My 3-Day Adventure at Universal’s Epic Universe: Travel Log

Intro

Universal’s Epic Universe is a new, massive theme park in Orlando, Florida, featuring five themed worlds, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and Celestial Park. It is the largest Universal park, spanning 750 acres. Guests enter through a central hub called Celestial Park and then explore the four themed lands through portals. 

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of each area:

• Celestial Park: The central hub, a world between worlds, offering a blend of daytime gardens and nighttime illuminations. It features attractions like the Stardust Racers and Constellation Carousel. 
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Expands the Wizarding World by introducing a new era blending the 1920s Parisian setting from Fantastic Beasts with the iconic 1990s British Ministry from the Harry Potter series. 
• Super Nintendo World: Features interactive attractions based on the Super Mario franchise, including Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Mine-Cart Madness. 
• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Immerses guests in the world of the How to Train Your Dragon films with attractions like Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Fyre Drill, and the Dragon Racer’s Rally. 
• Dark Universe: A sinister world themed around Universal Classic Monsters, featuring attractions like Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Curse of the Werewolf. 

I have been following this park for years, seeing all the videos and podcasts from Theme Park Stop, and getting to see the Epic Universe Preview Center in the Orlando’s CityWalk. I could not believe, that as an Annual Passholder I was about to embark on an adventure to see this park in the Preview Phase of the Opening.

In this post, I am going to narrate my travel experience to Orlando, and then in the next one I will do a deep dive of each world of the Epic Universe park.

Universal National Epic Universe Portal Tour

On April 23, Universal brought the Universal National Epic Universe Portal Tour to Rockefeller Center in New York City, and I had to go see it.

Just one day before my trip to Orlando, it was surreal seeing the portal in my home town. Theme park enthusiasts visiting the portal will also have the chance to enter a sweepstakes to win a trip to Universal Orlando Resort and experience Universal Epic Universe for themselves.

The portal will also be in Philadelphia on May 16-18, and in Chicago on June 13-18, after the park has officially open to the public.

Here’s a quick video of the experience, showing a little bit of How to Train your Dragon – Isle of Berk:

https://videopress.com/v/0uOhZU2A?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

On the way to Orlando

It was the next day, and I was super excited to finally go to Epic Universe. After work, I went to JFK to get on my Frontier Airlines flight to MCO Orlando International Airport. The ANA plane next to ours was Pokemon themed. So cute.

I was saying bye to New York one more time after having just been back for a couple of days, but that trip would be shown on this blog later on. Epic Universe is way more important right now.

When I arrived to MCO International Airport, I got an Uber to Epic Universe. I went straight there with suitcase in hand, and bought tickets for that day at the entrance. I will share all the details for my 3-day Preview experience at Epic Universe in the upcoming blog.

For now, and after a long day at the park I went to the Rosen Inn hotel close to Universal Orlando Resort, the perfect stay for quick getaway.

From my room I was able to see Universal’s Volcano Bay. Not sure when I will be back to this park.

A quick Islands of Adventure Adventure

Day 02 of my Epic Universe preview trip took me to the old Universal parks, specifically Islands of Adventure. Why? Well, since I was going for the second time to Epic Universe, and this one opened at 11 AM, I figured I could be able to get to do a couple of rides in Islands of Adventure, and then go to Epic around 10:30 am.

First, I went straight to Jurassic World’s Velocicoaster, since Hagrid’s had a 90 min wait time by the time arrived. All this because of the Early Entry guests.

It’s always nice starting the day with a roller coaster lol. Now, it was the time to do Hagrid’s and the wait time had dropped a little bit, to 75 min. Regardless, I thought I had enough time before going to Epic Universe, and got in the Single Rider line. Big mistake. The regular line went way faster than the Single Rider line for Hagrid’s. I would not recommend this line if the wait times are more than 50 minutes, because the staff is told to completely ignore the Single Rider line as possible, which it is annoying. I saw people getting in the regular line going in the ride way before than me.

I was super stressed about going to my second day at Epic Universe, but I made it on time, and not only that, I was able to secure a Virtual Line for Ministry of Magic (more on that in the next blog post).

The park was operational from 11 AM to 6 PM this Friday (there was an event and that’s why they closed earlier), but this was perfect so I could go to Disney Springs during this trip.

From Epic Universe, I took the bus to Terra Luna…

…and once in this new resort, I called an Uber to go to Disney Springs. It was my break from Universal during this 3-day Epic Universe trip.

A quick Disney Springs sprint

It was my second day at the parks, but I needed a break, and it had been a second since I had not been in Disney Springs, so I Ubered to this open mall to see what’s up and eat something. The sunset was great.

But also, on this Friday evening, Disney Springs was packed, omg. Not sure if the Spring Break crowds were still here, but I do not remember seeing it this busy in a while. For now, I did the long but fast line to get some cookies and cake from Gideon’s Bakehouse, just because it is a mandatory stop while here.

And after getting my $48 package, I went to Paddlefish, where I had never been, to continue my tradition of eat the menu as recommended by Keith from the Try Guys.

This time I got the recommended clams from this restaurant, and it was good. I would not be something I would get at first, but I finished this so quickly lol.

After this I was done for the day, and now it was time to go back to the hotel, and get ready for the third day at Epic Universe.

A busy 3rd day at Epic Universe

I will bring more detail about the worlds of Epic Universe, but I wanted to touch base on how crowded the 3rd day of my trip, during previews, was. The park opened at 11 AM, and I was able to get a Virtual Line for Battle at the Ministry, despite of the crowds, although the return time was 3 PM. The crowds of non hotel guests waiting for the 11 AM rope drop were huge, especially next to the Super Nintendo World. Only guest from Universal hotels were able to past into a couple of worlds by 10 AM.

Not too later in the day, the Wait Times were crazy, way higher, but expected on this Saturday April 26. I think for Opening Day on May 22, 2025, it will be even worst. I already have my tickets for a week after opening, let’s see what happens.

Universal Helios Grand Hotel

The only in park hotel for the Universal Parks in the US is Helios Grand Hotel, with a exclusive entrance into Epic Universe and its Celestial Park world. This hotel is very visible from many places in the park, even from inside of the other 4 worlds because it is massive. And on this 3rd and last day of my trip, I wanted to check it out, so I did.

The view of the fountains, Constellation Carrousel and Celestial Park in general is undefeated.

Guests of Epic Universe not staying in the hotel have the chance to enter and visit and explore the hotel using the dedicated gate. Inside, I was able to see Flora Taverna – Open Kitchen & Al Fresco Dining, and Aurora Market – The Quick Option for The Ready to Roll. But the view from this glassed atrium was amazing.

Back to New York City

That night the park closed at 9 PM, and I came back straight to the hotel, to pack and say bye to this amazing 3 days of previews of Epic Universe. Like I said a couple of times during this blog post, I will post a more extended, detail guide to the 5 worlds of this incredible new park.

I was able to sleep a few hours, before heading back to the MCO Orlando Airport at 4 AM, to be back in New York City. But do not miss the next blog, where we will explore in deep detail all the 5 worlds of Epic Universe.