Epic Universe: Know before you go

Disney4me · 2025-05-22T09:15:17Z

• Where: Epic Universe is about 2.5 miles southeast of Universal Orlando’s original theme parks, near the Orange County Convention Center. The entrance is off Epic Boulevard, which is accessed from Destination Parkway or South Kirkman Road. The official address is 1001 Epic Blvd.

The Kirkman Road extension has opened for traffic, so if traveling from downtown Orlando, westbound on Interstate 4, take Exit 75B for Kirkman. There are new directional road signs in place for Epic Universe. The new route is a bit curvy and elevated at points, but follow those signs to Epic Boulevard and the theme park’s parking lot, which will be on the left.

If traveling from the southwest, going eastbound on I-4, exit onto State Road 528 and then take Exit 2 to go northbound on Universal Boulevard. Turn right onto Destination Parkway, then left onto Epic Boulevard, skirting a roundabout and then a right turn to the entrance of the parking lot.

• Parking: Epic Universe has its own parking lot; there is no parking garage there. Parking is $32. Prime self-parking is $50-$60.

• Key times for opening day: The main parking lot (including ride-share drop-off) opens at 6 a.m.; shuttle bus service from Universal Orlando hotels to Epic Universe also begins at 6 a.m.; turnstiles at the front entrance and inside the entrance for Helios Grand Hotel guests open at 7 a.m.

There will be a “brief celebratory moment” at 8 a.m. near the park entrance.

Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily through June 1.

• Future operating hours: From June 2 through June 17, Epic’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For the remainder of June, the schedule varies by day but opens at either 9 or 10 a.m., then closes at either 9 or 10 p.m. (These times are subject to change).

• Security: Bag screening occurs just before the main entrance. Among the prohibited items in the park are explosives, weapons, alcohol, marijuana or any item containing cannabis or related paraphernalia, power-driven or radio frequency-controlled devices, outside food or beverages, glass, coolers, suitcases, bags with wheels and folding chairs. Everyone must travel through a metal detector, too. (The system is similar to Universal Orlando’s mega-garage.)

An effect makes it appear as though guests are traveling through a green tube at the entrance of Super Nintendo World at Universal Epic Universe, welcoming them during a media preview event on May 20. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

• Tickets: Prices for one-day admission to Epic for the rest of the year vary daily and range from $139 (for four days in September) to $199 (from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Eve). The first available date posted for a one-day ticket is May 26. Universal Orlando offers multiday passes with other theme parks and Volcano Bay water park that may bring down price-per-day rates.

• App: The official Universal Orlando app can be used to facilitate purchases, dining reservations, maps, show schedules, wait times and more.