{"id":321177,"date":"2026-06-26T21:59:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T21:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/321177\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T21:59:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T21:59:18","slug":"3-things-ill-never-buy-again-in-epic-universe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/321177\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Things I’ll Never Buy Again in Epic Universe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Epic Universe<\/a> has been open for over a year, and we\u2019re still loving Universal\u2019s technologically advanced Orlando theme park and its game-changing rides like Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Quincy in Dark Universe!<\/p>\n

However, while we still love going to Epic Universe, there are some things at the park we\u2019re not buying again anytime soon.<\/p>\n

A NEW Refillable Mug<\/p>\n

Okay, so refillable mugs are one of our favorite things about Universal\u2019s parks, Epic Universe in particular. Universal Orlando<\/a> offers mugs that can be filled at Coca-Cola Freestyle machines located throughout their theme parks, including Epic Universe and CityWalk. These Universal mugs retail for about $19, and offer refills every 10 minutes throughout the day.<\/p>\n

\"\"You can find them all over the resort.<\/p>\n

This has allowed Universal to introduce concepts like Epic Universe\u2019s exclusive soda flavors. Three of the park\u2019s portals feature exclusive Coca-Cola variants only available in those specific lands:<\/p>\n

Celestial Spritz: This flavor is located in Celestial Park and features a blend of Seagram\u2019s products, cherry and orange flavors, and a secret \u201cadded tartness\u201d that\u2019s mixed in.
\nScreaming Bury: Located in Dark Universe, Screaming Berry blends Fanta Cherry and Fanta Fruit Punch with added grape and vanilla notes.
\nDragon Splash: This Isle of Berk specialty is refreshing on a hot day with its zesty, citrus-forward flavor made with Minute Maid Lime, Fanta Lime, and Mello Yello.<\/p>\n

\"\"Coca-Cola machine at Oak and Star Tavern<\/p>\n

So, why are we saying we won\u2019t buy a new one? Because our old one still works and can be reactivated for $11.99. So, until it breaks, gets lost, or etc., there\u2019s no reason to spend nearly double to replace it.<\/p>\n

REVIEW: I Need This Epic Universe Drink on My Own Personal Tap ASAP!<\/a>
\nExpress Pass<\/p>\n

Hear us out: Universal\u2019s Express Pass<\/a> offers guests shorter wait times at participating rides and attractions once per ride for prices starting at $199 a person, not including theme park admission, which itself ranges anywhere from roughly $140 to $200.<\/p>\n

\"\"Mine Cart Madness<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s compare that to an Epic Universe VIP Tour. The park\u2019s Non-Private VIP Tour is a roughly 4-hour structured and guided walking tour of Universal Epic Universe, including VIP Priority access to some of the park\u2019s most popular rides and attractions for no more than twelve (12) guests per tour. The tour is loaded with rides, behind-the-scenes experiences, and some special perks.<\/p>\n

\"\"Emma loves Epic Universe!<\/p>\n

We did the tour ourselves and here\u2019s what we thought! Over the course of the tour, which lasted from 10 AM until 2:30 PM (with a lunch break), our Team Member guide took us through each of Epic Universe\u2019s portals to experience as many attractions as possible, entering each through its exit, and waiting minutes, if at all.<\/p>\n

Over the course of the 4.5 hours, our group was able to ride the following attractions:<\/p>\n

Mine Cart Madness
\nDragon Racer\u2019s Rally
\nHiccup\u2019s Wing Gliders
\nFyre Drill
\nStardust Racers
\nBattle at the Ministry
\nMonsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
\nYoshi\u2019s Adventure
\nMario Kart: Bowser\u2019s Challenge<\/p>\n

In addition to riding the rides, our guide also provided a litany of interesting facts about the park.<\/p>\n

\"brightYoshi\u2019s Adventures<\/p>\n

Following the tour\u2019s completion, guests\u2019 VIP Lanyard also serves as a Universal Express Pass for the rest of the day. After our tour, we were able to use our lanyards to ride the following rides:<\/p>\n

Mario Kart: Bowser\u2019s Challenge
\nYoshi\u2019s Adventure
\nMonsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
\nMine Cart Madness
\nHiccup\u2019s Wing Gliders
\nFyre Drill
\nBattle at the Ministry
\nLa Cirque Arcanus
\nStardust Racers
\nConstellation Carousel<\/p>\n

\"\"Stardust Racers<\/p>\n

In addition to the Express Pass, guests who take the tour also receive 10% off merchandise for the rest of the day.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9Universal<\/p>\n

Now the experience is not a cheap one \u2014 it costs $489.99, NOT including the $174.00 price of a one-day admission to Epic Universe, which is required to take the tour \u2014 so in total, the experience costs nearly $700. That overall price includes the roughly 4-hour tour, and Universal Express access (using your VIP Lanyard once per ride) for the rest of the day.\u00a0 However, the aforementioned Express Pass and park ticket can cost around $500, depending on the date, and doesn\u2019t include the earlier tour access or the merchandise discount. Now, both of these are big financial commitments, and neither is something to do EVERY time once visits the park, but for a once-in-a-lifetime visit or splurge day, the tour seems superior.<\/p>\n

\"\"Hiccup\u2019s Wing Gliders!
\nI Paid Over $700 for a VIP Tour of Epic Universe and It Was Worth Every Penny<\/a>
\nA NEW Power-Up Band<\/p>\n

Last but not least, we have the Power-Up Bands. These wristbands are available to purchase for use in Super Nintendo World, and they\u2019re $40 each. They\u2019re designed to help you interact with the land, complete tasks, and collect coins\u2026just like a Mario game! These are a ton of fun if you\u2019re a Nintendo fan, and I could spend all day wandering through the land and doing all the interactive features. Your kids especially will love these, and\u2026 the good news is that you\u2019ll only need to make the purchase once instead of buying a new one every visit.<\/p>\n

\"\"Power-Up Band<\/p>\n

You can share one band with the whole family, and many of the games can even be played without the Power-Up Bands, though you won\u2019t be able to keep track of your score. It can be a worthwhile purchase, but don\u2019t be afraid to share, and don\u2019t forget to pack it in your bag for a return visit.<\/p>\n

\"\"Mario Kart: Bowser\u2019s Challenge<\/p>\n

We love visiting Epic Universe and getting back as often as we can, but we won\u2019t be buying these items for a long time. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on Universal tips.<\/p>\n

I Lost My Prescription Glasses on An Epic Universe Rollercoaster; And Yes, The Situation Is As Stressful As You Think<\/a><\/p>\n

Heading to Epic Universe any time soon? Let us know in the comments below.<\/p>\n

Post a Comment <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Epic Universe has been open for over a year, and we\u2019re still loving Universal\u2019s technologically advanced Orlando theme…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":107612,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[139,141,140],"class_list":["post-321177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321177","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=321177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=321177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=321177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=321177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}