Common Orlando has launched the park hours for Epic Universe’s grand opening on Could 22, 2025 and first week of operations thereafter, in addition to the schedules for Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. This shares official particulars, together with our commentary about why this information is disappointing, as is the unduly defensive response from some followers.
In accordance with the Common Orlando Resort calendar, Epic Universe might be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for its grand opening on Could 22, 2025. The park additionally won’t host Early Park Admission that date, as early entry at Epic Universe begins Could 23 and continues by way of a minimum of the top of December 2025.
Epic Universe might be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. by way of a minimum of Could 31, 2025. Working hours usually are not but accessible for June onwards, however there’s no purpose to count on longer hours throughout summer season. Epic Universe is offered out of tickets for Could, whereas that’s not the case for a lot of the rest of the summer season season.
Surprisingly, Islands of Journey is open to most of the people from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Could 22, with Early Park Admission beginning at 8 a.m. That means that decades-old park is successfully working for two additional hours than Epic Universe on the brand-new park’s opening day.
Epic Universe is presently open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for paid previews, with on-site lodge visitors getting Early Park Admission beginning at 10 a.m. These sneak peeks are pretty low capability (our estimates put them at underneath 50% primarily based on caps, and far decrease than that primarily based on precise ticket gross sales), and Epic Universe paid previews have been prolonged by way of virtually opening day.
Be aware that in late Could 2025, the sundown time in Orlando, Florida ranges from 8:13 p.m. to eight:18 p.m.
On the threat of stating the apparent, it doesn’t get darkish the second the solar goes down; it takes one other 30-45 minutes earlier than dusk and issues actually begin wanting good. Not less than, this has been our expertise with Epic Universe throughout previews.
The park hours for Epic Universe over opening weekend (and past) are particularly unlucky provided that the park was virtually designed to be skilled at evening. To make sure, each theme park in Central Florida is best within the night simply by advantage of lighting packages and luxury. However Epic Universe, particularly, has fountains and results in Celestial Park in addition to just about the whole lot of Darkish Universe that solely actually ‘work’ at evening. (Extra like Daylight Universe, amirite?!)
There are myriad potential causes for Epic Universe closing early. One is undoubtedly the necessity to conduct in a single day upkeep; a number of points of interest are nonetheless unreliable and that’s unlikely to be resolved within the subsequent month. One other is wanting or needing to clear the park by an inexpensive hour; if Mine-Cart Insanity has a 120 minute wait at park closing, which means the park gained’t be guest-free till nearer to 11 p.m.
Much less charitably, there’s in all probability the will to chop prices or push visitors in direction of visiting Islands of Journey. We already know Comcast has spent a ton of cash gearing up for the launch of Epic Universe, and now they’d like to avoid wasting on working bills and recoup their funding. Equally, there could be park buyouts; we already noticed considered one of these in Darkish Universe throughout previews!
Regardless of the causes, none of them are insurmountable–nor do they justify Common closing the park so early on the day of its anxiously-awaited grand opening. This transfer has Huge Animal Kingdom Vitality, and I don’t imply that in a optimistic manner.
Truthfully, that is one other factor making me need to push off our opening weekend journey to Common Orlando that we booked months in the past.
It seems like that is going to be a not-so-grand opening for Epic Universe, and an anticlimactic expertise when all is claimed and completed. Following months of previews and a gala media occasion within the couple of days main as much as Could 22, it simply looks as if the day itself goes to be enterprise as traditional and missing the same old fanfare that comes with such openings.
I’m positive the massive day will nonetheless be particular with diehard Common followers and Workforce Members, and I don’t need to counsel in any other case. Nevertheless it seems like the corporate isn’t doing something particular, and that a whole lot of the thrill has been pulled ahead to the previews that almost all of those self same followers will have already got attended. This isn’t essentially a criticism–having the chance to expertise these previews has been superior. There’s simply much less of an incentive to be there on Could 22.
That’s a minor element within the grand scheme of issues; I’m extra involved concerning the chance/likelihood of Epic Universe not being open at evening throughout its first summer season. It’s such a shocking park at evening, and it seems like that’s being squandered. I don’t imagine Epic Universe “wants” these shorter hours, but when it does, function from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m., on the very least. I might’ve thought Common would need to go away vacationers with an enduring impression to take house and share with family and friends; phrase of mouth goes to be vastly vital to this park.
What’s most disheartening about that is followers instantly leaping to Common’s protection, preemptively providing excuses on the corporate’s behalf for why this can be a crucial transfer. That it merely isn’t doable or pragmatic for Epic Universe to have a later closing on opening day than 9 p.m. for X or Y purpose. Closing should happen earlier because of sure operational realities, or no matter. Fortunately, this isn’t the angle of most Common followers–however it’s of too many.
As a longtime Walt Disney World fan, I’d strongly warning the Common diehards in opposition to this–it’s a slippery slope. I’ve misplaced observe of what number of occasions I’ve heard that X or Y isn’t doable for that reason or that. Followers present a pretext, giving the corporate a cross on making a enterprise resolution that’s detrimental for the visitor expertise; it’s typically completed underneath the misguided notion that the followers are defending the creatives or passionate individuals working arduous to ship an exemplary expertise. The issue with this line of considering is that creatives are hardly ever (learn: virtually by no means) those making enterprise selections.
(Not less than in terms of park hours, there’s clear consensus that Walt Disney World ought to have longer hours at Magic Kingdom. Most additionally agree that Animal Kingdom shouldn’t shut earlier than sundown, as occurs a lot of the 12 months. On the very least, you don’t actually have followers defending the shorter hours. Most level to the 8 a.m. to midnight hours at Disneyland and marvel why we will’t have that. There’s additionally a particular double-standard with how followers deal with Walt Disney World and Common Orlando.)
Generally, it’s the case that selections are crucial for causes followers can’t comprehend or recognize. From the surface wanting in, we can’t see the whole image or perceive the sensible realities of working a theme park. We will have unrealistic expectations; there’s actually no denying that.
However very often, there’s not consensus about these things throughout the firm, both. This ought to be apparent, as you in all probability don’t agree with each resolution made in your office, faculty, and so on. There’s virtually by no means unanimous settlement even in smaller organizations–now think about how that scales to multinational conglomerates.
In relation to theme parks, there are a whole lot of hard-fought inside battles; the people who find themselves passionate concerning the product try to ship extra. It’s not unusual for them to want “ammunition” within the type of fan suggestions to assist their place. I’m not essentially saying that’s what’s taking place right here, however I’m saying that the individuals who all the time leap to an organization’s protection as a result of they assume criticism is tantamount to unloyalty are actually those who’re misguided. They’re those who’re behaving in methods detrimental to the standard of the expertise; constructive criticism is an asset, not a legal responsibility.
I point out all of this as a result of one of many ways in which Epic Universe struck me most whereas strolling round was how most of the battles Common Inventive gained. There are such a lot of ‘superfluous’ particulars in Epic Universe that we’ve by no means seen in a home Common theme park exterior of the Harry Potter lands. Loads of issues that would’ve simply been reduce when the price range began to spiral, however by some means weren’t. A lot of this mission struck me as an ‘in opposition to all odds’ accomplishment.
There have been various situations, in reality, the place I used to be impressed by a comparatively little factor as a result of I knew there’s no manner present-day Imagineering would’ve had the political capital to win a few of these similar battles (a minimum of not domestically). This isn’t to say Epic Universe surpasses all six Disney theme parks in the US; it positively doesn’t. It’s extra that you could stroll round and be struck by this or that, and assume: “Disney by no means would’ve completed this.” (For the document, this cuts each methods–however this isn’t an Epic Universe evaluation.)
Granted, it’s doable that Comcast merely gave them a clean verify and full autonomy. I by some means doubt that. Although I don’t have practically as a lot perception to the dynamic between management and inventive at this firm, I do have a free understanding of the way it works at Disney. Furthermore, I’ve eyes. I’ve seen the top outcomes at Common’s current gates and the sharp distinction between these and Epic Universe. It’s not like the identical creatives liable for these additions out of the blue “obtained good” when it got here to Epic Universe.
Level being, Common Inventive managed to make one thing particular, they usually did that with not simply beautiful lighting packages but in addition core themed design in some areas that’s really higher at evening. I might hazard a guess that the method itself was typically oriented round how sure areas would feel and look underneath the managed nighttime present lighting.
Defend this early closing if you would like. That’s clearly your prerogative. There are little doubt legitimate the reason why Epic Universe may “want” to shut at 9 p.m. throughout its opening summer season. There are additionally the reason why it shouldn’t, and on steadiness, it’s tough for me to see the previous successful out for every other purpose than ease and expense.
In relation to providing unwavering assist of no matter selections an organization makes, accomplish that with the data that possibly, simply possibly, you’re defending the “mistaken” individuals in an inside energy wrestle. If the groups behind Darkish Universe, Celestial Park, Tremendous Nintendo World, and so on., might converse their minds freely with out worry of reprisal, do you actually assume they’d say, “sure after all, we wish this factor we’ve passionately created for the previous decade to shut after half-hour of nightfall.”
Anyway, I needed to supply this ‘pep discuss’ to Common followers as a result of there’s positively a sure “Second Metropolis Syndrome” amongst a lot of them. I get it. You need to defend ‘your parks’ as a result of so many Disney followers supply nothing however criticism and condescension. (The identical dynamic exists, albeit to a lesser extent, with Animal Kingdom lovers throughout the WDW fandom.)
Nonetheless, the tides are turning on that. With Epic Universe, you’ve reached The Huge Present. This park goes to show heads and trigger a crucial reevaluation of Common, together with (particularly) amongst Disney diehards. It would behoove you to carry Common to the identical excessive normal going ahead that the park’s creators held themselves to when designing and constructing Epic Universe. Defending selections detrimental to the visitor expertise isn’t doing anybody any favors; simply ask Walt Disney World followers how that’s labored out for us.
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation in your go to to Central Florida? Ensure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for every part about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every part about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and rather more, join our FREE e mail publication!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on Common Orlando closing Epic Universe at 9 p.m. on its grand opening day and thereafter in Could 2025 even formally? Assume there’s purpose for this, or is it a cost-savings (or strategy to promote the park twice for company buyouts)? Hoping Common Orlando does issues otherwise/higher with operations of this distinctive new theme park? What do you assume the response could be if Walt Disney World did this? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you have got within the feedback beneath.
