I’m totally aboard the Epic Universe hype prepare. After spending my first few days within the new park at Common Orlando, it’s all I can take into consideration. I can not wait to get again. If I had to decide on just one park to go to in Florida the remainder of this yr, it wouldn’t be Magic Kingdom or wherever else at Walt Disney World–it’d be Epic Universe. On the similar time, there main downsides to visiting this highly-anticipated new park throughout its opening season(s).
As excited as I’m to revisit Epic Universe ASAP (and I’m very excited), I additionally acknowledge that not everyone seems to be me. The common vacationer won’t have the identical time or tolerances to expertise a brand new theme park and all that entails. Furthermore, I’m considerably involved that the hype prepare goes a tad too quick, and desires the brakes pumped earlier than it dangers derailment.
To that finish, I need to begin our main protection of the brand new park by making the argument towards visiting Epic Universe–why it’s best to skip it for now, and wait till 2026 to go to Common Orlando’s new theme park. Please observe that that is one half of a point-counterpoint article sequence. The case in favor of visiting Epic Universe (“Right here’s Why We Extremely Suggest Doing 2 Days at Epic Universe”) is coming quickly. With everybody else fixated on hype, I assumed it’d be pragmatic to begin by tempering expectations. (So don’t seize the pitchforks simply but, Common diehards!)
This text outlines the case towards Epic Universe–that a lot needs to be apparent from foregoing (and even only a fast look on the title). In the event you’re enthusiastic about Common Orlando’s new theme park, have already purchased your trip package deal or park tickets, or are in any other case averse to negativity, this submit might be not for you. This particulars the potential pitfalls in visiting Epic Universe throughout its opening season, which means that it’s a little bit of a downer by design.
When you could need to skip this submit about skipping Epic Universe in case you have zero intentions of skipping Epic Universe, there could be worth even for these of you totally aboard the hype prepare. First, it’ll assist in managing expectations. Second, in getting ready for these downsides to mitigate their impression to the best extent doable.
On with the checklist of explanation why possibly it’s best to wait to go to Epic Universe till 2026 or past…
Warmth, Solar & Shade (or Lack Thereof)
Apparently, Epic Universe was designed for the parents who thought Toy Story Land was only a bit too chilly and didn’t provide sufficient alternatives to crispen their pores and skin or get soaked throughout a storm. We’ve been important of current lands at Walt Disney World in the case of the dearth of canopy and the way scorching they get, questioning if the designers accountable had ever left the consolation of their 70-degree air-conditioned workplaces in California.
The workforce behind Epic Universe heard that and mentioned “maintain my beer,” cranked their workplace A/C to 62, and designed the most popular and least shaded theme park I’ve ever skilled. There was plenty of bluster from Common about Celestial Park placing the “park” again in theme park. Apparently that doesn’t embody bushes or shade constructions of any kind, however does embody probably the most reflective pavement on earth. You possibly can really feel the warmth from each above and beneath, making it tough to spend time within the land throughout the day.
Celestial Park is gorgeous, to make sure, however the entire reward for it’s essentially coming at night time. I seldom noticed greater than a handful of visitors in right here throughout the day apart from these going from level A to B. It was all the time a veritable ghost city, and for good motive–it’s actually uncomfortable. None of that is exaggeration.
The opposite portals are higher, however solely marginally so. Ministry of Magic seems like a sauna, with the identical reflective properties and warmth emanating from the pavement and facades, till the solar is decrease within the sky and the buildings block it from view. It’s an analogous story in Tremendous Nintendo World, Isle of Berk, and Darkish Daylight Universe.
If you’ll go to Epic Universe this summer time, I’d strongly suggest an umbrella with UV safety, cool-dude bucket hat, and ridiculously sturdy sunscreen. Additionally, you should definitely convey your individual water bottle–to Common’s immense credit score, there are refilling stations in every single place, together with in queues. (See our Summer time Survival Information to Walt Disney World for extra suggestions.)
There are a number of components that contribute to Epic Universe having a worse “seems like” surroundings than different Central Florida theme parks, however the greatest is an absence of everlasting shade constructions and no mature bushes. Epic Universe can be a stunning park-like setting a decade from now, however within the quick future, I’d think about it turns into umbrella central this summer time. And take into account that that is the suggestions from days that by no means broke 90 levels. However no less than Epic Universe is beautiful within the evenings–oh wait.
Excessive Costs & No Reductions
There have been plenty of complaints amongst Walt Disney World followers about value will increase, and that dialog is usually accompanied by comparisons to Common Orlando. Many have prompt they’ll vote with their wallets and go to Epic Universe as a substitute as a consequence of Walt Disney World pricing them out.
This doesn’t fairly add up. Epic Universe is extraordinarily costly its opening summer time, and Walt Disney World has unprecedented reductions that basically provide 2019 pricing. For Epic Universe preview tickets, I paid $180 per day after tax, and that’s on the decrease finish of the worth spectrum this summer time.
In fact, multi-day tickets can be found…however that requires visiting Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida, with solely a single day at Epic Universe and no park hopping. This strikes me as a poor allocation of restricted trip time, particularly in case you’re doing different theme parks in Central Florida throughout your journey.
To every their very own, but when spending a number of days at Common Orlando this summer time, I’d need to spend no less than two-thirds of that point at Epic Universe–two days there and a day cut up between the prevailing gates. This essentially means shopping for single day tickets.
Epic Universe is the shiny new theme park, so it’s comprehensible that Comcast would need to recoup as a lot of its huge funding as doable whereas pleasure is excessive. However the dearth of reductions strikes me as unsustainable and unlikely going ahead.
At minimal, the extremely restrictive ticketing insurance policies can be dropped in 2026, however I’d anticipate much more offers and cheaper costs. That is like 2022 once more, with Common Orlando capitalizing on a special type of pent-up demand.
Unpredictable Attendance & Crowds
Talking of Comcast eager to capitalize on hype and recoup its funding, we’re already seeing this play out with previews. In the event you have a look at any Common Orlando Annual Passholder group proper now, you’ll see the most popular subject is outrage over Epic Universe previews opening to everybody.
Whereas I don’t essentially agree with the anger, I get the place they’re coming from: Common has poorly communicated what to anticipate with Epic Universe, steadily making last-minute bulletins, reversing course, and so on. It’s the dearth of predictability that’s the issue; followers shopping for on the premise of sure implicit expectations, and people altering days later.
That is partly the character of the beast with a brand new theme park. And it’s not going to turn into constant anytime quickly. My early expectation and understanding is that Common Orlando is seeing comfortable demand for Epic Universe after opening week, and that even the “offered out” dates in Could and June are restricted approach beneath full-capacity.
However who’s to say that received’t change tomorrow? Comcast might resolve its quarterly numbers aren’t wanting so scorching–that the theme park section is falling wanting analyst expectations–and reopen ticket gross sales for “offered out” dates. The demand continues to be there for these dates, it’s provide that has been throttled. Common might reassess methods, and roll out monetized earlier entry (a la Tremendous Nintendo World at USH) or late nights. It’s all uncharted floor, and unpredictable. Crowds and attendance might be superior, terrible, or someplace in between.
Getting in Form
Epic Universe continues the pattern of Common’s stringent visitor containment insurance policies, which means aggressive restraints even on the slower shifting sights. This had the recipe for being one other Secret Lifetime of Pets: Off the Leash, a slow-moving darkish experience that many bigger visitors can not expertise as a consequence of its restraints. Fortunately, that’s not the case.
All the pieces we’ve heard means that Common Orlando took visitor suggestions to coronary heart with Epic Universe, and the restraints are largely pleasant to Pooh-sized visitors. There are limits on this, however the identical is true with Walt Disney World–TRON Lightcycle Run and Avatar Flight of Passage would love a phrase.
I’m in regards to the worst individual to talk to this, so it’s all second-hand from mates who reported being pleasantly shocked. There are many sources tailor-made to any such visitor, however the salient level is you in all probability don’t have to concern embarrassment or accessibility points in case you’re a bigger visitor. Common appears to have executed a extremely good job threading the needle in the case of Epic Universe’s seats and restraints.
The larger problem, and the one I completely did discover, is the entire stairs. On my days in Epic Universe, I someway managed to log an upwards of 20 flights per day. It looks as if each single attraction has stairs each within the queue and at unload. In fact, sights are additionally accessible, so there are elevators, however ready round for these won’t be a perfect use of your time.
Personally, I don’t suppose Epic Universe includes an extreme quantity of strolling on account of the portals. My common steps per day was decrease, and significantly so, than prior days at Walt Disney World. However the distinction is that I used to be actively attempting to keep away from spending time outside because of the warmth and lack of shade and I did far more rides per day than my norm. So I’m probably not certain that step rely was consultant of a mean visitor’s day.
Level being, you would possibly need to work on endurance and get in form a bit earlier than Epic Universe. The one-two punch of the warmth and the steps makes this a park that may be unduly tiring. It was for me regardless of fewer steps, and I’m decently in form.
Digital Line for #1 Journey
Common’s Digital Line system is worse than even Walt Disney World’s first era of Digital Queue. Let that sink in. Additionally, I strongly suspect that the worst experiences with Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry will surpass the worst experiences with Rise of the Resistance. In the event you’re paying consideration, you’ve in all probability already began to listen to horror tales in regards to the Digital Line for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry.
These will solely get worse. It’s a easy numbers recreation. On day, we’d hazard a guess that fewer than one-third of all visitors are experiencing Battle on the Ministry. And that is nonetheless throughout paid previews, when park capability is capped fairly low. That means that later this yr, it might be ~15% of visitors experiencing Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry on a daily day.
This Digital Line is getting used as a result of Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry is stricken by unreliability and downtime woes. The experience breaks down rather a lot. If it have been to submit a wait time, that may measure within the hours, and no matter quantity have been posted typically wouldn’t even be remotely correct as a consequence of multi-hour breakdowns.
Even when it’s operational, Battle on the Ministry isn’t environment friendly. One whole facet of the attraction is usually offline, and we’ve noticed a sluggish and methodical dispatch. I don’t need to guess as to its present operational hourly experience capability versus theoretical hourly experience capability, however let’s simply say throughput isn’t so scorching proper now. No knock on the experience–it’s a extremely refined attraction in a brand-new park, so that is to be anticipated.
We have now a 100% success charge to this point for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry, however that could be very a lot not the norm. (This VL can also be much less “skill-based” than its counterparts, so our luck will run out eventually.) In the event you decide to do Epic Universe, it’s best to go in with the expectation that you’ll not get to experience Battle on the Ministry.
This implies skipping what is certainly the target #1 attraction within the park, and greatest experience Common Inventive has ever constructed. A very powerful planning submit you possibly can learn is our VL information: Tips on how to Be a part of the Digital Line for Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry.
Breakdowns & Downtime
As you’ve in all probability witnessed in case you’ve spent any period of time being a Walt Disney World fan, new sights have rising pains and are sometimes stricken by issues their first few months. This isn’t a uniquely Disney drawback. It’s the character of the beast as sights turn into extra advanced.
Epic Universe is a whole park of recent rides, a lot of that are progressive and envelope-pushing. Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry is by far the largest offender on this regard–therefore it utilizing the Digital Line–but it surely’s removed from the one problematic attraction. Just about each single one of many park’s marquee sights has ranges of downtime increased than what visitors would think about affordable.
Throughout previews, there have been some actually tough days. We have now not skilled these, fortunately, however have talked to mates who’ve (and have noticed from afar by way of the Common Orlando app).
A number of headliners taking place has a cascading impact even throughout previews, inflicting congestion in eating places with lengthy delays for cellular orders, and spiking the wait occasions of the rides which are open. Remember the fact that that is throughout days when attendance is closely capped. When rides come again on-line, the backlog of Specific Go means sky-high standby wait occasions.
Suffice to say, you’re not going to need to be in Epic Universe the primary time there’s an operational meltdown with the park working at or nearer full capability. It’s going to be a nightmare. And it’ll be one exacerbated by the above considerations in regards to the lack of shade, in addition to adequate crowd-absorbing counterprogramming.
Within the medium or long run, we don’t anticipate any of this to be a lot of a problem. Nearly each new attraction or land has preliminary rising pains, particularly the superior ones. Once more, Epic Universe is a whole park of these! We’re not attempting to be important or nitpick–that is extra of a sober “it’s what it’s” sort of commentary.
A yr from now, our expectation is that Epic Universe is working easily and with a excessive diploma of effectivity. Most of the issues on this checklist, together with experience reliability, will resolve themselves over time. There’s one thing to be mentioned for experiencing a brand-new theme park, however there’s additionally a non-monetary price to doing so. Contemplate each earlier than taking the plunge.
Talking for ourselves, we’re inclined to attend to go to Epic Universe till Winter 2026. Our household has a visit deliberate for this summer time that we’re prone to postpone for the explanations above and extra (additionally solely attending to spend at some point at Epic Universe and our daughter’s age). Whereas I can be returning to Epic Universe many occasions within the months to come back, that’s primarily “for analysis.” I’ll undoubtedly have loads of enjoyable, however our household trip will possible be delayed till subsequent yr for extra optimum circumstances.
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Make 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 THOUGHTS
Will you be attending Epic Universe this summer time for its opening season, or will you skip it till the brand new park settles right into a groove? Involved about unreliable rides, how scorching the park will get, or anything mentioned right here? Excited for Tremendous Nintendo World, Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Darkish Universe/Basic Monsters, or the Tips on how to Prepare Your Dragon lands and/or sights? Assume Epic Universe can be a 3rd gate that’s a worthy addition to Common Orlando Resort…and probably on par with Disney’s greatest lands? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share another ideas or questions you’ve got within the feedback beneath!
