Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[awrites]

A quick google search will show you're missing several schools.
Dallas has schools with fall breaks as we all Minnesota, Florida, Kentucky, and Ohio just to name a few.

Also a lot of teacher in-service days tend to happen in October so people go for a long weekend.

Yes, PP was definitely missing many schools.

I live in Colorado and my daughter has a one-week fall break in mid-October. We’re in the fourth largest district in the state. One neighboring district, which is the fifth largest, has the same break. (Flight prices around then really suck.) Our other neighboring district, which I believe is a bit bigger than ours, has a one-week break late October. Lots of schools with an October break.

 

[Minnie1222]

Epic feels slightly less crowded today. But, MarioKart still shot up to a 65 min wait by 9:15 (EE was 9-10), and is currently steady at 100+ min. Yoshi is surprisingly at 55. Hiccups was delayed at park opening, and is now 65 min. DK and Ministry are hovering around the 1.5 hr mark.

Again, we are glad to have EP. I think Group VIP is the way to go if you don't mind being around strangers. I did look at Group VIP for the kids and they are all sold out for the year, except for a few days here and there.

 

[Minnie1222]

It looks like they had closed off the quick access to the ground level of Nintendo World from the portal.

Back in May, we were able to use this side entrance within the portal to walk straight onto the ground level, where Yoshi and Donkey Kong are located.

We tried again during this trip and there was no longer a direct access to the ground level. You had to take the stairs or elevators up to the 2nd level and walk back down to the ground level.


I believe this was the closed off entrance.


It didn't matter anyway since Donkey Kong was either delayed or not offered at EE during our trip. By the regular opening time, all the exit doors near the Nintendo shop were propped open for immediate access to the ground level.

 

[MIChessGuy]

Thank you for this update. I believe Mine-Cart Madness remains off the roster for early entry, and without it I am inclined to forget about trying the EE rope-drop race to Super Nintendo World. Going to head over to BatM, even though it isn't an EE attraction either, and just wait around with everybody at the portal.

 

[sandam1]

I'm about two weeks away from my first visit to Epic (I'm starting to get so excited). We arrive in Orlando at 9 a.m. and hope to be at the park around 11 a.m. or slightly thereafter. We have two single-day tickets to Epic (Tuesday, 9/2 and Wednesday, 9/3), but no Express Pass. We're staying at Stella Nova so we will have access to EE on Wednesday.

I'm trying to figure out the best strategy for that first day. Which land should we visit first? And which ride to head towards? We hope to experience all of the rides at least once although I probably won't do Stardust Racers. Once we've done the queues at least once, we're willing to move to single rider. Is there any queue that you would recommend not bothering with if single rider is available.

Thanks in advance for the help! I've done so many trips to the original parks and know the strategies like the back of my hand, but this is a whole new world (literally and figuratively )

 

[titojackson84]

I go down next Saturday and epic twice during the week with express pass. My plan is rope drop stardust racers and then head to dark universe. Probably harry potter after that.

 

[PrincessV]

I'm about two weeks away from my first visit to Epic (I'm starting to get so excited). We arrive in Orlando at 9 a.m. and hope to be at the park around 11 a.m. or slightly thereafter. We have two single-day tickets to Epic (Tuesday, 9/2 and Wednesday, 9/3), but no Express Pass. We're staying at Stella Nova so we will have access to EE on Wednesday.

I'm trying to figure out the best strategy for that first day. Which land should we visit first? And which ride to head towards? We hope to experience all of the rides at least once although I probably won't do Stardust Racers. Once we've done the queues at least once, we're willing to move to single rider. Is there any queue that you would recommend not bothering with if single rider is available.

Thanks in advance for the help! I've done so many trips to the original parks and know the strategies like the back of my hand, but this is a whole new world (literally and figuratively )

I hit Berk first arriving about the same time both my days and it worked well! But I think I’d look at wait times upon arrival and hit any outdoor priorities first - get them out of the way before storms roll through.

 

[Minnie1222]

Which land should we visit first? And which ride to head towards?

Head to the ride you wanted most, unless they’re Carousel, Monsters Unchained (wait times typically under 30 min) or Fyre Drill, Yoshi (5 to 60 min wait).

Nintendo and Wizarding World appear to be the most popular. I personally think MarioKart, Monsters Unchained, and Battle of the Ministry are the must-see rides.

We hope to experience all of the rides at least once although I probably won't do Stardust Racers. Once we've done the queues at least once, we're willing to move to single rider.

I would try the Single Rider first if your main goal is the ride and not the queue. Besides Carousel and Monsters, all the other rides have been temperamental and can shut down anytime. Also, all outdoor rides will close at the hint of a thunderstorm.

Is there any queue that you would recommend not bothering with if single rider is available.

No experience since we had express passes, although I would gladly skip all the regular queues at Isle of Berk since they're outside (covered but no air conditioning).

 

[dez1978]

Thanks for the response. But that just doesn't make sense to me. I am not saying your wrong. I am just not seeing the logic.

Indiana is the only school system that has a break mid October. Louisiana has a long weekend early in October. Who else has a mid-October break?
This may be anecdotal, but I live here in the Northeast and am approaching retirement age. So I know a lot of snowbirds. The earliest they travel down is November and most like to stay here with family through the holidays.

Ours has a fall break in Missouri. Sometimes it's sept and others it's oct tho.

 

[Minnie1222]

Some fun pics from Epic Universe.

Celestial Park



Stardust Racers


The smallest animatronic.


Eye balls and other things at Dark Universe.

Luigi & Mario greeting guests in 100 degrees heat.