A Traveler’s Guide to Exploring Universal’s Epic Universe

My family of five experienced a vacation like we’ve never had before at Universal Orlando’s brand-new park, Epic Universe, and I can say with full confidence: it lives up to its name. With three kids (ages 10, 6, and 5), I wasn’t sure what to expect from such a massive, immersive park, but it ended up being one of the most unforgettable vacations we’ve ever taken.

From flying with dragons in Berk to racing through the stars on a dual-launch coaster, Epic Universe is more than just a theme park; it’s an experience. If you’re thinking of planning a visit, here’s everything you should know from a travel agent and a mom who’s been there.

First, What (and Where) Is Epic Universe?

Epic Universe is Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, and it’s not just an extension of the original parks. It’s a whole new world located about 2 miles south of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, complete with its own park entrance, transportation system, and even brand-new hotels.

Think of it like Universal’s version of Magic Kingdom meets Galaxy’s Edge; everything is immersive, story-driven, and over-the-top in the best way.

Where We Stayed: Helios Grand Hotel

We stayed at the Helios Grand Hotel, which is right at the entrance of Epic Universe, and it’s absolutely stunning. From the high ceilings, celestial theming, amazing food, and what may be the best perk of all: a dedicated park entrance solely for guests staying at the hotel, this may be my new favorite theme park resort!

Being able to walk out of the hotel and straight into Celestial Park was a total game-changer with kids. We didn’t have to worry about buses, parking, or stress, and we got to soak up the magic from the moment we woke up.

The 5 Lands of Epic Universe (and What We Loved Most)

Celestial Park

This is the main hub of the park and where you’ll enter first. There’s greenery, fountains, gardens, and the jaw-dropping Stardust Racers coaster. (Spoiler: My husband and I LOVED this ride, smooth, fast, and beautiful…and be sure to check out the back of the coaster vehicles as they pull up for a special Easter Egg featuring the flux capacitor from Back to the Future).  The rollercoaster isn’t the only fun to be had; there is also a kids’ water area called Astronomica and the absolutely stunning Constellation Carousel. 

Pro tip: Stick around for the amazing fountain and light show that takes place about 15 minutes before the park closes! The entirety of Celestial Park dims and then comes alive all around you!

Isle of Berk – How to Train Your Dragon

My kids are dragon-obsessed, so this was our most anticipated land and it did not disappoint. This area of Epic Universe is chock-full of rides and experiences for kids and adults alike!  Our favorite, by far, was the Hiccup’s Wing Gliders coaster.  This coaster has everything, from animatronics like Toothless and baby Gronkles (yes, you heard me: adorable little baby Gronkles) to speed that will have you feeling like you’re actually on the back of a dragon! 

Isle of Berk feels like the most expansive world in Epic Universe, and there is something to see, hear, and experience at every turn.  Hiccup’s Wing Gliders may have been our favorite coaster in this area, but it’s definitely not the only ride.  There’s also Fyre Drill, where you absolutely will get wet while training to put out fires with Ruffnut and Tuffnut; Dragon Racer’s Rally where everyone in the park is getting in line to try to see how many barrel rolls they can get; The Untrainable Dragon show that brought our entire family to tears with the most endearing story I’ve ever seen on a stage; Viking Training Camp where the little ones can run around and blow off steam from having to do what Mom and Dad wanted to do for a whole 7 minutes; and more?! We spent two days in the parks, and I still feel like I didn’t get to see everything in this world.

Super Nintendo World

If you have gamers in your family, go here first. It literally feels like you’re stepping into the Super Nintendo games!

Our five year old recently got really into Mario…like really into it, and the minute he stepped into that green warp pipe at the entrance of Super Nintendo World he got giddy!  Universal’s creative team really did an amazing job with this area because the way that you walk through Peach’s castle and the world sort of explodes into color in front of you is truly jaw-dropping.

We all wore Power-Up Bands, which are available to purchase inside the park and link to your Universal Orlando app, and got fully into the interactive games around the land.  There are also different challenges in the app for the ride queues, which kept our little ones slightly distracted during those longer wait times. The Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride blew us away with the AR effects, and I had so much fun that I honestly don’t know which team ended up winning during our turn!

My oldest is still talking about the Donkey Kong coaster (Mine Cart Madness)…and by oldest, I mean my husband.  He literally skipped when he got off of this ride, with the biggest smile on his face.  He loved getting to essentially be inside one of his favorite video games from his childhood.

Now as a mom, I do have a few words of warning about this land that I feel should be noted before you visit: first of all when it rains…the flooring in the outside portion of this land gets slippery, like to the point where I saw grown men falling when they were running to get out of the rain. Second, this land gets congested…it’s fun and new and there are lots of things to look at, so keep an eye on little ones because the crowds get a little intense here.  And lastly, this world is not very stroller friendly due to the levels of the land (and the stairs you have to take to get there), I recommend parking the stroller and just walking around instead of trying to find all of the elevators and alternative entrances, if you can!

Wizarding World – Ministry of Magic

This area blends the magic of the Harry Potter series with the world of Fantastic Beasts, and it’s so incredibly detailed I actually cried. The minute you step foot through this portal, you’re immediately thrown into 1920s wizarding Paris.  Everyone is, of course, dashing to the Metro-Floo to hop in line for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, and I wish I could say the long line isn’t worth it for this ride, but it is. We used one of our early entry mornings to get a head start for this line, and it still was about 2 and a half hours of waiting, but this ride is amazing and my personal favorite in the park!  It’s like Tower of Terror’s magical cousin that doesn’t drop you,  but instead takes you along on this magical and chaotic journey to witness Dolores Umbridge’s trial unfold.  It’s a must do! Not really feeling like riding the ride? The other attraction in this world is an incredibly magical stage show featuring the mystical beasts from the Fantastic Beasts franchise, Le Cirque Arcanus.  

The food in this world is my FAVORITE!  It’s French, European, classy, relatable, comforting, AND to top it all off,  you can still find chicken tenders for the kids over at Le Goblet Noir. 

This entire area just feels darker, more dramatic, and more mature, which I personally love as someone who grew up with the Harry Potter franchise.  

Dark Universe

Cue the lightning crackling and thunder rumbling

Dark Universe was unlike anything we’ve experienced at any Universal park.  My husband and I are big-time Halloween Horror Nights fans, so we know how creepy the Universal Creative Team can get, and this land did not disappoint.  Like the other worlds in Epic Universe, Dark Universe transports guests to the village of Darkmoor, where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein is conducting an experiment that essentially encompasses the entire village.  In this world, the Universal Classic Monsters shine…and you even get to see them roaming around every corner that you turn.  The Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein Meet & Greet is a must-do; we left thinking they may have actually been the *real thing*.  

The main ride in this land was Monster’s Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, and let me tell you, she’s quite creepy.  This ride is amazing for adults, but your littles will have to walk through the entire, very believable, ride queue in order to get to the child swap room (which has a bathroom in it, which was handy).  Outside of Monster’s Unchained and to the left, and down a smaller path is Curse of the Werewolf, which our whole family loved because with the height requirement only being 40”, even our littlest one got to get in on the spooky action!

Dark Universe may be where adults thrive, but kids are absolutely welcome and you can feel it.  The team members were all super kind and comforting towards our kids, which is something I will never forget.

Here’s what I’d recommend for families:

• Use early entry if you’re staying on property. We got SO much done before 10 a.m.
  
• Download the Universal app and use mobile ordering (it saved us tons of time)
  
• Don’t skip the play zones. The kids needed time to run and explore, it helped break up the day
  
• Bring a backup charger! Between the app, interactive games, and photos, our batteries drained fast

Is Epic Universe Worth Visiting?

YES! Whether you’re a Universal fan or brand new to the parks, this is a next-level experience that blends thrills with storytelling in a way we haven’t seen before. There’s truly something for everyone, and it’s 100% worth making the trip.

Ready to plan your own adventure to Epic Universe? With Be Our Guest Vacations, I’ll take care of the details so you can focus on making memories with your family. Reach out today and let’s start crafting your Universal Orlando getaway!