In the year since it’s been open, Universal’s Epic Universe has become a topic of debate amongst fans and theme park aficionados as to whether it’s a “one-day park” or a park experience that requires more time.
Epic Universe!
The truth of the matter is that it may depend on what kind of experience each guest is looking for…
Epic Universe is currently home to 11 rides: Constellation Carousel, Curse of the Werewolf, Dragon Racer’s Rally, Fyre Drill, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Mine-Cart Madness, Stardust Racers, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry, Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge, and Yoshi’s Adventure.
Monsters Unchained!
Looking over our average wait times data, those 11 rides average waits between 17 minutes (Constellation Carousel) and 123 minutes (Mine-Cart Madness). Mathematically, that means that if someone ONLY cares about riding the park’s rides, they could likely ride every single one during Epic’s operating day without resorting to an Express Pass or taking the park’s VIP Tour. However, they would miss a lot by doing so.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
Much like the world’s other great theme parks, Epic Universe is defined just as much by its immersive environments and countless details and easter eggs as it is its rides. Take Dark Universe for example.
Quincy in Dark Universe!
While guests could conceivably head straight into the land, ride Monsters Unchained and Curse of the Werewolf, and immediately move on to the next portal, they would miss a litany of details that haunt (pun fully intended) the first land dedicated to the Universal Monsters. Whether it’s the statue of Maria in Darkmoor’s graveyard…
Darkmoor
…the vices of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde emanating from an alley…
428 on the ground!
…the residue of a battle the vampires…
Dark Universe
…the fountain that seemingly feeds the said vampires, who’ve been forced underground…
Dark Universe
…and the voice of the Ygor from within the crypt, building the story of the attraction; these thematic instances litter the land. Similar elements can be found in Super Nintendo World, Isle of Berk, the Wizarding World, and even Celestial Park. While these kinds of small, atmospheric details may seem minor to some, they make up the backbone of any great theme park, and guests who skip them will likely end up leaving Epic Universe feeling unfulfilled from the park experience, even if they don’t exactly understand why.
Gotta love Ygor
Beyond these small details, guests who concentrate solely on rides to cram everything into one day will likely also need to skip out on the park’s entertainment offerings like Le Cirque Arcanus, The Untraininable Dragon, and even the park’s new nighttime show Universal Celestial Goodnight.
Celestial Goodnight
When it comes to Epic Universe, the park CAN be experienced in one day if your only goal is to ride each ride a single time. However, doing so may rob you of experiencing the full immersion the park has to offer. Stay tuned to AllEars for further thoughts on Epic Universe.
The Park Essentials Every Epic Universe First-Timer Forgets to Pack
How long do you usually spend in Epic Universe? Let us know in the comments below.
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