Is Epic Universe the Future of Theme Parks? Here’s How to Save When You Go
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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.
You're listening to Smart Travel, a deep dive into the tips, tools, and tactics to maximize your travel dollars. I'm Megan Coyle, back from two weddings in Italy. One suitcase almost didn't make it, but that's a story I'll save for another episode.
I am Sally French. No lost luggage. I'm back in the studio after a wild week at Epic Universe. Before we dive into my Epic Universe trip, let's share what else is going on in travel.
But can't forget our usual disclaimer. We'll talk about a few credit card companies that are NerdWallet partners in this episode, but that doesn't influence how we discuss them. The benefits, terms, and fees mentioned were accurate at the time of posting, but things can change and some offers may have expired by the time you're listening. For the latest details, follow the links in the episode description.
Now, the first airline all over the news is United. They announced a reciprocal benefits partnership with JetBlue. It is called Blue Sky.
This is awesome for members of both United and JetBlue's loyalty programs. United's Mileage Plus members will soon be able to earn and redeem United miles on JetBlue flights, while JetBlue's TrueBlue members can earn and use their JetBlue points on United flights.
And also elite status members of both programs will receive benefits like priority boarding, extra legroom seats, same day standby when they fly on either airline.
And each airline's flights will show up on the other's website and app. So you'll be able to book tickets that have these mixed itineraries where one leg could be on United and the other could be on JetBlue. And everything's very seamless. You don't have to recheck your bags. It's all on one ticket.
And hopefully not lose them, like what happened to you? Yeah. Now, this is not a full-on merger or a co-chair, but it is a significant collaboration. It's called an interline agreement. This could really reshape how loyalty members fly, especially if you're based in New York or Boston, because JetBlue just really dominates there. Now, those travelers have access to United's giant network.
And even though it's not a merger, it is still subject to regulatory review. So I'm still sad that JetBlue's earlier reciprocal alliance with American Airlines was blocked back in 2023. But there are a few key differences between that agreement and this new one. The first one is that United and JetBlue will not coordinate on pricing or scheduling. So assuming that everything gets approved, this Blue Sky program could launch as early as this fall.
That's not all with United News. Other things to note. Megan, I think you have a new piece of news.
Oh, yeah. United announced that their excursionist perk is getting the axe. That means starting August 21st, you'll no longer be able to score a free one-way flight on a multi-city award ticket. That's the type of ticket that lets you fly to multiple destinations, different legs, all on points. But it let you get three of those flights for the price of two award flights.
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Chapters
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