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I was invited to the Epic Universe preview ahead of its official opening on May 22, 2025, and I wanted to share what I took away from the experience.

Universal describes it like this:

“Explore worlds unlike anything experienced before. Step through amazing portals transporting you to the thrills of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Ministry of Magic™, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe and more. Five immersive worlds. One amazing theme park.”

After getting a first-hand look, I can tell you—they’re not wrong.

🏨 Starting Off at Helios Hotel
I kicked off my trip with a stay at the brand-new Helios Hotel, which is located right inside the park. It has its own private entrance into Epic Universe, and in my opinion, that’s one of the biggest perks. I highly recommend upgrading to a theme park view room—the views of Epic Universe are incredible and absolutely worth it.

Helios has:

A great on-site restaurant

A rooftop bar with amazing views

A Mediterranean theme throughout, which flows into the food, drinks, and decor

A gym, pool, and game room

And again, its own private, secured park entrance

All Universal resort guests get early park entry, which is a huge advantage, and that applies to all three Universal Orlando parks.

However, it’s important to note that Helios is the only Premier-level hotel that does not include Express Pass with your stay. So if you’re planning to visit Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure, I recommend doing a split stay—start at one of the Premier resorts to take advantage of Express Pass for those two parks, then switch to Helios for your Epic Universe days.

Just keep in mind that Universal does not transfer luggage between resorts, so you’ll need to handle that part yourself.

The location of Helios makes it super convenient for midday breaks, grabbing a snack or drink, or dropping off souvenirs you don’t want to carry around all day. That convenience really makes a difference.

🌍 The Portals & The Worlds
Epic Universe is made up of several distinct lands, each entered through a giant themed portal. Most of the lands are relatively small and typically have 1–2 rides, possibly a show, and some character experiences. But what they may lack in size, they make up for in immersion.

The character meet and greets were absolutely top-notch, and the theming in every portal was so well done.

From my experience, I’d say the ride quality here is better than what you find at the other two parks. I usually get a little sick on the Harry Potter rides at Universal and Islands of Adventure, but the new Ministry of Magic ride didn’t bother me nearly as much.

My favorite ride? Monsters Unchained. It was beautiful, smooth, and truly felt like you were stepping into a horror movie. Definitely a must-do.

🎢 Coaster Vibes: Thrilling but More Family-Friendly
The roller coasters in Epic Universe are smaller and more approachable than the major coasters at the other two parks. If you’ve got kids who are starting to enjoy coasters but aren’t quite ready for intense loops or big drops, this park is perfect.

The most intense ride in the park is probably Stardust Racers. All the other coasters felt very doable, even for younger or more cautious riders (like me).

🍴 Food & Dining: Wholesome & Delicious
The food at Epic Universe impressed me. There aren’t many reservation-based restaurants instead the focus is on a hybrid of quick service and table service: you walk in, sit down, scan a QR code to order, and they bring the food to you.

The meals were fresh, flavorful, and filling—a step above typical theme park food. It wasn’t just burgers and pizza buts some really wholesome meals.

🌀 Queues & Ride Flow: Smart Design
One thing that stood out to me was how massive and well-themed the ride queues are. These are some of the biggest I’ve ever seen.

I think this setup is a smart way to keep crowds inside and out of the Florida heat. Hopefully, it will also help the lands feel less overcrowded, giving you more space to enjoy the scenery, take photos, and fully experience each world when you’re not waiting in line.

⏱️ How Much Time Do You Need?
In my opinion, Epic Universe is a 1–2 day park, especially if you have Express Pass and can skip most of the lines. It pairs really well with the other Universal parks and makes a great addition to a longer trip.

Unless you're a diehard Nintendo, How to Train Your Dragon, or Wizarding World fan and plan to spend extra time diving deep into those areas, I don’t think you need more than two full days here.

✨ Ready for Your Own Epic Adventure?
If you're thinking about visiting Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida, or Islands of Adventure, I'd love to help you plan the perfect trip.

I specialize in Universal Vacations, and I’ll take care of the details—from the best hotels and park strategies to food recommendations and crowd tips—so you can focus on the fun.

📩 Message me today to start planning your epic escape!

 

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