Epic Universe’s first month because the grand opening has been a wild experience. The park continues to see excessive wait occasions and crowd ranges, however not essentially attendance. The larger story right now 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 high quality wine–for probably the most half. Admittedly, I did imagine that the digital queue for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry was going to stay round till October. I suppose that was so abysmally-executed and garnering such fierce visitor backlash that that they had no alternative 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 occasions since its official opening a few month in the past.
At this level, your motto for Epic Universe for the subsequent 12 months or so needs to be: anticipate the sudden.
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 usually throws you curveballs. (Consider Epic Universe because the Sandy Koufax of theme parks.)
In case you are the kind of planner who craves certainty, loves making spreadsheets, and mapping out minute-by-minute specifics of your day months upfront…perhaps Epic Universe isn’t for you proper now. (Extra broadly, I might advocate everybody abandon such a planning for each theme park, Common or Disney. Flexibility and spontaneity will at all times yield higher outcomes, and be much less traumatic. However you do you!)
Earlier than we get going, we wish to clarify that none of that is criticism of Epic Universe or Common Orlando. (Properly, for probably the most half–there are some operational selections 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 via 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 another excuse it is best to anticipate the sudden, is as a result of there isn’t nice protection of Epic Universe. We have been at DHS a number of occasions 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 on.) aren’t dropping ~$180 a number of occasions per week to cowl modifications.
As an alternative, we’re reliant on studies from cobbled collectively from social media, reader feedback, and so on. Apart from listening to suggestions from readers who’ve visited Epic Universe just lately, my favourite sources are thrill-data for wait occasions and the Common Orlando subreddit. We attempt to hold you abreast of modifications, however the truth of the matter is that we’re not on the bottom with any diploma of regularity. We’re reliant on phrase of mouth identical to everybody else–so it’s price maintaining a tally of the Common Orlando app and social media if you need extra obsessive protection.
Anyway, let’s go over the most recent operational modifications at Epic Universe.
Epic Universe Early Park Admission Adjustments
First up, the lineup is now totally 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 one more change. Listed below are the accessible 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, it is a unfavourable change. Over the past 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 occasions on the two different Tremendous Nintendo World points of interest, and disproportionately Mario Kart because it’s the opposite headliner.
In follow, I’m unsure it’s such a nasty factor. We’ve got heard numerous studies of Mine-Cart Insanity having unpublished delayed openings. The attraction wouldn’t be working till 10 am (or later) with out discover, and company would get turned away upon arrival. Worse but, there have been occasions when company have been allowed to queue up–generally for a number of hours–although 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 is because they don’t wish to difficulty restoration (comped Categorical Passes) to everybody exiting the queue, a number of occasions 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 also be frightened about preserving shorter waits for company who bought Categorical Cross.
Nevertheless, they merely shouldn’t be promoting Categorical Cross at this level. The park as an entire is simply 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 reasonably have a not-so-Categorical Cross for future use than be caught taking part in hen in a queue for a damaged down attraction that isn’t reopening any time quickly. The visitor expertise needs 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 studies 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 it is best to be capable to verify 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. You probably have children 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 now, 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 notice that at first, MCM and BatM weren’t posting wait occasions–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 most effective rationalization 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 attainable, however doesn’t wish to promote this since each are down so usually to start out the day. But when they’re up, they’re open.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders “Recognition” Soars
Over the past week, the typical 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 anticipate on a traditional day. The weekly common for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is 110 minutes, which places it at #3 (forward of Mine-Cart Insanity).
When you could be inclined to attribute this to the recognition of the live-action remake (they forged actual dragons?!) of Find out how to Prepare Your Dragon, that’s nearly definitely not it. Wait occasions for the opposite Isle of Berk points of interest haven’t actually budged. Not even the Toothless meet & greet, which is what I’d anticipate to be most impacted by the film.
As an alternative, 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, reducing capability in half doesn’t double wait occasions since extra company balk on the greater wait, so there’s in all probability a bit extra to the story than that.
So What’s the Proper Rope Drop Method?
With a lot altering, I’m truthfully shocked that our Epic Universe Morning Technique: Rope Drop Rides to Do & Keep away from to Save Time is definitely extra correct right now than it was once we printed it. Speak about a cheerful accident!
Right here’s our recommendation for rope dropping Epic Universe in a nutshell:
- DO: Find out how to Prepare 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 it is a seemingly controversial take. You will see numerous studies of individuals having nice success with this method. 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 implausible 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 susceptible to the dreaded delayed opening greater than every other experience at Epic Universe and a median wait time that peaks early and will get progressively shorter all through the day. Objectively, one of the best technique is to carry off on it till later within the day.
If you happen to’re a gambler, go for it at rope drop. However don’t say that we didn’t warn you in the event you fail. And in the event you succeed, don’t assume your outcomes are replicable. The most secure method to rope drop at Epic Universe is beginning in Isle of Berk. If you happen to’re a curler coaster particular person, a sexy choice for each EPA and common rope drop is solely looping Stardust Racers. I enthusiastically endorse this method 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 obtained a couple of scattered reader studies 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 nonetheless operational (barring downtime) till 10 pm.
Extra just lately, all the park has remained open after 9 pm. Right here’s a have a look at wait occasions from final evening:
The massive exception you’ll discover right here is strains which might be “at capability.” (Fast apart: the identical factor can occur with Single Rider strains.)
That is largely a matter of points of interest closing their strains resulting from sky-high wait occasions, as Common doesn’t wish to proceed permitting company 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 method to a ‘stealth’ further hour does make sense for precisely the identical purpose. If company 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 occasions, it’s going to take till after 11 pm to clear the park, anyway. Would possibly as properly spend a bit extra on staffing and hold different strains open, anyway.
Given its present common wait occasions, Epic Universe shouldn’t be closing at 9 pm within the first place. Park hours are criminally brief and visitor satisfaction might be struggling to a level because of this. This presents a partial answer for that. It’s sort of like a comfortable opening…however for current points of interest on the finish of the day. A comfortable closing, I suppose?
On the danger of stating the apparent, that final hour is a must-do. Throughout the board, these wait occasions are properly beneath 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 in the event you’re visiting in August (and positively not in 2026).
Regardless, you completely wish 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 in the event you’re not staying close to Epic Universe), you wish to outlast the group and expertise nighttime in Epic Universe. There’s one thing particular about seeing the park illuminated, and it is best to be capable to hand around in Celestial Park after even 10 pm. You would possibly even be capable to seize a drink or ice cream from Frosty Moon and revel in it by the fountains–a satisfying finish to a protracted, 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 need predictions like that, simply throw darts at a board–you’ll be equally correct. As an alternative, we provide some tough guidelines of thumb:
- Fridays via Mondays have decrease wait occasions at Epic Universe so far.
- Epic Universe attendance can be beneath half-capacity on all dates all through Summer time 2025, and beneath one-third capability on many dates barring huge coverage modifications.
- Regardless of low attendance, wait occasions will fluctuate considerably and recommend above-average crowd ranges on most dates–unpredictably so.
- Epic Universe can have greater attendance from October via December 2025 than opening day via 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 anticipate the sudden.
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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 sudden closures, strains not being dumped regardless of downtime, or the rest mentioned right here? Will you go to Epic Universe this 12 months, or will you await issues to cool down and extra operational consistency? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback beneath!