I was supposed to visit Epic Universe for my 31st birthday on July 11th, and I was so excited. I’d been counting down for months since I had purchased the tickets in November 2024, when they opened for UOAP holders.. But after keeping an eye on the unpredictable Florida weather — and realizing July is the busiest time of year for theme parks thanks to summer break crowds — we decided to move the trip to late August instead. Honestly? It ended up being one of the best decisions we could’ve made.
Universal was fantastic about letting us reschedule everything — from the hotel to the Epic tickets. Everything rebooked seamlessly, and because of the date change, prices even dropped a bit. We actually got a refund. Big win.
Staying at Aventura: My Go-To Hidden Gem
We stayed at Aventura Hotel, which is hands-down one of my favorite on-site Universal hotels. The price is usually unbeatable, the staff is always friendly, the rooms are clean and modern, and the entire vibe is just sleek and comfortable. Plus, here’s a little tip, if you walk across the street through Sapphire Falls, you can hop on the water taxis to CityWalk. (Shhh, you didn’t hear that from me!) Only downside is it is roughly a 20 minute bus ride to epic. We were going to Universal the next day so we didn’t mind dealing with the bus ride for one day.
First Impressions: Beautiful but Rushed
The park itself? Absolutely stunning. The craftsmanship that went into Epic Universe is unmatched, the attention to detail, the immersive theming, the music, everything. SuperMario World felt as if my 1999 Gameboy Color came to life, I was blown away and almost a little overwhelmed by the amount of detail. Here’s where my controversial take comes in:
Because the park isn’t yet included with the Universal Orlando Annual Pass, you have to pay separately every time you want to go. That completely changes the experience.
When I go to Universal or Islands of Adventure as a UOAP, I can take my time, wander through the park, grab a drink, ride a couple of my favorites, and call it a day. But at Epic, knowing I only had 8–10 hours and paid full price for entry, I felt pressure to do it all. It turned my park day into a race instead of a vibe.
The Ride Reality Check
My three main goals were simple:
- Stardust Racer
- Ministry of Magic
- Donkey Kong Minecart Madness
Unfortunately, I only managed to accomplish one out of three, even with an IBCCES accessibility pass.
Ministry of Magic, my most anticipated ride (and as a die-hard Harry Potter fan, my dream experience), was closed for most of the day. It reopened briefly, causing the wait time to shoot up to 180 minutes almost instantly. I rushed to get on the list and received a return time, only for the ride to go down again before I could board.
Universal did offer Fast Passes for the inconvenience, which we appreciated but since it was the end of the day and we weren’t planning another visit soon, they unfortunately went unused.
Then came Minecart Madness, and… same story. Long waits, constant downtime, and a lot of frustration.
The irony? I purposely waited a few months to visit, thinking the early glitches would be ironed out. Apparently, not quite yet. We were able ride Bowser’s Challenge which was a fun, family friendly ride but not motion sickness friendly.
Stardust Racer: A Bright Spot
The one win of the day was Stardust Racer and what a win it was. The coaster is amazing, smooth, fast, and visually stunning. It reminded me a bit of VelociCoaster in its build and pacing, minus the inversions and crazy turns. It’s mostly big drops and sweeping momentum, but it’s thrilling in its own unique way. (We got lucky, too, we rode it right before the recent incident that shut it down for a month.)
Food: A Tale of Two Worlds
Food-wise, our experience was very hit or miss.
We started at Toadstool Café in Super Mario Land and, sadly, it was a miss. The restaurant itself was adorable, but the food didn’t live up to the hype. The Toadstool Garlic Knots were dry and flavorless (not a trace of garlic or cheese), and both the Mario and Luigi Burgers were forgettable, cute appearance though. The entire ordering process also felt a bit disorganized, and the staff seemed less than enthusiastic.
But then… we made our way to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and everything changed.
The new area instantly transports you to 1920s Paris, and it’s nothing short of breathtaking. The attention to architectural detail, the cobblestone streets, the lighting — everything feels straight out of Fantastic Beasts.
We ate at Café L’Air De La Sirène, and it was hands-down the best meal of the day. The crème brûlée was creamy perfection, and the Butterbeer Crepe was exactly what you’d expect sweet, rich, and comforting. As we were leaving, we spotted someone enjoying a French Onion Soup, so naturally, we went back to try it. No regrets, it ended up being the best thing we ate all day.
Final Thoughts
We also explored How to Train Your Dragon and Dark Universe, but those areas didn’t quite hit the same. The theming was impressive, but the rides themselves felt repetitive. In fact, the Frankenstein experience was almost a copy-and-paste of the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey format.
We did stop at the central bar in Celestial Park called Bar Zenith. We had an awesome bartender, I want to say their name was Mel? They made great drinks and provided amazing service. We went back a few times! Ordered the mocktail The Eccentric Orbit and added vodka to it. This did not disappoint!
So here’s my honest verdict:
Epic Universe is breathtakingly beautiful and full of promise but it’s still finding its rhythm. Between the long waits, frequent ride closures, and not being part of the UOAP program yet, it’s hard to fully relax and enjoy the experience.
Will I go back? Yes, because I still need to conquer Minecart Madness and Ministry of Magic.
But if I spend another $160 only to find them closed again… well, let’s just say that might be my next controversial post.
Hot Take Summary:
⭐️ Worth visiting once for the visuals and design.
⚡️ Wait times and ride reliability are still a major problem.
🎟️ Until Epic Universe joins the UOAP lineup, it’s hard to justify multiple visits.
BeyondTheRides 
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