This will be a long post, so I'm going to break it down into multiple responses as I can't spend too much time on this one review.

Universal is about to open Epic Universe in Orlando, FL. As a passholder to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, we were granted an opportunity to purchase one day preview tickets for the family this past weekend.

This was such a treat for us and the park is well done! The park opened at 11am and closed at 9pm. I personally think the park looks it's best at night. The park has a main entrance that opens up to a central area with multiple fountains and a circular walkway called Celestial Park.



Along the walkway, there are four separate portals that open up to the main lands. The lands are
-Super Nintendo World

-Harry Potter; Ministry of Magic

-Dark Universe (Frankenstein, Werewolf, Dracula, Mummy)

-How to Train Your Dragon; Isle of Berk


The park has a new dueling roller coaster named Stardust Racers that was our favorite attraction. We rode this three times on our first visit and I have to say it may take the spot as our new favorite roller coaster. My son and I have rode Velocicoaster at Islands of Adventure 115 times. Yes, one hundred fifteen times, not a typo.





We never thought we'd ride another coaster better than Velocicoaster. Stardust Racers was such a fun experience and had a well balanced track layout a very surprising 2-part first launch that catches you by surprise and a second mid-course launch that keeps the thrills going while you race alongside the opposing train. This was my first dueling coaster and I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

More to come later about the other worlds.

What about the monster universe? That one looked like it could be a lot of fun.

Dark Universe is very well themed! It will be a hit during Halloween. There are two rides in that land. Curse of the Werewolf and I think the other one is called Monsters Unchained.



Here's the invisible man making an appearance...


Frankenstein's mansion...








The queue line for Monsters Unchained is better than the ride, IMHO.


Not my video, but here's a full video of the queue...


Ride POV...


The Curse of the Werewolf ride was short but fun. It's a spinning coaster with a mid-course swing launch. Not my video...


I didn't catch a picture of it, but there's also a burning windmill (Frankenstein).


Tony.

Very nice!

I know my kids would freak out at the thought of going there.

We went to Universal Orlando in 2019 and 2023 and everyone loved it, stayed at Cabana Bay resort both times. I loved that Hogwarts motorbike-rollercoaster ride, we had special passes both times (FIL had a college friend who was a Universal exec) that got us right onto the ride, bypassing the hours-long lines.

IMO Universal is really starting to do it all better than Disney and they better take note or they will surpass them soon. Just wait until the new Mario Land opens, that will be a gamechanger.

I am doing a conference next too Universal in May. (week 2 of the opening). I am taking the wife and girls and we are going to be there for I think 4 days at universal. We only have the one day that we can go to Epic. We know we wont do everything but we have never been to universal before so this is all new. We will get to do one of the other parks twice.

REally enjoying your review. I have velocicoaster and Stardust on my must ride list.

quote:

Originally posted by redstone:
I am doing a conference next too Universal in May. (week 2 of the opening). I am taking the wife and girls and we are going to be there for I think 4 days at universal. We only have the one day that we can go to Epic. We know we wont do everything but we have never been to universal before so this is all new. We will get to do one of the other parks twice.

REally enjoying your review. I have velocicoaster and Stardust on my must ride list.

There are some good restaurants at Universal City Walk. The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is also pretty cool.

It's a long line if you don't have any special passes but it's pretty awesome:

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Very nice!

I know my kids would freak out at the thought of going there.

We went to Universal Orlando in 2019 and 2023 and everyone loved it, stayed at Cabana Bay resort both times. I loved that Hogwarts motorbike-rollercoaster ride, we had special passes both times (FIL had a college friend who was a Universal exec) that got us right onto the ride, bypassing the hours-long lines.

IMO Universal is really starting to do it all better than Disney and they better take note or they will surpass them soon. Just wait until the new Mario Land opens, that will be a gamechanger.

Nintendo World was well done! The Donkey Kong Mine Ride had a long wait time. It was a rough coaster and I was underwhelmed. I didn't get to ride Mario Kart though. That will come in June.

That is pretty damn cool. I get 4 free park passes a year as an employee. I think we are visiting my stepdaughter and her hubby soon. Still have my 2025 passes

I know we are pretty excited.

We are really looking forward to our day at EPIC, but hopefully the crowds will be managed pretty well.

My daughter was able to go with a friend of hers during the initial park opening for friends and family of those who work in the park. She said she had a great time there.

Supposedly, the employees were told not to video the park prior to opening to the public,in order to keep most of it a secret but apparently some employees did it anyway and posted it to there personal accounts on Facebook and other places on the web. The following week my daughter's friend said about 600 people were fired for doing what they were told not to do with posting videos.