Universal Epic Universe, the newest theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort. This destination has tens-of-thousands of visitors each day. Busy weeks or the middle of slower times, this park continues to bring in a ton of guests. If you don’t purchase the Express Passes, you will be waiting in lines. So, how can you maximize that? This is Everything You Need To Know about visiting Epic Universe without express.
The big three of maximizing your day at Epic Universe
If you want no other advice except a quick set of rules, this section is all you need. Universal Epic Universe, much like any theme park, can have days with ride breakdowns or weather closures. This can very likely happen. But, unlike Magic Kingdom theme park and its 35+ attractions, Epic Universe has less than 15, so each closure affects you more. Being smart about your ride choices and show times will make your day so much better.
Begin your day with dragons
I have been able to visit Universal Epic Universe 18 times at this point, some visits with Express, others with Early Park Admission, others with a standard ticket. The most consistent part of every visit is that it involves How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk. This land has consistent ride up-times, it has roaming characters, a show, extra bathrooms, numerous food locations and most importantly, it isn’t rushed by the early morning crowds as much.
While 80% of the park is trying to run to Super Nintendo World or get in line for Harry Potter: Battle at the Ministry, you need to take your family to the Isle of Berk. Use your time to get right on Hiccup’s Wing Gliders (the roller coaster) or commit to beginning your day with one of Epic’s most infamous lines, meeting Toothless the dragon. Toothless’ wait is very, very long, every day. Express doesn’t help anyone, so this is a slow and tedious wait. But the meet and greet is truly incredible, especially for HTTYD fans.
On my trips, this land has consistently been a great start, with many saying Hiccup’s Wing Gliders was the best way to start the day. It is a family-friendly coaster with a pretty basic line. I suggest getting through that queue when the crowds are less focused on that land. After spending a few hours in the Isle of Berk, your day can then be adjusted to the next best land. You make that decision based on the Universal Orlando Resort App.
Utilize the Universal Orlando Resort App
The Universal Orlando Resort App is your best friend on this trip. This app can notify you about shorter waits, when rides come back up from delays, when shows are about to start and more. You can pre-order food while you wait in line and find nearby restrooms so you can maximize your group’s time. The more you utilize the app the more time you save in line.
I like to setup ride wait time notifications for some of the longest waits, such as Harry Potter: Battle at the Ministry and Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness. You can pick wait times that are within your range and let the app let you know if there is a sudden drop. (Realistically, you won’t see under 60 minutes for either of these rides for most of the day). It is also smart to setup reminders to go see shows in the middle of the day. You are getting tired, even if you don’t realize it. Standing in line, climbing stairs and getting on rides will exhaust even very physically fit families. Plan your longer meals and the shows around the middle of the day. This will save you for the long-run of a full day. Le Cirque Arcanus and The Untrainable Dragon both offer AC, seating and about 20-ish minutes to fully sit during the show.
Lastly, let the app guide you. I can write up planning guides all day long, but if you get to the park and the app says that two of the three rides in the How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk land are down for the morning, change plans. Be flexible. The people who stand their ground in long lines and aren’t willing to modify will wait longer.
Be willing to change plans
The most important distinction between people using Express Passes and those who aren’t is the ability to not need to modify plans. On my days when I visit the park with Express, I rarely run back and forth from land-to-land. Express Passes let me accept a slightly longer Express wait, knowing a busier line isn’t a day breaker for me. But, a 3 hour line can break the day for someone using standby.
Is it annoying when a ride breaks down right when you show up, yes. It is upsetting when a show isn’t working at your planned time, absolutely. But, being able to look around at your opportunities will save you. During visits, I had days when rides would be closed for 8+ hours for extreme cases. This isn’t normal, but it happens. Don’t stand around Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge for 45 minutes hoping it suddenly fixes itself, go somewhere else.
This is easier said than done, especially with kids and strollers. But, continue reading on through this article and I will explain solutions for that as well. This park has plenty to do for a full day, especially with crowds. Begin your day with opportunities, spots you wish to explore. If you say “I want the Harry Potter ride to start me day,” there is a good chance you will be upset a few hours later when you are still in line.
The EYNTK.info Epic Universe Day Planner – without Express Passes
Click the image above to save out a PDF file of our custom EYNTK.info day planner for Epic Universe. Note, this is a guide, so continue to use the Universal Orlando Resort app to fine-tune your day. Ride closures and show times can affect you, so pay attention and plan accordingly. This guide is under the assumption that guests can fit the height requirements. For younger guests who are too short, there are Child Swap areas for all rides with height requirements.
In summary, start with How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk and Celestial Park, letting these two lands provide the morning fun. Check on Dark Universe afterwards, looking at both the Curse of the Werewolf coaster and the famous Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Continue to Super Nintendo World, keeping an eye out throughout the day for extreme waits, both extremely long and extremely short. Use the Universal Orlando Resort app to set notifications for wait times, show times and ride reopening. Get in line early for character appearances. And please, give Harry Potter: Battle at the Ministry a few hours in the morning to catch up to full speed.
There is a ton of areas to explore, rides to enjoy and food to eat. Use this guide, and thinking smart about your day, to maximize time during your visit to Universal Epic Universe!
Day guide is awesome!
Happy to help!
What would you recommend doing differently if you do not have early entry but you do have express pass? Thanks!
Having an Express Pass will definitely help move the day along. I would start with either Nintendo or How to Train Your Dragon. Use the app to maximize your time, don’t even attempt to visit rides that are down, don’t wait for them to come back. You can setup notifications in the app for when a ride is back up again.
Follow the same general tour around the park, as it goes against the crowd flow and will still save time. But you can move faster with Express. Try to do multiple rides in a land at once so you can use Express and not walk as much around.
Save the shows for when you are tired, and still show up at least 20 minutes beforehand.