Ever since Walt Disney first bought up thousands of acres of Central Florida swampland in the 1960s, Orlando has become known as the theme park capital of the world. Universal Studios came to town in 1990, and gradually expanded to include an additional theme park, a water park, and resort hotels. The Disney vs. Universal theme park competition had begun, and in recent years the rivalry has only grown stronger.
Universal’s 2019 announcement of plans for a brand new theme park in Orlando set the tourism industry on fire. Though the pandemic delayed construction, by 2021 Universal was building like gangbusters, while the company promoted the new park as a universe so epic it needed five distinct lands. Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Dark Universe, and Isle of Berk were promised to delight fans of every age and interest. The Internet could not get enough Epic talk, and even the mere concept art had vloggers and fans counting down the days to the grand opening.
On May 22, 2025, the highly anticipated theme park Epic Universe opened to rave reviews. Its design and details were said to be the ultimate touche to the Walt Disney Company in the ongoing battle for theme park domination.
Now five months into its epic existence, I had the opportunity to visit Epic Universe for the first time. I’m probably the perfect person to objectively review such a celebrated new place, since I was purely there for the experience — I’m not a roller coaster junkie, nor a Potterhead, nor an ardent fan of any of the IP for that matter. I am, however, a theme park enthusiast — and an inherently Disney-biased one at that. Who better to give an honest review of whether this park is indeed as epic as it claims?!
I spent one jam-packed day in Epic Universe and gathered up all the observations, tips, and even Disney comparisons any first-timer could need. My friends and fellow theme park lovers have all been curious about my takeaways, so here’s the inside scoop!
Planning Your Epic Visit
Everyone’s first question about a new theme park is “how long should we plan to stay there?” We crammed an epic amount of fun into one day, so yes — it can be done — and for me personally, one day was just enough. Wait times can be pretty “epic” here, so if you opt not to spring for an Express Pass, you may need extra time as well. Folks who really want to take their time leisurely exploring every inch of Epic Universe should probably stay for two days.
My son had never even been to Universal Studios Orlando, so we wanted to include the original park in our visit too. We chose a schedule that I’d recommend for most guests: stay 2-3 nights at one of the new Epic Universe hotels to experience the fresh new spaces, and spend one day at Epic Universe plus a day or two at Universal Studios.
Where to Stay
If you’re planning a trip to Orlando, you certainly don’t need to stay in one of the Universal hotels. I saw plenty of park-goers who were just taking a break from their Disney vacation to check out Epic for the day. But with three new hotels designed specifically for Epic Universe, I wanted to fully immerse ourselves in this new area of Universal’s resort. Staying on property also offers guests easy bus transportation to and from the parks, and allows you to feel more immersed in the new Epic surroundings.
Speaking of buses, the Universal buses are run by the same company (Mears) that runs many of Disney’s buses, so you’ll probably notice a lot of similarities. Overall the transportation system was solid. I do wish there were more estimates of bus arrivals, but they are scheduled to run every 15-20 minutes from Universal hotels. We had one less-than-stellar bus experience where a large group of us were waiting at our hotel for at least 45 minutes. I went into the lobby and asked them to look into it, and I’m so glad I did because no one seemed to be aware of the delay. This slight lack of organization wasn’t the greatest, but we were understanding — especially when a manager surprised our entire bus with express passes for the day! These helped us tremendously, since I quickly learned how long the wait times at Epic can be.
We stayed at Universal Stella Nova Resort, one of the two space-themed, mid-level hotel options on the new property. My son had seen videos and ads for this particular hotel and was so excited to immerse himself in its out-of-this-world theming. He was thrilled from the moment we arrived, and I loved seeing him run around the shiny new lobby smiling at every starry detail!
The outside of the hotel is made of spectacularly colorful panels, and looks very similar to its sister hotel, Universal Terra Luna, another moderate-level new resort. We liked the look and feel of Stella Nova better, but with so much in common and a comparable price point, the choice between these two brand new space-themed hotels is really a matter of personal preference.
Both hotels have a very sleek, modern design. The plus for me was that it made everything in Stella Nova feel open and less crowded. The lobby and rooms are decorated rather sparsely, which felt a little more sterile than the every-inch-is-decorated approach of Disney hotel designs. But if simple is your style, you’ll love the clean lines of Stella Nova.
The guest halls are delightfully sparkly and the rooms were comfortable and clean. We had an issue with our sink stopper and maintenance handled it with such speed and professionalism that I felt like I was experiencing Disney guest service.
We paid a little more for a pool view, but I would not call the view from any of this hotel’s rooms impressive. You see a lot of roof and an unavoidable highway right beyond the pool area, so if you want to save a few dollars and opt for a standard room, I don’t think you’ll be missing much.
We were pleasantly surprised at how delicious the quick service restaurant in Stella Nova is. Cosmos Cafe offers three meals a day of family-friendly fare, but with a slightly elevated style compared to typical theme park food. (Get the breakfast potatoes — they were my favorite each morning!) The kids’ meals are also a good deal for the amount of food you get (I loved the kids’ mac and cheese!)
Ever dreamed of spending the night in a theme park? If you stay at Universal Helios Grand you can come pretty close to doing that! Of Epic Universe’s three new hotels, this one is the most deluxe, but the higher price may be worth it to those who want a hotel that’s actually in the park. (You can literally see the carousel from the windows!) No buses needed here — just head through security in the lobby, scan your park admission, and you’re in Epic Universe ready to play!
The grandeur of Helios Grand is mostly in its impressive exterior, visible from many areas of the theme park. With elegant colors, lavish sculptures, and shooting fountains, this hotel is epic in and of itself.
I thought the interior of Helios Grand was lovely, but not nearly as grand as the outside. The lobby is not overly impressive and while the little bake shop is cute, it’s overpriced and not very good. I had one of the driest chocolate croissants I’ve ever eaten and couldn’t believe it was almost $9!
There’s an incredibly detailed Pan-Asian restaurant, the Blue Dragon, at the foot of the Helios Grand. The hotel’s in-house restaurant, Flora Taverna has pretty good Mediterranean food and is decorated simply but beautifully.
Just be prepared to pay extra at this resort, for everything from the food to the room view. If you’d like to look out at the park from your bedroom, it comes with a higher price tag than a standard room, although that may be a cool perk I’d spring for. While the price point for Stella Nova and Terra Luna are more reasonable, the next time we visit Epic Universe I plan on saving up for a stay at Helios Grand just to experience being right inside the theme park!
Epic Details
Speaking of the theme park — let’s get to the Epic details!
If you use the park’s main entrance, you’ll enter Epic Universe through the first of five magnificent portals. Sharp Disney fans will recognize the whimsical welcoming words above the entrance (left) as suspiciously similar to the iconic sign at the entrance of Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom (right.)
As mentioned earlier, I wasn’t visiting Epic specifically for roller coaster thrills or must-see favorite characters. I just love a shiny new theme park! And this one’s design did not disappoint. As soon as we walked in, I was instantly impressed by how beautifully everything was designed. Its over-the-top look does justice to the epic name, and the color scheme stood out for me — turquoise, gold, royal blues and purples that give the theme park a high-end, majestic feel. While some of the lands and rides are geared toward kids, overall it felt like Epic Universe has a more mature theme park vibe.
I can honestly say that taking in all the beautiful artistry of the park was the highlight of our visit for me. And as a Disney fan, I couldn’t help but compare so much of the work to that of Disney Imagineers. It also impressed me to think how relatively quickly Universal made Epic happen when Disney sometimes takes years just to refurbish a ride!
The Lands
With five themed lands, there’s something for every age and interest in Epic Universe. I liked how each land has a distinct space with a clear entrance. There’s no blurring lines between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland here! Every land has a big portal at its entrance which leads guests inside the specific theming of that area. You truly feel like you’re being transported somewhere, and I found this to be a great way to make people feel fully immersed.
Celestial Park is the land where you enter Epic Universe. It has a starry theme, and uses lots of fancy architecture and gold accents to elevate the feeling. Since this area is where guests form their first impression of Epic Universe, designers clearly wanted to make things pretty epic. There are several eateries and gift shops, magnificent fountains that dance in front of you, and even the benches are pieces of art.
The epic details are worthy of all the praise. Even gift shops shine like attractions in and of themselves. I could’ve spent half the day delighting all my senses in this impeccably designed Moon Ship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets shop!
The giant carousel in this land is the perfect option for little ones (or people like me who aren’t thrill seekers!) Listen to tranquil music as you ride this beautiful carousel, either on gilded animals or “moonbeams” that seat multiple people. The most unique thing about this ride is that each seat’s mechanisms are connected only to the base of the carousel, instead of the usual top-to-bottom suspension. The open space above us made such a difference in the feel of this ride!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic is so impressively detailed that I felt as though the portal to this land transported me right to France. Of course, it’s worth restating that I am not a Potterhead. I don’t follow the IP enough to have a strong opinion on which aspect of the stories should have been covered, and I understand that some fans wanted Epic Universe to focus on a different theme from Harry Potter entirely. But as an unbiased visitor, I give this land high marks on design. The French theming is so on point you actually feel like you’re in Paris. Don’t tell Mickey I said so, but this design is more realistic and detailed than the French Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.
Super Nintendo World was a must-do for my kiddo during our one day in Epic Universe. We’ve been to the Nintendo World in Universal Studios Hollywood and can confirm that this one is so much bigger and better. It is super popular, so it’s always a bit crowded here. But in our experience, it was less crowded in the morning than the afternoon. If it’s a must-do for your party, you may want to make this the first stop of your day.
One of the park’s five portals leads you into Super Nintendo World by way of a green pipe that makes realistic video game noises. I felt truly immersed in this land, and I think the big entrance had a lot to do with it! Once you’re through the portal, you’ll feel as though you’re in a totally different theme park than the sparkle and grandeur of Epic Universe.
This is one land that makes guests of all ages feel like a kid. You can punch question blocks to hear that nostalgic, satisfying chime — or for points — if you buy a $50 Power Up Band (not really worth it in my opinion, especially since the app that tracks points wasn’t even working when we were there.) There’s a nice variety of rides here, whether you want the excitement of Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge or the slow-paced train ride through the land on Yoshi’s Adventure, but all of them come with hefty wait times unless you have an Express Pass. The bright colors and fun noises are playful and exciting, but be prepared if you or anyone in your party has sensory sensitivities. The noise and crowds in this land are nonstop, and after a while here I really needed a break!
Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe is so large that it actually has another mini land within the land. Donkey Kong Country is home to the roller coaster Mine-Cart Madness, as well as a smoothie stand and a meet and greet area. The whole area had a fun Adventureland vibe to it, and for some reason I absolutely loved being there! The music was catchy and it was a nice break from all the question block chimes in the Mario area.
When we visited Hollywood’s Super Nintendo World, I found the lack of space, shade, and variety to be big downsides, and was super disappointed in the food as well. It seems that Universal learned from their past mistakes when building Epic. They were intentional in designing seating and shady spots, and even the food was a bit better than in Hollywood. We especially liked the calzone at Yoshi’s Snack Island.
Isle of Berk was a surprising hit for our family. Although my son was interested in scoping out Toothless and his homeland, we didn’t expect to enjoy this area as much as we did. The details and design were excellent. It reminded me a lot of a Nordic pavilion that belonged in Epcot’s World Showcase. There are a range of rides in this land, from a roller coaster to Fyre Drill, the water-gun boat ride (that soaked us!) If you do get wet, Epic has you covered — just step into one of the giant blowdryer stations, just like the ones in Universal Studios.
A big draw of this land is the very popular meet-and-greet with Toothless and Hiccup. With a wait time that is rarely below an hour, we gave up on this line since it was 90 minutes when we were there. If this is a must-do for you, go early in the day and be prepared to spend a big chuck of your time on line here. We later ate at Mead Hall, which was okay but nothing spectacular.
Dark Universe is the last of Epic’s five lands, and one that might divide fans a bit. The theming of this land is not a favorite of my family, so we don’t have a lot of personal experience here. But it’s a big draw for a certain crowd. Based on classic horror movie characters, Dark Universe embraces the spooky IP but proceeds with more caution than Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. While it’s supposed to be made with all guests in mind, I don’t necessarily recommend it for little ones. The nods to classic movie characters and piped-in original score by Danny Elfman are highlights of the experience for those who like this IP.
The Dish on Food
My general food review of Epic Universe consists of three main points:
- the food was okay but nothing we ate blew us away,
- it was quite overpriced, even for theme park standards, and
- the quick service categorization is misleading.
We tried to sample as much food as we could, but in a one-day (or two-day) visit, it’s impossible to try everything. Overall, I found Epic Universe’s food to be decent, but not great. My range of food experiences spanned from a pretty good kale salad to one of the worst and most overpriced pastries I’ve ever had. I’m used to theme park food prices, but I found Universal Studios and Epic Universe to be even higher than I anticipated.
An important thing to note when exploring dining options: the app is not very clear about the definition of quick-service. I expect “quick service” to be a stand or a fully self-serve restaurant. In Epic Universe, many places (such as Mead Hall, pictured above) are listed as quick service but do not offer any takeout, instead requiring guests to be seated and served at their table. It’s a strange hybrid setup, and while it may not be entirely bad, it was very misleading to us and a lot of people we met who were relying on the app too.
An Epic Overview
Epic Universe promises guests the opportunity to “explore worlds unlike anything experienced before.” Prior to seeing it for myself, I wondered, “How Epic is It?”
The uniqueness of this park is perhaps in its blending of so many unrelated but popular IP. In that sense, it certainly is like nothing fans have ever seen. It’s a nice change of pace to highlight some characters that don’t have a “home” or get much attention. Fans of the featured IP will love being immersed in their favorite theming.
I was able to review this park from an objective perspective. Strictly speaking as a theme park enthusiast, the most epic aspects of this park for me were its beautiful design and incredible attention to detail. Our visit was worth it for me to take in all the beauty of the park, but I recognize that many park-goers want to spend as much time as they can on rides. Be prepared to wait on long lines at Epic Universe, or pay a pretty penny for Express passes. This is a fantastic park to experience, but it is far from budget-friendly.
After hearing so much about Epic Universe for the past few years, I was so happy to have the chance to visit. I look forward to going back, but it’s not necessarily a park I feel the need to visit every time I’m in Orlando. With the tips I learned on my first visit, I’ll be more informed the next time we go, and will make time for the attractions and experiences that we like the most.
Epic Universe is one of those places you have to see for yourself. Part of the fun in this park is finding out what is most epic to you personally. Whether or not you’re a Mario fan or a Potterhead, the details and design of this shiny new theme park are enough to make any guest’s visit truly epic.
What Lara Wrote 