Friday marked the first anniversary of the opening of Universal Studios’ fourth Orlando park, Epic Universe. It promised one of the most ambitious launch offerings in theme park history, truly giving purpose to its “epic” name across five themed lands. So, a year in, how does it all stack up? Just before the one year anniversary last week, I headed to the park in Florida for the first time to find out.
From the outset, I’m happy to say that its current offering – which remains virtually the same as it did on launch day – sits as one of the most impressive and best run parks I’ve ever been to. Everything about this park is immaculate, from the detail of each of its five lands, to the way they manage the crowds and the multiple ways you can queue for each experience. And let me tell you – you are going to want to explore every inch of this place.
Join me as I take you on a journey through what makes Epic Universe work so well, and how they’ve set the bar incredibly high for future parks.
A FULLY REALISED VISION AT LAUNCH
Name a theme park and chances are its experience at launch caused some disappointment. Maybe previously announced aspects of the park weren’t ready for opening. Maybe the place was so overcrowded that you couldn’t enjoy everything on offer. All the major park chains have been guilty of this – and it’s nothing new. Even Disneyland still had concrete setting on its opening day in July 1955.
But at Epic Universe, all 11 attractions promised for opening day were running and ready after almost six years of construction. And so were the some 2,000 new rooms across three new Universal hotels: Stella Nova Resort, the sister Terra Luna Resort and the on site luxury Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, pictured below.
This is particularly impressive when you visit the park, because they haven’t cut corners anywhere. There is no section of the park, nor an attraction within it, that feels like it was slapped in to fill space. Every corner is laced with the level of detail they have become known for since bringing The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World to their parks around the world. They set the bar high for themselves, and they met the challenge – simultaneously upping the bar for theme park launches around the world.
AN EXPANSION OF ORLANDO
Unlike Disney, Universal don’t have a self-contained area of Orlando that gives them almost endless expansion space. Some reports suggest Disney still have another 5,000 acres to play with on their property. So to bring Epic Universe and its three hotels to life, they spent four years purchasing 750-acres of land, a ten minute drive south from their existing resort area, where the park and three new hotels would be built – with plenty of room for future expansion, too. Though what is still to come remains something of rumour, some building has already started near Super Nintendo World, and other parts of the land have been flattened in preparation.
So how do they connect the new park with their three others, and the eight existing hotels that sit around them? By an extensive bus network! Each hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to Epic Universe, with the one we caught from our hotel at Loews Royal Pacific Resort leaving every 10 minutes. It takes just 10 minutes to get to Epic Universe by way of an median that’s used exclusively by Universal’s transit network. This was all part of the deal when Universal bought the land, with extensive work undertaken to make transport easy, quick and reliable for guests.
We also didn’t have to wait long for a bus to take us back after the park closed. And it’s worth noting that any guest staying at one of the 11 Universal Orlando hotels will be able to access the park an hour earlier than the general public. However express passes aren’t included, as is the case with some hotels for their other parks.
IRONING OUT THE KINKS
While there were no doubt teething problems, particularly around wait times for some of its most popular attractions, a decision to limit attendance on each day ensures this park never feels too crowded. Even when rides like the ever popular Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry balloon to two hours or more. There’s always space to explore.
As crowd movement has been continually ironed out since launch, everything on our day in the park ran impressively smoothly. When there was a “delay” on a ride (their chosen language for when something was non-operational), there was fantastic communication from friendly and often well themed staff members.
As invited guests of the park, we received some special treatment in terms of where and how we queued for rides, and we were able to experience first hand how well multiple queues were weaved through each attraction; with plenty to keep you entertained through many of the queues. Particularly in the epic Battle at the Ministry footprint (pictured above). In fact, so impressive is this attraction that you can visit parts of the queue without going on the ride – which helps give the “Ministry” the feel of a living, breathing space. A very nice touch.
All this is to say, a year in, this is the perfect time to visit the park, as any kinks in operational procedures have been well and truly ironed out. Plus, as new attractions are added in future numbers, capacity will increase, which may change the in park experience. So now is the time to visit.
DON’T SKIP ANYTHING – EVEN THE SHOWS
But here’s the key of the true brilliance of this park. There is not a single experience here that I wouldn’t be happy participating in multiple times, or recommend you to do the same. Even the carousel at the centre of the park is worth queuing for – and that speaks volumes.
This is made particularly impressive by the fact that only one land and its rides had been tested elsewhere. Super Nintendo World is virtually identical to its counterpart in Osaka. The only difference being that Donkey Kong Country was open on launch rather than three years later, as was the case at Universal Studios Japan.
Yoshi’s Adventure (pictured above), Mario Kart: Bowser’s Adventure and the Donkey Kong roller coaster Mine-Cart Madness are the three attractions here, sitting alongside the Toadstool Cafe and a plethora of interactive elements and minigames that are accessible by way of the optional (but highly recommended) power up bands that I spoke about when a smaller version of the land launched in Los Angeles in 2023. Any bands purchased in Osaka or Los Angeles will work here too.
Otherwise, every ride and land is exclusive to the Orlando park.
Let’s start in the Isle of Berk, set in the universe of How To Train Your Dragon, a section that may have been an afterthought for kids at another time in Universal’s history. But this is very much one for the whole family, with detail and experiences that set the tone for a park that refuses to cut corners. There’s also more attractions here than any other area of the park.
First, there’s the roller coaster, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, which packs more punch than you’d expect. There’s multiple launches and plenty of surprises that puts it closer to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure than to their junior Harry Potter coaster found across multiple parks, Flight of the Hippogriff. Everyone is going to enjoy this one.
In this land you’ll also find Dragon Racer’s Rally, which is a take on the classic park spinning “Sky Fly” format. Except here, through gravity and sheer strength, you can control the movement of each dragon. If you get the hang of it, you can even perform a barrel roll, making this ride rank from casual to extreme based on your own capacity. I didn’t manage it on my first ride, but I’m very willing to give it another go. Fyre Drill is their third attraction. It’s a water ride perfect for a hot, where you shoot water at targets – and other boats – as you sail through the land.
Rounding out the key experiences is the live show The Untrainable Dragon, which is the only other port in the park. The almost 20 minute show was a 2021 opening day attraction titled “Untrainable” at Universal Studios Beijing. The spectacular show features digital effects across the walls of the theatre, and on the stage, as well as a life size flying animatronic Toothless which alone is worth your time to witness.
Then we have Orlando’s third land in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter universe, the Ministry of Magic. The main part of the land is set in Fantastic Beasts‘ 1920’s Paris, with even the Sacré-Cœur basilica visible in the distance as you enter through the Arc de Triomphe.
Like at other Universal Wizarding Worlds, there’s extensive interactive elements through the land that can be accessed throughout 1920’s Paris and a purchasable wand. If you bought one at another Wizarding World, it will work here, too. One shopfront was particularly impressive, as it was hidden away in the laneway pictured below, yet had live actors engaging with you through animated paintings. It’s these sorts of one-on-one experiences that make the world feel bigger than it is; a true living and breathing world.
And yes, you can get Butterbeer here too.
The live show here, Le Cirque Arcanus, is extraordinary.
Without giving too much away, across the nearly half hour experience (including the pre-show), you’ll see magic, puppetry, acrobatics, and you’ll see one of the most incredible stage transitions I’ve ever seen outside of Cirque du Soleil and Stranger Things on Broadway. Shows take place throughout the day and shouldn’t be missed.
Though the signature attraction of the land comes in the form of an innovative new ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, which is set in 1990’s London – a place you access by way of the Wizarding mass transit network, Métro-Floo. This ride, along with Mine-Cart Madness, regularly have the longest queues of the day, but keep in mind a single rider queue is available, and you can of course purchase express passes separately.
Transporting through time sits as part of the most impressive queue that I’ve seen this side of the Rise of the Resistance. Walking straight into the Ministry of Magic with people queued up, or just walking through and taking photos, makes it genuinely feel like the place we saw in the original films. Even Imelda Staunton’s Dolores Umbridge is there as part of the experience.
The ride itself is a dark ride in the vein of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which takes place in Hogwart’s Castle at other parks. But it sits in a vessel similar to that found on the Tower of Terror drop ride at Disney Parks. But don’t worry – there aren’t any big drops here. But plenty of very impressive set pieces. It’s easily one of the best dark rides Universal have produced.
Speaking of great dark rides, you’ll find another one in Dark Universe, a land that puts the classical Universal monsters IP to good use – as well as the branding for a cinematic universe that never took off. The land – a fictional town called Darkmoor – even features an original score from Danny Elfman.
The dark ride, which again borrows from some of the technology employed in Forbidden Journey, is called Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, and features some of the best animatronics I’ve ever seen. It mixes a great deal of them into the attraction, making it more than just screens and motion. And the queue in Frankenstein Manor is just as impressive, with the staff very much playing up their role as caretakers of the Manor.
Next to the Manor sits the spinning family coaster Curse of the Werewolf, which at 30 seconds is the shortest of the four coasters at Epic Universe, but nonetheless proves a great experience, and quite unlike anything Universal has built to date in North America. Space Fantasy – The Ride in Osaka comes close to the concept, and the spinning elements may also be seen in California’s forthcoming Fast & Furious coaster.
And then finally there’s the park’s original IP, Celestial Park, that incorporates two rides and the park’s impressive hotel Helios. It’s here that my favorite ride sits, the incredible duel racing coaster Stardust Racers. It’s the only ride I managed to jump on twice in my visit, taking on each side of the experience, which I’ve seen roller coaster enthusiasts debate since its launch as to which is better. I don’t think I can answer that as of yet, but I can certainly say the experience is best at night. The cars light up like comets, powered by a flux capacitor, as track sits almost hidden in the darkness. Exhilarating.
And then there’s the beautiful Constellation Carousel. This ride feels like actual magic, with stunning music and an experience unlike any carousel you’ve ever been on. Seats move up and down as sections rotate in a variety of ways. And the music varies from ride to ride.
And of course there’s entertainment as the park closes every night, with a fountain show that brings together light and music from each of the park’s four portals. It acts as something of a musical end credits for your day, exploring everything Epic Universe had to offer. And with all the original music created for the park, it’s fitting to see it given a closing bow.
WHAT’S THERE FOR THE LITTLE ONES?
You might notice that there isn’t a dedicated kids section of the park. Rather, there are a number of attractions spread throughout that are designed with families and young children in mind.
Of course, Super Nintendo World by its very nature will be the place that kids of a certain age will get lost amongst all the interactive elements – and every ride there is suitable for just about everyone, subject to height restrictions.
At the Isle of Berk, families who don’t mind getting wet will enjoy Fyre Drill. And you have the Viking Training Camp – a play area for kids with towers, games and slides. You’ll also get plenty of encounters with characters from the Hot To Train Your Dragon films. Animatronic versions of the dragons Toothless & Hiccup have wait times that balloon past even the most popular Epic Universe ride. Though you’ll probably be able to catch Gobber the Belch a little easier.
The Constellation Carousel is also one that the whole family will enjoy, with seats made especially for the little ones.
THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY
From facial recognition at the storage lockers, to self taking photo spots, this park has all the latest technology woven into the experience. Just hit the button, get into position, and then find your photo through the QR code. A watermarked version comes free, but from there you can purchase it online, or go to designated places in the park to buy yourself a print out.
The park app also does wonders to keep you across the happenings in the park. For instance, if a ride is down, due to weather or an operational issue, you can set it to buzz you as soon as it reopens. It’s the little things like this that they’ve been able to make possible by utilising the latest technology to engineer Epic Universe from the ground up.
DINING IS A TREAT
Be it fast food or a sit down restaurant, the dining experience at the park is also elevated – reflecting a gradual trend that has been happening at parks around the world over the last few decades. And other than a Starbucks, everything in the park leans on original IP. And they offer more than the deliciously gluttonous Mac and Cheese Cones you’ll find at the Isle of Berk.
Yes, you read that right…
The Isle of Berk features three fantastic food offerings, including the central hub Mead Hall, where you can enjoy giant meatballs and turkey wings amongst the many BBQ treats in this themed hall. At Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel, you’ll find Mac & Cheese Cones, where you can get Mac and Cheese in a garlic bread cone for $16.99. For an extra two dollars you can upgrade to “PB&J” with BBQ harissa pulled pork, peanut bacon jam, and parsley (as pictured above, and delicious), or the “Dragon’s Garden Pyre”, with chicken, corn, avocado and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumble. And finally, there are rice and grain bowls at Spit Fyre Grill.
This sort of dining mirrors most of what you find in the park. Toadstool Cafe in Super Nintendo World enjoys some of the best theming in the park, and you can see it, and more that the park welcomed on opening day HERE. One of my favourite spots was the Burning Blade Tavern – whose windmill lights on fire at set times during the day.
Here (as well as at Das Stakehaus in the same land) you can get a special sparkling green mocktail, the Monocane, inspired by the fictional chemical from The Invisible Man. It’s served in a Erlenmeyer flask you can take home with you. Here you can also eat Hunter’s Garlic Stakes – a “ready to stab” garlic butter pretzel served with garlic dipping sauce. Delicious, and sure to wade off any incoming vampires.
There are also two full service restaurants. At the centre of the park, you’ll find the stunning seafood-forward Atlantic.
I had a delicious scallop risotto, and we shared a number of great sides including baked oysters and fried shrimp.
And I also enjoyed the “Northern Lights” vodka martini, which changes colour as you drink it. There is creativity and immersion everywhere at this park.
You’ll find the other restaurant at the on site hotel Helios, The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant.
The theming in here is fantastic, with “floating” lanterns, bold neon lights evoking an Asian skyline, and a beautiful blue dragon as the arched entryway.
The food here is as impressive as the theming, with a range of Dim Sum and main courses to enjoy. It’s more American Chinese than an authentic experience you’d have in Shanghai, but every dish was delicious and of high quality.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg for the great food on offer at the park.
FINAL VERDICT
While I can’t wait to see what comes next as they start to prepare for the park’s first expansion, it already sits as such a fully realised vision. I wouldn’t change a thing.
I enjoyed every ride, was blown away by the shows, and impressed by the meals. The level of detail is something to behold. And the care the staff at the park have to make sure everyone attending feels fully immersed in the world, does not go ignored. They go above and beyond to make sure things run smoothly for each guest, no matter what sort of ticked you have.
Epic Universe is a bold, unforgettable experience that should be on the bucket list for anyone who loves to be immersed in rich detail… and ride some incredible attractions while you’re at it. There is something for everyone here.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Epic Universe is located in Orlando, Florida, with easy connections to the city through any US entry port.
To book your tickets to the park, head to their official website.
The author visited the park as a guest of Universal Studios, and was hosted at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando for two nights. All photos by the author unless otherwise credited, except the headline image, provided by Universal Studios. All prices in USD and correct at the time of printing.
