When someone mentions Universal Orlando, your mind likely envisions The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and adrenaline-pumping roller coasters like The Incredible Hulk and VelociCoaster. 

However, with the addition of Epic Universe, which opened in May 2025, the resort has expanded its lineup of immersive experiences. At Epic Universe, you’ll find themed portals inspired by popular franchises, including Harry Potter, Nintendo, How to Train Your Dragon, and more.

As the resort’s newest theme park, Epic Universe has become a must-visit destination for Universal fans. That said, it’s easy to make mistakes that can waste valuable time or cause you to miss out on some of the park’s best experiences.

Having visited Epic Universe within months of its opening, I had the chance to experience the park while it was still brand new and learn what works — and what doesn’t. Between navigating the themed portals and figuring out the best strategy for popular attractions, I made more than my fair share of mistakes that nearly ruined my day. 

Here are the biggest Epic Universe mistakes that can destroy your Universal Orlando vacation — and how to avoid them.

Epic Universe Overview

Epic Universe is Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth theme park, located just a few miles south of Universal Orlando’s CityWalk area.

The theme park is the resort’s largest expansion in decades, spanning more than 750 acres, doubling the overall size of Universal Orlando Resort. 

Epic Universe is built around Celestial Park. This central hub is filled with lush gardens, restaurants, shopping, attractions, a massive fountain, and more. From there, visitors can step through themed portals that transport them directly into different worlds. 

Currently, Epic Universe is home to five distinct portals: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. 

Each portal is designed to feel like a different destination, complete with its own rides, dining, entertainment, and other themed experiences. As such, it’s really easy to underestimate how much time you will need to experience everything at Epic Universe. 

Planning is important so you understand the park’s layout and come up with a solid game plan to avoid unnecessary backtracking and other common mistakes that can take away from the overall experience. 

12 Detrimental Epic Universe Mistakes (Don’t Make These!)

1. Assuming Epic Universe is Included with All Ticket Types 

Unfortunately, Epic Universe isn’t automatically included in every ticket option at Universal Orlando Resort.

For example, 1-day tickets with the park-to-park option don’t include admission to Epic Universe. You can buy a 1-day ticket to Epic Universe, but you won’t be able to hop between Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and Epic Universe. 

If you want to spend multiple days at Universal Orlando Resort, with the flexibility to jump from park to park as you see fit, you’ll need to purchase at least a 3-day park-to-park ticket. This is because the 2-day tickets include one day at Epic Universe and one day to park hop between Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. 

All that to say, it’s important to carefully review your ticket before purchasing and confirm that Epic Universe access is included.

2. Not Staying On-Site — Early Park Admission is a Game-Changer

I’ll admit that for years, I thought staying at a Universal Orlando Resort was a waste of money when I could use credit card points to book a nearby hotel and enjoy what felt like a “free” stay. However, after finally staying on-site and taking advantage of the Early Park Admission benefit, I’ll never consider off-site again. 

That extra hour in the park before the general public arrives is incredibly valuable, whether you’re trying to rope drop Hagrid’s at Islands of Adventure or beeline to the Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe. 

Instead of starting your day in hour-long lines, Early Park Admission makes it easy to cross off many popular attractions before the later crowds arrive. 

You don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars to stay on-site, either. Some hotels, like Universal’s Terra Luna Resort and Surfside Inn and Suites, often have rates around $150 per night, depending on the time of year. 

Another advantage of staying at a Universal Orlando Resort is the complimentary transportation. This means you don’t have to worry about ordering pricey rideshares after park closing. Instead, you can hop on a complimentary shuttle or, depending on your hotel, walk to the parks.

3. Not Beelining to the Ministry of Magic or Super Nintendo World

Speaking of Early Park Admission, you don’t want to make the same mistake I did and wander through the park without a plan — or worse, go to the wrong portal and waste that valuable park time. 

During my visit to Epic Universe, my fiancée and I foolishly decided to beeline to Dark Universe since the wait times were the shortest, according to the Universal app. 

While we got to ride Monsters Unchained and Curse of the Werewolf in under 20 minutes, a better use of our time would have been to go to the Ministry of Magic or Super Nintendo World before those portals opened to the general public. 

As such, we ended up waiting four hours (yes, four!) to ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Although we thought the attraction was impressive, by the time it was finally our turn, we were exhausted and frustrated.

Super Nintendo World is the other most popular portal, with lines for Mine-Cart Madness and Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge often exceeding 80 minutes. This is another great place to start your day with Early Park Admission. 

4. Not Using the Universal Orlando Resort App

Trust me when I say that the Universal Orlando Resort app will quickly become your best friend during your visit to Epic Universe. With so much to see and do, navigating the park without it is stressful. 

The app ensures that key information, including wait times, show schedules, maps, mobile food ordering, dining menus, and more, is available at your fingertips. 

Because the app is such a useful tool, it’s worth taking a few minutes before you leave your hotel to download it and familiarize yourself with the features. That way, you aren’t wasting time during your park day trying to figure out how it works. 

5. Forgetting a Portable Charger  

Another mistake to avoid making is forgetting a portable charger. Since you’ll be using your phone a lot during the day, from checking wait times to mobile ordering food and navigating the park, you must be positive your battery can last from park opening to park closing. 

That said, if you make it halfway through the day and realize you left your portable charger in your hotel room, don’t panic. Universal Orlando has FuelRod kiosks located throughout Epic Universe, where you can purchase a portable charger.

This is, of course, a more expensive option than bringing your own portable charger (usually around $40), but it’s far better than having your phone die during dinner. 

6. Skipping the Live Entertainment

While Epic Universe’s adrenaline-pumping attractions are the main draw of the theme park, don’t overlook the live entertainment.

Le Cirque Arcanus, located in the Ministry of Magic, is a must-see production with live performers, incredible puppetry, dazzling special effects, and more. The story follows circus employee Gwenlyn as she works to rescue a collection of fantastic beasts after ringmaster Skender steals a suitcase of creatures belonging to Newt Scamander.

The Untrainable Dragon is another popular show in Epic Universe, praised for its set pieces, life-sized puppetry, and more. During this 20-minute production, Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid work to train a new dragon that mysteriously arrived on the Isle of Berk. 

Both shows are worth adding to your itinerary, but don’t make the mistake of arriving right before showtime. Capacity is limited, and seats fill up quickly. I’d recommend making a point to arrive no later than thirty minutes before showtime. 

7. Only Eating at Quick-Service Restaurants

It can be tempting to stick to quick-service restaurants during your park day at Epic Universe because they leave you with more time to experience other attractions. However, the Universal Orlando Resort team really outdid themselves when creating the park’s dining experiences, and skipping them is a huge mistake.

Epic Universe is home to incredible restaurants that offer unique menus and immersive dining experiences you won’t find anywhere else — not even in Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure! 

The Atlantic, for example, offers a sophisticated seafood-focused dining experience inside Celestial Park and was inspired by an enormous Victorian aquarium. Popular items include Captain Fernando’s Half-Pound Lobster Roll, the Atlantic Filet Mignon, and the Grouper Sandwich, and reservations are highly recommended. 

If you want something a little bit more, well, dark, look no further than Das Stakehaus. This restaurant puts a monstrous twist on the traditional steakhouse experience, featuring dishes like Bird on a Stake, “Blood” Orange Chicken Sandwich, Darkmoor Black Wings, and more. 

Not only that, but full-service restaurants are a great way to take a break from the crowds and Florida heat during your park day. 

8. Not Staying Hydrated with Free Water 

Speaking of Florida heat, one of the biggest cons about Epic Universe is that it has limited shade in many areas of the park. As such, you’ll want to take extra care to ensure that you remain hydrated throughout the day. 

Even if you don’t purchase a refillable Freestyle Cup, you can still use the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines to fill up your own reusable bottle with complimentary water.

Quick-service restaurants will also hand out complimentary cups of water, and water fountains are located near the restrooms.

On a similar note, if you happen to stumble across a shaded area, don’t be afraid to take a short break. Resting will help you avoid feeling overheated, especially during the warmer summer months. 

9. Rushing Out of the Park at Sunset 

Depending on how early you start your day, you may not want to stick around long after sunset. However, Epic Universe has a completely different vibe at night, and portals like Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, and Isle of Berk are worth seeing in the dark. 

I’m not saying you have to force yourself to stay until closing, but you definitely want to spend a little time exploring the park after sunset. 

Plus, the cooler temperatures make walking around more enjoyable, making this a great time to revisit your favorite attractions or grab a nighttime snack, like a Butterbeer crêpe or DK Crush Float.

Debuting in early July 2026, Epic Universe now has a nighttime spectacular as well. Universal Celestial Goodnight is a roughly 10-minute show featuring fireworks, music, and dancing fountains that occurs at park close each evening.

10. Forgetting to Pack Rain Gear 

Florida weather is beyond unpredictable. You might start your park day with sunshine and zero clouds in sight, only to find yourself caught in a rainstorm a few hours later.

And as mentioned earlier, Epic Universe doesn’t really have a ton of shade, so there aren’t a lot of places to take cover during sudden downpours. 

This is why it’s important to come prepared with rain gear. It might be annoying to have to haul around, but a lightweight poncho or compact rain jacket can make a huge difference when dark clouds start to roll in. 

11. Buying Pricey Power-Up Bands 

During my trip to Epic Universe, I originally planned to buy a Power-Up Band to experience the special, immersive minigames in Super Nintendo World. However, after seeing the crowds and long wait times for many of the Power-Up Band challenges, I decided the extra cost wasn’t worth it for my visit.

Now, I’m not saying that everyone should avoid buying Power-Up Bands, but they simply didn’t make sense for how I wanted to spend my day at Epic Universe. Rather than waiting in line to collect digital keys and coins, my fiancée and I decided we’d rather spend more time enjoying other attractions.

For families with kids or hardcore Nintendo fans, the $45 price tag may be worth it. However, think carefully before purchasing one, especially if you’re only spending one day in the park. You don’t want to feel like you have to spend hours in Super Nintendo World trying to complete every challenge just to justify the purchase.

12. Skipping Single-Rider Lines

Finally, don’t make the mistake of skipping the single-rider lines at Epic Universe (like I did). Sure, it’s fun to experience each attraction with your friends and family, but sometimes, the hours-long wait times just aren’t worth it. 

For instance, my fiancée and I waited four hours to ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, simply because it was our first time visiting Epic Universe and we wanted to see the full immersive queue. 

Two hours in, and we wished that we had taken advantage of the single-rider line instead. There’s no denying that the themed queue was impressive (we certainly felt like we were right inside the Ministry of Magic!), but we wasted so much park time. In fact, we got in line when it was still light outside, only to finally walk off when the sun was setting.

Comments

Have you made any of these Epic Universe mistakes? Even if you haven’t, tell us one thing that you’d do differently on your next park visit.