Rides, restaurants and ‘epic’ experiences: TPG’s guide to the 5 worlds of Universal Epic Universe
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. It’s been more than six years since Universal Orlando Resort announced its plans to open its third theme park, Universal Epic Universe. With its grand opening just weeks away, here’s everything you need to know about this “epic” new theme park …
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
It’s been more than six years since Universal Orlando Resort announced its plans to open its third theme park, Universal Epic Universe. With its grand opening just weeks away, here’s everything you need to know about this “epic” new theme park and what you can find in each of its five worlds.
When does Epic Universe open?
Epic Universe’s grand opening is May 22, but you can also visit during a pre-opening park preview period between April 30 and May 19.
Are Epic Universe tickets on sale?
Tickets and vacation packages are on sale now, and prices vary by date. Currently, the least expensive available tickets are for dates in early September. Ticket add-ons — such as Universal Express skip-the-line passes and VIP tours — are also available.
If you want to visit during the pre-opening park preview period, one-day tickets are on sale now. You can also buy a hotel and ticket package that includes a visit to Epic Universe or a park-only ticket with up to four days at Universal’s other parks and a one-day admission to Epic Universe during this preview phase.
Where is Epic Universe?
Epic Universe is on a 750-acre tract of land about 3 miles from the rest of Universal Orlando Resort. The resort provides complimentary shuttle service between Epic Universe (and its hotels) and Universal Orlando’s other parks and hotels.
Inside Epic Universe’s lands and rides
Epic Universe is home to five worlds with more than 50 attractions, as well as entertainment, dining and shopping experiences. Here’s what you can find inside each world.
Celestial Park
Celestial Park is the first world you’ll encounter upon entering Epic Universe. This astronomy-themed area has ample green spaces and fountains for guests who want to relax. There’s also day-to-night entertainment, including mystical fountain shows and three attractions ranging from family-friendly to faster-than-fast.
Stardust Racers is touted as Epic Universe’s most thrilling coaster. This dual-launch coaster can reach speeds of up to 62 mph and heights of up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track.
Guests who prefer to go slower can hop aboard the Constellation Carousel, a constellation-themed ride with vehicles that gently glide back and forth and make 360-degree rotations.
Celestial Park has an interactive water play area called Astronomica and multiple dining outlets.
Options include Atlantic, a full-service surf and turf restaurant set inside a large Victorian-style aquarium, and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, which serves Chinese, Japanese and Thai fare.
At the Oak & Star Tavern, you can find barbecue. The family-friendly Pizza Moon is also an option.
You’ll be able to shop for snacks and desserts at Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets. For merchandise — including items themed to the park’s other lands — you can head to shops like the Nintendo Super Star Store.
Celestial Park also serves as a gateway to the park’s other four worlds, which guests will enter through majestic themed portals.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic
When Universal set out to build a fourth park, it wanted to find ways to bring more of the “Harry Potter” universe to life. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic highlights the wizarding era of 1920s Paris featured in the “Fantastic Beasts” films.
Related: From butterbeer to magic wands: Everything you need to know about Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter
You enter the land in Place Cachee, a Muggle park set in 1920s Paris. Here, you can shop, dine, drink butterbeer, visit a traveling circus, cast a few magic spells with your interactive wand, and magically transport to London to visit the Ministry of Magic.
The land’s premier attraction is Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, where you will travel via Metro-Floo from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic, hot on the trail of Dolores Umbridge. Upon arriving, however, you will realize that Umbridge has escaped and aims to bring back Lord Voldemort. You’ll join Harry, Ron, Hermione and a house elf named Higgledy on a chase through the ministry to capture Umbridge.
This ride has a minimum height requirement of 40 inches.
After you return to Paris, you can stop into Le Cirque Arcanus for a magical menagerie of live performers, aerialists, puppetry and a few fantastic beast sightings. The show follows Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase of fantastic beasts to try and save his failing circus. During the show, a circus employee named Gwenlyn attempts to rescue the creatures and return them to their rightful owner.
You can shop for wands at Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique, Paris’ finest wand shop. Each wand comes with a map that shows spots throughout the Wizarding World where you can practice casting spells with your new interactive wand. Some wand spots throughout the land feature familiar fantastic beasts from the films, including Nifflers, Bowtruckles and Demiguise.
As you stroll the streets, you’ll also be able to meet Wizarding World residents and visitors, including Hogwarts exchange students.
There are several dining locations where you can grab a bite to eat. At Cafe L’Air De La Sirene, you can dine on French sandwiches, plats du jour and desserts. At the dark, mysterious Le Gobelet Noir, you’ll find everything from soups and salads to entrees and desserts. At Bar Moonshine, you can sample exclusive beers, wines and cocktails in a sports bar setting honoring the U.S. Quidditch team.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the Wizarding World without a butterbeer — or bieraubeurre — cart serving up various versions of the delicious drink.
You can also shop for wizarding gear in Les Galeries Mirifiques, pick up some sweet treats at K. Rammelle and stop for Ministry of Magic-inspired items at the Metro-Floo gift shop, Tour En Floo.
Dark Universe
Attending Universal’s annual Halloween Horror Nights is a rite of passage for horror fans. Now, you won’t have to wait for fall to get your fill of all things spooky. The Dark Universe is where you can visit Dracula, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Bride of Frankenstein and other classic monsters all year long.
You enter Dark Universe through an electrified portal that harnesses the land’s dark energy and transports you to Darkmoor Village, where the creatures from Universal Classic Monsters films are real. Here, you can experience two attractions and several dining options. You can even get the chance to be made into a monster yourself.
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is the park’s most terrifying attraction yet, according to Universal. The ride takes you inside Frankenstein Manor, where Dr. Frankenstein’s great-great-granddaughter, Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, is conducting a few experiments of her own.
If you dare, you can enter the castle and witness Dr. Frankenstein’s attempts to control the monsters. Dracula, however, isn’t quite on board with her plan and unleashes them. You must then ride through the castle’s catacombs to avoid the angry monsters.
In a behind-the-scenes video, Universal said Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment uses some of the most technologically advanced animatronic figures to make the ride even more realistic and scary.
This ride has a minimum height requirement of 48 inches.
Curse of the Werewolf is a spinning, family-friendly coaster inspired by “The Wolf Man” (1941). After learning they bear the mark of the werewolf, riders must board a wagon to escape the werewolves who inhabit the forest and avoid becoming one themselves. This ride has a minimum height requirement of 40 inches.
At Dark Universe, you have the chance to become a monster yourself. At the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience, guests of all ages can get a monster makeover using face paint and temporary tattoos. You can complete your look with merchandise and memorabilia from Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities gift shop.
There are also several meet-and-greet opportunities throughout Dark Universe. As you explore Darkmoor Village, you may run into characters such as Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, the Invisible Man and monster hunters, among others.
All that screaming and running around can make you hungry, but thankfully, there are several dining options in Dark Universe. Das Stakehaus is a sit-down restaurant run by vampire “familiars,” with a menu featuring kebabs, burgers, sandwiches and more.
The Burning Blade Tavern is a quick-service restaurant modeled after the iconic burning windmill seen in “Frankenstein.” In Dark Universe, the town’s monster hunters have since taken over the mill and transformed it into a hangout to display the “trophies” of the monsters they’ve bested. You can dine on German-inspired bar bites like burgers, bratwurst, pretzels and specialty beverages.
You also have the option to swing by De Lacey’s Cottage food stand, which sells grab-and-go treats like ice cream and cinnamon bread.
Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World immerses guests in the colorful adventures of favorite Nintendo heroes like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong, as well as not-so-favorite villains like Bowser and his minions.
Related: Complete guide to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood
You enter the world through a green warp pipe. Inside Super Nintendo World, there are two separate lands: Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country. Both areas immerse visitors into these beloved video games’ vibrant, animated worlds with interactive elements, character meet-and-greet attractions, and more.
Super Mario Land houses two attractions — Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is an interactive, multisensory ride that utilizes physical set pieces and projection mapping technology to put you behind the wheel in a high-stakes Mario Kart race.
Just as in the Mario Kart games you play at home, you can race through courses, collect coins and throw turtle shells to beat Team Bowser. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is inside Bowser’s Castle, and the queue experience is almost as exciting as the ride itself.
You must be 42 inches tall to ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, or 48 inches tall to ride without a supervising adult.
Yoshi’s Adventure is a slow-moving, family-friendly ride where you ride with Yoshis, searching for colorful, glowing eggs hidden throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. Along the way, you’ll get breathtaking views of the land, and you may even spot a few familiar characters. Yoshi’s Adventure has a minimum height requirement of 36 inches; you can ride without a supervising companion if you’re at least 48 inches tall.
During your time in Super Mario Land, you can also dine on Nintendo-themed dishes at Toadstool Cafe, get an energy boost with snacks and treats from Yoshi’s Snack Island and Turbo Boost Treats, or shop for souvenirs at the 1-UP Factory or Mario Motors. You can also meet Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad in various places throughout Super Nintendo World.
The entrance to Donkey Kong Country is toward the back of the park. This area is designed to resemble the tropical jungle landscape depicted in Donkey Kong video games. Donkey Kong Country will also have its own dining and merchandise inspired by the video game franchise.
In Donkey Kong Country, visitors can ride the family-friendly attraction, Mine-Cart Madness. This coaster sends you careening through the jungle on a mission to help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong protect the prized golden banana. Mine-Cart Madness utilizes innovative technology and a one-of-a-kind ride system to mimic the maneuvers in the video game and simulate experiences like getting blasted out of a barrel and jumping over gaps in the track.
You must be 36 inches tall to ride Mine-Cart Madness or 48 inches tall without a supervising adult.
Super Nintendo World is more than just a place to see characters and ride attractions based on classic Nintendo games. It also functions like a real-life video game where you are the main character.
In Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country, you can collect digital coins, stamps and keys by riding the attractions, punching question blocks and playing interactive “key challenges.” Earn enough keys, and you can face off against Bowser Jr. in an ultimate boss battle.
You’ll need to purchase a Power-Up Band to earn coins and stamps, compete in key challenges, and keep track of your score within the land. You don’t need a Power-Up Band to enjoy Super Nintendo World, but it is worth the money to fully experience it. Competing with your friends and family is also fun to see who can get the highest score.
How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk
Like the “How to Train Your Dragon” films, this area of Epic Universe allows you to fly with, befriend and live among dragons. From the lush landscaping to the towering architecture with hand-carved details, this land is meant to serve as an authentic re-creation of Berk.
There are four attractions in How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is a family-friendly roller coaster where you can fly on the back of his latest invention, a winged flying machine that looks like a friendly dragon. The coaster will take you soaring through and around Berk, reaching speeds of up to 45 mph.
This attraction has a minimum height requirement of 40 inches.
On Fyre Drill, Vikings of all ages must compete to out-soak each other during a fun-filled boat battle.
Here, you can shoot water cannons at flamelike targets and master putting out the fires that tend to pop up when you cohabitate with dragons. A word of warning: Be prepared to get wet on this one.
This attraction is appropriate for guests of all ages and has no minimum height requirement.
Think of Dragon Racer’s Rally as a training ground for your next dragon race. On this high-flying attraction, you swoop and soar up to 67 feet. The ride can be as gentle or intense as you prefer; riders can control how often they spin upside down as they fly. This attraction has a minimum height requirement of 48 inches.
Viking Training Camp is designed to be a boot camp for even the youngest Vikings, with opportunities to climb, slide and explore as they hone their skills. Kids can find things like a Viking agility course and a Toothless-themed teeter-totter inside.
There are also plenty of chances to interact with dragons, including meet-and-greet opportunities with Hiccup and Toothless.
You can also see Toothless and his dragon friends at “The Untrainable Dragon” stage show. The show features music, storytelling and a life-size dragon soaring through the sky.
Berk has several dining establishments, including Mead Hall which serves a variety of meats, fish and sandwiches. Viking-beloved meads and ciders are on offer as well.
You can also pick up quick bites and drinks at Spit Fyre Grill and Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel.
Epic Universe hotels
In addition to the new theme park, Universal opened three new hotels in or near Epic Universe this year.
Adjacent to Epic Universe, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort each have 750 guest rooms. They also have outdoor pools and quick-service dining options similar to those of Universal’s other Prime Value category hotels, like Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Rates start around $147 per night for stays of four nights or longer at both properties.
The third hotel, Universal Helios Grand Hotel, is inside Epic Universe at the back end of Celestial Park. This luxury property has its own entrance to Epic Universe with a much shorter security line than the main gate.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel has 500 guest rooms and one-of-a-kind views of the new park. According to a press release, the hotel’s theme is “designed to transport guests to a world where the heavens and earth unite.” Rates start at $293 per night for stays of four nights or longer.
Bottom line
It’s hard to describe Universal Epic Universe without saying it’s … epic. While many theme parks have immersive lands and attractions, we have yet to see a theme park of this scale with this groundbreaking level of detail and immersion.
Related: How Universal is stepping out of the mouse’s shadow to become the hottest theme park
Universal Epic Universe cements Universal Orlando’s position as a weeklong theme park vacation destination in its own right. From the resort’s recent additions like Minion Land and DreamWorks Land to the new experiences at Epic Universe, Universal Orlando truly has something for everyone.
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