Hoppin’ news! Universal Epic Universe is now open — and you can save on your Universal Orlando tickets when you purchase through Undercover Tourist, up to $88 per ticket!
Universal Epic Universe theme park has officially been open since May 22, 2025 (time flies when you've been exploring a brand-new theme park!). From previews to post-opening visits, we frogs have already spent a lot of time portal hopping (40+ visits and counting!), so we can help you experience Epic Universe like an expert. Here are some tips and lessons we've learned from our adventures in the five worlds. Plus, don't miss our in-depth Epic Universe Jump Start guide, which is packed with planning information including world breakdowns, tickets, hotels, family must-dos and more. Before we dive in, it's important to note that things are still evolving, especially as crowd levels fluctuate. But don't worry — we're keeping a close eye on new developments, and are continually updating our Epic Universe blog posts.
Our Top Tips for Visiting the All-New Epic Universe Theme Park
1. Have an Early Park Admission Plan (But Also a Backup Plan)
Taking advantage of the Early Park Admission (EPA) benefit is one of our top ways to maximize your time at Universal Epic Universe if you're staying at a Universal hotel. Typically, EPA starts an hour before park open, and select attractions are open during this time. Universal officially posts a list of available rides on its website, but the offerings are subject to change. There will always be signage once you enter the park for the most up-to-date information.
If you have EPA, our best advice is to focus on Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge in Super Nintendo World first. Out of all the rides on Universal's EPA list, Mario Kart sees the highest wait times throughout the day, so you'll want to knock it out first. If you arrive an hour before EPA even begins, there's a better chance you will be closer to the front of the line, and can be in and out of Mario Kart within the EPA hour. Then, you can hop over to the How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk portal and wait until it opens to be one of the first in line for meeting Toothless, another popular experience with high wait times throughout the day, or Hiccup's Wing Gliders, which is more often than not a walk-on when the world initially opens.
That said, actual EPA rides have been in flux since the grand opening, so just make sure you have some flexibility to pivot quickly! If you find that your initial plan might not work out, go to a different portal on the opposite side. Many in the same situation will flock to the nearest attraction. Over time, we do think the official EPA list will become more consistent, as Universal is still learning what works best as crowd levels change.
2. If No EPA, Consider Riding Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry First
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry consistently has a high wait time all day long. If it's your number-one priority, consider hitting it first. Even though it's technically not listed as an EPA option, the standby line has been opening an hour early for all guests, and the ride begins operating at park open. Since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic portal is close to Helios Grand Hotel, it is a big advantage for those guests using the dedicated Helios Grand park entrance. That said, if you're staying at a different Universal hotel and are arriving through the main entrance, there isn't much of an EPA advantage since all guests can enter the queue. No matter where you stay, if you are early enough to be one of the first in line, you could check it off your list shortly after park open once the ride starts operating. (If you can get past the Metro-Floo and into the atrium, that's a good sign — when we've tested this strategy and ended up stopping next to the Fountain of Magical Brethren in the atrium, we were on the ride within 40 minutes once the ride began operating.)
Since a lot of people flock to Battle at the Ministry at opening, you may also want to consider waiting to see if the line goes down later in the day. We have also tried this strategy, waiting until about 10 minutes before park close, and were able to complete the ride within 30 minutes. However, be aware that there is a chance the ride may close for capacity and not reopen. To lessen that risk, we would keep an eye out throughout the day and consider hopping in line by 7 p.m. You can also set a wait time alert in the Universal app if you want to be notified when the line hits at or below a wait time of your choosing.
3. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment Consistently Sees Lower Wait Times
One of the rides with a consistently lower wait time has been Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. While it seems surprising for a popular ride (for us frogs, it's one of our top favorites at Epic Universe!), we also think it makes sense. First of all, the scare/thrill factor may be too intense for younger children, so families may give it a skip. But another reason may be the ride system — it uses KUKA arm technology, the same as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Because it's a continuously moving attraction, the loading area is very efficient. Additionally, while we do recommend going through the standby queue at least once to get the full experience, the Single Rider line is also one of our best tips for this ride, as we've consistently waited 10 minutes or less when using this line.
4. Weekend Crowds Are Slightly Lower than Weekdays
You would think it'd be the complete opposite, but with the limited time that Epic Universe has been open, we have observed lower wait times on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday tickets are cheaper, so this could be a factor, paired with cheaper hotel rates. Likewise, those with multi-day tickets could assume weekends at Epic are busy, and opt for the other theme parks instead. While it's too soon to say this will be the pattern consistently moving forward, we will continue to closely monitor crowd levels and wait times. Hop over to our Best Times to Visit Universal Orlando post for even more insights.
5. Protect Yourself from the Sun
With Florida's summer temperatures just getting started, it's so important to stay hydrated and know how to stay cool. Pack neck fans, handheld fans, UV umbrellas, sunglasses, sunscreen, hats and reusable water bottles. You can find refillable water stations near every bathroom, plus you can fill water bottles at any Coca-Cola Freestyle station (a message might pop up that it's the wrong Freestyle cup for soda, but it allows for water only).
At Epic Universe theme park specifically, there are three indoor rides (Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Monsters Unchained and Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge) and two indoor shows (The Untrainable Dragon and Le Cirque Arcanus). Even with outdoor rides, the queues are mostly covered. We'd also recommend eating during the hottest parts of the day — many of the restaurants have large dining areas, such as Le Gobelet Noir, Pizza Moon, The Oak & Star Tavern and Meteor Astropub, and of course, AC.
6. On Rainy Days, Be Extra Flexible
While we're on the topic of weather, summer is Florida's rainy season, and thunderstorms can be common in the afternoons and evenings. If there is thunder and lightning nearby, the outdoor rides will close for a weather delay, even if it's not raining. This is another great time to hit up those indoor rides, shows, restaurants or gift shops. We've also met Toothless during a regular Florida afternoon downpour — because Haddock Paddock is covered, the Night Fury and his Viking companions continued to meet. The queue is partially covered, so it ended up being a good time to visit, as we waited 45 minutes (with a posted 90-minute wait). Characters who roam or do not have covered meeting areas will not come out.
7. Make Time for Characters and Interactive Experiences
What really sets Epic Universe apart is how experiential and immersive the theme park is — it's more than just the rides! We LOVE the character experiences within each world. While some characters have traditional meet-and-greet queues (such as the Super Nintendo World characters and Toothless), you'll also find roaming characters in Dark Universe, Ministry of Magic and Isle of Berk. Take time to have a conversation with them! Each interaction can be toadally unique.
There are also interactive activities, including Power-Up Bands in Super Nintendo World and spell casting in the Ministry of Magic. You feel like you're part of a real-life video game, or magic happens before your very own eyes! Each world has so many details, adding a lot of depth to the storytelling.
8. Many Restaurants Use Mobile Order
At Epic Universe, there are only two full-service restaurants (reservations highly recommended), Atlantic and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant. All other dining locations are either fast casual or walk-up food kiosks. With fast casual, you'll find (or wait for) a table, and there is a QR code on the table which allows you to mobile order food on the Universal Orlando app. Your food is then delivered to your table. A select few locations have separate pick-up windows, where you can walk up to the counter to retrieve your meal. While mobile ordering is highly encouraged as the default option, there are still registers available if you do not have a smartphone or prefer to pay with cash or a physical credit card.
9. Utilize the Family Care Center
The Family Care Center is located in the back of the park next to the Ministry of Magic portal. It's equipped with quiet rooms, nursing rooms, family restrooms and a kitchenette. It even has a vending machine anyone can use that is full of products, including over-the-counter medicine, Band-Aids, deodorant, diapers, wipes and more. For those with tadpoles who need a quick 30-minute nap or sensory break, the Family Care Center is the perfect spot. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
10. Yes, There Are Stairs — All Queues and Worlds Are Accessible
You may have heard there are a lot of stairs at Epic Universe theme park, and it is true. Super Nintendo World, in particular, has two levels (with elevators) and many rides have staircases in the queues. That said, all rides and worlds are ADA-compliant and are accessible for wheelchair users. Select rides can fully accommodate a standard wheelchair (ECV users would need to transfer into a courtesy manual chair), including Constellation Carousel, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, Yoshi's Adventure and Fyre Drill. All other attractions have lateral transfer devices or modified seating to allow for transfers.
11. Stay Until Nighttime
Epic Universe truly comes alive at night. Each portal has a spotlight that converges with the others in the sky. The lights in Celestial Park coordinate with the dancing fountains and music. Frankenstein Manor in Dark Universe crackles with lightning and fog pours out of the village well. The Stardust Racers ride vehicles become comets racing through the dark. Wizarding Paris twinkles with the circus tent lights. In each world, you get a toadally different experience at night. The trickiest part is having enough time in the dark before park close since the sun sets late in the summer. But it's well worth sticking around and soaking in the ambience.
We've been having a blast at Universal Epic Universe theme park, and we can't wait until you experience it too. For more Epic Universe theme park planning tips and resources, check out our Epic Universe blog posts and Epic Universe Jump Start guide. Don't froget you can save up to $88 on Epic Universe tickets through Undercover Tourist!
Related: Frequently Asked Questions About Universal Epic Universe
Related: Your Guide to Universal Epic Universe Tickets — Including How to Save
Hoppy planning!
