As you probably already know, Universal just recently opened its long-awaited third theme park in Orlando: Universal Epic Universe. Not only is this Universal’s first new US park in over 20 years, but nearly every attraction inside Epic Universe is completely exclusive to the resort, meaning you won’t find them at Universal Studios Hollywood, Japan, or any of their other parks around the world. From brand-new coasters to some truly impressive immersive dark rides and interactive experiences, the park is offering something completely fresh to guests.
The attractions are located within the park’s five immersive worlds: the retro-futuristic hub land Celestial Park, a Harry Potter land set in 1920s Paris and the Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe based on the Universal Classic Monsters, Super Nintendo World (a clone land of the one they have in Japan and Hollywood), and Isle of Berk from How to Train Your Dragon.
As I mentioned in my food review post, I was lucky enough to be invited by Universal to attend the media preview ahead of Epic Universe’s grand opening. Over the past few years, Universal had slowly been dropping details about the rides, and with soft previews running for a couple of months before my visit, I had a pretty solid idea of what to expect going in — at least, I thought I did.
Now, while the park doesn’t have a ton of rides, it would be hard to do them all because of the crowds and the size of the park. So, I rode as many attractions as I could in order to give you my thoughts on them and, most importantly, whether they’re worth waiting in line for.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders in Isle of Berk
Dragon Racer’s Rally in Isle of Berk
Meeting Toothless at Haddock Paddock in the Isle of Berk
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in Dark Universe
Curse of the Werewolf in Dark Universe
Constellation Carousel in Celestial Park
Stardust Racers in Celestial Park
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge in Super Nintendo World
Yoshi’s Adventure in Super Nintendo World
Mine-Cart Madness in Donkey Kong Country (located within Super Mario World)
Le Cirque Arcanus in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
And lastly, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Okay, with everything all said and done, most of the rides at Epic Universe absolutely live up to the hype! From the jaw-dropping scale of Battle at the Ministry to the unexpectedly fun Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, these attractions are not only thrilling, they’re also imaginative, ambitious, and soon-to-be classics. BTW, stay tuned, I’ll be sharing my overall thoughts on the park experience and some helpful tips for making the most of your visit!!!