On October 22nd, 2024, Universal Orlando Resort officially started selling tickets to the highly anticipated new theme park joining its Orlando property, Epic Universe. Announced in 2015, Epic Universe has been the topic of theme park enthusiasts the world over, and as we’ve crept closer and closer to its opening date and watched both official and unofficial updates on its construction, the masses were finally able to take to market and secure their admission to experience this industry-changing park.
At first, guests were only allowed to purchase multi-day tickets that granted them admission to Universal Studios and Islands of adventure for 2+ days… and one single day at Epic Universe. A serious crowd-control measure, but one ultimately impractical for guests who already have admission to the two existing parks, and who are only interested in Epic Universe.
Which is why, two days later on October 24th, guests holding valid annual or seasonal passes to Universal Orlando Resort were granted a special opportunity to purchase a class of ticket only available to those with annual passes. Single-day, one park admission to Epic Universe, without having to worry about the superfluous purchase of admission to parks they already had annual passes for.
There’s no easy way to roll out a program like this – since the dawn of the internet, guests have flocked to purchase tickets for landmark events like concerts, stage shows, theme park admission, and all other manner of once-in-a-lifetime events. The release of single-day admission to Epic Universe for passholders was no different!
With times reaching upwards of five hours for the virtual queue, it became evident early on that availability was slim. Users report Universal’s ticketing site opening to Passholders as early as 5 AM EST. Buyers logged on during this time report having a smooth, orderly, and quick purchasing experience, with total time lasting around five to ten minutes to procure their tickets to Epic Universe, with opening day tickets available.
Within just a few hours, however, wait times skyrocketed, leaving the virtual queue an almost inescapable experience that lasted many users hours upon hours. By eight in the morning, Eastern Standard Time, Universal Orlando placed a notice on the virtual queue page that they were experiencing heavier traffic than normal, and that opening day tickets were no longer available.
But even if a guest arriving after the initial rope drop, so to speak, couldn’t get in for opening day, that didn’t mean that they were out of luck! Tickets for Annual Passholders were available as far out as July based on user reports, though according to Universal Orlando’s website, tickets are no longer available for May 22nd – June 2nd, 2025. With plenty of other dates to choose from, though, Annual Passholders looking to procure their tickets can still log in to their Universal Orlando Resort accounts online and, with linked annual passes, purchase 1-Day admission to Epic Universe for remaining dates still close to the opening week.
The Helios Grand Hotel, the new Universal Signature Collection hotel overlooking Epic, with its own dedicated entrance into the new park, has also been thoroughly booked up for opening day, though this Signature hotel offers the promise of luxury at an incredibly affordable price, and is still available for booking on subsequent days for later stays!
Epic Universe stands to become the world’s largest theme park in operation when it opens in May of next year, surpassing the current largest theme park – Disney’s Animal Kingdom – by almost 200 acres of land. This 750-acre park by Universal Orlando Resort is a massive undertaking that will employ some of the most cutting-edge technology available in the themed entertainment industry, as well as some innovative tech that Universal themselves developed specifically for this park, to make it as immersive an experience as possible.
Announced in 2015, Epic Universe overcame a myriad of challenges through the COVID-19 pandemic that temporarily ground construction and Orlando tourism to a halt. Despite these challenges, however, Universal executives who have championed the project, the creatives who poured their blood, sweat, and tears into the creation of this park, and all the current team members and guests highly anticipating its debut can finally see the finish line. With an opening day in sight – and, in fact, coming sooner than originally anticipated – fans of Universal Orlando Resort and themed entertainment in general are waiting with bated breath to see the wonders that Universal has pulled off in the creation of this park.
