Mastering Epic Universe
Several MVT agents are sharing their tips and takeaways from Epic Universe preview days!
Epic Universe officially opens next week, but we just couldn’t wait to get a peek at the newest park to join the ranks at Universal Orlando!
Several Magical Vacations Travel agents jumped at the chance to preview Epic Universe over the past few weeks. They’ve stayed on property, explored the attractions and eaten their way through the park’s five unique lands.
Here are some of our insider tips to taking on Epic Universe for yourself.
The Basics
Epic Universe is made up of five lands, connected by unique portals to a central hub. Guests can use these portals to visit Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe and Celestial Park.
So where to start? Getting TO the park.
“Getting to Epic Universe is quite simple when staying on Universal Property,” said Candice. “The buses begin running one hour before early park entry from the Universal Hotels.”
If you’re staying at CityWalk, any of the Premier Resorts, Sapphire Falls, Aventura or Cabana Bay Beach Resort, you can expect about a 15-minute bus ride. Endless Summer Resorts are about a ten-minute ride, and the Stella Nova and Terra Luna Resorts are right across the street. The new Helios Grand Hotel is nestled right along the back of the park and features an exclusive entrance for you to walk right in.
Consider Time of Day
Don’t forget that you’re in Florida, where heat and humidity creep up on you fast. You’ll want to take note of what you’re doing at peak hours of sun.
“In the summer, I’d recommend going to Isle of Berk early or late in the day, because there’s little to no shade and all queues are outside,” said Shelly, who was one of the first to experience the park.
“While there isn’t much shade yet and the whole park is going to be hot for a few years, the How to Train Your Dragon portion is going to be HOT!” said Brandi. “The coaster only has a small portion of the queue covered, and other ride queues are also outside. I would hit this in the morning or wait until late in the day when it cools down!”
The same goes for other uncovered parts of the park, but Brandi added how impressed she was that nearly every queue she encountered had a water fountain to cool off and refill bottles.
The theming of certain lands also lends itself to visiting at different times of day.
“Dark Universe is a MUST at night,” said Holly of the park that celebrates classic monsters and other creatures that go bump in the night.
As the name would suggest, Dark Universe is best experienced after the sun goes down. Its shadowy streets have mysterious surprises around every corner, and you’ll be sure to get the full effect after dark.
The same goes for parts of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and Celestial Park.
Don’t miss out on nighttime at Epic Universe! Explore Dark Universe as it’s meant to be after dark, and jump over to Super Nintendo World for low crowds!
Crowd levels will be determined in time, but we’ve noticed so far that certain areas are less crowded depending on the time.
“Super Nintendo Land has been a ghost town at the end of the day!” said Jessica. “Consider saving it for the end, or going back just before closing to hit the rides there!”
Don't Discount the Extras
Resist the urge to run from one attraction to the next without appreciating the in-between. Some of our favorite time in Epic Universe so far has been meeting characters and seeing the little details around each of the lands.
“We loved all the character interactions,” said Audrey, “especially the big Viking guy in How to Train Your Dragon and EVERYONE in Dark Universe was so fun, and in character. So definitely chat up the characters.”
Taste Your Way Around
These days, food and drink are just as social media-worthy as the rollercoasters and thrills, and Epic Universe does NOT disappoint.
“From the elaborately-decorated venues to the expertly-themed menu items, the food at Epic is a step above!” said Candice. “One of my favorite dining experiences was Das Stakehouse in Dark Universe. The occasional flickering lights, bat details on the seats, and the eerie feeling of the room were the perfect complement to the menu items such as the Crimson Glazed Pork, Meatloaf Skewer, and Red Velvet Death.”
You’ll still find classic theme park fare for the picky eaters in your group, but we really enjoyed some of the unique twists like mac and cheese cones in the Isle of Berk and the Hunter’s Garlic Stake (garlic pretzel “stake”) from the Burning Blade Tavern in Dark Universe. Plus, don’t forget to wash it down with a creative mocktail, or a cup of Celestial Spritz from any of the Coke Freestyle machines around the park.
“The best way to end a day at Epic is with a reservation at Bar Helios at the top of Helios Grand Hotel. It is the perfect view for the evening light show,” said Candice. Just remember that you’ll need a ride share or alternate way back to your resort!
Order Ahead for More Park Time
You can save extra time in the parks by using mobile ordering at any of the quick service restaurants. Simply order in the app before you arrive, then select “Prepare My Order” with your table number once you’ve sat down.
If you prefer to order with a team member, or if you have dietary restrictions or food sensitivities, there are also traditional registers to place your order, just be aware it make take a little extra time.
Some of our agents were traveling with guests with food allergies, and it added a decent amount of time to get hold of supervisors to confirm if dishes were safe to eat or not. It was far from a dealbreaker, but worthwhile to find out ahead of time so you can better plan eating in the park. All of the menus are available in the Universal app, so we recommend doing some research before you arrive to find menus that work best for you!
Our experiences with Epic Universe are just getting started, but we’re eager to explore more and share new tips for getting the most out of your Universal Orlando experience.
