{"id":240517,"date":"2026-04-21T16:09:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240517\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T16:09:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:09:10","slug":"universal-confirms-use-of-photo-validation-for-individual-epic-universe-portal-entry-at-select-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240517\/","title":{"rendered":"Universal Confirms Use of Photo Validation for Individual Epic Universe Portal Entry at Select Times"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After testing facial recognition technology for <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/2026\/04\/universal-testing-individual-access-to-epic-universe-worlds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">entry to individual Epic Universe worlds<\/a>, Universal has confirmed this will be used at select times.<\/p>\n<p>Epic Universe Photo Validation<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universalorlando.com\/web\/en\/us\/landing-page\/photo-validation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Photo Validation Image<\/a> webpage on the Universal Orlando Resort states the following:<\/p>\n<p><a data-fslightbox=\"1\" data-type=\"image\" aria-label=\"Open fullscreen lightbox with current image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uor-epic-photo-validation.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1860\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uor-epic-photo-validation.png\" alt=\"Universal Confirms Use of Photo Validation for Individual Epic Universe Portal Entry at Select Times\" class=\"wp-image-1415234\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Effortless Entry to Your Favorite Epic Universe Worlds<br \/>There\u2019s nothing like stepping into the worlds of Universal Epic Universe. To keep your passage easy, you can use Photo Validation for Effortless Entry whenever Virtual Line return times are being used.<\/p>\n<p><a data-fslightbox=\"1\" data-type=\"image\" aria-label=\"Open fullscreen lightbox with current image\" data-caption=\"Source: @Florida_Coasters_1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uor-ueu-photo-validation-portal-testing-2.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1272\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uor-ueu-photo-validation-portal-testing-2.jpeg\" alt=\"Universal Confirms Use of Photo Validation for Individual Epic Universe Portal Entry at Select Times\" class=\"wp-image-1411568\"\/><\/a>Source: @Florida_Coasters_1<\/p>\n<p>Photo validation uses cameras on stanchions to recognize a guest\u2019s face so they don\u2019t have to present a ticket. Epic Universe guests saw these cameras and stanchions testing at Epic Universe portals earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>Though the Universal Orlando website states the tech would be used when Virtual Line return times are required to enter a portal, Virtual Lines have rarely been necessary at Epic Universe. The park does not <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/2026\/01\/comcast-executives-confirm-universal-epic-universe-still-not-operating-full-capacity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">operate at full capacity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This new information could indicate Universal will raise the park\u2019s capacity, especially if they are planning to open new offerings. In addition to potential <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/2026\/04\/epic-universe-expansion-progress-fountain-updates-fireworks-prep-and-more-revealed-in-new-aerial-photos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">expansions<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/2026\/04\/universal-lists-another-fireworks-tech-job-opening-for-epic-universe-nighttime-show\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">fireworks show<\/a> is rumored and an <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/2025\/06\/universal-teases-new-epic-universe-restaurant-opening-in-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">existing restaurant<\/a> still has yet to open.<\/p>\n<p><a data-fslightbox=\"1\" data-type=\"image\" aria-label=\"Open fullscreen lightbox with current image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/UOR-EU-DU-portal.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/UOR-EU-DU-portal.jpg\" alt=\"A large, decorative tunnel entrance with glowing purple lights welcomes guests into Epic Universe's Dark Universe.\" class=\"wp-image-1232055\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As we speculated in our <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/2026\/04\/universal-testing-individual-access-to-epic-universe-worlds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">original article<\/a>, Universal could also use photo validation for individual worlds when companies buy out a section of the park for a special event, or for early entry for hotel guests and passholders.<\/p>\n<p>Back in 2023, Universal Destinations &amp; Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury said Epic Universe would be the \u201cmost technologically advanced park,\u201d using <a href=\"https:\/\/static.wdwnt.com\/2023\/09\/epic-universe-to-use-facial-recognition-most-technologically-advanced-universal-theme-park\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">facial recognition technology for park entry<\/a>. Other Universal parks also <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/2026\/04\/facial-recognition-returns-universal-islands-of-adventure-entry-points\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">implemented the technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>What do you think of potential operational changes at Universal Epic Universe? Let us know on social media.<\/p>\n<p>For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UniNewsToday\" target=\"_blank\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Twitter<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UniversalParksNewsToday\" target=\"_blank\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Facebook<\/a>, and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/uninewstoday\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">Instagram<\/a>. For Disney Parks news, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/wdwnt.com\/category\/parks-resorts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" aria-describedby=\"external-link-warning\">WDWNT<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After testing facial recognition technology for entry to individual Epic Universe worlds, Universal has confirmed this will be&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":240518,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[6113,106413,42724,139,141,140,106111],"class_list":{"0":"post-240517","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-orlando","8":"tag-epic-universe","9":"tag-epic-universe-portals","10":"tag-facial-recognition","11":"tag-orlando","12":"tag-orlando-headlines","13":"tag-orlando-news","14":"tag-photo-validation"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=240517"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240517\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/240518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=240517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=240517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=240517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}