is their most thrilling ride. Also always the shortest wait during my visit, so we kept going. Didn't get to ride everything. Longest we waited was around an hour and 45 minutes for Donkey Kong and Mario Cart. For the most part, decent cooling devices are present while waiting in lines. It did help. I enjoyed all the food I tried. Staff was pleasant. Effusive farewells as we exited the park. My main issue is that some areas feel cramped. Too many bodies in a condensed space. In certain locales we had trouble finding available seating. Rides did get delayed occasionally, but nothing excessive. read more

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Hands down one of the best spots to visit with great company when in Orlando! The overall atmosphere, the rides ‍ How to train a dragon was a winner for my kiddos n I! Super Mario is fun! (Just over packed when we came!) If never been here u can bring a bag with drinks n a snack from home! read more

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So much room for potential. It's. a great start to a new park, a lot of people don't realize the planning efforts and funding that goes into making this park what it has become as a baseline. I read this month Harry Potter world received a $25M permit for expansion which is much needed. The only attraction i there is SO worth it the ride is incredible and a hybrid of tower of terror, ratatouille and avatars naya river. The animatronics are here! Food is tough at this park, they need better signage for all the little food shops and more options. More hand cleaning stations and more space to sit down after meals. If you go on a weekday with good sneakers you don't need to buy the fast pass but if money ain't an issue and you want to finish everything in 4 hours buy it. Bathrooms are great and clean. I appreciate the new family bathrooms. The facial recognition is impressive! I appreciate no bands for anything except for Nintendo World which was the BEST. So worth it just go! read more

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The pros: Worlds are all beautiful and so true to their origins. Free water cups at several quick service restaurants. Lots of vegan dining options - even at quick service and carts. Most park employees were extremely helpful and kind. Cons: Not enough thrill rides, and while I was there, at least two rides were inoperable at any given time. The live circus show was delayed with no anticipated return time, so we missed it. Monsters Unchained would've been fantastic if my daughter and I hadn't gotten stuck on it for about 20 minutes in the dark, up in the air while she suffered a panic attack. We were compensated with a one ride express pass that we couldn't use on the one ride we wanted to use it on. Also, Express passes are only good for one ride on each attraction, but are still very expensive. Extremely crowded - especially in Super Nintendo World. Stairs, stairs, stairs read more

It's hard to write a review that captures everything that makes this park so EPIC!!! Dare I say this park takes the cake for the best amusement park ever? What really sets it apart from others, is the attention to detail even through the smallest details such as restrooms & line queues! I truly felt immersed & apart of each world after walking through the different portals! I was super thankful to have stayed at a Universal Hotel! That extra hour really makes a different if you're trying to see & do everything here! read more

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Visiting Epic Universe for the first time was something I had been looking forward to for a long time, and overall, it lived up to most of my expectations. The feeding throughout the park is incredible and you can tell a lot of thought and detail went into creating each land. I also really appreciated how spacious the park feels and the food options were surprisingly good. The level of immersion across the park is one of its strongest highlights. My absolute favorite area was Isle of Berk. Everything from the food to the shows to the rides was done well, and it truly felt like stepping into another world. It easily stood out as the most complete and enjoyable land in the park. Super Nintendo world was also very impressive and visually stunning. It really transports you into the games. However, the Donkey Kong ride, Mine-Cart Madness, broke down multiple times during my visit, and the wait time was extremely long for such a short (and honestly, underwhelming) ride. The Dark Universe has a lot of potential but compared to the other lands, it felt like it could use a bit more to fully bring it to life. The Ministry of Magic was beautifully done. The theme and immersion were fantastic and the queue for the main ride was honestly one of the best I've experienced. It was honestly better than the ride itself. One thing I didn't love overall was how the Express Pass system affects wait times. We chose not to purchase it and while I understand its benefits, it did feel like the standby lines moved muuuch slower because of it. It would be nice if there were a bit more balance to make the experience feel fair to all guests. read more

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Epic is such a great addition to universal and easily accessible. The park is huge and all of the universes inside feel immersive. Nintendo world is the most memorable but my favorite ride with a reasonable wait time is the stardust racers, their roller coaster. Unfortunately, a lot of the rides have really long wait times but the fantastic beasts and toothless shows are a fun way to get away from the heat. It's worth the watch. read more

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I would rather give a 3.5, but do not have that option. My family and I were very excited to visit this new park, and had some good and some bad to say about it. The worlds are all very immersive and beautifully done. You really feel like you are transported into a different universe each time you enter a new place, but we did feel like the central area was lacking ambiance. It seemed very plain, bland, and lacked natural foliage and canopy cover. I would love to see them do something more with this area. The rides were fun, but the scale felt a little small- especially for Donkey Kong. It was an amazing rollercoaster- super cool elements like the disappearing track- but it seemed cramped into a small space. I don't know how to describe it, but it just didn't feel like a grand ride you'd expect from Universal. I am also not a fan of all the 3-D motion rides this park has. The Harry Potter ride and Minsters Unchained are motion 3-D that I don't do well with, and the roller coaster in the Monsters world is wayyy too spinny for me to try. Yoshi was veryyyyy slow- just too slow and nothing fun to do during the slow ride like an interactive game. They also need to create some cover for if it rains or just the sun beating down on you during that ride. The food was pretty good at Mead Hall in How to Train your Dragon world. We had a nice little feast. Overall, I would like to just see MORE from this park. There are not enough rides to accommodate the amount of people and wait times are tedious. They will need to add more to this park before I consider returning. read more

Named by Time's Magazine's World's Greatest Places of 2026 to Visit category for North America, Universal Epic Universe is the largest of Universal Orlando's parks and meant to be that which finally shifts the center of gravity in Central Florida. Located about 4 miles away from Universal's other parks, it is divided into five magical worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter--Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon--Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, and Celestial Park. The design of the park was well planned out with the tunnels leading to each immersive world. Its architecture is worth at least one visit. If one's going to actually ride all the attractions, buy the express pass in advance, which is costly. The best ride, Stardust Racers, where two coasters race each other, was not running. The Curse of the Werewolf is a spinning roller coaster that was a bit of a lack luster after waiting an hour and only lasts less than a minute. The app is AMAZING, super intuitive, has accurate wait times, and the map is precise and easy to follow. Unfortunately, my partner and I noticed this park was designed with a lack of permanent shade structures and no mature trees. Visiting Super Nintendo World in the afternoon with the full sun felt like a sauna with the same reflective properties and heat emanating from the pavement and facades. Strongly recommend an umbrella with UV protection, a cool-dude bucket hat, and ridiculously strong sunscreen. It needs improvements with more attractions and longer rides. Since it is a new park, we are not surprised these aren't present. read more

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Got a chance to check out Epic Universe while we were in Orlando and overall I really enjoyed it. The lands are all super well done, but what really stood out to me were the entrances. The tunnels that take you into each area are honestly stunning. It really does feel like you're being transported into a different world. The only reason I didn't rate it higher is because Stardust Racers and The Untrainable Dragon show were both closed, and those were two of the things I was most excited for. Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, especially Donkey Kong Land, and Dark Universe were my favorites. Donkey Kong Land hit me right in the nostalgia and I wish I could've spent more time there. Unfortunately it was insanely busy, which made it hard to really take everything in. I expected that though since the park is still so new. It was packed all day and honestly still packed at night. I know people say to go in the evening, and it does help a little, but it's still crowded. Dark Universe was everything I needed. It had that classic spooky vibe and that is fully my era right now. I was in absolute graveyard heaven. Also, the best ride in the park hands down was Frankenstein. Do not sleep on that one. Top food recommendations are the PB and J mac cone in Isle of Berk and the frozen butterbeer in the Ministry of Magic. Both were 10 out of 10. Overall, Epic was a great experience. If I end up back in Orlando I probably wouldn't go again right away. I'd give it some time for the crowds to calm down and for everything to be fully up and running. Also, we were lucky enough to get express passes and they were absolutely worth it. Lines were very long, but with express we were able to get through most of the rides in one day. Without it, there's no way. The longest line we waited in was actually to meet Toothless, which was about an hour. read more

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Epic Universe - Orlando, FL Epic Universe is everything a theme park should be... and honestly, what they all should've been doing all along. We visited as a family on April 5, 2026, and from the moment we walked in, it just felt different--in the best way possible. One of the first things that stood out? You can actually sit down and be. There are plenty of seating areas, benches, and spaces to relax and soak it all in. That alone is a game-changer. So many parks (looking at you, Disney) have taken that away, leaving you with tired feet and nowhere to recharge. Not here. The layout is incredibly easy to navigate, and the design is just flat-out beautiful. Every area flows naturally into the next, and each "world" truly pulls you in. Whether you're in How to Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter, Mario, or Dark Universe--you don't just visit... you feel like you're inside it. And the rides? Next level. Fully immersive, creative, and just plain fun. You can tell a ton of thought went into making each experience unique and memorable. Food and drinks are everywhere and surprisingly solid. Pro tip: get the freestyle cup--unlimited refills all day (Coke, Powerade, water, etc.) and totally worth it. But don't skip the shows. Seriously. The Untrainable Dragon show absolutely blew our family away. Our 6-year-old was completely locked in and couldn't stop talking about Toothless flying around--it was one of those moments you don't forget. I'll say it again: THIS is the new standard. From here on out, I'm judging every theme park against Epic Universe--and right now, nothing else comes close. read more

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Epic Universe has big crowds, long lines throughout the day, and multiple delays. But as a solo traveler with no kids, and 5 day park-to-park pass, there is absolutely nothing I can complain about. I literally had one of the best times of my life. The music, lighting design, architecture, details, and immersive storytelling brought tears to my eyes. The creative team should be incredibly proud of what they executed here. As someone with a background in theater and film, it was moving to look around and realize how much thought, effort, and risk it must have taken to create this park. Shoutout to the Team Members. I saw SO many TMs go above and beyond for guests. Also, the bartenders??? You know what's up. Fun fact: the central hub connecting all the worlds (portals) is called Celestial Park (this is where the nighttime fountain show happens)--home to Stardust Racers and the carousel. The Celestials are universe explorers who have gained the knowledge of how to hop into other worlds. And on this very special day, yes the day you are visiting Epic, all things are aligned and you, a human from Earth, can travel through all the portals. Look up in the sky at night... you'll see a hit of this story. For a one-day visit, it might be tough to experience everything. I am telling you, if you are going to do Epic, get a park-to-park pass for multiple days. There were times where I was done at Universal Studios and said heck, let's just go get a bite in Epic, only to discover a short line on a high-demand ride! I can't wait to see how this park grows. read more

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Universal Epic Universe is the newest addition to the Universal Orlando Resort and from a theming and design standpoint it sets a new bar for what a theme park can look like. Walking through the gates into Celestial Park and then into each individual portal is a genuinely impressive experience. The level of detail and world building across every land is remarkable and rewards you for slowing down and taking it in rather than rushing from ride to ride. At night in particular the park transforms in a way that makes staying late feel worthwhile rather than just running out the clock. Super Nintendo World is one of the standout portals and delivers on the immersive promise of the concept in a way that the original Japan location made famous. The How to Train Your Dragon land and the Dark Universe portal each have their own distinct atmosphere and the transition between worlds through the portal gates is one of those park design touches that genuinely lands. The Wizarding World addition here gives Harry Potter fans even more to engage with beyond what exists at the other Universal parks. The Battle at the Ministry is another headliner worth prioritizing early in the day. Wait times are the central challenge and the main factor that determines whether a visit feels worth the ticket price. Rides going down and operational delays compound the issue when they happen, and with each land having a limited number of attractions the lines concentrate quickly. Getting to the park at rope drop and targeting the highest demand rides immediately is the most effective strategy. The Express Pass makes a significant difference but adds a meaningful cost on top of an already expensive day. The food throughout the park is a step above standard theme park fare and worth budgeting time for beyond just a quick grab between rides. Visiting both during the day and into the evening gives you the most complete experience of what the park has to offer. read more

Universal Epic Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I only think this park is worth it if you have the Epic Express Pass. Without it, you'll spend most of your day in line and you won't get through everything. That's just reality. Between the Florida heat, lack of shade, and 3 hour wait times, you'll waste a huge portion of your day standing around instead of actually enjoying the park. Even with the Express Pass, I still waited around 30 minutes for several rides. Most of the standby lines I walked past, especially Donkey Kong, Mario Kart, and Harry Potter, were well over 3 hours long. Think about that for a second. You can easily spend 3 to 6 hours waiting for a couple of rides that last only a few minutes. That's not my idea of a good time. Also, the queue lines are also extremely claustrophobic in some areas. The outdoor fans aren't nearly powerful enough for the Florida heat, and unlike some other parks, there aren't enough cooling misters running through many of the queue areas. Standing in those lines gets uncomfortable fast. Pros * Pretty park. Everything is brand new, clean, and visually impressive. * The overall design and theming are excellent. * Harry Potter was pretty cool especially since I've never even seen one of the movies. * Monsters Unchained (Frankenstein) is highly underrated and was one of the best rides in the park. * The How to Train Your Dragon coaster was another good one. Cons * Express Pass is practically mandatory. * Very little shade throughout the park. * Long wait times, even with Express Pass. * Queue areas can feel cramped and uncomfortable. * Outdoor cooling fans don't do much in the Florida heat. * Food and drinks are expensive, even by theme park standards. Best Rides: * Harry Potter * Monsters Unchained (Frankenstein) * How to Train Your Dragon coaster Most Overrated Ride:Donkey Kong. I know this will probably upset some people, but I don't understand the hype. It's fast, but it's incredibly jerky. By the time it was over, I felt like I needed a back brace. Not worth the wait. Worst Ride:Mario Kart. Absolute waste of time. The instructions before boarding are confusing, the ride itself isn't very exciting, and the glasses/headset combination they make you wear is heavy and uncomfortable. Waiting hours for this attraction would be one of the biggest disappointments in the park. As someone who grew up playing Mario Kart, I found this ride pathetic. Ignore most of the blogs and YouTube videos. If you're trying to maximize your day: 1. Go straight to Super Nintendo World. It's the busiest land and best to get out of the way. 2. Do Donkey Kong first. 3. Head immediately to Harry Potter. 4. Go to How to Train Your Dragon. 5. Finish in Dark Universe with Frankenstein and Werewolf. The wait times only get worse as the day goes on. TIPS * Buy a portable misting fan on Amazon before your trip. Seriously. It will save you. The ones at the park are ridiculously overpriced. * Wear comfortable shoes. * Bring snacks. * Don't waste your money at Blue Dragon. Overpriced food and not very good. That's a separate review all by itself. Overall, Epic Universe is a visually impressive park with some good adult attractions, but the lack of shade, brutal wait times, and Florida heat make it much harder to enjoy than it should be. If you're going, get the Express Pass. read more

Epic was the first Universal park I visited and after experiencing the others, it's my least favorite. This park has fun themes, including Mario Bros, Dark Universe/Classic Monsters, How to Train Your Dragon, and Harry Potter. All of the areas are captured perfectly from vibe to shops and decor. We snacked through the park, including ice cream and pretzels. The rides looked fun, but the wait times were UNREAL and we had to skip several. Weather seemed to cause additional delays. Many didn't offer single rider options or they were shut down. How do families tolerate such long lines, especially with younger kids? We took buses to Universal and to get to Epic, a bus transfer was needed. This increased travel and we lost time during open hours. My family is happy to have visited here and it's cool that Hogsmeade offers a second option to travel between parks, but if given the opportunity to come back to one of the parks, this would rank last. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had at Epic Universe! I knew we'd enjoy ourselves of course but really emercing ourselves in each world and doing the activities and eating the different foods that came along with them was really sooo much fun! This might be my favorite park in Orlando. I think of the 4 parks, the best looking was easily Mario, because WOW, it literally felt like I loaded up into the game. But the Harry Potter (Fantastic Beasts) world is definitely a close second in that category. Fantastic Beasts World takes that cake for the best food AND best game/adventure. Getting your own wand and going around the entire world (and also Diagon Alley at Universal Studios) learning/completing interactive spells had me feeling like a kid again! So much fun! Excited to go back! read more

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I loved it! I hate to see so many negative reviews and I empathize with them. I interned at Universal and Disney in the past and I understand that experiences are subjective but that does not take away from the masterpiece that was created here. With an express pass on a non summer day, you can easily see everything that this park has to offer, which is my only criticism, as local. Outside of that, this park is amazing!! I can highly recommend it. Check out my full tour on youtube to see what this amazing park has to offer. Just search MrBucketlist Epic Universe. GO HERE!!! read more

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Epic truly lives up to its name! It's a newly built park with 5 different worlds, and every single one of them was amazing. The amount of detail throughout the park is unbelievable ,it honestly takes a long time to take everything in. The park stays super crowded, but using the single rider lines was an absolute blessing and saved us so much time. Nintendo World felt like stepping directly into the game. The level of detail there was incredible. Darkmoor Village was also very impressive, even the restrooms had eerie music and a dark theme that matched the atmosphere perfectly. The food throughout the park was fantastic, and I got to try several different places. The Ministry of Magic ride and monsters ride was one of the highlights. The wait time was long, but again, the single rider line saved the day. The park also has two shows, and both were excellent. The dragon show was absolutely amazing! Isle of Berk was another beautifully designed area even the benches were themed like dragons. We even got the chance to meet Toothless, which made the experience even more special. Everything about this park was amazing. The fountain show at night was beautiful, and once the park lights up in the evening, it looks absolutely stunning. I would highly recommend visiting this park! read more

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Universal has done it again! Epic is STUNNING! Every little detail is beautiful. Now, I wouldn't go to this park for rides, it was more about the vibes. While there are rides in each portal, they aren't the main focus and you will be waiting a long time if you don't get express passes. We rode a few rides such as Monsters Unchained which was amazing! We loved the shows and just walking around the portals. This park also has the best food! Highly recommend the mac & cheese cones, ice cream from Frosty Moon, and the butterbeer crepe (note: it is served cold). Definitely worth visiting at least once! read more

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I had been dreaming of going to Epic Universe since it was first announced. And recently, that dream came true! I've been an avid goer of Universal Studios for years. EU definitely has a different feel to it, especially because it is in a separate location from the other two parks. I love the idea of the different portals you go through to visit a different world. It's absolutely incredible how much detail they put into the design of everything. Our most anticipated area to visit was Super Nintendo World and WOW, it is unreal! Dark Universe was also a favorite of mine, although I do wish it were bigger! The rides here are really fun and there's a good variety of thrilling to gentle. Some of the waits can get pretty outrageous (I'm looking at you, Harry Potter!!) so whether that be resolved with more attractions or a better line process would be nice to see. There also aren't many sit down restaurants, but there are a lottt of really good quick service/snack stands! Half of the fun we had was portal hopping trying different things. This park isn't even a year old yet, and I'd say they're off to a great start! I can't wait to keep visiting and see this place evolve. read more

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I was so psyched for Epic Universe, and finally got my chance to visit. After 10 hours in the park, I'm somewhat ambivalent about it. There are a couple of excellent rides. The Battle at the Ministry is a must-visit, if you don't mind waiting; early park admission certainly helps. Stardust Racers is a gem of a rollercoaster, too, for those who can stand the intensity. I couldn't believe how short the waits were here. Sadly, that's where the excellence ends. I mean, Mine Kart Madness is fun, but it's not worth the typical 60-minute wait. Monsters Unchained is visually stunning, but not all that exciting or scary. And several rides are dogs, including Bowser's Challenge, Yoshi's Adventure, and Fyre Drill. Overall, I'd say that the park designers did very well creating the atmosphere of the various worlds. But more attention needed to be given to the rides. read more

This is the theme park that everyone in your family can have a good time at. Even the family members that never ride rides and watch everyone's bags. Celestial Park is gorgeous! It will be even better when the trees provide more shade but still gorgeous. The layout of the park is easy to navigate and even though it's huge it doesn't feel like you're walking yourself to death. Tons of food options, lots to see, make sure to see the shows. Not a ton of rides but we stayed open to close one day and we never ran out of things to do. Entry to the park was super quick and easy after we got our facial recognition set up - not having to pull out my phone for our tickets are great!! We'll definitely be back - it was an amazing experience. Visit Pizza Moon!!!! A couple of the employees were stand out superstars: shout out to the man working the ride share pickup loop, making sure everyone got into the right cars - thanks for keeping us safe! And the woman at guest services when the app stopped working for mobile order, you were super patient and nice! Some of the workers were nooooooooot so great, so the ones that went above and beyond really stood out. read more

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My girlfriend and I visited Epic Universe last weekend and had an overall positive experience with some downsides (mainly relating to the long lines). The good: -The set designs of the different universes and the ride lines are amazing. I thought the Dark Universe was the most spectacularly designed universe, and you definitely should check it out at night. A close second for me was the Mario Universe. The design for the Harry Potter ride is also world class. You feel like you're on set for the movie while waiting in the line. -Most of the rides are super fun. My favorite was the Frankenstein experience and Hiccups Wing Gliders. I also highly recommend riding Stardust Racers and the Werewolf rollercoaster at night. Stardust Racers is beautifully lit up and the Werewolf ride is spookily not lit up. -Good technology implementation. I like how you can do mobile food ordering and scan the table number so they bring your food and drinks out to you. I also like how the locker system is based on your face, so you don't need to worry about holding onto anything to open the locker. -Good food options. I wouldn't say any of the food that I had was exceptional, but all of it was pretty good for a theme park. Definitely get the butter beer crepes in the Harry Potter Universe and the cheddar bites in the Dark Universe. Those lived up to the hype. The bad: -THE LINES. If you don't get early park admission or a fast pass, be prepared to wait a long time for most rides and especially the Harry Potter and Donkey Kong rides. We waited close to two hours for both the Donkey Kong ride and the Harry Potter ride. All told, we probably spent half of our day waiting in lines, which diminished my willingness to go on a ride again and have to wait in another long line. The fast passes were also ridiculously priced for when we visited. More than double the price of our park ticket ($300 per person). To avoid lines as much as possible, I'd recommend doing the Isle of Berk rides asap in the morning because those can have long lines later in the day, and all of the popular rides will already have long lines when the park opens due to early park admission. -The guests. Not much Universal can really do about this, but nothing is more annoying than waiting in a long line with annoying and obnoxious people next to you. People can also be pretty rude with the locker lines and try to cut in front of you. Overall, I think how much you enjoy Epic Universe depends on your tolerance for waiting in line or how much you're willing to spend to avoid lines. read more

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New for 2025, we decided to visit the new Universal park in November. Maybe it was because we went the week before Thanksgiving, but the park was extremely crowded and the wait times were very long. We arrived right at opening, yet the first two rides we attempted were delayed due to malfunctions, so we were almost 1.5 hours in without riding a single attraction. Although there were several delays throughout the day, most rides eventually came back online and we were able to experience them. The one ride that stayed closed the entire time was the Frankenstein ride. My favorite was easily Stardust Racer. After riding it for the first time, it instantly ranked #1 or #2 among all Universal Orlando rides for me, right up there with VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure. What really stood out was the park's layout. Each themed world has its own gateway or portal that fully immerses you as you enter. When the park is busy, those portals can create bottlenecks for entering and exiting, but the overall concept and design are genius. read more

Universal Epic Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida