Ally Abroad in Epic Universe Orlando: The Ultimate Adventure Guide

Epic Universe Orlando: The Ultimate Adventure Guide

They named it EPIC UNIVERSE for a reason. Universal’s Epic Universe isn’t just another theme park, instead it’s a multi world journey through magic, monsters, video games, dragons, and cosmic fantasy. Each world is accessed through dramatic portals. The central hub is Celestial Park. It makes your visit feel like stepping into another universe. The portals are a whole vibe in themselves. I consider them the gateway to the fun!

🪐 Celestial Park: Gateway to the Worlds

Celestial Park is the central hub where your Epic Universe adventure begins. You enter the Epic Universe portal to enter the park (this portal basically doubles as the Celestial Park portal). Think lush gardens, waterfalls, constellation themed art, and dazzling architecture inspired by mythology and outer space. It is truly other worldly!

🎢 My Favorite Ride

• Stardust Racers: A dueling launch roller coaster that pits two star ships against each other at high speeds. This is truly the best ride at the park in my personal opinion. This roller coaster is amazing. You are racing the other coaster next to you. I’ve never been side by side with another coaster at a high speed like this.

  
  

🍴 Food & Drinks I had

• I grabbed a Starbucks at the entrance and you can purchase the souvenir Starbucks mugs here themed specifically for Epic Universe.

  
  

• Pizza Moon: this pizza place was one for the atmosphere. The pizza was delicious, but the decorations are something you can’t miss.

🎮 Super Nintendo World

Go through the iconic green pipe into a vibrant world where video games come to life. This was my childhood nostalgia in real life. It is truly overstimulation when you step into this universe, but it is the best feeling in the world. It’s so interactive and everything is moving.

🎢 Must-Ride Attractions

• Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge: Race through familiar tracks with interactive AR effects. You get to walk through Bowser’s Castle on the way to the ride.

  
  

• Yoshi’s Adventure: A breezy family ride with charming views of Mushroom Kingdom landscapes. You get a perfect view of Peach’s Castle. This ride is laid back and a fun quest. You get to ride in your own colorful Yoshi.

• Mine-Cart Madness: A jungle coaster in Donkey Kong Country that mimics iconic rail jump action. You think the track is missing, but then somehow you go over it just like in the game.

🍔 Snacks

• Toadstool Cafe: I got the iconic Princess Peach cake that’s the replica of the one at the end of the Nintendo 64 game.

• The Bubbly Barrel: Refreshing tropical inspired DK Crush float.

• Yoshi’s Snack Island: I tried the delicious Apple Melon smoothie in a cute Yoshi cup with a Red Shell Calzone that looked like the turtle shell in the game.

🧟‍♂️ Dark Universe: Monsters Awaken

This mysterious, eerie realm brings Universal’s classic monsters to life. It is so eerie just walking through the portal. The actors in the land even go along with the vibe. You walk through fog as soon as you enter the portal.

🎢 Thrilling Attractions I did

• Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment: A dark ride full of iconic creatures and suspense. This ride is in Frankenstein’s Castle too. Just walking through the castle is a hype and a whole experience.

  
  

• Curse of the Werewolf : A family oriented coaster with twisty thrills. The coaster rotates and spins the whole time.

  
  

🍗 Spooky Eats

• Das Stakehaus: I got a steak here that was delicious. The inside of the restaurant was dark and the restaurant staff went along with the dark vibe. The inside was spooky and a must see.

This world pairs immersive storytelling with food that’s just as memorable and is perfect for fans of classic Universal horror.

🧙‍♂️ The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic

Magic comes to life beyond Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley in this epic Hogwarts world. You walk through an epic portal (just look for the hand with the wand on top).

🪄 Signature Experiences

• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry: A thrilling motion dark ride that blends magic, action, and storytelling. Just walking through to the ride is a magical experience. Take it all in!

  
  

🍻 Wizarding Feasts I ate

• Café L’air De La Sirène: This is a Parisian cafe that has delicious and iconic Butterbeer crêpes. These are a must try! You will wait in line to get seated, but the line will move quickly. It is worth the short wait.

• Bar Moonshine: this bar has a cute sparkly alcoholic drink called Giggle Water you must try. It sparkles & shimmers. This is a great stop to relax and take in the new area of Harry Potter World.

• Bièraubeurre Cart: This is the Butterbeer cart!

Of course I got the iconic frozen Butterbeer that is to die for.

🐉 How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

This is Berk! You enter a Viking village straight from the movies. It is complete with dragons, rustic rides, and hearty Viking style food. They did such a fantastic job of making it so similar to the movies. It was like stepping into the cinematic universe of How to Train your Dragon.

🐲 The Ride to Ride

• Hiccup’s Wing Gliders: Soar like a dragon rider in this thrilling coaster. I didn’t expect this roller coaster to be as amazing as it was. It flew through Isle of Berk and you got to experience the park at a high speed.

  
  

🍖 Viking Food Stops

• Mead Hall: Feast on hearty classics fit for a dragon trainer. Be sure to take in the architecture of the outside and inside of this dining hall. You truly feel like you’re eating like a Viking here. I ate the Barf & Belch’s Duo plate off the kids menu. I also got a Toothless Plasma blast under the specialty beverages. We also got an entree called Gobber the Belch’s Turkey Wings. Everything we ate here was delicious and it felt like we were feasting in the movie.

• Spit Fyre Grill: this may be quick bites, but you don’t want to miss the delicious snacks. We went here twice to just specifically get the Mac & Cheese Cone. We specifically got the Classic Mac & Cheese. Everything about this was delicious and delectable. The bread, the Mac & cheese, & to top it off the goldfish was the chefs kiss! This is a MUST when visiting Isle of Berk!

Meeting Toothless

Of course I had to meet Toothless while I was in Isle of Berk.

This was truly magical! This is one of my favorite movies, and I was dressed like Toothless that day. I tried to get in line in the morning time but the line wait was over an hour and a half. So I kept a check throughout the day. At around 8:20 that night the line went down to 20 minutes, so I jumped in line. I got to meet Toothless and Hiccup! You can touch him and he interacts with you. It’s amazing how he moves, makes noises, reacts, and looks so real!

The Untrainable Dragon Show

This show was actually captivating. I wasn’t expecting it to be this amazing. It was a cute show and now I would recommend it and say don’t miss this show when you’re in Isle of Berk. Be sure to check your Universal app for the different show times. It only lasts around 20 minutes.

Between rides, dragon encounters, and village charm, this land captures the heart of the How to Train Your Dragon universe. I actually cried twice when I experienced this EPIC UNIVERSE.

📌 Final Tips for Your Epic Day

• Plan your meals: we didn’t make any meal reservations ahead of time and we had no problem getting in to eat. I knew where I wanted to go before and favorited it in the Universal app.

• Universal Express Pass: I highly recommend this. We got to ride every ride in the whole EPIC Universe and we didn’t have to wait longer than around 20-30 minutes max. The true lines were around 2-4 hours wait. These are pricey but 100% worth it to get the full experience in the park and not just wait in lines.

• Indulge in unique drinks & food: each land has cute drinks, custom food, atmospheric restaurants, & everything is themed! You need to take your time and indulge in each restaurant or quick service the parks have to offer.

Epic Universe is more than a theme park, it’s a culinary and creative adventure that truly earns its name.

Whether you’re here for the thrill rides, magical worlds, or gourmet eats, there’s something EPIC at every portal. It is so cool that every universe has a portal you enter.

Also be sure to stay at the closing of the park for the fireworks show at the end. It is a great way to close out your night and watch the fountains dance with the music.