Epic Universe Guide: What to Know Before You Go

Are you planning to visit Epic Universe? You can discover what you need to know, such as worlds, rides, dining, virtual queues, Express Pass info, and travel tips.

Universal Orlando Resort is on the brink of unveiling its most ambitious project yet, Universal Epic Universe, a groundbreaking theme park designed to redefine immersive entertainment. Universal Epic Universe is more than just a collection of rides and attractions; it’s a portal into entirely new worlds. If you’re planning a trip, preparation is key. This article will walk you through things you need to know before visiting. This ranges from the worlds and attractions to ticketing, transportation, dining, and tips for making the most of your visit.

What Is Universal Epic Universe?

Universal Epic Universe is the third land-based theme park at Universal Orlando Resort, joining Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Universal Orlando Resort likes to refer to its spectacular water park, Volcano Bay, as a theme park, saying that Universal Epic Universe is its fourth overall theme park.

Universal Epic Universe resides a few miles south of the existing Universal complex. This theme park’s name is often shorten to Epic Universe. This South Campus covers 750 acres and is being hailed as one of the largest theme park expansions in decades. Unlike traditional theme parks with loosely connected themes, Universal Epic Universe features distinct themed lands designed as “worlds within worlds,” each one immersing guests in a profoundly layered universe with its own attractions, dining, shopping, and even character interactions.

Universal Epic Universe opens to everyone starting May 22, 2025. In recent weeks, several previews of various types have occurred. We were fortunate enough to enjoy some of those previews to Universal Epic Universe.

During the months leading up to this brand-new theme park’s opening, we have learned many things about it, including:

• Height Requirements
• Information About Hotels Near Universal Epic Universe
• Expected Cost to Attend

Still, after our visit, we experienced things about Universal Epic Universe that will help guests to know before they go.

Epic Universe: Early Theme Park Admission

Guests staying at one of the 11 Universal Orlando Resort hotels receive one hour of early park admission to Universal Epic Universe. This will not happen on the official opening day. The first day of early park admission for Universal Epic Universe will be May 23, 2025.

Only two worlds (theme park areas) will be open during early park admission, Super Nintendo World and Celestial Park. This means that only four attractions will operate during early park admission (EPA). Those attractions include:

• Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
• Yoshi’s Adventure
• Mine-Cart Madness
• Stardust Racers.

This pattern at Universal Orlando Resort of only opening a few areas for early park admission is commonplace. In fact, all four Walt Disney World theme parks do the same thing. Guests should plan their day accordingly when arriving for early park admission.

Epic Universe: Worlds not Lands

Universal Epic Universe presents guests with five areas or lands, using standard theme park speak. However, at Universal Epic Universe, they are called “Worlds.” Those are:

• Celestial Park
• Super Nintendo World
• Dark Universe
• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Ministry of Magic

Each area offers dining, shopping, character interaction, shows, and rides. As stated earlier, Universal Epic Universe does not call the five areas of the theme park “Lands”. They are officially known as “Worlds,” with four of them isolated behind iconic portals. Celestial Park serves as the centerpiece and entryway to the rest of the theme park.

Getting There: Transportation and Accessibility

Universal Epic Universe is several miles away from the current North Campus of Universal Orlando Resort. Guests can use dedicated shuttle transportation between the resort hotels and the new park, which can also be reached from Universal CityWalk Orlando.

Universal Epic Universe provides a large parking lot for guests who are driving to the park. Like at every other theme park in the Orlando area, there will be a parking fee. Guests can also utilize the ride share to visit Universal Epic Universe.

Epic Universe: Dining Procedures

Most of the quick service or fast casual restaurants at Universal Epic Universe offer mobile order and table delivery. Guests find a table and use the Universal Orlando Resort mobile app to place their order. Afterward, a team member brings food and beverages to their table. Guests can also visit a counter to speak with a team member to place their order.

Epic Universe: Power-Up Bands and Wizarding World Wands

For a more immersive experience at Universal Epic Universe, guests can purchase Power-Up Bands to experience Super Nintendo World fully. In addition, new upgraded Wizarding World of Harry Potter wands were released a few months before Universal Epic Universe’s opening date.

Power-Up Bands

Guests can purchase Power-Up Bands throughout Super Nintendo World, inspired by popular characters Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Toad, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Donkey Kong, and Diddy Kong to gear up for interactive play. With a Power-Up Band, guests can enhance their play throughout Super Nintendo World by experiencing interactive activities, winning digital keys, collecting digital coins and stamps, tracking their score, checking their ranking, and more.

Newly Enhanced Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Wands

Universal Orlando Resort started selling new second-generation Wizarding World of Harry Potter wands in March. With these new wands, Universal Orlando Resort brings even more magic to its popular interactive wand experiences in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Guests can enjoy an all-new collection of second-generation interactive wands that feature light and haptic effects for the first time, a personalized experience available within the Universal Orlando Resort App that allows them to take their spellcasting to the next level, and brand-new locations to cast spells within Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure, Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida and Place Cachée in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at Universal Epic Universe.

The new second-generation interactive wands are available in four designs. The all-new collection of second-generation interactive wands will give guests an enhanced and exhilarating wand magic experience that includes several new features, such as illumination effects and haptic vibrations custom to each spell, so they can see and feel the results of their spellcasting like never before. Housed in an exclusive, unique package marked with a wand burst icon, each wand will include a spell map that outlines locations where they can practice magic, as well as information on how to take their wizarding legacy to a new level with Universal Play, available within the Universal Orlando Resort App.

Universal Play

With the new assortment of interactive wands, guests can experience wand magic across The Wizarding World of Harry Potter like never before. By connecting the wand to Universal Play within the Universal Orlando Resort App, they also have the opportunity for a more tailored engagement, including:

Personalization – Guests can personalize their wizarding story by customizing their very own Wizard Profile, where they can select their Wizard Name, Hogwarts House, Avatar, and Patronus. While casting spells throughout The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, their select attributes will be integrated into the effects of their spellcasting, creating a personalized experience for each guest.

Exclusive Adventures – Guests can explore exclusive adventures varying in level of expertise and completion time that will enhance their Wizarding Level and mastery of magic within The Wizarding World.

House Points – Guests can earn points for their Hogwarts House with every spell and follow other witches and wizards to see where they square up on the Leaderboard. With each visit, guests can keep track of their House Points and Wizarding Level progress, as well as Achievements and Spellwork through Universal Play. The higher the Wizarding Level, the more spells and adventures will be unlocked. Each day, a House Cup will be awarded to the house that acquires the most House Points.

Wand Spots at Universal Epic Universe

In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic World at Universal Epic Universe, guests will experience fourteen wand magic locations that will allow them to go on an adventure to discover the Philosopher’s Stone, interact with magical creatures such as a Niffler or Demiguise, and so much more.

Guests can purchase the all-new collection of second-generation interactive wands at Ollivanders Wand Shop in Hogsmeade at Universal Studios Florida and Diagon Alley at Universal Islands of Adventure, Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique in Place Cachée at Universal Epic Universe, and various locations throughout Universal Orlando Resort.

Epic Universe Lockers

As Universal Orlando experienced guests know, small free lockers allow riders to place items before going on specific rides. This pattern continues at Universal Epic Universe.

However, Universal Orlando Resort has improved the required ride locker system for attractions at Universal Epic Universe. All attractions requiring guests to place items in lockers before riding are double-sided. That means guests place items on one side of the locker to return to the opposite side after their ride to retrieve their items. This system is used at Jurassic World Velocicoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure.

In addition to this improved system, guests do not scan their passes or ride locker tickets to open the ride lockers. The Universal Epic Universe lockers use photo recognition technology. Guests push the button on the lockers to activate the camera. Upon return to retrieve their items, guests repeat the process by scanning their faces for the locker to reopen. As complicated as this may sound, it worked well every time we used it on our visits.

However, we offer a word of advice. If you are wearing a hat or sunglasses, take them off before taking your photo at the locker. Since you will most likely place your hat and sunglasses in the locker, the system may struggle to recognize you when you return without the hat in the initial photo.

Epic Universe: Virtual Queues or Lines

Orlando area theme park fans have a love/hate relationship with virtual queues. During your visit to Universal Epic Universe, a virtual queue system might be in place for some attractions. Based on the preview days, the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry attraction sometimes used a virtual queue. This attraction offers incredible theme park fun. However, it has reliability issues, leading to the use of virtual queues to manage crowds.

A theme park virtual queue is a digital system that allows guests to reserve a place in line for an attraction without physically waiting in a traditional queue. Instead of standing in line, guests can enjoy other parts of the park, such as rides, shows, or food, while waiting for their turn.

Typically accessed through a mobile app or kiosk, the virtual queue system assigns guests a return time or a place in a digital line. When it’s nearly their turn, they receive a notification prompting them to head toward the attraction. Once they arrive at the ride entrance, they usually enter through a special lane and experience a significantly shorter wait.+

Use of Virtual Queues

Virtual queues improve the guest experience in several ways. They reduce people’s time standing in lines, helping them enjoy more of the park and reducing physical crowding in popular areas. This can also make the park feel more spacious and less stressful, especially during peak times.

From an operational perspective, virtual queues help parks manage demand more efficiently. By controlling how many people can reserve a spot at a given time, parks can smooth out crowd flow and reduce the likelihood of overwhelming certain areas. Some parks use virtual queues for their most popular rides or limited-time experiences. Joining the queue may be free sometimes, while it might be part of a paid upgrade or premium access option in others.

Virtual queues represent a modern solution to the age-old theme park problem of long wait times. They use technology to enhance both guest satisfaction and park logistics, allowing for a more flexible and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Universal Orlando refers to its virtual queue system as “Virtual Line.” Guests should check the Universal Orlando Resort mobile app for updated information about virtual line use during their visit. So far, Universal Epic Universe has used a virtual line system minimally.

The procedure at the time of writing looks like this:

• Open the Universal Orlando Resort App and sign in to your Universal Account
• Link the park tickets for you and your travel party to your Universal account wallet
• Choose an available virtual line return time

On some days, the virtual line return times became available at noon, 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. Those times are based on operations on some days so far at Universal Epic Universe and are subject to change.

Epic Universe: Express Pass

In simple terms, Universal Express Passes are a paid service that allows guests to enter a shorter queue for theme park attractions. If you are familiar with the term “Fast Pass”, this is the Universal Orlando Resort version of that former concept. Guests may purchase these for a day or several days. They can be tailored for one-time per attraction or unlimited access to attractions.

However, unlike the Lightning Lane Multi Pass system at Walt Disney World Resort, guests do not need to schedule their return times with Universal Express Passes. Also, guests staying at three of the Signature Collection hotels at Universal Orlando Resort receive complimentary unlimited Universal Express Pass during their stay. With the arrival of Universal Epic Universe, things have changed slightly.

Going through the fine print about Universal Express Passes, we noticed a significant difference between these and other versions offered at Universal Orlando Resort’s other theme parks.

The website says, “The Universal Epic Universe Express Pass entitles one (1) guest one (1) time express ride access at participating rides and attractions within Universal Epic Universe.” That means an Express Pass purchased for Universal Epic Universe will not allow unlimited visits to attractions. We do not know if this changes the policy for those staying at Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, and Portofino Bay Hotel, entitling guests to unlimited Express Pass access to the two current theme parks. Will those guests eventually get unlimited Express Pass at Universal Epic Universe? We do not think so, but we must wait and see.

What Attractions Accept Epic Universe Express Passes?

Universal Orlando Resort’s website provides tangible information about Epic Universe Express Passes. The attractions (subject to change) that take Universal Express Pass include:

• Constellation Carousel
• Curse of the Werewolf
• Fyre Drill
• Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
• Le Cirque Arcanus™
• Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge
• Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
• Stardust Racers
• The Untrainable Dragon
• Yoshi’s Adventure™

Nevertheless, the following Universal Epic Universe attractions will not accept Universal Express Pass (at this time):

• Dragon Racer’s Rally
• Mine-Cart Madness™
• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry™

Based on that list, it looks like all attractions at the How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk.

Express Pass Cost at Universal Epic Universe

Prices will vary depending on the day you choose to attend Universal Epic Universe. However, the stated starting price for the Universal Express Pass is $129. However, we see many days when this price starts around $250. We also anticipate these prices will increase the closer guests get to the day of experiencing Universal Epic Universe.

Epic Universe: Basic Touring Advice

Assuming you are not staying at the Helios Grand Hotel inside Universal Epic Universe theme park, all guests will enter the park through a portal. Guests entering this location can go left to the Super Nintendo World and Dark Universe portals or right to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon portals.

Guests should prepare for the fact that early park admission participants will already be in Super Nintendo World and the center Celestial Park area. That means in theory, guests without early park admission can “rope drop” three of the worlds of Universal Epic Universe.

Conclusion

Universal Epic Universe is poised to be a game-changer in theme park entertainment, blending cutting-edge technology with powerful storytelling across five unique lands. Whether you’re a theme park veteran or a first-time visitor, planning ahead will help you maximize your time, minimize stress, and create unforgettable memories.

So pack your bags, download the app, and get ready to journey through the cosmos, ride with dragons, cast spells, and race through video game worlds—it’s all waiting for you at Universal Epic Universe.

Ready to Plan Your Trip to Universal Epic Universe?

With all the excitement for Universal Epic Universe, many steps should be taken in terms of planning. The talented and experienced staff at Universal Family Vacations can help you plan your next Universal Orlando Resort vacation. You can contact them today for a fee-free, no-obligation quote.