Universal's Epic Universe General News & Discussion

[theblueblurr]

Correct.

Anyone can use the Helios entrance. You can go to Helios without a hotel room key. You can get into Epic from Helios too, as long as the park is still open and you have a ticket.

Thank you so much for sharing this info! Sorry that it had been answered before, since it was an Epic Universe/Celestial Park and a Helios question, I wasn't sure which thread a potential answer would live in (if any at all, since it's not officially opened yet).

 

[GAcoaster]

The actual grand opening (22nd) or whatever closed ceremony they're doing on the 21st?

Not sure, but I’ll ask when I see him next week

 

[devinp267]

Please let these crowds last through next weekend, I’m there on the 25 and 27th! If they lowered capacity then I truly feel no way I previously did lol.

 

[Frank Drackman]

I know almost all the rides have single rider lines, have they been open at all during the previews? Obviously I know ministry’s will not be open.

what was odd to me for the previews I went was that both Monster's and Mario Kart seat four people yet the Monster's single rider was always a walk on, for Mario Kart, it was typically a long wait.

But what about EPA? Would they let anyone Uber to Helios and use their entrance or is a room key needed for EPA only?

This is what I wondered. If we Uber to Helios and get breakfast at Flora Taverna.. what happens then? I'd assume we still get EPA because we would be staying at Stella Nova.

a lot of times at IoA, they let everyone in via the turnstiles, but then you need a room key to get past the Suess Landing bridge. I assume they could easily allow access to Nintendo and StarDust while letting everyone into Celestial Park.

For previews at EPic, they scanned us in early but we were stopped just past the retail areas of CP.

Been creeping the app. Wait time for Monsters Unchained seemed to drop like a rock. Got up to 90 minutes earlier but now it’s only 25 - think it initially dropped to 35 around noon. No downtime yet I’m aware of.

Also, Wing Gliders has had a pretty short wait all day. Highest I saw was 35 minutes, and it’s only 15 right now. Thought it would be higher.

Mario Kart and DK are high as expected, with DK getting up to 105 earlier (though MK was down for a while).

I had planned to hit Monsters first, but if it’s going to drop this drastically around lunchtime I’m wondering if it might be better to knock out a few quick things early on at 11am, eat lunch, then hop on Monsters when the wait is short.

Edit - Monsters now down to 15 minutes, the heck?

for the previews I went to, Monster's only truly had a long wait after it came back up from a long delay, when she gets going, she moves people at a steady rate.

 

[dxwwf3]

what was odd to me for the previews I went was that both Monster's and Mario Kart seat four people yet the Monster's single rider was always a walk on, for Mario Kart, it was typically a long wait.

Don’t know if I’m completely right here, but my assumption is that people want to see the full queue and preshow experience for Monsters and a lot of people there this early have probably already ridden Mario Kart in Hollywood and/or Osaka. So it’s kind of “been there, done that” so why not jump in the SRL?

 

[saint.piss]

Sooo... that first passholder preview was AMAZING. Basically no crowds and everything was a walk on. Most I waited was maybe 45-50 minutes for Ministry my first time. I also had a Mac and Cheese cone + ate at Mead Hall, had dinner at Toadstool's Cafe and did the Bride meet and greet at Dark Universe. If you're a passholder and might still be on the fence about doing the preview I absolutely recommend doing it. It was great. I did 4 visits (today was my 5th) during the employee preview and this passholder one is definitely my favorite day I've had at Epic. Very stress-free and just chill. I had a blast!

Rides I did:
Hiccups Wing Gliders - 2
Constellation Carousel - 1
Mario Kart - 1
Monsters Unchained - 12
Curse of the Werewolf - 2
HP Battle at the Ministry - 2
Yoshi's Adventure - 1
DK Mine Cart Madness - 1

 

[Mad Dog]

Sooo... that first passholder preview was AMAZING. Basically no crowds and everything was a walk on. Most I waited was maybe 45-50 minutes for Ministry my first time. I also had a Mac and Cheese cone + ate at Mead Hall, had dinner at Toadstool's Cafe and did the Bride meet and greet at Dark Universe. If you're a passholder and might still be on the fence about doing the preview I absolutely recommend doing it. It was great. I did 4 visits (today was my 5th) during the employee preview and this passholder one is definitely my favorite day I've had at Epic. Very stress-free and just chill. I had a blast!

Rides I did:
Hiccups Wing Gliders - 2
Constellation Carousel - 1
Mario Kart - 1
Monsters Unchained - 12
Curse of the Werewolf - 2
HP Battle at the Ministry - 2
Yoshi's Adventure - 1
DK Mine Cart Madness - 1

Guessing that you really really like Monsters Unchained...

 

[Speed]

Been creeping the app. Wait time for Monsters Unchained seemed to drop like a rock. Got up to 90 minutes earlier but now it’s only 25 - think it initially dropped to 35 around noon. No downtime yet I’m aware of.

Only time I've noticed a wait during previews is when they only used one of the two stations

 

[TheCodeMan95]

And everyone was worried about the AP previews lmao

 

[Alicia]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what the gender neutral restroom situation looks like at Epic? Kind of a scary time to be trans in Florida and I'd prefer to avoid thinking about it as much as possible in the park.

Nearly all main restroom locations feature gender neutral single stall “family” restrooms. Like 9 out of 11 of the large restrooms across the park. Closer to Disney parks than the original Universal Orlando locations. Sometimes they’re off to the side, sometimes between the men’s and women’s. And sometimes they’re stand alone, like the two single stalls near Astronomica and Viking Training Camp.

The Spira still existed last I heard!

Yea I saw them at the register in Dok Ondar’s on Monday!!

 

[HalfGlass]

Sooo... that first passholder preview was AMAZING. Basically no crowds and everything was a walk on. Most I waited was maybe 45-50 minutes for Ministry my first time. I also had a Mac and Cheese cone + ate at Mead Hall, had dinner at Toadstool's Cafe and did the Bride meet and greet at Dark Universe. If you're a passholder and might still be on the fence about doing the preview I absolutely recommend doing it. It was great. I did 4 visits (today was my 5th) during the employee preview and this passholder one is definitely my favorite day I've had at Epic. Very stress-free and just chill. I had a blast!

Rides I did:
Hiccups Wing Gliders - 2
Constellation Carousel - 1
Mario Kart - 1
Monsters Unchained - 12
Curse of the Werewolf - 2
HP Battle at the Ministry - 2
Yoshi's Adventure - 1
DK Mine Cart Madness - 1

You did Ministry twice in one day? Does that mean you can get a second pass after using your first or was there a unique circumstance?

 

[Alicia]

You did Ministry twice in one day? Does that mean you can get a second pass after using your first or was there a unique circumstance?

The system allowed you to get another after using your existing one yes.

 

[HalfGlass]

Not gonna lie - I have early entry on Sunday, and part of me is debating if rope dropping these rides is even worth it. If yesterday’s wait time trend keeps up, it’s probably less stressful to walk in 30 minutes into EPA and queue up for something else like Monsters since the Nintendo rides wait times decreased significantly once EPA crowds dispersed.

 

[nikem3]

Not gonna lie - I have early entry on Sunday, and part of me is debating if rope dropping these rides is even worth it. If yesterday’s wait time trend keeps up, it’s probably less stressful to walk in 30 minutes into EPA and queue up for something else like Monsters since the Nintendo rides wait times decreased significantly once EPA crowds dispersed.

Or, just ride Stardust 4 times in EPA and THEN queue up for Monsters. I'm not a huge fan of the nintendo rides, but I've also done them several times in Hollywood and Japan.

 

[HalfGlass]

Or, just ride Stardust 4 times in EPA and THEN queue up for Monsters. I'm not a huge fan of the nintendo rides, but I've also done them several times in Hollywood and Japan.

I can’t do Stardust, but if I could that would be a killer plan!

 

[UniversalRBLX]

The system allowed you to get another after using your existing one yes.

Glad you got to experience it twice on the same day (you deserve it), but I don't think that's fair. Should be like Disney's VQ, one per guest a day to accommodate everyone they can.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

View attachment 26075
Not gonna lie - I have early entry on Sunday, and part of me is debating if rope dropping these rides is even worth it. If yesterday’s wait time trend keeps up, it’s probably less stressful to walk in 30 minutes into EPA and queue up for something else like Monsters since the Nintendo rides wait times decreased significantly once EPA crowds dispersed.

Or get to the park at 7am and be first in line LOL, No thank you!

 

[Rikku]

View attachment 26075
Not gonna lie - I have early entry on Sunday, and part of me is debating if rope dropping these rides is even worth it. If yesterday’s wait time trend keeps up, it’s probably less stressful to walk in 30 minutes into EPA and queue up for something else like Monsters since the Nintendo rides wait times decreased significantly once EPA crowds dispersed.

I think the dependability of the rides currently is to low for me to risk not attempting Monsters, Ministry and Stardust early on in the day. I have May 3 and 4 planned, so I am hopeful things will continue to get worked out but I then am concerned the crowds will be increased/heavier on my days but best I could do for work this last minute notice. So between two days I am hopeful to get my Top 3 in at least once then everything else is just gravy at that point, certainly am gunning for more attractions but just tempering my expectations. If the Nintendo rides are that much of a priority for you I think it would be good to go early but if Monsters is higher then I would say go there first but just me and just being happy to be there and just at a minimum hoping to get my 3 rides in haha.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Just for reference, as to how much downtime can vary:

On the first day of previews (yesterday), Monsters Unchained was down 13% of the day (80 minutes).
As of this moment, today it's been down 36% of the day (3 1/2 hours).

 

[saint.piss]

Just for reference, as to how much downtime can vary:

On the first day of previews (yesterday), Monsters Unchained was down 13% of the day (80 minutes).
As of this moment, today it's been down 36% of the day (3 1/2 hours).

I'm so glad I went yesterday... #Blessed