Epic Universe’s opening season has been a wild experience. Common’s new park has had sky-high wait instances and crowd ranges, however not essentially attendance. That first half of that development seems poised to speed up within the months to return, however not earlier than an low season slowdown. This comes as 1-day tickets are beginning to promote out for choose dates by means of December 2025, with many extra days and full weeks hitting (tender) capability.
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 high quality wine–for probably the most half. We not too long ago returned with a refresh to that submit, as our recommendation for almost all of vacationers is to remain on the sidelines and wait till Epic Universe improves its operations and effectivity.
Amongst different issues, two of the opposite main factors raised in that article are “Unpredictable Attendance & Crowds” and “Journey 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 every day crowd ranges and common wait instances since its official opening three months in the past. With that mentioned, there are some fascinating updates on crowds and ticketing at Epic Universe, so let’s dive proper in to these…
Park Capability & Ticket Information Loophole
For the primary few months of the park’s existence, Epic Universe ticket knowledge might be obtained by scraping the Common Orlando backend web site. Sadly, Common lastly wised up and closed the loophole that allowed this knowledge to be acquired, so we now not can see what number of tickets can be found and what number of have been bought.
Previous to the info lockdown, we knew Common Orlando was initially limiting attendance at 12,000 to fifteen,000 visitors from the beginning of previews by means of the tip of June, relying upon the day. That then expanded to roughly 22,000 visitors per day in July. That’s the place the higher restrict stood by means of the rest of 2025, per their knowledge.
Individually, it’s our been understanding that Epic Universe has a complete theoretical capability of round 35,000 to 40,000 visitors. Corroborating this, Common Orlando elevated its ticket cap to 45,000 throughout the board for the rest of 2025, doubling or tripling the restrict relying on the date. As we defined in one other submit detailing the rise, the numbers are a bit deceptive. Common made many extra multi-day ticket sorts obtainable, which few visitors had been buying within the first place.
The underside line was that regardless that Common was providing to promote ~45,000 tickets per day to Epic Universe, natural demand was the actual limiting issue since these had been much less common ticket sorts and even common 1-day tickets largely weren’t promoting out from mid-July onward. The top consequence was that Common Orlando was promoting round 15,000 to twenty,000 tickets (with a number of outliers that increase the vary to 13,000 to 22,000) per day. Not as soon as this summer season did Epic Universe hit even half of that 45,000 quantity.
Bought Out Dates Enhance & Lower
The entire above is related, even when it’s previous tense, as a result of we had been watching ticket knowledge and gross sales for the ultimate few months of the yr. As of late July, there have been a number of dates round Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve that had been bought out of single-day tickets.
In early August, much more dates appeared bought out. I might swear it was round half of all dates between October and December, and even some Mondays in September (kicking myself for not taking screenshots). Then in the future throughout the final couple of weeks, availability had been replenished, just about throughout the board. Only some dates round Thanksgiving, Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve had been gone.
Now, extra of these dates have bought out, however nonetheless next-to-nothing within the subsequent few months. The above screenshot is from right this moment (August 20, 2025). Previous to November, the one unavailable date is October 7, 2025. Simply two weeks in the past, availability was considerably decrease.
In all probability, that is the results of Common Orlando reallocating ticket capability. Again once we wrote that submit detailing the earlier bounce in capability from ~15,000 to ~45,000 that we (mainly) known as nothing to fret about, we added one asterisk. That it might be meaningless if it had been laying the groundwork for future adjustments and simpler reallocations of capability among the many numerous buckets of park tickets. Particularly: “If 45,000 single-day Epic Universe tickets had been all of a sudden made obtainable for every day with per week or two discover, our evaluation of the affect on crowd ranges can be very completely different.“
Sadly, we don’t know precisely what occurred with the allocation throughout ‘buckets’ as a result of the ticket knowledge loophole has been closed. However we are able to surmise from the circumstances that: 1) tickets have been reallocated from much less fascinating buckets to extra fascinating ones, and; 2) beforehand bought out dates at the moment are promoting extra tickets. That means that is now not a nothing to fret about state of affairs, and these increased caps completely do matter. At minimal, dates in the course of the fall and vacation season are going to promote extra tickets than earlier than and exceed the earlier 22,000 excessive water mark.
For no matter it’s price, the explanation I’ve stalked the single-day ticket web page on Common Orlando is not so I might purchase tickets to dates that had been beforehand bought out. It’s just about the precise reverse. I need to take note of which dates and days of the week are promoting out most often so I can keep away from them. My view will not be that it’s a “good factor” that tickets are again on sale. This isn’t like a widget that sells out and is restocked.
If tickets turn out to be obtainable after promoting out, that capability is coming from someplace. I’ve zero want to go to Epic Universe on any date that sells out, and I might implore you to rethink visits throughout these peak weeks. Or no less than wait till on-the-ground studies are available in from Columbus Day weekend, as that’ll be the primary large stress take a look at of Epic Universe operations.
Lowest Crowds on Weekends
Talking of which, the 2 days of the week with the bottom common wait instances over the previous few months have been Saturdays (#2) and Sundays (#1, by far). Friday is third-lowest. The simplest clarification for that is that Epic Universe single-day tickets are costliest on weekends, so budget-conscious vacationers are in search of out cheaper dates.
There’s much less consistency for Mondays by means of Thursdays, and never sufficient knowledge factors to attract definitive conclusions. Statistically, Wednesdays and Thursdays have been worst, which might be a byproduct of vacationers beginning out their weeks at Walt Disney World, visiting a pair parks there, then doing Epic Universe. Or beginning out at Common’s legacy parks.
To that time, the remainder of Common Orlando is busiest on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, adopted by Sundays. That is fueled largely by locals and Annual Passholders over the weekends, after which vacationers being most inclined to go to on Mondays. Midweek is the best possible time to go to the opposite parks, with common wait instances bottoming out on Wednesdays.
This is smart! Floridians work on weekdays, making weekends their greatest time to go to the opposite parks for Annual Passholders. However Epic Universe doesn’t have APs, and lots of locals have already gotten their “repair” of Epic Universe and are ready for Annual Passes. The consequence has been an analogous dynamic as we noticed at Walt Disney World when AP gross sales had been suspended for thus lengthy (it nonetheless exists to today, however isn’t as exaggerated).
One factor to notice is that as quickly as Annual Go gross sales or Florida resident ticket offers begin for Epic Universe, this dynamic flips. Saturday and Sunday will turn out to be the busiest days of the weekend. Furthermore, there are exceptions to the entire above when climate rears its ugly head. Nothing throws a monkey wrench into Epic Universe wait instances like a stormy day!
Present Crowds
It’s been virtually precisely two months since we shared our preliminary 2025 Epic Universe Crowd Calendar, which provided predictions and a recap of present crowds. On the predictions entrance, that submit nonetheless holds up.
Clearly, there’s two months of further wait instances knowledge since then to share (courtesy of thrill-data). Crowds have solely worsened since then. Epic Universe set a file for its busiest day ever on July 16, when common wait instances had been 85 minutes and the gang degree was 10/10. That was adopted by back-to-back 80 minute days August 6-7. There have been a number of different days at or above 70 minutes, with every day lows within the mid-to-upper 40s.
Late June was the beginning of a stretch when weekly averages had been 64-68 minutes for six consecutive weeks; with all however one week within the 64-66 minute vary. For a park that’s so inconsistent on a day-to-day foundation, that’s remarkably constant on a weekly one.
Two out of the final three weeks have proven indicators of enchancment, and our expectation is that this development doesn’t simply proceed, however that it accelerates within the subsequent 4-6 weeks. I’m cautiously optimistic that Epic Universe could have a weekly common under 50 minutes someday in mid-September. On the very least, there ought to be sure days when the typical wait time is beneath 40 minutes. Epic Universe has been near that on the 2 most up-to-date Sundays.
It’s price noting that no different Common Orlando or Walt Disney World park is hitting common every day wait instances at wherever close to these ranges. As we’ve acknowledged numerous instances earlier than, that is largely a capability and effectivity story, and never considered one of overwhelming demand.
The park is hitting these crowd ranges with comparatively low attendance. There’s potential for this to get a lot worse if Epic Universe doesn’t discover its footing on experience throughput. (Or will get unfortunate with climate on a better attendance day.)
To place these numbers into perspective, it’s additionally price noting that Walt Disney World’s two busiest days since 2019 have been 71 and 70 minute waits–each got here in the course of the weeks of New 12 months’s (early 2020 and late 2023). On the identical dates this summer season, Walt Disney World’s common wait time has been lower than half of Epic Universe and that’s regardless of increased every day attendance. The identical goes for Common Orlando’s different parks, that are seeing averages of round 25 minutes.
The trendline is beginning to flip constructive now that college has gone again into session, however we nonetheless extremely suggest Epic Universe on a weekend, if in any respect, in the course of the 2025 low season. In any other case, ready till 2026 nonetheless looks as if one of the best plan of action, however that comes with huge caveats in regards to the park scaling up capability at a quicker clip than it improves experience throughput. It could end up that the following 5-6 weeks plus scattered dates this vacation season find yourself being the candy spot.
If planning a late 2025 or 2026 journey, I’d goal the entire identical dates on our Greatest & Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2025, 2026 & 2027. That’s a mixture of quantitative and qualitative, and I’d argue that the latter issues extra at Epic Universe than Walt Disney World. Should you solely have in the future to do Epic Universe, make it a Sunday throughout a type of weeks.
Workforce Member Complimentary Entry
Common Orlando Workforce Members can now use as much as two of their complimentary passes for entry to Epic Universe every calendar month. Beforehand, Workforce Members must buy single-day tickets in the event that they wished to go to Epic Universe.
Word that Workforce Members nonetheless don’t have self-admit privileges, in order that they have to make use of these comp tickets on themselves and a visitor in the event that they need to go to the park. Or, they may give each away to household & pals. Comp tickets expire on the finish of every month, so Workforce Members can’t accumulate multi-month stockpiles as a way to go to with extra folks.
It’s exhausting to say the diploma of an affect it will have on Epic Universe crowds. It’ll positively transfer the needle to a point, however diluted over the course of a complete month, in all probability not considerably so. It’s much less important than self-admit or the rollout of Annual Passes can be.
The angle from which that is in all probability probably the most fascinating is that it’s a step in the direction of the inevitable rollout of each. This was a logical precursor to AP gross sales or ID entry for Workforce Members, both of which might be subsequent up. Whereas additional Workforce Member entry appears extra doubtless, introducing restricted add-ons for the highest tiers of Annual Passes is a revenue-generating transfer, so it could be step one.
Truthfully, we hope that doesn’t occur till someday in 2026 (and don’t anticipate it to). Though we’d love to have the ability to buy an Annual Go for Epic Universe, there’s just one month of low season earlier than crowds choose up once more. If that, as the beginning of Halloween Horror Nights might unleash a type of pent-up demand.
Then it’s the guts of the Halloween and vacation seasons, each of that are more likely to be busier. Then in 2026, common ticketing insurance policies are relaxed, which might additional exacerbate crowds. Common Orlando must do every thing to protect the visitor expertise for informal vacationers, and that doubtless means no Annual Passes for one more yr except main strides may be made to enhance operational capability.
Park Hopping Check
Talking of the relief of ticketing insurance policies, we already know that visitors reserving 2026 Common Orlando trip packages for journey in January and past could have the choice to decide on park-to-park tickets that features Epic Universe. These tickets will now not embrace Epic Universe as a separate entitlement, and as an alternative permit park hopping.
We assume the identical will probably be true of standard multi-day Common Orlando tickets for 2026. Whereas the above Workforce Member comp entry is a essential prerequisite to Annual Passes, and so forth., so too is solely establishing regular ticketing insurance policies for Epic Universe. And the logical date for that’s January 2026.
Previous to then, Common Orlando is reportedly getting into choose visitors with trip packages right into a park hopping take a look at proper now. We’ve solely seen a pair scattered studies of this on social media, however figured it was price mentioning proactively in case you’re fortunate sufficient to be chosen. Our recommendation can be hopping to Epic Universe after 4 pm. Do this in your first day and have that be your preliminary Epic Universe expertise. See the way it goes and decide whether or not that’s an acceptable method for you on subsequent days.
Earnings Name
Comcast not too long ago held its quarterly earnings name and, unsurprisingly, they praised the profitable launch of Epic Universe. The park was the direct driver of a 19% improve in income for the theme parks section, which is smart because it didn’t beforehand exist! Listed here are a few government quotes from the name transcript:
“We anticipate Epic to proceed to scale over the course of the yr, with increased attendance and per caps in addition to considerably improved working leverage.”
“As anticipated, our near-term focus is on increasing experience throughput to scale back early attendance constraints. Epic is trending according to our expectations and effectively on its technique to remodeling Common Orlando into a real week-long vacation spot.”
It’s unattainable to understand how executives actually really feel about Epic Universe’s launch, as they’re going to color a fairly rosy image as a result of the numbers did–and can proceed to–go up. Nonetheless, these quotes counsel they’re going to proceed discovering methods to extend attendance whereas additionally enhancing operational effectivity.
That is what we’re seeing above with ticketing adjustments and it’s what we anticipated with effectivity. Nonetheless, it’s good to listen to the chief feedback about experience throughput and working leverage. That is reassuring, and signifies even high-level leaders notice that they’ll’t merely pack the park–the reliability must first enhance. I recognize that.
As a fast apart, I hear numerous chatter about how Orange County attributing a file setting month for occupancy tax collections to Epic Universe is “proof” that it’s hurting Walt Disney World. On the danger of stating the apparent, having extra lodge rooms crammed is what will increase the potential occupancy tax pool–and Common simply opened three new ones, thereby growing the county’s complete room stock!
There are extra motels now, so it stands to motive that, even on the identical occupancy proportion throughout all resorts, tax collections would improve. If the identical variety of visitors had been visiting however stayed at Common as an alternative of Disney, occupancy tax collections can be flat. That’s not what occurred, although, as Walt Disney World’s occupancy proportion additionally elevated. And that is regardless of Disney additionally including room stock during the last yr. Epic Universe might (rightfully!) get the credit score, however each Disney and Common contributed to the file.
Programming Word: Visiting Quickly
Truthfully, I’m watching the entire above out of my very own self-interest, as I’m intending to go to Epic Universe once more quickly. I’m positively going no less than in the future and am debating a second (have already got nights booked at Helios Grand). I’ll positively be placing my cash the place my mouth is by occurring a Sunday, however have the choice to additionally go to on Saturday if the info (and climate) are wanting good or gamble on the next Monday if Sunday goes effectively (or, I assume, goes actually badly and I need a do-over?).
We’ve now pushed off our household journey twice now, with late January 2026 being the brand new goal, so this one is simply me once more. The aim is to eat as a lot as humanly doable, testing the boundaries of how a lot the human abdomen can endure when crammed to capability and loaded into consecutive rides on Stardust Racers. I’ll be doing loads of different testing as effectively, and am open to ideas on this entrance if there are specifics you’d prefer to learn about present ops at Epic Universe. Or when you’ve got any menu & restaurant suggestions, please share these, too.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe for the reason that begin of summer season? Planning a day within the low season or throughout Halloween Horror Nights? What did you consider wait instances and crowds? Expertise any operational meltdowns as a result of breakdowns or climate? Is it doable or possible that Epic Universe truly has even increased attendance from October by means of December 2025, or all through 2026? Will you go to Epic Universe this yr, or will you anticipate crowds to cool down (in idea) in 2026? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you may have within the feedback under!
