Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways
Is Epic Universe the Future of Theme Parks? Here’s How to Save When You Go
Wed, 04 Jun 2025
Learn what’s worth it (and what to skip) at Universal’s new theme park Epic Universe, with money-saving tips and sneak peeks of top rides. Is Epic Universe worth the higher ticket price compared to Universal’s other parks? How can you save money on theme park food, drinks, and add-ons without sacrificing fun? Hosts Meghan Coyle and Sally French discuss the newest and most expensive addition to Universal Orlando—Epic Universe—and help you decide what’s worth the splurge, what’s skippable, and how to enjoy a top-tier experience without breaking your budget. But first, they break down the latest travel news, including United and JetBlue’s new BlueSky partnership, United’s downgrade of elite perks, and Southwest’s introduction of bag fees. Then, Sally recaps her experience at Epic Universe, including Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, Isle of Berk, and a new Wizarding World of Harry Potter. She shares what to expect from the rides, dining, and vibe of each area, which locations offer the best rides and food, whether pricey extras like interactive wands and power-up bands are worth it, and smart ways to enjoy the park without overspending. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews. Resources discussed in this episode: Best Southwest Airlines Credit Cards of June 2025 https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/credit-cards/southwest-airlines-cards The Best Days to Fly Around July Fourth in 2025 https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/fourth-of-july-travel The Cheapest Ways to Visit Universal’s Epic Universe in 2025 https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/epic-universe-cheapest Universal Epic Universe: How to Plan Your Trip To One Of Orlando’s Top Theme Parks https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/epic-universe In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: Epic Universe, Universal Orlando theme park, Universal Studios Epic Universe, how to save money at theme parks, best rides at Epic Universe, Epic Universe food prices, Universal Orlando ticket cost, Universal vs Epic Universe, Harry Potter Land Epic Universe, Ministry of Magic ride, Monsters Unchained ride, How to Train Your Dragon ride, Super Nintendo World Orlando, Epic Universe power-up bands, Universal wand prices, theme park loyalty programs, United JetBlue BlueSky, United Excursionist Perk ending, United Premier upgrade changes, Southwest Airlines bag fees, Marriott Emirates transfer, Marriott summer hotel deals, Fourth of July travel flights, Universal Studios ride tips, Epic Universe restaurants, best theme park desserts, Florida theme parks 2025, Universal Studios new park tips, Universal Orlando 2025, Epic Universe bar drinks, DK Crush Float, and theme park spending tips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chapter 1: What time did fans arrive for Epic Universe's opening?
It is currently 4.42 a.m. I am walking up to Universal Epic Universe on its opening day. Now, technically, the rideshare, the parking, the shuttles don't even start operating until 7 a.m., but there is already a huge crowd of about 100 people waiting to be the first to get inside this park. I think they've walked up just like me. Let's go talk to them. What time did you get here today?
We got here at 10.45 p.m. yesterday. A little bit before 2.30.
4 a.m. 4 a.m. sharp. 4 a.m.
I'm feeling we got here a little late, to be honest.
I know there's already people in the front. Why are you here so early? We want to be here opening day. I wanted to be one of the very first people as soon as they open the gates. I definitely want to be one of the first to see everything.
Once in a lifetime opportunity for a lot of people to come here on an opening day of a theme park.
To be here and be part of history is absolutely amazing.
Sally, I can't believe how many people were at Epic Universe. That's the newest Universal theme park that opened in Orlando, Florida. If all those people were there that early, they are committed. Super fans. Yeah, they are prepared to shell out a lot of money for this new park.
I was there to figure out what is worth it and how to save money at the most anticipated new theme park in the U.S., Epic Universe.
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Chapter 2: What are the ticket prices for Epic Universe?
Avoid flying on Thursday or Sunday to avoid those peak crowds.
I'm flying the Monday after 4th of July because it was $100 cheaper than flying on Sunday.
Great minds think alike. I'm going to San Antonio for 4th of July and also flying home the next day. All right, let's go back to Universal Orlando. Yes, I've got so much to share from my trip.
Whoa.
So for theme park enthusiasts, the park you need to know about this year is Epic Universe, which just opened May 22nd. Sally, you were there. This is a brand new theme park at Universal Orlando Resort, which brings their total number of parks to three. Well, four if you count Volcano Bay, which is a water park.
Now, I will say new park openings are kind of rare. I remember in 2001 when I went to the Disney's California Adventure Grand Opening. It takes years to develop and build theme parks. Universal Studios Florida is the first of the Universal Parks in Orlando that opened in 1990. Then we got Islands of Adventure in 1999. Volcano Bay, that one came along in 2017.
That's the water park now here in 2025. We have Epic Universe. What's interesting about Epic Universe is that it's almost an entirely separate campus from the other three parks. Those are all clustered walking distance around CityWalk, which is their outdoor dining and shopping district. Epic, the new park, is about a 15-minute drive from that main campus.
It's also more expensive than the other parks. Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures one-day park tickets start at $119 per day, though, of course, like higher demand days can be even more expensive. And Epic Universe, if you just want that one-day park pass, is $139 per day at the start. So, Sally, is this park $20 better? Megan, it is so much more than $20 better.
If you compare those parks, they're fine. But this new park, I really have to say it is my top contender for possibly best theme park ever. Absolutely worth it.
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Chapter 3: Is Epic Universe worth the extra cost?
Yeah, you mentioned Dark Universe, and I was so surprised how many people are super fans of Dark Universe. Let's go ahead and just play some interviews of other people I met who were there at 4 a.m. Where are you headed first today?
Super Nintendo World, so my inner child is just going to be healed.
Gift shop. Merchandise store so we can get some opening day merch.
Our first stop today is merchandise.
Second stop today, seeing if we can get into Ministry of Magic. We will be sprinting to Harry Potter first, I believe, and then we will be transitioning over to Dark Universe.
Besides the gift shop, after that, probably Dark Universe.
Oh, definitely Super Mario wants to get Power Up back.
More on those power-up bands later. But I'm still honestly surprised how popular the gift store is because as a theme park lover myself, that's an end-of-the-day activity for me. And even then, it's something I try to avoid if I'm trying to save money at the park.
Money was definitely not top of mind for people who were there opening day. Yeah. Are you doing anything to save money today, or is this a once-in-a-lifetime thing, you're not worried about it?
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Chapter 4: What are the top attractions at Epic Universe?
I saw that on the internet. Luckily, I did not have to wait five hours to try it myself. Even still, I can't say I would wait five hours, but the queue was really well done if you do find yourself waiting that long. they basically have you walking through a full recreation of the ministry, all the way down to the part where you take the flu network to get there.
And what is the flu network exactly? Harry Potter fans know this, but it's like the dust you get to suddenly appear in the Ministry of Magic instantly. But they do this cool effect where you step in this like green poof of smoke, and then you step into this big room, and then you go through all of the ministry. They have little animatronic house elves in line. It's unbelievable.
Wow. Okay, so there's only one ride in that world. What else can you do if you're unwilling to wait in that line? That is the downfall.
Only one ride. There is a theater show. It's something I would recommend you see, but the really top tier attraction really is the ride. Other things to do is just generally take some photos, appreciate 1920s Paris, appreciate the Butterbeer Crepes. So I actually talked to Anitra Prachard. She is senior manager of entertainment operations and show direction at Universal Orlando All About It.
Guests can, for the first time in 1920s Paris, live amongst the wizards there. They get to see the musicians. They get to go and meet Cosme Acquajor, who is our wand expert over there. And now they can talk to living portraits.
So it seems like the world that everyone is really looking forward to is Dark Universe. That's for fans of Halloween Horror Nights. This is like a special event at Universal during Halloween where they create all these little mazes with people who jump out at you. They're all themed. It's very scary. And I feel like I always get targeted to get the jump scare when I go do these.
Megan, Little Mazes, I would not undersell it. These are like huge productions. Yeah, they're not that big though. But this land is a big land. This is all for Halloween Horror Nights fans. So tell us a bit more about what you can find there.
There is a class of people who love Halloween Horror Nights. They go every year. The tickets sell out. Halloween is always a popular season for theme parks. This is basically a year-round land just for them. The ride that everyone is talking about is Monsters Unchained.
Wow. Okay, so I don't want to get too many spoilers about it, but what can you tell me about the ride?
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