Epic Universe 2025 Trip Report
I visited Epic Universe just days after its grand opening on May 22, 2025, making my first visit on May 26. Over the course of this trip, I went to the park five times between May 26 and May 31.
This isn't intended to be a traditional review. Instead, it's a look back at my experience visiting Epic Universe during its opening week, including my thoughts on the different portals, attractions, food, theming, and all of the little details that stood out to me along the way.
I went into this trip having relatively little experience with theme parks and only two previous visits to Walt Disney World, so I didn't quite know what to expect from Universal's newest park. What follows is my honest account of what surprised me, what I loved, what didn't quite work for me, and the things I can't wait to experience again.
Celestial
🌞
Park
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Celestial 🌞 Park 🌝
Before we can even get started on the four different portals (the lore-appropriate name for Epic Universe's themed worlds), we have to talk about Celestial Park and all its glory.
The amount of detail poured into this area is stunning, and that's apparent from the very first steps into the park. The overall architecture and design of Celestial Park is gorgeous. Vibrant gardens, lush landscaping, and countless water features can be found throughout. Color-wise, the park leans heavily into greens and golds. The weathered copper-green shade looks fantastic against a clear and sunny Florida sky.
Details are everywhere. The Chronos itself feels like a testament to that philosophy with its almost absurdly intricate design. Part clock tower, part steampunk space engine, it supposedly powers all of Celestial Park and its portals. It's the very first thing guests encounter upon entering the park, functioning as a massive entrance into Celestial Park itself.
One thing I couldn't help but notice, especially after reviewing my photos and video footage from the trip, was the intricate metalwork found throughout the area. The archways connected to the sides of the Chronos and surrounding buildings are filled with beautiful patterns and designs. These planetary orbit motifs appear throughout the park alongside stars and other celestial symbols woven into the architecture.
While the theming is undeniably space-forward and celestial in nature, there is no shortage of greenery throughout the park. A huge variety of flowers, trees, shrubs, and other plant life fills the landscape. Speaking of trees and verticality, those weren't overlooked either, though they perhaps weren't quite fully grown during this visit. One thing that stood out during opening week was the lack of shade in many areas. In a few years, those happy little trees hopefully should provide some much-needed shade for the guests of Celestial Park.
The fountains are another element that can't be overlooked when discussing Celestial Park. Together with the park's other water features and extensive lighting, they form a huge part of the area's identity, especially after sunset.
Each night, the Cosmos Fountain Show brings the park to life with music inspired by the various portals. What surprised me most was how integrated everything feels. The fountains, lighting, and water effects across much of Celestial Park are synchronized together, creating a presentation that feels much larger than a simple fountain show.
The Four Portals
Epic Universe consists of four themed worlds, or "portals," that surround Celestial Park. According to the lore, the Celestians use these portals to travel to other worlds and bring back ideas, artifacts, and influences that help shape Celestial Park itself.
Each portal entrance is designed to look exactly like what the name suggests: a massive gateway to another world. While they all share a similar overall design language, each portal features its own unique colors, symbols, lighting, and sound effects that hint at what awaits beyond.
Here is a quick breakdown of the various offerings I experienced in each area of Epic Universe.
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Rides:
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ✅
Yoshi’s Adventure ✅
Mine-Cart Madness ✅
Food Spots:
Toadstool Cafe 🍽️
Yoshi's Snack Island 🍽️
Turbo Boost Treats ❌
The Bubbly Barrel ❌
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Rides:
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders ❌
Dragon Racer’s Rally ❌
Fyre Drill ❌
Show:
The Untrainable Dragon ✅
Food Spots:
Mead Hall 🍽️
Spit Fyre Grill 🍽️
Hooligan's Grog and Gruel ❌
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Rides:
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ✅
Show:
Le Cirque Arcanus ✅
Food Spots:
Café L’air De La Sirène 🍽️
Le Gobelet Noir ❌
Bar Moonshine ❌
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Rides:
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment ✅
Curse of the Werewolf ❌
Food Spots:
Das Stakehaus ❌
The Burning Blade Tavern 🍽️
De Lacey’s Cottage ❌
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Rides:
Stardust Racers ❌
Constellation Carousel ✅
Show:
Cosmos Fountain Show ✅
Food Spots:
The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant ❌
Atlantic ❌
The Oak & Star Tavern ❌
Pizza Moon 🍽️
Meteor Astropub ❌
Plastered Owl Bar ❌
Star Sui Bao ❌
Frosty Moon ❌
Comet Dogs ❌
CelesTiki ❌
Bar Zenith ❌
Legend: ✅ Experienced, 🍽️ Ate Here, ❌ Not Experienced
Super Mario Land & Donkey Kong Country 🍄🍌
Oh man, where do I even begin?! 😆
This is by far my favorite of all the portals at Epic Universe. Admittedly, I'm a lifelong Nintendo fan and a huge dork, but even still, I think Super Nintendo World will easily end up being the favorite land for many guests. The wow factor here is simply off the charts.
From the moment you step out of Princess Peach's Castle and into the land, you're presented with an incredibly dynamic and colorful landscape that somehow manages to make it feel like you've stepped directly into a Mario game. While much of this comes from the beautiful textures, use of color, scaling, and forced perspective, the kinetic energy of all the moving elements throughout the land also helps make everything feel alive.
Add in the interactive elements tied to the Power-Up Bands, and it creates a truly unique theme park experience that does justice to Nintendo's beloved Mario franchise.
Hitting Question Blocks is every bit as fun as you've imagined. It's tactile, satisfying, and surprisingly addictive. If you've ever played a Mario game, it's something you've probably wanted to do your entire life.
Interactive Elements
The team-based scoreboard system is another neat feature, allowing you to see how the various teams (based upon the power-up band choices) are performing throughout the day. During those five days at Epic, I honestly didn't spend much time engaging with the interactive activities, which is one of the reasons I'm excited to return. I'm especially interested in completing everything required to unlock the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown experience.
One thing I will say is that these activities can be a little overwhelming. It's hot, it's crowded, and Super Nintendo World is almost always one of the busiest areas in the park despite being the largest version of the land built so far. When crowds are high, many of the interactive elements develop waits of their own. Those are waits that could otherwise be spent in attraction queues.
That said, I think it's a smart system. It gives repeat visitors more reasons to come back, provides additional activities for guests who aren't ride-focused, and makes the land feel more like a game than a traditional theme park area.
Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
Speaking of game-like elements, let's jump straight into what I consider one of the biggest weak points of Super Nintendo World: Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.
This attraction could have been an incredible spectacle. While I absolutely respect the team's desire to create something innovative and make guests feel like they're participating in an actual Mario Kart race, the execution falls short for me.
The augmented reality effects are noisy and distracting. Instead of enhancing the experience, they often pull attention away from the physical sets, which are some of the attraction's strongest elements. The graphics themselves also aren't quite sharp enough. Many effects appear blurry, making it difficult to fully immerse yourself in the action.
The gameplay involves shooting AR targets and racers by looking at them while occasionally turning the steering wheel in the direction indicated by AR arrows. All of this is facilitated through the AR visor attached to your headset. To be fair, the headset itself is comfortable and easy enough to use, so I have no complaints there.
Personally, I wish Universal & Nintendo had gone in a different direction. Keep the steering wheel interaction, maybe use physical lighting effects to guide riders, increase the sense of speed, and go absolutely wild with practical sets instead of relying so heavily on AR technology.
A recurring theme you'll see throughout this report is that some of Epic Universe's attraction queues are actually more impressive than the attractions themselves. Mario Kart is the undisputed king of that category. The queue is phenomenal. It's packed with references, easter eggs, artwork, and details pulled from decades of Mario history. It's an incredible love letter to Nintendo fans and honestly deserves just as much attention as the attraction itself.
Yoshi's Adventure
Now let's talk about what is probably the most shared, and most meme'd, ride in the land: Yoshi's Adventure.
I'm sure you've all seen a cute TikTok or Reel featuring footage from this ride paired with some cutesy caption about adulting or finding joy in the little things. This is one of those attractions that guests are either going to love or hate. It's either a kiddie ride or the best f*****g thing ever.
Personally, I'm on Team Best Ride Ever.
Yes, it's basically a people mover and a very "boring" attraction if thrills are all you're looking for. However, if you enjoy taking in scenery, getting fantastic views of the land, adorable theming, and incredibly catchy music, then this ride is absolutely for you.
One common complaint online is the lack of shade, and I completely understand where people are coming from. At the same time, the unobstructed views from the ride vehicles allow you to fully appreciate Super Nintendo World's incredible design and all of the kinetic energy happening throughout the land.
I think I managed to ride nearly every color of Yoshi during the trip!
Mine-Cart Madness
Lastly, when it comes to attractions, I've saved the best for last.
Mine-Cart Madness is not only my favorite ride in Super Nintendo World, but my favorite ride in all of Epic Universe.
This is also the first roller coaster I've ever genuinely liked, enjoyed, and not been completely terrified by.
I'm not much of a thrill seeker. I'm a huge chicken when it comes to rides, and my ideal level of excitement is something closer to the small drop at the end of Rise of the Resistance over at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Mine-Cart Madness completely changed that.
What's interesting is that a common complaint about this coaster is that it's rough and can be uncomfortable for some riders. As a taller person, you would think I would have that issue, but I honestly don't. In fact, I enjoy the bumpy nature of the ride because it fits the entire gimmick of the mine cart jumping broken sections of track.
I'll admit that I kept my eyes closed for a good portion of my first ride. But the moment I stepped off, all I wanted to do was get right back in line. 🤣
For me, it's the perfect amount of thrill. It doesn't go too high, it isn't overly intense, and it never feels out of control. There are some great downhill turns, fun visual gags throughout the ride, and the moment Tiki Tong emerges from the mist as you race around the corner is genuinely awesome.
The queue is fun as well, though nowhere near as jaw-dropping as Mario Kart's. It's also mostly outdoors, albeit well-covered and equipped with plenty of fans, so waits can still get pretty hot and sweaty in the summer.
During my visit, and honestly from what I've continued to see online since then, this attraction consistently posts some of the longest waits in the park. (partially due to the ride going down frequently) I was lucky and generally only waited around an hour to an hour and a half most of the time in the regular queue.
I have a pretty firm personal rule about avoiding any line longer than two hours, so thankfully I never had to test my patience that much. I also managed a few quicker rides using the single rider line, though even that reached around 40-60 minutes a couple of times.
Food
The main attraction here is Toadstool Cafe. Aside from picking up a mushroom sipper from the Yoshi's Snack Island stand, I didn't try anything from the snack locations in the land.
The theming inside the cafe is absolutely adorable. The animated Toads working away on the giant window screens add so much charm to the experience. Every so often, Bowser's airship appears on screen and the atmosphere changes as the skies darken and a storm rolls in. It's a simple effect, but it's a lot of fun. If possible, I'd highly recommend grabbing a booth near one of the windows.
As for the food, I thought it was solid, though probably one of the more straightforward dining experiences in Epic Universe. That makes sense given that Super Nintendo World is heavily geared toward families and younger guests.
I tried the Mario Burger and found it perfectly respectable by theme park standards. The truffle fries were... weird. But to be fair, that's more of a me problem because I'm generally not a fan of truffle flavor.
The real standouts were the Super Mushroom Soup and the Princess Peach Cake.
The soup was genuinely delicious and came served in an adorable mushroom-shaped bowl that was almost too cute to eat out of. The Peach Cake was equally impressive. Between two people, we completely stuffed ourselves and somehow managed to finish almost everything. It was delicious, visually impressive, and exactly the sort of over-the-top food experience that fits perfectly within Super Nintendo World.
Merch
Lastly, let's talk merchandise.
If you're a Nintendo fan like me, you've absolutely come to the right place. The shops offer an excellent selection of souvenirs, apparel, collectibles, toys, and park-exclusive merchandise. Whether you're into classic Mario, modern Nintendo games, or just want something unique from your visit, there's a lot to choose from.
Final Thoughts
Super Nintendo World ended up being everything I hoped it would be and then some. Between the incredible theming, interactive elements, surprisingly fun food, and my newfound obsession with Mine-Cart Madness, this was easily the portal I spent the most time in during the trip.
How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk 🐲
This portal was probably the biggest surprise of my entire trip.
Isle of Berk low-key has some of the best theming in all of Epic Universe. Universal absolutely knocked it out of the park when it came to making you feel like you've stepped directly into the world of How to Train Your Dragon. The reason this surprised me so much is because I'm not really a fan of the series. Nothing against it, I just never had much of an attachment to the movies. In fact, I had only watched the first film shortly before this trip. I will say, though... Toothless is adorable. 😂
I went into Isle of Berk with very few expectations beyond what I'd seen online. Photos don't completely do this portal justice. Standing inside it feels very different than simply looking at pictures. That's not to say it's perfect. There are a few sightline issues here and there, and I think the land could benefit from a little more greenery. Still, the overall atmosphere is fantastic. Between the architecture, the ‘waterfront’ setting, and the goofy in-world Viking characters roaming around interacting with guests, it's incredibly easy to get swept up in the charm of the place.
Now for my confession...
I didn't ride a single attraction here.
At the time, I was still too much of a chicken to ride Hiccup's Wing Gliders (a decision I corrected when I visited summer 2026), I wasn't interested in getting soaked on Fyre Drill, and Dragon Racer's Rally just didn't appeal to me enough. I did, however, see The Untrainable Dragon stage show, and it was fantastic. The highlight is easily the flying Toothless figure that carries Hiccup over the audience and onto the stage. It's an impressive effect and one of those moments that reminds you just how far modern theme park entertainment has come.
Food
Even without riding anything, I still found myself spending quite a bit of time exploring Berk. That's a testament to just how pleasant the land is to simply exist in. One of my favorite aspects ended up being the food. This became a recurring theme throughout Epic Universe, but I really appreciated how many of the dining locations offered dishes that went beyond standard theme park fare.
One afternoon I grabbed lunch from Spit Fyre Grill. I couldn't tell you everything that was in it without looking up the menu, but it was essentially a grilled chicken skewer served over a bed of grains with walnuts and a variety of other ingredients.
That's admittedly a terrible description. 😅
My point is that it wasn't just a basket of chicken tenders, a burger, or other basic theme park food. I really appreciated having menu options that were genuinely interesting instead of simply taking basic theme park food and giving it themed names. On that comfort food side of things, they also have a fantastic take on mac & cheese by serving it inside a bread cone and loading it up with different toppings. It's exactly the kind of hearty Viking food that fits the land perfectly.
While we're talking food, I also have to mention Mead Hall. This ended up being the last place I ate before my trip came to an end, and it was such a cozy way to wrap everything up. The interior is absolutely gorgeous. The massive wooden hall, beautiful tapestries, and adorable dragon artwork all make it feel warm and inviting.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic (Place Cachée) 🪄
This is one of the best, and honestly one of the strangest, portals in all of Epic Universe. It's probably my second favorite land in the park. Admittedly, that's partially because I enjoy Harry Potter. I think it’s neck and neck with Isle of Berk purely based on its atmosphere and execution.
The transition into this land works incredibly well despite being fairly unassuming. I think that's exactly why it succeeds. It genuinely feels like you've accidentally stumbled upon a hidden city tucked away from the rest of the world.
As you step inside, you're greeted by a massive stone entrance crowned with an intricate phoenix statue. It's beautiful, but what really impressed me was the amount of real-world architectural detail packed into every corner of the land. Walking through Place Cachée at night, especially after a rain shower, genuinely feels like wandering the streets of Paris.
The buildings themselves are massive. Universal did an incredible job scaling everything up to make the space feel like an actual city rather than a themed land. Compared to Diagon Alley, the increased sense of scale makes Place Cachée feel much more expansive.
Harry Potter and the battle at the ministry
Now... the story and lore get a little weird.
I'm definitely more of a casual Harry Potter fan than a diehard one, so maybe I'm missing something, but much of the land is themed around the Fantastic Beasts era. Universal officially refers to the area as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, while the hidden Parisian wizarding district itself is called Place Cachée.
The attraction, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, however, takes place decades later in the 1990s inside the British Ministry of Magic.
So... apparently when you enter the Métro-Floo queue, you're also traveling through time?
Honestly, I have no idea. 😂
I'm obviously not the first person to point out how odd this is, and maybe hardcore Harry Potter fans have a better explanation than I do. Either way, it never really took away from my enjoyment of the land. French Harry Potter certainly wasn't on my bingo card for new Wizarding World experiences, but it was done well and I'm completely on board.
One of my favorite parts of Place Cachée is how alive it feels. You can run into students from the French wizarding school interacting with guests throughout the day, and there are several excellent street performances that really help sell the illusion that this is a living city rather than just another theme park land. I didn't get around to trying any of the interactive wand experiences during this trip, but they looked like a lot of fun. Watching other guests cast spells throughout the streets definitely made me want to pick up a wand the next time I'm there.
Food
Just like Isle of Berk, the food ended up being one of the biggest surprises.
Actually... I think it surprised me even more.
Everything I had at Le Café L'air De La Sirène was ridiculously good for theme park food. The interior of the restaurant is gorgeous, too. Universal did an excellent job creating a quick-service menu that feels inspired by French cuisine instead of simply serving standard theme park food with French names attached.
One evening I had half of a roasted chicken with fingerling potatoes and green beans.
That's... actual food. 🤯
The quiche Lorraine was also incredibly rich and delicious.
This easily became my favorite end-of-the-night dining spot in Epic Universe. Between the atmosphere, the architecture, and consistently delicious food, I found myself looking forward to eating here almost as much as the attractions.
Dark Universe - Darkmoor Village 🧛
Boo! 👻
Do you like scary stuff? Is Halloween your favorite holiday? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then Dark Universe is probably going to be your favorite part of Epic Universe.
For me, this ended up being my least favorite of the four portals... but that's not meant as a criticism. When every land in the park is this good, something has to come in last.
While scary things aren't always my favorite (I'm a certified jumpscare victim), I absolutely love spooky vibes, and Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Universal did a fantastic job capturing an atmosphere that feels genuinely eerie while still embracing the campy charm of the classic Universal Monsters films.
The headlining attraction here is Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, and it absolutely deserves all the praise it gets.
It's an incredible dark ride that pays tribute to Universal's legendary monster characters through some of the most impressive animatronics and practical effects anywhere in Epic Universe. One moment in particular features a massive Dracula animatronic standing directly in front of your ride vehicle while huge bursts of fire erupt around him. It's such a cool effect, and you can genuinely feel the heat from the flames as you pass by.
Another standout moment happens right at the beginning of the attraction as you descend into the catacombs through towering walls of skulls. The sets throughout the ride are remarkably convincing and really sell the illusion that you're deep beneath Darkmoor Village.
One thing I also appreciated was how efficient this attraction seemed to be. I rarely saw waits climb much higher than about 25 minutes. Honestly, Epic Universe desperately needs another one or two attractions with this kind of capacity.
During my trip, it was pretty common for weather or technical delays to knock one or more of the major attractions offline. When that happened, the remaining headliners would quickly balloon to two-hour-plus wait times. More high-throughput dark rides like Monsters Unchained would go a long way toward balancing crowds throughout the park.
The portal's other attraction is Curse of the Werewolf, a spinning family coaster. Me and spinning rides? No bueno. I decided to sit that one out.
Food-wise, Dark Universe offers a nice variety across its two dining locations. I only grabbed a quick snack, the Bird on a Stake, but it was surprisingly tasty and made for a solid grab-and-go option.
More than anything else, though, what really stood out to me in Darkmoor Village was the entertainment. The roaming characters completely steal the show. Ygor, in particular, is absolutely hilarious. At one point I watched a guest call him over and ask if he could "saw off her son's leg." Without missing a beat, he let out this exhausted sigh before responding completely in character, "Okay... okay... hold on. Ygor will saw his leg off." It was perfect.
The way he played off the guest's over-the-top excitement while acting like an overworked assistant who had already dealt with this sort of nonsense fifty times that day was comedy gold. It honestly felt like poor Ygor was just trying to survive another shift in the Florida heat.
The violinists wandering through the village are another fantastic touch. Having live music echoing through the streets adds so much to the atmosphere, making the entire land feel alive. I also caught several appearances from the Invisible Man interacting with guests, though I never stopped long enough to watch one of his full performances.
Overall, Dark Universe is an incredibly immersive portal with a lot to offer, especially if you're a fan of classic horror. And if Halloween Horror Nights is your favorite time of year, there's a very good chance this will become your favorite corner of Epic Universe.
2025 Epic Trip Ride Stats
2025 Epic Trip Food Stats
Final Thoughts
Epic Universe exceeded my expectations... and then some. As someone who was still relatively new to theme parks, having only visited Walt Disney World twice before this trip, I really wasn't sure what to expect beyond knowing that Super Nintendo World looked incredibly cool. What I found was a park that genuinely surprised me.
Universal has done a great job creating a destination that feels immersive from the moment you step inside. Whether it's wandering the gardens of Celestial Park, accidentally discovering the hidden streets of Place Cachée, exploring the Viking village of Berk, or making your way through the eerie streets of Darkmoor Village, every portal feels distinct and thoughtfully crafted. It reminded me a lot of the immersive environments Disney has created with lands like Pandora and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, while still feeling uniquely Universal.
Is the park perfect? No. I still think Epic could greatly benefit from one or two more high-capacity indoor attractions to help absorb crowds and reduce some of the lengthy wait times that can occur when rain rolls in. Even so, the atmosphere throughout the park is outstanding, and I honestly can't stop talking about the food.
Time after time, I found myself eating meals that felt like actual meals rather than simply "theme park food." That's something I really hope Universal continues to prioritize as the park grows. As I'm writing this, I've actually already returned from another trip to Epic Universe, and I'm happy to report that this opinion hasn't changed. But... that's a trip report for another day.
Thanks for surfing! 🌊