Imagine spending hundreds of millions of dollars on just one ride—Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic. Now, imagine a similar budget for a Universal Pictures monster ride with Frankenstein and Dracula and a rumored $7 billion cost for an entire park. Wouldn’t you want to experience a theme park built on such a budget?
People who don’t know Harry Potter, Nintendo’s Mario, the children’s book or movie series How to Train a Dragon or Universal Pictures’ monsters such as Frankenstein or Dracula may well question spending almost $140 a person a day. However, fans of these entertainment franchises and vacationing in Orlando will want to make a visit to Epic a priority, especially considering it’s the first major theme park in the U.S. in more than a decade.
Epic Universe features just 11 major attractions and two major shows, but the magic isn’t in the ride count—it’s in the depth of the experience. Each land is packed with interactive elements, live entertainment, and hidden “Easter eggs” related to popular stories.
Celestial Park: The Heartbeat of Epic Universe
From the get-go, I knew there were five sections to Epic. Every time I looked at the map, I kept searching for Celestial Park, expecting an entry point like the “portals” for the other three parks.
Even when I was inside the park, I kept trying to ascertain where Celestial Park begins and where it ends. Essentially, Celestial Park is the park from the first step inside the gate to the three major water fountains and to the far end by the terrace in front of the Helios Grand Hotel. Each of the four “lands” branches from Celestial Park and is self-contained.
The beautifully landscaped hub of the park is anchored by the Cosmos Fountain, which dazzles with choreographed water and light shows throughout the day and evening. This is what the Chairman of Universal Destinations and Experiences meant when he referenced putting “the park back in the park,” as Walt Disney was inspired to do when he visited Tivoli Gardens and then dreamed up the Magic Kingdom. The park’s open-air layout is perfect for relaxing, people-watching, or dining at the upscale Atlantic seafood restaurant or neon-lit Blue Dragon eatery.
An insider’s tip is to head over to the Atlantic restaurant at sunset for a drink at the bar as colorfully lit “fish” drift overhead throughout the two-story building.
The two rides in Celestial Park are completely opposite in terms of thrills. The Constellation Carousel offers a short 90-second ride with celestial creatures representing signs of Zodiac that bob up and down from a pole attached only at the base of the ride, slowly spinning in different directions at the same time.
Adjacent to the entrance of the How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk section is the Stardust Racers. Just looking at its dramatic ups and downs, even someone like me who has ridden dozens of roller coasters had reluctance to get buckled in. The two coasters run simultaneously on different tracks. One coaster is slightly less daunting – but only slightly – so be sure to ask the attendant if you’re interested in one with a few fewer upside-down sections.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic – Extending the Story at Epic Universe
Think you know everything about Harry Potter because you’ve read the books and watched the movies and the stage show? Not yet! The Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride at Universal Epic Universe is set after the final movie, focusing on Minister of Magic Dolores Umbridge’s trial at the Ministry.
Without doubt, the lines at the preview and during the grand opening event bear witness to the popularity of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic. I’ll wager that this is the most expensive ride built at any amusement park ever.
The storytelling begins the minute you walk the portal entrance, pass the Metro sign, and wind up in a re-creation of 1920s Paris that relates to the Fantastic Beasts movie series. After passing along several Parisian streets, you find your way to the entrance of the ride and enter through a small tunnel with a poof of smoke.
If the Paris setting isn’t incredible enough, you’ll soon discover where they spent $1 billion as you enter the Ministry of Magic with a three-story hall complete with a giant screen and impressive gold statues. The story continues through a complex labyrinth with animatronics and videos at every turn. With wait times that are in the three digits, take time to catch up on the story and anticipate Umbridge’s fate at the trial.
As you sit in a “car” that simulates a jury box, the ride begins with Harry, Ron, and Hermione asking for your help at the trial. Although the ride never transports riders upside down, it moves fast and quickly with unexpected ups and downs.
The attraction in this section is Le Cirque Arcanus with fantastic beasts created with a mix of puppets, special effects, and live performers.
Even those who have experienced fine Parisian cafes in France should at least drop by to see the exquisite Café L’air De La Sirene.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk at Universal Studios
I’ll admit to only a passing acquaintance of The Isle of Berk and the Viking-inspired land where humans and dragons coexist from How to Train Your Dragon. Still, I couldn’t help but enjoy the imagination and effort to create this mythical Viking era from the early Middle Ages. Costumed Vikings, clever statues and monuments, and even the film’s dragon star, Toothless, can be around every corner.
For ride fans, there’s the roller coaster, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, which offers a smooth, twisty ride without the crazy loops of the Stardust Racers nearby. The highest view in the park is Dragon’s Racer Rally, which features individually controlled cars that can do aerial circles flying high in the sky. For youngsters are Fyre Drill, a water boat ride with shooting canons of water, and the live show, The Untrainable Dragon, featuring Toothless dragon flying overhead.
Super Nintendo World: Mario and Donkey Kong at Epic Universe
Skewing to long-time gamers and a younger audience, Super Nintendo World explodes with color and nostalgia. The most identifiable character is Mario, the featured character in the video game Donkey Kong since 1981 and his own game, Super Mario Bros that debuted in 1985. TV celebrity Mario Lopez told us that he can’t wait to return to Epic Universe because his young son is a Mario devotee, not because of the video games but because of the recent movie hit, The Super Mario Bros Movie.
The headline attraction is Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, using augmented reality to blend real sets with digital effects for a racing adventure where riders compete against each other for high score. The most relaxed ride in the park is Yoshi’s Adventure with cars that circle slowly around the Mario section of the park.
In a mini-portal to the back of the area, enter into Donkey Kong Country with a roller coaster that’s more challenging than it appears at first glance. It’s a clever call-back to the video game where the coaster track appears and then disappears regularly.
Dark Universe: Thrills and Chills at Epic Universe
Dark Universe is where Universal’s monster legacy gets a high-tech twist on the old haunted house ride. The signature attraction, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, belongs to the billionaire dollar club along with Harry Potter. Frankenstein’s castle and the nearby windmill spit out fire on a regular basis. As you walk through the castle, you’ll see some of the monsters ready to reach out and nearly touch you when you’re on the ride. Like the Harry Potter experience, you are strapped into a car that goes nearly horizontal in both directions. It tells the story of a battle between Dracula and Frankenstein with a creepy blend of giant animatronics, video screens, and creations dropping out of the sky.
Rent a few movies before you come to reacquaint yourself with some of the more obscure characters such as the Creature from the Black Lagoon and the Phantom of the Opera.
This section of the park also includes a steel-tracked roller coaster, Curse of the Werewolf, that wasn’t operating for the grand opening but appeared to be similar to the coaster in the Isle of Berk. A monster make-up experience and character encounters are featured in this area.
Staying at the Epic Universe Hotels: Helios, Stella Nova and Terra Luna
Unlike almost any hotel near any amusement park, the Universal Helios Grand Hotel opens up directly into the park. Run by Loew’s Hotels, Helios has a gym, outdoor pool, and bar, and an amazing rooftop bar where you’ll have the best view of the park’s evening fireworks. Within walking distance of the park’s entrance is the more family-oriented (and priced) Universal Stella Nova Resort with space-age themed rooms and a large outdoor pool. Nearby but not yet connected with a walkway to the park is Universal Terra Luna Resort, featuring contemporary design.
For hotel guests at these properties, there’s a full complement of free shuttle buses from the hotels to Epic, as well as to Universal City Walk and other Universal parks. There’s also early admission to parts of each park before opening to the general public that day.
The Cost of the Epic Adventure
One-day adult tickets start at $139, with children’s tickets from $134. Multi-day and park-to-park passes are available, as well as Express Passes and VIP tours for those seeking shorter waits and exclusive experiences. Prices vary by season and demand, so check the official site for the latest details.
With less than a dozen rides – some of which with wait lines of more than an hour, I suggest at least visiting Islands of Adventure on another day, especially for teenagers who are seeking thrill rides.
Getting There: Access and Parking at Universal’s Epic Universe
Epic Universe is right off busy Interstate 4 and a short 15-minute drive to Universal’s three other Orlando parks – Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Volcano Bay. Dedicated parking garages with frequent shuttle service make arrival smooth and efficient. Standard and preferred parking options are available, with accessible parking and shuttles for guests with disabilities.
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Author Bio: For more than 40 years, R.C. Staab has been a tourism and culture expert who has been quoted by and had photos published in numerous publications including the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times and CNN, and is a frequent contributor other than New Jersey Monthly magazine. He wrote 100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore Before You Die, now in its second printing, and New York City Scavenger: The Ultimate Search for New York City’s Hidden Treasures. Click here to buy his Jersey Shore and NYC book. He has traveled the world and visited 49 of the 50 states seeking adventure, admiring museums, culture and history and climbing sand dunes from Namibia to Idaho. He has snorkeled with killer whales in Norway, sperm whales in Dominica and humpback whales in Turks & Caicos, viewed polar bears up close on the Hudson Bay, hiked the Amazon in Ecuador, done a walking tour of the Lake District in England, trekked Machu Pichu, climbed up 10,000 feet to the Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, hiked through rain, snow and sunshine on New Zealand’s best one-day hike and hung out with black bears at the Alaska Bear Camp. He lives in New York his wife, Valari, and dog, Skye.
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