Will Epic Universe Opening in May 2025 Affect Availability of DVC Reservations?

[Fijiism]

I've been planning a WDW trip for June 2025 for a while. I'll need two or three rooms. I wanted to book in at 7 months at a resort I haven't tried yet. If there is nothing available, we'll just stay at my home resort (SSR), no problem. But I did want to try to hold out for the 7 month mark to see what else is available.

With Universal announcing the Epic Universe opening for May 2025, should I just give up on 7 month bookings and grab SSR rooms now? How do you think the crowds at the new park (albeit Universal properties) will affect DVC availability through the rest of 2025 (contemplating a November 2025 visit as well)?

 

[CarolynFH]

Whether I want a non-home resort or not, I always book my home resort at 11 months (or within my home resort priority window), to be sure I’ll have the size villa I want for the dates I want. Then if what I ”really” want is available, I can Modify that home resort booking, but if not I still have a place to stay.

And to answer your question, yes, I think that EU opening might make summertime DVC reservations a little tighter than they normally are. So I wouldn’t hesitate to book my home before the 7 month window opens.

 

[kilik64]

Similar piggyback question, what does this do to the parks? We are going memorial day week so right after EU opens, wonder if this will yield a noticeable decrease in WDW park attendance that week...? Here's hoping!

 

[Sandisw]

I don't think it is necessarily going to do what people think it is going to do. The details about how one is going to be able to access Epic Universe after it opens, at least initially, are being released soon....and it may or may not be what people are expecting, especially if they want to visit more than one day during a trip....

I can post more when I know for sure that I can...

 

[McCrae]

I've been planning a WDW trip for June 2025 for a while. I'll need two or three rooms. I wanted to book in at 7 months at a resort I haven't tried yet. If there is nothing available, we'll just stay at my home resort (SSR), no problem. But I did want to try to hold out for the 7 month mark to see what else is available.

With Universal announcing the Epic Universe opening for May 2025, should I just give up on 7 month bookings and grab SSR rooms now? How do you think the crowds at the new park (albeit Universal properties) will affect DVC availability through the rest of 2025 (contemplating a November 2025 visit as well)?

I booked a May 2025 trip at the 7th month window. Plenty of availability.

 

[CarolynFH]

I booked a May 2025 trip at the 7th month window. Plenty of availability.

Did you book before or after the EU opening date of May 22 was announced?

Similar piggyback question, what does this do to the parks? We are going memorial day week so right after EU opens, wonder if this will yield a noticeable decrease in WDW park attendance that week...? Here's hoping!

I don’t think it will be a dramatic decrease in WDW park attendance, but I’ve been very wrong before. I do think that there will be some DVC owners who wouldn’t otherwise visit that time of year who will decide to take advantage of having “free” accommodations over the summer to visit EU, which as I said might tighten up availability during the normally not so hard to book summertime in DVC resorts. But I won’t be there to find out personally!

 

[kilik64]

Did you book before or after the EU opening date of May 22 was announced?

I don’t think it will be a dramatic decrease in WDW park attendance, but I’ve been very wrong before. I do think that there will be some DVC owners who wouldn’t otherwise visit that time of year who will decide to take advantage of having “free” accommodations over the summer to visit EU, which as I said might tighten up availability during the normally not so hard to book summertime in DVC resorts. But I won’t be there to find out personally!

Well I'll be there so I'll personally report for ya

 

[kilik64]

I don't think it is necessarily going to do what people think it is going to do. The details about how one is going to be able to access Epic Universe after it opens, at least initially, are being released soon....and it may or may not be what people are expecting, especially if they want to visit more than one day during a trip....

I can post more when I know for sure that I can...

Tied to having a UO resort booking....?

Spill it!

 

[Sandisw]

Tied to having a UO resort booking....?

Spill it!

I’ll post a but more I a little while as I am headed to an appointment. But lets just say the multi day tickets being sold are not going to include unlimited access to Epic.

Initial tickets will start as 3 days or more. Other options will be on sale at a later date.

We can start booking things on October 22nd so I am sure lots of info will be out!!

 

[Pooh12863]

I've been planning a WDW trip for June 2025 for a while. I'll need two or three rooms. I wanted to book in at 7 months at a resort I haven't tried yet. If there is nothing available, we'll just stay at my home resort (SSR), no problem. But I did want to try to hold out for the 7 month mark to see what else is available.

With Universal announcing the Epic Universe opening for May 2025, should I just give up on 7 month bookings and grab SSR rooms now? How do you think the crowds at the new park (albeit Universal properties) will affect DVC availability through the rest of 2025 (contemplating a November 2025 visit as well)?

I personally feel it will have zero impact on WDW.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Epic will only be accessible by purchasing multi-day tickets. That's pretty savvy on Universal's part. That means you would have to book a 2 week trip if you also want to go to WDW - and who is going to do that?

My guess is WDW will see a decent decrease and I think the recent announcement of the long-term closure of BTMRR is an indication that Disney knows this too. They'll make up for it when the new-park smell of Epic wears off - but that's at least a year away.

As they say, I guess we'll find out soon enough.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Did you book before or after the EU opening date of May 22 was announced?

I don’t think it will be a dramatic decrease in WDW park attendance, but I’ve been very wrong before. I do think that there will be some DVC owners who wouldn’t otherwise visit that time of year who will decide to take advantage of having “free” accommodations over the summer to visit EU, which as I said might tighten up availability during the normally not so hard to book summertime in DVC resorts. But I won’t be there to find out personally!

If we do go to Universal, that is exactly what we would be doing. You would already be seeing this though - 11-month window is already open through the summer months. We could not get BLT 1BR standard view but I did not log on until late in the day (late August trip). Not sure that is an indicator though because BLT Standard view is pretty tough to get NMW.

 

[CarolynFH]

I’ll post a but more I a little while as I am headed to an appointment. But lets just say the multi day tickets being sold are not going to include unlimited access to Epic.

Initial tickets will start as 3 days or more. Other options will be on sale at a later date.

We can start booking things on October 22nd so I am sure lots of info will be out!!

Yes, the announcement says a 3-day ticket includes one day at EU, and a 4-day ticket also includes only one day at EU. The other days will be good only at the older parks.

That seems to me like a reasonable way to limit attendance.

 

[Disdreaming479]

I’ve seen mentioned on another thread or somewhere that there will be a 3 day ticket that includes only one day at Epic Universe. I bet the premium hotels will be higher priced than ever before, even though the express pass won’t be available at Epic. I’ve been wondering about the shuttles from the original hotels over to the new park and how that will work.

 

[davidhr]

Maybe less availability? If that’s even possible.

Just speaking from a personal POV, when we visit Orlando for Universal visit only (not so frequently, but happens), we still stay at DVC. Normally Saratoga to have a few days of easy access to Disney Springs for dinning.

Having said that, I don’t plan to visit the first year as it seems it’ll be chaotic. And I really want to go.

 

[McCrae]

Did you book before or after the EU opening date of May 22 was announced?

I don’t think it will be a dramatic decrease in WDW park attendance, but I’ve been very wrong before. I do think that there will be some DVC owners who wouldn’t otherwise visit that time of year who will decide to take advantage of having “free” accommodations over the summer to visit EU, which as I said might tighten up availability during the normally not so hard to book summertime in DVC resorts. But I won’t be there to find out personally!

I booked a VGF , 1br lake view last week.

 

[Sandisw]

Yes, the announcement says a 3-day ticket includes one day at EU, and a 4-day ticket also includes only one day at EU. The other days will be good only at the older parks.

That seems to me like a reasonable way to limit attendance.

Glad to see it is out there so I don’t have to worry about what I post! Yes, for the initial opening and until a later date, guests will get to access Epic only once, which is intended to ensure all guests have an enhanced experience.

That is why I am not sure how much change we will see initially with people using DVC as a home base more than normal when they only get access to Epic once with the other days the current parks.

Now, down the line when things change? Impact could be different.

 

[Cfabar1]

I personally don’t see it…

We only use our DVC points for staying at DVC/going to Disney. Seems to me the main advantage of buying/staying DVC is the convenience of being at Disney for Disney stays/visits…

 

[nuhusky123]

There is an epic u hack they are not actively promoting. Have to go to the faq page of the universal annual passholder site to find this info

If you have an annual pass you may purchase as many single day tickets you want

Also saw a hint on the uk ticket pack that day limits to epic will be removed in 26

Q: Can I buy more than one 1-Day Universal Epic Universe add-on ticket so I can visit on multiple days?
A: Yes, Passholders can purchase multiple 1-Day Universal Epic Universe add-on tickets so they are able to visit the park on multiple days. Please note that each pass will only be able to purchase one add-on ticket per date, and each purchase transaction is limited to 6 tickets to accommodate those who have other Passholders linked to their accounts.

 

[DebbieB]

Anytime we’ve done split WDW/Universal trips, we move to/from Universal. Last 3 times at Aventura. We aren’t going to commute from WDW.