Universal Epic Universe: How to Plan Your Trip To One Of Orlando’s Top Theme Parks

Universal’s long-awaited Epic Universe is now open in Orlando — and it’s already shaping up to be a top contender for the best theme park in the world. With highly immersive lands themed to franchises like How to Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter, Super Mario and classic Universal monsters, this is no ordinary theme park expansion — it’s a bold new era for Universal.

But it’s also not cheap. A one-day ticket to Epic Universe starts at $139, and that’s before food, drinks or extras like Power-Up Bands or Express Passes.

Here’s your comprehensive guide to visiting Epic Universe in 2025: what to know, what’s worth your money, what to eat and what to skip.

Epic Universe is Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth park, joining Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay (which is a water park). It’s the first entirely new theme park to open in Orlando in over 25 years — and it shows.

» Learn more: Epic Universe: Here’s what to do and what to skip (if you're on a budget)

Located about 15 minutes from the original three-park Universal campus, Epic Universe is essentially a second resort. Its five immersive worlds include:

• Celestial Park: The hub of the park, Celestial Park is home to gardens, fountains and the Stardust Racers coaster.

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Set in 1920s Paris, this world is centered around the ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (arguably one of the best theme park rides in the world).

• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: A Viking world filled with dragons, this also has a surprisingly thrilling family coaster.

• Super Nintendo World: It features Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Mine-Cart Madness in Donkey Kong Country.

• Dark Universe: This is a spooky, monster-centric land with interactive character encounters and some of Universal’s most ambitious storytelling to date. Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights fans will love it.

Here's a deeper dive into each of those worlds.

Celestial Park

As the grand entryway to Epic Universe, Celestial Park brings the “park” back to theme park with lush gardens, towering fountains and architecture inspired by astronomy and mythology. Rides include a roller coaster called Stardust Racers and a carousel.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

This land is themed to the Fantastic Beasts franchise, which is a spinoff prequel to the Harry Potter franchise.

This new land continues a trend of one Harry Potter-themed land in each of Universal’s Orlando parks. The first land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, debuted in 2010 at Universal Islands of Adventure. The second land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, opened in 2014.

This new land resembles 1920s Paris and includes the first full-scale theater show seen in a Harry Potter land. Like other Harry Potter lands, this one has a wand shop and Butterbeer for sale. It has some unique merchandise too though. For example, a shop called Les Galeries Mirifiques sells wizarding gear and memorabilia including 1920s-era wizarding robes complete with berets and neck ties.

What about rides? It features a highly anticipated ride called Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. The thrill ride incorporates characters from the original franchise including Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

Based on the film of the same name, this land takes on a Viking aesthetic — with the addition of dragons. Rides include a water-based boat ride called Fyre Drill where you blast water cannons at targets. Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is a family coaster (code for a tame roller coaster that doesn’t exceed speeds beyond 45 miles per hour).

Interactive experiences and shows include a stage show called “The Untrainable Dragon” and a spot to meet Hiccup and Toothless, the film’s heroes.

A shop called Viking Traders sells cosplay attire from the film including helmets, masks, shirts, shields and swords.

Super Nintendo World

Inspired by the video game, this land features meet and greets with popular characters like Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach. You can find familiar sights from the games like Peach’s Castle, Piranha Plants and spinning coins.

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is the centerpiece attraction, blending projection mapping, augmented reality and physical props into a racing-style ride.

A mini-land within Super Nintendo World called Donkey Kong Country features its own roller coaster called Mine-Cart Madness.

Dark Universe

Dark Universe isn't tied to a singular franchise but rather all sorts of monsters and myths, such as Dracula, The Wolf Man and Frankenstein’s Monster.

Rides include a family coaster called Curse of the Werewolf and a slow-moving but scary indoor ride called “Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment,” which Universal is calling its “most terrifying attraction yet.”

And though not actually a ride, one of the top attractions is the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience. There, face paint isn't just for kids. Guests can become "fashionably" monstrous with elaborate face paint inspired by movie monsters. Next door, there's a shop called Pretorius’ Scientific Oddities where you can purchase a full outfit to complete the look.

How do all those worlds fit together? Here's a look at the Epic Universe map.

Keep in mind that Epic Universe is relatively far from the rest of the Universal parks and Universal CityWalk, which is the theme park’s free outdoor entertainment district.

While it’s easy to walk between Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk, it’ll take about 15 minutes to drive from there to Universal’s Epic Universe, which is about three miles south. Universal does run complimentary shuttles connecting the parks and hotels. These shuttles are free to anyone — no need to show any tickets or hotel room keys to board.

» Learn more: The cheapest ways to visit Universal’s Epic Universe in 2025

You can buy a single-day ticket to Epic Universe for $139, which is more expensive than Universal's other parks. Tickets for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure start at just $119 per day. But like many theme parks, Universal employs variable ticket pricing, where high-demand days are more expensive.

Buy in bulk to save

Universal rewards longer stays. A 3-day ticket (including one day each at Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida, and Islands of Adventure) drops your per-day cost to around $117. Go for a 5-day pass, and the price per day drops below $80 — though only one of those days can be spent at Epic.

Purchase discounted tickets from authorized ticket sellers

Universal Studios authorized ticket sellers sometimes sell discount tickets. These include Undercover Tourist, which sells all sorts of theme park tickets including discount Disney tickets.

Discounts aren’t huge, though. While the cheapest three-day ticket package costs $491 (before tax) directly on the Universal Orlando website, Undercover Tourist has the same package for $487.

Other Universal Epic Universe ticket options

Other ticket packages are slightly more expensive but offer more flexibility.

Freedom to hop between parks: A pricier version of the three-day ticket allows you to move freely between Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure across two days, with a separate day for Universal Epic Universe. That one starts at about $137 per day.

Water park add-on: This three-day ticket package is largely similar to the aforementioned package, but also includes Volcano Bay water park access. Prices start at about $150 per day.

Hotel packages: Universal’s hotels lineup is robust — and growing (more on those hotels later). Save money by booking a vacation package between now and Dec. 10, 2025. For short stays, the savings are slim — just a $5 discount for two-night stays booked alongside a three-day ticket package. The longer you stay, the more you save. Seven-night stays at a Universal hotel bundled with tickets get you a $200 discount.

Those savings apply to stays between now and Dec. 31, 2025.

However, the real reason to book a hotel package is less about the savings and more about the benefits of staying at a Universal hotel, such as Early Park Admission, which allows you to access the parks an hour before everyone else.

Guests of Signature Collection hotels receive a complimentary Universal Express Unlimited pass, which allows you to bypass the regular lines at certain rides in Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Note that it does not cover Universal Express at Epic Universe.

Annual passes: Annual passes offer access to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure (a pricier option gets you into the water park, too). Prices start at $425.

The annual pass on its own won’t get you into Universal Epic Universe. But, passholders can purchase up to six one-day tickets to Universal Epic Universe. Tickets are non-transferable, so you can’t buy a ticket and pass it off to a non-passholder.

Again, prices for those one-day tickets vary by day, but start at about $122. Of course, that’s on top of the annual pass.

Epic Universe isn’t just about thrilling rides and themed lands. It’s also a food lover’s paradise. Across its five themed worlds, Universal Orlando’s culinary team has crafted more than 100 unique menu items, ensuring that dining here is an attraction in itself.

From themed quick bites to full-service dining, here’s a look at some of the best food you can eat at Epic Universe, broken down by land.

Celestial Park

As the heart of Epic Universe, Celestial Park features full-service restaurants. That includes The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restauran serving up eats like tonkotsu ramen and boba.

There's also the Atlantic, a seafood restaurant with killer views through its massive glass windows. To eat, elevated dishes are mostly fish-based, like sea bass with lemongrass broth and starfruit slices.

One of the most fun desserts is ultra kid-friendly: Landlubber’s Snickerdoodle Loot, a snickerdoodle cake served in a beach pail with cookie butter ganache and gummy sharks.

There are also a couple quick service restaurants not to miss, like Pizza Lunare, which makes not-your-average pizza flavors that use unique ingredients like ube crust and pancetta.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

This Harry Potter-themed land in Epic Universe features French-inspired cuisine, but in a Harry Potter style.

That means items like a Butterbeer Crêpe, filled with Butterbeer cream, shortbread cookie butter, and strawberries. For something savory, you might prefer the Alchemist’s Platter, a feast of smoked sausage, pierogies and pretzel with cheese fondue.

Super Nintendo World

Food here is inspired by the world of Mario and friends. The iconic restaurant is Toadstool Café. Dishes include:

• Mario Burger: includes bacon, mushroom and cheese.

• Luigi Burger: includes pesto grilled chicken.

• Bowser’s Fireball Challenge: A one-pound meatball with a spicy puff pastry.

For snacks, there's also Yoshi’s Snack Island, serving items like Yoshi’s Smoothie, an apple-melon frozen drink topped with whipped cream and bursting boba.

And definitely do not miss heading to the back at Donkey Kong Country. There, make a stop at The Bubbly Barrel for the DK Crush Float. It somewhat resembles a Dole Whip with its banana pineapple-flavored soft-serve, but it turns it up with a mash of chaotic toppings including toffee and popcorn, served in a waffle cone.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

Vikings feast well in this land inspired by the movie franchise. A delightful drink is Yaknog, a malted chocolate drink with cinnamon. There's also the Thawfest Platter, featuring BBQ-glazed chicken drumsticks, salmon and sausage. Top it off with Stormfly’s Catch of the Day, a dessert with chocolate mousse in the shape of a fish, nestled on crispy rice cereal.

But the real highlight is over at Hooligan's Grog & Gruel, where you can order mac and cheese cones — yes, that's cheesy pasta in a hunk of bread. Some versions offer protein toppings, too, like the Dragon Fire Chicken Spire which has a surprising kick.

Dark Universe

This land has perhaps the most clever set of menus set. It starts at Das Stakehaus, which serves 'Stakes.' Pick your choice of blackened salmon, grilled chicken or wild mushroom brisket, all served with charred green onion mashed potatoes.

There's also a blood orange chicken sandwich, served on an appropriately eerie black bun.

Universal has 11 on-site hotels, and staying at one gets you early entry — a huge perk for beating long lines at rides like Battle at the Ministry. Eight of them are located at the main Universal Orlando campus, which is still about a 15-minute drive or bus ride away. Three are within walking distance of Epic Universe, which are:

• Universal Helios Grand Hotel: This is one of Universal's fanciest hotels. Many rooms have stunning views of the park, and a rooftop bar is one of the best places to take it all in. It's the only hotel with its own entrance into Epic Universe. Rates often exceed $600/night, but views and access are unmatched. Plus, the ability to walk bac to your room for a midday nap or air conditioning break is nice.

• Universal Stella Nova Resort: This hotel sits in a class of hotels called Prime Value. That's code for "budget." Still, it has nice theming including space-themed decor. It's about a 15-minute walk to the main gate, and it starts at around $200/night.

• Universal Terra Luna Resort: This is a sister property to Stella Nova, and is largely similar in its style and price. again, it's about a 15-minute walk to Epic Universe (and a 15-minute bus ride to the other Universal campus).

No matter which Universal-owned hotel you stay at, you'll get the early entry benefit. But if proximity to Epic Universe is most important, go with the Universal Helios Grand Hotel.

And even if you can't afford a stay at Helios, the night before your trip, try to score a reservation at the Bar Helios at the Helios Grand Hotel, which overlooks Celestial Park. Reserve through Resy and soak in the nighttime fountain shows with a drink. That said, it's not cheap (but it's cheaper than park tickets and a hotel stay at least (we're talking $24 wings, $10 Budweisers).

What about other Universal hotels?

The other eight hotels sit closer to Universal's main campus (and many are walkable to the two older parks). Universal breaks its hotels into three tiers, which are:

• Signature Collection.

• Prime Value Hotels.

• Value Inns and Suites.

Generally speaking, Signature Collection hotels are the priciest, with rooms frequently going for about $600 per night (and sometimes topping $1,000 per night during busy seasons). They offer themed decor, convenient locations and fancy amenities. Popular Signature Collection hotels include the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, which resembles the seaside village of Portofino, Italy, and the Hard Rock Hotel.

Value Inns and Suites tend to be the cheapest of Universal’s hotels, offering fewer amenities and simpler finishes. Examples of these include Surfside Inn and Suites and Dockside Inn and Suites. During the off-season, room rates go for about $150 per night. Even during busy times, nightly rates typically don’t exceed $300.

Though located on Universal Orlando property and closely affiliated with the theme park, all of the hotels are actually co-owned and operated by Loews Hotels & Co, which is a relatively small, American luxury hotel chain.

Not sure which hotel to book? Check out NerdWallet’s guide to the best Universal Orlando hotels.

Staying at a Universal hotel is almost always better than staying at one off-property. That’s because Universal offers guests a key benefit: early park admission. The ability to enter an hour before official park opening time is a key way to get on popular attractions before the crowds.

How to flex elite status and earn rewards at Universal Hotels

Loews Hotels & Co does not have a loyalty program, but there’s still a way to get VIP treatment when you stay at Universal hotels — and that’s if you hold certain American Express cards.

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando is part of an American Express hotel booking program called Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR), which is only accessible to card members with certain cards such as The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.. But, if you hold an eligible card and book Loews Portofino Bay Hotel through FHR, you’ll receive elite status-like benefits including a room upgrade (when available), free daily breakfast for two, a $100 food and beverage credit, plus early check-in (when available) and guaranteed late check-out. Terms apply.

Loews Sapphire Falls at Universal Orlando is part of a similar (albeit lesser) American Express program called The Hotel Collection. That program is open to the aforementioned card members, plus American Express® Gold Card Members and American Express® Business Gold Card Members. Booking a minimum two-night stay at Loews Sapphire Falls at Universal Orlando through The Hotel Collection gets you a room upgrade (when available), a $100 property credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa or other resort activities, plus early check-in and late check-out (when available). Terms apply.

Interstate 4 runs through Universal Orlando Resort, making some non-Universal hotels closer to the parks by car or walking path than many of Universal’s own hotels. You won't get the benefits exclusive to staying at Universal-owned hotels, but they can often be much cheaper And since many of these hotels also participate in major hotel loyalty programs, you might be able to exchange points earned through frequent stays or credit card spending for free rooms.

Hilton hotels near Epic Universe

Hilton is a massive hotel chain with all sorts of hotels to match your travel priorities — whether that's proximity to the parks or hotels that benefit not just Universal but also Disney theme park guests. Here are some of the best Hilton options for a Universal stay:

Hilton Orlando: Located just one mile from the park, this Universal Partner Hotel has rooms with nice views of the park (though not quite as good as what you'd get from the Helios, of course, plus complimentary transportation.

DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando: For Hilton Honors members who prioritize walkability to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, NerdWallet recommends the DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando. It's a 15-minute shuttle to Epic Universe.

Though breakfast isn’t free, Hilton Honors members with Gold elite status or higher receive a food and beverage credit redeemable any time of day. Even if you’ve never stayed in a Hilton before, you can get automatic Hilton elite status as a benefit simply for holding certain Hilton credit cards.

Lake Nona Wave Hotel: This property is best if you prioritize luxury and style over maximizing theme park time. Book this if you intend to explore more of what Orlando has to offer beyond Universal, as it's abut a 30-minute drive from Epic Universe (though it's a quick, 10-minute drive to the Brightline Orlando Station and Orlando International Airport (MCO). It's Florida’s only hotel with three separate Michelin recognitions, plus over 500 pieces of gallery-quality art. Rooms are high-tech, with features such as AI-powered Bryte mattresses.

Hyatt hotels near Epic Universe

For World of Hyatt members, as well as families and travelers who prioritize free breakfast, NerdWallet recommends Hyatt House across from Universal Orlando Resort and Hyatt Place across from Universal Orlando Resort — both of which are adjacent to the Doubletree. These two mid-tier Hyatt brands offer a sofa bed in addition to the standard beds, plus a free breakfast buffet.

Take a pedestrian bridge to walk to the two older Universal theme parks (or a 15-minute shuttle to Epic Universe).

Score free nights through spending on the World of Hyatt Credit Card which is offering the following sign-up bonus: Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

Marriott hotels near Epic Universe

Marriott Bonvoy offers up a solid line-up of hotels, many of which start at less than $100 per night. Here are some standouts:

Residence Inn by Marriott Near Universal Orlando: Best for people who want more space and amenities, this hotel stands out for its free breakfast buffet and multi-bedroom suites. Residence Inn has studio, one, and two bedroom suites with full kitchenettes and separate lounge areas which is ideal for larger groups. Rates start at $116 per night.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando International Drive/Convention Center: This hotel recently underwent renovations. Benefits include a complimentary shuttle and free hot breakfast. Plus, rates start at just $87 per night.

Four Points by Sheraton Orlando International Drive: Located less than a mile from Universal Orlando Resort, this one does not have free breakfast, but it does have better views, a fancier pool and nicer restaurants than the above two. Plus, it still offers that complimentary shuttle to the theme parks — and rates start at just $87 per night.

• Bring a refillable water bottle — there are filling stations everywhere.

• Go early — rope drop is key if you’re not buying Express Pass. A stay at a Universal hotel can get you in even earlier.

• Know what you can skip. It can be tempting to feel like you need to buy Power-up Bands and wands, but they are bulky and expensive. The good news: you can still use one that's been pre-owned, so look to sellers like Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace to pick up one used. Or, if you're making multiple Universal trips, bring one from a prior visit.

Epic Universe is one of the best theme parks in history even if you’re not a fanatic of the particular franchises themed to each world. The lands are stunning, the food is elevated and the rides set a new bar. But it’s pricey, so plan ahead to make the most of your time and money. And bring an appetite. You’ll need it.