Most rides at Epic Universe may have Single Rider strains, that are the most effective methods to avoid wasting time at Common Orlando. This put up covers all the things you must learn about these queues for solo friends, which rides have them & which don’t, execs & cons, plus commentary about how they may very well be a game-changer throughout Epic Universe’s opening summer time, how a lot time you’ll be able to count on to avoid wasting over posted wait occasions & extra!
Let’s begin with the fundamentals: Single Rider strains are precisely what the identify suggests, separate queues for events of 1. Making the most of a Single Rider line doesn’t require that you just go to Epic Universe by your self. Group Members aren’t going to verify your marital standing previous to utilizing the road or confirm the folks getting into round you’re strangers. You aren’t prohibited from getting into the Single Rider line should you’re a part of a bunch.
Fairly, these are queues for friends who’re prepared to separate from their teams in alternate for wait occasions which are normally considerably shorter than the standby line. Single Riders are greatest regarded as “seat fillers” who will be part of different events to forestall sights from being dispatched with empty spots, thereby bettering experience effectivity and lowering wait occasions for everybody. Visitors within the Single Rider line will likely be separated from these round them previous to boarding. You’ll not experience along with your mates or household, which could be a good or unhealthy factor relying on whether or not you’re prepared for a break from them!
Now that Group Member previews are underway and gentle openings will begin quickly for Epic Universe, Common Orlando Resort has rolled out an replace to its app that provides the brand new theme park to the map. Together with that, we’ve detailed details about every attraction, restaurant, present, store, and so forth–together with its Single Rider standing. Therefore the record beneath.
Word that simply because an attraction will characteristic a Single Rider line, doesn’t imply that possibility will likely be accessible throughout previews, gentle openings, and even beginning Could 22, 2025. It simply means the attraction was constructed with a devoted queue for Single Riders, and is operationally supposed to assist such a line. Up to now, we’ve seen some sights not supply Single Rider strains till sure sights discovered their footing, or till operations grew to become extra comfy and environment friendly at dispatching experience autos. Extra on this within the commentary, although.
Within the up to date Common Orlando app is the next warning: “The one rider possibility is topic to availability and should open or shut at any time.” Now let’s flip to the record of main experience at Common Epic Universe with and with out a Single Rider line:
Celestial Park
- Stardust Racers: Single Rider
- Constellation Carousel: No
The best way to Prepare Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
- Hiccup’s Wing Gliders: Single Rider
- Dragon Racer’s Rally: No
- Fyre Drill: No
Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
- Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry: Single Rider
Tremendous Nintendo World
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem: Single Rider
- Mine Cart Insanity: Single Rider
- Yoshi’s Journey: No
Darkish Universe
- Curse of the Werewolf: Single Rider
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment: Single Rider
At this level, it’s unattainable to estimate common wait occasions for Single Rider strains at Epic Universe. Usually, you’ll count on to attend roughly one-third of the conventional wait time within the Single Rider line. However these are very a lot ballpark numbers, and may differ broadly.
We’ve intensive expertise as Annual Passholders at Common Orlando, in addition to Common Studios Hollywood and Japan. This consists of attending gentle openings of latest lands, comparable to Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Tremendous Nintendo World. One factor we discovered throughout these experiences is that Single Rider strains are (unsurprisingly!) much more fashionable with Annual Passholders and locals.
Suffice to say, Single Rider utilization relies upon upon the day and time of your go to. Should you handle to attend a gentle opening or paid Annual Passholder preview, you’re prone to encounter irritating Single Rider strains (in the event that they’re even open) with waits practically so long as standby strains as a result of disproportionate variety of locals and followers. This was our expertise with Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem.
Against this, vacationers are far much less prone to learn about and use Single Rider strains than locals or frequent guests.
That is why we anticipate Single Rider strains will likely be an absolute game-changer for touring Epic Universe in Summer time 2025. The ‘candy spot’ in all probability received’t come till someday in June, after the preliminary rush of opening weekend and Annual Passholders who bought single-day tickets to be there early on.
On condition that Annual Passes usually are not legitimate at Epic Universe and locals are prone to have roughly 2 months of previews earlier than Epic Universe formally opens, most will doubtless get their fill by mid-June 2025 (on the newest). The overwhelming majority of present UOAPs aren’t going to maintain shopping for 1-day tickets all through the summer time–they’ll wait till an Epic Universe add-on is offered for his or her APs.
Accordingly, our expectation is that Epic Universe will likely be disproportionately households of vacationers from mid-June by mid-August 2025. Throughout that window, Single Rider strains may very well be excellent for looping curler coasters and different fashionable sights with minimal waits. So if it’s a weekday in July 2025 and Annual Passes nonetheless aren’t accessible at Epic Universe, waits for Single Rider strains will doubtless be shorter. A lot shorter.
As a normal rule, we’ve discovered Single Rider strains to be longer at Common Orlando than they’re at Walt Disney World. Common is extra akin to Disneyland on this sense, due largely to demographics (extra locals and younger adults, fewer households with kids).
That is usually the case, and over time, we’d count on it to even be true at Epic Universe. Particularly as soon as Common begins promoting Annual Passes for the park, which may occur sooner moderately than later if the opening summer time finally ends up being slower than anticipated. Both manner, it’s solely a matter of time till APs begin swarming Epic Universe–that’ll undoubtedly occur throughout previews and opening weekend, and doubtless once more by 2026.
As soon as Epic Universe settles right into a groove, the one-third quantity won’t be a tough and quick rule–it’s a really, very tough rule of thumb. There have been occasions after I’ve accomplished a Single Rider line that’s backed up and I’m fairly certain the posted standby line for the common queue was massively inflated. On at the least a few events, I wouldn’t be shocked if I didn’t save any time by any means by way of Single Rider. (Mario Kart once more involves thoughts.)
In my expertise–and I’ve loads of it since Sarah doesn’t commonly experience most of the headliner sights within the Common parks–Single Rider strains are very hit and miss. There have been occasions when completely nobody else is within the line and it’s primarily a walk-on, and different occasions when the road is lengthy and extremely slow-moving.
Typically talking, one of the best occasions for Single Rider strains are very first thing within the morning or late at night time when standby strains are additionally brief. However at the least in these instances, Group Members will normally shut the Single Rider line or give friends getting into it a ‘heads up’ that it received’t save any or very a lot time.
One other factor that basically bears reiterating is that teams could enter the Single Rider line however they completely won’t be seated collectively. At the least, not on function. It does occur once in a while when there are two empty seats as an alternative of 1. (We regularly use the Single Rider line at Radiator Springs Racers at Disneyland, and about half the time, we’re in separate rows of the identical automotive.)
I’m emphasizing this as a result of I’ve seen so many folks play dumb (or maybe they really are dumb, to provide them the good thing about the doubt) and attempt to argue with Group Members about being seated collectively. At Common, it’s normally youngsters who feign ignorance (or are ignorant) and plead their case to be seated collectively.
Group Members hear sob tales a number of occasions per day; you’re not the primary to do this “trick” and also you’re not going to be the one who succeeds on the gambit. Your circumstances, regardless of no matter they’re, usually are not distinctive. Desirous to experience collectively is why standby strains exist.
We’re enormous advocates of the Single Rider line, as it could actually minimize wait occasions dramatically for many who are prepared to separate from their events. That is nice for thrill seekers who need to loop curler coasters, that are additionally normally essentially the most environment friendly and efficient Single Rider strains at Common.
Single Rider can also be helpful for many who don’t use it.
Filling each seat will increase attraction effectivity and meaning shorter wait occasions for everybody. If experience autos are dispatched with unfilled seats, that will increase standby wait occasions. If Single Rider strains aren’t provided, these friends will as an alternative be within the standby strains. They’re the uncommon “everybody wins” providing–and I’m glad to see that each one main rides at Epic Universe at the least supply Single Rider strains.
With that mentioned, Single Rider strains aren’t all upside for friends utilizing them. There are tradeoffs.
Each Single Rider line skips a portion of the queue. Should you’re into themed design and need the complete expertise, we at all times advocate doing the common line as soon as earlier than switching to Single Rider. That is particularly essential on the present variations of Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem, which not solely skip the detailed queue, but in addition parts of the pre-show explainer movies. That interactive attraction might be complicated even with the correct context; these pre-show movies are invaluable.
That is much less the case on extra easy curler coasters. I’ve by no means felt like I’m lacking out on something at VelociCoaster, Flying Dinosaur, Unimaginable Hulk Coaster, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey, Revenge of the Mummy, or different thrill rides that lack compelling queues or pre-shows. I assume the identical will likely be true of the curler coasters at Epic Universe.
Finally, Single Rider strains are an effective way to avoid wasting time ready at Common Orlando. We’re actually happy to see the excessive variety of these queues given the chance that Epic Universe’s low experience rely will result in epic standby wait occasions. Single Rider strains can imply not having to cope with lengthy standby strains or having to spring for Categorical Move. You may also get unfortunate and find yourself not saving a lot time–it’s tough to foretell since wait occasions typically usually are not posted on Single Rider strains. Even when they’re, they’re normally inaccurate.
Single Rider strains might be nice for thrill seekers who need to ‘loop’ fashionable thrill rides with minimal wait occasions. Over at Islands of Journey, I’ve accomplished that with each Hagrid’s and VelociCoaster, which regularly have extremely environment friendly Single Rider strains. Whereas I don’t count on the identical diploma of success at Epic Universe from the leap, I may see Summer time 2025 providing nice low-wait alternatives if Annual Passholders nonetheless don’t have ‘free’ entry to Epic Universe.
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation in your go to to Central Florida? Be sure that to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for all the things about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for all the things about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra.
Your Ideas
Have you ever used Single Rider strains at Common Orlando? Have you ever had usually good or unhealthy experiences with them? Assume Single Rider strains will likely be a game-changer for getting a ton accomplished with minimal waits at Epic Universe from mid-June by mid-August 2025? Any horror or success tales from particular sights with Single Rider strains? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
