Most rides at Epic Universe have Single Rider strains, which is among the greatest methods to avoid wasting time at Common Orlando. This covers every little thing you have to learn about these queues for solo company, which rides have them & don’t, execs & cons, and extra. Plus, why they’re a game-changer at EU proper now, how a lot time it can save you, and the place to NOT use Single Rider! (Up to date September 6, 2025.)
Let’s begin with the fundamentals: Single Rider strains are precisely what the identify suggests, separate queues for events of 1. Profiting from a Single Rider line doesn’t require that you simply go to Epic Universe by your self. Crew Members aren’t going to verify your marital standing previous to utilizing the road or confirm the folks getting into round you’re strangers. You aren’t prohibited from getting into the Single Rider line when you’re a part of a gaggle.
Slightly, these are queues for company who’re keen to separate from their teams in change for wait instances which can be often considerably shorter than the standby line. Single Riders are greatest regarded as “seat fillers” who will be a part of different events to forestall sights from being dispatched with empty spots, thereby enhancing trip effectivity and lowering wait instances for everybody. Company within the Single Rider line can be separated from these round them previous to boarding. You’ll not trip along with your pals or household, which is usually a good or dangerous factor relying on whether or not you’re prepared for a break from them!
Word that simply because an attraction will characteristic a Single Rider line, doesn’t imply that choice can be out there always. It simply means the attraction was constructed with a devoted queue for Single Riders, and is operationally supposed to assist such a line. We’ve seen some sights not provide Single Rider strains till sure sights discovered their footing, or till operations turned extra comfy and environment friendly at dispatching trip automobiles. Extra on this within the commentary, although.
Within the Common Orlando app is the next warning: “The only rider choice is topic to availability and should open or shut at any time.” Now let’s flip to the record of main trip at Common Epic Universe with and with out a Single Rider line:
Celestial Park
- Stardust Racers: Single Rider
- Constellation Carousel: No
Methods to Practice Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
- Hiccup’s Wing Gliders: Single Rider
- Dragon Racer’s Rally: No
- Fyre Drill: No
Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
- Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry: Single Rider
Tremendous Nintendo World
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem: Single Rider
- Mine Cart Insanity: Single Rider
- Yoshi’s Journey: No
Darkish Universe
- Curse of the Werewolf: Single Rider
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment: Single Rider
How Lengthy are Single Rider Line Wait Instances?
Usually, you’ll count on to attend roughly one-third of the traditional wait time within the Single Rider line at Common Orlando. However these are very a lot ballpark numbers, and might differ extensively.
We have now intensive expertise as Annual Passholders at Common Orlando, in addition to Common Studios Hollywood and Japan. This consists of attending tender openings of latest lands, resembling Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Tremendous Nintendo World. One factor we discovered throughout these experiences is that Single Rider strains are (unsurprisingly!) much more well-liked with Annual Passholders and locals.
Single Rider utilization relies upon upon the day and time of your go to. It additionally will depend on posted wait instances for the common standby line. There are occasions at Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey when Single Rider waits are practically so long as standby strains because of the disproportionate variety of locals and followers. This was additionally our expertise at Epic Universe throughout previews. Nonetheless, issues have modified significantly since then.
Why Single Rider is a Recreation-Changer at Epic Universe
As contrasted with locals and Annual Passholders, common vacationers are far much less more likely to learn about and use Single Rider strains. The massive distinction between Epic Universe and the opposite two parks at Common Orlando is that it doesn’t have APs or ticket offers for locals.
For this reason Single Rider strains are an absolute game-changer for touring Epic Universe proper now. We’re at present in a ‘candy spot’ for visiting the brand new park, as lined in My Wonderful Epic Universe Expertise. I bought a ton completed throughout that go to, most of which was with out even needing Single Rider.
Provided that Annual Passes are usually not legitimate at Epic Universe and locals had a number of months of previews earlier than Epic Universe formally opened, most have gotten their fill. The overwhelming majority of present UOAPs have stopped buying 1-day tickets–an costly proposition–and so they’re now ready till an Epic Universe add-on is on the market for his or her APs. (They is perhaps ready some time!)
Accordingly, Epic Universe is disproportionately households of vacationers proper now and can most likely stay this manner by way of someday in 2026. Throughout that window, Single Rider strains are good for looping curler coasters and different well-liked sights with minimal waits. So if it’s a weekday in late February 2026 and Annual Passes nonetheless aren’t out there at Epic Universe, waits for Single Rider strains can be a lot shorter. Nonetheless, if Common does provide an AP add-on by then, all bets are off.
As a normal rule, we’ve discovered Single Rider strains to be longer at Common Orlando than they’re at Walt Disney World. Common is extra akin to Disneyland on this sense, due largely to demographics (extra locals and younger adults, fewer households with kids).
That is usually the case, and over time, we’d count on it to even be true at Epic Universe. Particularly as soon as Common begins promoting Annual Passes for the park. However for now, there are extra households and different vacationers visiting Epic Universe, and so they’re much less more likely to need to go solo on sights. They’re additionally much less more likely to have information of Single Rider strains.
Proper now, I’d estimate that the Single Rider strains are sometimes a walk-on or very near it. I’ve skilled minimal waits on nearly every little thing, with the very notable exception of Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity. With that mentioned, Single Rider wait instances do scale with standby instances, so longer waits for the latter incentivizes extra company to attempt Single Rider.
When & Why Single Rider Strains Shut
It’s price mentioning that Single Rider strains aren’t at all times open. Throughout my most up-to-date day at Epic Universe, Single Rider strains have been continuously closed when strains have been too lengthy, but additionally too quick. This was true with each Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity and Curse of the Werewolf (the previous having an indication indicating the road was “at capability”) on the excessive finish.
It’s additionally notable that the Single Rider strains for each Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry and Stardust Racers closed as a result of a scarcity of demand. When each of these sights had standby strains that dipped beneath half-hour, their Single Rider strains closed. It is a good factor, and we wouldn’t suggest utilizing the Single Rider line with standby strains that quick, anyway.
With regards to not being open as a result of excessive demand, Mine-Cart Insanity is unquestionably the largest offender. That is adopted carefully by Curse of the Werewolf. Our sturdy suggestion can be to do Curse of the Werewolf earlier within the day when standby wait instances are shorter, and Mine-Cart Insanity in Donkey Kong Nation in direction of the top of the night. Single Rider ought to be open then, and again to an affordable wait.
Single Rider Wait Time Inconsistency
As soon as Epic Universe settles right into a groove, the one-third quantity won’t be a tough and quick rule–it’s a really, very tough rule of thumb. There have been instances once I’ve completed a Single Rider line that’s backed up and I’m fairly certain the posted standby line for the common queue was massively inflated. On no less than a few events, I wouldn’t be shocked if I didn’t save any time by any means through Single Rider. (Mario Kart once more involves thoughts.)
In my expertise–and I’ve a whole lot of it since Sarah doesn’t recurrently trip most of the headliner sights within the Common parks–Single Rider strains are very hit and miss. There have been instances when completely nobody else is within the line and it’s basically a walk-on, and different instances when the road is lengthy and extremely slow-moving.
Typically talking, one of the best instances for Single Rider strains are very first thing within the morning or late at night time when standby strains are additionally quick. However no less than in these instances, Crew Members will often shut the Single Rider line or give company getting into it a ‘heads up’ that it gained’t save any or very a lot time.
The place to Skip Single Rider Strains
With that mentioned, Single Rider strains aren’t all upside for company utilizing them. There are tradeoffs. Each Single Rider line skips a portion of the queue. For those who’re into themed design and wish the complete expertise, we at all times suggest doing the common line as soon as earlier than switching to Single Rider. That is necessary on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem, which skips the detailed queue, in addition to parts of the pre-show explainer movies. That interactive attraction may be complicated even with the right context; these pre-show movies are precious.
Way more importantly, we might strongly suggest NOT utilizing the Single Rider line on your first expertise on Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Each of those sights don’t simply skip “cool queue,” however quite, they bypass parts of pre-shows that assist inform the story of the attraction. That is particularly true with Monsters Unchained, as one of many large wow-moments is within the pre-show. There’s additionally the fact that that is persistently among the many shortest standby strains in Epic Universe, so that you is perhaps saving 5-10 minutes with Single Rider.
That is much less the case on extra simple curler coasters. I’ve by no means felt like I’m lacking out on something at Stardust Racers, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Mine-Cart Insanity, or Curse of the Werewolf at Epic Universe. Similar goes with VelociCoaster, Unimaginable Hulk Coaster, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey, Revenge of the Mummy, or different thrill rides that lack compelling queues or pre-shows on the legacy Common Orlando parks.
Single Rider Strains Cut up Events
One other factor that actually bears reiterating is that teams might enter the Single Rider line however they completely won’t be seated collectively. At the least, not on goal. It does occur occasionally when there are two empty seats as an alternative of 1. (We regularly use the Single Rider line at Radiator Springs Racers at Disneyland, and about half the time, we’re in separate rows of the identical automotive.)
I’m emphasizing this as a result of I’ve seen so many folks play dumb (or maybe they really are dumb, to present them the good thing about the doubt) and attempt to argue with Crew Members about being seated collectively. At Common, it’s often youngsters who feign ignorance (or are ignorant) and plead their case to be seated collectively.
Crew Members hear sob tales a number of instances per day; you’re not the primary to do this “trick” and also you’re not going to be the one who succeeds on the gambit. Your circumstances, regardless of no matter they’re, are usually not distinctive. Eager to trip collectively is why standby strains exist.
Everybody Wins With Single Rider
We’re enormous advocates of the Single Rider line, as it could possibly reduce wait instances dramatically for many who are keen to separate from their events. That is nice for thrill seekers who need to loop curler coasters, that are additionally often essentially the most environment friendly and efficient Single Rider strains at Common.
Single Rider can be helpful for many who don’t use it. Filling each seat will increase attraction effectivity and meaning shorter wait instances for everybody. If trip automobiles are dispatched with unfilled seats, that will increase standby wait instances.
If Single Rider strains aren’t supplied, these company will as an alternative be within the standby strains. They’re the uncommon “everybody wins” providing–and I’m glad to see that each one main rides at Epic Universe no less than provide Single Rider strains.
Finally, Single Rider strains are an effective way to avoid wasting time ready at Common Orlando. We’re actually happy to see the excessive variety of these queues given the chance that Epic Universe’s low trip rely will result in epic standby wait instances. Single Rider strains can imply not having to take care of lengthy standby strains or having to spring for Specific Move. You can even get unfortunate and find yourself not saving a lot time–it’s tough to foretell since wait instances usually are usually not posted on Single Rider strains. Even when they’re, they’re often inaccurate.
Single Rider strains may be nice for thrill seekers who need to ‘loop’ well-liked thrill rides with minimal wait instances. Over at Islands of Journey, I’ve completed that with each Hagrid’s and VelociCoaster, which frequently have extremely environment friendly Single Rider strains. They’re much more precious at Epic Universe on busy days, and may proceed to be an entire game-changer till Epic Universe affords Annual Passes!
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Be sure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for every little thing about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every little thing about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra.
Your Ideas
Have you ever used Single Rider strains at Common Orlando? Have you ever had typically good or dangerous experiences with them? Agree that Single Rider strains are a game-changer for getting a ton completed with minimal waits at Epic Universe till APs are bought? Any horror or success tales from particular sights with Single Rider strains? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
