ICYMI, Universal Orlando will quickly open a extremely anticipated new theme park that’s already been hyped as being the “greatest on the planet.” Referred to as Common Epic Universe, it consists of 5 lands: Celestial Park, Darkish Universe, Tips on how to Practice Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, and Super Nintendo World. Though Epic Universe doesn’t formally open to the general public till Could 22, 2025, I acquired an opportunity to preview the park (simply wow) and trip practically each single trip. So, earlier than you e-book your journey, buckle up… I’ve acquired a number of ideas that can assist you determine which areas and points of interest will get your loved ones probably the most bang to your buck.
For context, Common Studios Florida and Common Islands of Journey have a mixed 31 rides: 14 at Common Studios Florida (round 108 acres) and 17 at Common Islands of Journey (round 110 acres). When Epic Universe opens in Could, visitors may have 11 new rides to expertise, spanning one other 110-acre park. So, size-wise and attraction-wise, it’s going to really feel like a 3rd arm of Common’s present parks. Nonetheless, belief me after I say it additionally feels completely totally different from any theme park you’ve ever been to.
I simply previewed the park, making it onto 10 out of 11 rides. Right here’s what it’s best to find out about every of them forward of your personal journey to this — gotta say it — actually *epic* (¯_(ツ)_/¯) theme park.
Epic Universe Rides I Tried
Stardust Racers (In Celestial Park)
- Peak requirement: 48″ minimal
- Specific go: sure
On this huge dual-launch coaster, riders “board a comet and rocket to the furthest reaches of the celebs” — aka as much as 133 toes excessive at speeds as much as 62 miles per hour on a observe stretching 5000 toes. I’m a coasterhead, and I might undoubtedly say that is one lovers can be raving about. Whereas not fairly as quick as Common Islands of Journey’s Velocicoaster, which reaches speeds as much as 70 miles per hour, it’s fairly shut. Coupled with the inverted crisscross motion and the second coaster blazing throughout you, it boggles the mind a bit. In keeping with one information within the park, the 2 tracks of this coaster symbolize totally different depth ranges (like Mission House at Disney’s Epcot). I went on the yellow aspect, which I imagine is taken into account the much less intense aspect… and it was fairly intense!
A number of different enjoyable details: The Stardust Racers haven’t any exterior observe lighting, that means the trip automobiles are the one component illuminated at evening. That makes them seem as precise comets taking pictures throughout the evening sky in Celestial Park. And be looking out for the “flux capacitor” on the again of the coasters — it’s just a little Again to the Future Easter egg.
Dragon Racers Rally (In Isle of Berk)
- Peak requirement: 48″ minimal
- Specific go: not instantly however could also be supplied at a later date
Followers of Tips on how to Practice Your Dragon know that dragon racing is a celebrated pastime on the Isle of Berk. On this enjoyable aerial trip, you get to turn out to be a brand new Viking and observe your personal aerobatic dragon-riding maneuvers. Every wing has a deal with, so you’ll be able to management them individually (you’re primarily capable of flap the wings) and modify the depth of your trip accordingly. It’s doable to do a barrel roll, though just one individual in our group achieved it. Nonetheless, one of many trip’s staff members advised us his report is 5!
The intel I obtained is that it’s a lot simpler to flip if you happen to’re in a glider on the entrance or the again of the trip — the gliders within the center are greatest for riders who simply need to cruise and benefit from the surroundings. And because you attain heights of as much as 67 toes, you’ll be able to see so much.
Fyre Drill (In Isle of Berk)
- Peak requirement: no minimal top, however youngsters beneath 48” should be accompanied by a supervising companion
- Specific go: sure
On Epic Universe’s solely water trip, Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut have reworked Berk’s Fyre Skööl right into a drenched boat battle. In spite of everything, there are fire-breathing dragons throughout; you might want to be able to extinguish no matter comes your means. For this interactive expertise, you’ll board a ship, take your seat, and seize your water-blasting cannon deal with. There are three varieties of targets: purple/flames, orange and inexperienced, and blue. Hitting the primary scores you factors, hitting the second shoots water on the opposing boat, and hitting blue shoots water again at you. Whichever boat accrues probably the most factors will get bragging rights and turns into a full-fledged Viking firefighter crew.
Professional tip: The cannons shoot over 28 toes into the air. So, if you happen to’re feeling just a little impish, you’ll be able to shoot proper over the targets to land direct hits on the opposing boat’s Vikings. You’ll get soaked both means, however on a scorching day, that may catapult this trip to the highest of your must-do record.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders (In Isle of Berk)
- Peak requirement: 40” minimal, and kids beneath 48” should be accompanied by a supervising companion
- Specific go: sure
This tremendous enjoyable coaster is Hiccup’s newest contraption. You see, he’s attempting to fabricate a winged flying machine to launch Dragon Riders into the air sans dragons. I wasn’t positive what to anticipate from this one, nevertheless it ended up being one in all my favorites. To begin with, it’s sooner and swoopier than you may anticipate. Plus, it takes you above and across the Isle of Berk, dipping over the lagoon (the most effective!) and extra. You additionally get to see an animatronic Hiccup and Toothless, and there’s actually by no means a nasty time for a Toothless cameo.
Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry (In Ministry of Magic)
- Peak requirement: 40” minimal
- Specific go: not instantly however could also be supplied at a later date
I’m going to stage with you right here — I don’t even know the best way to adequately describe this trip. The size of it’s simply in contrast to something I’ve been on earlier than. For hardcore Potterheads, this would be the trip that stays with you lengthy after you’ve disembarked. The gist? Dolores Umbridge is about to face trial, so it’s essential to journey by Métro-Floo from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic™ to fulfill up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione in anticipation. However as you journey deep into the Ministry’s many departments, you encounter a number of… uninvited visitors.
This darkish indoor trip makes use of cutting-edge expertise that enables the trip car to be actually omnidirectional, transferring up and down, ahead and backward. I’m positive the “carry” you’re seated in doesn’t really transfer that a lot, nevertheless it actually felt like we had been rising and dropping nice heights and zipping this fashion and that slightly shortly. Though the trip will doubtless have staggering wait instances when the park opens, followers gained’t even thoughts as a result of the queue is mind-blowing. You’ll need to be in line lengthy sufficient to soak all of it in, from the large atrium with tens of 1000’s of darkish inexperienced tiles to Umbridge’s workplace (full with transferring cat plates) and past.
The trip itself additionally marks the primary time Common has created an authentic Harry Potter-themed story for a trip, making it really feel much more particular.
Curse of the Werewolf (In Darkish Universe)
- Peak requirement: 40” minimal
- Specific go: sure
Maleva, the all-knowing chief of the Guild of Mystics, welcomes you to a secluded wagon camp in Darkmoor’s woods for this spinning household coaster. However you’ll quickly uncover that you just undoubtedly aren’t alone: glowing eyes, gnashing tooth, and haunted howls trace on the menacing predators able to hunt you down.
That is one other trip that you just may write off as a “child” coaster, however that might be a mistake — it truly is enjoyable for the entire household, with the doable exception of anybody who will get spinning illness. It’s quick (clocking in at 37 miles per hour), and it goes ahead and backward on the observe when you spin round, making it wildly entertaining in its unpredictability.
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment (In Darkish Universe)
- Peak requirement: 40” minimal
- Specific go: sure
This was one of many rides I used to be most excited to expertise, and it didn’t disappoint. Once more, it’s one the place you’ll be able to’t assist however marvel over how large and complex and funky it’s. The backstory right here is that Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, in persevering with the misguided work of her ancestors, has created a laboratory beneath the Frankenstein household property to experiment with controlling monsters. However issues go horribly awry beneath the towering manor when Dracula leads a monster revolt.
Should you’re a horror fan, you’ll utterly nerd out over seeing so many iconic monsters from basic Common Photos movies: Dracula and Frankenstein’s Monster (who’s kinda scorching, FWIW), clearly, together with the Wolf Man, the Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and extra. From the crackle of electrical ropes as you board the trip to the catacomb partitions comprised of skulls, then onward as you journey previous all the animatronic monsters, it simply looks like each a trip and a film in a single.
It operates utilizing a robocoaster arm just like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, solely next-gen, so you’ll be able to anticipate related vibes with much less of the wooziness many individuals get from Forbidden Journey’s use of screens. The trip itself didn’t really feel terribly scary (it’s not tremendous quick and is just a little jerky however nothing too intense), however I’d nonetheless say it’s for extra mature riders. “Creepy” children who gravitate towards horror will dig it — however the darkish vibes would doubtless scare different younger riders.
Mine-Cart Insanity (In Tremendous Nintendo World)
- Peak requirement: 40” minimal, and kids beneath 48” should be accompanied by a supervising companion
- Specific go: not instantly however could also be supplied at a later date
How do I really like this trip, let me rely the methods! Your objective right here is to assist Donkey Kong shield the Golden Banana, which implies it’s essential to board your mine cart and race by means of the majestic Golden Temple. In case you are a fan of Donkey Kong video video games, particularly the OG ones, you’ll LOVE this trip. The distinctive observe system actually makes it appear as if your cart leaps over gaps and switches tracks all through the trip, making you are feeling such as you actually are within the sport. I used to be with a gaggle of all adults, however I can’t wait to see my children’ response to “leaping the observe” on this one.
My solely phrase of warning right here is that the trip is supposed to really feel like you’re in a mine cart, so it jerks and jostles you. If anybody in your get together is delicate to that, they could need to sit it out or be ready to powerful it out.
Yoshi’s Journey (In Tremendous Nintendo World)
- Peak requirement: 34” minimal, and kids beneath 48” should be accompanied by a supervising companion
- Specific go: sure
Of all of the rides I rode, I might say that is probably the most family-friendly. Within the Common system, it’s just like the Sky Seuss Trolly Practice Trip. Should you’re extra aware of Disney, suppose Folks Mover. Within the slow-moving expertise, you’re taking a trip on a Yoshi to seek for glowing eggs. While you see one, you press the corresponding egg in your Yoshi automobile, with the objective of “amassing” all of them.
Will it enchantment largely to the little littles? Sure. Can large children and grownups take pleasure in it, too? Completely. It contains lots of basic characters: Kamek, Child Mario, Child Peach, Pokey, Paratroopa, and extra. It’s indoor and out of doors, every providing advantages. While you’re indoors, you get a reprieve from the recent Florida solar. While you’re open air, you get to see the true breadth of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem (In Tremendous Nintendo World)
- Peak requirement: 40” minimal, and kids beneath 48” should be accompanied by a supervising companion
- Specific go: sure
No actual surprises right here — this trip is a blast. As soon as in your kart, you’ll placed on particular goggles (you’ll look hilarious, sure) that transport you into an augmented actuality world the place you’ll acquire cash and throw shells at your enemies in an try and beat Staff Bowser. Between the AR, projection mapping, and 3D units, it doesn’t get rather more immersive. It principally takes you inside Mario Kart, and as a Mario Kart fan, I felt like I’d died and gone to that nice large gaming system within the sky.
Whereas this trip additionally exists at Common parks in Hollywood and Japan, it has a number of outcomes as a way to get totally different experiences on totally different rides. Simply keep in mind: Intention along with your head!
Epic Universe Trip I Haven’t Ridden But
There was just one trip I didn’t get to at Epic Universe: Constellation Carousel.
- Peak requirement: no minimal top, however youngsters beneath 48” should be accompanied by a supervising companion
- Specific go: sure
Because the identify suggests, it’s a carousel impressed by constellations within the sky. So, you get to hop aboard celestial creatures for what looks like a one-of-a-kind merry-go-round — every carriage turns 360 levels whereas lifting riders as much as six toes within the air.
Different Essential Stuff to Know
I discovered the rides to be fairly size-inclusive for each taller and larger-bodied visitors. Some rides are undoubtedly extra comfortable by design (coasters like Hiccup’s Wing Gliders and Stardust Racers are understandably tight to maintain you protected and in place), in order that’s one thing to contemplate if you happen to get claustrophobic. The rides have tester seats to see how comfy you are feeling earlier than getting in line.
And if you happen to’re touring with youngsters who aren’t sufficiently old or tall sufficient for among the points of interest however different folks in your group wish to trip, I discovered the household rooms/little one swap areas to be fairly implausible: massive with a number of seating and ice-cold A/C.
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