A Day At A Epic Univerese
- Sep 11, 2025
- 6 min read
Hey All!
Today, we're at Epic Universe, Universal's third theme park gate, which just opened this year. We arrived at Epic Universe by Uber and were impressed by the entrance's presentation. The front gate leads into a lush, green area called Celestial Park. Each corner of Celestial Park features a "Portal Entry" that takes you into different themed lands. We decided to visit the Super Nintendo area first to ride Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge and explore the Minecart Madness rollercoaster. I should also mention that we had an Express Pass for the day, allowing us to enjoy all the attractions without waiting in the very long lines.
The first ride of the day was Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. I had experienced this attraction at Universal Japan and recall being quite confused by the VR headset and the gameplay mechanics integrated into the ride. To be honest, I still haven't figured it out. The ride is unique as a dark ride, and the line was heavily themed with numerous Mario Easter Eggs. Overall, we weren't fans of the ride. However, if you're a Mario enthusiast, you might enjoy it, despite the unusual objective of the attraction.
We then opted for the Yoshi Adventure ride, which is similar to the People Mover at Magic Kingdom, but much shorter and with the added objective of hitting colored eggs on your car's dashboard as you pass them. It was a charming ride, though if it's hot outside, you're exposed to the sun on a slow-moving ride. The line was enjoyable, thanks to the Yoshi Island theme. We attempted to go on Mine Cart Madness, but with a 2-hour Express line and a 4.5-hour standby line, we decided to try it later. We also had lunch at the Toadstool Cafe, which we'll discuss in a separate report. Afterward, we headed to the Ministry of Magic ride in the Harry Potter Ministry of Magic area.
Upon entering the Portal for the Ministry of Magic, we found ourselves surrounded by dense crowds. The area was lively, with long lines for dining and shopping. Short on time, we skipped the show and headed straight to the Ministry of Magic ride. This attraction features an amazing queue filled with film details, making it feel like you're living a story from the Harry Potter series. You enter through a passageway representing the Floo Powder network, arriving at the Ministry of Magic. With the Express Pass, the wait was reduced to 30 minutes instead of three and a half hours. Once aboard, you're seated in a comfortable cabin resembling a courtroom jury box. You're then transported to Dolores Umbridge's trial, where she is judged for her actions in the film. Ultimately, she escapes using a time turner, and you're on a mission to capture her. In the end, justice prevails, and she is brought to trial. The ride is truly unique, featuring many special effects that are hard to distinguish. If you're a Harry Potter fan, this attraction is a must-do.
We then proceeded to the portal that took us to the Dark Universe section of the park. We opted for the experience of Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. In this attraction, Dr. Victoria Frankenstein places you at the heart of a fierce uprising of monstrous creatures. Before the ride, Igor gives a demonstration of what you'll be riding in during the experiment, and then you are guided to a chamber where you board. The queue is designed to resemble a spooky castle from the Universal Monsters Era. This ride features top-of-the-line monster animatronics. Additionally, you ride in the same vehicle as in Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, but without the motion sickness. If you are a fan of Monsters, this ride is definitely worth it and is easily one of the best attractions. The wait time rarely exceeds 30 minutes, making it a great choice if the park is busy.
We then rode the spinning roller coaster, Curse Of The Werewolf. Aside from the long line and a section of the ride where you briefly pass an animatronic werewolf that's difficult to spot, there's nothing particularly special about this ride. The theming is minimal, and the ride itself is quite short. If you enjoy spinning roller coasters, you might like this one. However, the line can become very long, and we wouldn't consider it a must-see attraction.
We then headed to the Isle of Berk portal, inspired by How To Train Your Dragon. This area of the park includes Fyre Drill, a boat attraction where you can spray other rides and targets; the Untrainable Dragon show, which one of our attending writers recommended as worth watching; Dragon Racer rally, an exhilarating ride where you pilot your own wing device and can flip upside down as it spins; and Hiccups Wing Gliders, a family-friendly launched rollercoaster themed around Hiccup designing a new wing device for riders to fly like Toothless. During our visit, we only had time for Hiccups Wing Gliders. There isn't much theming while you wait in line as it's mostly outdoors. However, the rollercoaster itself is impressive, featuring water effects, a great animatronic of Hiccup and Toothless, and many surprises as it winds around the perimeter of the land. This is a fantastic family attraction and definitely worth experiencing!
Finally, we made sure to revisit Mine Cart Madness and experience Stardust Racers, the most exhilarating coaster in the park. We started with Stardust Racers, where we only had a 20-minute wait. This steel roller coaster features two separate tracks that race against each other. Each side of the track has just one inversion, but the ride is incredibly dynamic with its launches and intensity. It's a standout attraction in the park and a must-try for thrill seekers. If you're a larger rider, I recommend using the test seat at the front of the ride due to the unique restraint system.
We eventually returned to the Super Nintendo area to try Minecart Madness. The line was rough, even with an Express Pass. If you're in the regular line, remember to stay hydrated, as you'll be waiting for hours under the unshaded Florida sun. The ride broke down a few times, and despite having an Express Pass, we still waited an hour and a half. Once we finally got on the ride, we noticed it runs a bit rough, which fits the rickety mine cart theme, but it felt like a jolt half the time. The ride had some unique features and theming throughout. I will say the illusion of the mine cart jumping the track is better from off the ride. For what it's worth, the ride is fun, but I don't think it was worth the wait. We ended the day by enjoying the interactive activities throughout Super Nintendo Land with our power-up bands, and then took a spin on the Constellation Carousel before leaving the park and heading to Epcot for some final rides.
Overall, Epic Universe is an excellent park with fantastic attractions. However, since it's a new park, much of the shade hasn't developed yet, and it's extremely popular. Without an Express Pass, you might be fortunate to experience up to four attractions. We look forward to returning once the crowds decrease. Now, let's dive into the photos!
With that, thanks for reading and Keep on Coast 'N'