Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[Keladry84]

I'm still confused! The goal for me is to be able to go to Epic more than one day during our visit in Sept. 2025. If this means buying two 3-Day Park Packages, then so be it. We plan on staying at Portafinio and then move to Helios anyway. so, that would be fine. However, if a Seasonal Pass would allow us to do the same thing with more flexibility, extra perks and extra Park days, I would like that better. But, I'm hearing that the UOAP must be activated on-property before you can add/link the Epic add on tickets. Since I'm coming from California I can't just run over to the park and activate the UOAP. By the time I get to the park in Sept the days I want could be sold out. If I get the multi-day passes now, l can lock-in the dates and if the ticket policy changes between now and then my travel agent can always make charges. It just seems all so limiting now. How do they expect to sell multi-day Helios Hotel stays if you can only go to Epic once? I get they are trying to control crowds but there must be a better way.

I feel for you. I was lucky to have had an already activated annual pass in hand and lucked out with tickets opening week. You're kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place (as are all others in your position).

If you want to lock in a for-sure trip now but leave yourself options, you could:
- purchase the 3-day tickets with Epic from undercovertourist now (refundable minus 5%). Then wait to see if:
------between now and then Epic offers 1-day tickets for sale to everyone for your dates. If so, refund UT tickets and purchase 1-day ones. You'd have a slight cost increase of roughly 5% but would have your days all at Epic without having to purchase the other 2 parks.
------right before your trip if there are still 1-day tickets for passholders available: If so, purchase annual passes last-minute, activate them after arrival, and get the Epic tickets, refunding the UT tickets. You might even be able to re-coup the 5% UT non-refund with an AP hotel rate.

 

[daveybarra]

I feel for you. I was lucky to have had an already activated annual pass in hand and lucked out with tickets opening week. You're kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place (as are all others in your position).

If you want to lock in a for-sure trip now but leave yourself options, you could:
- purchase the 3-day tickets with Epic from undercovertourist now (refundable minus 5%). Then wait to see if:
------between now and then Epic offers 1-day tickets for sale to everyone for your dates. If so, refund UT tickets and purchase 1-day ones. You'd have a slight cost increase of roughly 5% but would have your days all at Epic without having to purchase the other 2 parks.
------right before your trip if there are still 1-day tickets for passholders available: If so, purchase annual passes last-minute, activate them after arrival, and get the Epic tickets, refunding the UT tickets. You might even be able to re-coup the 5% UT non-refund with an AP hotel rate.

Thanks Keladry84 for the ideas. That's putting a lot of faith in the theme park gods. When I get on the plane I like having all my ducks in a row.
I am also now curious about your experience with UT. I am shopping for a new travel agent that can handle all inclusive trip. Airfare, hotels, WDW, Universal, Cruises, etc. How is your experience with UT? Can they handle everything? Do you recommend them?

 

[Keladry84]

Thanks Keladry84 for the ideas. That's putting a lot of faith in the theme park gods. When I get on the plane I like having all my ducks in a row.
I am also now curious about your experience with UT. I am shopping for a new travel agent that can handle all inclusive trip. Airfare, hotels, WDW, Universal, Cruises, etc. How is your experience with UT? Can they handle everything? Do you recommend them?

I don't know if UT does full travel agent services or if they are just an authorized seller of tickets/hotel rooms, etc. (meaning you would purchase through them but they don't do planning). So using UT most likely would mean needing to do your own planning/purchases. Someone else may be able to confirm or negate that though. I haven't used a travel agent but maybe others know of some and/or know of some that can book you refundable tickets (going a refundable route really might be your best scenario if you want to purchase now).

I did book a 100%refundable hotel room through UT for my Disney trip, and ended up needing to get the refund. It was easy and painless. I've also bought a Seaworld annual pass from them and it worked no problems. Have not bought other tickets or needed to refund them, but have seen only positive reports online.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I'm still confused! The goal for me is to be able to go to Epic more than one day during our visit in Sept. 2025. If this means buying two 3-Day Park Packages, then so be it. We plan on staying at Portafinio and then move to Helios anyway. so, that would be fine. However, if a Seasonal Pass would allow us to do the same thing with more flexibility, extra perks and extra Park days, I would like that better. But, I'm hearing that the UOAP must be activated on-property before you can add/link the Epic add on tickets. Since I'm coming from California I can't just run over to the park and activate the UOAP. By the time I get to the park in Sept the days I want could be sold out.

Universal's original Epic ticket announcements said that single day tickets will be available for everyone to purchase, just not yet. I would think that means they will release single day tickets some time next year before the May grand opening. I also expect them to be more expensive than the single day tickets currently available to pass holders (since some single day AP Epic tickets are less than the same date at Islands or Studios).

Most of the year, Seasonal APs don't get too many worthwhile perks other than the good AP hotel rates & some hotel food discounts. But in Sept they usually have passholder appreciation which should net you some nice food discounts resortwide.

I sincerely doubt Sept will sell out, except maybe Labor Day weekend (because that is likely the start of HHN too).

If it were me, I would wait a bit to see what single day tickets Universal offers, and which days (if any) sell out. I'd probably get one set of Epic tickets as a guarantee in the meantime, then plan to upgrade once on site. You'd still have the option get a second set of multi-day tickets if reports by July are not promising for adding additional single days. However, if you are staying onsite having at least 1 seasonal pass for the hotel discounts is generally the way to go. Stalk the AP hotel rates once they're available for your dates, they sometimes go quickly, esp weekends (other times, they're available forever).

 

[familyman123]

Thanks Keladry84 for the ideas. That's putting a lot of faith in the theme park gods. When I get on the plane I like having all my ducks in a row.
I am also now curious about your experience with UT. I am shopping for a new travel agent that can handle all inclusive trip. Airfare, hotels, WDW, Universal, Cruises, etc. How is your experience with UT? Can they handle everything? Do you recommend them?

FWIW - I have purchased tickets and then had them refunded for WDW. It was seemless. I wouldn't worry about the refund aspect.

 

[bwr827]

I’ve yet to brave Velocicoaster. Planning to take the plunge in December…gulp.

I wonder how intense Stardust Racers will be.

Following up on my own post to say my son and I braved Velocicoaster on December 9. We were very nervous… and loved it! We ended up riding 10 times over the next few days.

Now I’m simply excited about Stardust Racers and have no doubt it will be fun!

 

[Candycane83]

Thanks Keladry84 for the ideas. That's putting a lot of faith in the theme park gods. When I get on the plane I like having all my ducks in a row.
I am also now curious about your experience with UT. I am shopping for a new travel agent that can handle all inclusive trip. Airfare, hotels, WDW, Universal, Cruises, etc. How is your experience with UT? Can they handle everything? Do you recommend them?

I have bought from UT before and it worked fine each time. This time though I did buy the passes directly from universal. And I actually did book 2 nights at Helios. I’m hoping that when they release single tickets I can upgrade the tickets to APs and then buy single day tickets for Epic. Fingers crossed when they release the single day tickets. I haven’t seen much chatter on when they will release this so I’m nervously waiting. Oh and there are AP rates for hotels now for Dec 2025. Might be a good thing to check for Sep 2025 too

 

[jzhang678]

Has UO announced any info regarding soft openings for Epic Universe? How about pricing?

 

[fatmanatee]

Has UO announced any info regarding soft openings for Epic Universe? How about pricing?

Nope.

 

[GhostHost24]

Has UO announced any info regarding soft openings for Epic Universe? How about pricing?

Not yet. Only thing they've said is there will be Ap previews but no details yet

 

[BorderTenny]

We can now say that Epic Universe opens this year!

 

[DL1WDW2]

2025 It’s gonna be EPIC !

Happy EPIC New Year !

I’m at Aventura for New Years .
I could not find anything to purchase that said HNY 2025 I really wanted a t-shirt that said

Happy New Year 2025 It’s gonna be EPIC !

 

[Minnie1222]

I read from multiple non-Universal sources that hotel guests will have an 1-hour early entry to Celestial Park and Nintendo World starting 05/23/25. Please confirm.

 

[fatmanatee]

I read from multiple non-Universal sources that hotel guests will have an 1-hour early entry to Celestial Park and Nintendo World starting 05/23/25. Please confirm.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/gb/early-park-admission

 

[daveybarra]

I have got my reservations for UO and Epic for September 13th thru the 21st. I made two multi day park packages. One at Portafinio and One at Helios. That guarantees two Helios days. Plus express passes for UO and IOA from Portafinio and early entry for Epic from Helios. If they offer individual day Epic tickets by then I will add another Epic day. Yes, that is a lot of Universal, but I'm from California, I may not get back here for awhile, if ever. I have never had tickets to park that's not open yet. This is exciting!

 

[disney-inspired]

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/gb/early-park-admission

This is great news - we'll be there late August!

 

[DisneyMom93]

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/gb/early-park-admission

That opens up a UK link for me.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That opens up a UK link for me.

You just need to change on the right hand side to "english (US)" but for convenience here's the U.S. link

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/early-park-admission

 

[fatmanatee]

That opens up a UK link for me.

Was the first link that came up in my google search (I'm in the US, no idea why that one was first). Same results show on the US version.

 

[DisneyMom93]

Was the first link that came up in my google search (I'm in the US, no idea why that one was first). Same results show on the US version.

Thanks! I actually did that but when I clicked on it it showed Early Admission for certain hotel guests, not Passholders. So I assumed that meant you get Early Park Admission if you're staying at the Grand Helios (which I am anyway.) But when I clicked on the Passholder Early Park Admission link on that page Epic Universe is not listed.

EDITED TO ADD: Never mind!!! I misunderstood. I thought someone was saying that Passholders get early entry. They said hotel guests, which is correct. I thought it was new info posted because I already knew about the early entry when I booked it. IGNORE ME! Sorry.