I Did Every Ride, Show and Attraction at Universal Epic Universe — Here's What I Think You Should Know

I am a theme park person. So when I found out that Universal was opening a new park, Universal Epic Universe, with areas dedicated to Nintendo, Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon and the classic Universal Monsters, I couldn't wait to get the chance to visit. I gobbled up every piece of news about it as if it were my own personal Daily Prophet.

Epic Universe finally opened on May 22, and I was lucky enough to spend three full days in the park. For the first two, I was an invited media guest touring the lands before the big debut. Then, after it opened to the public, I returned with my Nintendo-expert 9-year-old and Universal Monster-loving husband in tow, experiencing the park like any paying customer. The crowds were low, the heat was high and between the three days I was able to do everything — every ride, every show, every experience — multiple times. For theme park fans planning a visit, here's what I think is important to know before they go.

For starters, guests don't need three days to explore the land like I did. When I returned with my family, we were lucky in that it wasn't mobbed with excited park-goers — we went during the week and avoided the weekend crowds — and did pretty much everything we wanted to do by dinnertime. We stuck around until park close to see Dark Universe at night, and do a couple of our favorites a second time, but the extra time felt like a bonus.

Depending on crowd levels, which have increased since my opening-weekend trip, visitors can probably get it done in a day, or in two days to really ensure getting on the most-desired rides (i.e., Battle at the Ministry and Mine-Cart Madness) or to circle back on some favorites.

Speaking of rides, they're grouped into four themed lands, each accessed through its own "portal" to each world from the main area, known as Celestial Park. Once visitors pass through each portal, the music changes, the theming kicks in, and visitors really feel like they've been transported to another world. Here's a land-by-land breakdown of what to expect.

Mine-Cart Madness really feels like playing a level of a Donkey Kong game

Head up through a warp pipe to feel transported into a Super Mario Bros. game, complete with snapping Piranha Plants, running Goombas and question blocks to hit. Epic Universe's Super Nintendo World is bigger than the one in California, with three rides: Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness and Yoshi’s Adventure. In addition, there are games to play and secrets to uncover. To have a leveled-up visit:

• Get a Power-Up Band. I'm loathe to recommend spending an additional $42 on top of a park ticket, but the Power-Up Bands really unlock more of the land. It connects to the Universal app to keep track of coins collected (both on the Mario Kart ride and walking around), plus achievement stamps for doing things like punching a POW block or finding all of the K-O-N-G letters in Donkey Kong Country.
• Play the mini games. There are little challenges throughout the land that feel like playing Mario Party mini-games. Players with a Power-Up band will collect a key each time they win one of the games. Three keys unlocks a special challenge with Bowser, Jr.
• Or don't play the mini games. Some of them are hard! If a couple of mini-games are insurmountable, there are other, secret ways of earning keys, like finding all the hidden 8-bit characters or punching every block. Look around for obscured Ms or DKs that signal there's something worth investigating with the Power-Up Band.
• Watch out for the Mine-Cart Madness line. It's one of the longer ones, and this attraction doesn't accept the Universal Express Pass. When there's a shorter wait time, definitely hop on.

Grab a team to finish this treat before the Florida heat destroys it.

• Refresh with a DK Crush Float. While waiting for the Mine-Cart Madness line to wind down, it might get hot, and Epic Universe still has a ways to go before the just-planted trees provide enough shade. A good way to cool down is with the DK Crush Float: The cup is filled with pineapple soda, then a waffle-cone bowl is placed on top and filled with banana and pineapple soft serve topped with star-shaped sprinkles, toffee and caramel popcorn. They punch a straw through the waffle bowl so diners can drink the soda while eating the soft serve. It can be purchased with or without the souvenir barrel mug, and it's definitely big enough to share!
• Know the height requirement for Yoshi's Adventure. It was surprising to me that there was one, since it seems like a ride for babies. Riders must be 34" tall.
• Look for the Pikmin. Most of the land is dedicated to Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong, but, like at the Super Nintendo World in California, there are hidden Pikmin throughout. (My favorite: They're included in a painted wall mural in the Mine-Cart Madness queue. A couple of them look like they're trying to avoid a barrel — but there are a couple who succumbed to it!)

Insider Tip: I asked the ride attendant how to get the most coins possible in Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, and he said the key was drifting. When the ride prompts drivers to turn the steering wheel, keep it turned for as long as possible and hear the coins rack up!

The lines for Battle at the Ministry are long, but the queueing area is impressive.

Unlike Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, the Ministry of Magic is not supposed to be a re-creation of England (mostly). The land takes its cues from the Fantastic Beasts movies, and situates itself in 1920s Paris, where wizards and witches can use their "baguettes magiques" to cast spells. There are two attractions in this land: the big Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride, and a show, Le Cirque Arcanus. For a magical visit:

• Be a wizard. Like the other Wizarding World of Harry Potter parks, there are spots where fans can wield their wands and do "spells" that activate the Parisian shop windows. "I really feel like I'm doing magic," my 9-year-old told me. Some of the spells are really improved from Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade: One lets wizards select ingredients from potion jars and brew up some magical concoctions. Older wands will work, but new, second-generation wands ($85) connect to the app and send magic-users on spell-casting adventures, which end with unlocking new spells. They also light up and vibrate when spells are successfully cast.
• Get ready to wait. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry has consistently had the longest line since the park has opened, and I've seen the wait time get up to 300 minutes. (In that time, a fan can watch the entirety of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix — twice.) Sadly, this ride is also exempt from the Universal Express Pass.

Some of the tiles even look grimy for authenticity.

• The line is a marvel in and of itself. Even though the wait for this is probably the longest in the park, there's lots to look at. This area is the only one that doesn't adhere to the 1920s Parisian theme. Riders travel by Metrofloo back to 1990s Britain to attend the trial of Dolores Umbridge at the British Ministry of Magic. While riders are waiting, they wind their way through an approximately half-mile-long queueing area full of magical details, passing a Metrofloo station, a soaring atrium, and other Ministry rooms. According to Universal, there are 80,000 subway tiles in the Metrofloo area alone, and 125,000 Ministry tiles in five different colors.
• Butterbeer is called bièraubeurre here. Remember, it's French. They even serve bièraubeurre crêpes at the Café L’air De La Sirène.

Insider Tip: If the Battle at the Ministry wait is too long, visitors can still get to see at the Ministry of Magic atrium. There's a separate entrance for people who just want to take a look.

The Burning Blade Tavern is an excellent place to meet monster-hunters.

This portal transports visitors to the gothic village of Darkmoor, where Victoria Frankenstein, the great-great-granddaughter of Henry Frankenstein, wants to assert dominance over all monsters to clear her family's name. There are two rides in this land — the dark Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and spinning Curse of the Werewolf coaster — plus the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience for those who want to transform into a creature of the night. How to keep your wits about you:

• Don't skip Monsters Unchained. While talking to people throughout my days in the park, everyone listed this ride as a highlight for its unique mix of screen projections and animatronics. It's worth it just for the spooky tour of the Frankenstein Manor alone. Also, since it's a continuously loading ride, the line is always moving.

If you can’t wear your Bride of Frankenstein Loungefly purse outside of Frankenstein Manor, where can you wear it?

• Talk to the characters. Monsters, monster-hunters and henchmen walk around Darkmoor and offer some of the best interactions in the park. Ygor is already a fan favorite, and I've seen fan art dedicated to him sprout up in the few days since opening. (Warning: He's not particularly friendly! I heard him ask someone's name, and when they answered, he shouted, "Bad name!") If you don't know how to start a conversation with a monster, ask why they aren't in Victoria Frankenstein's catacombs.
• Look for the furry Easter eggs. It's hard to spot details while on a roller coaster, and even harder if it's spinning. But horror fans on Curse of the Werewolf can try to pick out David Kessler‘s red jacket from An American Werewolf in London (it's hanging inside the shed), or Larry Talbot's cane from The Wolf Man (in the wagon in the queue).

Monstrously good.

• Darkmoor is an underrated spot for snacks. De Lacey’s Cottage, for my money, has the best bites in the park (no vampire pun intended). The Warm Hearted Cinnamon Bites (cinnamon sugar donut bites with cream cheese icing) and the Frank & Friends Pretzel (a giant pretzel in the shape of a Frankenstein's monster) were both hits with my party when they were monstrously hungry.

Insider Tip: One of the coolest features of Dark Universe is the Burning Blade tavern, with a spinning windmill that periodically catches on fire. Want to make sure to see it ablaze? Listen for bells — when they ring out throughout the village of Darkmoor, there's a couple minutes to run to the windmill before it lights up.

Isle of Berk is a good place to cool down on a water ride.

Filled with Vikings and dragons, the Isle of Berk is one of the most extensive lands in Epic Universe. There are three rides here — family coaster Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, the soaring Dragon Racer’s Rally and the get-soaking-wet Fyre Drill — plus a show, The Untrainable Dragon, a Viking Training Camp playground area and a Toothless meet-and-greet. New Vikings need to know:

• There be dragons. Universal says there are more than 30 animatronic dragons throughout the Isle of Berk, in addition to three untethered robot dragons. There are 17 different dragon species represented. (Want to make sure to see a few of them? Check out The Untrainable Dragon.)
• Beware the Mac and Cheese Cones from Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel. They're one of the most Instagrammed dishes in Epic Universe, but I've seen them defeat more than one hungry Viking. And it's easy to see why: An everything bagel-esque seasoned bread bowl is filled with heaping piles of macaroni and cheese, than topped with either goldfish, chicken, or "PB&J" (pork, bacon and jam). It's ... a lot. Bring a tribe, or be prepared to have a ton of leftovers.

What do you mean I can’t bring home a baby dragon?

• Ride Hiccup's Wing Gliders more than once. For starters, I found it to be the smoothest, nicest coaster in the park. For another, depending on if you get the left track or the right track, you might hear different dialogue.
• Take the barrel roll challenge. During my visit, people were competing for bragging rights to see how many full barrel rolls they could get their dragons to do on Dragon Racer's Rally. Riders control the wings of the dragon and can move them up or down to start a spin, but the secret is apparently really throwing body weight into it. (Or just enjoy a nice, quiet ride with no spinning? That's my strategy.) Dragon Riders who want to perfect their techniques should know that this ride doesn't accept the Express Pass.
• Control the wetness of the Fyre Drill experience ... kinda. Some targets unleash heaps of water on the boats — which can be good or bad, depending on how hot it is. For a drier experience, avoid the targets with the blue "X" on them. Then again, other riders can hit the targets and soak the whole boat if they feel like it.
• Be patient to meet Toothless. Even if the line is short, it moves extremely slowly. That's because Hiccup and Toothless spend a lot of time with each guest, which is good since they don't rush through the line, but it does drive up the wait. The animatronic Toothless is stunning.

Insider Tip: Need a quick cool down? There's an ice dragon by Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel that occasionally blows a big, frosty cloud onto guests. Even for those who want to stay warm, it's fun stand around it and watch unsuspecting visitors get blasted.

The Chronos tower welcomes guests to Epic Universe and looms large over the park.

The centerpiece of Epic Universe, Celestial Park is said to put the "park" back in "theme park," with serene fountains and lots of flowers. But not just a passageway from portal to portal, it's also a destination in and of itself, with twin coaster Stardust Racers, the Constellation Carousel and the Astronomica water playground. Stellar travelers should be aware:

• Stardust Racers riders have to choose between the "yellow" and "green" tracks. The conventional wisdom is that green is wilder and yellow is milder. But I've spoken with people who swear they couldn't tell the difference, or insist that the yellow is the more intense ride. Riders should try both — if they dare — and decide for themselves.
• Look at the floor before choosing a Constellation Carousel seat. A ride operator assured me that all of the constellations go to a height of 6 feet. And all of them are on a big turntable, like a regular carousel. But some of them are also on smaller, secondary turntables — they look like big circles in the floor — so they get some extra spin.
• Try the Constellation Carousel in the day and in the night. During the day, when the sun shines through the stained glass in the dome, it projects colorful images of lunar phases on the ground. At night, the constellations twinkle and globes light up.
• Try purple pizza. Sadly, while three days was enough to check out all the rides, I wasn't able to eat at every single restaurant and quick-service counter. (I only have one stomach!) But most of those I spoke with said they enjoyed the meals in Celestial Park the most. (Atlantic came up over and over again as a favorite.) The best meal I had was at Pizza Moon. I was particularly fond of the Pizza Lunare, which comes with roasted garlic béchamel, fromage de lune, ricotta, pancetta and garlic confit, all on a purple ube crust. It really did look like something from another world!

Nothing like a purple pizza and an orange Celestial Spritz

• Seek out the Coke Freestyle machine. Some of the different lands in Epic Universe have unique, portal-specific flavors in the Coke Freestyle machines: Celestial Spritz in Celestial Park, Dragon Splash in Isle of Berk and Screaming Berry in Dark Universe. The Celestial Spritz, with an overall citrusy flavor, was amazing. I'm actually sad I can't get it from my office cafeteria.

Insider Tip: Green or yellow, on the back of the last car on each Stardust Racers train, there's a nod to another Universal movie — one that sadly no longer has a ride in any of the parks. I won't spoil what it is, but it needs 1.21 gigawatts of electrical power to function.

Behind Celestial Park is the Grand Helios Hotel, which boasts its own entrance into Epic Universe.

During my visit, I was able to either stay at or tour the three hotels closest to Epic Universe: I was hosted at Stella Nova during the media event, I stayed at Terra Luna on my own dime with my family and I took a gander at the Grand Helios Hotel.

Of those, the Grand Helios has some obvious advantages — but is also a big splurge. It's situated right on the grounds of Epic Universe and has its own, dedicated entrance for guests. There are also multi-room options available, including the How to Train Your Dragon suites, which have rooms with two twin beds each done up in fun Viking décor. On the top floor, Bar Helios offers an amazing view of the park — it might be worth snagging a reservation even if you don't stay there.

It is extremely sunny. Bucket hats, like my Dark Universe one, are a friend.

For a more affordable option, Stella Nova and Terra Luna offer everything a family needs to crash after a full day at a theme park. They each have an on-site café, a big pool, a small arcade, a Universal store where you can get Power-Up Bands before you head to the park, a room to drop off luggage (so you can get the most out of early theme-park hours even if your room isn't ready) and a desk where you can ask about getting express passes or upgraded tickets. The biggest advantage is the location: The shuttle ride to Epic Universe was around five minutes, and shuttles came pretty frequently. (It takes longer to get to CityWalk, Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure.) I thought Terra Luna had a slight advantage over Stella Nova — the menu in the café was a little better — but they were both good options for weary Vikings, gamers, monsters or wizards.

Marisa LaScala

Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.