Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, opens in just 50 days! As the opening draws near, we will be covering the news released each week as we continue to find out more and more about this brand new park. Epic Universe is the first major theme park opening in the Orlando area since Islands of Adventure opened in 1999 which was preceded by Animal Kingdom in 1998. Suffice to say, this is a big deal for theme park goers to see a park of such scale join the market of Orlando theme parks!
Epic Universe officially opens to the public on May 22, 2025 and we have been tracking these new developments closely as we await the park opening. Let’s get into all the details of the Epic Universe news for this week of April 3, 2025.
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Details Released to Plan Your Epic Universe Trip
Photo via Universal Orlando
Universal 1-day and 2-day tickets are on sale on the official Universal Orlando website. Tickets are only available starting June 1, 2025 through the end of 2025. This is likely in an effort to continue to control crowds for opening week which has us wondering if Universal is worried about crowds?
Guests can now purchase Express Pass for Epic Universe which includes access on opening day! This announcement was a huge step in the right direction for guests to begin planning their Universal Orlando vacations for Epic Universe. VIP Tours for Epic Universe are also on sale now for dates starting on May 23, we debate if a VIP Tour for Epic Universe is worth it.
Other details we are still waiting to find out include what the park hours will be for Epic Universe. Many guests are hoping for longer hours than we typically see at Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida so we can enjoy Epic Universe at night. Especially since the lighting for this new theme park looks awesome at night!
Some restaurants at Epic Universe will take reservations, including the highly anticipated Atlantic Restaurant in Celestial Park. We are still waiting for reservations to begin opening up. I would highly recommend making any reservations you are able to for the dining in Epic Universe.
Epic Universe News This Week
Photo via Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando has released the pricing for parking at Universal Helios Grand Hotel which opens on May 22, 2025- the same day as Epic Universe. This parking has made headlines with Day Guest Parking priced at $125. This is not the same pricing hotel guests pay which is $36 per night. The reason for these high prices is likely to prevent guests from parking at the hotel to access Epic Universe since the hotel faces the park.
Photo via Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando Resort announced they’re launching a National Epic Universe Portal Tour to Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. This tour will feature a 30-foot-tall replica of the Chronos tower which stands at the entrance to Epic Universe. Guests who visit the locations can witness “action-packed sequences” that celebrate the attractions of Epic Universe. They can also take photos with the portal and experience a nighttime show featuring dynamic lighting and music.
Universal Team Member family previews have been extended, again, until April 16, 2025. There have been rumors swirling that many Team Members have been fired due to leaks appearing online during these previews and for bringing along influencers/bloggers rather than family members. Hard to say what’s true and what’s not in the world of social media commentary but usually where there’s smoke, there’s fire. I think it’s safe to assume some of these reports have some truth to them.
Annual passholder preview information has still not been announced and fans are beginning to worry about the timeline of these as the family previews continue to be extended. We anticipate that media previews will happen before annual passholder previews so Universal is cutting it close to get things started. Rumor is that the holdup is mainly due to the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride not being operational as it’s consistently not been running during team member previews. They can’t realistically start media previews until one of their star attractions is running which could be the reason for the hold up. But again, this is all speculation.
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Epic Universe Photo Updates
Here’s our roundup of photo updates courtesy of bioreconstruct on X which include some great aerial shots.
Photo via bioreconstruct on X
Another great look at Epic Universe at night.
Photo via bioreconstruct on X
Here’s a look from above of Celestial Park. One thing I’m noticing is there is not much shade in Epic Universe.
Photo via bioreconstruct on X
Here’s a wider angle of the aerial shot of Epic Universe. The Universal Grand Helios Hotel looks fantastic.
Photo via bioreconstruct on X
Here’s a closer look at the Universal Grand Helios Hotel.
Photo via bioreconstruct on X
And just for fun, take a look at this Isle of Berk sheep plush at the Epic Universe preview center.
First photo via Universal Orlando.
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The post Universal’s Epic Universe Shocks Fans with Insane Parking Prices for New Hotel, Fans Worry About Fate of AP Previews, Express Finally Available appeared first on Mickey Visit – Ultimate Disney Planning Guide.
