Common Orlando has expanded paid previews of Epic Universe to the common public, that means you now not need to be an AP, on-site visitor, and so forth–anybody should buy pre-opening tickets! This covers pricing, dates & particulars together with our commentary about attending smooth openings forward of the brand new theme park’s official opening over Memorial Day weekend.
That is the second wave of Epic Universe previews, with the primary beginning final week and persevering with by means of Could 8, 2025. This extension runs proper as much as grand opening week, with tickets now accessible for everybody by means of Could 19, 2025. As a reminder, Epic Universe may have its grand opening on Could 22, 2025 and it’s doubtless that there’s a multi-day media occasion Could 20-21, so that is most likely it on previews.
Some dates of the Epic Universe previews have began to promote out for Annual Passholders (at current, there’s nonetheless full availability for everybody else), however they’re sometimes Fridays by means of Sundays–and cheaper dates. We wouldn’t fear an excessive amount of about bought out dates out if you happen to’re considering one of many mid-Could weekday preview dates.
Listed here are remaining April 2025 ticket costs for most people previews of Common Epic Universe:
- April 29, 2025: $144
- April 30, 2025: $144
Could 2025 Epic Universe preview ticket costs:
- Could 1, 2025: $144
- Could 2, 2025: $149
- Could 3, 2025: $154
- Could 4, 2025: $149
- Could 5, 2025: $144
- Could 6, 2025: $144
- Could 7, 2025: $144
- Could 8, 2025: $144
- Could 9, 2025: $149
- Could 10, 2025: $154
- Could 11, 2025: $149
- Could 12, 2025: $144
- Could 13, 2025: $144
- Could 14, 2025: $144
- Could 15, 2025: $144
- Could 16, 2025: $149
- Could 17, 2025: $154
- Could 18, 2025: $149
- Could 19, 2025: $149
You would possibly discover that these tickets are all costlier than Annual Passholder tickets by about $20 per ticket. All of those costs are pre-tax. In an attention-grabbing twist, these tickets are literally cheaper than preview tickets for lodge friends–at the least for the dates I bought, which have been $180 after tax. I’d hazard a guess that lodge costs now match off-site friends.
Right here’s the announcement from Common Orlando: “Don’t miss this distinctive alternative to participate in a particular preview earlier than the Could 22, 2025 Grand Opening of Common Orlando Resort’s latest theme park.
“Throughout this Preview interval, we’re placing the ultimate touches in place and rehearsing, so some sights and experiences might not be accessible.”
Restricted availability, tickets accessible on a first-come, first-served foundation. Restrictions apply. Costs differ by day, plus tax. Epic Universe Grand Opening is Could 22, 2025.
Members of most people can purchase tickets on-line right here.
Annual Passholders, on-site resort friends, and members of different choose group who already bought tickets are prone to now be anxious about crowds with Common increasing Epic Universe previews to the general public. That’s a good concern, and we might anticipate attendance to extend because of this transfer.
We’ve been warning that this was prone to occur, as Common wants to stress-test Epic Universe with crowd ranges extra carefully approximating these it’ll expertise opening day. Nonetheless, the caps are nonetheless fairly low, so we wouldn’t fear an excessive amount of. Furthermore, the demographics almost certainly to buy tickets have already got completed so. The largest excellent “bucket” is Florida residents who don’t have Annual Passes.
Even vacationers visiting Walt Disney World are unlikely to reap the benefits of this expanded eligibility. There’ll completely be some who do, and so they’re most likely disproportionately readers of a weblog like this one. However the common visitor makes their trip plans months upfront, is on a price range, and has already purchased park tickets to Walt Disney World. They aren’t going to drop all the pieces to go to Epic Universe in giant numbers.
As you would possibly’ve observed from our elevated Epic Universe protection, I’ve attended a number of paid previews to this point, and had largely optimistic experiences. That’s simply me, although. Sarah and Megatron haven’t but attended.
For Walt Disney World guests considering a day at Epic Universe, I’d extremely suggest it, albeit with some caveats. This isn’t a traditional Common park, that means that friends who’ve points with movement illness received’t have as many issues right here. With that mentioned, those that aren’t good with thrill rides will nonetheless have points at Epic Universe.
The least intense “household” curler coaster is extra intense than Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare–extra on par with Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad, however smoother. It could be the very best Common park for Sarah (not a excessive bar), however she nonetheless couldn’t do a number of rides, and a handful others can be one-and-done. Setting apart the rides, it’s a incredible theme park, and you can have numerous enjoyable and satisfying day solely doing just a few sights.
Households with younger kids ought to most likely avoid Epic Universe fully. There are some issues that our daughter may do, however that record is proscribed. We’ll be testing that in-person quickly, however my largest damaging realization with Epic Universe is that it’s, as soon as once more, extra a park for me as somebody with zero experience limitations, than it’s for our household.
The largest upside to visiting Epic Universe throughout a preview is crowds, or the shortage thereof. Attendance has very clearly been capped properly beneath Epic Universe’s estimated full capability of round 40,000. Based mostly on leaked information that paints an incomplete image, we’d estimate that Common Orlando is at the moment releasing 15,000 tickets accessible on the market every day.
Word that that is what number of tickets can be found and not what number of are promoting. Apart from weekends, Annual Passholder preview tickets haven’t been promoting out, nor have lodge visitor tickets. Which means that the 15,000 ticket cap (or thereabouts) is irrelevant, as a result of they’re truly promoting beneath 10,000 tickets. On some weekdays, that quantity might be a lot decrease than 10,000–so we’re speaking lower than one-quarter of the park’s whole capability.
I haven’t seen any information but for common public ticket availability, however I’d anticipate these numbers to each enhance. My assumption is that the cap instantly jumps to twenty,000 tickets and so they begin promoting over 10,000 tickets per day. Maybe over 15,000 on weekends.
This is the reason the elevated ticket caps aren’t that huge of a problem. We’d hazard a guess that almost all Annual Passholders already bought their tickets in the course of the first wave of gross sales. Apart from the diehards who simply can’t get sufficient (and have loads of disposable revenue), this subsequent wave goes to promote worse, not higher, with APs. I’d be shocked if any weekdays promote out–and unsurprised if weekends don’t.
Resort friends are a unique story, as they’re primarily vacationers who’re always refreshed. Somebody doing a visit in mid-Could didn’t have the (practical) choice of shopping for Epic Universe preview tickets in April. If something, their uptake may very well be greater as consciousness and optimistic word-of-mouth about low crowds spreads. Identical goes with most people.
Nonetheless, locals are doubtless the first viewers for Epic Universe previews, so all of this can be a recipe for low crowds. You’re most likely not going to have one other likelihood to expertise Epic Universe at one-quarter of whole capability. (And if what I skilled is any indication, you’re undoubtedly not going to need to be there when attendance is 25,000 or greater!)
Finally, I extremely suggest attending a paid preview of Epic Universe (ideally two) if in any respect potential. There’s much more let’s imagine concerning the professionals & cons of attending Epic Universe previews, however I’m guessing there’s not a lot of an viewers for it. These previews final one other ~6 weeks earlier than the park opens, and I’d think about that not many planners are studying this within the first place.
Those that are studying have most likely already made their choice whether or not to attend Epic Universe previews or not. Maybe I’m underestimating curiosity (through which case, let me know!), however we’ve got numerous Epic Universe protection to return, and specializing in previews appears low-priority. The largest piece of recommendation I can supply for now’s to review up on the digital queue so that you don’t miss the park’s greatest experience: The right way to Be a part of the Digital Line for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry.
Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation in your go to to Central Florida? Make sure that to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for all the pieces about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for all the pieces about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Will you be attending Epic Universe previews? Excited for Tremendous Nintendo World, Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Darkish Universe/Basic Monsters, or the The right way to Prepare Your Dragon lands and/or sights? Suppose Epic Universe will probably be a 3rd gate that’s a worthy addition to Common Orlando Resort…and doubtlessly on par with Disney’s greatest lands? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve got within the feedback beneath!
