A planned part of the trip or a surprise add-on to the vacation, being pregnant at a theme park can seem like a daunting task. How can you best enjoy visiting Universal Epic Universe theme park while pregnant? You will be limited on rides, but this new theme park offers a lot more than just thrill attractions.
Epic Universe is so much more than just rides
Let me get to this point first. Universal Epic Universe is not just rides. The park has 11 attractions and only one of them is recommended for those who are pregnant (but you can probably do two others with no issues). Outside of the attractions there are also two large-scale theatrical shows, numerous character meet and greets, Harry Potter wand spells, Nintendo Power-Up Band mini games, all-day fountain shows and lots and lots of food.
Don’t feel like you will be left out of the entire day, especially if your party isn’t into thrill rides. I took my sister to the park, as seen in the video above, and we spent over 12 hours in the park. Of that time, a majority of it wasn’t on rides. We saw the shows, we did wand spells and played the Nintendo games.
Epic Universe food and drinks, let your cravings take over
If there was one specific thing that I had to mention that Universal improved on when building Universal Epic Universe, it is the food. Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure have some good food options, but I wouldn’t call them standout spots. That mindset of “theme park food” was completely changed for this park and Universal Epic Universe is now a leader in Florida.
Grab and go, table service and quick service are all good options. I highly recommend downloading the Universal Orlando App before getting to the park. You will want to set up your account and add in your credit card information beforehand. Nearly every food item in the park can be bought via Mobile Order. You can checkout the food items before arriving, grab what you want and have the decisions made before stepping foot into a restaurant. This saves you time and lets you pre-plan meals without having to walk all over the park.
There are a ton of good food options at the park, but there are some standouts I want to mention:
- Side of Mango Bread at Oak & Star Tavern, Celestial Park
- Pizza Lunare (ube pizza with French cheeses and garlic) at Pizza Moon, Celestial Park
- Strawberry Yum Ice Cream with Cheesecake topping at Frosty Moon, Celestial Park
- Fish & Chips at Meteor Astropub, Celestial Park
- The Dragon’s Stardust Custom Blend (caffeine free tea) at The Blue Dragon, Celestial Park
- Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll at The Atlantic, Celestial Park
- Sweet Corn Chowder at The Atlantic, Celestial Park
- Grouper Sandwich at The Atlantic, Celestial Park
- Bièraubeurre Crêpe (Butterbeer crepe) at Café L’air De La Sirene, Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic
- Crêpe Parisienne (egg, brie and sliced turkey) at Café L’air De La Sirene, Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic
- Steak Haché au Poivre (smashed patty and fries) at Café L’air De La Sirene, Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic
- Pumpkin Juice at Le Gobelet Noir or Café L’air De La Sirene, Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic
- Mt. Beanpole Cake (multi-layer, themed cake) at Toadstool Cafe, Super Nintendo World
- DK Crush Float (DOLE Whip Banana Cream with caramel popcorn) at The Bubbly Barrel, Super Nintendo World
- Mango Smoothie & Apple Melon Smoothie at Yoshi’s Snack Island, Super Nintendo World
- Monocane Mocktail (Sprite, pineapple, blue raspberry and passionfruit) at Das Stakehaus, Dark Universe
- Hunter’s Garlic Stake (garlic pretzel with dipping sauce) at The Burning Blade Tavern, Dark Universe
- Burning Cheddar Bites at The Burning Blade Tavern, Dark Universe
- Warm Hearted Cinnamon Bites at De Lacey’s Cottage, Dark Universe
- PB&J Mac & Cheese Cone at Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel and Spit Fyre Grill, How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk
- Hiccup’s Salmon Bowl at Spit Fyre Grill, How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk
- *Sunrise Buffet at Flora Taverna, Universal Helios Grand Hotel (attached to the park, but outside of Epic Universe)
Simple and safe food items at Epic Universe
I get it, sometimes you don’t want to try something unique. Sometimes you need that classic meal, or something easy on the stomach. While there are a plethora of options you may want to try out, you may also just need an easy meal:
- Kids Poulet Frit (chicken tenders and fries) at Café L’air De La Sirene, Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic
- Grilled Cheese at Le Gobelet Noir, Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic
- Mario Mini Burger Adventure Set at Toadstool Cafe, Super Nintendo World
- Hearts of Palm Caesar Salad at The Atlantic, Celestial Park
- Goldfish Mac & Cheese Cone at Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel and Spit Fyre Grill, How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk
- The Pizza Moon Pepperoni at Pizza Moon, Celestial Park
- Moon Cheese Caesar at Pizza Moon, Celestial Park
Be warned, while there are some simpler options in the Dark Universe area of the park, many of these items are really themed. Some items have fake maggots or heavily dyed food items. They can be quite tasty, but you should know that their looks can be off-putting to some people.
Shaded and air-conditioned spots at Epic Universe
You may see online that it’s hard to find shade at Universal Epic Universe. While not every queue and section of the park is shaded, I think the statement that the park doesn’t have shade is incorrect and misleading. In fact, if you are searching for shade, it isn’t usually hard to find. With Florida’s extreme heat and high UV levels, shade is not only helpful, but necessary. Do not forget, water cups are free at all Florida theme parks.
Any quick service restaurant can be a spot to get to shade and AC. I have noticed that Das Stakehaus in Dark Universe, Pizza Moon in Celestial Park and Le Goblet Noir in Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic are the easiest spots to grab a seat and get some AC. Yes, you can enter each and every one of these spots without the intention of buying food. You can simply take a seat, get a free thing of water and take a moment to rest.
Walking through stores, it can seem like a simple answer, but checking out merchandise can be a good way to find unique items (there is a lot of custom merchandise for the park) and offer a moment to cool off. You can also get shade and meet characters when in Dark Universe. There is a covered meet and greet area near the land’s restroom. You can expect to meet the Bride of Frankenstein and other revolving characters in this space.
Super Nintendo World can be difficult
Shade is the most difficult to find in Super Nintendo World. There are indoor mini-game areas and some shaded spots, but this entire land is usually quite busy. It can be hard to find a spot to rest in Super Nintendo World. Super Nintendo World is also the most over-stimulating section of the park. It has loud music, bright colors, crowds and nonstop energy. This can be great for Nintendo fans, but it can also be overwhelming for some.
How to experience Harry Potter: Battle at the Ministry while pregnant
No, you should not ride Harry Potter: Battle at the Ministry while pregnant. This is a high-tech, simulator style ride with sudden and aggressive movements. But, that doesn’t stop you from enjoying the immense and highly detailed queue. This is a great space to enjoy AC, explore and take a seat.
It is normal to see this ride’s wait time reach three or four hours. But you can 100% bypass the queue and just enjoy the incredible ride interior, without riding. Just ask, “Can I explore the Ministry of Magic?” Team Members will guide you to the secondary entrance where you can still use the Floo Network and explore the Ministry of Magic area that looks like it was pulled straight from the film.
This area sells water, offers bench seating, has ample AC and offers tons of details and photo-ops. From my numerous experiences visiting this location, Team Members are so helpful here. They understand the land is new, the ride is popular and the heat is hot. Asking Team Members about this area and spots to get to shade can be a great way to find relief when you need it most.
Restrooms, less than you might think
While each land at Universal Epic Universe has a restroom, there may be less spots than you would think. The big surprise, Super Nintendo World only has one restroom area for the entire land. There are no restrooms in their large dining hall, Toadstool Cafe. This was a fact that surprised many, myself included. I recommend if you see a restroom it’s a good time to go.
The image seen above is taken directly from the Universal Orlando App. The app is extremely helpful for your trip. Alongside the Mobile Ordering, this app shows ride wait times, show times, the locations of restrooms, First Aid and smoking sections.
There are two family sized restroom areas at Universal Epic Universe, one area in Celestial Park and the other in How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk. I have, thankfully, always seen very clean restrooms in this park. The AC is also blasting in these areas, so a stop in can be a relief in numerous ways.
What rides can you ride at Epic Universe while pregnant?
There are 11 attractions at Universal Epic Universe, but it is suggested that pregnant women only ride one, the Constellation Carousel. While Universal doesn’t suggest any others, I believe two others are possible, depending on your pregnancy progress and level of scrutiny. Yoshi’s Adventure in Super Nintendo World is a very slow moving attraction that offers wonderful views of Super Nintendo World. This ride does have a lap bar, which could discourage some from riding this attraction.
The second possible attraction is Fyre Drill at How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk. This is also a slow moving attraction, but it is water-based as you are on a moving boat. While this ride doesn’t require tight restraints, it does have the chance of bumps or sudden stops. You also have a very high chance of getting wet. This ride utilizes water effects and numerous fountains. It can be a nice place to get cooled off, but there is also a chance you get completely soaked from the random fountain effects.
All rides at Universal Epic Universe allow pregnant women and small children in the queue. Universal operates their attraction queues differently than Disney. Where Disney has child rider-swap outside of the ride’s queue, Universal has families wait at specified holding areas inside of the ride queue itself. This means you can stay with your family for longer, if you wish. The video above showcases a fan-favorite ride, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Even though you cannot ride pregnant, you can see everything in the video above without boarding the attraction. Pre-shows and queues are totally possible while pregnant. You won’t feel stuck outside.
The shows at Universal Epic Universe, don’t miss them!
There are two large, theatrical shows at Universal Epic Universe, alongside smaller live entertainment, ongoing daily fountain shows and the lagoon show nighttime finale, The Cosmos. It may be hard to witness every single bit of entertainment at the park. I do though highly recommend seeing both large, theatrical shows, The Untrainable Dragon and Le Circus Arcanus.
Both of these shows last around 20 minutes and offer ample seating and AC. Both shows also offer free, temporary wheel chairs. If your feet have simply had enough, you can request a single use courtesy wheelchair to have while you are in the waiting areas for the show. This isn’t something you can have all day, but if you really need a seat, this is usually an option. Make sure to check with the Team Members at the show entrance to see what options are possible. I am not saying to “pull the pregnancy card,” but no front-line theme park employee wants to guess if someone is pregnant and assume. Stating you need a chair and why could help and speed up the explanation process.
The Untrainable Dragon show will have you mostly waiting in the sun beforehand, but there are some spots with shade and a place to lean. Le Cirque Arcanus’ queue is almost entirely indoors or under cover, but instead of a waiting area it is built as a queue so you will be moving more often. You will also want to check the Universal Orlando App for showtimes and to find the live entertainment moments scattered throughout the park. Personally, I suggest trying to watch the Place Cachee Jazz show at Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic. Unfortunately, this show is not usually listed with showtimes. But you can ask Team Members in the area who may know when it will happen.
Harry Potter Wand Magic and Nintendo Power-Up Bands
Harry Potter themed wands and Nintendo Power-Up Bands are fun ways to enhance your visit to Universal Epic Universe. And yes, Power-Up Bands and Wands that are purchased at the Florida parks will also work at Universal Studios Hollywood. These accessories do cost extra, but can add on fun gameplay that doesn’t require long lines.
Nintendo Power-Up Bands
Power-Up Bands start at $45 and come in a variety of designs based on Nintendo characters. These bands track your progress in Super Nintendo World, from punching “?” blocks to discovering hidden Donkey Kong letter achievements. The best part? Having a Power-Up Band gets you into a secret fourth attraction in the land that anyone, regardless of height, age or pregnancy status, can enjoy: Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown.
You do not need a Power-Up Band per person. In fact, I recommend sharing (I know that is easier said than done with kids). These bands have limited Amiibo features at home, but are mostly used just in the park. They are a fun accessory that enhances the visit. If you go on the Universal Orlando app, you will discover mini-games, challenges and points of interest that are tracked with the band. Your name and score is also displayed throughout Super Nintendo World, so you can track your score and get bragging rights.
Harry Potter Interactive Wands
The Harry Potter interactive wands are not new, but they are enhanced at Universal Epic Universe. You can use the older wands that have been sold for years. But, there are next-gen wands that come with a full storyline and more special magic. This was a top priority when I took my Harry Potter obsessed sister to the park. We spent over two hours playing the game and exploring the land.
There are usually short lines for each magic effect, but you shouldn’t wait more than five minutes on average, unless it is a very busy day. My suggestion? I recommend, for the Harry Potter super fans, to do wand magic right when the park opens. It is cooler out and people are focused on getting on rides. While they wait hours in line you get a land “to yourself,” complete with wand magic, shops and food locations with little or no waits.
The Universal Epic Universe hotels, that is: Universal Helios Grand, Universal Stella Nova and Universal Terra Luna, are all new hotel options within viewing distance of the park. While pricey, the Universal Helios Grand does have one major advantage, the ability to get to the park (and back) with just a few steps. It is literally a part of the park itself and it comes with amazing views, early park access and the closest park access of any Florida theme park (but the LEGOLAND Hotel is also pretty close to their park).
The other options, Stella Nova and Terra Luna, also offer early park access and views of Epic Universe. I did a deep dive into these hotels and which would be better for your travel group.
