Ultimate Guide to Universal Epic Universe 2025: Tickets, Hotels, Food

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In between watching the Philadelphia Eagles absolutely demolish the Chiefs and Kendrick Lamar take his probably 100th victory lap performance of “Not Like Us”, you probably witnessed the Super Bowl commercial for Universal Orlando’s latest blockbuster of a park — Epic Universe. The long-anticipated resort will finally be opening its gates to the public on May 22, 2025, making it Orlando, Florida’s first new theme park in more than 25 years (and Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth theme park in total). This 750-acre expansion aims to “forever redefine theme park entertainment”, but you’ll have to do some planning first to judge that for yourself.

At a Glance: How to Plan a Universal Epic Universe Theme Park Trip

Long considered a one-to-two day vacation destination (often tacked on at the end of a longer Disney World trip), Universal Orlando Resort already deserves some trip-planning love for its thrill rides that’ll rattle your teeth, to the nightlife at CityWalk, and the Butterbeer (yes, it’s really that good). But with Epic Universe’s opening, including three new hotels and more than 50 attractions across five “worlds”, Universal is hoping to entice visitors top stay longer and put up some serious competition against Disney’s neighboring parks (although we’ll have to attend ourselves to tell you if the Big Cheese should really be scared or not).

So what exactly makes Epic Universe so, well, epic? Well, the park will span five separate lands (or “gates”) across popular Universal-owned franchises like Nintendo and Harry Potter. You can expect state-of-the-art new coasters and dark rides, seriously elevated food offerings — and some seriously massive crowds. Yes, you’re going to need to do some planning here, so whether you’re rounding up the kids for the vacation of a lifetime, or you’re just an adult theme park enthusiast looking for a new getaway, here’s everything you need to know about scoring Universal Epic Universe tickets, where to stay, and how to make the most of your visit.

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When Does Universal Orlando Epic Universe Open?

The doors to Epic Universe open on May 22, 2025. Tickets are currently on sale (yes, even for opening day), but you’ll only be able to spend one day at a time in the park for now, as we explain below. Epic Universe Express passes and Epic Universe VIP tours are still not yet available at the time of publishing.

How to Get Epic Universe Tickets Online

While it certainly won’t be as difficult as queuing up on Ticketmaster for Cowboy Carter tour tickets, there are a couple important things to keep in mind for buying Epic Universe tickets online, especially if you’re looking to go during its opening days.

General Admission: For now, you won’t be able to buy a single-day ticket to Epic Universe, even though you still can for any of the other three Universal Orlando parks. Not offering a standalone ticket option was a somewhat controversial move, but also not surprising that they’re trying to control capacity in the park’s early days given its massive popularity. (Note: 1-Day Epic Universe tickets will be offered at an unspecified later date).

The only way to get Universal Epic Universe tickets is through their multiday ticket package (three, four, or five-day ticket options), letting you spend one day at Universal Epic Universe, plus minimum two other days at either Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and/or Volcano Bay. Adult tickets for the cheapest version of this package (with no park-hopping or Volcano Bay included) start at $117 per day before tax, with kids’ tickets starting at $114 per day. Universal, like many theme parks, has variable ticket pricing though, so high-demand days will be more expensive (going on Epic Universe’s opening weekend would currently cost you $164 per day, or nearly $500 total).

Where to Stay Near Universal Epic Universe

Part of the Epic Universe expansion includes three new hotels (bringing the total up to 11 potential stay options) — Universal Stella Nova Resort, Universal Terra Luna Resort, and Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which borders Epic Universe and will open the same day as the park on May 22.

Similar to Walt Disney World, Universal’s resorts are split into a tiered structure based on budget and perks: Signature Collection ($325+ per night), Prime Value Hotels ($220+ per night), and Value Inns and Suites ($99+ per night). For any Universal vacation (not just for Epic), we’d recommend staying at a Universal hotel over staying off-property. Why? Mainly because you can’t beat the perks — including early park admission. The ability to enter an hour before official park opening time is a great way to jump on popular rides before the heavy crowds show up. Signature Collection hotels like Sapphire Falls Resort and Hard Rock Hotel also come with the added bonus of free Universal Express Unlimited (a $129.99 value per person, per day), which lets you skip the regular lines at the most popular attractions at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

Although you’ll get resort-wide complimentary transportation from any Universal hotel – from buses, to boats (where available), and hotel-to-hotel shuttles — if you’re planning on going to Epic Universe (which is about 15 minutes away from the main bunch of Universal Orlando Resort parks and hotels, titled “North Campus”), we’d plan at staying at one of the three newest hotels in “South Campus”. Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort are sibling properties with outer space theming in the Prime Value Hotels tier. Room rates that start in the low $200s, and usually don’t go over $300 per night. We stayed at Stella Nova Resort recently and loved the modern and sleek lobby lounge, high-end quick service dining, and cozy, galaxy-themed rooms.

Arguably the most hyped out of the three new hotels, the Universal Helios Grand Hotel is notable for being the only Universal hotel to have its own dedicated entrance to the theme park (similar to the Hotel MiraCosta located inside Tokyo DisneySea). As the backdrop of Celestial Park, it’s a majestic Mediterranean-inspired escape that towers above the lush gardens and ponds of the park, so you can expect some excellent panoramic theme park views from its rooftop bar, Bar Helios. As part of the new Signature Collection of hotels, room rates are expected to be in the mid-$600s (although this hotel is already sold out for opening weekend on May 22).

What Are the Lands And Attractions At Epic Universe?

Whether you’re a bonafide coaster enthusiast, love a Instagramable plate of food, or are looking for a family-friendly adventure, it seems like there’s going to be something for everyone at Epic Universe. First popularized by Disneyland in 1955 (and now used in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom) Epic Universe as a park utilizes a “hub-and-spoke” — here you’ll find one central hub (Celestial Park), and individual “worlds” extending outwards through five gates like spokes on a wheel. This means that unlike Universal Studios Orlando or Islands of Adventure, the lands won’t all be connected in a circle, so you’ll need to head back to Celestial Park if you want to get to another part of the park.

These lands include Super Nintendo World (ported over from Universal Studios Japan and Hollywood), How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe, and the central hub, Celestial Park. Here’s a quick overview of each section of the park and their new attractions.

Celestial Park

Themed as the cosmic heart of Epic Universe, Celestial Park is the “world between worlds”, with expansive gardens, fountains, and architecture inspired by astronomy and Greek mythology. There you can hop on a rocket and blast off at up to 62 mph on the dual-launch roller coaster “Stardust Racers”, or take a slower ride on the “Constellation Carousel”.

There will also be two restaurants — the seafood-forward, underwater-themed eatery Atlantic and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant — as well as the Nintendo Super Star Store for shopping.

Super Nintendo World

Epic Universe is finally getting another portal into the Mario-themed land that originated at Universal Studios Japan and Hollywood. Inspired by the beloved video game series, you’ll find meet and greets with Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad, along with familiar sights like Peach’s Castle and waddling Goombas.

Just like the Japan and Hollywood parks, the main attraction is “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge”, where you jump into your own kart and, using augmented reality shades, collect coins and try to win the race’s cup. Opening with this part of the park is a mini-land within Super Nintendo World called Donkey Kong Country, featuring its own roller coaster called “Mine-Cart Madness”. You can also get a scenic ride around the land on “Yoshi’s Adventure”, and head to Toadstool Cafe where Chef Toad has curated a special (very mushroom-heavy) menu.

You’ll also be able to buy a Power-Up Band, a wearable wristband that lets you collect coins throughout the land through special challenges and on rides (it’ll work throughout all three Super Nintendo World locations).

Dark Universe

Riders beware, you may be in for a scare — this gothic land is inspired by all the classic Universal monsters out there, from Frankenstein’s monster to Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

In the fictional town of Darkmoor Village, you’ll find “Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment” — set inside a Victorian manor, this dark ride has you escaping the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, and Universal is calling it its “most terrifying attraction yet” thanks to some incredibly lifelike monster animatronics. The second ride, a family-style coaster called “Curse of the Werewolf”, has you escaping a pack of werewolves through the forest.

Can’t get enough of Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show? This land will also feature a spot where you can be transformed into a werewolf, vampire or mummy with the Monster Makeup Experience. There are also two dining locations in Dark Universe, including Das Stakehaus (a restaurant with vampire familiars as waiters), and The Burning Blade Tavern (a casual eatery/monster hunter outpost inside a windmill that will catch on fire several times an hour, similar to the dragon above Gringotts).

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic

Themed to the Fantastic Beasts franchise (a spinoff prequel to the Harry Potter series), this is the third Harry Potter location to open in Universal Orlando, after the Diagon Alley area in Universal Studios Florida opened in 2014 and the Hogsmeade area debuted in Islands of Adventure in 2010.

This land will let you explore wizarding Paris of the 1920s, then take the Métro-Floo to the British Ministry in the Nineties for the main attraction — “Battle at the Ministry”. Helping Hermione, Ron and Harry fight Dolores Umbridge, from the concept art it seems like the ride will use similar mechanics to the “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” ride, only you’ll be seated in an elevator compartment at the Ministry of Magic.

Outside the Ministry, there will also be “Le Cirque Arcanus”, a live show set in the Fantastic Beasts universe with performers, puppets and special effects. Like other Harry Potter lands, there will be a new wand shop, Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique, more interactive wand locations, and a French restaurant called Café L’air De La Sirène (where you might find some Butterbeer, or Bièraubuerre, treats for sale). Just don’t expect the Hogwarts Express to take you here like it does between UO and IoA.

How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk

Based on the beloved DreamWorks film series (which will be getting its own live-action adaptation in June), this land will take you to Isle of Berk with plenty of Vikings characters, goblets of mead, and yes, dragons.

At the heart of the land will be “Hiccup’s Wing Gliders”, a family roller coaster that will have you experience riding on the back of a dragon. There’s also a water ride called “Fyre Drill”, where you’ll board a Viking longboat and blast water cannons at dragon targets and other boats. “Dragon Racer’s Rally” is another ride that will have riders strapped into dragon-shaped seats, flipping upside down as they swing on a pendulum arm.

Brought over from Universal Studios Beijing, this land will also feature the popular stage show “The Untrainable Dragon” starring Hiccup, Toothless, Astrid and Gobber. Dining options include what else but the film’s Mead Hall, serving up Scandinavian-inspired offerings, ale and mead.

Best of Epic Universe’s Food and Drink Options

While you may be already be mentally planning your hit list of coasters throughout the park, consider instead perhaps a more important list of must-dos — we’re talking dining spots. We can confidently say already that Epic Universe will be worth the visit (and cost of admission) for the food and drink, alone.

While the team at Universal Orlando Resort has been working to bring five new worlds to life, for the past five years their culinary team has also been working hard behind the scenes to compliment these stories with some seriously immersive food and beverage offerings. Epic Universe will feature more than 100 menu items at 30 dining locations, and they’ll be serving up more than just your average theme park fare — these meals are an attraction all their own. How do we know? Well, RS taste-tested more than a dozen of the new dishes firsthand at Universal Orlando’s own production kitchen, so you’ll know what to chow down on opening day. Here’s what to expect, and what we recommend.

Celestial Park

The etherial and astrological Celestial Park will be home to half of all the dining options at Epic Universe, so naturally, you’ll find some of the best food in the whole park here. At the Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, ambiance is everything, and you’ll eat under the light of artificial stars and two glowing neon dragons. The Smashed Cucumbers with cilantro, peanuts and Sichuan spice we tried originated at last year’s Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval, and they were refreshing and surprisingly spicy (we are so glad these graduated to a full-time offering). Similarly, the pork-filled Snowflake Potstickers were juicy and covered in an extra-lacey crust, paired with an addictive dragon sauce that actually packs a kick (and not just a “theme park spicy” kick).

At The Atlantic, an underwater-themed eater just across from Neptune’s Pool, even with a seafood-forward menu, Chef Robert Martinez Jr., director and executive of Shared Services at the resort, said that while crafting the menus park-wide, the team always made sure there were 1-2 “reimagined” vegan options per menu, or at the very least, dishes that could easily be converted. Thus, while we enjoyed the delicately-cooked Sea Bass with carrot mochi, sugar snap peas, star fruit in a tangy lemongrass broth, we suggest you spring for the real star of the meal: the King Oyster Mushroom Ceviche. The veggies are bright, the citrus dressing acidic, and the mushrooms texturally indistinguishable from the real thing.

And no meal is complete without trying the Passion Fruit “Caviar,” a chocolate and hazelnut dessert in a fish tin topped with tiny passion fruit boba pearls and a fishtail spoon. 10/10 points for presentation alone.

Super Nintendo World

“Chef Toad is the real mastermind here — we just execute on his vision,” says Christopher Colon, executive sous chef with Research and Development. That’s because no matter where you visit, Universal Hollywood, Japan, or Epic Universe, there is still only one Mushroom Kingdom and one head chef, Chef Toad. With that being said, if you have already been to some of the other incarnations of the “kingdom”, you’ll probably be familiar with most of the dishes severed there.

Although a couple of the most iconic dishes from Japan have been adjusted for the American palate, like Yoshi’s Smoothie at Yoshi’s Snack Island, now apple-melon flavored instead of melon mint. The green drink reached artificial-tasting, tooth-rotting levels of sweet for me, but we’re sure it’ll be the perfect sugar rush for kids.

At the main quick-service restaurant, Toadstool Cafe, you’ll find entertainingly-plated Italian fare (heavy on the mushrooms, of course), including Bowser’s Fireball Challenge for a group (or just for one, if you’re ambitious) — this whopping one-pound meatball is topped off with mozzarella cheese and mushroom marinara sauce, wrapped in puff pastry, and served with a side of hot sauce. If you’re not willing to enter a food coma riding around on Yoshi’s Adventure, the Mario Burger is a solid (if not basic) option, topped with bacon, mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes, and American cheese on a moustache’d house-made bun. In fact, all the bread and dough (from buns, to pizza, to more than 100 other bakery items) served across Universal Orlando are made in-house at the resort’s production kitchen, which is pretty impressive.

How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk

We anticipate that the Mead Hall at Isle of Berk (featuring a quick-service menu inspired by Nordic/Scandinavian cuisine) is going to become a big hit for families and groups, all thanks to one bonafide crowd-pleaser: the Thawfest Platter. You’ll be able to dine like a real viking with a family-style spread that can feed up to four people, featuring a real smörgåsbord of succulent sausage links, pastrami-seasoned grilled salmon (inspired by the fish Hiccup gives Toothless in the first film), a heavenly baked potato with a savory, fennel-based sauce, roasted vegetables, and wild lingonberry barbecue-glazed chicken drumsticks that left our whole table speechless. When asked how they’d gotten the chicken so juicy and moist, Chef Jens Dahlmann, vice president and executive chef of the resort’s Culinary Operations simply replied, “we don’t overcook things.”

Despite the hall’s namesake, Dahlmann explained that since mead is still a relatively niche beverage, there weren’t really any large meaderies they could work to supply the drink menu — so they simply created custom brews in Florida. Made with fermented honey, the Gobber’s Mead is a boysenberry-blackcurrant brew with notes of citrus and cardamom that is definitely worth trying for the mead-curious (I’m sadly allergic, so I had a delicious Strawberry Lime Cider instead, which is crisp and not-too-sweet). On the non-alc side of things, hot Orlando days will practically demand picking up a cup of Yaknog, a deliciously thick malted chocolate and cinnamon dessert drink that’s reminiscent of a frozen Mexican hot chocolate.

Dark Universe

If you’ve been howling and clawing at the gate of Dark Universe to see what kind of deliciously twisted food offerings you’ll be able to get at this land, let us just say this — Halloween Horror Nights fans will not be disappointed. The word “immersive” is thrown around a lot here, but this is probably the area with the most interesting stories behind the plate. Inside you’ll find Das Stakehaus, a quick-service restaurant where everything from the Carved Staked Steak with an incredibly “bloody” jus, to the Labotocotta (a name so good I’m a little mad about it), a brain-shaped, Greek yogurt-based vanilla panna cotta filled with popping candies (blood vessels) and swimming in a pool of raspberry sauce, is there to remind you that your vampire familiar waiters are simply letting you live to enjoy the end of your meal (but that privilege could be revoked at any second).

On the other end of the village is the Burning Blade Tavern, where you’ll find toasted meat skewers heavy on the garlic (get it? Cause it’s a monster hunters’ bar?). Interesting, that’s also why you’ll find very little garlic present on the Das Stakehaus menu. But now’s the time when we have to address the rumors — yes, you’ll be able to find that classic, world-famous theme park cinnamon bread here at De Lacey’s Cottage…kind of. Instead of a full loaf, they’ll come in the form of mini cinnamon donut holes (hey, there’s gotta be something for the kids in a scary land like this!). Just grab a few orders, pair them with a Reaper’s Reserve Brown Ale (an autumnal cinnamon, clove and nutmeg-spiced brew), and call it a dark and stormy night.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic

When you step through the portal to the newest corner of the Wizarding World, you’ll be instantly transported to Paris in the Twenties — and that means on your plate, too. Dahlmann said the chefs looked to classic French cuisine for Café L’air De La Sirène, which resembles a gilded brasserie. The spot will serve everything from simple cafe classics (think baguettes filled with ham, gruyere, and dijon mustard butter), to a packed Niçoise salad, made with canned tuna instead of fresh like how it would’ve been made in the 1920s. You’ll also find heartier, Eastern European fare at Le Goblet Noir, a tavern hotspot for dark witches and wizards with dishes like goulash, schnitzel, and the shareable “Alchemist’s Platter”.

But at this point, you’re probably saying: forget the Beef bourguignon, Steak au poivre, or Coq au Vin — tell us what we really want to know! Which is yes, don’t worry, there will be Butterbeer on this side of the park. The newest iteration (and one that might top the ‘best of’ list) is the must-have Bièraubeurre Crepe, which comes with shortbread cookie butter, Bavarian cream, Butterbeer drizzle, along with fresh strawberries and a shortbread cookie garnish. The chefs told us that this dish got a standing ovation from executives at Warner Brothers when it was presented to them, and we can completely see why. The butterscotch flavor is rich, and it’s just sweet enough to feel decadent without overloading you. If there’s only one dessert you try at Epic Universe, let it be this one.

Ready to enter a new universe? Make sure to buy your Epic Universe tickets online before opening day on May 22, and book your hotel stay online here.

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Ultimate Guide to Universal Epic Universe 2025: Tickets, Hotels, Food

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