Now that lucky individuals and theme park lovers have been able to step foot inside Universal Epic Universe before its grand opening on 22nd May, we’ve been able to see the hidden details implemented into this brand new theme park!
A few of our Universal Orlando Resort experts spotted some epic nuggets of knowledge while experiencing attractions and wandering around the five portals, and we want to share these cool facts with you! Let’s start with some dragons, shall we?
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
- If you want to try the already viral Mac and Cheese cone in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, it’s actually available at two locations: Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel, and Spit Fyre Grill. Mobile ordering is a preference for this one, as it’s incredibly popular
- Always look above and below when in the Isle of Berk. You’ll see dragons EVERYWHERE! Gronckles are carved into benches, Cloudjumper towers above guests who walk by Mead Hall, and the giant Snow Wraith unleashes frost upon vikings wandering the village
- You can do a full barrel roll on Dragon Racers Rally if you have the strength for it! Riders can make this attraction as intense as desired. You can sit back and enjoy the views of Berk while soaring through the skies, simply flap the wings of your dragon, swing from side to side, or even try to barrel roll while you’re in the air
- If you see The Untrainable Dragon live show, we recommend sitting in the middle section, if you can. You need to be able to see all around you to have the most immersive experience possible. This one is a tear-jerker, and being able to see high above the stage is a key part of this show!
Dark Universe
- Before the Burning Blade Tavern sets on fire in Dark Universe, you’ll hear chiming bells in Darkmoor village. You have around 30 seconds to get to the Burning Blade Tavern to see the giant windmill set alight. It looks even more striking at night, we have to admit!
- If you slowly exit the pre-show for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, Frankenstein’s Monster will wave you into the next room - this is something not everyone notices and is a little personal touch from the Creation
- Ygor and The Invisible Man interact with guests who wander through Darkmoor. Think Beetlejuice - hilarious, sassy, and a little different from your usual character meet and greets! Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein also have their own dedicated meeting spot, so check the Universal Orlando Resort app for further information on times once you arrive
- There are plants that resemble rosemary throughout Dark Universe, especially outside the Curse of the Werewolf spinning coaster. This is because rosemary is known for deterring evil spirits and monsters, including werewolves. It’s all in the details!
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™
In SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, there are many interactive mini games to play using a Power-Up Band that can be purchased at Universal Epic Universe, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Japan - if you already have one from one of these other Universal Parks, don’t forget to pack it in your suitcase as it will work here too! Connect the Power-Up Band to the Universal Orlando Resort app to unlock coins and collect stamps.
Extra tip = if you play three mini games that unlock digital keys, you can play an exclusive mini game called Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown. The ONLY way you can enter this attraction is by unlocking three digital keys - the team members will have you scan your Power-Up Band before you enter the room!
- If you see a pair of binoculars that overlook the ground level of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, take your time to look through them. It’ll show you the view, but with some added Mario magic that you won’t want to miss
- Yoshi’s Adventure is a slow-moving attraction featuring amazing NINTENDO™ references and even a mini game. As this one moves at a relaxing pace, it’s most enjoyable at night when it’s a little cooler in Florida
- One of the most popular snacks in the entirety of Universal Epic Universe is located at the Bubbly Barrel, inside Donkey Kong Country. The DK Crush Float is DOLE® Whip banana ice cream, chocolate, sprinkles, caramel popcorn, a waffle cone, AND pineapple Fanta served in a souvenir Donkey Kong barrel cup
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Ministry of Magic™
- There are several wizards and witches wandering around in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Ministry of Magic™. One of them has the iconic Monster Book of Monsters. If you’re lucky, they will open the book for you, which is SUPER rare!
- For a quieter dining spot with delicious eats, try Le Gobelet Noir. It’s a quick-service restaurant that doubles as the perfect place for dark wizards and witches to remain undisturbed in 1920s Wizarding Paris
- Le Cirque Arcanus, the stunning show entwining mythical creatures and fantastic beasts with puppetry and special effects, reaches capacity quite quickly due to its popularity. We suggest grabbing a frozen Butterbeer and joining the line 30 minutes before show time
- New interactive spells are dotted around The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Ministry of Magic™. They feature both friendly and curious creatures along with magical effects. Always look for a medallion on the pavement to spot where your next spell can be cast!
Celestial Park
- In Celestial Park, there’s an interactive water feature called Astronomica. If you look closely, you’ll see that it’s a giant compass. It points towards different attractions and portals, which ties all of the celestial theming together
- Stardust Racers has a green side and a yellow side. Yellow is known to be less intense than the green side. You can choose which line to join when you enter the attraction
- On the back of the Stardust Racers coaster cart, there’s a very incredible nod to Back to the Future if you look close enough. The Flux Capacitor represents speed, and on this ride… You’ll get just that!
- If you’re shopping for merchandise inside the portals but want to wait to purchase everything on your way out of the park, be aware that the store at the front of Universal Epic Universe doesn’t have every item that you’ll see inside the portals
An Extra Tip!
- Within each portal, the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines have a ‘secret’ drink in correlation with the portal’s theme, e.g. Dragon Splash is available in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Screaming Berry is available in Dark Universe
Discover more top tips on our Instagram from Lauren's Floating Lights' day at Universal Epic Universe:
Are you ready to experience the pure epicness of Universal Epic Universe? Take a look at our Universal Orlando 3 Park Explorer PLUS 1-Day Universal Epic Universe Ticket to experience unlimited park-to-park access to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay water theme park for up to 14 days, PLUS ONE full day at Epic Universe.
