Common Orlando has confirmed that Epic Universe can have previews previous to grand opening! This comes as choose ticket packages and resort reservations at the moment are obtainable. Right here’s what we all know up to now, plus our hypothesis about delicate openings on the third (not fourth) theme park that’ll be part of the lineup alongside Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida.
Let’s begin with a quick replace on Epic Universe ticket gross sales and Helios Grand Lodge resort reservations, which began vivid and early this morning. Our ‘information’ to Making Sense of Epic Universe Ticket Timelines, Crowd Management & Resort Reservations served as a warning of types that in the present day can be mayhem, with the purpose of making ready you for the worst case state of affairs so that you’d plan and will pivot accordingly.
In that, we additionally famous that this might be overkill since our previous experiences in such situations have been with Disney, which is a completely completely different fanbase. That buying park tickets, resort reservations, or trip packages for Epic Universe might be “inexplicably simple.” Fortunately, nothing even approaching the worst case state of affairs has performed out. I’d say it’s gone about as easy as conceivably potential given the circumstances…
As I write this, there’s at the moment a digital queue to enter the world of Common Orlando’s web site the place you buy tickets. Early within the morning, this was shockingly temporary–only some minutes for me. As extra individuals on the East Coast awakened and acquired to the workplace (what in that digital queue in your boss’s dime!), it elevated to a quoted time of over an hour.
Nevertheless, the height precise wait I’ve skilled has been about 40 minutes. Given the circumstances, that isn’t dangerous in any respect. Not solely that, however all dates are nonetheless obtainable for all ticket varieties. This was to be anticipated. Bizarre Walt Disney World followers are going to prematurely name Epic Universe a “flop” when opening day isn’t bought out on the finish of in the present day, however remember the fact that general park capability is excessive and these are ticket packages that a whole lot of Common followers gained’t need within the first place.
We’ll see what availability seems like after a couple of hours of single-day Epic Universe ticket gross sales to Annual Passholders on October 24. My guess–my hope–is that tickets promote out for opening weekend on that date. In the event that they don’t, I’ll be mildly involved that Common Orlando isn’t truly rigorously controlling ticket stock and managing park capability to make sure the absolute best visitor expertise (as they’ve claimed would be the case). As an alternative, I’ll fear that they’re going to handle attendance the traditional Common method–by way of capability closures. However that concern can be untimely at this level–simply one thing at the back of my thoughts.
Reserving resort reservations and trip packages for Common’s Helios Grand Lodge has additionally been pretty easy crusing, all issues thought of. We warned that this could be aggressive, and that has confirmed true. However actually, it’s not almost as dangerous as we have been anticipating.
It’s a easy numbers recreation–lots of people are doubtless going to be making an attempt to ebook Helios Grand Lodge, and it’s low-capacity relative to that. This can be a 500-room luxurious in-park resort overlooking Epic Universe, and Common’s Helios Grand Lodge is shockingly low cost! Suffice to say, provide is low and demand is excessive.
We weren’t capable of get precisely what we wished at Helios Grand Lodge, however our backup plan got here via–and for the precise dates we wished. Given the absurdly low amount of rooms for our #1 alternative, I couldn’t be happier. Particularly after spending a dozen-plus hours making an attempt to ebook opening evening at Fantasy Springs Lodge and finally arising empty. This was a stroll within the park by comparability.
To make sure, it was not actually simple. We’ve already heard from some individuals shut out of opening evening, which did go quick. However even an hour after gross sales began, there was nonetheless availability for opening week. An hour after gross sales began for Fantasy Springs, there was nothing obtainable, interval. A minute after gross sales began, there was no availability. And once more, that was after ready in prolonged digital queues. It’s all relative, and this hasn’t been dangerous as contrasted with the latest in-park lodge opening.
Talking of opening week, that’s after I’ve noticed a few of the least expensive room charges for Helios Grand. In shortly searching, the low I noticed was $315 per evening. Not a whole shock since late Might is shoulder season, however nonetheless a bit stunning that they didn’t do premium pricing for opening week.
As for the most affordable costs for anybody doubting that room charges at Helios Grand would begin at $293 per evening, right here they’re:
I’m saving this one for the DTB Archives, as I’m flabbergasted that an in-park lodge would price beneath $300 in 2024…and need to have the ability to evaluate/distinction this with pricing 5 years from now.
One thing tells me that, not like different latest resorts at Common which have maintained their introductory costs for years after the very fact, Helios Grand Lodge goes to price much more sooner or later. If Epic Universe is the massive hit we anticipate it to be, all of Common Orlando’s costs will doubtless be adjusted upwards within the coming couple years.
Fortunately, there additionally was no digital queue for Helios Grand resort reservations–one other plus!
Anyway, as for delicate openings–that is one other factor we observed whereas spending hours upon hours on (or ready to enter) Common Orlando’s web site this morning. In a few completely different spots, they trace (or extra) at the potential for previews.
First is the above screenshot, from the Annual Passholder dwelling web page: “Beginning October 24, Passholders have the particular alternative to buy single-day admission* to Common Epic Universe earlier than single-day tickets go on sale to most people. Hyperlink your Cross to your Common Account Pockets for the simplest strategy to buy. Extra ticket merchandise will likely be obtainable at a later date. Plus, search for data relating to Passholder delicate opening alternatives within the coming months!” (Emphasis added.)
Second is the above screenshot, on the primary touchdown package deal for Common Epic Universe merchandise: “Tickets could also be obtainable to pick audiences previous to Might 22, 2025 opening date.”
This was on a public-facing web page, which is notable to me. Regardless that it makes use of the “choose audiences” limiting language–which means tickets gained’t essentially be supplied to most people–the easy incontrovertible fact that this ‘heads up’ is being supplied earlier than non-APs buy ticket and resort packages suggests to me that delicate openings gained’t be restricted completely to Annual Passholders.
This in all probability isn’t information to common readers, as we’ve been strongly suggesting for some time now that Epic Universe can have prolonged previews. Epic Universe isn’t just going to do a chilly open on Might 22, 2025. That will be a recipe for catastrophe.
In all chance, the park can have over a month of previews for group members, Annual Passholders, Florida residents, media, overseas dignitaries, influencers, Actual Housewives, and Ice-T from Legislation & Order. That’s lots of people.
This presents a possibility for Common Orlando to set a conservative opening date far upfront–which is exactly what they’ve carried out by focusing on Might 22, 2025. There’s completely no method that Common can know, proper now, precisely when Epic Universe will likely be able to open to most people. If it’s a race in opposition to the clock, there’s an inexpensive probability the clock would win given the complexity of the venture.
This shouldn’t be trigger for concern. Actually, the alternative. Common setting the official opening date for Epic Universe up to now into the long run signifies that it’s not a race in opposition to the clock. It’s not a decent opening timeline, however a unfastened one.
It means Common has chosen a strategically-advantageous opening date, proper at the beginning of the traditional summer season vacationer season. (By no means thoughts that summer season isn’t actually peak season for Florida anymore–it’s nonetheless probably the most concentrated time of the yr for college breaks.) They’ve picked this date as a result of they’re extremely assured that–though the precise date it’ll be carried out is unknowable proper now–it’s a close to certainty Epic Universe will likely be completed properly earlier than then.
It’s potential that they’ve set the Memorial Day weekend opening date even with the expectation is that each one or most of Epic Universe will likely be prepared by March or April. The method may then be to get Epic Universe able to greet friends as shortly as potential, and easily backfill all earlier dates with delicate openings.
That is what we anticipated–and defined–even earlier than Common introduced a gap date. Now that they’ve–and disclosed it in October–and in addition teased pre-opening previews, we’re 100% assured that that is the plan.
There’s doubtless a gentle stream of Annual Passholders, locals, influencers, franchise followers, and even common ole vacationers who would pay a reasonably penny to expertise Epic Universe early. Not solely that, however these are demographics who, for probably the most half, don’t want as a lot advance discover of dates. Common may announce delicate openings comparatively final minute–after worker previews begin.
For probably the most half, these teams are additionally all larger information friends. Which means that, for instance, if a single attraction will not be prepared for primetime, that might be conveyed to them they usually’d perceive. These friends are going to be prepared to shell out cash to expertise Epic Universe early, even when it’s incomplete.
Heck, that might in all probability be taken a couple of steps additional. Epic Universe makes use of a portal system, which might make it very simple to dam off a whole land throughout delicate openings if it’s not prepared. This could enable Common Orlando to begin previews even earlier, and simply with the asterisk that whichever land gained’t be obtainable. Loads of diehard followers will nonetheless fortunately pay to attend a sneak peek…after which do it once more when that portal opens throughout subsequent previews!
Guessing as to when Epic Universe delicate openings will begin is considerably of a idiot’s errand.
For one factor, we will solely see seen progress on attraction exteriors and landscaping. That’s occurring at an extremely quick tempo–and a few experience testing is already occurring, a full 8 months earlier than official opening. Nevertheless, on the danger of stating the plain, we can’t see contained in the present buildings to know the place the rides–particularly the extremely advanced ones–stand. These might be forward of or not on time.
For one more factor, our right predictions for the official opening date (properly, off by sooner or later) of Epic Universe have been anchored by previous precedent and guessing at when Common would really feel was most advantageous in debuting the brand new park. There are not any such guidelines for delicate openings. It doesn’t “want” to be timed round Presidents’ Day or Easter…none of that issues. They’ll simply occur every time they’ll occur, probably with little discover.
My shot at the hours of darkness guess is that Common Orlando will wish to begin delicate openings, in some capability, as shut to 2 full months upfront as potential. Much less of a guess is that Crew Member previews will happen first, adopted by Annual Passholders.
How early Crew Member previews begin actually is dependent upon the large unknown: development progress and (unseen) experience testing. That window transferring ahead or backwards additionally may dictate whether or not there are previews for anybody else.
If delicate openings are crammed right into a tighter timeframe, I’d anticipate them just for Crew Members after which Annual Passholders. If the window is longer, the primary group they’d doubtless be prolonged to incorporate is Florida residents. If we’re speaking over 2 months of previews–and nearer to three, I may see delicate opening tickets being bought to on-site friends in some unspecified time in the future in Might 2025.
Wider delicate openings turn out to be extra doubtless than not if Epic Universe is firing on all cylinders throughout previews and Common desires to increase the providing to extra friends. It’s an everybody wins state of affairs–they get extra income, and friends who booked holidays that simply missed Epic Universe get to be shocked by not truly lacking it.
However that’s getting method forward of ourselves. All Common Orlando has introduced to this point is that delicate openings will occur for Annual Passholders and that choose audiences might be able to attend Epic Universe previous to its official opening date. Each of these issues have been just about givens in gentle of previous precedent and operational realities for brand new theme parks.
We will likely be intently monitoring what’s introduced and will notify subscribers of our free e mail e-newsletter when Epic Universe delicate opening dates are launched or rumored! (For no matter it’s price, we wouldn’t anticipate full particulars of sentimental openings till Winter 2025, so don’t sit on pins and needles anticipating information this week.)
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Be sure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for all the pieces about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for all the pieces about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra.
YOUR THOUGHTS
When do you assume Epic Universe will begin delicate openings? Suppose they’ll be supplied over a month upfront for Annual Passholders? What about Floridians and even on-site friends at Common Orlando resort lodges? Excited for Tremendous Nintendo World, Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Darkish Universe/Basic Monsters, or the Find out how to Prepare Your Dragon lands and/or points of interest? Suppose Epic Universe will likely be a 3rd gate that’s a worthy addition to Common Orlando Resort…and probably on par with Disney’s finest lands? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share some other ideas or questions you might have within the feedback beneath!
