EVERYONE REMAIN CALM! It’s happening — Epic Universe is officially OPEN to the public!

We’ve been spending as much time here as we possibly can, making sure we know all the ins and outs of this park so you’re prepared ahead of your first visit. And, of course, we’re BACK on the park’s first day of regular operation to see just how everything is going. So, let’s check it out!

We’ll be updating this post as we explore more of Epic Universe’s opening day, so make sure you check back for the latest news!

Epic Universe consists of five themed lands: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. Below is a handy map!

Universal shared a video on social media welcoming guests to the brand new park and saying that Epic Universe “is yours.”

To our fans, Epic Universe is yours 💫 pic.twitter.com/CH9URJIhGO

— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) May 22, 2025

It’s finally time to enter the portals to a FULLY OPEN Epic Universe park! Despite Universal advertising that the buses to the park would start running at 6 AM, we heard from a bus driver that they actually started running at 4:45 AM, which was a whopping four hours and 15 minutes before the park officially opened.

It’s real! It’s happening!! 🥳🥹 pic.twitter.com/WHo6oUcB1P

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 22, 2025

This marks a HUGE accomplishment for everyone who worked so hard to bring this dream to life over years of dedication and commitment, and now it’s finally here. We can’t wait to experience the park’s opening day and bring you with us!

It’s a BIG day for theme park fans — Epic Universe is officially OPEN! 🌀🎉 pic.twitter.com/iHBDZYfgGT

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 22, 2025

So, what’s the park like on its official opening day? We’re glad you asked!

Crowds

As you’d probably expect, Epic Universe was pretty darn crowded on opening day!

We spotted folks as far as the eye could see, waiting for the festivities to begin — and to start riding these incredible rides!

The latest wait times indicate that Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is going to eat up most of the crowds today, as the time shot up to 300 minutes right at park opening — and is only going up from there. At the same time, the next highest wait was only 25 minutes! It seems like the morning might be the perfect time to knock out a bunch of rides with little wait!

Celestial Park

Celestial Park has TWO rides: Stardust Racers (a dual-launch racing coaster) and Constellation Carousel. There’s also a play area called Astronomica, which is a wet-play area that — fun fact! — doubles as a compass.

Another highly-anticipated addition is the new full-service “surf and turf” restaurant called Atlantic. Additionally, you can stop by The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant, which features an Asian-style menu with authentic Chinese, Japanese, and Thai meals.

There are also multiple new quick-serve restaurants, including The Oak & Star Tavern (serving barbecue) and Pizza Moon (serving a variety of pizza.) Finally, there’s also a cute little sweets shop called Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

There’s a NEW Ministry of Magic land at Epic Universe, which is Universal’s third Harry Potter-themed land. This land really transports you to another place and time. We’re in the 1920s wizarding world of Paris, but you might recognize some elements from the British Ministry of Magic from the original Harry Potter series.

This is one of the most popular lands in the park — and before the park was even officially open, the line for the land’s only ride was already at a whopping 150 minutes and counting. Not too long after, the wait shot up to 300 minutes, and it will likely continue to go up from there. While we have already seen this park in technical rehearsal, this is the first day it’s operating at capacity, so waits will likely be higher.

Standby line for Battle at the Ministry is already estimated at 150 minutes! ⏰🪄 pic.twitter.com/84gxJxlUAB

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 22, 2025

We spoke with Universal Team Members who advised that the ride actually hadn’t opened this morning and was on an extended delay, despite folks still camping out in the line. It’s possible the ride could start working later today, but as of now, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is delayed and not currently running.

Team Members later confirmed that as of now, no one is allowed in the line and to check the Universal app for wait times. Once you see the times, then we will know that the ride is back up. But until that happens, it is down.

Around 1:30, Universal Team Members started letting people into the Battle at the Ministry queue, but the ride itself is still not open.

We decided to head over to check out the queue, and while we were walking through it — something miraculous happened. The ride actually opened! Of course, as soon as the word got out, people started rushing toward the ride, and the wait times shot up to 240 minutes almost immediately. This was around 3:30, which means the ride was closed for a whopping six and a half hours.

While this is certainly disappointing for the folks in the park today, it’s definitely something you’ll want to keep in mind if you’re heading to Epic Universe anytime soon. The park is fully open, but it’s still a new park, which means that there are plenty of things to work out.

But, there’s a cute little shopping district called Place Cachée, which is filled with shops, sidewalk cafés, and even a Butterbeer stand! The main (and only) ride here is called Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry and has a height requirement of 40 inches. It’s one of the best rides we’ve ever been on!

If you want something to eat (perhaps a croissant?), you can visit Café L’Air De La Sirène, Le Gobelet Noir, Bar Moonshine, and a French confectionery shop, K. Rammelle.

Universal also has a new full-scale theatre experience called Le Cirque Arcanus. There are fantastic beasts. There are aerialists. There are special effects. It’s AMAZING!

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD

Once you enter through the portal, you’ll find yourself in the world of Super Mario! The inscription on the portal reads, “Here we go!” and this land is divided into two areas: Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.

OK, we’ve got two attractions in Super Mario Land to talk about here. Number one is Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (previously seen at Super Nintendo World lands in Universal Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood).

There’s also Yoshi’s Adventure, with a minimum height requirement of 34 inches. But, the real excitement is over at Donkey Kong Country, where you’ll find Mine-Cart Madness. Y’ALL. This ride is not to be underestimated!

All that gaming might make you hungry, so stop by Toadstool Cafe, The Bubbly Barrel, Yoshi’s Snack Island, or Turbo Boost Treats for a little Super Mario-themed snack.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk has quickly become a fan favorite land for many reasons. There is a LOT to do in this new land. We’re talking LIVE DRAGON meet-and-greets. A new show. A play area for little Vikings. Three dining locations. And, most importantly, THREE new attractions.

Universal was NOT messing around with the opening ceremony for this land — just check it out below!

I’ve got CHILLS! Epic Universe really knows how to throw a grand opening! 😱🎆 Do you hear that familiar voice? 👀 pic.twitter.com/2Yijd6mpwQ

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 22, 2025

If you’re hungry, you can stop by the grand Mead Hall, Spit Fyre Grill, or the racing-themed Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel food stand.

Throughout your day on the Isle of Berk, be on the lookout for characters! You can meet Hiccup and the beloved Toothless at Haddock Paddock, but we also spotted some other friends wandering the area.

Finally, there’s the epic live show called The Untrainable Dragon. This show is based on the Untrainable show in Universal Beijing Resort. From the set to the characters, this is truly an incredible show.

Dark Universe

Dark Universe draws on Universal’s rich history with horror. There are plenty of monsters and spooky vibes to really set the mood, so be prepared for a wild time. This land is home to two attractions, including the MAJOR new ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. 

Everything was working on Monsters Unchained — all the animatronics appeared to be functioning normally on opening day, which is great!

The land’s second attraction is a spinning family coaster inspired by The Wolf Man. It’s called Curse of the Werewolf, and you’re gonna want to RACE to escape the werewolves before you become one.

All that screaming can really work up your appetite! Luckily, there are plenty of places to eat, like Das Stakehaus, The Burning Blade Tavern, and De Lacey’s Cottage. And, if you have time, we highly recommend you stop by for a monster character meet-and-greet while you’re here!

You can also check out a Universal Horror Monster Makeup experience! Each of the team members there has a costume that looks like a lab coat, just like Dr. Frankenstein would wear.

We’ll be updating this article throughout the day as we explore more of the first day of Epic Universe, so make sure you check back here for more! In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for the latest theme park news.

Are you planning on visiting Epic Universe at Universal Orlando? Tell us in the comments.