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Epic Universe’s opening season has been a wild trip. Common’s new park has had sky-high wait instances and crowd ranges, however not essentially attendance. That first half of that development seems poised to speed up within the months to come back, however not earlier than an low season slowdown. This comes as 1-day tickets are beginning to promote out for choose dates by December 2025, with many extra days and full weeks hitting (smooth) capability.
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, however it has aged like a superb wine–for probably the most half. We lately returned with a refresh to that put up, as our recommendation for almost all of vacationers is to remain on the sidelines and wait till Epic Universe improves its operations and effectivity.
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 day by day crowd ranges and common wait instances since its official opening three months in the past. With that stated, there are some fascinating updates on crowds and ticketing at Epic Universe, so let’s dive proper in to these…
Park Capability & Ticket Information Loophole
For the primary few months of the park’s existence, Epic Universe ticket information might be obtained by scraping the Common Orlando backend web site. Sadly, Common lastly wised up and closed the loophole that allowed this information to be acquired, so we now not can see what number of tickets can be found and what number of have been offered.
Previous to the info lockdown, we knew Common Orlando was initially limiting attendance at 12,000 to fifteen,000 visitors from the beginning of previews by the top of June, relying upon the day. That then expanded to roughly 22,000 visitors per day in July. That’s the place the higher restrict stood by the rest of 2025, per their information.
Individually, it’s our been understanding that Epic Universe has a complete theoretical capability of round 35,000 to 40,000 visitors. Corroborating this, Common Orlando elevated its ticket cap to 45,000 throughout the board for the rest of 2025, doubling or tripling the restrict relying on the date. As we defined in one other put up detailing the rise, the numbers are a bit deceptive. Common made many extra multi-day ticket varieties accessible, which few visitors have been buying within the first place.
The underside line was that although Common was providing to promote ~45,000 tickets per day to Epic Universe, natural demand was the actual limiting issue since these have been much less standard ticket varieties and even common 1-day tickets principally weren’t promoting out from mid-July onward. The top consequence was that Common Orlando was promoting round 15,000 to twenty,000 tickets (with a couple of outliers that broaden the vary to 13,000 to 22,000) per day. Not as soon as this summer time did Epic Universe hit even half of that 45,000 quantity.
Offered Out Dates Improve & Lower
The entire above is related, even when it’s previous tense, as a result of we had been watching ticket information and gross sales for the ultimate few months of the 12 months. As of late July, there have been a number of dates round Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve that have been offered out of single-day tickets.
In early August, much more dates appeared offered out. I may swear it was round half of all dates between October and December, and even some Mondays in September (kicking myself for not taking screenshots). Then sooner or later throughout the final couple of weeks, availability had been replenished, just about throughout the board. Only some dates round Thanksgiving, Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve have been gone.
Now, extra of these dates have offered out, however nonetheless next-to-nothing within the subsequent few months. The above screenshot is from in the present day (August 20, 2025). Previous to November, the one unavailable date is October 7, 2025. Simply two weeks in the past, availability was considerably decrease.
In all probability, that is the results of Common Orlando reallocating ticket capability. Again after we wrote that put up detailing the earlier soar in capability from ~15,000 to ~45,000 that we (mainly) known as nothing to fret about, we added one asterisk. That it might be meaningless if it have been laying the groundwork for future modifications and simpler reallocations of capability among the many numerous buckets of park tickets. Particularly: “If 45,000 single-day Epic Universe tickets have been all of a sudden made accessible for every day with every week or two discover, our evaluation of the affect on crowd ranges can be very totally different.“
Sadly, we don’t know precisely what occurred with the allocation throughout ‘buckets’ as a result of the ticket information loophole has been closed. However we are able to surmise from the circumstances that: 1) tickets have been reallocated from much less fascinating buckets to extra fascinating ones, and; 2) beforehand offered out dates are actually promoting extra tickets. That means that is now not a nothing to fret about scenario, and these larger caps completely do matter. At minimal, dates through the fall and vacation season are going to promote extra tickets than earlier than and exceed the earlier 22,000 excessive water mark.
For no matter it’s price, the explanation I’ve stalked the single-day ticket web page on Common Orlando is not so I may purchase tickets to dates that have been beforehand offered out. It’s just about the precise reverse. I wish to take note of which dates and days of the week are promoting out most continuously so I can keep away from them. My view will not be that it’s a “good factor” that tickets are again on sale. This isn’t like a widget that sells out and is restocked.
If tickets grow to be accessible after promoting out, that capability is coming from someplace. I’ve zero need to go to Epic Universe on any date that sells out, and I might implore you to rethink visits throughout these peak weeks. Or at the least wait till on-the-ground stories are available from Columbus Day weekend, as that’ll be the primary massive stress check of Epic Universe operations.
Lowest Crowds on Weekends
Talking of which, the 2 days of the week with the bottom common wait instances over the previous couple of months have been Saturdays (#2) and Sundays (#1, by far). Friday is third-lowest. The simplest rationalization for that is that Epic Universe single-day tickets are most costly on weekends, so budget-conscious vacationers are looking for out cheaper dates.
There’s much less consistency for Mondays by Thursdays, and never sufficient information factors to attract definitive conclusions. Statistically, Wednesdays and Thursdays have been worst, which might be a byproduct of vacationers beginning out their weeks at Walt Disney World, visiting a pair parks there, then doing Epic Universe. Or beginning out at Common’s legacy parks.
To that time, the remainder of Common Orlando is busiest on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, adopted by Sundays. That is fueled largely by locals and Annual Passholders over the weekends, after which vacationers being most inclined to go to on Mondays. Midweek is the best possible time to go to the opposite parks, with common wait instances bottoming out on Wednesdays.
This is smart! Floridians work on weekdays, making weekends their finest time to go to the opposite parks for Annual Passholders. However Epic Universe doesn’t have APs, and plenty of locals have already gotten their “repair” of Epic Universe and are ready for Annual Passes. The consequence has been an identical dynamic as we noticed at Walt Disney World when AP gross sales have been suspended for thus lengthy (it nonetheless exists to this present day, however isn’t as exaggerated).
One factor to notice is that as quickly as Annual Move gross sales or Florida resident ticket offers begin for Epic Universe, this dynamic flips. Saturday and Sunday will grow to be the busiest days of the weekend. Furthermore, there are exceptions to all the above when climate rears its ugly head. Nothing throws a monkey wrench into Epic Universe wait instances like a stormy day!
Present Crowds
It’s been nearly precisely two months since we shared our preliminary 2025 Epic Universe Crowd Calendar, which provided predictions and a recap of present crowds. On the predictions entrance, that put up nonetheless holds up.
Clearly, there’s two months of extra wait instances information since then to share (courtesy of thrill-data). Crowds have solely worsened since then. Epic Universe set a file for its busiest day ever on July 16, when common wait instances have been 85 minutes and the gang stage was 10/10. That was adopted by back-to-back 80 minute days August 6-7. There have been a number of different days at or above 70 minutes, with day by day lows within the mid-to-upper 40s.
Late June was the beginning of a stretch when weekly averages have been 64-68 minutes for six consecutive weeks; with all however one week within the 64-66 minute vary. For a park that’s so inconsistent on a day-to-day foundation, that’s remarkably constant on a weekly one.
Two out of the final three weeks have proven indicators of enchancment, and our expectation is that this development doesn’t simply proceed, however that it accelerates within the subsequent 4-6 weeks. I’m cautiously optimistic that Epic Universe may have a weekly common under 50 minutes someday in mid-September. On the very least, there must be sure days when the typical wait time is below 40 minutes. Epic Universe has been near that on the 2 most up-to-date Sundays.
It’s price noting that no different Common Orlando or Walt Disney World park is hitting common day by day wait instances at wherever close to these ranges. As we’ve said numerous instances earlier than, that is principally a capability and effectivity story, and never one in all overwhelming demand.
The park is hitting these crowd ranges with comparatively low attendance. There’s potential for this to get a lot worse if Epic Universe doesn’t discover its footing on trip throughput. (Or will get unfortunate with climate on the next attendance day.)
To place these numbers into perspective, it’s additionally price noting that Walt Disney World’s two busiest days since 2019 have been 71 and 70 minute waits–each got here through the weeks of New 12 months’s (early 2020 and late 2023). On the identical dates this summer time, Walt Disney World’s common wait time has been lower than half of Epic Universe and that’s regardless of larger day by day attendance. The identical goes for Common Orlando’s different parks, that are seeing averages of round 25 minutes.
The trendline is beginning to flip constructive now that faculty has gone again into session, however we nonetheless extremely advocate Epic Universe on a weekend, if in any respect, through the 2025 low season. In any other case, ready till 2026 nonetheless looks as if the very best plan of action, however that comes with huge caveats in regards to the park scaling up capability at a sooner clip than it improves trip throughput. It might prove that the subsequent 5-6 weeks plus scattered dates this vacation season find yourself being the candy spot.
If planning a late 2025 or 2026 journey, I’d goal all the similar dates on our Greatest & Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2025, 2026 & 2027. That’s a mixture of quantitative and qualitative, and I’d argue that the latter issues extra at Epic Universe than Walt Disney World. Should you solely have sooner or later to do Epic Universe, make it a Sunday throughout a kind of weeks.
Workforce Member Complimentary Entry
Common Orlando Workforce Members can now use as much as two of their complimentary passes for entry to Epic Universe every calendar month. Beforehand, Workforce Members must buy single-day tickets in the event that they wished to go to Epic Universe.
Notice that Workforce Members nonetheless don’t have self-admit privileges, in order that they have to make use of these comp tickets on themselves and a visitor in the event that they wish to go to the park. Or, they may give each away to household & buddies. Comp tickets expire on the finish of every month, so Workforce Members can’t accumulate multi-month stockpiles so as to go to with extra folks.
It’s laborious to say the diploma of an affect this can have on Epic Universe crowds. It’ll undoubtedly transfer the needle to a point, however diluted over the course of a complete month, in all probability not considerably so. It’s much less vital than self-admit or the rollout of Annual Passes can be.
The angle from which that is in all probability probably the most fascinating is that it’s a step in the direction of the inevitable rollout of each. This was a logical precursor to AP gross sales or ID entry for Workforce Members, both of which might be subsequent up. Whereas additional Workforce Member entry appears extra possible, introducing restricted add-ons for the highest tiers of Annual Passes is a revenue-generating transfer, so it is likely to be step one.
Truthfully, we hope that doesn’t occur till someday in 2026 (and don’t anticipate it to). Though we’d love to have the ability to buy an Annual Move for Epic Universe, there’s just one month of low season earlier than crowds choose up once more. If that, as the beginning of Halloween Horror Nights may unleash a type of pent-up demand.
Then it’s the center of the Halloween and vacation seasons, each of that are prone to be busier. Then in 2026, common ticketing insurance policies are relaxed, which may additional exacerbate crowds. Common Orlando must do every part to protect the visitor expertise for informal vacationers, and that possible means no Annual Passes for one more 12 months except main strides could be made to enhance operational capability.
Park Hopping Take a look at
Talking of the comfort of ticketing insurance policies, we already know that visitors reserving 2026 Common Orlando trip packages for journey in January and past may have the choice to decide on park-to-park tickets that features Epic Universe. These tickets will now not embrace Epic Universe as a separate entitlement, and as a substitute enable park hopping.
We assume the identical will likely be true of standard multi-day Common Orlando tickets for 2026. Whereas the above Workforce Member comp entry is a mandatory prerequisite to Annual Passes, and so on., so too is just establishing regular ticketing insurance policies for Epic Universe. And the logical date for that’s January 2026.
Previous to then, Common Orlando is reportedly getting into choose visitors with trip packages right into a park hopping check proper now. We’ve solely seen a pair scattered stories of this on social media, however figured it was price mentioning proactively in case you’re fortunate sufficient to be chosen. Our recommendation can be hopping to Epic Universe after 4 pm. Try this in your first day and have that be your preliminary Epic Universe expertise. See the way it goes and decide whether or not that’s an applicable strategy for you on subsequent days.
Earnings Name
Comcast lately held its quarterly earnings name and, unsurprisingly, they praised the profitable launch of Epic Universe. The park was the direct driver of a 19% improve in income for the theme parks section, which is smart because it didn’t beforehand exist! Listed here are a few govt quotes from the name transcript:
“We anticipate Epic to proceed to scale over the course of the 12 months, with larger attendance and per caps in addition to considerably improved working leverage.”
“As anticipated, our near-term focus is on increasing trip throughput to cut back early attendance constraints. Epic is trending in step with our expectations and effectively on its option to remodeling Common Orlando into a real week-long vacation spot.”
It’s unattainable to know the way executives actually really feel about Epic Universe’s launch, as they’re going to color a fairly rosy image as a result of the numbers did–and can proceed to–go up. Nonetheless, these quotes counsel they’re going to proceed discovering methods to extend attendance whereas additionally enhancing operational effectivity.
That is what we’re seeing above with ticketing modifications and it’s what we anticipated with effectivity. Nonetheless, it’s good to listen to the manager feedback about trip throughput and working leverage. That is reassuring, and signifies even high-level leaders understand that they will’t merely pack the park–the reliability must first enhance. I admire that.
As a fast apart, I hear loads of chatter about how Orange County attributing a file setting month for occupancy tax collections to Epic Universe is “proof” that it’s hurting Walt Disney World. On the danger of stating the apparent, having extra resort rooms crammed is what will increase the potential occupancy tax pool–and Common simply opened three new ones, thereby rising the county’s whole room stock!
There are extra inns now, so it stands to motive that, even on the similar occupancy share throughout all resorts, tax collections would improve. If the identical variety of visitors have been visiting however stayed at Common as a substitute of Disney, occupancy tax collections can be flat. That’s not what occurred, although, as Walt Disney World’s occupancy share additionally elevated. And that is regardless of Disney additionally including room stock over the past 12 months. Epic Universe could (rightfully!) get the credit score, however each Disney and Common contributed to the file.
Programming Notice: Visiting Quickly
Truthfully, I’m watching all the above out of my very own self-interest, as I’m intending to go to Epic Universe once more quickly. I’m undoubtedly going at the least sooner or later and am debating a second (have already got nights booked at Helios Grand). I’ll undoubtedly be placing my cash the place my mouth is by occurring a Sunday, however have the choice to additionally go to on Saturday if the info (and climate) are trying good or gamble on the next Monday if Sunday goes effectively (or, I suppose, goes actually badly and I need a do-over?).
We’ve now pushed off our household journey twice now, with late January 2026 being the brand new goal, so this one is simply me once more. The purpose is to eat as a lot as humanly potential, testing the boundaries of how a lot the human abdomen can endure when crammed to capability and loaded into consecutive rides on Stardust Racers. I’ll be doing loads of different testing as effectively, and am open to recommendations on this entrance if there are specifics you’d wish to find out about present ops at Epic Universe. Or in case you have any menu & restaurant suggestions, please share these, too.
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation in your go to to Central Florida? Ensure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for every part about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every part about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and rather more, join our FREE electronic mail publication!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe because the begin of summer time? Planning a day within the low season or throughout Halloween Horror Nights? What did you consider wait instances and crowds? Expertise any operational meltdowns on account of breakdowns or climate? Is it potential or possible that Epic Universe truly has even larger attendance from October by December 2025, or all through 2026? Will you go to Epic Universe this 12 months, or will you watch for crowds to quiet down (in concept) in 2026? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share another ideas or questions you could have within the feedback under!
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