Epic Universe Review: What You Need to Know Before You Go

We were beyond thrilled to visit Epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s brand-new theme park, before its official opening. I’m here to share all the details from our experience so you can plan your own trip with confidence.

Epic Universe is stunning, creative, and packed with five incredible lands. But I have to warn you — it’s hot, and there’s not much shade. Fair-skinned visitors will want sunblock, hats, and lightweight cover-ups. You’ll also get your steps in, thanks to all the stairs and walking paths, so comfy shoes are a must.

Here’s a land-by-land look at everything we experienced.

Super Nintendo World

Super Nintendo World is like stepping inside a video game. The colors, sounds, and details made us feel like we were running right alongside Mario and friends.

We started with Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, which has an indoor, air-conditioned queue (a lifesaver on hot days). Be prepared for plenty of stairs, though. The ride is packed with VR action, and if you love the Mario Kart games, you’ll be grinning the whole time.

Next, we rode Yoshi’s Adventure, a gentle, slow-moving ride with great views of the land. It’s perfect for little ones, but I’d recommend skipping it if the wait is longer than 15 or 20 minutes.

My favorite in this land was Mine-Cart Madness, the Donkey Kong-themed coaster. With a 40-inch height requirement, my five-year-old was able to join the fun. The queue is outdoors and can get very hot. The ride itself is short and a bit rough, but it feels just like you’re in a mine cart from the game. We waited 90 minutes, which was worth it once, but I probably wouldn’t wait that long again on a regular day.

In terms of snacks, we ate at Toadstool Cafe, where the food was as creative as the surroundings. We tried the Question Box Tiramisu, which was delicious, and the Mushroom Garlic Bread, a hearty and tasty snack. Universal has truly elevated the quick-service food experience here.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

The Isle of Berk was one of the highlights for our family. The theming is incredible, and fans of the movies will feel right at home.

We rode Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, a family coaster with no loops, similar in feel to a mini Hagrid’s ride. It’s exciting but still great for younger riders.

Dragon Racer’s Rally was another fun choice, though it’s short. I wouldn’t wait more than 15 or 20 minutes for this one.

Fyre Drill was a surprise hit. It’s a family boat ride with water guns and targets, and you will get wet — a perfect break on a hot day.

Meeting Toothless was a big moment for the kids. Expect to wait over 60 minutes, but if you’re a fan of the franchise or love character meet-and-greets, it’s worth it.

We also caught The Untrainable Dragon, the live stage show, and it was amazing. It’s a great mid-day break, with stunning effects and even a flying Toothless.

Inside Berk, we found the Viking Training Camp, a playground area with a toddler section, lots of shade, and even a family restroom inside. I can see us spending a lot of time here on future visits, especially when wait times are high.

Dark Universe

Dark Universe is one of the smaller lands, but it’s packed with atmosphere. Every corner oozes classic horror vibes, down to the black toilets and sinks in the restrooms.

We rode Curse of the Werewolf, which reminded me of a junior version of Guardians of the Galaxy — but outdoors. The ride was fun but very short, and I wouldn’t wait more than 30 minutes for it.

Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment was the bigger attraction here, similar in ride style to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, but starring Universal’s classic monsters. The queue is mostly indoors and gives off all the spooky Halloween Horror Nights energy. Horror fans around us were raving about it. I’m not a big fan of scary things myself, so it wasn’t my favorite, but if you love monsters, you’ll probably be obsessed.

We had lunch at Das Stakehaus, a quick-service spot with spooky decor and a vampire-themed menu. The steak was delicious, and I appreciated how much creativity went into the food here.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

The Wizarding World’s new Ministry of Magic area is breathtaking. Walking through felt like pure magic, especially for a longtime Harry Potter fan like me.

Unfortunately, we missed the scheduled show due to technical issues, but the new Interactive Wand Experience kept my girls busy for over an hour. The new-generation wands vibrate, light up, and even let you collect house points.

The main attraction, Ministry of Magic: The Battle for the Ministry, uses a Virtual Line Experience. You’ll need the Universal Orlando Resort App and must be ready to grab a slot when the drops happen, usually at 11, 3, and 6. Even if you don’t get a ride reservation, you can still walk through the queue, which was the most magical I’ve ever seen. Walking through the Floo Network into the Ministry itself was an unforgettable experience. This ride became my top favorite in the entire park.

We enjoyed Butterbeer (just as tasty as always) and split a Butterbeer Crepe, which was a generous and delicious snack.

Celestial Park

Celestial Park is the center hub of Epic Universe, and it’s packed with charm.

We rode the Constellation Carousel, which was so unique and beautiful, especially at night. It’s definitely worth waiting up to 30 minutes for the experience.

The big coaster here is Starfall Racers, and while I’m not a coaster lover, I rode it for the experience. My husband and nine-year-old loved it, and even my seven-year-old braved her first upside-down ride and said she’d go again. My mom, who’s a roller coaster expert, still prefers VelociCoaster, but Starfall Racers definitely impressed. The queue is outdoors, and I’ve heard riding at night gives the best “shooting star” effect.

There’s also Astronomica, a splash pad area where kids of all ages can cool off. We loved watching the Celestial Park Lagoon Fountain Show, which reminded me of the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas. I’m hoping they debut a big nighttime show soon, maybe with fireworks.

We ate at Pizza Moon, and honestly, it was the best theme park pizza I’ve ever had. The atmosphere and food were both a 10 out of 10.

Final Tips for Epic Universe

All the quick-service dining locations use mobile ordering, so make sure you have the Universal Orlando Resort App downloaded, logged in, and connected to your payment method before you go. You’ll also need the app to check wait times, ride closures, and virtual line reservations, so bringing a portable battery charger is a smart idea.

There are Baby Care Centers near the back of the park and by the Ministry entrance. These are fantastic resources for parents, with private nursing rooms, family restrooms, and microwaves for bottles and baby food. First aid is also located at these centers, and they’ve been so helpful for us on past visits when unexpected health issues came up.

Many attractions offer parent swap with family waiting areas that include water refill stations, TVs, plenty of seating, and sometimes even family restrooms. This makes riding so much easier when you’re traveling with little ones.