This is a developing first-look. I’m still in the park as I write this, and I’ll keep updating the story through the day.
I wasn’t planning to be at Epic Universe today. After a full year away, I walked back through the gates and just went for it.
I wasn’t expecting to be here today but after a full year away , let’s do it!
Universal Orlando’s newest park opened on May 22, 2025. A year later, I wanted to see how it feels now that opening day is in the rearview.
Walking back through the Chronos hit me right away
Passing under the Chronos tower at the entrance brought the nostalgia rushing back. I remembered team member previews, opening day, and those first wild weeks of coverage.
We did arguably some of the heaviest Epic Universe coverage of any outlet out there. It pulled hundreds of millions of views in just a few weeks when the park opened. Theme Park Shark has been around since 2019, but a lot of people found us through Epic. So this park holds a special place for me.
You walk in through Celestial Park, the green central hub, and it sets the tone right away. The fountains, the landscaping, and the bridges still look as polished as they did at launch. This place really is a triumph of design.
Dark Universe still owns the place
I went straight to Dark Universe first, and it grabbed me immediately. Ygor was right there at the land entrance. A roaming violinist who used to play from a balcony now mingles down among the guests.
Frankenstein’s Monster was posing for photos, and the Invisible Man was still working the streets. All that kinetic energy and character interaction is still there. No major changes, and that is a good thing.
The thing that surprised me most on a return trip was the music. Danny Elfman’s score for Dark Universe, which we covered when the land opened, is some of Universal Creative’s best work anywhere in the park. It is underrated, and a year later it sits near the top of what Epic does well.
Danny Elfman’s score within the entirety of Dark Universe has to be one of the most underrated, yet darn near at the top, when it comes to some of Universal Creative’s best decisions for Epic Universe.
Single rider was the move of the day
I rode Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment through single rider, and it was a complete walk on. Even the standby line was only about 20 minutes on a prime summer weekend. They are managing that ride’s capacity really well.
The ride is still in great shape. It hit just the same as it did a year ago. Monsters Unchained is a theme park classic for years to come. The lockers were easy and the queue moved fast.
The brisket sandwich is officially my go to
From there I stopped at The Oak & Star Tavern for the Slow Smoked Brisket sandwich. It is sweet, moist, and tender, and that is coming from someone who grew up in Texas on Rudy’s.
I know good Texas brisket, and this holds its own in a theme park. I have been maybe eight or nine times with only one off experience. I can now officially call it one of the best meals in the park.
I’ve had multiple really strong experiences with the Slow Smoked Brisket sandwich at Epic that this is now officially my quick meal of choice in the park.
Pair it with fries and a refillable Epic Universe tumbler and you are set. The Coca-Cola Freestyle machines still carry the land exclusive flavors too, like Celestial Spritz in Celestial Park, Screaming Berry in Dark Universe, and Dragon Splash over on the Isle of Berk.
Battle at the Ministry is my new number one
Single rider came through again at Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Standby was 75 minutes. I timed my single rider walk to the load at 13 minutes flat.
Single rider has been the story of the day, after a full walk on at monsters unchained, I just experienced battle at the ministry with a 13 minute wait via single rider.
The ride looks incredible, and it has moved into my number one spot in the park. The Floo Network, the Ministry of Magic queue, the elevators, the drops, the simulation quality, and the big physical sets and animatronics all stack up.
For me this is the best attraction in the park, and maybe one of the best in America. I would only put Rise of the Resistance in the same class.
If you want the full picture on lines, we ranked every Epic Universe wait time earlier this year.
The Untrainable Dragon and the views of Berk
Over on the Isle of Berk, I caught The Untrainable Dragon show for the first time. The moment Toothless took flight above the land was incredible. The music and the energy were fantastic.
I am still walking around Berk as I write this, and the views never stop amazing me. It is a breathtaking land, right down to the water features. Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is next on my list.
One year in
A year after opening, Epic Universe still feels like a leap forward for Orlando. The theming reads as carefully as it did on day one, and smart touring makes a return trip easy to love.
This park holds a special place in my heart. I came in not planning to be here. I left glad I came back.
Related Articles
- Epic Universe Is a Triumph of Design
- Dark Universe: Inside Epic Universe
- Epic Universe Wait Times Ranked 2026
Source: first-hand visit to Epic Universe on June 14, 2026, plus official park details from Universal Orlando: https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/epic-universe
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