Epic Universe’s first month because the grand opening has been a wild experience. The park continues to see excessive wait instances and crowd ranges, however not essentially attendance. The larger story right this moment is the operational inconsistency, with some rides quietly opening early and/or staying open an hour after official park closing as a ‘shock & delight’ visitor providing.
We’ll begin by but once more making a plug for our rundown of Why You Ought to Skip Epic Universe. That was written throughout paid previews, nevertheless it has aged like a tremendous wine–for probably the most half. Admittedly, I did consider that the digital queue for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry was going to stay round till October. I assume that was so abysmally-executed and garnering such fierce visitor backlash that that they had no selection however change to standby.
Amongst different issues, two of the opposite main factors raised in that article are “Unpredictable Attendance & Crowds” and “Trip Breakdowns & Downtime.” These proceed to be the overriding points with Epic Universe, as the brand new park continues to be a veritable curler coaster of crowd ranges and common wait instances since its official opening a few month in the past.
At this level, your motto for Epic Universe for the following 12 months or so ought to be: count on the surprising.
The #1 factor you want when visiting Epic Universe is flexibility and a willingness to name an audible as insurance policies & protocol change, points of interest break down or function in a different way, attendance ranges fluctuate, and the park simply typically throws you curveballs. (Consider Epic Universe because the Sandy Koufax of theme parks.)
If you’re the kind of planner who craves certainty, loves making spreadsheets, and mapping out minute-by-minute specifics of your day months upfront…possibly Epic Universe isn’t for you proper now. (Extra broadly, I might suggest everybody abandon this sort of planning for each theme park, Common or Disney. Flexibility and spontaneity will all the time yield higher outcomes, and be much less nerve-racking. However you do you!)
Earlier than we get going, we need to clarify that none of that is criticism of Epic Universe or Common Orlando. (Nicely, for probably the most half–there are some operational choices with which I vehemently disagree.)
This kind of factor is to be anticipated with a model new theme park, as Common discovers what works and doesn’t, hears visitor suggestions, makes operational updates and improves experience reliability. It’s very a lot part of the method. Anybody who was round Walt Disney World from late 2019 by way of early 2020 ought to recall the veritable curler coaster of modifications for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now scale that to a whole theme park with a number of envelope-pushing points of interest!
The massive distinction between then and now, and one more reason you must count on the surprising, is as a result of there isn’t nice protection of Epic Universe. We have been at DHS a number of instances per week for rope drop, and we weren’t the one ones. Walt Disney World had Annual Passes again then, leading to thorough protection. Epic Universe doesn’t have Annual Passes, and bloggers (and so forth.) aren’t dropping ~$180 a number of instances per week to cowl modifications.
As a substitute, we’re reliant on experiences from cobbled collectively from social media, reader feedback, and so forth. Other than listening to suggestions from readers who’ve visited Epic Universe just lately, my favourite assets are thrill-data for wait instances and the Common Orlando subreddit. We attempt to preserve you abreast of modifications, however the reality of the matter is that we’re not on the bottom with any diploma of regularity. We’re reliant on phrase of mouth similar to everybody else–so it’s value maintaining a tally of the Common Orlando app and social media if you would like extra obsessive protection.
Anyway, let’s go over the most recent operational modifications at Epic Universe.
Epic Universe Early Park Admission Modifications
First up, the lineup is now completely different for Early Park Admission at Epic Universe. This began as being Tremendous Nintendo World plus Celestial Park after which expanded to incorporate Darkish Universe, all of which we coated in Early Park Admission at Epic Universe Technique Information: Beating Crowds in Tremendous Nintendo World!
There’s been yet one more change. Listed here are the obtainable points of interest throughout Early Park Admission at Common Epic Universe:
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem
- Yoshi’s Journey
Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity- Stardust Racers
- Constellation Carousel
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
- Curse of the Werewolf
On its face, this can be a destructive change. During the last month, Mine-Cart Insanity has the #3 wait time at Epic Universe, behind solely Mario Kart and Battle on the Ministry. Taking it off the desk exacerbates wait instances on the two different Tremendous Nintendo World points of interest, and disproportionately Mario Kart because it’s the opposite headliner.
In apply, I’m unsure it’s such a nasty factor. We have now heard numerous experiences of Mine-Cart Insanity having unpublished delayed openings. The attraction wouldn’t be working till 10 am (or later) with out discover, and friends would get turned away upon arrival. Worse but, there have been instances when friends have been allowed to queue up–typically for a number of hours–despite the fact that the attraction wasn’t operational.
As a little bit of an apart, one of many larger under-discussed complaints we’ve had about Epic Universe is that operations has an unwillingness to dump queues. The explanation for it’s because they don’t need to concern restoration (comped Categorical Passes) to everybody exiting the queue, a number of instances over per day. That’s a sound concern with so many rides being unreliable from an “if everybody has Categorical Passes, nobody does” perspective. Presumably, Common can be fearful about preserving shorter waits for friends who bought Categorical Move.
Nonetheless, they merely shouldn’t be promoting Categorical Move at this level. The park as an entire is just too unreliable and low-capacity for it (which is why a number of points of interest are excluded within the first place). Furthermore, I might fairly have a not-so-Categorical Move for future use than be caught enjoying hen in a queue for a damaged down attraction that isn’t reopening any time quickly. The visitor expertise ought to be balanced and, for my part, that’s the pretty apparent reply.
However wait! The plot thickens!
On a number of days, we’ve seen or heard experiences that Constellation Carousel truly wasn’t opening throughout EPA, however was as an alternative delayed till midday. Fortunately, this does seem within the Common Orlando app (see above), so you must be capable of test that earlier than beginning your day.
Additionally, you shouldn’t be prioritizing Constellation Carousel throughout EPA. Not solely is it decrease precedence, nevertheless it’s higher at evening. When you’ve got youngsters who can’t do a lot at Epic Universe, Yoshi’s Journey throughout EPA is the play.
However wait once more! This plot has extra twists than the Mine-Cart Insanity monitor!
There have been some days, together with right this moment, when Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity and/or Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry simply open throughout Early Park Admission. The above screenshots are all from June 21, 2025. You’ll observe that at the beginning, MCM and BatM weren’t posting wait instances–and it indicated they’d be opening at 10 a.m. Lower than 5 minutes later, MCM was open with a 25 minute wait. One other ~5 minutes after that, BatM opened to a 120 minute wait.
The perfect clarification for that is that Common is attempting to get Mine-Cart Insanity and Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry operational as early as doable, however doesn’t need to promote this since each are down so typically to start out the day. But when they’re up, they’re open.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders “Recognition” Soars
During the last week, the common wait time for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders has soared. Its all-time common is 48 minutes (#7 in Epic Universe), which is about what we’d count on on a standard day. The weekly common for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is 110 minutes, which places it at #3 (forward of Mine-Cart Insanity).
Whilst you may be inclined to attribute this to the recognition of the live-action remake (they solid actual dragons?!) of How you can Practice Your Dragon, that’s nearly actually not it. Wait instances for the opposite Isle of Berk points of interest haven’t actually budged. Not even the Toothless meet & greet, which is what I’d count on to be most impacted by the film.
As a substitute, it’s our understanding that Hiccup’s Wing Gliders has been working very inefficiently. Most notably, it’s been down one load station for a lot (most? all?) of the week. This alone successfully halves the hourly capability for the curler coaster, which explains double the wait time. Usually, slicing capability in half doesn’t double wait instances since extra friends balk on the increased wait, so there’s most likely a bit extra to the story than that.
So What’s the Proper Rope Drop Strategy?
With a lot altering, I’m truthfully stunned that our Epic Universe Morning Technique: Rope Drop Rides to Do & Keep away from to Save Time is definitely extra correct right this moment than it was after we revealed it. Speak about a cheerful accident!
Right here’s our recommendation for rope dropping Epic Universe in a nutshell:
- DO: How you can Practice Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
- DON’T DO: Darkish Universe or Tremendous Nintendo World
- ALSO DON’T DO: Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry
(That is for normal park opening, not Early Park Admission.)
Avoiding Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry is listed individually as a result of this can be a seemingly controversial take. You can see numerous experiences of individuals having nice success with this strategy. They aren’t mendacity! They are ‘struggling’ from a type of survivorship bias, although.
It’s completely correct that beginning at Battle on the Ministry can yield improbable outcomes. It’s additionally true that it may be a trainwreck. All of it comes right down to luck on the day you go to. Statistically talking, Battle on the Ministry is each vulnerable to the dreaded delayed opening greater than some other experience at Epic Universe and a mean wait time that peaks early and will get progressively shorter all through the day. Objectively, the perfect technique is to carry off on it till later within the day.
When you’re a gambler, go for it at rope drop. However don’t say that we didn’t warn you for those who fail. And for those who succeed, don’t assume your outcomes are replicable. The most secure strategy to rope drop at Epic Universe is beginning in Isle of Berk. When you’re a curler coaster individual, a gorgeous possibility for each EPA and common rope drop is solely looping Stardust Racers. I enthusiastically endorse this strategy from a ‘enjoyable and simple’ perspective, even when it’s suboptimal technique.
Epic Universe Rides Open an Hour After Park Closing!
This one has ‘developed’ over the course of the final couple of weeks. We acquired a couple of scattered reader experiences that after Epic Universe moved to a 9 pm closing (from 10 pm for the primary few weeks), the rides in Celestial Park–Constellation Carousel and Stardust Racers–have been however operational (barring downtime) till 10 pm.
Extra just lately, your entire park has remained open after 9 pm. Right here’s a have a look at wait instances from final evening:
The massive exception you’ll discover right here is traces which can be “at capability.” (Fast apart: the identical factor can occur with Single Rider traces.)
That is principally a matter of points of interest closing their traces as a result of sky-high wait instances, as Common doesn’t need to proceed permitting friends right into a line that’s already ~2 hours lengthy all the best way till 10 pm, after which have it take till after midnight to clear the park.
This strategy to a ‘stealth’ further hour does make sense for precisely the identical purpose. If friends are allowed to enter the Mine-Cart Insanity, Mario Kart, Battle on the Ministry, or Hiccup’s Wing Gliders queues till 8:59 pm (as is the case), and any of these rides have 120+ minute wait instances, it’s going to take till after 11 pm to clear the park, anyway. May as nicely spend a bit extra on staffing and preserve different traces open, anyway.
Given its present common wait instances, Epic Universe shouldn’t be closing at 9 pm within the first place. Park hours are criminally quick and visitor satisfaction might be struggling to a level in consequence. This gives a partial resolution for that. It’s sort of like a mushy opening…however for present points of interest on the finish of the day. A mushy closing, I assume?
On the threat of stating the apparent, that final hour is a must-do. Throughout the board, these wait instances are nicely under their day by day averages. That is additionally topic to alter. Common Orlando may cease doing this subsequent month, subsequent week–even tonight. Since that is unpublished and unofficial coverage, it may change at any second with out discover. So don’t plan on this for those who’re visiting in August (and definitely not in 2026).
Regardless, you completely need to be at Epic Universe for the top of the evening, each time that’s. Even when it means taking a noon break (or maybe two desk service meals in Celestial Park for those who’re not staying close to Epic Universe), you need to outlast the gang and expertise nighttime in Epic Universe. There’s one thing particular about seeing the park illuminated, and you must be capable of hand around in Celestial Park after even 10 pm. You may even be capable of seize a drink or ice cream from Frosty Moon and revel in it by the fountains–a satisfying finish to an extended, sizzling day!
Epic Universe Crowd Calendar
Lastly, a plug for our Epic Universe Crowd Calendar. This isn’t a calendar of dates and numerical scores, so don’t go in anticipating that. If you would like predictions like that, simply throw darts at a board–you’ll be equally correct. As a substitute, we provide some tough guidelines of thumb:
- Fridays by way of Mondays have decrease wait instances at Epic Universe up to now.
- Epic Universe attendance will likely be under half-capacity on all dates all through Summer time 2025, and under one-third capability on many dates barring huge coverage modifications.
- Regardless of low attendance, wait instances will fluctuate considerably and recommend above-average crowd ranges on most dates–unpredictably so.
- Epic Universe may have increased attendance from October by way of December 2025 than opening day by way of August 2025
Every of these factors are defined in excruciating element within the Epic Universe Crowd Calendar. The salient level, as soon as once more, is to count on the surprising.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe this month? Did you expertise any points of interest being “secretly” open early or after park closing? What about surprising closures, traces not being dumped regardless of downtime, or the rest mentioned right here? Will you go to Epic Universe this 12 months, or will you look ahead to issues to calm down and extra operational consistency? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share some other ideas or questions you will have within the feedback under!
