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Universal Epic Universe Orlando

Posted on 1/5/25 at 11:58 am
Posted by jkylejohnson
Alexandria
Member since Dec 2016
14273 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 11:58 am
Anyone planning on checking it out after open. Planning on going 2nd weekend in June . Hoping the universal deluxe resort hotels still grant you express passes on day of check in and check out bc I only booked for 1 night at portofino bay in hopes of using this hack. Trying to make it a long weekend trip with my youngest son (6) and wife bc he’s getting left out on the Italy trip we’re taking a couple weeks later. Watched a few YouTube videos on the place and it looks really cool.
Posted by Someone
West Monroe, LA
Member since Jan 2007
1918 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 1:16 pm to
quote:

Hoping the universal deluxe resort hotels still grant you express passes on day of check in and check out bc I only booked for 1 night at portofino bay in hopes of using this hack.


As far as I know they still do, but I wouldn’t bank on those Express passes working for Epic Universe. While Universal has indicated that Express Passes will be offered for Epic Universe, some insiders are reporting that the Express Pass benefit for the deluxe hotels will not extend to Epic Universe.
Posted by jkylejohnson
Alexandria
Member since Dec 2016
14273 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 1:30 pm to
Thanks for the input. I have two days park to park at the main parks for the Friday and Saturday and was planning to do epic on the Sunday. Booked one night at portofino for Friday and was planning to swing by early Friday morning before parks to get the express passes. I’ll look into epic U passes once they’re announced and pivot if necessary. Considering one day for the 3 of us express passes is right around 800 bucks (ridiculous I know ) to book one night at portofino was 900 bucks so seemed worth it to get both days covered.
Posted by metallica81788
NO
Member since Sep 2008
9617 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 1:58 pm to
Following as I’ll be trying to tack on a day of epic universe either before or after a Disney cruise also in mid June

If express passes aren’t included for Epic with the hotel, I’ll just stay by the airport as planned originally with cruise bc I’m not dropping 8-900 for one day.
Posted by Richleau
Member since Dec 2018
3258 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 3:42 pm to
Let me know what you find out. Place looks amazing.
Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
82775 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 7:17 pm to
quote:

Planning on going 2nd weekend in June


Have you looked to see if tickets are even available?

They opened up in December and from everything I saw, it sold out immediately. Id imagine its going to be a bitch to get in for the first 2-3 months if not longer.
Posted by jkylejohnson
Alexandria
Member since Dec 2016
14273 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 7:48 pm to
It opens on May 22. You can’t get single day tickets yet for epic universe unless you’re an annual pass holder. You can get a single day at epic as part of a package deal with the other parks. So I’ve got two days park to park at islands of adventure /universal studios and one extra day to use on epic universe .
Posted by The Boat
Member since Oct 2008
171625 posts
Posted on 1/5/25 at 7:55 pm to
Hell no, it’s gonna be slammed. Perfect time to go to other parks with everyone being drawn to Epic Universe.
Posted by LSUfan4444
Member since Mar 2004
55633 posts
Posted on 1/6/25 at 9:24 am to
Yep. Disney will certainly catch overflow like they did when Harry Potter opened, especially the resorts from DVC owners who will stay at Disney but go to universal but that’s the exact reason we have a week planned back at WDW next summer.

I’ll give Epic Universe a year or two to “cool off” before giving it a try.
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6502 posts
Posted on 1/6/25 at 12:47 pm to
Hard Rock wants almost 1k per night from May 22 all the way through July.


We are Univeresal Pass Holders but for 1k per night and no express pass, I'm conisdering staying at Disney and booking a VIP tour of Epic.


We were at UNiversal in November and all indications from staff was that every ride in Epic will be on express upon opening. This could be the only reason I see Hard Rock and Portofino getting close to 1k per night.
Posted by jkylejohnson
Alexandria
Member since Dec 2016
14273 posts
Posted on 1/6/25 at 3:27 pm to
So they still do express for for the main parks but not for the new epic ? I may book a second night in case they announce that they will do that and cancel the second night if they don’t.
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6502 posts
Posted on 1/6/25 at 3:48 pm to
quote:

So they still do express for for the main parks but not for the new epic


Islands and Universal have express pass for all rides with the exception of Hagrids and that will not change. What we dont know is if Epic will have any, limited or full express pass.
Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
82775 posts
Posted on 1/6/25 at 5:38 pm to
quote:

I’ll give Epic Universe a year or two to “cool off” before giving it a try.


Yeah, going to be a clusterfrick... And sucks that its a couple of miles away from the other two. I know they said they will have shuttles running, but you can't beat jumping back and forth between Islands and Universal.
Posted by metallica81788
NO
Member since Sep 2008
9617 posts
Posted on 1/6/25 at 6:12 pm to
This is all very useful information. I'm literally just trying to take my kid to the Nintendo world part and saving the rest of Universal for when they're older. Really trying to not take two trips to Orlando this year...

I'd rather not get stuck in a cluster or not getting express passes after paying for an $800/night hotel.

Posted by luvdatigahs
Alameda, CA
Member since Sep 2008
3065 posts
Posted on 1/6/25 at 6:39 pm to
As of now you can only do one day of epic as part of at least a three day ticket, with the other days being at the other two parks. You can’t just do a day of epic by itself at the moment.
Posted by jkylejohnson
Alexandria
Member since Dec 2016
14273 posts
Posted on 1/6/25 at 7:12 pm to
quote:

As of now you can only do one day of epic as part of at least a three day ticket, with the other days being at the other two parks. You can’t just do a day of epic by itself at the moment.



Exactly what I’m doing. Getting there on late flight on a Thurs night and staying close by at a reg hotel. Got portofino bay booked on the next day to get express passes for Friday and Saturday so will use those two days on US and island of adventure. Got sat and sun booked at Stella nova (new more budget friendly hotel on epic universe with designated walking path ). Gonna hit up epic universe Sunday with early park and head back home on the Monday. Will be a bit of a bitch bouncing to 3 hotels in 4 days but we will deal.
Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
82775 posts
Posted on 1/7/25 at 5:50 am to
quote:

As of now you can only do one day of epic as part of at least a three day ticket, with the other days being at the other two parks. You can’t just do a day of epic by itself at the moment.


How are they monitoring/managing capacity though? Lets say you buy a 3 day multi park ticket and day 1+2 you do the original parks, saving Epic for day 3.

On day 3, everyone else with rolling tickets decide to do Epic and its at capacity. You're screwed, right?

Or are they doing it the way Disney did post-pandemic up until a few months ago, have to make a reservation so they can manage capacity?
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6502 posts
Posted on 1/7/25 at 10:10 am to
According to UniversalORL X account, Express pass will be availabile in Epic Universe on opening day. What rides that includes is still TBD.

That definitely justifies the 3 Expres pass hotels chargin so much.
Posted by jkylejohnson
Alexandria
Member since Dec 2016
14273 posts
Posted on 1/7/25 at 10:28 am to
So you’re thinking the deluxe hotels will give an express pass that’s good for epic U ? If so I may just pivot and go royal pacific for 2 nights. Fri and Sat would cover Fri Sat and sun
Posted by jkylejohnson
Alexandria
Member since Dec 2016
14273 posts
Posted on 1/7/25 at 11:18 am to
Can you link where you’re seeing this info bc I just looked their X account up and down and could not find it.
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