Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[keishashadow]

Hmmm with the above current list of EE rides & mine cart off

Wondering if better to start out to do MoM 1st

VS starting in Nintendo land



Our day is Saturday end of month Believe weekend was slow last week Not sure if what is a travel day for many, locals & seasonal APH (perhaps getting in a last weekend before blackout period at older parks) will help our cause

Was surprised that, other than Helios selling out recently, the onsite values have dropped substantially Especially, the Saturday night???

 

[mamapenguin]

Been noticing a new trend this past week that Mine-Cart Madness has been opening at 10AM (according to the app at least) instead of 9AM with the rest of of Super Nintendo World.

Sort of a weird situation now for our trip where we'll have access to Early Park Admission and we'll also have Express Pass. The plan originally was to do Mine-Cart Madness during early entry, but since that hasn't been opening during early entry I'm not even sure what to do first other than either ride Stardust a couple times (as I'm a HUGE coaster junky) or just sort of "waste" that first hour and wait for either Ministry of Magic OR Mine-Cart Madness to open. I don't know WWYD?

Battle at the Ministry opened before its stated 10am opening on Wednesday 6/11 when I was there. I was heading to Stardust, but it was delayed so went to Battle at the Ministry. Line was moving when I got there during EE. I was on at roughly 9:50am, it could have been sooner if I had gone directly there to get in line.

 

[GhostHost24]

Hmmm with the above current list of EE rides & mine cart off

Wondering if better to start out to do MoM 1st

VS starting in Nintendo land



Our day is Saturday end of month Believe weekend was slow last week Not sure if what is a travel day for many, locals & seasonal APH (perhaps getting in a last weekend before blackout period at older parks) will help our cause

Was surprised that, other than Helios selling out recently, the onsite values have dropped substantially Especially, the Saturday night???

I wouldn't start in Nintendo imo.

 

[keishashadow]

I wouldn't start in Nintendo imo.

Really? Most have said it's the way Maybe, just during previews & I didn't catch that

 

[Minnie1222]

I forgot to report that I was talked into riding Stardust. Big mistake! My hearing was gone for a few minutes after the ride. Overall, I think it's less intense than Velocicoaster, which I also have no plan on riding ever again.

 

[mamapenguin]

Really? Most have said it's the way Maybe, just during previews & I didn't catch that

If you are willing to do SR the line isn’t very long for Mario Kart. Yoshi took way too long, but was cute. I never rode DK because I wasn’t going to wait 90 minutes in the sun and SRwas not open the multiple times that I checked. Lightning shut it down all evening…I only went one day, but that was my experience.

 

[keishashadow]

I wasn’t going to wait 90 minutes in the sun

Would decide the same, that’s a long haul

 

[tony67]

Really? Most have said it's the way Maybe, just during previews & I didn't catch that

Id agree not to do Nintendo first - but my experience was during previews.

Still seems like everyone goes right to Nintendo since its seems to be the one thing that is always open for early entry - they do seem to shuffle in other things - like some days Dark Universe is part of Early entry.

The biggest issue with Epic (I know its been said a thousand times) is you only get one day - so people get there for early opening and stay as long as they can. I feel like you are better off skipping early entry and going later in the day as by 4 or 5 people are very worn out and go back to their hotels etc..

That is my plan anyway - the only thing that might change that is if Ministry is part of early entry - might be worth hitting that from what I've heard - when its part of early entry.

Right now things are changing constantly so its hard to really plan.

 

[mamapenguin]

Late in the day would not have worked out for me last Wednesday. Lightning shut down the outdoor rides at about 6:15pm and they did not reopen. I was in line for Stardust when they closed for weather. Florida weather is a wild card this time of year.

 

[tony67]

Late in the day would not have worked out for me last Wednesday. Lightning shut down the outdoor rides at about 6:15pm and they did not reopen. I was in line for Stardust when they closed for weather. Florida weather is a wild card this time of year.

Yeah - that is one of the problems with Epic, its like they forgot that there is a rainstorm almost every afternoon in Florida

 

[PrincessV]

Based on my one day experience + watching wait times regularly, I’m not at all sure EE is worth the effort unless you’re willing to be there EXTRA early for EE and are willing to basically run to an attraction. Getting to *every* attraction in a day is a stretch, but you can manage quite a few by arriving later and staying until closing.

At another time of year, there could be value in arriving much later in the day, but right now, you’ve got the double issues of high heat and afternoon storms in the mix. I can’t believe I’m saying this because I normally only do a few hours in a park per day, but for now a long Epic day allows for flexibility to move on things when conditions are best. Wait times spike through the mornings, but that can be a good time to hit some outdoor rides even if it’s an hour wait each, because at least the heat hasn’t built up yet. Afternoon is a good time to catch shows and linger over a long lunch and/or see live performers, and/or hop into a long indoor wait to escape heat/storms. Once storms pass, evenings are prime for shorter wait times at the more efficient rides. I arrived about 12pm and stayed until 9:30 (park opened at 10a and closed at 9p) and got to almost everything I wanted to.

A large part of what I enjoyed so much at Epic was how easy it was to go with the flow. I made the mistake of scheduling my Epic day a couple weeks ago right before a MK day… I was in Epic a full 9+ hours that flew by and never once felt stressed, overwhelmed, or overstimulated to the point of needing to leave - but I only made it 3 hours in MK before I had to bail. I find Epic to be SUCH a different vibe than most of the WDW parks, but MK especially. It was very easy to take breaks from the action (and heat) as needed.

Sigh. And now I reeeeeaaaallly want to go back! I’m trying hard to hold out until it gets added to APs, or until early fall, at least, but it’s not easy lol!

 

[keishashadow]

Staying at one of the onsite values. Would like to think not a big deal to:

Rope drop,

take a couple hour break around 2 pm (or whenever TS roll thru)

Head back in by 5 pm & close down the park

At the risk of sounding dim(mer lol)...

would the info as to what is opening for EE each day be posted in the U app?

Do u not know until the day of?

 

[GhostHost24]

Staying at one of the onsite values. Would like to think not a big deal to:

Rope drop,

take a couple hour break around 2 pm (or whenever TS roll thru)

Head back in by 5 pm & close down the park

At the risk of sounding dim(mer lol)...

would the info as to what is opening for EE each day be posted in the U app?

Do u not know until the day of?

Knowing UO and their app, prob won't know til they open.. I've seen many reports (including some here) where it says a ride doesn't open til 10 or whatever and it's open a hour earlier

 

[sandam1]

I’m not at all sure EE is worth the effort unless you’re willing to be there EXTRA early for EE and are willing to basically run to an attraction.

Actually, I would argue that you could say that about EE at Islands as well. Over the past couple of years, we've gradually given up on EE. In my experiences, Hagrids is almost never open on time, I don't do Velocicoaster, and neither of my traveling companions do Forbidden Journey any more. The only benefit is if we might want to do some wand work and that isn't enough to get us out of bed an hour early.

 

[Philsfan77]

Tricky Situation...heading down solo on Wednesday, but a co-worker now wants to jump on. Are they still selling day of tickets for Epic? They can get a 1 day ticket for the 20th, but the 19th isn't available. I was seeing reports of people being able to do this, day of, but haven't seen this posted lately.

 

[keishashadow]

Are they still selling day of tickets for Epic?

If u r staying @ a U resort, might want to call & ask if still selling day of in lobby