Visitors Guide to Universal Epic Universe
Universal Epic Universe opened officially on May 22, 2025. Unlike its siblings, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay, Universal Epic Universe is located on a new "south campus" for Universal Orlando, near the Orange County Convention Center.
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Universal Epic Universe features four lands devoted to individual IPs surrounding the central Celestial Park, named for the "Celestians" - beings who harnessed cosmic energy to open portals to fantastic locations across the Universe, according to Universal Creative's backstory for the park. Our recommendations below come from our year-end survey of Theme Park Insider readers. Locations with star ratings ★ ranked especially highly among our readers.
Universal's Helios Grand Hotel is located inside the park, with two value-priced hotels, the Stella Nova and Terra Luna Resorts, located alongside the entrance road to the park. For assistance in planning a Universal Orlando Resort vacation, please contact our partner for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.
What to Do
Readers' Picks
- Monsters Unchained - The Frankenstein Experiment ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Kuka-arm dark ride in Dark Universe's Frankenstein Manor. Dr. Victoria Frankenstein is trying to clear her family's name by capturing all the Universal Monsters. However, her plan to control Dracula fails, unleashing The Wolf Man, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Brides of Dracula in an animatronic-filled thrill ride. Minimum height: 48 inches.
- Stardust Racers ★ ★ ★ ★
Mack Rides dual-track multi-launch racing coaster with top speeds of 62 mph and one inversion. (Look for the flux capacitor on the back of each train.) Located in Celestial Park. Minimum height: 48 inches. - Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ★ ★ ★
Motion-base dark ride that recreates the omnimover lifts (elevators) in the British Ministry of Magic. You are visiting to attend the trial of Dolores Umbridge, but of course that's going to go terribly wrong. Minimum height: 40 inches or 48 inches to ride alone.
- The Untrainable Dragon ★ ★
Set in the 850-seat Dragon Hatchery theater in How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, this is the American premiere of the 20-minute, Theme Park Insider Award-winning live stage show from Universal Studios Beijing. - Hiccup's Wing Gliders ★
Intamin multi-launch terrain roller coaster in How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk. Minimum height: 40 inches or 48 inches to ride alone.
Other Attractions
Celestial Park
- Constellation Carousel: Hand-held infants not permitted. Under 48 inches requires adult companion and must ride in multi-person seats. 🎦 Video
- Astronomica: Small splash pad water play area
Super Nintendo World
- Mario Kart - Bowser's Challenge: Augmented reality interactive dark ride where riders compete to collect coins and beat Team Bowser. Minimum height: 40 inches or 48 inches to ride alone.
- Mine-Cart Madness: America's first installation of Universal's "boom coaster," which allows the illusion of the coaster train jumping the track. This is located in the Donkey Kong Country section of the land. Minimum height: 40 inches or 48 inches to ride alone. 🎦 Video
- Yoshi's Adventure: Omnimover-style track ride with a mild game element. Minimum height: 34 inches or 48 inches to ride alone. 🎦 Video
- Key Challenges: Real-life, video-game-like challenges throughout the land. You must buy Universal's Power-Up Band to participate. If you complete enough challenges, you can unlock a boss battle against Bowser Jr. to win back control of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Dark Universe
- Curse of the Werewolf: Mack Rides spinning roller coaster. Minimum height: 40 inches or 48 inches to ride alone.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - The Ministry of Magic
- Le Cirque Arcanus: A two-part, 30-minute-total, live and multimedia stage show featuring puppetry and special effects, themed to Fantastic Beasts.
How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk
- Fyre Drill: Viking-themed Mack Rides Splash Battle boat ride. Hand-held infants not permitted. Under 48 inches requires adult companion. 🎦 Video
- Viking Training Camp: Multi-level children's playground.
- Dragon Racer's Rally: Gerstlauer Sky Fly. Minimum height: 48 inches
Where to Eat
Celestial Park
- Atlantic Restaurant: table service seafood restaurant
- The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant
- The Oak & Star Tavern: barbecue
- Pizza Moon: pizzas and pasta
- Meteor Astropub: burgers, chicken and waffles
Super Nintendo World
- Toadstool Cafe: Chef Toad prepares Mario and Luigi-themed burgers, Super Mushroom Soup, Piranha Plant Caprese, Fire Flower Spaghetti and Meatballs and more in this hybrid service restaurant.
Dark Universe
- Das Stakehaus: Vampire-themed table service restaurant serving kebabs, burgers, sandwiches and more.
- The Burning Blade Tavern: Serving burgers, wings, bratwurst, pretzels and specialty beverages.
- De Lacey's Cottage: Food stand with pretzels and cinnamon bites
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Café L’Air De La Sirène: Parisian cafe serving French sandwiches, plats du jour and desserts
- Le Gobelet Noir: Dark arts-themed tavern with soups, salads, entrées and desserts
- Bar Moonshine: A small, American wizard-themed bar
How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk
- Mead Hall: meats, fish, sandwiches and more, along with a collection of meads and ciders.
- Hooligan's Grog & Gruel: quick service mac 'n; cheese cones, in Viking Camp
- Spit Fyre Grill: quick service, overlooking Fyre Drill
Buy Tickets
Park Map
Universal Epic Universe is located at the end of an extension of Kirkman Blvd, north of Universal Blvd and the Orange County Convention Center North-South Building. (It's part of the old Lockheed Martin property.) An extension of the Brightline rail system someday will run to a new SunRail station that serves the convention center and Epic Universe, allowing for a direct rail connection to the Orlando International Airport.
If you are renting a car while visiting Orlando, you can save on toll road fees by getting a Visitor Toll Pass at the Orlando airport rather than renting a toll transponder from your rental car company: Toll Discounts Return for Orlando Theme Park Visitors
Strategy
Guests at Universal Orlando's on-site hotels will get up to one hour of Early Park Admission to everything but the Harry Potter land. So if you are visiting at park opening, expect those attractions to have people in their queues already. Universal typically opens Epic Universe attractions to guests in advance of the published park opening, so arrive early. We recommend going to Mario Kart first, followed by Mine-Cart Madness, if its ride time is under one hour. Otherwise, save it for later in the day, or skip riding. The best views for this coaster are off-ride, with its optical illusion track jumps.
Monsters Unchained and Stardust Racers have high capacity and relatively reliable uptime. You can leave these for mid-day, but remember that Stardust Racers will go down during stormy weather. If there is rain in the forecast, try to time the park's roller coasters before or after any predicted thunderstorms.
Rain is the nemesis of this theme park. It will close the majority of attractions, including all the coasters. So aim to visit the park's great shows in the mid-afternoon during the summer, when the temperatures are hottest and the rain is most likely to come.
While Battle at the Ministry is a popular choice to rope drop, we recommend waiting until later in the day - just a couple of hours before close, to get on this ride with a significantly lower wait time than will be found in the morning. But if you see a posted wait time under an hour, go for it.
With few attractions and the threat of rain closing rides, buying Universal Express might be the right call here is you are visiting during summer and don't wish to spend all day waiting in long lines. With Express, however, this park is a breeze.
