The long wait is nearly over. Universal’s Epic Universe opens to the public on May 22, 2025, and with it comes a slate of new rides that are already creating waves across the theme park world. Four themed lands, tech-forward attractions, and a level of immersion that could give Disney a run for its money—Epic Universe is living up to its name.
But let’s be real—no matter how cool the theming is, nobody wants to spend their entire day in a queue. So what are the lines actually like? Based on early previews and the best available guest feedback, here’s what you can realistically expect.
The Ride Everyone’s Talking About—But Can’t Just Walk Into
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
This dark ride set inside the Ministry of Magic doesn’t offer a traditional standby line at all right now. It’s Virtual Line only, meaning you’ll need to keep refreshing the Universal Orlando app to grab a return time. There’s no set schedule—it’s random, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. That said, it’s widely being praised as the most impressive ride in the entire park.
The Long Waits (60+ Minutes)
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Donkey Kong: Mine-Cart Madness – Expect 60 to 80 minutes. This is a showstopper with a track design that’s fooling your eyes and making social media go wild.
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Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge – Similar wait times here. The AR tech isn’t for everyone, but the name recognition is enough to pack the queue.
Mid-Level Waits (30–50 Minutes)
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Monsters Unchained – A dark ride with jaw-dropping animatronics.
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Stardust Racers – Fast, smooth, and eye-catching with its dual-track design.
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Hiccup’s Wing Gliders – More of a family coaster, but that How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack pulls fans in.
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Yoshi’s Adventure – Calmer, but always busy thanks to the view and kid appeal.
Lower Wait Attractions (Under 35 Minutes)
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Fyre Drill – Fun, wet, and chaotic. Expect this one to fluctuate wildly on hot days.
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Dragon Racers Rally – Spin and soar at your own pace.
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Curse of the Werewolf – The hidden gem of Dark Universe.
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Celestial Carousel – Quick to board, perfect for a break.
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Stage Shows – The Untrainable Dragon and Le Cirque Arcanus both draw decent crowds, but usually have reasonable seating availability. Just don’t roll in last minute.
Final Thoughts
You won’t escape lines at Epic Universe, but they’re not as terrifying as you might think—at least, not yet. Once grand opening day hits, everything’s going to shift, so preview data should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, if you prioritize your top three rides, use the Virtual Line system smartly, and don’t sleep on the stage shows, you’ll have an epic time.
And hey—if the lines get too long, there’s always Celestial Park to stroll through. Sometimes, the best moments in a theme park aren’t about riding everything—they’re about enjoying where you are.
