Epic Universe is about to change the Orlando theme park game — and Universal Orlando Resort just dropped a ticketing update that could reshape how guests experience the highly anticipated park.
Opening May 22, Epic Universe will be Universal’s third gate, promising a bold new level of immersive entertainment. From the spellbinding Ministry of Magic in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to the cosmic allure of Celestial Park, each land is meticulously designed to pull guests into a world of fantasy and adventure.
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will bring Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Mine Cart Madness stateside, while How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk offers family-friendly thrills with Hiccup’s Wing Gliders and the Untrainable Dragon stage show. Meanwhile, Dark Universe promises bone-chilling encounters with classic monsters and an intense ride — Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
Universal Removes Multi-Day Ticket Requirement for Epic Universe
Until now, getting into Epic Universe came with a catch.
When Universal first revealed Epic Universe ticketing, guests could only access the park through a multi-day ticket — bundling Epic Universe with Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. This move seemed like a way to spread out crowds and boost attendance at the resort’s older parks, but not everyone was on board. Fans were split, with some praising the strategy while others criticized it as a forced upsell.
Universal just switched gears. Starting June 1 — a little over a week after Epic Universe's grand opening — guests can now purchase single-day tickets exclusively for the new park. This marks a significant shift, making it easier for those who only want to experience Epic Universe without committing to a broader resort package.
To buy these tickets, guests must first navigate a brief virtual queue before accessing the ticketing page. This was briefly paused this afternoon due to overwhelming demand, but earlier today averaged just 10 minutes at a time.
Ticket prices range from $139 to $199 for adults and $134 to $194 for children aged three to nine.
The Broader Theme Park Battle: How Disney World Might Respond
Epic Universe doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Its arrival intensifies the long-standing rivalry between Universal and Walt Disney World Resort — a battle that’s only grown fiercer in recent years.
While Universal expands with an entirely new theme park, Disney is choosing a different approach. Rather than announcing a long-rumored fifth gate, Disney is doubling down on enhancing its current parks. Magic Kingdom will introduce two new lands — one inspired by the Cars franchise and another by Disney Villains — alongside the debut of the Disney Starlight Nighttime Parade.
Over at Animal Kingdom, DinoLand U.S.A. is slowly being phased out to make way for Tropical Americas, blending Encanto (2021 and Indiana Jones in a new immersive experience. Disney's Hollywood Studios will also bid farewell to Muppet*Vision 3D, replacing it with a Monsters, Inc. land, while Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster is set for a Muppets retheme — ensuring Kermit still has a place in the park.
With Epic Universe stepping into the spotlight and Disney rolling out its own expansions, Orlando's theme park landscape is evolving fast.
Will you be grabbing a single-day ticket to Epic Universe?
