Universal Orlando Resort Opens Epic Universe: How To Plan The Perfect Family Trip

Universal Orlando Resort just got its biggest new addition in history with the opening of Epic Universe. The reported $7 billion project brings five new themed lands to the Florida attraction, focused around Harry Potter’s Wizarding World, the world of Nintendo, the How To Train Your Dragon franchise, the monster-inspired Dark Universe, and the space-themed Celestial Park.

Epic Universe is fun for adults and kids alike, creating a fun, immersive atmosphere alongside the two existing parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Here’s my tips on how to tackle a family trip to Epic Universe including where to stay, what to ride, and most importantly, what to eat. —Cassie Gill

Plan In Advance: Dates, Tickets & Reservations 

As with any new theme park, planning is key to make sure you can access the park on your desired day and avoid those dreaded long lines. An obvious tip is to try to travel to the resort during off-season – so, when kids are in school – but that’s a tricky one for most parents. Unfortunately, Universal Express passes – which allow for shorter ride lines – are not available for Epic Universe just yet. However, one-hour early park admission is available to those staying at Universal Orlando hotels: this will be well worth it, especially to hit the new Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride that has seen lines soar past the five-hour mark. 

I recommend getting a multi-day pass so you don’t feel rushed trying to cram everything into one day: for families who just want to see Epic Universe, a one-day pass is sufficient – for those who want to see all three theme parks, I’d suggested a two-day pass minimum, or a three-days for a more leisurely schedule. 

Make your restaurant reservations in advance: you don’t want to be disappointed by not being able to dine at your place of choice, especially during peak season. 

Finally, don’t forget the essentials like water bottles and sunscreen: it can get hot out there in Florida with highs of up to 35 degrees. 

Where To Stay

For their 11th property together, Universal and Loews doubled down on both luxury and location: Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, is located right inside of Epic Universe, so you truly can’t beat the convenience with your own dedicated park entrance. Of note, this property is a Signature property, meaning it’s their highest tier offered. Helios, as the name suggests, takes influence from both Greek mythology and Mediterranean design for its theme. With impressive decor and 360-degree views, Bar Helios is by far the centerpiece of this hotel (reservations required), while the Greek food served in Flora Taverna downstairs was also excellent. Rooms are spacious and luxe with floral decor, but also relaxed and cozy for families. I loved the suites for kids themed around How To Train Your Dragon, with Viking-inspired beds from the Isle of Berk. The massive pool is chock full of kid-friendly amenities, too, so adults can have some time to unwind. 

Breaking Down Epic Universe: Rides, Food & More

All guests will enter Epic Universe in the astrologically themed Celestial Park, which serves as the point of access to the other four lands. With a garden and fountains, this is a lovely place stroll but be forewarned: it lacks shade for the warmer parts of the day. This area has two rides, the delightful Constellation Carousel, and the daring Stardust Racers. The carousel, themed around the zodiac signs, is easily one of the best versions of this classic ride ever created – it’ll be hard to get off this one without a smile. Stardust Racers is the most thrilling ride in the park with speed, drops and inversions: the nervous nellies will want to stay off this one – but daredevils, ride away! 

While the themed restaurants in each of the lands below are fantastic, there’s a few dining options in Celestial Park that are worth checking out. Pizza Moon had excellent pies for a quick service spot, set in an early 1900s Victorian Theatre. For a full-service experience, Atlantic transported us under the sea with the menu, decor and overall experience. Naturally, seafood is the main offering here, with PEI mussels, and Atlantic salmon as the shining stars – but I also enjoyed the seared scallops. Plating is incredible for both the adult and kids menus, making this a memorable experience. For families with picky eaters, there’s also the failsafe Sunken Treasure Chicken, or mac and cheese – so everyone will be able to get something.

For Universal’s third Wizarding World in Orlando, they looked to spin-off series Fantastic Beasts starring Eddie Redmayne. Specifically, the second film takes place in 1920s Paris which is where the French theme comes in. I truly felt like I was in Europe with the immaculate lifesize streets and corridors, which is some of the most impressive detail I’ve seen in a theme park. With early access, I advise beelining towards the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride – by far the most popular attraction in the entire park. Guests will take the “Metrofloo” to 1990s London and into the Ministry of Magic, which will leave your jaw agape: no theme park area has ever left me feeling like I was in the film to this extent. The queue is almost better than the ride, which is an incredibly immersive and somewhat thrilling experience, but overall, family-friendly. 

After the ride, there’s plenty to see and do in this section with shopping, dining, and interactive experiences. While I generally think shows at theme parks are a skip, the 20-minute Le Cirque Arcanus is worth it – especially if you want to beat the heat. Wand shop Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique also offers an immersive experience to find a magical accessory with a Parisian twist. 

On the dining end, the viral Butter Beer Crepe at Café L’air De La Sirène is the top item to try in this land – but for the savoury lovers, the French onion soup tastes straight out of France. Magical sweets take on a French theme at confectionary shop K. Rammelle: the blackberry lavender chocolate bar, biscuits and truffles were all worth a try. There’s also the American-themed Bar Moonshine – worth poking in – and quick service spot Le Gobelet Noir. 

Pass through the portal to the Viking-themed land of dragons: Isle of Berk. The How To Train Your Dragon universe comes to life here in a whole new way, with plenty to see and do. Meeting star dragon Toothless was all the rage here, so beware of very long lines. The interactive animatronic robot is among one of the most lifelike I’ve ever seen, as the dragon seemingly reacts to touch in real-time.

On the ride front, the star attraction here is the ultra-smooth Hiccup’s Wing Gliders. The outdoor coaster is marketed as a family thrill ride, but the “family” part was pushing my limit just a bit. Don’t let that deter, you though: the ride is a ton of fun and I did go on it three times. For little kids, there’s the Fyre Drill boat ride where vehicles shoot water cannons – parents, make note you’ll likely get soaked on this one, so it’s perhaps best held for a scathing hot part of the day. Finally, there’s the Dragon Racer’s Rally which takes adventurous riders on a rotating pendulum with carts that can twist and turn to your liking. 

Unless your family absolutely loves this film franchise, I recommend just snacking in this area and saving the bigger meals for other parts of the park. The Goldfish mac and cheese cone from Hooligan’s Grog & Grue is the primary item I’d nosh on before moving onto the next area.

Get ready to defeat Bowser and save Princess Peach. Super Nintendo World brings the world of Super Mario Bros. Mario and Luigi to life in a way that’ll have you thinking you’re in a video game. Kids will likely want to use a Power-Up band – which can be purchased separately from a ticket – to interact with question blocks and other elements in the park.

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is the signature ride in this area, which has garnered mixed reviews from past versions in Japan and California: many expected a thrill-based speed ride but the experience is anything but. Family members of all ages can enjoy this easy dark ride, which uses augmented reality via a wearable visor – not the most comfortable – as they also attempt to shoot the bad guys to compete for highest score. While the ride is worth checking out once, I’d go as far to say that it’s a skip if the line is really long: there’s better attractions elsewhere in Epic Universe you absolutely don’t want to miss.

This iteration of Super Nintendo World introduces Donkey Kong Country to North America (another exists in Japan): the Mine-Cart Madness ride is worth your time over the Mario Kart one. This eccentric family coaster has plenty of unexpected twists and turns, making it a ton of fun. Adults with back issues should avoid this one, though, as it’ll thrash you around a fair amount. Parents of small kids will also want to take note of the relaxed and slow-moving Yoshi’s Adventure that the under-seven crowd will love.

Food wise, there’s tons of great options here: the cartoon-like dining at Toadstool Cafe rivals the Wizarding World in terms of detail. Mario and Luigi themed burgers are obvious hits, but I also love the super mushroom soup, piranha plant caprese, and fire flower spaghetti and meatballs. For a sweet treat, head back to the Donkey Kong Country for the banana and pineapple DK Crush Float.

Dark Universe pays tribute to Universal’s longstanding history with monsters: some of the studio’s earliest commercial hits were in the horror genre with Frankenstein and Dracula. The monsters all come to life in the Dark Universe in the best way possible. If you’re only going for one day, I suggest saving this land for last as the spooky energy really comes through at night.

Theming of the fictional town of Darkmoore is incredible, and was my second favourite area to explore in the Epic Universe. The flagship building is the lifelike Frankenstein’s mansion, which also houses the motion simulator Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment ride. This is possibly the best attraction at Epic Universe, as you move through a track on a robotic arm into an immersive drama between Frankenstein and Dracula – who, apparently, don’t get along. The walkthrough of Frankenstein’s mansion for the ride queue is worth it even for those who don’t intend to get on (but really, everyone should!).

The other major attraction here is the relatively short Curse of the Werewolf coaster, which involves a cart that can spin 360 degrees. This one isn’t for anyone who experiences motion sickness, but is otherwise a brief thrill that serves up some decent views of the Dark Universe. 

A dinner reso at the vampire-themed Das Stakehaus is essential to fully immerse yourself in Darkmoor: the tongue-in-cheek eatery is described as “monstrously good” and I don’t disagree. The Carved Staked Steak with a bloody jus was both tasty and fun with plating, while fish on a stake (salmon) and bird on a stake (chicken) also proved popular. All ages also seemed to love the Monocane Mocktail in a themed beaker, which can be taken home as a souvenir. Finally, the mini warm-hearted cinnamon buns at De Lacey’s Cottage nearby are a must-try.