If you love classic monsters, Mario and Luigi, Toothless and Hiccup, or Harry Potter, then yes, you need to visit Universal Orlando’s newest and biggest theme park, Epic Universe. Each area of the park is located behind a towering portal, through which you can fully immerse yourself in the world of movies and games. If you’ve never been but are planning a visit, here’s what you need to know before your first trip to the Epic Universe, from someone who’s just been there.
If you’re there for the rope drop, start at Berk Island or Dark Universe.
Many veteran theme park goers recommend staying away from rides at Super Nintendo World and the Ministry of Magic’s Rope Drop. That’s because everyone is sprinting and the wait times are rarely shorter than at other times. Which rides are open during rope drop varies by day. While you’re waiting out front, you can check the Universal app to see which rides are running early and choose from there.
Instead, we recommend heading to Dark Universe or Isle of Berk and taking one or more turns in Monsters Unchained, Curse of the Werewolf, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, or Dragon Racer’s Rally. If you’re interested in large coasters, Stardust Racer might be worth a try.
Download the universal app and purchase interactive items in advance if possible.
OK, part of the fun of visiting the magical world is going to a wand shop and picking out a wand, but you can definitely go that route anyway. But wouldn’t it be great to just walk in and use it?Especially the Super Nintendo World power-up band, which needs to be paired with the Universal app and requires a bit of account setup, so we recommend ordering online before your trip or checking with your hotel gift shop if you’re staying at a Universal resort. That being said, it’s worth the effort to get it while you can. Both the interactive wand experience and the power-up blocks and games add so much fun and value to the experience.
Universal apps are great for everything from ordering food on your mobile to checking wait times at attractions. It’s no fun when kids are excited to punch a power-up block but are screaming “wait!” last! Please show me the QR code again! Do it in an air conditioner beforehand. Speaking of which…
There’s very little shade in the Epic Universe.
Because this park is so new, there aren’t many mature trees surrounding it to provide shade for the walkways. Most of the park is in the sun. You’ll want to wear SPF and sunglasses at any Florida theme park, but especially at Epic. Be sure to wear a hat to protect your scalp and face from the sun. I got a tan for the first time in years. And you might wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your shoulders and create your own shade wherever you go.
You should also definitely invest in high-quality cooling tools, such as handheld fans, neck fans, cooling towels, and even UV-blocking umbrellas. It’s big enough to stuff under a stroller or in a backpack, which can at least relieve tension when there’s nowhere to hide in the scorching heat. I saw many park users crowding into buildings trying to get as much shade as possible.
To avoid the worst of the heat around midday, make reservations to dine indoors or plan to see a show (The Untrainable Dragon is pretty cool!). In an emergency, you can always sneak into the Ministry of Magic and take a few minutes to cool off and observe the details.
Make sure your bag will fit in the attraction’s locker.
If you have a stroller, you can park it with your backpack inside, making it more powerful. Otherwise, you’ll need to make sure the bags you bring into the park will fit in the lockers at attractions like Stardust Racer. Stardust Racers does not allow personal items.
These lockers measure 11.8 inches high x 11 inches wide x 13 inches deep. Unlike other parks, which have some small lockers and some large ones, Epic’s lockers are all the same size (and all free), according to Periodic Adventures. If you want to bring a few items with you but don’t want to carry them around all day, there are also family lockers and oversized item lockers available for rent near the park entrance.
We had a stroller and left most of our belongings under it parked outside the attraction, but valuables were shoved in lockers or in small crossbody bags for rides. It worked!
Please stay until closing.
Epic Universe’s celestial-inspired design includes literally millions of lights, all of which turn on when the sun sets. I hear many people say that the park feels completely different at night, and that’s true. A fountain show is just a fun way to end the day. Grab a fun drink from your favorite world and watch the lights and water effects before ending your night.
