I was very excited to go to the new Epic Universe this year as I grew up absolutely loving Mario’s World, as well as Harry Potter, and my expectations were not let down. If you’re planning your visit, here’s how I did it, what worked (and what I’d tweak next time), and how you can make the most of one action-packed day.

Arrival & Early Strategy

I made sure to get to the park before official opening time. Early arrival is one of the biggest game-changers. We arrived just before 9am and they let us in around 9:30am. I thought there staying at a hotel on the resort you got early admission before the general public but there was no early admission for anyone here. We all went in at the same time and we did not stay on the resort.

Obviously you want to hit whatever your most excited about first. We went to Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic ride as we were super excited for that one.

1. Go to the World You’re Most Excited for First (Ministry of Magic)

Ministry of Magic / Paris was the first stop for us. The main attraction here is Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.

Ministry of Magic Queue at Epic Universe

We waited about an hour for this one but it wasn’t bad at all as we went through the beautifully designed ministry, the green flames, Umbridge’s office and more. It was super cool and immersive especially if you’re a Harry Potter fan like myself. Obviously the line gets longer throughout the day which is why this was our first stop.

The ride itself was more like the Spider Man ride in Islands of Adventure, you’re watching a screen and movements mimic that of the action. Super cool and very realistic.

Also in this world are several themed shops from the “Fantastic Beast” series such as candy shops, wand shops, souvenirs and more. There is also a fun circus show we saw while here as well.

2. Visit Nintendo World

If you’re visiting Epic Universe I would assume you are quite the Nintendo fan as well. Aside from the Harry Potter ride, the Nintendo World is also VERY BUSY. The big rides there are the Mario Kart Ride and the Donkey Kong Ride.

Mario Kart Ride

Not going to lie, the Mario Kart Ride was a little underwhelming. I was thinking it was going to be an actual ride or kart that we are in that was going to be a thrilling ride. It was more like the ET Ride in Universal Studios. The queue for the ride was terrific going through Bowser’s Castle, but the ride itself was a little disappointing for someone wanting more thrill.

Donkey Kong Ride

Unfortunately we never got to get to this ride since it was broken down half the day and the queues were always about 3 hours long. Definitely try to fit this in early in the day if you can. This one is more of a rollercoaster, so I was looking forward to riding it.

Food

There are several food options in the Nintendo World. The Toadstool Cafe is a great stop for a quick bite to eat and if you want to sit down.

We went to Yoshi’s Snack Island and tried the unique smoothies they have. One was honeydew and the other mango. Both of them were delicious and I highly recommend getting one while you’re here. They also have Calzones here if you’re in the mood for a quick bite.

The world itself isn’t huge, hit the rides, take a walk around and then we can hit the next world.

3. Mix in a Show, Snack, or Walkthrough Attraction

By late morning and early afternoon, crowds begin to swell in most worlds. This is the perfect time to transition to:

Walkthrough attractions
Photo-heavy areas
Quick-service snack spots
Live entertainment
Air-conditioned shows or indoor queue rides

These activities help you conserve energy while still experiencing tons of theming and atmosphere.

There is a great show in the Ministry of Magic World that has magic, props and characters from the Fantastic Beasts Series!

You can also see “The Untrainable Dragon” in the How to Train Your Dragon World, which is a very cool family friendly show. Great music, props, the actors were great. Definitely one to check out if you’re looking for a show.

4. Lunch Strategy: Eat a Bit Early or a Bit Late

Epic Universe has some of the most in-demand dining options at Universal Orlando. To avoid long waits:

Eat lunch around 11:30 AM or after 1:30 PM.

When choosing where to eat, consider:

The dining options in the world you haven’t explored yet
Locations with mobile order availability
Iconic snacks or meals unique to Epic Universe (great for photos + social media)

If you want a table-service restaurant, use the app early in the morning to secure a return window. Downloading the Epic Universe App is pretty much essential. You need to reserve a time to eat, order food, check queue times and more.

If you want a sit-down and air-conditioned meal, head to Atlantic, Pizza Moon or Blue Dragon (reserve via app if possible)

The Oak and Star Tavern is a great place for BBQ and the Mead Hall in the “How to Train Your Dragon” world was also great. Make sure you try the mac & cheese in the garlic bread. That was one of my favorite things we got.

5. Explore a New World

Now that you’ve fueled up, were able to sit down and eat, you’re ready to go back into the park. Take this time to hit a new world you haven’t been to yet. For us that was “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Monsters Universe”

This is a great time to:

Wander through another themed world you haven’t seen yet
Take photos
Shop for merch
Play interactive elements
Ride the Rides
Grab a specialty dessert or drink

Pick a world you haven’t visited yet and stroll through with a more laid-back pace.

How to Train Your Dragon Rides

In this world there are a few different rides. A thrilling coaster called Dragon’s Rally Racer. Keep in mind this is about a two hour wait give or take and it’s pretty much ALL outside. So make sure you have some water and your legs are well rested. This ride however launches you several different times and takes you all around the world which is super exciting. It was definitely worth the wait, just make sure you’re prepared for it.

There is a water ride in this world called “Fyre Drill” as well. A family friendly ride in the water with water cannons that can shoot other boats with water. A nice relaxing ride, but you will get wet, perfect for a hot summer day.

Monsters Universe

We opted to save the Monsters Universe for last since we wanted to explore the other worlds more. There are two rides in this world. One is the Frankenstein Experiment which is inside a large castle. I would’ve gone on this one but my party did not want to so we didn’t do this one. I would’ve liked to go in just to see the inside of the castle as I heard it was a very cool queue. people say it’s similar to the Harry Potter Ride – The Forbidden Journey in Islands of Adventure, so I would say it’s worth it to check out.

Curse of the Werewolf – I did manage to get on this ride as a single rider. The original ques was over an hour long and let me be honest with you here. Totally not worth it. Very short and boring ride with basically no theming. I’m glad I got right on with the single rider because I would’ve been very disappointed if I had wasted an hour waiting in line for this one. However just because I didn’t like doesn’t mean you necessarily won’t.

Overall we didn’t spend much time in the Monster’s Universe. Again, that was just us, if you’re into this stuff then you may like it a lot more. It was definitely the smallest of the worlds and the least crowded as well. If you’re only here for one day I would check it out to at least ride the Frankenstein ride inside the caste.

6. Go Back to the World You Loved Most

By now we have hit everything in the park. One nice thing about this park is it’s smaller and everything is in a big circle so it is quick to get from one side of the park to the other You can easily go from Nintendo World to the Harry Potter Ride etc.

Take this time to go back to your favorite world. Explore it some more in depth, hit your favorite ride again, go to the giftshops, walk around and really take it all in

Between 3 PM – 6 PM, crowds often reposition around dining and entertainment. Watch for dips in posted wait times.

Coasters
Major dark rides
Anything you skipped earlier
Any ride you wanted to repeat

If you’re okay splitting your party, single-rider lines can also save huge chunks of time. This is one of my favorite strategies. I love to ride the rides first with my party and experience it together, but the second time through you can split up and hit the single rider line to go through A LOT faster.

7. Early Evening: Grab Dinner and Catch the Park at Golden Hour

This is one of the prettiest times to explore Epic Universe.

What to do around golden hour:

Take your best photos of the day
Enjoy a sit-down dinner
Try a themed dessert
Revisit your favorite world for nighttime visuals

Evening lighting transforms the park’s themed lands and makes everything feel more cinematic.

The sun goes down, the lights go on, the crowd thins out. This is truly one of the best times to back and explore the park some more.

Hit Stardust Racers!

No I did not forget about the best ride in the park. Yes the best ride I said! If you’re a thrill seeker like me this ride is awesome. It launches you straight through a tunnel up a 90 degree lift, through twists, turns, loops, barrel rolls as you almost hit the other coaster going side by side!

This ride is awesome, I went on it by myself because the rest of my party wasn’t feeling it. I hit the single rider line and was on in about 10 minutes. I rode this three straight times! Definitely recommend doing single rider for this one. You don’t have to be with your party and you will shave down a lot of time by doing this. Especially if you want to ride it more than once!

At night time as well this ride hits different. It’s all lit up and you can see the entire park from up above. It was one of the best rides I went on in a long time. Highly recommend.

Dinner Options

Atlantic (in Celestial Park)

A full-service sit-down restaurant with indoor seating
Especially good if you want a proper meal (seafood, steak, or upscale fare) and a longer rest period in air conditioning.
We hit this spot for dinner and it was well worth it. It sits right on the water with large windows you can see the lights, the fountain and more. It’s a really cool atmosphere as well inside and the food was great.
Make sure you book a reservation!! This is crucial as it is about an hour wait.

Pizza Moon

In the mood for pizza? Great indoor and outdoor seating, great pizza as well

The Oak & Star Tavern

For BBQ, this is another nice place to sit down and have a proper meal after along day in the park.

Flora Taverna

In the mood for really fancy? Located in the hotel is a very nice restaurant with a great view of the entire park. Get anything from Burgers and sandwiches to wraps and king salmon

8. Still Time Left? Do what you want

By nighttime, lines usually drop again. Especially during the last hour of operation.

Use this time for:

Your favorite attraction one more time (Or favorite world again)
A nighttime cocktail
A nighttime coaster ride (always more intense)
Photos with glowing themed elements
Staying for Fireworks and a water show

Ending your day with something you love leaves you with the perfect last impression. If you’re beat and ready to go, then by all means go for. We didn’t end up staying for the water show but I would’ve loved to see how the end a proper day at Epic Universe.

Final Tips for an Epic Day at Epic Universe (2026)

✔ Bring a portable charger — the app is essential in 2026
✔ Wear breathable, lightweight clothes; Florida weather doesn’t change
✔ Hydrate more than you think you need
✔ Use lockers strategically to avoid backtracking
✔ Book dining early in the day
✔ Fuel up before you come. Eating before hand will save you time and money and get you prepared for the day.

Hotels to Stay at Near Epic Universe

Here are a few suggestions of where to stay near Epic Universe. Make sure to check to see if they have a free shuttle as well!

Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa
Days Inn by Wyndham Orlando Conv. Center/International Dr
Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Residence Inn by Marriott Near Universal Orlando
Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando
Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando Resort

Epic Universe all in all was a really great experience. As someone who loves Universal Studios I was really excited for this new park. While the worlds and rides were super immersive, I was hoping for them to be a little more thrilling and exciting. I was a little underwhelmed on that aspect. If you’re with your family or enjoy the tamer rides I’m sure you will love them and the theming but if you were hoping for more roller coasters and thrilling rides, don’t get your hopes up to much.

The Ministry of Magic was awesome, Nintendo World was super immersive. How to Train your Dragon was also very cool, even tough I’ve never seen the movies. The Monster Universe was ok, but nothing special.

What I did love about the park was how walkable it was. Islands of Adventure and Universal are massive and takes a long time to walk from one end to the other. The way they structured it is very convenient and the worlds aspect was also terrific.

Either way this park is a MUST-VISIT and I hope you get a chance to visit in 2026. Use this guide to help you make the most of how to spend 1 day in Epic Universe.

How to Spend 1 Epic Day at Epic Universe in Orlando