Time Strategy Tips for EPIC Universe

Epic Universe is full of intricate details and immersive entertainment. The park consists of five lands (Celestial Park, Isle of Berk, Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe, and Super Nintendo Land), each with tons of things to ride, watch, and eat. Match that with wait times and crowds that will hit it this summer, queues can easily eat up chunks of your day. 

Attending the May 17th preview of Epic Universe, five days before the grand opening, I was faced with 300-minute lines and a list of goals I wanted to accomplish. I kept a close eye on the app for wait times as I navigated the park. I journeyed through each portal, pondering one question: how do you balance this park, without feeling like you’re constantly in line?

Each bump in my plan and alternate route I had to take, I felt I understood better how this park should be experienced. It all comes down to how you set up your day(s) and list your priorities.

Early / End of Day Strategies

Rope dropping refers to arriving at the park right before the park opens. You are there when the ropes are dropped, and everyone is let in. This takes some commitment, as it may be early for a long day. It can also be a game changer, where you are able to knock out a portal or attraction that will remain a long wait. A few strategies to consider (though keep in mind early entry for resort guests can impact the best option):

Rope drop Isle of Berk – Meeting Toothless: If How to Train Your Dragon is an important series to your family, meeting Toothless (and sometimes Hiccup) is a wonderful experience. It also can get up to a 90–120-minute wait, with a simple queue that gets very hot. The experience is worth it – trust me – but it also can be drastically cut down by rope dropping.

Rope drop Ministry of Magic – Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry: This one is a bit of a gamble but could come with a huge pay off. Pretty much everyone is going to rush to this ride. Battle at the Ministry was adjusted to a standby queue the day before my preview and waits averaged around 180-200 minutes. During my visit, it rose to 300 minutes before counting any delays and technical issues. Rope dropping Battle at the Ministry could save you precious time. It is such a popular strategy; people are even discussing using their early entry period to wait at the entrance.

(Note: Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is going through constant updates to the ride and queue options. It could return to a virtual queue or alternate process at any time)

Rope drop Super Nintendo World – Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge or Mine Cart Madness: Is Mario Kart a huge hit in your party? You may want to turn left into Super Nintendo World and hit Bowser’s Challenge. This ride hovered around a 120-minute wait almost all day.  Love Donkey Kong? Keep moving into Donkey Kong country and jump onto Mine Cart Madness before everyone else. With Battle at the Ministry switching to a standby queue, this may become the best option. Crowds will be divided between Harry Potter and Super Nintendo.

Know your end of day plan: These rides could also be a great option for the end of the day. As people leave the park, waits can drop 30-60 minutes, or more. If you are not able to get to the park early in the morning, or you have two of these experiences on your must-do list, plan them for the end. Even if there is one minute left before the park closes, if you’re in the queue, you get to ride. 

Be Flexible. Have Contingency Plans

When arriving at a brand-new theme park or ride, you can expect huge crowds and unexpected delays. With so much unpredictability, what are you to do? 

Have a contingency plan. Have many. In my opinion, for the next few years, it is going to be challenging to visit Epic Universe with a plan set in stone. It may never work.

The best way to do this is to understand you and your party’s priorities. What rides or experiences are required for your party to feel they had a good day?

If one ride goes down, know which experience you would veer to. If a ride’s wait is at 300-minutes, go to another experience until the wait drops. The Universal app is great to keep track on the go.

Side Note: I understand you may not want to go back and forth, land to land, to get the best wait times. This can be tiring. You may also be like me and go to Universal to feel immersed in its storytelling. Jumping from land to land can take the fun out of it. But I have good news! These lands have so much to do, you can make plans in each area. Ex: In Isle of Berk, if Hiccup’s Wing Gliders goes down or has a long wait, you can do Fyre Drill, spend time at the play area, or get a bite to eat.

And now, my biggest time management tip, discovered while waiting 200+ minutes for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry…

This is a two-day park (maybe one day if you have Express pass)

Isle of Berk. Ministry of Magic. Super Nintendo World. 

If you have more than one of these lands on your must-do list, you will want more than one day. At the start of my time in Epic, I planned to spend two hours in Isle of Berk and two hours in Ministry of Magic. I ended up spending five hours in each.

While I was still able to hit most of my goals, it was rushed almost all day. At times, I felt restless in line, worrying about another delay. 

There is just too much to do. This is an amazing thing, but can be stressful if you don’t have the time you need. Plan for two days or get that express pass.

Bonus Tip - Use a Travel Consultant

I’m not just saying this because I want you to use Goofy Getaways. Planning for a new park is easier to do with firsthand experience. Goofy Getaways’ agents have tons of firsthand experience (as a U-preferred agency, many of our agents were granted Epic previews before the grand opening). You can go into the park knowing tips and tricks that most do not know yet. This gives you an upper hand and a faster reflex when you experience a delay or unexpected hiccup.

Though, I love meeting Hiccup unexpectedly

Understanding your priorities, choosing the best rope drop strategy, and creating several contingency plans can understandably turn a fun vacation into a stressful one. But when you have someone on your side, your vacation stays fun and exciting. 

We are here for you! Reach out to me at aaron@goofygetaways.com or check out our list of amazing agents at https://www.goofygetaways.com/meet-your-consultants.

Ever since my visit May 17th, I have not been able to stop thinking about Epic Universe. It is an immersive experience unlike any other. I cannot wait to try new strategies and possibilities to make the most out of my day. I am also excited to see how you and your party can experience this brand-new theme park, utilizing your time in an epic way.