7 Tips for Visiting Universal's Epic Universe

7 Tips for Visiting Universal’s Epic Universe

Epic Universe is a brand new Theme Park by Universal that opened May 22, 2025 that transports you through portals to new worlds! Starting in Celestial Park, you walk around to find portals transporting you to How to Train Your Dragon’s Isle of Burke, Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe, and Nintendoland. Before you go, you need to know these 7 tips for visiting Epic Universe.

I was lucky enough to visit Universal’s Epic Universe during the preview days in April before the park officially opened to the public. Exploring the next-level immersive worlds and riding the incredible roller coasters was so much fun because this park really is EPIC. Once the park was opened to the public, I brought my family in early June and we all had a blast!

Although I’m not new to Universal Theme Parks, Epic is a whole new world! I’m sharing 7 tips for visiting Universal’s Epic Universe I learned while I was there to help you prepare for your trip.

Me riding the carousel in celestial park — Me on the Constellation Carousel in Celestial Park.

Check out Best Rides at Universal Orlando for a rundown of all the rides including Epic Universe!

Helios Grand Hotel — Universal Helios Grand hotel located IN Epic Universe!

#1 – Stay on Property for Early Park Admission

Staying at any Universal Hotel will get you early park admission to all Universal Parks including Epic Universe. If you stay at one of the new Universal Hotels -Helios Grand, Stella Nova, or Terra Luna- You will be walking distance to Epic.

The Helios Grand Hotel is located right in the back of Epic Universe and you can walk right outside your hotel and into the park. Stella Nova and Terra Luna will also have busses to Epic Universe.

All other Universal Hotels will have busses to take you to Epic Universe. You can also catch a bus from City Walk.

Lunch of french fries and chocolate mousse shaped like a gold fish on cereal crumbs from mead hall in isle of burke — French fries and chocolate mousse gold fish from Mead Hall in Isle of Burke.

Heads up! No hotel will get you express passes to Epic Universe. If you are not familiar with Universal, there are three hotels that get you unlimited express passes to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure included with your stay. These Hotels are The Portofino, The Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific. At this time, these hotels, including the Helios Grand, do not get you express passes to Epic Universe.

#2 – Store Your Credit Card on the Universal Orlando App

Make sure you download the Universal Orlando App before your trip. Log in and store your credit card information on there. Throughout Universal Parks, you can use the app for mobile order at quick service restaurants. Having your credit card already on the app will make this process easier and faster when in the parks!

At Epic Universe, some quick service restaurants are mobile order only. You walk in, pick a table, scan the QR code on the table and order right from the app. Then your food is delivered to your table!

If you plan on buying a power-up band or a wand 2.0, you’ll connect both to the Universal Orlando app to play along!

Me drinking butterbeer in the french pavilion of harry potter world — Enjoying a Butterbeer in the Harry Potter World

#3 – Link Tickets to Universal Orlando App Before You Go

UPDATE: When I initially wrote this post, linking park tickets to app the vital for getting in the virtual queue for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Without virtual queue there is not really a need to link your tickets to the app. The app is still a really good idea to download ahead time!

#4 – How to Get in ‘Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry‘ Virtual Queue

UPDATE: Since park opening, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry has only had a standby line and single rider line. There is no virtual queue at this time. They did however, open up the express lane! If you choose to forgo the express pass, I recommend going to the park early and getting in line right away. When we were there in early June, we got in line right as the park opened for early entry and waited about 1 hour to ride.

In case virtual queue is brought back, I’ll leave the following below!

Virtual queue is the only way to ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. There is no standby or express lane for this ride! In the morning on your way to Epic Universe, check the app for the times that the virtual queue opens up, there will be multiple times each day. If you get in the virtual queue, you will be given a time frame to go line up for the ride.

Download the Universal Orlando app before your trip (I promise this is the last time I’ll say this)
Link your tickets to the app before you go to the park
Be in Epic Universe to get in the virtual queue
Do NOT be on the Universal Wifi – many people will be on the wifi and on the app to try to get in the virtual queue at the same time which can slow things down. Use your phone data if you can.
Have the app open and ready a minute or two before the time the virtual queue drops
If you don’t get in the virtual queue, check back every half hour or try again at the next time the virtual queue opens up

Fuelrod kiosk — Fuelrod charger kiosk found at the concierge desks throughout Epic Universe.

#5 – Bring a Portable Phone Charger

The days are long and using your phone for taking pictures, ordering food, checking wait times, and everything else, your battery can get low fast. If you don’t have a portable charger or you forget yours, the park has fuelrod kiosks where you can buy a charger to charge your phone. There is a $69 package or a $35 charger. The good thing about fuelrod is if you use up the portable charger, you can swap it out for a fully charged one. There may be a $1-3 fee to swap.

#6 – Lockers and Metal Detectors

Similar to the other Universal parks, some rides have lockers where you are required to store loose items before going on the ride. The Stardust Racers ride in Celestial Park also has metal detectors to ensure you don’t have anything in your pockets so be sure to take everything out of your pockets and take sunglasses and hats off your head.

At Epic Universe, the lockers use facial recognition to lock and unlock the lockers. As you exit rides with lockers, you will collect your items on the opposite side of the lockers so remember what number and or color your locker is!

Portal into Dark Universe — Portal to Dark Universe.

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#7 – Express Pass

You can purchase an Express Pass for Epic Universe that allows you to go in the express lane on each participating attraction one time. At this point in time, the express pass does not include Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Mine-Cart Madness, and Dragon Racers Rally.

Me standing in front of the entrance statue in Celestial Park — At the entrance of Celestial Park.

Conclusion: 7 Tips for Visiting Universal’s Epic Universe

Whether you are new to Universal or just new to Epic Universe, I hope you found this helpful! Keep an eye out for more posts I’ll be writing about Epic Universe and things you can do with your toddler at Universal!