Epic Universe’s first month because the grand opening has been a wild experience. The park continues to see excessive wait instances and crowd ranges, however not essentially attendance. The larger story right this moment is the operational inconsistency, with some rides quietly opening early and/or staying open an hour after official park closing as a ‘shock & delight’ visitor providing.
We’ll begin by but once more making a plug for our rundown of Why You Ought to Skip Epic Universe. That was written throughout paid previews, however it has aged like a wonderful wine–for essentially the most half. Admittedly, I did imagine that the digital queue for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry was going to stay round till October. I assume that was so abysmally-executed and garnering such fierce visitor backlash that they’d no alternative however swap to standby.
Amongst different issues, two of the opposite main factors raised in that article are “Unpredictable Attendance & Crowds” and “Trip Breakdowns & Downtime.” These proceed to be the overriding points with Epic Universe, as the brand new park continues to be a veritable curler coaster of crowd ranges and common wait instances since its official opening a few month in the past.
At this level, your motto for Epic Universe for the subsequent 12 months or so must be: anticipate the sudden.
The #1 factor you want when visiting Epic Universe is flexibility and a willingness to name an audible as insurance policies & protocol change, points of interest break down or function otherwise, attendance ranges fluctuate, and the park simply typically throws you curveballs. (Consider Epic Universe because the Sandy Koufax of theme parks.)
In case you are the kind of planner who craves certainty, loves making spreadsheets, and mapping out minute-by-minute specifics of your day months upfront…perhaps Epic Universe isn’t for you proper now. (Extra broadly, I’d advocate everybody abandon one of these planning for each theme park, Common or Disney. Flexibility and spontaneity will at all times yield higher outcomes, and be much less hectic. However you do you!)
Earlier than we get going, we need to clarify that none of that is criticism of Epic Universe or Common Orlando. (Properly, for essentially the most half–there are some operational selections with which I vehemently disagree.)
The sort of factor is to be anticipated with a model new theme park, as Common discovers what works and doesn’t, hears visitor suggestions, makes operational updates and improves experience reliability. It’s very a lot part of the method. Anybody who was round Walt Disney World from late 2019 via early 2020 ought to recall the veritable curler coaster of adjustments for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now scale that to a complete theme park with a number of envelope-pushing points of interest!
The massive distinction between then and now, and another excuse it is best to anticipate the sudden, is as a result of there isn’t nice protection of Epic Universe. We had been at DHS a number of instances per week for rope drop, and we weren’t the one ones. Walt Disney World had Annual Passes again then, leading to thorough protection. Epic Universe doesn’t have Annual Passes, and bloggers (and so forth.) aren’t dropping ~$180 a number of instances per week to cowl adjustments.
As a substitute, we’re reliant on stories from cobbled collectively from social media, reader feedback, and so forth. Except for listening to suggestions from readers who’ve visited Epic Universe just lately, my favourite sources are thrill-data for wait instances and the Common Orlando subreddit. We attempt to preserve you abreast of adjustments, however the truth of the matter is that we’re not on the bottom with any diploma of regularity. We’re reliant on phrase of mouth identical to everybody else–so it’s price maintaining a tally of the Common Orlando app and social media in order for you extra obsessive protection.
Anyway, let’s go over the newest operational adjustments at Epic Universe.
Epic Universe Early Park Admission Modifications
First up, the lineup is now completely different for Early Park Admission at Epic Universe. This began as being Tremendous Nintendo World plus Celestial Park after which expanded to incorporate Darkish Universe, all of which we lined in Early Park Admission at Epic Universe Technique Information: Beating Crowds in Tremendous Nintendo World!
There’s been one more change. Listed below are the out there points of interest throughout Early Park Admission at Common Epic Universe:
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem
- Yoshi’s Journey
Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity- Stardust Racers
- Constellation Carousel
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
- Curse of the Werewolf
On its face, this can be a unfavorable change. During the last month, Mine-Cart Insanity has the #3 wait time at Epic Universe, behind solely Mario Kart and Battle on the Ministry. Taking it off the desk exacerbates wait instances on the two different Tremendous Nintendo World points of interest, and disproportionately Mario Kart because it’s the opposite headliner.
In apply, I’m undecided it’s such a foul factor. We now have heard numerous stories of Mine-Cart Insanity having unpublished delayed openings. The attraction wouldn’t be working till 10 am (or later) with out discover, and visitors would get turned away upon arrival. Worse but, there have been instances when visitors had been allowed to queue up–generally for a number of hours–although the attraction wasn’t operational.
As a little bit of an apart, one of many greater under-discussed complaints we’ve had about Epic Universe is that operations has an unwillingness to dump queues. The explanation for it is because they don’t need to problem restoration (comped Specific Passes) to everybody exiting the queue, a number of instances over per day. That’s a legitimate concern with so many rides being unreliable from an “if everybody has Specific Passes, nobody does” perspective. Presumably, Common can also be fearful about preserving shorter waits for visitors who bought Specific Cross.
Nevertheless, they merely shouldn’t be promoting Specific Cross at this level. The park as an entire is simply too unreliable and low-capacity for it (which is why a number of points of interest are excluded within the first place). Furthermore, I’d moderately have a not-so-Specific Cross for future use than be caught enjoying hen in a queue for a damaged down attraction that isn’t reopening any time quickly. The visitor expertise must be balanced and, in my opinion, that’s the pretty apparent reply.
However wait! The plot thickens!
On a number of days, we’ve seen or heard stories that Constellation Carousel really wasn’t opening throughout EPA, however was as an alternative delayed till midday. Fortunately, this does seem within the Common Orlando app (see above), so it is best to be capable of examine that earlier than beginning your day.
Additionally, you shouldn’t be prioritizing Constellation Carousel throughout EPA. Not solely is it decrease precedence, however it’s higher at evening. You probably have youngsters who can’t do a lot at Epic Universe, Yoshi’s Journey throughout EPA is the play.
However wait once more! This plot has extra twists than the Mine-Cart Insanity observe!
There have been some days, together with right this moment, when Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity and/or Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry simply open throughout Early Park Admission. The above screenshots are all from June 21, 2025. You’ll notice that at first, MCM and BatM weren’t posting wait instances–and it indicated they’d be opening at 10 a.m. Lower than 5 minutes later, MCM was open with a 25 minute wait. One other ~5 minutes after that, BatM opened to a 120 minute wait.
The most effective rationalization for that is that Common is attempting to get Mine-Cart Insanity and Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry operational as early as potential, however doesn’t need to promote this since each are down so usually to begin the day. But when they’re up, they’re open.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders “Reputation” Soars
During the last week, the common wait time for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders has soared. Its all-time common is 48 minutes (#7 in Epic Universe), which is about what we’d anticipate on a traditional day. The weekly common for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is 110 minutes, which places it at #3 (forward of Mine-Cart Insanity).
Whilst you is perhaps inclined to attribute this to the recognition of the live-action remake (they forged actual dragons?!) of The best way to Prepare Your Dragon, that’s virtually actually not it. Wait instances for the opposite Isle of Berk points of interest haven’t actually budged. Not even the Toothless meet & greet, which is what I’d anticipate to be most impacted by the film.
As a substitute, it’s our understanding that Hiccup’s Wing Gliders has been working very inefficiently. Most notably, it’s been down one load station for a lot (most? all?) of the week. This alone successfully halves the hourly capability for the curler coaster, which explains double the wait time. Usually, slicing capability in half doesn’t double wait instances since extra visitors balk on the greater wait, so there’s most likely a bit extra to the story than that.
So What’s the Proper Rope Drop Strategy?
With a lot altering, I’m actually stunned that our Epic Universe Morning Technique: Rope Drop Rides to Do & Keep away from to Save Time is definitely extra correct right this moment than it was once we printed it. Discuss a contented accident!
Right here’s our recommendation for rope dropping Epic Universe in a nutshell:
- DO: The best way to Prepare Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
- DON’T DO: Darkish Universe or Tremendous Nintendo World
- ALSO DON’T DO: Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry
(That is for normal park opening, not Early Park Admission.)
Avoiding Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry is listed individually as a result of this can be a seemingly controversial take. You’ll find numerous stories of individuals having nice success with this method. They aren’t mendacity! They are ‘struggling’ from a type of survivorship bias, although.
It’s completely correct that beginning at Battle on the Ministry can yield implausible outcomes. It’s additionally true that it may be a trainwreck. All of it comes right down to luck on the day you go to. Statistically talking, Battle on the Ministry is each liable to the dreaded delayed opening greater than some other experience at Epic Universe and a mean wait time that peaks early and will get progressively shorter all through the day. Objectively, the most effective technique is to carry off on it till later within the day.
If you happen to’re a gambler, go for it at rope drop. However don’t say that we didn’t warn you if you happen to fail. And if you happen to succeed, don’t assume your outcomes are replicable. The most secure method to rope drop at Epic Universe is beginning in Isle of Berk. If you happen to’re a curler coaster individual, a lovely choice for each EPA and common rope drop is just looping Stardust Racers. I enthusiastically endorse this method from a ‘enjoyable and simple’ perspective, even when it’s suboptimal technique.
Epic Universe Rides Open an Hour After Park Closing!
This one has ‘developed’ over the course of the final couple of weeks. We obtained a couple of scattered reader stories that after Epic Universe moved to a 9 pm closing (from 10 pm for the primary few weeks), the rides in Celestial Park–Constellation Carousel and Stardust Racers–had been however operational (barring downtime) till 10 pm.
Extra just lately, the complete park has remained open after 9 pm. Right here’s a take a look at wait instances from final evening:
The massive exception you’ll discover right here is strains which might be “at capability.” (Fast apart: the identical factor can occur with Single Rider strains.)
That is principally a matter of points of interest closing their strains resulting from sky-high wait instances, as Common doesn’t need to proceed permitting visitors right into a line that’s already ~2 hours lengthy all the way in which till 10 pm, after which have it take till after midnight to clear the park.
This method to a ‘stealth’ additional hour does make sense for precisely the identical cause. If visitors are allowed to enter the Mine-Cart Insanity, Mario Kart, Battle on the Ministry, or Hiccup’s Wing Gliders queues till 8:59 pm (as is the case), and any of these rides have 120+ minute wait instances, it’s going to take till after 11 pm to clear the park, anyway. May as effectively spend a bit extra on staffing and preserve different strains open, anyway.
Given its present common wait instances, Epic Universe shouldn’t be closing at 9 pm within the first place. Park hours are criminally brief and visitor satisfaction might be struggling to a level consequently. This presents a partial resolution for that. It’s sort of like a tender opening…however for current points of interest on the finish of the day. A tender closing, I assume?
On the threat of stating the plain, that final hour is a must-do. Throughout the board, these wait instances are effectively under their each day averages. That is additionally topic to vary. Common Orlando might cease doing this subsequent month, subsequent week–even tonight. Since that is unpublished and unofficial coverage, it might change at any second with out discover. So don’t plan on this if you happen to’re visiting in August (and definitely not in 2026).
Regardless, you completely need to be at Epic Universe for the tip of the evening, at any time when that’s. Even when it means taking a noon break (or maybe two desk service meals in Celestial Park if you happen to’re not staying close to Epic Universe), you need to outlast the gang and expertise nighttime in Epic Universe. There’s one thing particular about seeing the park illuminated, and it is best to be capable of hand around in Celestial Park after even 10 pm. You may even be capable of seize a drink or ice cream from Frosty Moon and revel in it by the fountains–a satisfying finish to a protracted, sizzling day!
Epic Universe Crowd Calendar
Lastly, a plug for our Epic Universe Crowd Calendar. This isn’t a calendar of dates and numerical scores, so don’t go in anticipating that. If you’d like predictions like that, simply throw darts at a board–you’ll be equally correct. As a substitute, we provide some tough guidelines of thumb:
- Fridays via Mondays have decrease wait instances at Epic Universe to this point.
- Epic Universe attendance can be under half-capacity on all dates all through Summer time 2025, and under one-third capability on many dates barring large coverage adjustments.
- Regardless of low attendance, wait instances will fluctuate considerably and counsel above-average crowd ranges on most dates–unpredictably so.
- Epic Universe can have greater attendance from October via December 2025 than opening day via August 2025
Every of these factors are defined in excruciating element within the Epic Universe Crowd Calendar. The salient level, as soon as once more, is to anticipate the sudden.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe this month? Did you expertise any points of interest being “secretly” open early or after park closing? What about sudden closures, strains not being dumped regardless of downtime, or anything mentioned right here? Will you go to Epic Universe this 12 months, or will you look ahead to issues to cool down and extra operational consistency? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share some other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
