Can you do Universal Epic Universe in one day? Maybe, but you shouldn’t. 

Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park, Universal Epic Universe, is finally open to the public. I’ve been lucky enough to visit the five incredible worlds of the park on multiple occasions. Every time I find something new to do. From thrilling attractions, interactive elements, world-class entertainment, and a host of characters to meet, there’s a lot to do at the park.

But that begs the question: Can you really do all of Epic Universe in one day? The short answer is maybe, but you shouldn’t. Keep reading to learn more about how to do it all in one day and why you should spend two days at Orlando’s newest theme park.

How long do you need at Epic Universe? 

Deciding how long you need at a theme park can be tricky, especially at a brand new one you haven’t been to before. Epic Universe currently has 11 attractions and two indoor stage shows. This may not seem like a lot, but I promise all the rides and shows are worth experiencing. Then there’s all of the other incredible things that really make this theme park come to life, including interactive play areas, character meet and greets, and more.

MAKE MEMORIES: 25 best family vacation spots in the U.S. for all ages

The park is easy to navigate. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of figuring out how to get around efficiently. Celestial Park is the main spine of the park, and you pass through it to get to each of the other four portals. Each of the worlds packs a lot into a small space, many with multiple attractions and dining opportunities. 

How to do Epic Universe in one day

If your family only wants to spend one day at Epic Universe and is solely focused on the big hitter rides throughout the park like Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, and Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, you should be able to get most of them done in a single day, especially if you splurge for Universal’s skip the line service called Express Pass. Just know that Battle at the Ministry, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and Mine-Cart Madness are not included on Express Passes. Try to get in line for one of these right when the park opens. Express passes for Epic Universe start at $140 per person per day. 

BEST TRIP EVER: 101 fresh new family vacation ideas for every age and budget

You could also book a VIP Experience at Epic Universe. This grants your entire party a VIP guide to escort you through the park and multiple attractions in four hours. Prices for a shared (multiple groups in one tour) VIP Experience at Epic Universe start at $420 per person and include valet parking and one-time express ride access to all attractions at the tour’s conclusion. This is a great way to virtually guarantee getting on Mine-Cart Madness and Ministry of Magic since they are not available with Express Pass. You do have to buy a separate entry ticket into Epic Universe to take the tour. Entry into the park is not included in the VIP Experience price.

For families on a budget, consider staying at one of the on-site hotels near Epic Universe, like Universal Stella Nova or Universal Terra Luna. These are some of Universal Orlando Resort’s cheaper hotel options, and includes one hour of early entry into Epic Universe on select days. During this hour, you can enjoy the attractions inside SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and Celestial Park. I suggest heading straight for Mine-Cart Madness in the Donkey Kong Country section of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD for a shorter wait time. 

KID-FRIENDLY: 25 best family resorts and hotels in the U.S.

I’ve done all of Epic Universe in one day. While it is possible, I did feel like I missed a lot of what makes this park great, including the interactive walk-around characters, playing with a Power-Up Band in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, and using a wand inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I started my morning around 9:00 a.m. and pushed myself to stay in the park until closing time. At the end of the day, I was exhausted and realized I needed a vacation from my vacation.

Our perfect Epic Universe one-day plan 

If you don’t want to buy Express Passes or a VIP Experience, try our perfect Epic Universe one-day plan, which includes early entry since you’ll want to stay at one of the on-site Universal Orlando hotels. My ideal way to tour Epic Universe starts in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, which is open for early entry. Get Mine-Cart Madness out of the way first, then hit Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge or head for Stardust Racers in Celestial Park. Once these are done, line up at one of the three portals that’s not SUPER NINTENDO WORLD about 15 minutes before they officially open.

I like to start with How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk since there’s so much to do there. Head straight for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, a family coaster that’s the perfect first thrill for kids. Then go to Dragon Racers Rally or Fyre Drill. Before leaving, try to squeeze in some time to see “The Untrainable Dragon” show. It’s fun for everyone and features some truly jaw-dropping moments. As you walk around Berk you may also run into some of the characters from the movie like Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and Astrid and her dragon, Stormfly. Grab a macaroni and cheese cone from Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel to share before leaving.

FIND A DEAL: 12 best hotel booking sites for cheap prices

Then head to Dark Universe, where you’ll get in line for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, then Curse of the Werewolf. On the way out of Dark Universe, try to find Ygor, the eccentric assistant to Dr. Victoria Frankenstein. He roams the land looking for new test subjects. 

By this time, your stomach is probably growling, so head to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, where two quick-service restaurants are available for you to dine at. For classic French cafe fare, dine at Café L’air de la Sirène, and for something a bit more substantial, head for Le Goblet Noir. Catch the La Cirque Arcanus show, which is mesmerizing and magical. It will leave you thinking, “How did they do that?”

End your day with SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, which looks stunning once the sun starts setting and the spinning gold coins reflect the evening sun. Try getting on the slow-moving Yoshi’s Adventure before it gets dark for incredible views of the land without the harsh Florida sun beating down on you. If you didn’t race your friends on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, try hopping in line in the evening. Share a DK Crush Float for a sweet treat to end the day.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY: 11 cheap family vacations that are super fun

If you’ve got time left before the park officially closes, get on Stardust Racers again. The experience at night is completely different than during the day. You’ll feel like a shooting star racing through the sky. End the night with a ride on Constellation Carousel, which is beautiful with glowing animals dancing around a flat platform.

(This itinerary does not include riding Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, which has seen standard wait times of up to five hours in recent days. Since that is a huge chunk of a single day, I suggest doing this attraction if you plan to spend two days in the park and have more time to give to longer lines.)

How to do Epic Universe in two days 

Those who really spend time enjoying each of the portals will want to purchase tickets for entry into Epic Universe for two days. Just know that two-day tickets for Epic are currently not available. You’ll have to buy two single-day tickets for entry on separate days. Our two-day itinerary does not include using Express Pass or VIP Experience to get quicker access to rides since you have more time in the park.

HOWLING GOOD TIME: 12 best Great Wolf Lodge locations in the U.S. and Canada

Take the base itinerary listed above and start adding in more of the interactive elements around the park. For instance, in Celestial Park, enjoy the fountain show once the sun goes down. In How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, let your kids explore the Viking Training Camp (a fun playground where they can burn off some energy) or wait in line to meet Toothless, play with the interactive spell areas around The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – The Ministry of Magic, and collect coins and do challenges with your Power-Up Band in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. 

If you have two days, use the second day to get on Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Lines for this attraction are very long and can be cut off before the park closes. Recently, this ride has seen lines up to or over five hours. Those who want to get on this ride will want to start lining up at the portal entry about 45 minutes before it officially opens to be towards the front of the line for the ride at the beginning of the day. 

Our theme park editor’s takeaway on doing Epic Universe in one day

After spending multiple days at Epic Universe, I can confidently say it’s easily a two-day park, especially if you want to see and do everything. Besides the insanely fun attractions and shows, I loved casting spells with some of the Wizarding World students who walk around interacting with guests. I enjoyed chatting with Astrid all about dragon racing, and loved playing the mini-games in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. I also loved going inside the connected Universal Helios Grand Hotel to go up to the rooftop bar, aptly named Bar Helios, for an after-dinner drink complete with a birds-eye view of Epic Universe before re-entering the park for nighttime fun.

MAGICAL READS: 33 books like Harry Potter to binge on your next vacation

Having two days in the park allows you to go slower and not feel like you’re up against the clock. You can enjoy the little surprise moments that come upon you. For instance, while walking through The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, I turned a corner, and a portrait started talking to me in real time. Cassandra, as she’s called, spent 10 minutes chatting about all things magical and even led me in doing a spell on one of her fellow portraits, which led to a painted horse growing twice its original size. Those are the types of things that you may miss if you only spend one day at Epic Universe. 

Frequently asked questions about doing Epic Universe in one day

What are the five worlds in Epic Universe?

The five worlds inside Epic Universe, starting from the Chronos (entry portal at the front of the park) going clockwise are Celestial Park, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. 

What is the new Harry Potter ride at Epic Universe?

The new Harry Potter-themed attraction at Epic Universe is Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. You’ll board a ride vehicle that resembles an elevator. Then you’ll be whisked through the Ministry of Magic to see the trial of Dolores Umbridge. 

How much are tickets to Universal Epic Universe? 

Single-day tickets to Epic Universe start at $139 for adults and $134 for children ages three to nine. 

TEEN-FRIENDLY TRIPS: 10 best vacation ideas for families with teenagers

Does Epic Universe have early entry?

Yes, Epic Universe has early park entry. This allows those staying at Universal hotels to enter the park an hour before the regular park opening time. During this time, you can ride attractions in Celestial Park and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. 

Do you need a reservation for Epic Universe?

No, you do not need a reservation to visit Epic Universe. All single-day tickets are date-based, so pick a date you know you can visit on. 

Can you walk from Stella Nova or Terra Luna to Epic Universe?

Yes, there is a walking path to Epic Universe from Universal Stella Nova and Universal Terra Luna. I recently walked from the park to Stella Nova, and it took about 10 minutes at a slow pace. The walk is just over a half-mile from the Chronos to the hotel lobby. 

More from FamilyVacationist:

• The best Orlando hotels and resorts for big families
• I spent a day at Universal Orlando’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe. Here’s what it’s like inside.
• I tried every ride and show at Universal Epic Universe. Here are the 6 you absolutely can’t miss.

The post Can you do Universal Epic Universe in one day? Maybe, but you shouldn’t.  appeared first on FamilyVacationist.

Wisata