I’m absolutely aboard the Epic Universe hype prepare. After spending my first few days within the new park at Common Orlando, it’s all I can take into consideration. I can’t wait to get again. If I had to decide on just one park to go to in Florida the remainder of this 12 months, it wouldn’t be Magic Kingdom or wherever else at Walt Disney World–it’d be Epic Universe. On the identical time, there main downsides to visiting this highly-anticipated new park throughout its opening season(s).
As excited as I’m to revisit Epic Universe ASAP (and I’m very excited), I additionally acknowledge that not everyone seems to be me. The typical vacationer may not have the identical time or tolerances to expertise a brand new theme park and all that entails. Furthermore, I’m considerably involved that the hype prepare goes a tad too quick, and desires the brakes pumped earlier than it dangers derailment.
To that finish, I need to begin our main protection of the brand new park by making the argument towards visiting Epic Universe–why you need to skip it for now, and wait till 2026 to go to Common Orlando’s new theme park. Please be aware that that is one half of a point-counterpoint article sequence. The case in favor of visiting Epic Universe (“Right here’s Why We Extremely Suggest Doing 2 Days at Epic Universe”) is coming quickly. With everybody else fixated on hype, I assumed it’d be pragmatic to begin by tempering expectations. (So don’t seize the pitchforks simply but, Common diehards!)
This text outlines the case towards Epic Universe–that a lot ought to be apparent from foregoing (and even only a fast look on the title). For those who’re enthusiastic about Common Orlando’s new theme park, have already purchased your trip package deal or park tickets, or are in any other case averse to negativity, this submit might be not for you. This particulars the potential pitfalls in visiting Epic Universe throughout its opening season, that means that it’s a little bit of a downer by design.
Whilst you might need to skip this submit about skipping Epic Universe when you’ve got zero intentions of skipping Epic Universe, there could be worth even for these of you absolutely aboard the hype prepare. First, it’ll assist in managing expectations. Second, in getting ready for these downsides to mitigate their influence to the best extent attainable.
On with the checklist of the explanation why possibly you need to wait to go to Epic Universe till 2026 or past…
Warmth, Solar & Shade (or Lack Thereof)
Apparently, Epic Universe was designed for the parents who thought Toy Story Land was only a bit too chilly and didn’t provide sufficient alternatives to crispen their pores and skin or get soaked throughout a storm. We’ve been essential of latest lands at Walt Disney World with regards to the dearth of canopy and the way sizzling they get, questioning if the designers accountable had ever left the consolation of their 70-degree air-conditioned places of work in California.
The group behind Epic Universe heard that and mentioned “maintain my beer,” cranked their workplace A/C to 62, and designed the most well liked and least shaded theme park I’ve ever skilled. There was a number of bluster from Common about Celestial Park placing the “park” again in theme park. Apparently that doesn’t embrace bushes or shade constructions of any type, however does embrace essentially the most reflective pavement on earth. You possibly can really feel the warmth from each above and under, making it tough to spend time within the land throughout the day.
Celestial Park is beautiful, to make sure, however the entire reward for it’s essentially coming at night time. I seldom noticed greater than a handful of friends in right here throughout the day apart from these going from level A to B. It was at all times a veritable ghost city, and for good cause–it’s actually uncomfortable. None of that is exaggeration.
The opposite portals are higher, however solely marginally so. Ministry of Magic seems like a sauna, with the identical reflective properties and warmth emanating from the pavement and facades, till the solar is decrease within the sky and the buildings block it from view. It’s the same story in Tremendous Nintendo World, Isle of Berk, and Darkish Daylight Universe.
If you’re going to go to Epic Universe this summer season, I’d strongly suggest an umbrella with UV safety, cool-dude bucket hat, and ridiculously robust sunscreen. Additionally, be sure you convey your individual water bottle–to Common’s immense credit score, there are refilling stations in every single place, together with in queues. (See our Summer time Survival Information to Walt Disney World for extra suggestions.)
There are a number of elements that contribute to Epic Universe having a worse “seems like” setting than different Central Florida theme parks, however the largest is a scarcity of everlasting shade constructions and no mature bushes. Epic Universe might be a stunning park-like setting a decade from now, however within the quick future, I’d think about it turns into umbrella central this summer season. And remember that that is the suggestions from days that by no means broke 90 levels. However at the very least Epic Universe is beautiful within the evenings–oh wait.
Excessive Costs & No Reductions
There have been a number of complaints amongst Walt Disney World followers about value will increase, and that dialog is commonly accompanied by comparisons to Common Orlando. Many have recommended they’ll vote with their wallets and go to Epic Universe as a substitute on account of Walt Disney World pricing them out.
This doesn’t fairly add up. Epic Universe is extraordinarily costly its opening summer season, and Walt Disney World has unprecedented reductions that primarily provide 2019 pricing. For Epic Universe preview tickets, I paid $180 per day after tax, and that’s on the decrease finish of the value spectrum this summer season.
In fact, multi-day tickets can be found…however that requires visiting Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida, with solely a single day at Epic Universe and no park hopping. This strikes me as a poor allocation of restricted trip time, particularly when you’re doing different theme parks in Central Florida throughout your journey.
To every their very own, but when spending a number of days at Common Orlando this summer season, I’d need to spend at the very least two-thirds of that point at Epic Universe–two days there and a day break up between the prevailing gates. This essentially means shopping for single day tickets.
Epic Universe is the shiny new theme park, so it’s comprehensible that Comcast would need to recoup as a lot of its huge funding as attainable whereas pleasure is excessive. However the dearth of reductions strikes me as unsustainable and unlikely going ahead.
At minimal, the extremely restrictive ticketing insurance policies might be dropped in 2026, however I’d count on much more offers and cheaper costs. That is like 2022 yet again, with Common Orlando capitalizing on a distinct type of pent-up demand.
Unpredictable Attendance & Crowds
Talking of Comcast eager to capitalize on hype and recoup its funding, we’re already seeing this play out with previews. For those who have a look at any Common Orlando Annual Passholder group proper now, you’ll see the most well liked matter is outrage over Epic Universe previews opening to everybody.
Whereas I don’t essentially agree with the anger, I get the place they’re coming from: Common has poorly communicated what to anticipate with Epic Universe, steadily making last-minute bulletins, reversing course, and many others. It’s the dearth of predictability that’s the issue; followers shopping for on the idea of sure implicit expectations, and people altering days later.
That is partly the character of the beast with a brand new theme park. And it’s not going to turn into constant anytime quickly. My early expectation and understanding is that Common Orlando is seeing comfortable demand for Epic Universe after opening week, and that even the “bought out” dates in Could and June are restricted means under full-capacity.
However who’s to say that gained’t change tomorrow? Comcast may determine its quarterly numbers aren’t wanting so sizzling–that the theme park phase is falling wanting analyst expectations–and reopen ticket gross sales for “bought out” dates. The demand remains to be there for these dates, it’s provide that has been throttled. Common may reassess methods, and roll out monetized earlier entry (a la Tremendous Nintendo World at USH) or late nights. It’s all uncharted floor, and unpredictable. Crowds and attendance could possibly be superior, terrible, or someplace in between.
Getting in Form
Epic Universe continues the development of Common’s stringent visitor containment insurance policies, that means aggressive restraints even on the slower shifting points of interest. This had the recipe for being one other Secret Lifetime of Pets: Off the Leash, a slow-moving darkish journey that many bigger friends can’t expertise on account of its restraints. Fortunately, that’s not the case.
Every part we’ve heard means that Common Orlando took visitor suggestions to coronary heart with Epic Universe, and the restraints are largely pleasant to Pooh-sized friends. There are limits on this, however the identical is true with Walt Disney World–TRON Lightcycle Run and Avatar Flight of Passage would really like a phrase.
I’m concerning the worst particular person to talk to this, so it’s all second-hand from pals who reported being pleasantly stunned. There are many sources tailor-made to this sort of visitor, however the salient level is you in all probability don’t have to worry embarrassment or accessibility points when you’re a bigger visitor. Common appears to have completed a extremely good job threading the needle with regards to Epic Universe’s seats and restraints.
The larger subject, and the one I completely did discover, is the entire stairs. On my days in Epic Universe, I someway managed to log an upwards of 20 flights per day. It looks like each single attraction has stairs each within the queue and at unload. In fact, points of interest are additionally accessible, so there are elevators, however ready round for these may not be an excellent use of your time.
Personally, I don’t suppose Epic Universe entails an extreme quantity of strolling on account of the portals. My common steps per day was decrease, and significantly so, than prior days at Walt Disney World. However the distinction is that I used to be actively making an attempt to keep away from spending time outdoor because of the warmth and lack of shade and I did far more rides per day than my norm. So I’m not likely positive that step depend was consultant of a median visitor’s day.
Level being, you would possibly need to work on endurance and get in form a bit earlier than Epic Universe. The one-two punch of the warmth and the steps makes this a park that may be unduly tiring. It was for me regardless of fewer steps, and I’m decently in form.
Digital Line for #1 Journey
Common’s Digital Line system is worse than even Walt Disney World’s first technology of Digital Queue. Let that sink in. Additionally, I strongly suspect that the worst experiences with Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry will surpass the worst experiences with Rise of the Resistance. For those who’re paying consideration, you’ve in all probability already began to listen to horror tales concerning the Digital Line for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry.
These will solely get worse. It’s a easy numbers recreation. On an excellent day, we’d hazard a guess that fewer than one-third of all friends are experiencing Battle on the Ministry. And that is nonetheless throughout paid previews, when park capability is capped fairly low. That means that later this 12 months, it could possibly be ~15% of friends experiencing Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry on a daily day.
This Digital Line is getting used as a result of Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry is suffering from unreliability and downtime woes. The journey breaks down quite a bit. If it had been to submit a wait time, that may measure within the hours, and no matter quantity had been posted typically wouldn’t even be remotely correct on account of multi-hour breakdowns.
Even when it’s operational, Battle on the Ministry shouldn’t be environment friendly. One complete facet of the attraction is commonly offline, and we’ve noticed a sluggish and methodical dispatch. I don’t need to guess as to its present operational hourly journey capability versus theoretical hourly journey capability, however let’s simply say throughput shouldn’t be so sizzling proper now. No knock on the journey–it’s a extremely refined attraction in a brand-new park, so that is to be anticipated.
Now we have a 100% success price to date for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry, however that may be very a lot not the norm. (This VL can also be much less “skill-based” than its counterparts, so our luck will run out in the end.) For those who decide to do Epic Universe, you need to go in with the expectation that you’ll not get to journey Battle on the Ministry.
This implies skipping what is definitely the target #1 attraction within the park, and greatest journey Common Inventive has ever constructed. An important planning submit you’ll be able to learn is our VL information: Easy methods to Be a part of the Digital Line for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry.
Breakdowns & Downtime
As you’ve in all probability witnessed when you’ve spent any period of time being a Walt Disney World fan, new points of interest have rising pains and are sometimes suffering from issues their first few months. This isn’t a uniquely Disney drawback. It’s the character of the beast as points of interest turn into extra complicated.
Epic Universe is a whole park of latest rides, a lot of that are modern and envelope-pushing. Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry is by far the largest offender on this regard–therefore it utilizing the Digital Line–but it surely’s removed from the one problematic attraction. Just about each single one of many park’s marquee points of interest has ranges of downtime increased than what friends would contemplate affordable.
Throughout previews, there have been some actually tough days. Now we have not skilled these, fortunately, however have talked to pals who’ve (and have noticed from afar by way of the Common Orlando app).
A number of headliners taking place has a cascading impact even throughout previews, inflicting congestion in eating places with lengthy delays for cell orders, and spiking the wait occasions of the rides which are open. Take into account that that is throughout days when attendance is closely capped. When rides come again on-line, the backlog of Specific Go means sky-high standby wait occasions.
Suffice to say, you’re not going to need to be in Epic Universe the primary time there’s an operational meltdown with the park working at or nearer full capability. It’s going to be a nightmare. And it’ll be one exacerbated by the above considerations concerning the lack of shade, in addition to enough crowd-absorbing counterprogramming.
Within the medium or long run, we don’t count on any of this to be a lot of a difficulty. Virtually each new attraction or land has preliminary rising pains, particularly the superior ones. Once more, Epic Universe is a whole park of these! We’re not making an attempt to be essential or nitpick–that is extra of a sober “it’s what it’s” kind of commentary.
A 12 months from now, our expectation is that Epic Universe is working easily and with a excessive diploma of effectivity. Most of the issues on this checklist, together with journey reliability, will resolve themselves over time. There’s one thing to be mentioned for experiencing a brand-new theme park, however there’s additionally a non-monetary price to doing so. Contemplate each earlier than taking the plunge.
Talking for ourselves, we’re inclined to attend to go to Epic Universe till Winter 2026. Our household has a visit deliberate for this summer season that we’re prone to postpone for the explanations above and extra (additionally solely attending to spend sooner or later at Epic Universe and our daughter’s age). Whereas I might be returning to Epic Universe many occasions within the months to come back, that’s primarily “for analysis.” I’ll undoubtedly have loads of enjoyable, however our household trip will doubtless be delayed till subsequent 12 months for extra optimum situations.
Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for all the pieces about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try 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 this summer season for its opening season, or will you skip it till the brand new park settles right into a groove? Involved about unreliable rides, how sizzling the park will get, or anything mentioned right here? Excited for Tremendous Nintendo World, Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Darkish Universe/Basic Monsters, or the Easy methods to Practice Your Dragon lands and/or points of interest? Assume Epic Universe might 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 may have within the feedback under!