Ideas for visiting Epic Universe at Common Orlando Resort

Arrive early and keep late

If you’re staying in any of Common Orlando’s on-site resorts, you need to use early park admission advantages to enter Epic Universe as much as one hour previous to the posted opening time. Solely choose points of interest are open throughout this time, however you may ask a workforce member or search for signage on the park entrance on the day of your go to to search out out which lands and points of interest are open for early park admission throughout your go to.

To this point, Mine-Cart Insanity, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem and Yoshi’s Journey in Tremendous Nintendo World, and Stardust Racers in Celestial Park have constantly been on the early opening listing.

Of those, the look ahead to Mine-Cart Insanity is often longer all through the day than the others. It is best to be capable of head there first earlier than the wait climbs too excessive, after which knock out the opposite points of interest in Tremendous Nintendo World. Or, should you get one or two points of interest completed in Tremendous Nintendo World and it is getting near the official park opening time, you possibly can make your technique to one of many different portals to be first in line for the points of interest in that world.

Alternatively, you possibly can head straight for Stardust Racers and get on this exceptionally thrilling coaster with a really brief wait. Since it’s a dueling coaster, you possibly can doubtless experience each tracks earlier than the park opens to common daytime company.

Epic Universe is just not a 1-day park

Are you able to get on each experience at Epic Universe in in the future? Most likely. And if all you will have is in the future, you may nonetheless have a good time.

However, in case your schedule and price range enable, two days is the candy spot to get on all of the rides and expertise the opposite issues that make this park so particular, like assembly characters, taking part in the interactive parts in every land, seeing the dwell exhibits and sitting down for a few good meals.

In two days, you may discover two worlds on the primary day and two worlds on the second. You possibly can go to Celestial Park on each days as a result of it’s the central world that you will cross by to get to the opposite 4 worlds.

Extra time within the park additionally means you may go at a slower tempo and soak up all the main points. It’s possible you’ll come throughout a Viking and a child dragon in Practice Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, meet college students visiting Paris from completely different wizarding colleges in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic or race round Tremendous Nintendo World to see what number of cash you may rack up punching blocks and taking part in mini video games.

For now, you will have to purchase two particular person one-day tickets as a result of there aren’t any multiday Epic Universe tickets, however that ought to change as soon as the park has been open for a bit. Or, if you wish to make a five- to seven-day journey out of it and go to Common’s different parks, you possibly can buy a multiday bundle that features entry to Epic Universe and add an extra one-day Epic Universe ticket for 2 days at Epic.

maximize 1 day at Epic Universe

For those who solely have in the future to spend at Epic Universe, there are some things you will wish to do to maximise your time (along with staying in certainly one of Common’s official resorts so you need to use the early park admission profit).

A number of of the points of interest at Epic Universe use a single-rider line, which might prevent time in line (so long as you do not thoughts your social gathering being cut up up and driving with strangers).

Keep at an Epic Universe resort

You will miss loads should you run from experience to experience

Greater than any theme park I’ve visited, Epic Universe feels alive. Every world has a kinetic vitality that makes you are feeling such as you’ve really been transported far, far-off from Central Florida (minus the new and humid temperatures).

The rides are technological and storytelling marvels, however there’s a lot extra to this park than rides.

Every world totally integrates you as the primary character in your favourite tales. Need to follow your dragon racing expertise and meet Toothless from ” Practice Your Dragon”? At all times dreamt of being a wizard and touring to the Ministry of Magic through the Floo Community? You are able to do all of that and a lot extra on this enchanting new park.

Throughout my visits, I had an opportunity assembly with the Invisible Man within the Darkish Universe, accomplished the three key challenges essential to face off in opposition to Bowser Jr. and win the Golden Mushroom in Tremendous Nintendo World, and danced alongside to a band taking part in on stage in Celestial Park.

My experiences solely scratch the floor of the adventures you may have that do not contain getting on a experience. My level is, there’s a lot to see and do on this park, and you’ll miss out on loads of it should you solely give attention to rides.

Epic Universe is much more stunning at night time

Epic Universe is such an aesthetically pleasing park that I might be there all day with out getting on a single experience and nonetheless go away content material. And that sentiment is even stronger at night time.

Epic Universe glows with majestic, ethereal mild after sundown. At night time, all the pieces from the portals into the worlds to the rides and even the eating places takes on a brand new feel and look. For instance, the massive fountain in Celestial Park adjustments from a peaceable physique of water throughout the day to a colourful, glowing storytelling mechanism throughout the nighttime fountain present, with colourful fountains and music from the park’s worlds at night time.

Even should you’ve been within the park all day, it is value popping into every world at night time to see the transformation.

I used to be blown away by how a lot spookier Frankenstein Manor in Darkish Universe felt and the way the magic of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter shone a bit brighter at night time. The points of interest additionally supply a special expertise in the dead of night. The dueling coaster trains on Stardust Racers streak by the night time sky like comets, and the Constellation Carousel animals twinkle as you experience.

Don’t skip the carousel

With so many flagship rides to select from, it may be straightforward to skip what seems to be a basic carousel. In reality, on my first go to, I did skip the Constellation Carousel. I like a carousel, however I wished to check out the varieties of rides I’ve by no means been on earlier than.

Once I lastly did experience Constellation Carousel, it was such a gorgeous second that I virtually teared up. Moderately than a conventional carousel, the animals dance round in mild, rhythmic circles because the carousel spins to the music, making for a special vitality every time you experience.

And the best way the animals sparkle at night time makes you are feeling as should you’ve left Earth and spun proper up into the cosmos.

There are Easter eggs galore

There are far too many Easter eggs and secrets and techniques to listing right here, and the simplest technique to study all of them is to talk to the characters and workforce members in every world. You possibly can choose up bits of data by talking with the monster hunters and different residents of Darkish Universe or the Vikings in Isle of Berk.

However listed below are just a few of my favorites that you may search for in your go to:

Yow will discover the smallest animatronic in Epic Universe inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic. Search for Newt Scamander’s Bowtruckle, Pickett, within the window of the locksmith store.

Additionally in Wizarding Paris, you may get a peek on the sorcerer’s stone. You will must buy an interactive wand for this one, however there’s a spell-casting spot outdoors Nicolas Flamel’s residence subsequent to Le Goblet Noir. While you carry out the spell efficiently, the sorcerer’s stone (or thinker’s stone, should you’ve learn the unique British model of the books) can be revealed.

The Burning Blade Tavern within the again nook of Darkish Universe is a duplicate of the fiery windmill scene in 1931’s “Frankenstein.” Fortunately, this windmill is not really on hearth (and you may go inside to fulfill monster hunters and drink scrumptious cocktails), however you may see it catch flame about each quarter-hour. Hear for the bell tower on the entrance of the land to ring. That’s your sign that the windmill will quickly burst into flame.

If you’re aware of the lovable (and teeny, tiny) Pikmin, you’re in for a deal with. Not solely can you notice them in little nooks and crannies, but in addition you may get a close-up view by the binoculars stationed round Tremendous Nintendo World. Search for the binoculars on the second degree throughout from Yoshi’s Journey as you exit Peach’s Citadel. Zoom in on the bush to disclose Pikmin laborious at work.

For those who look as much as the tippy high of Mead Corridor in Practice Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, you will see the hut the place Gothi, the village elder, resides. It is tough to see from such a far distance, however should you zoom in along with your digital camera or climb to the highest of the Viking Coaching Camp play space (which you’ll be able to solely enter with youngsters) and use the telescope, it is best to get a greater view.

For those who look behind the Stardust Racers trains earlier than getting on the experience, you will see a small field with lights on the again of the final automobile. It is a Flux Capacitor that allowed Marty and Doc Brown to time journey within the “Again to the Future” movies. Although the experience has nothing to do with the movies, Again to the Future: The Journey was an early attraction at Common Studios Florida (it has since closed), and you may nonetheless meet Doc Brown in that park.

The dwell exhibits are pretty much as good because the rides

Epic Universe presents two exhibits: “The Untrainable Dragon” in Practice Your Dragon — Isle of Berk and “Le Cirque Arcanus” within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Did each exhibits carry me to tears? Sure. However my proclivity to being overly emotional is not the one purpose I might suggest these exhibits. Each do have their jaw-dropping (or, for some, tear-inducing) particular results, however they’re additionally filled with small, however magical, moments that can carry a smile to your face.

Every present has a couple of 20-minute run time, however I might price range nearer to 45 minutes. You will must arrive early to attend in line and be seated earlier than the present begins.

I can’t stress this sufficient: Don’t skip the dwell exhibits.

The place to go if you have to cool off

There was loads of commentary on the dearth of shade in Epic Universe, and to that, I might say, “Welcome to Central Florida.” I do not consider this to be an issue particular to Epic Universe, however at a theme park the place the warmth index can climb into the triple digits, it’s useful to know the place to search out shade.

Every world has at the least one or two sit-down eating places the place you may order a meal or snack and sit inside for a bit. There are additionally indoor outlets in every land the place you may browse for souvenirs (or just admire the decor if you’re on a price range).

I spent loads of time in Burning Blade Tavern and Das Stakehaus in Darkish Universe, and Mead Corridor in Isle of Berk. They have been darkish and funky and helped restore my vitality earlier than venturing again out.

A number of rides, together with these in Tremendous Nintendo World, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Battle on the Ministry, all have prolonged indoor queues that can maintain you out of the solar. Stopping to soak up the dwell exhibits may get you a break from the warmth.

Older youngsters may need extra enjoyable than little ones

There are solely two rides at Epic Universe with no top requirement (Constellation Carousel and Fyre Drill). The vast majority of what I might contemplate “kid-friendly” rides at Epic Universe have a minimal top requirement of 40 inches, so youngsters will most likely have a greater time as soon as they hit that top.

It isn’t simply their top that will provide you with pause on reserving that journey. There’s one world that’s meant to be a bit scary.

The setting for Darkish Universe is Darkmoor Village, residence to monsters and people who hunt them. To offer you an thought of how creepy Darkish Universe is, even I let loose a scream on the world’s premier attraction, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.

It isn’t simply the experience that’s scary, both. While you enterprise into the darkish and spooky Das Stakehaus for lunch or dinner, you will see lifeless vampires (and the stakes that made them that approach) on show lining the partitions.

Backside line

Epic Universe is the kind of theme park that means that you can select your personal journey. For simply in the future, you could be a wizard, a dragon tamer, a monster hunter, a online game character or all the above.

However you have to do some planning earlier than you may totally immerse your self in these fantasy worlds. The following tips will assist you put together on your go to and benefit from your time at Epic Universe.

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