Universal Orlando News & Updates By Mickey Visit

We’re Breaking Down Universal’s Epic Universe — Here’s Everything Inside

Lindsay Brookshier — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:00:50 +0000

Universal’s Epic Universe, a brand-new theme park, is now open at Universal Orlando Resort. This new theme park includes a Harry Potter land, a Super Nintendo land, an area themed on How to Train Your Dragon plus a land themed around the classic Universal monsters. This is one of the biggest theme park expansions we've seen in Orlando since the early 2000s.

Universal Orlando went all out for its third theme park expansion with dozens of brand new attractions and out of this world immersion. Universal Orlando already has two existing theme parks: Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida plus their own water park Volcano Bay. Universal counts Volcano Bay as a third theme park making the addition of Epic Universe as a full fourth theme park. We've spent time at Epic Universe since it's opened and here's our full guide along with our thoughts on what the best features of the park are.

Universal Orlando Expansion

Universal’s Epic Universe is the first major theme park built in the Orlando market since Universal Islands of Adventure in 1999. Epic Universe opened in May 2025 and has five lands:

Celestial Park
Super Nintendo World
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Dark Universe

Super Nintendo World has been a huge hit at Universal Studios Hollywood and this is an even larger land with MORE attractions. Be sure to read our top tips for visiting Epic Universe to learn all our best hacks and tips for navigating this popular theme park.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic has the most popular ride in the park with Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. How to Train Your Dragon-Isle of Berk and Dark Universe both exceed expectations at their immersive details. Both of these lands also offer some of our favorite Epic Universe food and snack items.

Epic Universe features a large luxury hotel inside the park at the end of Celestial Park called the Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Two other hotels, Universal’s Terra Luna Resort and Universal’s Stella Nova Resort, bring the total up to three hotels built for Epic Universe. All of these hotels feature a short walk or bus trip to Epic Universe. This is helpful since Epic Universe has been built at a distance away from the other parks.

Express Pass at Epic Universe

Premium Universal Orlando hotels do not include Express Pass for Epic Universe in their hotel stays. Currently, you get Express Pass included with your hotel stay if you stay at one of these three hotels: Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. But for now, that is only for use at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.

Additionally, only once per ride Express Pass is available at Epic Universe. There is no option to purchase Unlimited Express Pass which allows you to ride attractions using Express Pass more than once.

There are three rides that are not included in Express Pass at Epic Universe and unfortunately, two of these rides are the main e-ticket attractions in the park. Express Pass is not included for:

Dragon Racer's Rally
Mine-Cart Madness
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

Use Early Entry at Epic Universe

Early Park Admission allows guests staying at Universal resort hotels and select Annual Passholders access to the theme parks an hour before official opening.

Based on our most recent experience, read more about whether or not waking up early for Early Park Admission at Epic Universe is worth it.

Celestial Park

Celestial Park is the area guests see first as they enter Epic Universe with acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways and pathways which Universal states will “put the park back in theme park.” Celestial Park is truly what it sounds like: a park! You can wander through the expansive gardens, waterways, all surrounded by architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements.

Celestial Park is truly a beautiful area of Epic Universe but the main downside is there is not much shade so it can feel pretty hot in the sun. At night is when it truly comes alive with bright LED lighting that connects the entire park. This area of Epic Universe really shows off the beauty of the park.

Stardust Racers

Stardust Racers is a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests rocketing through the skies aboard comets in a race to see who’s the fastest! This rollercoaster reaches speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track. This is the most thrilling coaster experience at Epic Universe with unique maneuvers like the “Celestial Spin,” in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air. This is the best ride in Celestial Park and is the most thrilling in Epic Universe.

Constellation Carousel

Constellation Carousl takes guests on a fantastical whirl aboard constellations that glide forward, backward, and even make 360-degree rotations. Guests get to experience the milky way in a choreographed dance of music and starlight. This attraction is best enjoyed at night to really take in all the lighting effects in Celestial Park.

Astronomica is an interactive wet-play area that also doubles as a giant compass to the many wonders of Epic Universe featuring crystal blue fountains that spring to life and dance around guests. It's a bit of a stretch to call this an attraction as it's just a splash pad but still a great inclusion for kids to enjoy.

Celestial Park also features fountain shows over seven acres of water with heights reaching up to 135 feet in the air with music and interactive lighting from day to night. If you're looking for a nighttime show in Epic Universe, this is the one! The fountain show focuses on each portal in the land and plays the music associated with each one while the lights change colors. It's a low maintenance, easy show to see since you can see it anywhere in Celestial Park.

Super Nintendo World

This Super Nintendo World land is huge in comparison to the one at Universal Studios Hollywood with enough space to incorporate more attractions like those in Japan like the Donkey Kong Mine Cart rollercoaster. When guests enter Super Nintendo World they go up a themed escalator (or an elevator is available) into the land into Princess Peach's castle. From there you can see the full scope of the land including the two main attractions and levels that you can interact with. Donkey Kong Country is its own themed area within Super Nintendo World that includes the popular Donkey Kong coaster.

Super Nintendo World has easily been one of the most popular areas in Epic Universe for adults and kids alike. Unfortunately, this causes the area to be quite crowded compared to the others which can feel a bit overwhelming due to the smaller walkways in comparison to the other areas. See everything about Super Nintendo World Orlando in our guide!

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge

This driving simulation attraction allows Mario Kart video game fans to enter that world. Guests will enter Bowser’s Castle before embarking on their journey. This ride already exists in Japan and Hollywood based on this popular game. This is one of the most popular rides in Super Nintendo World and often has long waits but it does offer Express Pass. The ride uses advanced VR technology combined with digital and physical sets, it's a great experience especially for Super Nintendo fans.

Yoshi’s Adventure

This family-friendly omnimover-style ride takes guests on a trip around the land. The first version of this ride system exists at Universal Studios Japan. This is similar in concept to Walt Disney World's People Mover with guests riding on the “back” of Yoshi's as they enjoy views of Super Nintendo World while they search for Yoshi eggs. This is a fine ride but it moves very, very slowly which can be rough in the hot sun. This could be a skip if you are low on time.

Donkey Kong Mine Cart Rollercoaster

Donkey Kong Mine Cart rollercoaster features a unique ride system that makes riders feel their coaster vehicle is jumping gaps in the track. Recreating the mine cart levels from the video game, this new Donkey Kong roller coaster makes it look like you’re jumping over gaps in the track. This is such a great coaster, although a bit short, and is one you should try to ride!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Epic Universe also includes a brand new Harry Potter themed land! This addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Epic Universe blends the 1920s Paris from the Fantastic Beasts films with the British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.

Before guests enter the portal into the land, they journey from a Muggle park in Paris into the 1920’s Place Cachée. The setting of this land brings guests into the 1920's spectacle of “Place Cachée” – a hidden, shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance.

The land features the same ability for interactive wands and spells the other two wizarding lands Universal offers. The immersion and details in this land are stunning. Harry Potter fans love this area and even guests that aren't Harry Potter fans! You don't need to know anything about Harry Potter to appreciate the beauty of this space.

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

The biggest draw in the Harry Potter land is the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry attraction. This e-ticket ride combines massive environments, storytelling and “first-of-its-kind ride technology.” Read more about how to ride the most popular Harry Potter ride in all of Universal Orlando in our guide.

The ride begins when guests travel by “Métro-Floo” which is the form of wizarding travel inspired by the Floo Network seen in the films. Guests will travel from wizarding Paris to the British Ministry of Magic to battle the infamous Dolores Umbridge. Yes, the villain of this ride will be Dolores Umbridge first featured in the Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix films. This is one of the most iconic villains in the franchise. I love this idea to incorporate a different villain as Voldemort is already predominantly featured in the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts attraction.

One of the main features of the attraction is the entrance into the ride itself as guests will get to enter the Ministry of Magic atrium and venture through Ministry departments before boarding the new attraction which will use “omnidirectional lifts.” Guests will watch the trial of Dolores Umbridge take place and then follow the story as she tries to escape.

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger are also featured in the ride. The classic trio is joined by a new character, a house-elf named Higgledy. The ride is a “thrilling chase” that “propels guests up, down, forward, backward, sideways” as they chase Umbridge through the Ministry. Guests will also be dodging attacks from Death Eaters, “rampaging creatures” and other obstacles as they chase down Umbridge.

This is a fantastic ride and one of the best in Epic Universe. However, lines tend to be long and it does not offer Express Pass so many guests need to weigh how badly they want to ride and how willing they are to wait.

Le Cirque Arcanus

Le Cirque Arcanus offer guests the first time ever experience in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to enjoy a live, full-scale theatre experience. This stage show features live performers, aerialists, skilled puppetry and amazing special effects.

The show follows the story of Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander's suitcase, in an attempt to bring the circus back to life. Guests will see characters like Demiguise, Diricawl, Mooncalves and more during this performance. Gwenlyn, a circus employee characterized in the show, will attempt to rescue the creatures from Skender. This is a great way to incorporate the creatures of the Harry Potter world into the land.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

This area of Epic Universe builds on Universal’s partnership with DreamWorks. How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk features numerous attractions, meet and greets with favorite characters, and an amazing show.

The How to Train Your Dragon land is themed after the isle of Berk from the films where Hiccup, Toothless, and the rest of the vikings and dragons live. In the films, Berk features rocky arches, cliffs, waterfalls, streams and large forests.

In the films, the main village called Hooligan is where all the vikings live. The village is composed of large structures which are all themed around dragons. After the first film when the vikings make peace with the dragons, they add “Dragon Birdhouses” for the dragons to live in. The entire village is bright and colorful featuring many different species of dragons. Universal did an amazing job bringing these dragons to life in the land making it easily one of the most immersive lands in the park.

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders

The main roller coaster of the land is a family friendly ride where Hiccup has invited brave new vikings to take a ride on his latest glider creation. This “winged flying machine” launches new Dragon Riders into the sky for a dragon's eye view of Berk. This is the best ride in the land and is one you should not skip!

Fyre Drill

Viking twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnu, invite teams of Vikings to outscore and out-soak each other on this boat battle. Guests board a colorful dragon-headed boat and blast water cannons at flame-like targets to practice putting out fires. This is a fun ride but you will get soaked so keep that in mind before you ride.

Dragon Racer’s Rally

This attraction allows new Vikings racers to “practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls” on this attraction that reaches heights of up to 67 feet in the air. This ride has a very slow loading and unloading procedure so it creates very long waits.

The Untrainable Dragon

This show is inspired by the popular “Untrainable” show at Universal Beijing Resort. This dragon focused live spectacular features favorite characters like Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid as they work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon. The show features musical numbers, breathtaking sets and life-sized dragons. This is hands down the best show at Epic Universe! If you have to pick between this or the Harry Potter show, see this one!

Meet Hiccup and Toothless

And of course, the land would not be complete without a Hiccup and Toothless meet and greet! You can also meet Astrid and Stormfly but they are often harder to find unless you go first thing in the morning. These meet and greets are very popular and often have long lines.

There is also a Viking Training Camp which gives “Junior Vikings” a chance to learn everything about dragons as they enjoy this interactive play camp which includes a a Viking agility course, a Toothless-themed teeter-totter, baby Gronckle dragon climbers and more.

Dark Universe

Dark Universe is a land focused on the Universal Classic Monsters where guests encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to a shadowy landscape where monsters roam. The classic Universal monster family includes well-known creatures like Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Mummy, the Wolf Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. All of these monsters have become pop culture icons and are a big part of Universal's history and connection to classic horror.

The land includes a new generation of monsters and characters including Dr. Victoria Frankenstein. Dr Victoria Frankenstein is the great-great-granddaughter of the infamous Henry Frankenstein who has continued his misguided experiments. You will meet her in the main attraction of the land, Monsters Unchained, and hear of her experiments throughout the village.

The journey to Dark Universe begins when guests enter the portal which harnesses the dark energy of Darkmoor, the village of the land. The focal point of Darkmoor is Frankenstein Manor and holds the main attraction of the land. The immersion of this land is amazing and is even better at night! Don't forget to come back when the sun falls.

Monsters Unchained

Monsters Unchained takes guests into the catacombs of Frankenstein Manor where they will see Dr. Victoria Frankenstein conduct her twisted experiments. Dr. Victoria Frankenstein is a new character created for Dark Universe. She is the great-great granddaughter of Henry Frankenstein, the creator of Frankenstein from the original story, and she aims to demonstrate her control over monsters.

Dr. Victoria Frankenstein's attempts to control the other monsters goes wrong with Dracula and this unleashes a horde of enraged monsters. Guests are thrust into an intense dark ride as they try to escape The Wolf Man, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Brides of Dracula and others. This attraction uses the same ride system as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

There are 14 animatronics in the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment attraction. The animatronic for Frankenstein's Monster is nine feet tall and weighs over 800lbs. You first see this figure in the queue of the ride as he walks within Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s lab during the preshow.

This is the best ride in Epic Universe and one we rank in that top spot, along with Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, in our top ranking of rides of Epic Universe.

Curse of the Werewolf

Curse of the Werewolf is a spinning family coaster inspired by “The Wolf Man” ensuring this land as an attraction for all ages. Guests enter the encampment of The Guild of Mystics where they’ll be greeted by the Maleva, the guild’s all-knowing seer and leader, who warns them that they bear the mark of the werewolf. You then board a wagon and venture into the forest as they race to escape the werewolves. This is a fun attraction but not quite on the same level as Monsters Unchained. This is a fun ride though so if you have the time, don't skip it.

Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience

Photo via Universal Orlando

Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience will allow guests of all ages to don elaborate face paint and temporary tattoos featuring all their favorite classic monsters.

The story goes that monster makers have converted Dr. Pretorius’ infamous old lab into a parlor to continue the spirit of his demented experiments. This is where skilled artists can transform their appearances to showcase their favorite Universal Monsters.

Meet the Monsters

You can also meet the monsters themselves! Character meet and greets in this land include Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein.

Characters also roam the village including Victoria Frankenstein’s servant, Ygor, The Invisible Man, an eccentric monster hunter, and a talented musician who regales guests with songs and tales of the classic Universal Monsters stories.

Watch Out for The Burning Blade Tavern

The Burning Blade Tavern is an old fiery mill that has been transformed into Darkmoor's monster hunters favorite hangout, despite the blades of the windmill still smoldering and flaming periodically. This part of Dark Universe is an attraction in itself, similar to the fire breathing dragon at Universal Studios Florida, with the windmill lighting on fire every 15-20 minutes.

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I Loved This Cheap Hotel Within Walking Distance to Epic Universe

Lindsay Brookshier — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:00:39 +0000

Universal Stella Nova Resort is one of the newest hotels located right near Epic Universe at Universal Orlando. This hotel is so close to Epic Universe that it even has its own walking path.

We recently stayed at this new Universal Orlando hotel and was surprised at what a great value it is for the price. Keep reading for our full review of the Universal Stella Nova Resort.

Walk to Epic Universe from Universal Stella Nova

Universal Stella Nova Resort is within walking distance to Epic Universe. There is a walking path that leads directly to the theme park. The walk is about 10-15 minutes depending on your walking speed and it's a straight forward path and only requires you to cross one street.

Universal is Fast with Shuttle Service

We didn't even end up using the Epic Universe walking path just because Universal was so fast with their bus service to and from the park. The buses were ready to go an hour before Early Entry at Epic Universe even began. But since the hotel is so close to the front gate, this means a bus trip only took just a few minutes and we were there! The Universal Stella Nova Resort is incredibly convenient for its proximity to Epic Universe and is by far one of the biggest perks of the stay.

Epic Universe Walking Path

Here is the walking path view to Epic Universe, You just walk straight down this road towards the theme park. We saw many families utilizing the walking path but we ended up picking the buses just because they were so efficient!

Brand New Rooms with Galaxy Theme

The theming of Universal Stella Nova Resort is galaxy inspired and this carries over into the design of the rooms. This hotel opened in early 2025 so this is a brand new hotel!

Views of Epic Universe for Most Rooms

Since the hotel faces Epic Universe, most hotel rooms will have a view of the park. We were impressed to see how well we could see the park.

Our Epic Universe Room View

This is the view from our hotel room. You can see Stardust Racers on the left in the image! Laying in bed at night we could see the park lit up which was a nice perk.

Bathroom Divider for Extra Privacy

The Universal Stella Nova Resort hotel rooms are plenty spacious and I also appreciated this nice privacy divider between the beds and bathroom area.

Brand New Hotel Means Brand New Bathrooms

A brand new hotel means brand new bathrooms! Usually the condition of a bathroom is how you can tell the true age of a hotel.

Overall, the room itself was clean, updated, and provided plenty of space for my family of three. You can't go wrong with staying in a hotel that is this new!

Large Pool Area for Universal Resort Guests

The pool area was especially impressive considering its large size! There was so much seating along with a poolside bar. The pool area offers a large pool, splash pad, and hot tub. We didn't get much use out of the pool during our stay since we were at the theme parks so much but I was impressed at the size of it.

Modern Lobby Area with Plenty of Food

The lobby of the Universal Stella Nova Resort features a gift shop, the Nova Bar, a cafe, and a restaurant. In the evenings the Nova Bar as lively with many guests enjoying drinks.

Large Eating Area with Plenty of Options

The restaurant in Universal Stella Nova Resort had a large eating area with plenty of options.

Great Breakfast Food

We enjoyed breakfast at the Universal Stella Nova Resort twice during our stay and both times we enjoyed our food.

Big Portions for What You Order

The portion sizes for some of the menu items were great, especially if you ordered the oatmeal!

Biscuits and Gravy with Egg

The biscuits and gravy came with an egg inside of it and it was very filling. Although you may want to save yourself for the amazing Epic Universe food items including breakfast in the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Is Universal Stella Nova Resort Worth It?

Universal Stella Nova Resort averages around $190 per night with even cheaper rates in the off season. During our stay we paid around $200 per night since it was peak summer season with prices tend to be high even though crowds are actually quite low according to our Universal Orlando crowd calendar.

For what we paid, this felt like a far higher end resort! The hotel is brand new and all of the amenities and food options seem like those that belong in a much higher priced resort. The only true downside is how far you are from the other Universal Orlando theme parks and City Walk which is at least a 10 minute bus ride away. But if you plan on spending a lot of time at Epic Universe, the Universal Stella Nova Resort is a great choice.

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 2025

Lindsay Brookshier — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:00:26 +0000

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights is a must do for Halloween fans! This adult focused event takes place on select nights during the Halloween season. This is one of the most popular Halloween events in Orlando and features some of the best themed haunted houses.

This ticketed event features Hollywood quality haunted houses filled with professional scare actors and movie style effects featuring well-known horror films and monsters! Each year the lineup of haunted houses changes making it the ideal repeat event for Halloween fans.

Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights is one of our favorite events at Universal and is a must for Halloween fans.

This article has been checked for accuracy for 2025 and updated with all currently available information. Some of the information from previous years has been kept here to give you a sense of what will likely be offered in 2025.

Click here to read more about Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights!

Halloween Horror Nights Ticket Info

Halloween Horror Nights begin in the beginning of September and run on varying nights until Halloween. The 2025 Halloween Horror Nights will likely run from end of August through the first few days of November.

See our Universal Orlando crowd calendar here for an idea of projected crowd levels as you are planning your visit.

Even though we can't help with discounts on Halloween Horror Nights since discount tickets aren't offered, we can help with discount tickets for regular park admission to Universal Orlando! Be sure to read our Universal Orlando discount ticket guide to make sure you're getting the best price for your day at Universal.

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 2025 will take place August 29-November 2, 2025.

Tickets start at $79 per person- buy tickets here.

Guests also have the option of purchasing a ticket with Halloween Horror Nights Universal Express Pass. This is similar to the same Express Pass that is sold during regular park admission. Guests who purchase the Express Pass get to use a shorter and lower wait line for attractions and entertainment. The Express pass for Halloween Horror Nights is valid for the mazes, rides, and includes priority seating to some of the live shows offered.

Express tickets start at $129.99 per person- buy tickets here.

Event may be too intense for young children and is not recommended for children under the age of 13. No costumes or costume masks allowed.

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Buying tickets from Get Away Today is easy and convenient since all their tickets are sent electronically. You can take their vouchers and head straight to the gate without needing to wait in any ticket booth lines. They also offer layaway plans so you can pay off your vacation over time.

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Halloween Horror Nights Behind-the-Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour

Take a daytime V.I.P. tour for a lights-on look at Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses. Pick from a 3 or 6-haunted house tour select dates and times.

Exclusive behind-the-scenes access to 3 or 6 haunted houses in a lights-on, informational walking tour (once per house, based on itinerary)
Exclusive access to photograph select rooms in select haunted houses on the tour (as determined by the VIP Experience guidelines for the year's event)
The morning and afternoon 3-house tour is not a combination 6-house tour, and may be the same 3 houses on each tour

Theme park and/or Halloween Horror Nights event admission is not included and NOT REQUIRED to participate in the tour. Due to the intense graphic nature and lights-on viewing of haunted houses, not recommended for children under the age of 13. No costumes or costume masks allowed.

Tickets start at $119 per person- buy tickets here.

Halloween Horror Nights R.I.P. Tour

Priority V.I.P. entry to haunted houses and participating park attractions (once per house, based on itinerary) while on tour with the R.I.P. Guide.

Commemorative R.I.P. Tour credential, lanyard and pin (one each per guest)
Complimentary Valet Parking (one (1) vehicle based on availability and advance purchase)
Pre-Tour Reception in Cafe La Bamba
Access to exclusive cash bar locations (must be 21+ with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages)
Universal Express Unlimited ride access (with R.I.P. credential) at all participating rides & attractions for the date of their tour (valid upon check-in at VIP Experience lobby to be used before or after tour during normal event operating hours; excludes Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses)
Reserved seating at select event show(s) during the tour

Event admission is not included in the listed price. Separate Halloween Horror Nights event admission is required for all R.I.P. Tour experiences AND must be valid for the same calendar day as the R.I.P. Tour ticket. Tour inclusions are subject to itinerary and Houses toured are at the discretion of Universal Orlando Resort.

Tickets start at $299 per person- buy tickets here.

Private R.I.P. Tour

Get the blood-red carpet treatment with a private guided V.I.P. walking tour of the event. Includes all the R.I.P. Tour benefits, PLUS:

Priority UNLIMITED V.I.P. entry to haunted houses while with R.I.P. Tour Guide (subject to itinerary and event operating hours)
Exclusive private tour of the event for your group—up to 10 people
Customizable itinerary
My Universal Photos 3-Day photo package (Photo package entitlement starts on day of R.I.P. Tour)

Halloween Horror Nights R.I.P. Private Tour Includes:

Priority V.I.P. entry to haunted houses and participating attractions while with R.I.P. Tour Guide (subject to itinerary and event operating hours)
Exclusive private tour of the event for your group—up to 10 people
Customizable itinerary
My Universal Photos 3-Day photo package (Photo package entitlement starts on day of R.I.P. Tour)
Pre-Tour Reception in Cafe La Bamba
Reserved seating at select event show(s) during the tour
Commemorative R.I.P. Tour credential, lanyard and pin (one each per guest)
Complimentary Valet Parking (one (1) vehicle based on availability and advance purchase)
Access to exclusive cash bar locations (must be 21+ with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages)
Universal Express Unlimited ride access (with R.I.P. credential) at all participating rides & attractions for the date of their tour (valid upon check-in at VIP Experience lobby to be used before or after tour during normal event operating hours; excludes Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses)

Call to book (866) 346-9350

2025 Universal Orlando Horror Nights Haunted Houses

Haunted houses are the main form of entertainment for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando. These haunted houses/mazes each focus on a separate theme which often coordinates with current popular films and franchises.

This is a haunted house like you've never experienced before with Hollywood-style special effects and wonderful scare actors to immerse you in scenes from these popular films. These houses are intense and stimulating to all the senses: they are often loud and may include flashing lights and strong smells that connect to the scenes. There are many jump scares in all these houses and they vary in terms of how gruesome and horrific they can be.

Here are all the houses released so far for 2025!

FALLOUT

Face your fears in post-apocalyptic LA, devastated by nuclear war, based on this hit show and video game franchise “Fallout.” You’ll travel into the vaults and be attacked by raiders alongside Lucy. You’ll escape to the wasteland and confront the bounty hunter, The Ghoul. You’ll even encounter Maximus with the Brotherhood of Steel and see T-60 power armor.

TERRIFIER

Nothing can prepare you for this grisly haunted house based on all three of Damien Leone’s “Terrifier” films. Try your luck against Art the Clown, Vicky and the Little Pale Girl in the Terrifier funhouse. Witness Art’s grotesque handiwork of torture. You’ll be left literally dripping with terror and drenched with fear. It’s a whole new level of gore!

JASON UNIVERSE

Come face to face with the iconic horror villain Jason Vorhees. Stop into the terrifying world of the silent killer. Flee through the woods and into his sinister shack. Enter the summer camp where his gruesome legend began. Jason is back and nothing can save you now!

MONSTRUOS 3

La Muerte returns to guide you through the darkness, where three ghostly legends of Latin America await. From the haunting wails of La Llorona, to the sinister smile of La Muelona, to the twisted illusion of La Siguanaba, these ancient myths come to life and death to terrorize you. The darkness is calling. La Muerte wants an answer.

Death Eaters in Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Death Eaters will be roaming Diagon Alley during the event. Death Eaters are the devoted followers of Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter films. This live entertainment experience will put guests face-to-face with the Death Eatesr as they roam through London, lurk through Knockturn Alley, and ask guests to join the Dark Lord.

Halloween Horror Nights Scare Zones

There are five different scare zones scattered around Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights! These scarezones are filled with scareactors waiting to jump out and scare you!

Nightmare Fuel Revenge Dream Show

Guests can enjoy the all-new disturbingly entertaining show, “Nightmare Fuel Revenge Dream,” that features a new dreamer confronting the creature that’s been turning her dreams into nightmares.

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights Live Shows

Enjoy two nighttime live shows during Halloween Horror Nights! These live shows are nighttime spectaculars that take place on the water and feature many of your favorite monsters from Hollywood. More details coming soon!

Plan Your Vacation!

Before visiting to get those Universal Orlando freebies, check with our travel partner Get Away Today for the most current discount on tickets and hotels. For more tips on how to vacation in the Sunshine State, sign up for our free MickeyVisit newsletter. You'll receive the latest on events, activities and discounts for your upcoming trip.

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Is Early Park Admission Worth It for Universal’s Epic Universe?

Lindsay Brookshier — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:00:47 +0000

Early Park Admission allows guests staying at Universal resort hotels and select Annual Passholders access to the theme parks an hour before official opening.

Epic Universe, the newest Universal Orlando theme park, has offered Early Park Admission since the park opened but it's been constantly changing in terms of how efficient it is and what attractions it offers. Based on our most recent experience, let's get into whether or not waking up early for Early Park Admission at Epic Universe is worth it.

Epic Universe Early Park Admission Available Rides

Early Park Admission at Epic Universe has shifted and changed since the park opening with rides being added and removed sporadically.

Currently, Early Park Admission includes the following rides:

Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Yoshi's Adventure
Stardust Racers
Constellation Carousel
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Curse of the Werewolf

Mine-Cart Madness was just removed from Early Park Admission and replaced with Dark Universe so this is a fairly recent change. Mine-Cart Madness was having delays at the beginning of the day so this is likely why Universal decided to push its opening back to regular park opening.

The best way to track these changes is to watch the Universal app the morning of your visit which will tell you what time the rides will start operating at. This is a must since things are changing so often at Epic Universe.

Many Guests Use Early Park Admission to Line Up for Harry Potter

Universal allows guests to start queuing for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry during Early Park Admission. If riding this attraction is at the top of your list, then I recommend using your Early Park Admission to get in line. The ride will not start operating until the park officially opens but sitting down in the cool, air conditioned queue is not a bad line experience.

We found this to be our best option with the lowest wait time. Once the ride started running at park open, we had already waited an hour, but since we had a head start in the queue from there, we waited another 30 minutes or so. Technically, we waited an hour and 30 minutes altogether, but an hour of that time we just sat on the floor in the queue and ate a quick breakfast with to-go items we brought in from the hotel.

Is Epic Universe Early Park Admission Worth It?

I do think Epic Universe Early Park Admission is worth it. If you have this perk, you should definitely use it.

But do I think you should arrive an hour early for Early Park Admission? No, currently I do not think that strategy is worth your time unless you are committed to being one of the first groups in line for Super Nintendo World. If you plan on going anywhere else, I would recommend just arriving five minutes or so before Early Park Admission begins and then you can walk right in.

Since Epic Universe is still such a new park, many rides have delays at the beginning of the day and may not be running on time. We experienced this during one Early Park Admission morning when both rides in Dark Universe were delayed along with Stardust Racers. Just know that you might run into a similar problem and be prepared to have a backup plan.

Early Park Admission is worth it, it just really depends on how committed you are to the experience to determine what your plan should be. But you also should consider some important tips.

Universal Bus Departure Times

Most guests accessing Early Park Admission at Epic Universe are going to be staying at Universal Orlando resort hotels which are all eligible for this perk.

Many team members at the Universal hotels will tell you that buses don't leave until 15 minutes before Early Park Admission starts but we saw that buses were running at least an hour before. Make sure you line up early for the buses if you want to get there early, chances are they will be running earlier than team members tell you.

Early Park Admission is Popular at Epic Universe

Since many guests debate whether or not the high cost of Express Pass is worth it for Epic Universe, Early Park Admission is a popular option to try and get on rides with lower wait times. We arrived about 45 minutes before Early Park Admission started and the lines were already quite long. This is a perk that many guests are taking advantage of so everyone is arriving early.

Is it worth it arriving this early each day? It depends. Do you plan on trying to be one of the first guests to enter Super Nintendo World? Then you should probably arrive this early. If you plan on going anywhere else for Early Park Admission, then you do not need to get there this early. On the second day we used Early Park Admission, we decided to show up just five minutes before it began and walked right in.

Super Nintendo World is Packed for Early Park Admission

Super Nintendo World is easily the most popular area for Early Park Admission for Epic Universe. This was the line just to get in for Early Park Admission just minutes after it opened.

For guests that do not have Early Park Admission, team members have a separate area ready to queue for rope drop. Unless you are confident that you are one of the first groups ahead of this crowd, I would NOT go to Super Nintendo World for Early Park Admission. Most guests in this line are going to Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge or queuing early for Mine-Cart Madness.

Early Park Admission to Queue for How to Train Your Dragon

Guests will be able to walk into all three lands (also known as “portals”) during Early Park Admission except How to Train Your Dragon- Isle of Berk. There will be an area set up to begin queuing for entry into this popular land. Guests without Early Park Admission will also be able to start queuing for entry into the land. If you do not have Early Park Admission, this is where I recommend you go first at Epic Universe.

Guests queuing for Isle of Berk are likely going to one of two places: the Toothless meet and greet and Hiccup's Wing Gliders. If you want to line up for Toothless and Hiccup, go the right when you enter Isle of Berk. If you want to line up for Hiccup's Wing Gliders, go to the left when you enter Isle of Berk.

Astrid and Stormfly Are Harder to Find

If you are interested in meeting the dragons of Isle of Berk, you should consider using Early Park Admission to get in a good spot in line for entry to the land. At the start of the day, you will typically meet both Astrid, Stormfly, Hiccup, and Toothless which is a great way to cross all these popular characters off your list.

Because the actors that play Astrid and Hiccup perform in the The Untrainable Dragon show, you won't see these actors in the meet and greet area when the show is taking place. This is why going first thing in the morning is a great plan.

Pick Your Early Park Admission Strategy

Now that I've broken down everything you can accomplish during Early Park Admission, you can decide which strategy you want to go with for Epic Universe.

Super Nintendo World isn't for the weak! This is the most popular portal for Early Park Admission and you need to get there at least an hour before entry to have a chance getting into this land with a low wait.

For the monster fans, Dark Universe is a great choice as long as the rides are up and running. If they are, you will be able to walk right on. If not, then your next move should be Stardust Racers. If you're a rollercoaster fan, Stardust Racers should be the top priority and you can even ride it twice if you go right there at Early Park Admission.

If Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry is at the top of your list, you should use your Early Park Admission to begin lining up for this ride as this will be the best way to get this done at the beginning of the day.

For Guests That Don't Have Early Park Admission

For guests that don't have Early Park Admission, your best bet is to prioritize How to Train Your Dragon- Isle of Berk and line up for either the Toothless character interaction or Hiccup's Wing Gliders. This is the only land that has everyone queue up to enter during Early Park Admission so you stand the best chance of making the most of your time. You might also have good luck going to Dark Universe and Stardust Racers.

But avoid Super Nintendo World if you don't have Early Park Admission! Save that land for later in the day once the crowds disperse since that is where everyone is going first.

Disney Cast Members are specially trained to provide the ultimate Guest experience. No matter what their job entails, the goal is to create the happiest atmosphere for Guests to enjoy. While it’s important to keep the magic alive, real life does still happen. Take a look at some of the codes that Disney Cast Members use to discuss troublesome situations amongst themselves.

Epic Universe Best Foods RANKED- We Tried Everything!

Lindsay Brookshier — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:00:11 +0000

Epic Universe has already proven to have the BEST food in Universal Orlando. We tried everything on our recent visit and were impressed by the large variety of food options in all the themed lands.

Here is a ranking of all our favorite foods in Epic Universe, including the best breakfast options, cocktails, desserts, and more. We also tried all the viral snacks to see what is worth the hype and what's a skip.

Go to Harry Potter for the Best Breakfast

The best breakfast in Epic Universe can be found in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic at Café L’air De La Sirène.

This café not only serves a high quality french menu, but the restaurant itself is absolutely stunning. This was one of my favorite places we ate at because the atmosphere was just so breathtaking.

We tried a selection of frozen Butterbeer, regular Butteerbeer, and lemonade. This restaurant works like all the other sit down dining areas in Epic Unvierse where you scan a QR code to place your order and a team member brings your order to the table.

The Oeuf en Cocotte was a great vegetarian option as this dish was just poached eggs, mornay sauce, and cheese mashed potatoes. I was excited to not be left out at breakfast, especially since the quiches often always have meat in them.

The Quiche Lorraine is filled with crispy bacon, gruyère cheese and caramelized onions and served with mornay sauce. This was a hit in our group.

The croissant kids' meal was a perfect size for my teenager, whom normaly eats light in the mornings. The croissant and fresh fruit were all delicious.

This won us over when it came to breakfast options. I don't think I've ever had such an amazing breakfast in a theme park before!

Viral Isle of Berk Mac n Cheese Cones Are Worth the Hype

The mac and cheese cones at Hooligan's Grog & Gruel in How to Train Your Dragon- Isle of Berk are definitely worth the hype. These might just have been our favorite food item in all of Epic Universe. We tried the Classic Mac and Cheese and the PB&J- Pork, Bacon, and Jam cones.

The PB&J- Pork, Bacon, and Ham has another layer of meats in the middle of the cone so once you finish the top, you'll have another layer.

You can also find the themed Isle of Berk drink here Dragon Splash. This was a fruity, berry flavored drink with a zeros sugar option.

Mead Hall Offers Air Conditioning for Your Mac and Cheese Cones

It was a hot, hot summer day on our visit to Isle of Berk (as you can tell in this photo with the sun blazing in my camera!) so we took our Mac and Cheese Cones to Mead Hall.

Mead Hall is the large indoor dining area in Isle of Berk. There are QR codes on the table to order food and drinks. As long as it's not too busy, you can bring your food from other stands inside here to eat.

We also decided to order dessert here with Stormfly's Catch of the Day. This was a fish shaped chocolate mousse dessert ontop of cereal crumbles. It was good but nothing that exciting or out of the ordinary.

We also tried beverages here with the Toothless Plasma Blast and Gobber's Mead. The Toothless Plasma Blast came in a Toothless themed cup and was just a specialty mix of blue Powerade. It was good but not necessarily worth the price.

The Gobber's Mead was one of our favorite cocktails in Epic Universe. This is a boysenberry-blackcurrant vanilla mead and was rich with flavor. Not the best drink for hot weather though!

Themed Baked Goods On Par with Other Theme Parks

You can find themed fudge, rice crispy treats, cookies, and cake pops in a few locations in Epic Universe: Isle of Berk, Harry Potter, and Celestial Park.

These were definitely photogenic, but the taste wasn't anything too special. We often call them ‘condensed sugar snacks' in our family.

Best Epic Universe Dessert is the Butterbeer Crepe

Now, if you are looking for the best dessert in Epic Universe, our winner was definitely the Butterbeer Crepe. This crepe is available at Café L’air De La Sirène all day, including breakfast. Out of all the desserts we tried at Epic Universe, this was the one we ended up coming back for seconds of!

If you love butterbeer, you will love this Butterbeer Crepe. I still dream of this crepe!

Our Favorite Cocktails in Epic Universe

We tried quite a few cocktails in Epic Universe and our favorites were located at Bar Moonshine in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic. Bar Moonshine is a bit of a hidden gem located in the back of the land and it doesn't open up until the afternoon.

I had the Lobe Blaster which is a mix of moonshine, limoncello, absinthe, lemon juice, and club soda. This drink was delicious and smooth.

We also tried the Wizards Brew draft beer which is a full bodied, sweet stout. There is a wide variety of other specialty drinks, draft beer, plus non-alcoholic options like Butterbeer and Lavender Lemonade. We will defintiely be back!

Pizza Moon is the Best Lunch Spot in Epic Universe

The most popular dining spot in Epic Universe right now is the Pizza Moon located in Celestial Park. If you dine here during peak lunchtime, you will likely have to wait in line to be seated. Team members will have you place your order via mobile order while in line and then will seat you at a table. Once seated, you will enter your table number into the app and your food will be brought to your table.

The process is a bit confusing, you cannot sit down on your own during busy times, you must be seated by a team member.

Aside from just trying out these popular pizzas, we also ordered a Caesar salad with “moon cheese” croutons. This was a surprisingly good salad for a theme park, I was impressed.

The pizzas here are huge, we realized quickly after our order came we easily could have gotten away with ordering less. We ordered the Harvest Moon and The Nanarossa pizzas. The Harvest Moon features grilled artichokes, olives, arugula, and peppers. This was a good combinatin of flavors.

Those looking for a cheese pizza will have to order The Nanarossa which is the closest they have to a plain cheese. So if you have kids who are picky eaters, watch out! We loved the pizza here, but especially appreciated the themed atmosphere.

Meteor Astropub Is Another Great Lunch Option with Fewer Crowds

If you try to line up for Pizza Moon and the line is too long or your family doesn't want to navigate the crowds, we found Meteor Pub to be another great option in Celestial Park that isn't quite as busy. There is plenty of seating indoors and under a covered patio.

My son had a great time trying every mocktail he could find in Epic Universe, and the First Light Mocktail at the Meteor Pub was his favorite.

The menu offers a good selection of burgers, fries, chicken tenders, and other classic American options. The Astro Pub Burger was good and one of the better theme park burgers we've tried.

My favorite menu item here was the Grilled Fourmaggio which was essentially a fancy four chese grilled cheese with tomato soup to dip it in. This location is a good dining choice if you want a quicker lunch or dinner option or if you have picky eaters that may not enjoy the pizza over at Pizza Moon.

Best Ice Cream Located in Donkey Kong Country

I know I picked the best dessert already but I think ice cream deserves its own category!

Our favorite ice cream was hands down the DK Crush Float at The Bubbly Barrel. This is a banana pineaple soft serve float topped with chunks of caramel corn and and chocolate.

You have the option of purchasing a souvenir barrel with it. Keep in mind that the seating over here is very limited and there is limited shade in Donkey Kong Country, but it's really worth the hassle!

Burning Blade Tavern is the Best Late Night Snack

We had to make sure we came back to Dark Universe at dusk to see the Burning Blade Tavern lit up at night so this also made for the perfect late night snack.

The most popular items here are the Hunter's Garlic Stake and Burning Cheddar Bites so we had to try both!

My son continued his mocktail mission and ordered the Souvenir Monocane Mocktail. He didn't like this one as much as others he tried, he said it was too sweet.

As expected, the Hunter's Garlic Stake is strong on the garlic. Our group differed on our opinion on this. Some liked the strong garlic taste and others thought it was too much.

The Burning Cheddar Bites were good and the dipping sauce had a bit of spice to it. We actually ended up dipping the garlic stake in this sauce which was a perfect way to combine these snacks.

We also tried the Burning Blade Burger which followed the theme of the black themed food.

Das Stakehouse Provides Great Sit Down Themed Experience

Das Stakehouse is the indoor dining area in Dark Universe and as long as it's not busy, you can bring your snacks from Burning Blade Tavern in to enjoy there as long as you order something else too!

Das Stakehouse is worth checking out either way!

Even if you don't eat at Das Stakehouse, don't skip taking a peak inside to see the theming.

This is easily one of the best themed restaurants in Epic Universe! The paintings in this restaurant depict the world through the eyes of the vampires.

First up we tried the Carved Staked Steak. This carved strip steak is served medium with a hint of blood, charred green onion mashed potatoes, roasted baby carrots, acorn squash, crispy maitake mushrooms with a bloody jus. The mix of theme with the food here is so well done.

We also tried the Bird on a Stake. This dish is served with roasted veggies and charred green onion mashed potatoes.

Atlantic Provides the Fancy Dining

There are only table service restaurants at Epic Universe: Atlantic Restaurant and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant. We dined at the Atlantic Restaurant which offers great views of the water and fountains in Celestial Park.

Like everything in Celestial Park, this restaurant is beautiful and well-detailed.

There is also a bar upstairs if you want to just pop in for a drink.

For cocktails, we had the Rosemary Paloma and Espresso Manhattan. These drinks were both great, we would definitely came back to just sit at the bar in the future.

This restaurant has a heavy seafood menu but there are a few burger options. We tried the Group Sandwich with beer battered fish. This was one of our favorite burgers in Epic Universe.

If you're not a big seafood fan, they also have a regular burger called the Atlantic Burger “Au Poivre” which features blend beef, asiago peppercorn cheese, peppercorn sauce, and fries. Everything at The Atlantic was more elevated.

And we continued our mission of trying Epic Universe desserts and enjoyed this Pina Colada Panna Cotta. This was a great dessert dish that fit that elevated, higher dining theme with Malibu marinated pineapple.

As you can see, Epic Universe easily wins when it comes to the best of all Universal Orlando food!

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You Need to Check Out This Hidden Harry Potter Bar

Lindsay Brookshier — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 11:00:11 +0000

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando has just expanded with a new land opening at the Epic Universe theme park. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic takes guests back to 1920s Paris before they are transported to the recent events in the films in the most popular ride in the park.

We spent considerable time exploring this newest edition to the Harry Potter world at Universal and stumbled upon the coolest hidden gem to find themed wizarding world drinks!

Don't Walk Right Past This Cool Harry Potter Bar

Bar Moonshine is a new Harry Potter themed bar located in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe. This bar is tucked away in a back corner of the land so it is easy to walk right past it and miss it!

There's not much else in the little courtyard except some spell spots so it's easy to see why many guests haven't discovered this little hidden secret yet.

This Small Space Fills Up Fast

This is a walk up to a counter type bar, there is no inside seating and it's a small space. Outside of the bar there are a few table and chairs and they go fast. Universal could really add some more to this courtyard since it's pretty empty aside from Bar Moonshine!

Fun Harry Potter Details Inside Bar

The interior of the bar is filled with Quidditch team flags in the style of a sports bar. You might even see some teams you recognize from the books! The walls also are adorned with liquor posters advertising well-known drinks in the Wizarding World such as Firewhiskey.

Tap Handles Feature Themed Drinks

We loved looking at the cool details in this hidden Harry Potter bar especially themed tap handles featuring some well-known drinks like Pumpkin Juice and Butterbeer.

Meet Your Harry Potter Bartenders

Everyone in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic do a nice job staying in character. When we took this picture, this bartender “wizard” did a quick spell over our drinks to make them extra magical and then posed for a picture. So much fun!

We ordered the Lobe Blaster and the Wizard's Brew. The Wizard's Brew was a full bodied, sweet stout with a smooth sweetness and dry finish. It was a good but fairly above average dark beer.

Is The Lobe Blaster Better Than Butterbeer?

I ordered the popular Lobe Blaster drink which was easily my favorite alcoholic drink at Epic Universe. The Lobe Blaster is a mix of moonshine, limoncello, absinthe, lemon juice, club soda, and simple syrup garnished with a rosemary sprig and layered with an émulsion verte. This was a strong but smooth drink. It was very refreshing on a hot day and it's something I will definitely get next time I'm in Epic Universe!

Do not skip this Harry Potter bar in Epic Universe, it's such a fun detail and serves up some great themed drinks.

Universal Orlando Annual Passholder Hotel Discounts 2025

Ann Marie Scott — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:00:14 +0000

As a longtime Universal Orlando Annual Passholder, I'm always planning my next trip to visit their incredible theme parks. However, many passholders don't realize that Universal passholder perks go well beyond park admission, and they now include some of the best on-site hotel savings of the year! If you're a Universal Orlando Annual Passholder and plan on visiting this year, you absolutely need to check out the exclusive hotel rates that offer serious value across the resort’s full lineup of accommodations, from Universal's Signature Collection properties to more budget-friendly Prime Value Inns and Suites.

Universal Orlando Annual Passholders can save up to 40% off Universal hotels, which is an amazing deal, especially for those wanting to visit Universal Orlando's new theme park Epic Universe, and gain Early Park Admission. Universal Orlando also offers an exclusive Harry Potter vacation package for annual passholders, which I myself have only recently discovered. Read more to learn about Universal Orlando Annual Pass Hotel Discounts for 2025, along with our tips on how to get the most out of these hotel discounts!

Types of Universal Orlando Annual Passes

For those who are not Universal Orlando Annual Passholders, but may be considering it, there are four different levels of passes including Seasonal, Power, Preferred, and Premier. Each annual pass offers different types of discounts and perks depending on their level. Although some Universal Orlando Annual Passholder discounts vary depending on which type of annual pass you have, the hotel discounts are the same for all passholders. Therefore, if you're an annual passholder and plan on staying at an on-site hotel, make sure to log into your account to take advantage of these discounts when booking your hotel!

In addition to the discounts off room rates, annual passholders also receive 10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages served at each of Universal's hotels (discount not valid for special events and holidays). Premier passholders receive 15% off all Universal owned and operated merchandise stores, including those located inside Universal hotels, while all other passholders receive 10% off.

Universal Orlando Annual Passholder Hotel Discounts

Currently, all Universal Orlando Annual Passholders can save up to 40% off the flexible rate of Universal hotels. The flexible rate is defined as the lowest published non-discounted double-occupancy room rate offered on a given night, before tax. Therefore, although you may receive the same discount on some hotels, it all depends on the regularly priced room rate on the nights of your vacation.

Although not all Universal resorts offer a full 40% discount for Universal Orlando Annual Passholders, there are still other discounts ranging from 10% up to 40%, which can help save a ton of money on your Universal vacation. The biggest discounts can be found on the Prime Inns and Suites resorts, with rates as low as $122 per night for annual passholders.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Exclusive Vacation Package for Annual Passholders

Universal Orlando is also offering their Annual Passholders access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ Exclusive Vacation Package! This package offer runs through the rest of 2025 as long as you book your vacation package before December 10, 2025. This package is great for Harry Potter fans that plan on visiting Universal and want to prioritize early entry into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The package consists of 1) a three night stay at a Universal hotel, 2) early park admission, 3) one hearty breakfast per guest at the Leaky Cauldron restaurant located in Diagon Alley, 4) a portrait session including a DVD photo album, exclusive photo print, and a magical family portrait that actually moves, and 4) Fortescue's ice cream flight including four flavors of your choosing and a Honeydukes cooler tote!

A valid annual or season pass is required at the time of booking and travel. For more information and to book this package, all guests must call (866) PASS-4-FUN, or (866) 7277-4-386.

Tips on Getting the Most Out of the Annual Passholder Hotel Discounts

If you're a Universal Orlando Annual Passholder and want to take advantage of the hotel discounts, we recommend finding days that have a low flexible rate. This way, your discount will go even further compared to a busier time of year, such as a holiday weekend, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. We visit Universal Orlando during each season throughout the year and have narrowed down the best and worst times to go to the theme parks. If your priority is to save as much money as possible, I highly recommend referring to our Universal Orlando crowd calendar which is updated monthly and will help make your decision on when to visit much easier! It is updated monthly and will break down what to expect with the crowd levels, as well as what events are happening each month. If you're looking to avoid crowds and high costs of tickets and hotels, we recommend knowing which dates to avoid when visiting Universal Orlando.

For example, if you visit Universal Orlando in early November, there are rooms for almost $100 off each night during the week! For example, for a three-night stay between November 3rd, 2025, and November 6, 2025, you can book a room at the new Universal Terra Luna Resort for as low as $139 per night. This rate is exceptionally low, especially compared to the regular rate of $225 per night before the annual passholder discount is applied.

Other Universal Hotel Perks

Staying at one of the amazing Universal Orlando hotels comes with so many perks, which can be used alongside these Universal Passholder discounts. The best perk of staying at a Universal hotel is gaining access to Early Park Admission to select attractions at all Universal Orlando parks, including Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and yes – even Epic Universe!

All Universal hotel guests can enter the theme parks up to one hour prior to official park opening. Recently, this has been a huge advantage for those visiting Epic Universe, as some attractions such as Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry have regular wait times of between two to four hours. Although some online reports have recommended waiting until the of the day to get in line, the Battle at the Ministry attraction has been reaching capacity by the early evening. This means Universal hotel guests have the biggest advantage by getting in line early before the park officially opens. Although earlier reports indicated annual passholders could also receive early admission to Epic Universe, it is currently not the case and is only offered to hotel guests. Therefore, if you're an annual passholder wanting to get the most out of their day at Epic Universe (or any other Universal theme park), it's worth taking advantage of these hotel discounts.

Other amazing perks that come with staying at a Universal hotel include complimentary transportation via shuttles and water taxis which provide seamless access between the hotels, parks, and CityWalk. If you’re staying at a Premier hotel, you’ll also receive free Universal Express Unlimited passes, which let you skip the regular lines at most attractions and is a huge time-saver. Other benefits include complimentary merchandise delivery purchased throughout Universal Orlando to your hotel, resort-wide charging privileges, and room key access to park purchases, making your entire Universal stay convenient, immersive, and packed with value.

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Going to Universal’s Epic Universe? Here’s 10 Things You Need to Know

Lindsay Brookshier — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 11:00:54 +0000

Epic Universe is the newest Universal Orlando theme park that opened in May 2025. Since the park's opening, there has been a number of different operational changes and shifts along with key differences from the other Universal Orlando theme parks.

Even as a seasoned theme park visitor, I found myself confused at times navigating the differences of Epic Universe. Based on my time spent in the park, here are the top things you need to know before your visit.

1. Express Pass Works Differently at Epic Universe

The biggest difference for Express Pass at Epic Universe is that premium Universal Orlando hotels do not include Express Pass for Epic Universe in their hotel stays. Currently, you get Express Pass included with your hotel stay if you stay at one of these three hotels: Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. But for now, that is only for use at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. This is where most of the complaints about the high cost of Express Pass for Epic Universe come in.

Three rides are also not included in Express Pass: Dragon Racer's Rally, Mine-Cart Madness, and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry which includes two of the most popular rides in the park. See all our best tips for how to get on Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry with no wait.

You can also only purchase single use Express Pass at Epic Universe which means you can only use Express Pass once on each ride. We might see the way Express Pass operates at Epic Universe change down the line but for now, the usage is a bit more limited compared to the other Universal theme parks.

2. Early Park Admission Can Change

Early Park Admission at Epic Universe has shifted and changed since the park opening with rides being added and removed sporadically. Currently, Early Park Admission includes the rides in Dark Universe, Stardust Racers, and two of the three rides in Super Nintendo World. Mine-Cart Madness was recently removed from Early Park Admission and replaced with Dark Universe.

3. Some Rides Are Still Open Past Park Close

If the park is listed at closing at 9 PM, this means only the “portals” are closing at 9 PM.

Guests can still access the two rides in Celestial Park an hour after that closing time. This was a pleasant surprise to us as we were able to just walk on Stardust Racers and Constellation Carousel. We even rode Stardust Racers twice!

4. Be Prepared for Hot Sun and Limited Shade

You can find some decent shade in some of the specific lands, especially in the Harry Potter area, but as for the rest of the park, there is minimal shade.

This is especially true when you're walking to and from the “portals” in the Celestial Park area. Consider bringing a strong UV umbrella to keep yourself shaded, as we found this a big struggle in the hot weather. This also meant there were minimal spots to sit in the shade, and so that often resulted in us taking breaks inside restaurants to get out of the sun.

5. Most Rides Shut Down for Rain

Most of the rides in Epic Universe are outdoor attractions which means they will close for storms. If there is any chance of lightning in the area, Universal will close these attractions.

That means that only four rides will stay open, plus the two shows, in the park. This is one of the biggest negatives for Epic Universe, as a big rain storm will essentially shut the park down. Make sure you prioritize the outdoor rides early in the day as it's more common for storms to take place in the afternoon in Orlando.

6. Universal Uses More Facial Recognition for Lockers and Entry

Universal is testing out a lot more options for facial recognition in Epic Universe which often slows things down considerably as they work out the kinks. All of the lockers for attractions use facial recognition which, for the most part, is more efficient since you do not have to go digging for a park ticket.

But when it came to entering the park and using Express Pass, the machines for facial recognition were still in testing and they caused a lot of slow down when moving through lines. Sometimes we were asked to scan our Express Pass ticket and other times they scanned our faces. Be prepared for both, especially if you have Express Pass.

7. Most Dining Uses Mobile Order

Mobile order at Epic Universe is available at nearly every dining location. I love the way Universal Orlando uses mobile order. You just sit at your table, scan the QR code on the table, and place your order. A team member will then bring the food to your table.

During busy times, you will have to wait in line to be sat at a table before placing your order so which can create some confusion. But the process still largely works the same. Some restaurants do not even have an option to place an order with a team member so having the Universal Orlando app downloaded is essential.

8. Skip the Crowded Super Nintendo Entrance to Save Time

The entrance to Super Nintendo World is fun for immersion as guests travel up escalators (or use elevators) and enter overlooking the land. But from there, you have to go down large flights of stairs (or elevators if you can't use stairs) to get to the bottom floor where many of the attractions are. This is especially a pain if you are going into the area just to access Donkey Kong Country.

We discovered a secret entrance located behind this Mario fountain to the right of the portal, which is just big doors that lead you right into the ground floor and just steps away from Donkey Kong Country. If you are looking to just get from point A to point B when it's crowded, I highly suggest this pathway!

9. Use Single Rider Lines

Take advantage of the single rider lines at Epic Universe. There is a large number of attractions that take single rider, although some may close due to capacity, especially for the most popular rides.

Curse of the Werewolf
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Mine-Cart Madness
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Stardust Racers

Based on what we observed, single rider lines were the longest for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry and Mine-Cart Madness. They looked the most effective for the other rides on this list.

10. Stay Late for the Fountain Show in Celestial Park

The Cosmos Fountain Show at Epic Universe takes place in Celestial Park after the portals close for the night. This is such a cool show that you can get a great view of from anywhere in Celestial Park. The show is about 18 minutes long and feautures all of the fountains and LED lights changing in time to music that celebrates all of the different portals in the park like Super Nintendo World, Isle of Berk, etc.

This was a great show to end our night with and was extremely low maintenance to see.

Universal Orlando in July 2025: 4th of July, Hours, Events

Lindsay Brookshier — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 11:00:48 +0000

Universal Orlando in July is a great time of year for guests to visit Orlando to still take advantage of the last bit of mild weather before the summer heat kicks in!

Make sure to read our Universal Orlando crowd calendar to get an idea of what to expect when it comes to crowds as you plan your vacation. We base our crowd calendar predictions on data we collect from 1-day ticket tiered pricing, seasonal events, annual passholder calendars, and more.

In our monthly Universal Orlando guides we cover the events, weather, and park hours you should expect during your visit to Universal in July.

Universal Orlando Events in July

Here are all the current events to know about impacting Universal Orlando in June!

Epic Universe Now Open

All the rage at Universal Orlando this summer is the opening of its brand new theme park Epic Universe, which opens May 22, 2025. This new theme park offers some great rides featuring Harry Potter, Universal Monsters, and How to Train Your Dragon. This will be a big draw for guests visiting Universal Orlando in July. We have seen larger-than-usual crowds in Epic Universe than we typically see at the other parks, as demand is still high. Especially for the insanely popular new Harry Potter ride!

4th of July

Universal Orlando celebrates the 4th of July in Universal Studios Florida with a DJ, character interactions, and a fireworks show. You can also see live music in City Walk at various bars and venues.

Universal Orlando in July Crowd Calendar

Universal Orlando may still see higher-than-usual crowds in July due to the recent opening of Epic Universe. However, this is traditionally a lower crowd time of year for the Orlando theme parks, as Halloween and Christmas have become a major draw for guests. In this case, we will likely continue to see high crowds at Epic Universe and more manageable crowds at the other two theme parks.

According to our crowd calendar, weekends will see above normal crowds at the theme parks with weekdays being normal crowds. Epic Universe continues to be a bit of a wild card though so bear that in mind, it's not often a brand new theme park opens at Universal.

Universal Orlando Weather in July

Visiting Universal Orlando in July means visiting during the peak of tropical season in Florida which means extremely hot temperatures and plenty of afternoon showers. The average high in July is 92 degrees with the average low being 72 degrees. While the rain might not last long, July still sees some of the heaviest rain all year with an average of 7 inches for the month of July.

The good news is that most summer rainstorms move in and out quickly within an hour so it usually won't impact your days at the parks too much. Those afternoon showers can also help cool down the parks and bring that average high temperature down a few degrees making the rest of the day a bit more bearable. Regardless, you should be prepared for hot, humid, and rainy weather when visiting Universal Orlando in July.

What to Wear and Pack for Universal Orlando

One of the most frequently asked guest questions is: what should I wear to Universal Orlando? Wear clothes that are comfortable in hot weather and can easily adapt to deal with sudden rain. Bringing a rain poncho to the parks with you this time of year is crucial so you can still enjoy the park if it does suddenly rain.

July brings such hot weather that you should pack for summer! Think summer clothes, sunscreen, cooling towels, and whatever else you might need to keep your family cooled off if the temperatures get high. Don't underestimate the Florida heat this time of year- bring plenty of items designed to keep you cool. This will save you money in the long run since buying these items in the park can be pretty costly.

If you're looking for information on visiting Walt Disney World in July, see our monthly guide on those events and crowd predictions!

We Paid $830 for Express Pass at Universal’s Epic Universe- Was It Worth It?

Lindsay Brookshier — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:00:27 +0000

Epic Universe has been extremely popular since it opened in May of this year and many guests were thrilled to see that Express Pass is an option at this Universal Orlando theme park.

However, not all the rides are included in Express Pass and the cost per person has been astronomical compared to pricing at the other Universal parks. We recently paid $830 for a family of three for one day of access to Express Pass at Epic Universe. Was it worth it?

Average Cost of Express Pass for Epic Universe

The average cost of Express Pass at Universal Orlando varies depending on which theme park you are visiting. Since Epic Universe is the newest theme park, it has had the highest price for Express Pass compared to the other theme parks.

While Universal Orlando's website states that Express Pass for Epic Universe starts at $159.99 per person, the average price since it opened has hovered around $270 per person, with the price rising to $300 per person if you wait until the last minute to purchase. Compared to Islands of Adventure, this is about $50 more per person. For Universal Studios Florida, the price is actually about the same.

The catch here is that premium Universal Orlando hotels do not include Express Pass for Epic Universe in their hotel stays. Currently, you get Express Pass included with your hotel stay if you stay at one of these three hotels: Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. But for now, that is only for use at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. This is where most of the complaints about the high cost of Express Pass for Epic Universe come in.

Additionally, only once per ride Express Pass is available at Epic Universe. There is no option to purchase Unlimited Express Pass which allows you to ride attractions using Express Pass more than once.

So far, these are the two biggest differences to the Express Pass offering at Epic Universe.

What Rides Are Included in Express Pass at Epic Universe?

A lot of the major rides at Epic Universe are included in Express Pass. Below are all the available rides plus two shows:

Constellation Carousel
Curse of the Werewolf
Fyre Drill
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
Le Cirque Arcanus
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Stardust Racers
The Untrainable Dragon
Yoshi’s Adventure

There are three rides that are not included in Express Pass at Epic Universe and unfortunately, two of these rides are the main e-ticket attractions in the park. Express Pass is not included for:

Dragon Racer's Rally
Mine-Cart Madness
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

The biggest bummer here is that Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is not included. This is the most popular ride in the park and since opening, has consistently had 2-3 hour wait times. I talk more about the best strategies to ride it in my review, so you can experience it with the lowest wait time.

Is the High Price of Express Pass Worth It?

As with any costly theme park experience, this question is pretty subjective. It's no secret that Express Pass is extremely costly, especially at Epic Universe. If money is no object, then the answer is always yes.

We paid $830 total for three people during a June trip to Epic Universe for one day of Express Pass. The rides that it helped the most with high wait times were:

Fyre Drill
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Stardust Racers

All the other attractions often had wait times that were doable without Express Pass at certain times of the day, but especially in the late afternoon and evening. For the rides listed above, the wait times often exceeded an hour and even up to two hours at times for Hiccup's Wing Gliders and Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. Being able to walk right on these four rides with no wait made the cost worth it for us because the alternative would have been waiting at least an hour for each ride, which would have eaten up at least four hours of our day.

Express Pass will allow you to walk on to nearly all the attractions at Universal Orlando and you often never wait longer than 15 minutes, but at times it can be up to 30 minutes for a popular ride. The longest wait we had in an Express Line was for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. Due to the high demand for this ride, we waited about 30 minutes in the Express Pass line.

We also experienced long waits in the Express Pass line for Stardust Racers since the merge point of Express Pass with the standby queue is very early in the line, resulting in a longer wait time.

Do You Need Express Pass at Epic Universe?

If you only want to prioritize a few of the heavy-hitter attractions and are okay with not riding everything… then you do not need Express Pass to have a great time at Epic Universe. There are attractions that often have lower wait times later in the day or first thing in the morning that you can get on without Express Pass. Those include:

Constellation Carousel
Curse of the Werewolf
Le Cirque Arcanus
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
The Untrainable Dragon
Yoshi’s Adventure

Le Cirque Aracanus and The Untrainable Dragon are both shows in theaters that offer plenty of seating. You do not need Express Pass to get a spot for these shows.

The rides in Dark Universe consistently have low waits in the mornings (as everyone else runs to Super Nintendo World) and in the evening. We consistently saw Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment listed at under 20 minutes throughout the day which was surprising considering it is one of the best rides in the park.

And of course, the two biggest heavy hitters are NOT included with Express Pass so the fact you can't use it on every ride is a big drawback.

Why I Always Splurge for Express Pass

I knew we would splurge on Express Pass for this trip because it was important to my family to experience all of the rides in the park. We also love the convenience and ease of using Express Pass. It made our day easy and relaxing which is an important factor in my decision.

Express Pass is incredibly easy to use at Universal Orlando. You do not need to book return times or plan your rides into your day. You simply scan your Express Pass when you want to ride and go right in the line. It's so easy which is a huge plus when we compare it to more complicated systems like Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World.

But if you don't want to spend the money on Express Pass, I do think you can manage to get on most of the best rides without it!

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Our Epic Universe Room View

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