The grand opening of Universal Orlando Resort’s latest theme park, Universal Epic Universe, is on the horizon, and IGN acquired the thrilling probability to expertise the complete park within the lead-up. I spent a complete 9 hours exploring Epic Universe’s 5 worlds and rode nearly each trip–listed below are my first impressions of the park and a number of the coolest issues I skilled.
Before I dive into the good issues, right here’s some background data on Epic Universe. The park consists of 5 uniquely themed worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe (a gothic world of Universal Monsters that includes Darkmoor Village and the Frankenstein Manor), and Super Nintendo World, which additionally consists of Donkey Kong Country.
It’s a intelligent premise. From the loosely space-themed Celestial Park, the “coronary heart” of the park, you’ll discover 4 portals to the opposite worlds (and the on-site Helios Grand Hotel). Though missing the hyper-immersive theming of the opposite worlds, the unique Celestial Park has dazzling vibrant fountains, statues, and well-manicured gardens, making it good sufficient to walk via between portals, and it’s neatly laid out to make it simple to get to wherever you’re making an attempt to go.
I liked the portal thought and it’s executed fantastically. Walking via every of the portals for it to open up into a totally immersive new world was unbelievable, every world distinctive and spectacular by itself.
It’s a dense park with tons to see and work together with, not even counting the rides. Though I spent 9 hours there and skipped each line whereas on the media tour, I really feel like I barely scratched the floor of all the pieces that Epic Universe has to supply. This is with solely a one-hour lunch break and round 45 minutes of “free” time. I didn’t even get to play with the interactive spots that make the most of the Harry Potter wands within the Ministry of Magic or the ability bands in Super Nintendo World (each, admittedly, at an additional price.) I additionally didn’t get to fulfill Toothless, which I used to be fairly unhappy about. That’ll be a next-trip objective.
Now that you just’re primed on what Epic Universe is, listed below are my favourite issues I seen or skilled that sparked a singular form of pleasure, in a totally arbituary order.
1. The Intense Stardust Racers Coaster
Sure, a little bit cliche to incorporate the park’s “signature” coaster, but it surely actually was so memorable. I grew up in Florida, so I’ve been on a number of coasters in any respect the parks within the sunshine state (bar the extra just lately launched Jurassic World VelociCoaster, sadly), and I can say that is simply essentially the most intense curler coaster I’ve ever ridden–and my media group member’s agreed it was extra intense than the VelociCoaster, too. I don’t need to “spoil” the expertise for anybody, so I’ll simply inform you this: it begins with the depth of a taking pictures star and maintains it with barely a single second of reprieve however with a wide range of actions that saved me shocked. Add on the dueling coaster side, the place the opposite coaster practice is proper there, and you’ve got a star of a trip, even when the lead-up to it within the line is a tad under-themed in comparison with the flowery set-ups lots of the different rides on the park have.
2. All the Dragons
Okay, I really like dragons, so the Isle of Berk was completely my jam. There are shifting dragons, massive and small (and sheep!), throughout the How to Train Your Dragon-themed world, and I really like all of them an excessive amount of to select only one. If you’re fortunate, you’ll see a powerful little robotic of Dart, certainly one of Toothless’ and Light Fury’s youngsters, being escorted across the park, too. There’s additionally a particular meet and greet with Toothless and Hiccup you may wait in line for, and infrequently you’ll see Astrid and her dragon Stormfly (who’s an individual in a go well with, not a robotic, however nonetheless cool!)
3. This Donkey Kong Themed Float (and Mug)
My tour ended simply thirty minutes earlier than the park closed, and with my free time, I backtracked to Donkey Kong Country to cop one of many fancy floats I noticed at The Bubbly Barrel, a snack stand subsequent to the Minecart Madness trip entrance. The line was lengthy, but it surely moved pretty rapidly and was well worth the wait. The DK Crush Float consists of pineapple soda with banana and pineapple Dole Whip, topped with toffee and chocolate caramel corn, surrounded by a recent waffle cone. (Quick word, I’ve by no means seen Banana Dole Whip?) I opted to get it served on this memento DK Barrel Cup, which ought to most likely be used to carry plastic cups like on this occasion reasonably than be used straight up. The tasty concoction hit the spot and left me $19 poorer, however the memento mug is cool sufficient to justify it for me. I loved my deal with sitting beside the Mine-Cart Madness trip with the DK theme taking part in within the background because the solar started to set–not a foul solution to finish a protracted day!
4. One of The Longest Most Intricate Queues for a Ride I’ve Ever Seen
The Harry Potter and the Battle on the Ministry of Magic trip has a line that took about 1,300 steps to get via–which is a couple of half-mile–however the complete factor is decked out to the nines to look precisely just like the to-scale within the British Ministry of Magic. I’ve a complete separate article about how the Battle on the Ministry of Magic’s line is half a mile lengthy, going over the “magic” of this place, however be ready to be impressed and, hopefully, entertained sufficient as you look ahead to this attraction.
5. These Custom Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines
Okay, I’m positive not everybody will likely be completely shocked by the styling of the inside of a restaurant, however I’m a nerd who appreciates William Morris and liked the American craftsman (or “arts and crafts”) vibe of the Oak & Star Tavern in Celestial Park. It even had customized Cocoa-Cola Freestyles to match the artful, woodland-inspired theming. The entire restaurant had me eager to reside there, which is insane, however you want what you want, proper? I want I had been in a position to go to any of the opposite eating places as a result of, by the look of this one, I assume they have to be properly put collectively as a minimum. May I additionally add, that the BBQ on the Oak & Star was unbelievable–I extremely suggest the brisket and the mac and cheese.
6. This Little Guy Messing with a Lock
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic world is generally set within the Twenties “wizarding Paris” from the Fantastic Beasts movies, and it does a terrific job at tricking you into considering you actually are in a metropolis the place there are many cafes to try to window buying to take pleasure in. One of those home windows included piles of ornate locks, and inside was a shifting Bowtruckle. This cute little man made lovable sounds because it labored at selecting a lock, one thing Bowtruckles are adept at. It’s discovering tiny, missable particulars like this that significantly improve immersiveness and little moments of pleasure.
7. Pikmin!
It’s known as Super Nintendo World, however this world is clearly Super Mario World that results in Donkey Kong Country. Stepping via the preliminary inexperienced warp-pipe portal leads you to the parlor of Princess Peach’s Castle, and simply exterior, the brilliant colours and plenty of shifting components of the Mushroom Kingdom greet you, full with Question Blocks, Piranha Plants, Goomba, and even Bowser’s Castle. Turn a nook down the steps, and also you’ll see the clear entrance to Donkey Kong Country–however to the left are a couple of crimson Pikmin on the wall! What are you doing right here, little guys? What a pleasant little discovery.
8. Captain Toad Repeatedly Saying, “Thanks to you, We Found the Golden Egg” in His Silly Toad Voice
The Yoshi’s Adventure trip in Super Nintendo World is unquestionably a slow-moving “kiddie trip,” but it surely’s extremely produced, performs nostalgic music from acquainted video games all through, and duties you with discovering three coloured eggs throughout the trip by urgent their corresponding buttons if you see them. At the tip, when you discovered all of them, Captain Toad enthusiastically thanks you for the assistance. Well, since that is the tip of the trip, we have been a little bit backed up, and listening to him say this repeatedly within the foolish Toad voice had me and my trip accomplice (The Nerdist’s beautiful Rotem Rusak), cracking up.
9. Fragrant Gardenias in Celestial Park
I admit this can be a little foolish to incorporate on a “coolest” record, however one thing in regards to the second the luxurious scent of gardenias hit me whereas I took within the views across the statue of Luna, the Goddess of the Moon, caught with me. I grew up with the aromatic white flowers in my small yard, so it’s a nostalgic scent for me. When I commented on them, our tour information stated Celestial Park is designed to place the “park” again in “theme park,” and this little second that inspired me to cease and odor the “roses” positively backed that sentiment up.
10. An Intimidating Vampiress with a Violin
Dark Universe is a spooky, gothic city with a foreboding citadel as its centerpiece and monstrous denizens that inhabit it. I solely acquired to very briefly see two of those characters–The Invisible Man, who menacingly stated one thing alongside the traces of, “I bear in mind what we talked about,” to our tour information earlier than stomping away, and a violin-playing vampiress. The vampire stood on a brief balcony, telling us we’re solely alive as a result of they permit us to be, earlier than aggressively taking part in her violin and strolling away. These characters appear to be they’d be so enjoyable to work together with, and I heard there are lots of, many extra to search out across the park.
11. The Underwater-Themed Super Mario Bathroom
Everything in Epic Universe is themed, some extra closely than others, however you may wager that even the bogs match wherever they’re positioned. No boring, bland, beige bogs right here (at the very least of what I noticed!) Though not the fanciest, my favourite was most likely the Super Nintendo World lavatory that not solely had this cute underwater theme however performed the Underwater Theme from Super Mario Bros., too.
12. Getting Spit on By the Wolf Man
Okay, look, hear me out. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment was an unbelievable trip with large manufacturing worth and the good results. To board the trip, you sit down on seats which can be shifting on a conveyor belt of types. As I approached, I seen the seats have been moist, so I requested the solid member why. He stated with a mischievous smile, “Don’t fear about it,” then adopted up with, “don’t you recognize this goes underwater?” Okay, cheeky, I didn’t fear about it. But I used to be nonetheless shocked that the rationale these seats have been moist was as a result of when the Wolf Man ferociously snarls at you throughout the trip, his drool slings throughout you. Gross. But additionally, cool.
Universal Epic Universe will formally open on May 22 in Orlando, Florida. What are you most wanting ahead to experiencing at this immersive, bold theme park? Let us know within the feedback under.
Casey DeFreitas is a deputy editor of guides at IGN and is the crew’s resident Floridian. Catch her on social media @ShinyCaseyD
