Is Epic Universe Worth It? An Honest Family Review
You have the Universal trip on the calendar. You have a browser tab open comparing ticket options. And you have one question you keep circling back to: is Epic Universe worth it, or should you save the money and stick with the two parks you already know?
We hear this question every single week. So instead of giving you one person’s opinion, we asked our team of travel advisors what they actually tell families who are sitting exactly where you are right now.
Here is what they said, and what we wish every family knew before they decided (and check out more of what you should know before your first visit).
Is Epic Universe Worth It for Your Family? The Short Answer
Yes, for most families, with one important condition: it depends entirely on who is in your group and what they are excited about.
That is not us dodging the question. It is the honest answer, and it is the reason a generic “everyone should go” recommendation does families a disservice. Epic Universe is a genuinely different park from Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. The families who love it are the families whose expectations matched what the park actually delivers.
What Makes Epic Universe Different From Universal’s Other Parks
Epic Universe is built around five distinct worlds: Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon at Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe.
The design philosophy here matters. You are not walking through a park with rides scattered across it. You are stepping through portals into separate, fully realized places, and the atmosphere inside each one is the main event.
Our advisor Suzi Kinsella put this better than we could:
“In my opinion, Epic Universe is at its best when you look at it as an immersive theme park experience, not just a collection of rides. The theming, atmosphere, restaurants, characters, and the feeling of stepping into each individual world are really what stood out to me.”
She also shared the single most useful piece of advice in this entire post:
“The worlds themselves are often the star of Epic Universe. There are some really cool attractions, but I personally found the overall immersion and atmosphere more impressive than the attraction lineup as a whole. So I wouldn’t tell every family, ‘You have to add Epic because it’s the newest park.’ I’d want to know what your family loves first.”
If your family measures a park day by how many rides they knocked out, adjust your expectations before you go. If your family loves to wander, take pictures, eat something themed, and soak in a place, Epic Universe will likely be the highlight of your trip.
The 40-Inch Rule That Decides Almost Everything
Here is the most concrete planning detail we can give you, and it is the one that changes the answer for a lot of families.
Eight rides at Epic Universe have a minimum height, and they cluster at two numbers.
40 inches unlocks five rides: Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, Mine-Cart Madness, Curse of the Werewolf, and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
48 inches unlocks three: Stardust Racers, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
Nothing at Epic Universe requires more than 48 inches, so once your child hits that mark, the whole park is open.
Here is the detail we love: Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is a real launch coaster and it opens at 40 inches. For a lot of families, that is a first coaster moment.
Compare that to a Walt Disney World park, where a toddler can ride a dozen things, and you can see why this matters so much.
Our advisor Leigh Connelly, who visited with her own family, says it plainly:
“Kids need to be at least 40 inches to make Epic into a fun day for the whole family.”
Our honest guidance: if you have a child under 40 inches, Epic Universe is probably a “next trip” park. You will spend real money for a day where one of your kids watches most of it happen. Rider Swap exists and it works well, but it does not fix the fundamental problem of a park built for taller riders.
Measure your kids at home before you book. It is a five second job that will save you a very expensive surprise.
Epic Universe Express Pass: What Families Need to Know
This is where families get caught off guard, and it is one of the biggest reasons to work with a travel advisor who watches these details.
Express Pass at Epic Universe works differently than it does at Universal’s other parks. Three things to know:
There is no Unlimited Express option at Epic Universe. Your Express Pass is good for one ride per participating attraction, one time.
The free Express Unlimited perk from Universal’s premier hotels does not extend to Epic Universe. If you booked Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, or Royal Pacific expecting that benefit to cover all four parks, it does not.
Express Pass at Epic is a separate purchase, and pricing moves with demand.
That last point is not a small line item. For a family of four on a busy date, Express Pass at Epic can meaningfully change your trip budget. It can also save you several hours of standing in line on a crowded day. Whether that trade is right for your family depends on your dates, your budget, and your tolerance for waiting, which is exactly the kind of decision your advisor should be helping you run the numbers on.
How to Add Epic Universe Without Devoting a Full Day
This is our favorite tip in this whole post, and it comes from Leigh’s real trip with her own family, which includes kids with a limited patience for lines and a husband with medical needs that make long waits difficult.
Instead of committing to one full Epic Universe day, she used Park to Park tickets and split her time:
“Our family really has a 45 minute max due to the age of the kiddos and my husband’s medical needs, so we added the Park to Park option on our last trip and took advantage of the early park admission on two days, but then left at lunch and used our Express Passes at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios during the day. We then went back to Epic for the evening and snuck in a couple more rides with shorter waits closer to closing.
So for us, Epic was definitely worth it with both kids now over 40 inches, and Park to Park made it so we had some great Nintendo and Berk time in the morning, then Ministry of Magic and Darkmoor in the evening. I would definitely add Epic to a Universal trip this way, but would hesitate devoting a whole day to it with my family’s specific needs and tolerance for lines.”
Read that again, because it is a genuinely smart strategy: morning at Epic during early park admission, midday at the other parks where your Express Pass goes further, evening back at Epic when waits drop.
Two half days at Epic Universe often beat one full day, especially for families with younger kids, anyone who tires easily, or anyone who wilts in Florida afternoon heat.
Who Epic Universe Is Absolutely Worth It For
Our advisor Amy Smith, an Elite Lead Advisor on our team, keeps her answer short and specific:
“It’s a must for Mario Kart and How To Train Your Dragon fans, just for the theming alone!”
She is right. If you have a Nintendo kid in your house, Super Nintendo World is not a nice bonus, it is the reason to go. Same for a How to Train Your Dragon family walking into Isle of Berk.
Epic Universe is worth it if:
Everyone in your group is over 40 inches, ideally over 48 inches
You have a serious Nintendo, Harry Potter, or How to Train Your Dragon fan
Your family enjoys atmosphere, theming, and food as much as rides
You have teens or tweens who want bigger thrills
You have at least three days at Universal so Epic is not competing with everything else
Consider waiting if:
You have a child under 40 inches
Your family measures a good park day purely by ride count
You only have two days at Universal total
Long lines are a genuine dealbreaker and Express Pass is not in the budget
One Honest Note About Harry Potter Fans
We want to be straight with you here, because this is the kind of thing a brochure will never tell you.
Suzi, who has walked all of it, offered a gentle caution:
“For Harry Potter fans, I’m a little more cautious. I think the Ministry of Magic area is beautiful and impressively detailed, but personally, it wasn’t my favorite Harry Potter experience when compared with some of the other Wizarding World areas at Universal Orlando.”
If your family’s whole reason for adding Epic Universe is Harry Potter, go in knowing that Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are still remarkable, and Ministry of Magic is a different flavor of the same world rather than an automatic upgrade. Some fans will prefer it. Some will not. Knowing that in advance protects the magic.
Planning Your Epic Universe Visit
Here is the thing about all of the above: height charts, Express Pass rules, Park to Park strategy, ticket structures, and which world your specific kid will melt down over. That is a lot of moving pieces for a mom who is also packing, coordinating flights, and trying to keep everyone fed.
That is our job. Our advisors are Universal Preferred, which means we are trained on these parks, we watch the changes as they happen, and we have been through those portals ourselves. We charge a planning fee because you are paying for real expertise, real time, and real accountability, from a team that will tell you honestly when a park is not the right fit for your family this year.
We will look at your kids’ heights, your dates, your budget, and your family’s actual patience level, and we will tell you the truth about whether Epic Universe belongs on your itinerary.
Ready to find out if Epic Universe is worth it for your family? Reach out to our team and let’s talk it through.
Do you dream of getting married on a Caribbean island with a beautiful beach background? Sandals and Beaches Resorts can do that for you for free! When you stay 3 nights or longer, your wedding is included with your stay. No vendors to find, no venue to pick, no worrying about applying for a marriage license, it is all done for you! From the travel agent helping you and your guests choose their rooms and activities, to a wedding planner ensuring everything is running smoothly, this will be a day you’ll never forget!
So what is included when you book a wedding at Sandals and Beaches Resorts?
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
Personal wedding planning team
Preparation of marriage documents
Wedding Gift Registry
Customizable Wedding Website
AFTER YOU ARRIVE
Receive 15% discount on Red Lane® Spa services for the bride and groom.
WEDDING CEREMONY
Picturesque Ceremony Location. Our islands feature the most beautiful and natural backdrops for your destination wedding.
Bouquet and Boutonniere. A bridal bouquet and a groom’s boutonniere fuchsia Dendrobium orchids.
White cushioned Chiavari chairs for all guests.
Pre-recorded musical accompaniment of your choice.
Complimentary 5”x7” wedding photo.
WEDDING RECEPTION
Wedding Cake. Enjoy a two-tiered white fondant wedding cake with fuchsia Dendrobium orchids.
Table setting with white linens, silverware and crystal, white china, sparkling crystal, crisp white linens, and shining silverware.
White cushioned Chiavari chairs for all guests.
Decorative lantern centerpiece for the head table.
Cocktail reception with sparkling wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Bride and Groom signature cocktail.
ON YOUR HONEYMOON
Romantic turndown service with flower petals on the first evening of your honeymoon.
Breakfast in bed with mimosa on any morning of your choice.
Honeymoon dinner with white-glove service in a specialty restaurant
At Sandals and Beaches you receive additional perks when you stay 7 nights or when booking 5 or more rooms . The perks for booking more than 5 rooms range from sangria bars to $1,000 Credit towards a catamaran cruise for you and your guests. You will get to choose anywhere from 1 to 6 of the options available depending on the number of rooms your party has booked. When you book a 7-night stay or longer, you will receive
Up To $500 towards license and administrative fees,
$500 Towards Room upgrade
$200 Photography credit on select packages
$200 Anniversary credit or Videography credit on select packages
$100 towards scuba, snuba, cabana, or candlelight dinner
Are you afraid your wedding won’t have any personal touches? Besides having a cocktail inspired by you, you can mix and match tasteful décor options to reflect your personal style. The customizable features do have an additional cost that your wedding planner will go over with you.
Ready to get started planning your destination wedding? Contact us today to get started!
Kelly from Jenison, MI!
Lead Travel Advisor
Hi! I’m Kelly Van Eerden, a Lead Travel Advisor with Living With The Magic Vacations. I currently live in Jenison, Michigan with my husband, daughter, and son.
We love traveling as a family because it gives us time to spend time together without all the activities that life with older children brings. Walt Disney World will always have a special place in our hearts as one of our first family vacations, but we also love exploring new destinations! Some of our favorite places to visit have actually been new to us in the last few years. We took our first Disney cruise in early 2020 and my kids fell in love with cruising. We have also visited Universal (both Hollywood and Orlando) and Disneyland recently, and we all found something to enjoy. We love the thrills that the Universal parks offer as well as the Marvel and Cars Land at Disneyland.
In 2012, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and multiple food allergies. Despite the challenges that traveling with food allergies can bring, our vacations have not stopped. I still continue to travel and look for destinations that are allergy-friendly. My favorite allergy-friendly destination is Walt Disney World because they do such a great job going above and beyond to serve their guests with allergies, but the options are endless!
When you have food allergies and you’re having people cook for you, making sure you ask some additional questions is always important to help keep you safe.
Here are 3 questions to ask when ordering with celiac disease, food allergies, or food intolerances:
Is there any information about cross-contact at the factory it was made in? Here is where you need to know your comfort level with shared lines and facilities. The chef or manager will let you know what the labels say about how the food is made.
Where will it be cooked in the kitchen? Will there be any of the ingredients you avoid on a shared surface or oil? If they don’t have an allergy-safe fryer available, can they bake it for you? If there are any ingredients you avoid on the cooking surface, can they pan-fry the food instead?
Are any sauces, broth, or marinades in the food and if so, what are those ingredients? For my garlic allergy, chefs often have to find a plain protein for me and then can season it appropriately. With sauces, ingredients like dairy and gluten can sneak in, so always double-check them!
Chefs are a great resource and are there to help you. They want to keep you safe and more important, comfortable when eating out, so don’t be afraid to ask for certain accommodations if it will help you feel more comfortable.
When ordering a safe meal on vacation, make sure to pack your patience. Chefs definitely do their best to make your food quickly but it does take time when you have to make meals that are not already on the menu. I have had some meals that are done in under 10 minutes, and some take 30 minutes or more. For our family, we generally ask that all our quick-service food is brought out at the same time. If you have a little one that can’t wait that long and they are not the one with the allergy, talk to the quick-serve location or your server to see if they can get their meal quickly! If you are staying at the resort you want to eat at, talk to the chefs ahead of time and they may be able to have something waiting at a certain time so you don’t have to wait long for your food!
KELLY VAN EERDEN - JENISON, MI
Lead Travel Planner & Certified Autism Travel Professional™
She currently lives in Jenison, Michigan with her husband, daughter, and son. They love to travel and one of their favorite destinations is Walt Disney World. Kelly grew up visiting Walt Disney World with her family and continued the tradition with her children. From the first time they saw Cinderella’s Castle at the age of 4 and 7, they were hooked and still are 13 years later! As the kids have grown up, they have continued to explore new destinations as well. They went to Universal Orlando as a family in 2019 and on their first Disney Cruise in 2020. They look forward to exploring more destinations as a family this coming year. Shey loves being able to get away as a family to relax and recharge from the day-to-day activities that keep them busy.
Hey Mamas: If you’ve ever laid awake in the middle of the night thinking about the half million things you need to do… and then thought how you REALLY need a vacation — I see you, I feel, and I GOT YOU!
My name is Aly Hirst and I’m a Lead Concierge Travel Planner at Living With The Magic Vacations. While my love for Disney Destinations are what led me to become a Travel Planner, I also specialize in all-inclusive vacations to resorts like Sandals and Beaches, cruise vacations, and Universal theme parks.
My Facebook Group “Mama Needs a Vaca” is a way for me to share the latest news and tips in the travel world (including any deals that pop up!!) to help you plan an incredible vacation, no matter the destination. And of course, no “mom” group would be complete with a side mom humor that many of us can relate to (you know… the things that nobody warns you about when you become a mom).
I hope you’ll join us so we can keep in touch for when you’re ready to plan your next vacation!!
Oftentimes when planning a vacation (especially if you’re planning on traveling somewhere new or that you haven’t visited in a while), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by how daunting the task may seem. Where do you start? How do you know where the best places are to stay? Where should you eat? What are the best things to do and places to explore?
Using a Travel Agent will take a huge weight off your shoulders. Our job is to help not only make the best suggestions based on what you’re hoping to get out of your vacation but also to take the stress of the planning process off your shoulders so that all you need to do is pack your bags and go!
But this begs to question… are there things your Travel Agent wishes you knew?
First, email is our best friend. In addition to the many phone conversations you’ll have with your Travel Agent, email is our next preferred method of communication. Though we may sometimes connect to one another via social media (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, etc), communicating via email makes it so much easier to keep all of the things we’ve talked about for your vacation in one place. There’s nothing more challenging than trying to go back through a Facebook Messenger conversation to find what we discussed regarding dining at specific restaurants at Walt Disney World or which excursions you wanted to experience when on your cruise or all-inclusive vacation. Facebook Messenger messages get lost in the shuffle so easily too – where we’ll keep your emails in our email inbox until we’ve resolved the task at hand so nothing slips through the cracks. To us, using email is like having a virtual filing cabinet with all our notes in one place so we don’t miss a single detail for your vacation.
Next, we do our very best to keep you in the loop of any changes that may pop up for your vacation. And we will communicate everything via email so that we both have a point of reference if there are any questions. Reading the emails that we take the time to put together with all the things you need to know will help ensure that your vacation goes as smoothly as possible. For example, if you’re going to Walt Disney World, we will be sending you a lot of information before you travel to make sure we cover everything you need to know before your trip, but we won’t inundate you with everything at once. So don’t forget to read those emails so you can make the most of your vacation… you’ll learn about Genie+, we’ll remind you to purchase your MagicBands ahead of time so you can take advantage of discounted pricing, we’ll remind you about important dates for your trip (Disney Dining, Enchanting Extras such as reservations for special events for fireworks, book a makeover for your little one at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, or to build a droid or lightsaber for your Star Wars fans), and so much more.
Speaking of important dates – and I can’t stress this enough – if we are planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, in particular, time is of the essence. The best chance for us to get you your preferred reservations for dining and Enchanting Extras on your preferred days/times are to book these for you on the day the reservations become available to book (currently 60 days prior to your scheduled arrival date). While we are certainly here to help make changes as they pop up if you want to change your plans or think of something else you want to do, the best way for us to make that happen for you is if we have a plan in place ahead of the day that we are able to make these reservations for you so that we can be ready to go right when reservations open.
Timing is also super important when it comes to the actual booking of your vacation. Something important to keep in mind is that prices quoted are not locked in until you’ve actually booked your vacation. This means if you decide to hold off a few weeks after receiving your quote before deciding to book, there is a good chance the price is going to increase. Vacation prices often change based on supply and demand, so as more people book their trips to that destination over the dates we’ve quoted for you, the price for new bookings will (usually) increase over time. If you’re waiting for the price to go down, some destinations do allow your Travel Agent to monitor the price of your vacation in the event a promotion is offered to get you a better deal – this is especially true of booking vacations to a Disney Destination, Universal Orlando, and several major cruise lines. Be sure to ask your Travel Agent if your requested destination allows price monitoring – it will be a lot safer to book ASAP and have your agent watch for a better deal. Some destinations will also allow your Travel Agent to place your vacation on a courtesy hold for a set number of days (for example, your vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort can be held for up to 3 days before your deposit is due – otherwise it will cancel itself after midnight following the third day). If you’re leaning toward booking the vacation but need to circle back with someone else you’re traveling with or double-check your calendar on the dates, this is a fantastic option so you don’t lose your quoted price.
And finally, keep in mind that we are on your team! Whether you need help picking the right destination, narrowing down resorts or cruise ships, selecting the right excursions, or arranging dining reservations… our job is to help you determine what may be best for you and your travel party. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t be afraid of over-sharing. The best way that we can help you make your next vacation perfect is by you telling us exactly what you’re looking for – or maybe what you’re not looking for, for that matter. There’s really no such thing as “TMI” with your Travel Agent. Share all of your specific wants and needs. Be honest about your budget. And we will, in turn, be honest with you too. Our ultimate goal is to have happy clients, so share away!
Now pack your bags… you’ve got a vacation to go on!! Enjoy!!
You’ve found the perfect travel advisor, and now’s the time to put them to work on your dream trip! If you’re new to working with a travel advisor, there are a few things that you can do to help make the process run smoothly.
Having been described as the travel industry’s ‘matchmakers’, a great client-travel advisor relationship is worth its weight in gold. From personalized attention everywhere you go to perks and upgrades that only come with being the client of an esteemed advisor, the benefits of using a travel advisor are exponential, but how do you go about building that valued relationship?
Be Honest About Budget Of course, you want your dream trip, with all of the bells and whistles. However, it does both you and your travel advisor an enormous disservice to not be upfront about your actual budget.
Going one step further, once you establish your budget, identify what’s high on your priority list. Perhaps you aren’t as focused on your accommodation, rather you’d prefer to have mind-blowing travel experiences in every destination you’re visiting. This helps your travel advisor not only build your dream trip but decide how and where to allocate your budget.
Trust Their Expertise A travel advisor’s job is just that – travel. While the photos on a hotel website may have you ready to book, your advisor may know that it’s on a congested motorway or next to noisy construction. Trust them.
Great travel advisors go out of their way to familiarize themselves with destinations, properties, and various other tourism suppliers the world over. It’s their job to get to know you and match you with suitable experiences that just fit.
Collaborate & Delegate Travel advisors are here to save you time, but if you have a dream destination, experience, or property in mind – tell them! A great trip is a collaboration between enthusiastic clients and a knowledgeable travel advisor.
In that same vein of saving time and collaborating, don’t be afraid to (politely) delegate to your travel advisor, and request that they look into a particular property, research specific activities for your family, or even have them hunt down restaurant reservations. At the end of the day, they’re working for you!
Accept Advocacy For those of us with can-do self-sufficient attitudes, this can often be a hard pill to swallow. Your travel advisor is your advocate, especially when they’re 3,000 miles away and you’re traveling on the journey that they built for you.
If something goes wrong, accept your advisor’s help and grant them the opportunity to fix it. This may mean biting your tongue at the hotel manager if something goes wrong, and waiting on your travel advisor to work their magic. It will be worth it in the end. Try to remember, that travel advisors have valued relationships with hotels and tourism suppliers, and they will bend over backward to keep them (and their clients) happy, and returning with future bookings.
Build Your Relationship Let your travel advisor get to know you. The more that you and your advisor connect on a personal level and become familiar with your quirks, likes, dislikes, hobbies, and interests, the better your trip can be tailored precisely to you, and no one else.
Unique, personalized trips are where most travel advisors shine, so by opening yourself up and sharing parts of you (and your family) with your travel advisor, you’re only improving the chances for a beautiful, custom-made journey. Remember, the best relationships only get better with age, and a long-term travel advisor is someone you will want in your corner for years to come.
Our agents at Living With The Magic Vacations would love the opportunity to work with you! With a variety of experiences and specialties, we know that we can be the right fit for your next vacation! Be sure to take a moment to Meet The Team!
